Warriors at Spurs
A matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors loses some luster with four stars unavailable, but that doesn't mean it's not important. The Spurs will try to hang onto one of the top eight spots in the Western Conference when they host the short-handed Warriors on Monday.
Golden State still has a shot at the No. 1 spot in the West but is operating without All-Stars Stephen Curry (ankle), Klay Thompson (hand) and Kevin Durant (rib), putting more responsibility on forward Draymond Green. "Without our other three All-Stars, he's taking on a different look and playing a different position, running different plays from those positions," Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters of Green. "Draymond likes to be challenged intellectually in this game, and I think this stretch right now, he's energized because he's doing something different." The Spurs remain without star small forward Kawhi Leonard, though he is reportedly getting closer to a return, but All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge is doing all he can to keep the team in the top eight. Aldridge is averaging 29.3 points during a three-game winning streak.
TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Bay Area (Golden State), KENS (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE WARRIORS (53-17): Green is getting plenty of help from point guard Quinn Cook, who is with the team on a two-way contract and set a season high with 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting in Saturday's 124-109 win at Phoenix. "Quinn is showing the world that he's an NBA player," Green told reporters. "I've said all along, I sit here and watch so many other teams play and I wonder, 'How is Quinn Cook a two-way player?' And then you've got guys in the league that can't dribble with their left hand or can't go left, can't go right, but you've got a guy like that as a two-way player. So, I'm happy for him. I pray that he gets rewarded and gets what he deserves." Cook is averaging 26.5 points on 21-of-30 shooting over the last two games.
ABOUT THE SPURS (40-30): San Antonio is in a four-way tie for fifth place in the West, two games ahead of the ninth-place Los Angeles Clippers, after knocking off the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-101 on Saturday. Aldridge did the heavy lifting with 39 points on 14-of-22 shooting and 10 rebounds as the Spurs shot 51 percent from the floor. Veteran center Pau Gasol added 12 points, eight assists and seven rebounds off the bench and is 12-of-20 from the floor during the three-game winning streak.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Warriors SF Omri Casspi (ankle) sat out Saturday and is day-to-day.
2. Spurs SG Danny Green is 3-of-18 from 3-point range over the last two games.
3. Golden State took each of the first three meetings, including a 112-92 win at San Antonio on Nov. 2.