Spurs at Hawks
The San Antonio Spurs have gotten defensive of late, and a renewed focus on that end of the floor has resulted in a three-game winning streak entering Wednesday’s contest at the Atlanta Hawks. The Spurs held off Denver 104-103 at home Monday and have allowed just 99 points per game during their winning streak, keeping San Antonio in possession of the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot and just one game out of sixth.
“It almost seems like we’ve just been able to flip a switch, which isn’t the easiest thing to do,” San Antonio guard Patty Mills told reporters after the Spurs saw a 21-point lead dwindle to one point, before forcing a turnover and three missed Denver shots in the final 16.2 seconds. “It’s been our defense that has won it for us.” Guard DeMar DeRozan and forward LaMarcus Aldridge combined for 46 points and 15 rebounds in the victory, hitting 20-of-36 shots from the field. The Hawks lost 114-113 at Miami on Monday despite 42-year-old guard Vince Carter draining seven 3-pointers, falling for the second time in three games without forward John Collins (flu-like symptoms). “We just fell asleep at the end,” Atlanta coach Lloyd Pierce told the media after the Heat were able to run out the final nine seconds off the clock while the Hawks attempted to foul.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (San Antonio), FS Southeast (Atlanta)
ABOUT THE SPURS (36-29): DeRozan, the Spurs leading scorer at 21.5 points per game, finished 11-of-19 from the field Monday and in his past nine games is shooting 51.2 percent. Guard Derrick White finished with a career-best nine assists against the Nuggets, helping the Spurs build a 19-point lead after one quarter. San Antonio, which allowed 120-plus points six times during a 1-7 road trip, is 14th in the NBA in points allowed per game (111.1).
ABOUT THE HAWKS (22-43): Point guard Trae Young scored 14 points with eight assists against the Heat, but across his past five games is averaging 30.6 points and 9.4 assists on 49 percent shooting. Carter has averaged 24.6 minutes across his past five games and is shooting 16-of-33 from 3-point range in that span. Collins, who traveled with the team to Miami, averages 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Spurs entered Tuesday leading the NBA in 3-point shooting (40.1 percent) and free-throw percentage (82.2 percent).
2. San Antonio commits the fewest turnovers per game (12.3), while the Hawks commit the most (18 per contest).
3. The Hawks are 6-3 at home against Western Conference foes.