Knicks at Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are trying to avoid one of the bottom three seeds in the Western Conference playoffs and own the NBA's longest current winning streak at six straight games. The Spurs will try to make it seven in a row on Friday, when they host the NBA-worst New York Knicks in the opener of a four-game road trip.
San Antonio counts wins over NBA-best Milwaukee and Western Conference powers Oklahoma City and Denver during its current streak and will host a pair of teams in front of it in the West - Portland and Golden State - during the homestand. The Spurs stepped out on the road Tuesday and shot 52.4 percent from the floor while easing past the stumbling Dallas Mavericks 112-105. The Knicks' latest slide reached seven straight with a 103-98 loss at Indiana that also marked the team's fourth straight game scoring fewer than 100 points. New York is well on its way to clinching one of the three worst records in the league and ensuring it has the best chance at earning the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), KENS (San Antonio)
ABOUT THE KNICKS (13-55): The rebuilding club is counting on being able to attract marquee free agents over the summer, and owner James Dolan seemed confident his team would be able to do just that in rare public comments this week. "New York is the mecca of basketball," Dolan told reporters. "We hear from people all the time, from players, representatives. It's about who wants to come. We can't respond because of the NBA rules, but that doesn't stop them from telling us and they do. I can tell you from what we've heard I think we're going to have a very successful offseason when it comes to free agents." Any potential free agents would join a young roster that includes promising rookies Kevin Knox (12.3 points) and Mitchell Robinson (2.4 blocks, 70 percent shooting).
ABOUT THE SPURS (39-29): San Antonio's stars are leading its recent surge and guard DeMar DeRozan is at the front of the pack. The 29-year-old did not make the All-Star team in his first season in the Western Conference but is playing like an All-Star while averaging 23.4 points on 53.4 percent shooting and 6.6 assists over the last five games. Forward-center LaMarcus Aldridge is just as hot while posting 27.6 points on 57.3 percent shooting and 10 rebounds over the last five contests and he scored at least 28 points in each of the last three games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Spurs SF Rudy Gay (illness) sat out the last two games but is expected back on Friday.
2. Knicks PG Dennis Smith Jr. is battling a sore lower back and is day-to-day.
3. San Antonio suffered a shocking 130-118 loss at New York on Feb. 24, snapping a three-game winning streak in the series.