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The surging San
Antonio Spurs seek to match their longest winning streak from last season as
they go for their 11th straight victory in a matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers
at SBC Center.
The Spurs have dominated on the defensive end during their current streak with
an average of 76.4 points allowed per game. San Antonio has held the opposition
to 70 points or less in four of the last 10 games and leads the NBA with 83
points allowed per game this season.
Tim Duncan had 26 points and 10 rebounds for his league-leading 23rd double-double in a 101-91 win at Portland on Saturday night -- the Spurs sixth straight road win.
Tony Parker added 15 points and 10 assists for the defending NBA champions, who shot 52.6 percent from the field.
``We're not feeling unbeatable, but we're feeling on a roll and we're feeling pretty good about ourselves,'' Duncan said. ``We're approaching every game the same way -- with the realization that we need to bring our `A' game against every team.''
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Duncan sat out a one-game suspension and his presence was sorely missed as the
Spurs suffered a 91-83 loss to the Clippers at Staples Center on Dec. 1. The
Spurs gave up 50 points in the paint without their center, who was suspended
for pushing an official to the floor during a loss at Golden State two nights
earlier.
San Antonio, which won 11 in a row from March 23-April 11, begins a four-game homestand and has a shot at approaching a franchise-record 17-game winning streak set during the 1995-96 season.
The Spurs, who have won four straight at home and are 11-3 at SBC Center this season, also face Orlando, Milwaukee and Philadelphia on the homestand.
The Clippers won for the fifth time in their last six games and had one of their best offensive games of the season with a 115-105 victory at Dallas on Saturday.
Los Angeles, which averages 95.8 points per game, reached the 100-point plateau for the fourth time in six games and matched its season-high point total.
Corey Maggette scored 26 points and Quentin Richardson added 25 points and 13 rebounds as the Clippers beat the Mavericks for the second time in as many meetings this season after losing five straight in the series.
``It was a great win for us,'' Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. ``They are a great team at home and very efficient, averaging 108 points per game. Our guys worked hard and defended well.''
Elton Brand, who sat out Dec. 1 while still recovering from a broken foot, had his best game of the season with 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting to go with 20 rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots.
``That's a good young team we played tonight,'' Mavs assistant coach Donnie Nelson said. ``They gave us all we could handle for four quarters. Between Maggette, Brand, Richardson and all their young guys, we couldn't come up with the answer tonight.''
The Clippers, 3-7 on the road this season, are 1-1 on their current three-game road trip and return home to open a six-game homestand against the 76ers on Friday.
STANDINGS (through Dec. 21): Clippers - 3rd place (tied), 8 GB, Pacific Division. Spurs - 1st place (tied), Midwest Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Clippers - F Brand, F Maggette, C Chris Kaman, G Richardson, G Marco Jaric. Spurs - F Bruce Bowen, F Duncan, C Rasho Nesterovic, G Manu Ginobili, G Parker.
TEAM LEADERS: Clippers - Maggette, 20.7 ppg; Brand, 12.3 rpg; Jaric, 3.9 apg. Spurs - Duncan, 22.5 ppg and 13 rpg; Parker, 5.8 apg.
SEASON SERIES: Clippers, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Dec. 1; Clippers, 91-83. At Los Angeles, Maggette scored 24 points as the Clippers sent the Spurs to their first three-game losing streak since March 2002.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Clippers - 3-7 on the road; Spurs - 11-3 at home.
INJURIES: Clippers - C Predrag Dronjak (back); F Melvin Ely (flu); C Josh Moore (back); G Eddie House (foot). Spurs - G Alex Garcia (foot); C Sean Marks (knee).
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