Wizards seek 1st win in San Antonio this century
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(SportsNetwork.com) - The San Antonio Spurs will try to win consecutive games for the first time since early December on Saturday night when the Washington Wizards visit the AT&T Center.
The Spurs have lost seven of their last 10 amid a series of injuries. Kawhi Leonard is out with a torn ligament in his right hand. There's no timetable for his return. Tony Parker has missed several games with a hamstring strain, but he is expected back sooner than Leonard. Neither is expected in the lineup on Saturday.
San Antonio has won two of three, including a 95-93 home overtime victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday. It was the Spurs' first win in overtime in five tries.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Manu Ginobili capped off a 26-point night with a go-ahead layup with 24 seconds left in overtime. Ginobili's big game, along with a fortunate bounce to close out regulation, helped the Spurs get back in the win column following a rough 2-7 stretch that included a loss to the Pelicans in New Orleans a week ago Friday.
New Orleans had taken an 84-82 edge on Anthony Davis' second-chance slam with 0.7 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Pelicans' Omer Asik inadvertently tipped in Boris Diaw's inbounds pass for Tim Duncan as the buzzer sounded to force extra time.
"I don't know what that was," said Duncan, who was credited with the basket. "I can't explain that one, but I'll take it. That was more luck than anything in the world, so I'll take that with me. We deserve one."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Duncan finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Marco Belinelli was the only other San Antonio player in double figures with 11.
The Spurs still have the Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns left on this homestand.
The Wizards have lost two in a row during this five-game road trip, which will end Monday night in New Orleans. Washington opened the jaunt with a win in Houston, but fell in Dallas, then in Oklahoma City.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Thunder, now fully healthy, topped the Wizards, 109-102, Friday night.
Bradley Beal led the Wizards with 21 points to go along with 10 rebounds and John Wall registered 14 points with 12 assists in the setback, Washington's second straight defeat on the heels of a three-game winning streak.
"Few mishaps on the offensive end, mishaps on the defensive end," said Beal. "If you look at the stat sheet we were neck and neck. They just made a couple more plays than we did down the stretch."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The game was tied with under five minutes to go, but OKC made more plays late.
Andre Miller chipped in 15 off the bench, followed by 12 apiece from starting forwards, Paul Pierce and Nene. Rasual Butler added 11 off the bench for a Wizards team that shot 52.4 percent from long range, but allowed the Thunder to shoot 53 percent from the floor.
The Spurs have won 16 straight against the Wizards, who haven't beaten the reigning champs since Nov. 12, 2005. Washington has not won this century in San Antonio, a span of 14 games dating back to Dec. 11, 1999.