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Highlights Video :
The Spurs are hoping to continue their excellent form of five straight victories against the team that hasn't defeated them in the last five meetings.
Preview
The San Antonio Spurs (36-9) are second in the West with three wins behind the Warriors, but it’s fantastic how they won their previous five games even though they were without Tony Parker and Pau Gasol in four of them, and without Kawhi Leonard in the last couple. Their recent win came in Toronto against the Raptors, 106-108, despite having problems below the rim and from the outside. LaMarcus Aldridge led the Spurs with 21 points and seven rebounds, Patty Mills was useful off the bench with 18 points and three thefts, while Davis Bertans, David Lee, and Dejounte Murray combined for 34 points. Aldridge is the obvious player to watch for the visiting team, but Leonard’s possible return to the floor will make him a major favourite to end the game as the Spurs' top scorer. He practised Thursday but is questionable for Friday’s game, while Parker is back after missing four games with an ankle injury. Pau Gasol is still sidelined, which will mean another start at centre for David Lee.
The New Orleans Pelicans (18-28) are playing in hot and cold form at the moment, but they are somehow still in playoff contention this year, mostly thanks to results from the other teams. They lost the last game to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 105-114, mainly because Anthony Davis suffered an injury early in the game and played only 16 minutes. E’Twaun Moore led the Pelicans with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Solomon Hill added 14 points, eight boards, and two blocks. Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday scored 14 each, but Tyreke had nine dimes and five rebounds, while Jrue recorded eight assists and four thefts. Davis is back in this one and should dominate against the Spurs’ Pau Gasol-less frontcourt, so he is the player to watch for the hosts tonight.
Keys to the game
San Antonio Spurs
Aldridge scored 22 points in the previous win over the Pelicans and with Gasol out and Leonard’s potential unavailability, the former Trail Blazer will run the game for the visitors, and is expected to lead them on the scoreboard as well. If Leonard is able to play, then that would be a whole other story, and the Spurs take a burden off of Aldridge’s shoulders, so the pair could easily combine for 50-plus points, which would probably be enough for the win, regardless of contribution from their teammates.
New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans frontcourt will have to take control of the paint as early as possible and exploit the fact that Gasol is not playing. Besides the usually phenomenal Davis, the Pelicans have Terrence Jones, who emerged as a solid option at power forward, and since he saw increased minutes, Jones is averaging 20.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 2.0 blocks in the last seven days. He could most definitely create problems to Aldridge and Lee inside, so the pair of big guys are the New Orleans’ primary weapons for this encounter.
San Antonio projected starting lineup
PG – Parker / SG – Green / SF – Anderson (Leonard) / PF – Aldridge / C – Lee.
Parker could be a bit jaded after a recent injury, while Lee could suffer in the paint against the enormous Davis, but Aldridge should lead the Spurs in points.
New Orleans Pelicans projected starting lineup
PG – Holiday / SG – Hield / SF – Hill / PF – Jones / C – Davis.
Davis, Jones, and Holiday will lead the starters, while Evans and Motiejunas could play a big part off the bench.
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