Fresh from tying the best record to open a season, the San Antonio Spurs are heading into their third regular-season showdown with the Oklahoma Thunder 50 percent less their strength, as injuries crippled the Western Conference contender this late in the season.
Match Details:
Event: 2015-16 NBA Regular-Season - Spurs vs. Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena
TV Schedule / Start Time: 8:00 p.m US (EST) on NBA TV
Live Stream: NBA League Pass, Audio Streaming providers on NBA TuneIn / Radio
Additional Info: Box Scores Stats, Live Scores and Play-by-Play on ESPN Spurs vs. Thunder HQ
Team News:
San Antonio Spurs: The team announced that they are going to rest their core players in their third regular-season match-up with the Thunder. Kawhi Leonard, who already missed the Spurs' 110-104 victory over the Grizzlies, will be joined by LaMarcus Aldridge, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili on the sideline on Saturday.
"After San Antonio's victory over the Grizzlies on Friday, the team announced that LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard will also miss Saturday's game against the Thunder. Aldridge is resting, and Leonard is still dealing with a right quad contusion. Of course!," according to CBS Sports.
"The Spurs announced on Friday that the three veterans [Duncan, Parker and Ginobili] would miss both the game against the Thunder and Monday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. It should come as no surprise that coach Gregg Popovich wants to get them some rest with the season winding down."
Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant continues to defend his belief that Leonard's success is a product of Spurs system. Durant, who is in a neck-and-neck race with the Spurs star for a spot in the All-NBA team, will not be pitted against Leonard, but he nevertheless faces a tough defender in Kyle Anderson.
Prediction: The Spurs might not have its core players in what will likely be a preview of Western Conference slugfest with the Thunder, but the team's well-oiled system remains intact. San Antonio is the no.1 defensive team in the NBA, allowing opponents to score just under 92 points a game. Oklahoma, on the other hand, is the second best offensive team in NBA at 110.2 ppg. It's a battle of attrition in Oklahoma, though in the end the team with more star power on the court will take the win. Thunder winning by 10 points, 105-95.