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SPURS GAMEDAY: Five-game homestand starts against 76ers

The Silver and Black, who own the best home record in the NBA this season, have played 10 of their past 14 games on the road.
LaMarcus Aldridge, who has been the Spurs' top scorer in 37 of their 50 games this season, has been selected to play in the All-Star Game next month.

GAMEDAY AT A GLANCE

Philadelphia 76ers (23-21) vs. Spurs (32-18)

When, where: Friday, 7:30 p.m., AT&T Center

TV: KENS 5, 7 p.m.

Season series: 76ers lead 1-0

Last meeting: 76ers 112, Spurs 106, Jan. 3, Philadelphia

76ers’ last game: Beat Bulls 115-101, Wednesday, Philadelphia

Spurs’ last game: Beat Grizzlies 108-85, Wednesday, Memphis

76ers’ last 10 games, streak: 8-2, won one

Spurs’ last 10 games, streak: 5-5, won two

Notable: Spurs Rudy Gay (right heel bursitis), Manu Ginobili (right thigh contusion) and Kawhi Leonard (return from injury management) are out for Friday’s game . . . Pau Gasol had 14 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists in Wednesday night’s win over the Grizzlies. The only other player in NBA history with a 14/15/9 game at age 37+ was Elvin Hayes in 1984.

Game Preview

Back on track after consecutive double-digit victories, the road-weary Spurs open a five-game homestand Friday night against the resurgent Philadelphia 76ers.

The Silver and Black have played 10 of their last 14 games on the road, and own the best home record (20-3) in the NBA. But don't look for the 76ers to go quietly into the night. They've already beaten San Antonio once this season, and the Spurs will play without All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobili and Rudy Gay, all out with injuries.

Coached by former Spurs assistant coach Brett Brown, the 76ers (23-21) are 8-2 in their last 10 games and 9-3 since Christmas Day. Philadelphia defeated the visiting Silver and Black 112-106 Jan. 3.

Led by Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, who will start in the All-Star Game next month, the 76ers have drawn attention as one of the NBA's up-and-coming teams.

"They're very good,: Spurs guard Danny Green said Friday after the team's shootaround. "It's a completely different team from last year and the year before. Obviously, they've rebuilt and grown. A lot of potential, a very dangerous team.

"They're playing well . . . They got us last time in Philly. Hopefully we can bounce back and play them differently this time. It's going to be a tough, fun matchup."

Phiiladelphia is coming off a 115-101 whipping of Chicago at home. Simmons showcased his skills with a triple-double, finishing with 19 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists. Embid scored 22 points and Dario Saric had a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Still, history will not be on the 76ers' side when they take the court Friday night. Philadelphia has lost 13 in a row to the Spurs in San Antonio since January 2004, the last time it won in the Alamo City. That's the 76ers' only win in San Antonio since 1986.

LaMarcus Aldridge, who has been the Spurs' top scorer in 37 of their 50 games this season, has been selected to play in the All-Star Game next month.

Friday night's game will be the sixth of nine contests televised this season on KENS 5, the official station of the Spurs. The pregame show will air on KENS 5 at 7 p.m.

The AT&T Center will be a welcome sight for the Spurs, who have played 10 of their past 14 games on the road.

After back-to-back losses in three days against Toronto and Indiana, the Silver and Black defeated Cleveland 114-102 Tuesday at home and Memphis 108-85 Wednesday on the road. The Spurs hadn't won consecutive games since last month, when they beat the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks before they lost to Detroit in their last game of 2017.

The Silver and Black are 25-3 this season when they score at least 100 points.

Eight San Antonio players scored in double figures in the win over Memphis, with reserve guard Patty Mills leading the way with 15 points. Pau Gasol just missed a triple double, finishing with 14 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists.

"It was great," Gasol said of the Spurs' performance. "I loved the ball movement. I love that guys that worked hard to get open. I'm always looking, so if you're open, you're going to get it (the ball). Guys know that and I love that because it encourages motion, movement, aggressiveness and selflessness."

The Silver and Black were sharp offensively in Memphis, getting 29 assists on their 38 field goals.

Danny Green (14), Bryn Forbes (14), Tony Parker (12), Dejounte Murray (11), Davis Bertans (11) and Joffrey Lauvergne (10) were the other Spurs scoring in double figures. Murray, who made his second consecutive start at point guard after replacing Parker, also finished with a career-high seven assists.

Up next for the Spurs after Friday's game: vs. Sacramento, Sunday, 6 p.m., AT&T Center

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