x
Breaking News
More () »

SPURS GAMEDAY: Loss to Blazers would match season's longest skid

Reeling Silver and Black have lost two straight by 39 and 31 points.

GAMEDAY AT A GLANCE

Portland Trail Blazers (13-9) vs. Spurs (10-12)

When, where: Sunday, 6 p.m., AT&T Center

Last season: Spurs won series 2-1

All-time series record: Spurs lead 84-83

Last meeting: Blazers 121, Spurs 108, Oct. 20, Portland, Ore.

Blazers' last game: Lost to Denver Nuggets 113-112, Friday, Portland

Spurs' last game: Lost to Houston Rockets 136-105, Friday, AT&T Center

Blazers' last 10 games/streak: 4-6, lost one

Spurs' last 10 games/streak: 3-7, lost two

Blazers' injury/inactive report: Guard Evan Turner (left Achilles tendon inflammation), questionable.

Spurs' injury/inactive report: Guard Marco Belinelli (neck stiffness), questionable; Drew Eubanks (G League assignment), out; center Pau Gasol (left foot soreness), out; forward Ben Moore (G League assignment), out; guard Dejounte Murray (torn right anterior cruciate ligament), out; guard Lonnie Walker IV (G League assignment), out.

Notable: After playing the Trail Blazers on Sunday, the Spurs have a back-to-back on the road against the Jazz on Tuesday and the Lakers on Wednesday . . . The Spurs haven't won back-to-back games since winning four in a row in an eight-day span (Oct. 27-Nov. 3). They are 4-10 since then . . . DeMar DeRozan is the first player to score double figures in each of his first 22 games with the Spurs since David Robinson in 1989.

GAME PREVIEW

SAN ANTONIO – It’s still early in the long grind of an 82-game NBA season, but when does it become time to wonder if a team is going to overcome its problems or continue to struggle?

Reeling after losing their last two games by 39 and 31 points, the Spurs have circled the wagons and hunkered down to dig themselves out of the hole they’ve fallen into. San Antonio has lost three in a row only once this season, and two straight three other times.

Two nights after losing to the Timberwolves 128-89 in Minnesota, the Silver and Black suffered the indignity of taking a 136-105 whipping from the Houston Rockets on Friday at the AT&T Center.

The Spurs had a rare workout on the day after a game Saturday. They also watched film of Friday night’s debacle.

“We had a lot of things to talk about,” backup forward Davis Bertans said after Saturday’s workout. “That was the mood. At the same time, I think everybody understands that we can only go up from here. We had a couple of really bad games, so it can’t really be worse than that. We’ve just got to go out there and compete. That’s the main key of what we talked about.”

The Silver and Black (10-12) will try to get back on track when they take on the Portland Trail Blazers (13-9) at 6 p.m. Sunday at the AT&T Center. The Blazers won the first meeting between the teams this season, 121-108 in Portland.

San Antonio hadn’t lost consecutive games by 30 or more points since getting crushed by Indiana (133-102) and Detroit (143-111) in road games on Nov. 25 and Nov. 27, 1987.

The Spurs haven’t won back-to-back games since winning four in a row during an eight-day span (Oct. 27-Nov. 3). They are 4-10 since then.

“Just got to bounce back,” said forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who led the Spurs’ scoring against the Rockets with 20 points. “Just got to focus on the things that we haven’t been doing well. Just be better. Just take ownership in it. Just go out and go do it, basically.”

Where do the Spurs start to get back on track?

“Just mentality,” Aldridge said. “Just got to come out with a better mentality. We’re going to stop guys. We’re going to get out and run and just play with confidence. Then what happens, happens.”

While San Antonio’s defense was sorely lacking, coach Gregg Popovich blamed himself for the team’s offensive problems.

"We're obviously discombobulated on offense, so a lot of that has to do with me," Popovich said. "I've got to do a better job there. I think, defensively, we've obviously got to shore up our effort and our wisdom at that end of the court.

"So, we've got a lot of work to do. Houston did a great job tonight. They spread the floor well, they attacked well (and) they deserved to win, obviously."

Aldridge said the Spurs have been hurt by falling into the trap of letting their defensive lapses carry over to their offense.

“That’s now how it should be, but it’s human nature,” Aldridge said. “When you’re kind of confused or not doing your job defensively, it carries over to the offensive end. We have to be better with getting better defensive starts and just playing with more confidence and moving the ball offensively.”

The Silver and Black, Aldridge said, are working together to solve the team’s problems.

“It’s on everyone. It’s not just him,” Aldridge said, referring to Popovich. “We all take ownership in this. It’s a team sport so we all have to try to be better, do better and start to figure it out.”

The Spurs have a back-to-back on the road after hosting Portland on Sunday, playing at Utah on Tuesday and the Lakers in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Before You Leave, Check This Out