• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Wizards-Spurs Preview

Nov 21, 2009 - 5:20 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Washington (3-7) at San Antonio (4-6), 8:30 p.m. EDT

The San Antonio Spurs aren't ready to panic, but they're definitely not thrilled with how their season has played out so far.

Off to their worst start in 13 years, the injury-plagued Spurs try to avoid their longest losing streak in two seasons Saturday night, when they go for their 10th straight home win over the Washington Wizards.

San Antonio (4-6) dropped its third straight game Thursday - 90-83 to Utah to open its four-game homestand.

The Spurs, who had won 20 straight at home versus the Jazz, have not lost four straight since March 12-17, 2008.

"It's tough," first-year Spur Antonio McDyess said of the team's worst 10-game start since opening 2-8 in 1996-97, the season before Tim Duncan's rookie year. "When you've got a good team expecting to win a lot of games and you're not in the beginning, it's kind of disappointing."

Injuries have added to that disappointment as Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have combined to miss seven games with a variety of ailments.

Parker has been sidelined for four of the last five contests with a sprained ankle and is questionable for Saturday. Ginobili missed his first game of the season Thursday with a strained left groin and is expected to be out for a week.

"(Injuries are) a part of the league, and I believe that's why (the Spurs) brought in some more people to try and weather those storms when you do have injuries," said San Antonio forward Richard Jefferson, who was acquired from Milwaukee in the offseason. "Right now, it's our job to bear down and get it right."

Taking on Washington could be what the Spurs need to get back on track. San Antonio has won seven straight over the Wizards since a 111-95 loss in the nation's capital Nov. 11, 2005.

The Spurs won the two matchups last season by an average of 26.5 points, while holding Washington to 37.7 percent shooting from the field.

This season, opponents are averaging 98.8 points and shooting 45.8 percent against San Antonio.

"If the playoffs started tomorrow, I think we'd be in trouble," said Duncan, who missed two games earlier this month due to a swollen left ankle. "But we've got a long way to go."

So do the Wizards (3-8), who have lost seven of eight.

Washington dropped its fifth straight on the road Friday, 127-108 to Oklahoma City.

It was the most points allowed by the Wizards since a 128-96 loss at Phoenix on March 21.

"We need to start coming out aggressive," guard Gilbert Arenas said Friday. "I don't know what it is, but we need to come out and start getting stuff going."

Arenas did not play in Washington's last four games versus the Spurs due to lingering knee problems. After missing 80 games in 2008-09 and 69 the previous season, Arenas continues to struggle with his shot, hitting 39.0 percent from the field.

He shot 7 for 20 Friday and finished with 23 points.

In his second game back after missing the first nine of the season due to a right shoulder injury, two-time All-Star Antawn Jamison had 22 points and 12 rebounds against the Thunder.

Jamison averaged 15.0 points and 6.0 boards in two losses to the Spurs in 2008-09.

Washington's last victory in San Antonio was a 99-89 win Dec. 11, 1999.