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Warriors-Spurs Preview

Nov 25, 2009 - 6:20 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Golden State (4-8) at San Antonio (6-6), 8:30 p.m. EDT

Tim Duncan's steady contribution over the last two weeks hasn't restored the San Antonio Spurs' reputation as one of the elite teams in the Western Conference.

Duncan's impact in San Antonio's home games against the Golden State Warriors, however, cannot be denied.

The Spurs look to push their home winning streak over the Warriors to 23 games when they close a four-game homestand Wednesday night.

San Antonio has gotten off to a slow start this season, evening its record at 6-6 with a 112-98 win over Milwaukee on Monday. But the Spurs appear to have a good chance to build some momentum with a season-high third straight victory when they host a team they haven't lost to at home since February 1997.

Since drafting Tim Duncan with the No. 1 overall pick in 1997, San Antonio has yet to lose to the Warriors at home, winning 22 in a row. Duncan has been on the floor for 21 of those victories, averaging 19.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocked shots.

Big games from Duncan haven't translated to San Antonio wins so far this season. The Spurs were 0-4 when Duncan scores at least 20 before he had 24 points and 12 rebounds in Monday's victory.

Duncan, who is averaging 21.0 points in his last five games after averaging 14.6 in his first five, got some help against the Bucks. Matt Bonner scored 23 points off the bench and six players finished in double figures as San Antonio improved to 5-0 when reaching 100 points.

"That's what we need when the energy isn't there or someone isn't playing well, for other people to step up," Duncan said.

The win gave the Spurs back-to-back victories following a three-game losing streak while improving them to 6-2 at home. Including Wednesday's game, they play four of the next five at home.

San Antonio will next try to take advantage of a short-handed Warriors team, which despite struggling to put together a healthy lineup, will be going for a third straight victory Wednesday.

Golden State (5-8) is coming off a 111-103 win at Dallas on Tuesday. Monta Ellis scored a season-high 37 points and Anthony Morrow added 27. The Warriors went on a 14-2 run after falling behind 98-89, led by seven straight points from rookie Stephen Curry, who finished with 18.

After using eight players in a 108-94 win over Portland on Friday, the injury-riddled Warriors played only six players Tuesday, with Anthony Randolph scoring nine points in 30 minutes off the bench. They were without Andris Biedrins (strained groin), Raja Bell (left wrist), Kelenna Azubuike (left knee tendon), C.J. Watson (flu), Ronny Turiaf (sprained left knee) and Corey Maggette (left hamstring).

The Warriors snapped the Mavericks' five-game winning streak.

"Coming into this game, we had nothing to lose," said assistant coach Keith Smart, who filled in for Don Nelson, who's not traveling with the team while recovering from pneumonia. "The worst case is they blow us out and we move on to (Wednesday night's game in San Antonio). But our guys have a lot of character. They played hard together and made the right decisions."

Ellis has been a big factor in Golden State's last two wins. He was 15 for 29 from the field Tuesday after finishing with 34 points in the victory over Portland. He's averaging only 14.0 points in his career against the Spurs - his lowest average against any team in the West.