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Spurs try to rebound from rare home loss vs. Bobcats

Mar 2, 2012 - 3:52 PM (Sports Network) - The San Antonio Spurs figure to bounce back from a rare home loss tonight when they resume a season-long seven-game residency against the NBA-worst Charlotte Bobcats.

The Southwest Division-leading Spurs dropped the opener of the homestand to Eastern power Chicago on Wednesday, 96-89. San Antonio had entered that contest with a 13-1 record at the AT&T Center, but was outscored 21-13 in the fourth quarter to suffer the loss.

Gary Neal scored a season-high 21 points and Tim Duncan chipped in 18 and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, who had won 12 of 13 overall coming in but were playing without injured swingman Manu Ginobili (strained left oblique).

"I thought the guys gave a heck of an effort," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "They did a great job, considering everything. I was really proud of them, but down the stretch Chicago showed why they've won all those games. They made shots and they were real solid defensively."

Despite the setback, San Antonio closed out the month of February with an 11-2 record, the best in the NBA along with Miami. The Spurs started February with three straight home wins before embarking on their annual Rodeo Road Trip which they finished at 8-1.

Ginobili, who has missed the last four games with his latest injury, could return to the lineup tonight and is listed as a game-time decision.

Charlotte, meanwhile, continued its miserable season on Wednesday, falling at Detroit by a 109-94 score.

Corey Maggette paced the Bobcats with 17 points and five boards, while D.J. White and Reggie Williams added 15 and 14 points, respectively. Gerald Henderson contributed 13 points for Charlotte, which has lost three straight and 19 of its last 20 games.

To make matters even worse the team lost rookie center Bismack Biyombo to a strained left shoulder.

"It is disheartening to lose like this," Bobcats head coach Paul Silas said. "Guys are not really playing tough, and for me that's the major problem."

An MRI on Thursday detected no tear in Biyombo's shoulder and the defensive specialist is being listed as day-to-day.

Charlotte is now a dismal 4-29 on the season and is in danger of threatening the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers for the worst winning percentage in NBA history. The Sixers finished 9-73 that season, winning at a .110 pace. The Bobcats currently have a .121 winning percentage.

The Spurs are 12-2 all-time against the Bobcats and 6-1 in the Alamo City.