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Jingling Spurs aim to keep 76ers winless

Dec 1, 2014 - 2:44 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - A side story to the futility of the Philadelphia 76ers is whether the city's NFL franchise will produce more wins this season. The Eagles have a 9-3 record with four games to go and the Sixers are off to a dreadful 0-16 start, the worst in team history. At least the Sixers have 66 games remaining on the schedule. Philadelphia has a very slim chance of tasting victory when the streaking San Antonio Spurs invade the Wells Fargo Center Monday night. The defending NBA champions, winners of seven straight, may rest some players because tonight is the second of a back-to-back after a win over the Boston Celtics on Sunday. The Sixers will close out a four-game homestand and are 0-9 in front of a generally sparse local crowd. They dropped a 110-103 decision to the Dallas Mavericks Saturday and were led by K.J. McDaniels, who had 21 points and 13 rebounds. Michael Cartyer-Williams posted the third triple-double of his career with 18 points, a career-high 16 assists and 10 rebounds. Alexey Shved had 18 points in the loss. Philadelphia had 24 turnovers for 27 Dallas points, and has turned the ball over 44 times in the past two games. "We've just gotta keep our group together and move them along," Sixers coach Brett Brown said. Philadelphia is two losses away from tying the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets (0-18) for the worst start to an NBA season. Sixers guard and leading scorer Tony Wroten (17.9 ppg) did not play versus the Mavs because of a knee issue and is questionable Monday. Carter-Williams (ankle) and center Nerlens Noel (hip) are probable. The 76ers, who are scoring an NBA-low 90.8 points, will visit Minnesota Wednesday and are scheduled to play four of the next five games on the road. They are 0-7 away from home. San Antonio will try to extend its winning streak to eight games in south Philly and handed the Celtics a 111-89 defeat at TD Garden. Danny Green sank 4-of-9 3-pointers en route to 18 points, while Boris Diaw and Tim Duncan scored 15 and 14 points, respectively, for the Spurs, who shot 48.2 percent and scored 66 points in the second half to Boston's 40. Kawhi Leonard scored 12 points and Tony Parker added nine and nine assists. "The Spurs play the right way all the time," said Boston coach Brad Stevens. "They do it for 48 minutes. They do it for 82 games." Spurs coach Gregg Popovich returned to the bench from a two-game absence following a minor medical procedure. Assistant coach Ettore Messina took his place. The Spurs opened a four-game road trip Sunday and will also visit Brooklyn and Memphis. They are 6-3 outside the Alamo City and 10-1 in the last 11 overall. San Antonio is second in opponents' scoring at 92.5 ppg and has held the opposition under 100 points in seven of the last nine contests. The Spurs are climbing up the Southwest ladder with a 12-4 record, while Memphis is an NBA- best 15-2 and Houston has a 13-4 mark. Philadelphia suffered a 100-75 loss in San Antonio on Nov. 17 and Matt Bonner led the hosts with 18 points. Carter-Williams scored 16 in that one for the 76ers, who are winless in the past seven matchups between the teams. The Spurs have won three in a row in the City of Brotherly Love. Brown, of course, was an assistant under Popovich for seven seasons.