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Thunder-Spurs Preview

Mar 12, 2016 - 4:41 PM It's a wonder why anyone bothers reminding the San Antonio Spurs of what outsiders deem as accomplishments. A long home winning streak? The franchise's best record through 65 games? A future Hall of Famer grabbing a noteworthy rebound?

Ho-hum - to everything.

The Spurs have won five championships since 1999, and anything less than a sixth counts as a disappointing season. So if they're able to extend their regular-season home winning streak to 41 with a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night, fine.

If not, they're still legitimate contenders to be the last team standing in June.

"It's a record season, yes, but it doesn't mean anything if we don't go all the way," four-time champion Tony Parker said after scoring 20 points in Thursday's 109-101 home win over Chicago.

The Spurs (55-10) brought in LaMarcus Aldridge to help them get through a Western Conference featuring defending champion Golden State. And for all the attention the Warriors have garnered in their pursuit of the single-season wins record, San Antonio quietly isn't far behind them in the standings.

Aldridge's average of 17.6 points is nearly six fewer than last season with Portland, but he's shooting 50.6 percent. He's been more aggressive over his last five, scoring 25.4 points per game and hitting 58.6 percent from the floor after scoring 26 against the Bulls.

With Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili in the twilight of their careers, Kawhi Leonard has taken over as the top threat. He's averaging 25.6 points over his last eight after netting 29 on Thursday.

Duncan brushed off becoming the sixth player in NBA history with 15,000 rebounds and instead praised Leonard, who helped San Antonio win for 10th time in its last 11.

"He's had an incredible year thus far and he's starting to feel that he needs a little more respect than he's getting," Duncan said. "That he can make the plays that he's making if he's allowed the opportunity."

Leonard made plenty in the first meeting with the Thunder (44-21) on Oct. 28, finishing with 32 points, but the Spurs lost 112-106 on the road.

He's shooting 60.9 percent while making 6 of 9 from 3-point range in his last three against Oklahoma City, which got 33 points and 10 assists from Russell Westbrook and 22 points from Kevin Durant in the first matchup.

The Thunder will try to become the first opponent to win at the AT&T Center this season, but they've dropped three of their last five on the road and are coming off Friday's 99-96 home loss to last-place Minnesota.

Steven Adams' layup tied it with 10.8 seconds remaining before Ricky Rubio drained a 3 with 0.2 seconds left, preventing Oklahoma City from winning its third straight.

"We didn't expect this loss," Enes Kanter said after scoring 17 off the bench. "The most important thing is to get past it and start worrying about (the Spurs)."

Durant finished with 28 points and Westbrook had 26, but they combined for 11 of the Thunder's 24 turnovers, their second-most giveaways this season.

"I wish I could take all of (the turnovers) back, man. I just have to watch film and see how I can be better," said Durant, who has 32 giveaways over his last five games. "I have to control those turnovers because it's bleeding into the rest of the team, and as a leader I take full responsibility."

The Spurs won the last matchup in San Antonio 130-91 on March 25, 2015, although the Thunder played without Durant.