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Spurs aim to avoid first three-game skid of season

Jan 21, 2008 - 2:10 PM San Antonio (25-13) at Charlotte (16-24) 1:00 pm EST

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) - After a pair of heartbreaking losses, Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs must be thrilled to see the Charlotte Bobcats on their schedule.

Duncan and the reigning champion Spurs hope to bounce back Monday when they visit the lowly Bobcats.

San Antonio has lost four of its last six games and suffered a pair of hard-fought defeats this past week. Two days after a two-point home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Spurs dropped an 83-81 decision Saturday to the Houston Rockets.

Duncan scored 24 points and grabbed 17 rebounds while Manu Ginobili chipped in 21 points off the bench for the Spurs, who have lost 10 of their last 18 games after racing to a 17-3 start this season.

But the Spurs likely are licking their chops at the prospect of playing the Bobcats, who have lost five of the six all-time meetings between the interconference foes.

The Spurs have won all three of their road games against the Bobcats and suffered their only loss in this all-time series at home on November 15, 2006.

Charlotte has shown signs of life lately, winning five of its last eight games.

Jason Richardson scored a season-high 38 points Saturday as the Bobcats coasted to a 105-87 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.