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Spurs look to get back on track against Raptors

Dec 20, 2008 - 2:56 PM Toronto (10-16) at San Antonio (15-10), 8:30 p.m. EST

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- A two-game road trip was not kind to the San Antonio Spurs, but a flight back home to face a struggling Eastern Conference team could ease those pains.

The Spurs hope to avoid losing three in a row for the second time this season when they begin a three-game homestand against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday.

San Antonio had its six-game winning streak come to an end with a 90-83 loss to the New Orleans Hornets on Wednesday, then suffered a 90-78 setback against the Orlando Magic the following night.

Entering with their perennial high expectations, the Spurs dropped three in a row to begin the season from October 29-November 4.

Toronto, meanwhile, is trudging through a four-game losing streak. The Raptors' struggles continued in their 91-82 loss to the lowly Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.

They erased a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter but couldn't get over the jump - thanks in large part to 36 percent (32-of-88) shooting from the floor.

Chris Bosh led the Raptors with 22 points and 16 rebounds for his 13th double-double, but the team was forced to play a large portion of the game without star forward Jermaine O'Neal, who missed the second half with a sore left shoulder.

O'Neal is expected to play in this contest.