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Spurs looking to build momentum

Apr 11, 2009 - 6:12 PM By Matt Becker Stats Senior Writer

San Antonio (51-28) at Sacramento (16-63), 9 p.m. EDT

SACRAMENTO, California (AP) -- The San Antonio Spurs are heading to the playoffs for the 12th straight time, but unlike previous seasons, they've been stumbling down the stretch instead of gaining momentum for a title run.

Despite their recent struggles, they still have a chance to host a first-round series.

The Spurs look to build on an important victory over a playoff-bound team and move into a first-place tie atop the Southwest Division when they visit the NBA-worst Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

San Antonio (51-28) has averaged nearly 59 victories over the past eight seasons, but injuries to Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have made wins harder to come by.

The Spurs had lost four of their previous six before pulling out a 105-99 victory over Utah on Friday night. Parker finished with a game-high 31 points, while Duncan had 14 points and nine rebounds after finishing with a season-low four points in Wednesday's 95-83 loss to Portland.

"Every one is very important right now," said Duncan, whose knees have been bothering him since the All-Star break. "But more than that, getting our confidence up and getting a rhythm going."

The Spurs are locked in a back-and-forth race with Houston for the Southwest crown. San Antonio, which has won seven division titles in the past 10 seasons, was atop the Southwest for much of 2008-09 before going 8-8 over the past month and losing Ginobili this week to a season-ending ankle injury.

The Rockets have taken a one-half game lead and have only two left to play. They host New Orleans on Monday before wrapping up the regular season at Dallas on Wednesday.

San Antonio appears to have a slightly easier schedule. After this meeting with the Kings (16-63), the Spurs visit lowly Golden State on Monday before their home finale against the Hornets on Wednesday.

"It starts with effort, getting out there and playing hard, but I think we need to step up our game defensively with Manu being out," forward Ime Udoka said. "We don't have the same margin for error defensively because we're not as physical. Just come out and play hard and get a few road victories and finish it up at home."

The Spurs have had little trouble beating Sacramento lately, winning four straight and nine of the last 10 meetings. San Antonio won at Sacramento 90-88 on Nov. 16 - its sixth victory in seven games at Arco Arena -- and 101-85 at home Dec. 22.

While the Spurs are trying to find their rhythm for the playoffs, the Kings are gearing up for the NBA draft lottery.

Sacramento, which has dropped seven straight since defeating Phoenix 126-118 on March 29, shot 32.6 percent from the field in Friday's 109-78 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

"I was embarrassed at the way we went out and did not play and it will not continue," interim coach Kenny Natt said.

The Kings, who have lost eight in a row twice this season, will have a 25 percent chance of getting the first overall pick in the draft if they finish with the worst record in the league.

Kevin Martin, averaging a team-high 24.6 points per game, sat out his fifth straight game Friday because of a sprained left ankle. Natt is hopeful that he'll return Sunday.