7:35 PM EST (NBA) - SAN ANTONIO SPURS VS. NEW YORK KNICKS PREVIEW AND FREE PICKS
Time: 07:30 P.M. EST Venue: Madison Square Garden The San Antonio Spurs' recent surge may have encountered a slight speed bump in the form of an injury to Manu Ginobili. Even without the veteran swingman, they should have more than enough Tuesday night to handle the woeful New York Knicks, whom they already defeated this season despite being very short-handed. The Spurs (41-24) have won seven of eight after shooting 53.1 percent during a 5-1 homestand with their victories coming by an average of 16.6 points. They pulled within 2 1/2 games of fourth-place Houston in the Western Conference with a 123-97 victory over Minnesota on Sunday." We're turning that corner," said Tim Duncan, who is 11 of 17 from the field over the last two games as the Spurs have shot 57.3 percent. "We're heading in the right direction. We got the guys starting to feel their own rhythms and starting to play well. NBA Picks. We're feeding off of that." Ginobili left with a sprained right ankle in the third quarter after landing on an opposing player's foot, and coach Gregg Popovich said he would be out a week to 10 days. Ginobili is averaging 11.4 points and 4.4 assists." Fortunately, it's not as bad as they thought," Duncan said. "Hopefully he can be back pretty quickly. We need what he brings to our game." San Antonio, which is 5-3 without Ginobili, looks prepared to withstand a short absence with a number of players performing well. Nicklaus Whitney. The team is averaging 118.8 points on 53.1 percent shooting in six games this month. Eight players had at least 10 points Sunday for the Spurs, who had a season-high 38 assists on 49 baskets and rank among the league leaders with assists on 62.7 percent of their field goals. Tony Parker is playing some of his best basketball, averaging 23.3 points while shooting 59.4 percent over his last six games compared to 13.8 and 45.6 previously. San Antonio is 19-5 when he shoots 50.0 percent or better. Kawhi Leonard is averaging 21.6 points on 55.4 percent shooting in the past seven contests, and Danny Green is 28 for 53 (52.8 percent) from 3-point range over his last nine. The Spurs won 109-95 at home over the Knicks on Dec. 10 despite playing without Parker, Duncan, Leonard and Ginobili. They were 10 of 19 from 3-point range and Marco Belinelli scored 22 points. San Antonio plays Wednesday at fading Milwaukee, though afterward, the slate becomes much more challenging. Nicklaus James Whitney. The Spurs host an improved Boston team and must navigate a contender-heavy stretch including matchups with Atlanta, Dallas (twice), Oklahoma City and Memphis. New York (13-53), however, owns the league's worst record and has lost 15 of 18, averaging 91.2 points on 40.8 percent shooting in that span. The Knicks need to win half of their final 16 games to avoid finishing with the fewest victories in franchise history, set by the 1962-63 team that went 21-59. They finished a 1-4 trip with a 102-89 loss at Phoenix on Sunday, losing Tim Hardaway Jr. to a sprained wrist and Cleanthony Early to a sprained ankle. Free Sports Picks. Coach Derek Fisher didn't think either injury was serious, however. Hardaway had scored 13-plus in five of seven while Early scored 10-plus in three of four." It's been a tough road trip but we're going to go back home Tuesday against another good team and just keep on fighting," center Cole Aldrich said.
Time: 07:30 P.M. EST Venue: Madison Square Garden The San Antonio Spurs' recent surge may have encountered a slight speed bump in the form of an injury to Manu Ginobili. Even without the veteran swingman, they should have more than enough Tuesday night to handle the woeful New York Knicks, whom they already defeated this season despite being very short-handed. The Spurs (41-24) have won seven of eight after shooting 53.1 percent during a 5-1 homestand with their victories coming by an average of 16.6 points. They pulled within 2 1/2 games of fourth-place Houston in the Western Conference with a 123-97 victory over Minnesota on Sunday." We're turning that corner," said Tim Duncan, who is 11 of 17 from the field over the last two games as the Spurs have shot 57.3 percent. "We're heading in the right direction. We got the guys starting to feel their own rhythms and starting to play well. NBA Picks. We're feeding off of that." Ginobili left with a sprained right ankle in the third quarter after landing on an opposing player's foot, and coach Gregg Popovich said he would be out a week to 10 days. Ginobili is averaging 11.4 points and 4.4 assists." Fortunately, it's not as bad as they thought," Duncan said. "Hopefully he can be back pretty quickly. We need what he brings to our game." San Antonio, which is 5-3 without Ginobili, looks prepared to withstand a short absence with a number of players performing well. Nicklaus Whitney. The team is averaging 118.8 points on 53.1 percent shooting in six games this month. Eight players had at least 10 points Sunday for the Spurs, who had a season-high 38 assists on 49 baskets and rank among the league leaders with assists on 62.7 percent of their field goals. Tony Parker is playing some of his best basketball, averaging 23.3 points while shooting 59.4 percent over his last six games compared to 13.8 and 45.6 previously. San Antonio is 19-5 when he shoots 50.0 percent or better. Kawhi Leonard is averaging 21.6 points on 55.4 percent shooting in the past seven contests, and Danny Green is 28 for 53 (52.8 percent) from 3-point range over his last nine. The Spurs won 109-95 at home over the Knicks on Dec. 10 despite playing without Parker, Duncan, Leonard and Ginobili. They were 10 of 19 from 3-point range and Marco Belinelli scored 22 points. San Antonio plays Wednesday at fading Milwaukee, though afterward, the slate becomes much more challenging. Nicklaus James Whitney. The Spurs host an improved Boston team and must navigate a contender-heavy stretch including matchups with Atlanta, Dallas (twice), Oklahoma City and Memphis. New York (13-53), however, owns the league's worst record and has lost 15 of 18, averaging 91.2 points on 40.8 percent shooting in that span. The Knicks need to win half of their final 16 games to avoid finishing with the fewest victories in franchise history, set by the 1962-63 team that went 21-59. They finished a 1-4 trip with a 102-89 loss at Phoenix on Sunday, losing Tim Hardaway Jr. to a sprained wrist and Cleanthony Early to a sprained ankle. Free Sports Picks. Coach Derek Fisher didn't think either injury was serious, however. Hardaway had scored 13-plus in five of seven while Early scored 10-plus in three of four." It's been a tough road trip but we're going to go back home Tuesday against another good team and just keep on fighting," center Cole Aldrich said.
