Sunday's Tip Sheet
April 5, 2015
Warriors at Spurs – 7:05 PM EST
Golden State has run away with the top spot in the Western Conference at 63-13, but the Warriors still have plenty of work to do when the postseason begins later this month. Steve Kerr’s team has won 12 straight games, coming off last night’s 123-110 victory at Dallas to cash as 6 ½-point road favorites. Stephen Curry struggled from the floor by shooting just 4-of-12 for 11 points, but Andre Iguodala and Marresse Speights each contributed 18 points off the bench to pull off the four-game season sweep of the Mavs.
The Spurs dropped four straight games right after the All-Star break, but that skid came to a grinding halt quickly. San Antonio has won 16 of its past 19 games, while riding a six-game hot streak, coming off a 123-93 blowout of Denver on Friday night as 13-point favorites. The Spurs have covered all six times during their current winning streak, while capturing six of eight victories away from the AT&T Center since the four-game skid in February.
San Antonio is currently sitting in the sixth spot in the Western Conference and has a playoff berth wrapped up, but the Southwest Division title is still up for grabs. Gregg Popovich’s club is just two games behind Memphis for first place in the division with six games remaining, as there are many combinations on where the Spurs can land in the West, ranging from the second seed to sixth seed.
This series has been owned by the Spurs over the years, as San Antonio swept the season series last year. This season, the Spurs shocked the Warriors as 8 ½-point road underdogs in mid-November, 113-100, while knocking down 49% of their shots from the floor. Tony Parker led the Spurs with 28 points, while Curry struggled from three-point range, failing to hit a shot in seven attempts from downtown.
Golden State ended its hex against San Antonio right after the All-Star break in a 110-99 triumph over the Spurs as 7 ½-point favorites at Oracle Arena. Curry played better this time around, scoring 25 points and dishing out 11 assists, while the Warriors knocked down 17 three-pointers. Parker and Tim Duncan combined to score only 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting, as San Antonio struggled on the second of a back-to-back after losing to the Clippers the night before.
VegasInsider.com writer Tony Mejia provides his view on this key contest, “With the Western Conference’s top seed and the Pacific Division title wrapped up, look for Kerr to start resting key players over the season’s last 10 days. Count on seeing multiple guys rested on the second night of a back-to-back since the Warriors have absolutely nothing to prove against a San Antonio squad they’ve split the regular season series with thus far. Considering the Spurs are just two games behind in the Southwest Division race and are vying for a top-four finish to earn homecourt advantage in the first round, expect that they’ll be significantly engaged.”
During their six-game winning streak, San Antonio has limited all six opponents to 93 points or less, while cashing the ‘under’ four times. Golden State has won five straight games away from Oracle Arena, but the Warriors have lost 19 of their past 20 visits to the AT&T Center since 2004. The only victory came in the 2013 playoffs when the Warriors stunned the Spurs, 100-91 in Game 2 of the second round, but Golden State eventually lost that series.
What else to watch for:
-- Paul George is expected to make his season debut for the Pacers tonight after missing the first 76 games with a leg injury suffered in an Olympic exhibition game last summer. Indiana hosts Miami tonight as both teams are currently on the outside looking in for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference behind Boston. The Heat squandered another lead on the road in the fourth quarter, falling at Detroit last night, 99-98 for their third straight defeat. The Pacers own a dreadful 3-12 record the past 15 games, but picked up a 93-74 blowout of the Hornets on Friday.
-- The Kings have lost four straight games as Sacramento welcomes in Utah. The Jazz fell apart in the fourth quarter of an 89-87 loss at Phoenix last night, as the Suns snapped a five-game skid. Utah has allowed 89 points or less in four consecutive contests, but the offense has been limited to 89 points or fewer in five of the past six games. Following an eight-game ‘over’ streak, the Kings have cashed the ‘under’ in six of the last eight trips to the court.
-- The Clippers and Lakers begin a home-and-home series over the next few days, which basically means the two city rivals stay at home and just flip the design of the court. The Clips are on fire of late, winning nine of 11, while covering six consecutive road games. The Lakers are fresh off back-to-back home blowout losses to the Pelicans and Blazers, while losing seven of the previous nine home contests since the start of March.
April 5, 2015
Warriors at Spurs – 7:05 PM EST
Golden State has run away with the top spot in the Western Conference at 63-13, but the Warriors still have plenty of work to do when the postseason begins later this month. Steve Kerr’s team has won 12 straight games, coming off last night’s 123-110 victory at Dallas to cash as 6 ½-point road favorites. Stephen Curry struggled from the floor by shooting just 4-of-12 for 11 points, but Andre Iguodala and Marresse Speights each contributed 18 points off the bench to pull off the four-game season sweep of the Mavs.
The Spurs dropped four straight games right after the All-Star break, but that skid came to a grinding halt quickly. San Antonio has won 16 of its past 19 games, while riding a six-game hot streak, coming off a 123-93 blowout of Denver on Friday night as 13-point favorites. The Spurs have covered all six times during their current winning streak, while capturing six of eight victories away from the AT&T Center since the four-game skid in February.
San Antonio is currently sitting in the sixth spot in the Western Conference and has a playoff berth wrapped up, but the Southwest Division title is still up for grabs. Gregg Popovich’s club is just two games behind Memphis for first place in the division with six games remaining, as there are many combinations on where the Spurs can land in the West, ranging from the second seed to sixth seed.
This series has been owned by the Spurs over the years, as San Antonio swept the season series last year. This season, the Spurs shocked the Warriors as 8 ½-point road underdogs in mid-November, 113-100, while knocking down 49% of their shots from the floor. Tony Parker led the Spurs with 28 points, while Curry struggled from three-point range, failing to hit a shot in seven attempts from downtown.
Golden State ended its hex against San Antonio right after the All-Star break in a 110-99 triumph over the Spurs as 7 ½-point favorites at Oracle Arena. Curry played better this time around, scoring 25 points and dishing out 11 assists, while the Warriors knocked down 17 three-pointers. Parker and Tim Duncan combined to score only 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting, as San Antonio struggled on the second of a back-to-back after losing to the Clippers the night before.
VegasInsider.com writer Tony Mejia provides his view on this key contest, “With the Western Conference’s top seed and the Pacific Division title wrapped up, look for Kerr to start resting key players over the season’s last 10 days. Count on seeing multiple guys rested on the second night of a back-to-back since the Warriors have absolutely nothing to prove against a San Antonio squad they’ve split the regular season series with thus far. Considering the Spurs are just two games behind in the Southwest Division race and are vying for a top-four finish to earn homecourt advantage in the first round, expect that they’ll be significantly engaged.”
During their six-game winning streak, San Antonio has limited all six opponents to 93 points or less, while cashing the ‘under’ four times. Golden State has won five straight games away from Oracle Arena, but the Warriors have lost 19 of their past 20 visits to the AT&T Center since 2004. The only victory came in the 2013 playoffs when the Warriors stunned the Spurs, 100-91 in Game 2 of the second round, but Golden State eventually lost that series.
What else to watch for:
-- Paul George is expected to make his season debut for the Pacers tonight after missing the first 76 games with a leg injury suffered in an Olympic exhibition game last summer. Indiana hosts Miami tonight as both teams are currently on the outside looking in for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference behind Boston. The Heat squandered another lead on the road in the fourth quarter, falling at Detroit last night, 99-98 for their third straight defeat. The Pacers own a dreadful 3-12 record the past 15 games, but picked up a 93-74 blowout of the Hornets on Friday.
-- The Kings have lost four straight games as Sacramento welcomes in Utah. The Jazz fell apart in the fourth quarter of an 89-87 loss at Phoenix last night, as the Suns snapped a five-game skid. Utah has allowed 89 points or less in four consecutive contests, but the offense has been limited to 89 points or fewer in five of the past six games. Following an eight-game ‘over’ streak, the Kings have cashed the ‘under’ in six of the last eight trips to the court.
-- The Clippers and Lakers begin a home-and-home series over the next few days, which basically means the two city rivals stay at home and just flip the design of the court. The Clips are on fire of late, winning nine of 11, while covering six consecutive road games. The Lakers are fresh off back-to-back home blowout losses to the Pelicans and Blazers, while losing seven of the previous nine home contests since the start of March.
