Still in position to snag the top seed in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs will try to make up some ground on the road tonight in the opener of a three-game trek against the Golden State Warriors.
The Spurs are just one game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference standings with eight games to play, and will also visit the Lakers and Kings on the upcoming back-to-back-to-back journey out west. The Thunder will visit the Clippers tonight.
San Antonio just captured its second straight Southwest Division crown with Saturday's 105-91 victory versus Phoenix in the finale of a three-game homestand (2-1), as Tim Duncan finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
"We're in a great position right now and hopefully we can end up on top," said Duncan when asked about the importance of the top seed in the West. "If we don't, we're number two and we're happy with that."
Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker scored 14 points apiece for San Antonio, which put a wrench in the Suns' plans for a playoff spot and won for the 13th time in 15 tries. San Antonio shot 52.6 percent for the game and received 10 points from DeJuan Blair.
San Antonio is 17-11 away from the Alamo City this season, and hopes the Los Angeles Clippers can give the team a hand versus OKC tonight in Hollywood.
Golden State is out of the playoff picture, but will continue a tough stretch of games against postseason hopefuls. The Warriors have lost four straight and 11 of 13 games, including Saturday's 112-104 setback at the Clippers.
Nate Robinson ended with a season-high 28 points and eight assists for the Warriors, who suffered their fourth straight loss on the road. Klay Thompson and Dorell Wright tallied 24 and 23 points, respectively, in defeat.
"I'm really happy with our guys and the energy they brought," Warriors head coach Mark Jackson said.
The Warriors will also host the Los Angeles Lakers on a quick homestand before taking on both Dallas and Houston in the Lone Star State. They just dropped a 112-103 decision versus the Mavericks on Thursday.
Golden State is 12-17 in Oakland this season and lost the first meeting with San Antonio, 101-95, on Jan. 4 in the Alamo City. The Spurs have swept the season series with the Warriors in each of the past three years and is unbeaten in the last 13 meetings between the teams. Golden State and San Antonio will meet again April 26 in California.
San Antonio has won five in a row as the guest in this series.
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