The San Antonio Spurs look to snap a six-game losing streak when they hit the road to face the Washington Wizards on Wednesday. Washington hasn’t been much better, dropping four of its last five.
This is the most un-Spurs-like start to a season that we have seen in the Gregg Popovich era. The team is currently sitting at 5-9 with its last win coming against Oklahoma City on Nov. 7. San Antonio has not won a game against a team with a winning record to date, with none of its wins being too impressive. We have not seen a skid like this from them in a long time, and though there is plenty of time to turn it around, it is still shocking.
Washington has not been too good this year, one of its earlier losses coming versus the Spurs. As John Wall rehabs, they are led by star Bradley Beal and Thomas Bryant, and outside of those guys, you never know what you may get. Isaiah Thomas has been playing decently now that he is a starter again, and rookie Rui Hachimura has had his moments. They aren’t expected to win much, so it is about the young guys and seeing who they can bring in via the draft.
The Spurs are set as 1.5-point favorites, with the over/under at 237. San Antonio’s moneyline is -125, while Washington’s is +105.
Slump-Breaker?
Six losses over the last 12 days, and yet not one major news outlet has referenced the Spurs’ struggles. They don’t seem too worried, and it is a drama-free team, but they will have to get it right soon. The Spurs can only afford to keep taking these losses for so long, with a defeat in this one likely being the “wake-up call” if they fall. They will be without Derrick White, so we should expect Dejounte Murray to have a larger role. He has not played too many minutes in his return season, but he is still brimming with potential.
Look for DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge to both try and feast on the Wizards, and look to score early and often. They both have to step up to ensure a win against this high-scoring foe.
High Pace, High Score
This is a team playing with the seventh-fastest pace in the league, scoring the third-most points (118.0) per game. They have scored wins over Oklahoma City, Detroit and Minnesota. The Spurs surprisingly held the Thunder to just 87 points when they last met. And for Davis Bertans, this is already the second time he faces his former team. He had 23 points on 7-of-7 shooting (5-of-5 from three-point range) when they last met. Beal had 25 with 11 assists, and the final score was 124-122 in favor of San Antonio, a game that went down to the wire. The Wizards would prefer it like that, having the final possession.
Washington scores a ton of points, but it allows far more. If the Wizards can get some stops regularly enough to go on runs, they will have a chance. Their love of the three-ball will give them an edge.
Spurs Win Close One
It will be way too close for their liking, but the Spurs will get the win. They end their skid!
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