Spurs look to cool red-hot Rockets in season's first meeting on Friday

Tip-off between San Antonio, Houston is 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

SAN ANTONIO – With their starting lineup now intact, the San Antonio Spurs look to cool off the red-hot Houston Rockets on the road Friday night.

The tip-off between San Antonio and Houston is 8:30 p.m. and the game will be shown on ESPN.

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The Spurs lost to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday despite the return of their All-Star Kawhi Leonard.

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Leonard scored 13 points in 16 minutes and had six rebounds, an assist and a block. It was his first action since Game 1 of the Western Conference finals last season.

LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds and Rudy Gay scored 21 as the team only shot 29 percent in the fourth quarter -- eventually getting outscored 28-20. They, along with Leonard, were the only players in double figures for the Spurs.

The loss to Dallas was the first for San Antonio with Tony Parker back in the lineup. He scored six points on 3-of-9 shooting and the game was his first playing more than 20 minutes.

Houston (22-4) is in the midst of an 11-game winning streak dating back to Nov. 14. The Rockets most recently defeated the Charlotte Hornets at home 108-96. 

New addition Chris Paul scored a season-high 31 points and star James Harden added 21 to give Houston its 17th win in 18 games and the best record in the league.

Rockets foward Luc Mbah a Moute however injured his left shoulder while crashing to the floor following a shot before halftime and didn't return. ESPN is reporting that an MRI on his injured shoulder revealed no significant damage, but he still will be out two to three weeks.

Following Friday's meeting, the two teams do not play again until Feb. 1, a home game for the Spurs. The two rivals will then square off again in Houston on March 12 before having their final meeting of the regular season on April 1. 


About the Author:

Ben Spicer is a digital journalist who works the early morning shift for KSAT.