Third time is the charm: Spurs seek first win versus Grizzlies this season

Tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on FSN Southwest

Spurs Patty Mills in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 18, 2017 in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht)

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Spurs are positioned to make one last run at overtaking the Golden State Warriors for the top seed in the Western Conference.

San Antonio stands 2 1/2 games out, but seven of its next eight games are at home, beginning with Thursday's tilt against the Memphis Grizzlies.

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The Spurs didn't practice Wednesday after their Tuesday win over Minnesota, and they didn't hold their usual light workout or shoot around Thursday morning before the Grizzlies game. Rest makes a body better.

"Hopefully we come in still fresh but even more focused and intense because Memphis is a tough team and obviously we've lost to them twice already at their place," said Danny Green. ”This will be a good matchup, good challenge for us, a chance for us to get better."

This could also be a first round matchup the way these sit in the standings in the Western Conference.

The Spurs are currently in second place while the Grizzlies are in seventh. But including the Grizzlies game, the Spurs have 12 regular season games left, so that first round is still a ways off. 

"Not so worried about the matchup or the playoffs right now just want to be at our  best health wise and playing our best basketball focused and playing 48 minutes consistently," Green said.  

The Spurs, who have home games against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Warriors next week, had to overcome a double-digit deficit to defeat the Timberwolves 100-93 on Tuesday.

"It looks like sometimes we need to be pushed to the limit to bring out the best in us," Ginobili told reporters. "Sometimes we have it. Sometimes we're going to be able to overcome that and sometimes you won't."

ABOUT THE SPURS (54-16): The concern over the health of power forward LaMarcus Aldridge is dissipating after he scored 26 points against Minnesota. Aldridge missed two games due to a heart arrhythmia issue but has tallied at least 18 points in all four games since he returned and he is averaging 21 points during the stretch.

All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points against the Timberwolves and has reached 20 or more points in 15 of the past 18 games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Grizzlies are 2-0 against Spurs this season, including a 104-96 victory last Saturday.

2. San Antonio backup PF David Lee (foot) sat out against Minnesota but said he intends on playing against Memphis.

3. Memphis SG Tony Allen (knee) is questionable after sitting out the New Orleans contest.


About the Authors:

David Sears, a native San Antonian, has been at KSAT for more than 20 years.