The San Antonio Spurs have hit a bit of a slump thanks to injuries that have halted their progress in the Western Conference. Currently dealing with Manu Ginobili being out with a sprained ankle, the Spurs are sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference, 2 ½ games behind the Houston Rockets. They look to improve that as they hit the road to face the New York Knicks.
The Spurs have won seven of their last eight games after going 5-1 in a homestand while shooting 53.2 percent as a team. They managed to get each win by an average of 16.6 points despite not having Ginobili who is averaging 11.4 points and 4.4 assists. The team is 5-3 when the swingman is not playing, thanks to the play of Tim Duncan who shot 57.3 percent over the last two wins. San Antonio is also benefitting from the play of Tony Parker who is averaging 23.3 points on 59.4 percent shooting in his last six games. The Spurs are also getting production out of Kawhi Leonard to the tune of 21.6 points on 55.4 percent shooting over the last seven games while Danny Green is shooting 52.8 percent from long range. The Spurs continue to manage without Ginobili.
The Spurs should have no issues as they face the Knicks a team they have beaten in the past. New York is currently the league's worst team as the have lost 15 of their last 18 games. They just wrapped up a 1-4 road trip by falling to the Phoenix Suns. Injuries ran wild in that game as Tim Hardaway Jr suffered a sprained wrist and Cleanthony Early hurt his ankle. It is uncertain whether either player will be available on Tuesday.
The Spurs beat the Knicks with ease back at the start of December even playing without Parker, Duncan, Leonard and Ginobili. They went 10 of 19 from beyond the arc winning 109-95. The Knicks are currently averaging just 91.2 points and shooting 40.8 percent overall. It could be much of the same in Madison Square Garden.
