Spurs-Suns Preview
Manu Ginobili's injury prior to the All-Star break shortened San Antonio's bench before its depth became further depleted when Kawhi Leonard couldn't play in the first two following the hiatus.
In customary Spurs fashion, they've won far more often than not despite the setbacks.
Leonard is questionable for Sunday night's contest in Phoenix as the Spurs continue their rodeo road trip looking to beat the Suns for a seventh straight time.
Ginobili underwent testicular surgery Feb. 4 after being accidentally kneed the night before by New Orleans' Ryan Anderson, and he recently wrote in an Argentine newspaper that there's no timetable for his return. The Spurs (46-9) won the first four without him as part of a six-game winning streak prior to the break.
San Antonio has gone 21-3 since the day after Christmas, with the latest defeat a 105-86 setback against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday. Leonard sat out with tightness in his left calf, then missed Friday's 119-113 win over the Lakers as Tony Parker finished with 25 points and Tim Duncan added 12 and 13 boards.
The Spurs said Leonard, who averaged 24.2 points in the five games before sitting out, could return against the Suns (14-41). Kyle Anderson has scored 22 points while shooting 11 of 20 from the field starting in place of the All-Star.
Anderson played nearly 30 minutes against the Lakers to help the Spurs overcome the media craze of Kobe Bryant and Duncan matching up for the final time.
"(Friday) wasn't about (Bryant)," Duncan said. "This was about us trying to get back on track. We came here to win a game."
San Antonio's streak against Phoenix includes victories in the last five by an average of 23.6 points while handily winning each of the three meetings this season.
Duncan and Parker sat out the last matchup Jan. 21, but Leonard scored 21 points in a 117-89 road win.
The Suns should have a tough time snapping that skid even if Leonard can't go. They've lost a season-worst 10 straight after falling 116-110 to Houston on Friday. This will be the last of a seven-game homestand, and they've gone 2-13 at home since Dec. 20.
Phoenix traded Markieff Morris to Washington at the deadline in a deal that netted Kris Humphries, who finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds off the bench in his debut. He missed 19 of his last 20 games with the Wizards because of a knee injury.
"I've always been kind of a hustle player - rebound, defend, run the floor," Humphries said. "I can bring that to this team and just play hard and do whatever the coaches ask me to do."
Eric Bledsoe is out for the season and Brandon Knight has missed the last 12 with a groin injury, but Knight reportedly is close to returning. Interim coach Earl Watson praised reserve Ronnie Price despite his scoreless return from sitting out the previous 16 with a sprained toe.
"His presence calmed us," Watson said. "It just shows that we need a point guard on the court constantly. Until we get Brandon Knight back, we have to find ways to stay within the game."
Mirza Teletovic, who sat out the last matchup with the Spurs, scored a season-high 25 points against the Rockets and is averaging 17.2 over his last five.
Rookie Devin Booker scored 24 against San Antonio last month and is hitting 44.5 percent from the field on the season, but he's shooting 32.1 percent over his last five.
