Spurs at Wizards GAMEDAY Preview: How to Watch, Injury Report, Betting Odds

The San Antonio Spurs play the Washington Wizards at the Capital One Arena on Friday night. Fresh off a beatdown from the Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio looks for a bounce-back win in Washington, D.C.

Author:
Lance Roberson
Publish date:
Mar 24, 2023 12:16 PM EDT

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San Antonio Spurs

Still licking their wounds from the blowout loss courtesy of the Milwaukee Bucks, the San Antonio Spurs face the Washington Wizards on Friday night. With the Wizards technically in the race for the play-in tournament but also not bad enough to garner high odds for a top pick, the Wizards find themselves in NBA purgatory.

Despite harboring multiple former All-Stars on its roster, Washington hasn't secured a winning record since 2018. Nonetheless, the Spurs don't have the luxury of taking any opponent easy due to their injuries and overall lack of veteran talent. Nothing is easy on San Antonio’s current timeline.

The Wizards only stick out in one statistical category, two-point scoring. Washington is a basketball enigma, ranked ninth in two-point percentage and a dud virtually in the rest of the statistical ranks.

Again, not good enough to win at a significant level, but Washington’s front office continues to resist a legitimate rebuild. Bradley Beal, no longer the elite scorer of the past, has a hold on the franchise due to the astronomical figure on the Wizards’ books. Speaking of Beal, he's listed as out on the official NBA injury report.

With Beal on the sidelines, San Antonio's primary focus is Kristaps Porzingis. Averaging a career-high in points per game (23) and true shooting percentage (.621), Porzingis has the freedom to score and looks healthier than last season.

Win or lose, the Spurs are on track, while the Wizards powerwalk on the treadmill of mediocrity.