San Antonio Spurs Stand Atop NBA After Sunday
While the Philadelphia 76ers are marred in futility, losers of 16 straight, the San Antonio Spurs are in the midst of one of the NBA’s longest current winning streaks at six games. The Los Angeles Clippers are the only team with more victories in a row at seven.
San Antonio has won four of their last six games by double digits with Tony Parker returning to action March 2 for a hard-fought 112-106 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
The Spurs’ win streak coincides with the Rodeo Road Trip wrapping up Feb. 21. Five days later small forward Kawhi Leonard returned from a hand injury to post 15 points, six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals at home against the Detroit Pistons. San Antonio outscored Detroit by 23 points when Leonard was in the game and prevailed 120-110.
Not only are the Spurs winning, San Antonio is healthy–which is a scary sight for the Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder, who all also had 16 losses before Sunday.
Conversely Indiana, Miami and Oklahoma City are currently sliding, losing four, three and two straight, respectively, including losses at the Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
San Antonio, who owns a mirror 23-8 home and road record, visits Chicago, winners in 11 of their last 14 games, on Tuesday.
The 46-16 Spurs are in position, even with Gregg Popovich resting players, to finish atop the West and possibly all the NBA. After beating the Orlando Magic 121-112 Saturday night assistant coach Sean Marks admitted that San Antonio only follows how the other teams do a little bit.
More concerning though to Marks, Popovich and staff is that the Spurs are healthy for the second season, the playoffs. If San Antonio, no matter the seed, is another deep run in the postseason is likely.