Last week: Lost at Houston 109-107, beat Brooklyn 118-105, lost to Clippers 134-109
This week: Monday at Memphis, Thursday at Dallas, Saturday vs. Detroit
It was a 1-2 week for the San Antonio Spurs, who gave Houston all it wanted on Monday but ended the week getting hammered at home by the Clippers, who got some revenge for a 10-point loss at AT&T Center on Nov. 29. The Spurs take good care of the ball with a fifth-ranked turnover rate of 13.5 percent, but are 28th in the NBA in forcing turnovers (opponents’ rate is 12.8 percent).
LaMarcus Aldridge went for 19 points and 12 rebounds in the loss at Houston and for the week averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.0 steals in 31.2 minutes per game. He hit 52.4 percent of his shots overall and made 1-of-6 from 3-point range.
Last week: Lost at Oklahoma City 109-106, won at Washington 110-109 (OT), won at Detroit 119-107
This week: Monday at Orlando, Saturday vs. Atlanta
The Chicago Bulls started their week out on the wrong foot, coughing up a 26-point lead in a loss at Oklahoma City, but recovered to win at Washington and Detroit for a 2-1 week. The win over the Pistons clinched the season series already for the Bulls, who are 3-0 against Detroit this season. They close out a four-game trip Monday night at Orlando.
Zach LaVine continues to be on a rampage, averaging 32.0 points, 4.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 38.3 minutes per game last week, while shooting 47.6 percent overall and 34.6 percent on 8.7 deep attempts a game. LaVine had 39 points on 15-of-25 shooting in the loss at Oklahoma City.