San Antonio @ Golden State preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 10, 2018 ) San Antonio 105, Golden State 122

Anytime the Golden State Warriors have met up with the San Antonio Spurs over the last few seasons, it's been considered a marquee matchup in the Western Conference. That matchup will have lost a bit of luster when the Spurs visit the Warriors on Thursday.

While Golden State remains in its position as one of the top teams in the league and is locked in battle with the Houston Rockets for first place in the West, San Antonio is just hoping to hang onto a spot in the top eight. The Spurs dropped six of their last eight games -- beginning with a 122-105 loss at the Warriors on Feb. 10 -- and sits in fifth in the West entering play on Wednesday, just 2 1/2 games ahead of the ninth-place Los Angeles Clippers. San Antonio managed to stop the bleeding a bit on Monday, when it squeezed out a 100-98 victory at home over the lowly Memphis Grizzlies. All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge returned from a one-game absence due to an ankle sprain but managed just seven points in 31 minutes as veteran point guard Tony Parker led the team with 23 points off the bench.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT

ABOUT THE SPURS (37-27): San Antonio finally received some good news on the injury front on Wednesday, when small forward Kawhi Leonard told reporters he could return "soon." Leonard has played in just nine games this season while recovering from quad tendinopathy. "I don't have a set date right now (for my return)," Leonard told reporters. "The progress I've been making has been great. (The pain) is diminishing. It's hard to explain, but I'm definitely better. I feel better, and I'm feeling more comfortable."

ABOUT THE WARRIORS (50-14): Golden State had a minor injury scare when All-Star Stephen Curry went down with a sprained ankle in Friday's win at Atlanta, but the team insisted him sitting out late in that game was just precautionary. The ankle didn't stop Curry from playing golf at Augusta National on Saturday and it didn't stop him from dropping 34 points on 12-of-20 shooting on the Brooklyn Nets in a 114-101 win on Tuesday. The Warriors have a quick turnaround with a trip to red-hot Portland on Friday and a visit to Minnesota on Sunday to complete a stretch of three straight against West playoff contenders.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Spurs C Pau Gasol (AC joint sprain) is not expected to play on Thursday.

2. Warriors F Jordan Bell (right ankle) left Tuesday's game and is day-to-day.

3. Golden State took the last seven in the series, including a sweep in the Western Conference finals last spring.

PREDICTION: Warriors 120, Spurs 106