San Antonio @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 21, 2018 ) Washington 90, San Antonio 98

The Washington Wizards are slumping with losses in three straight but at least have their star player back at practice and nearing a return from injury. The San Antonio Spurs, who visit the Wizards on Tuesday, can't say the same about their star player and will be trying to snap a four-game road losing streak.

Washington point guard John Wall, who underwent knee surgery on Jan. 31, participated in his second full-contact practice on Monday, but there is still no firm timetable for his return. "It's getting close," Wizards coach Scott Brooks told reporters of Wall's return. "He's had two really, really good days. His energy level is high. He's anxious. You can tell. He wants to get out there. We still want to be patient." The Spurs swept a six-game homestand to put a little space between themselves and ninth-place Denver in the Western Conference but dropped the opener of a two-game trip 106-103 on Sunday, and star small forward Kawhi Leonard (quad) reportedly has yet to return to practice. San Antonio is instead leaning on All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge as it lingers a half-game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 4 spot in the West.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (San Antonio), NBCS Washington

ABOUT THE SPURS (43-31): Aldridge was named the Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 34.8 points and 9.3 rebounds in four games last week, including 34 points on 12-of-21 shooting in Sunday's setback. The only time in the last five games that Aldridge failed to score at least 33 points came against Washington at home on Wednesday, when he was held to 27 points on 12-of-23 shooting and nine boards in a 98-90 San Antonio win. Leonard might not be around to help but Aldridge got some support on Sunday from veteran center Pau Gasol, who collected 22 points and 13 rebounds off the bench after scoring in single digits in each of the previous three games.

ABOUT THE WIZARDS (40-33): Washington got blindsided by the lowly New York Knicks in a 101-97 loss on Sunday and is 2-6 in its last eight home games while dropping into sixth place in the East, one game ahead of seventh-place Milwaukee. "We thought that we could just show up and play because they don't have anything to play for," All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal told reporters after the latest setback. "We just thought it was going to be a cake walk and they just smacked us in the mouth." Beal, who leads the team in scoring at an average of 23.1 points, was held to 14 on 5-of-17 shooting in the loss, including 1-of-6 from 3-point range.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Wizards C Marcin Gortat went 2-of-9 from the floor on Sunday after going a combined 12-of-15 in the previous three contests.

2. Spurs PG Tony Parker totaled five points on 2-of-11 shooting over the last four games.

3. San Antonio took the last four in the series, including a 112-100 victory in the visit to Washington last season.

PREDICTION: Spurs 102, Wizards 95