Portland @ San Antonio preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 7, 2018 ) San Antonio 110, Portland 111

The San Antonio Spurs are in the unfamiliar position of still fighting for a playoff spot with less than a week remaining in the regular season. The Spurs will try to draw closer to clinching their 21st straight berth in the Western Conference playoffs when they host the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday.

San Antonio is one of six teams fighting over five spots and gets the next two at home after dropping back-to-back games in Los Angeles to the Clippers and Lakers. "We've got to know that every game is a playoff, a Game 7 for us," Spurs point guard Dejounte Murray told reporters after Wednesday's 122-112 overtime loss to the Lakers. "We've got to play for 48 minutes, and if the game decides to go to overtime like it did tonight, we've got to be ready to play even more. We've just got to be ready to compete for the whole game. We come out hot in a lot of games, and there are some quarters we give up 38-40 points, and it ends up hurting us in the end." The Trail Blazers already have their spot in the playoffs secured and are closing in on clinching the No. 3 slot. Portland is struggling on the road of late and fell at Dallas and Houston to open the four-game trip.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBCS Northwest (Portland), FS Southwest (San Antonio)

ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS (48-31): Portland overcame a 17-point deficit to tie the Rockets before falling 96-94 on Thursday, and the reserves led the charge. Point guard Wade Baldwin IV led the bench effort and contributed 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting in 32 minutes. "Wade Baldwin had a terrific night," Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts told reporters. "He’s in great condition to do what he did on both ends. To pick up (James) Harden full court, to pick up Chris Paul full court, harass them as much as he did and still push the tempo. To do that for (32) minutes, that was an impressive game."

ABOUT THE SPURS (45-34): San Antonio squandered a 19-point lead in the loss to the Clippers and was outscored 27-21 in the fourth quarter against the Lakers. "It was the worst outcome, losing two games that we had our chances and even times, especially (Tuesday), were in control with big leads," center Pau Gasol told reporters. "But two losses, and that is reality. (Wednesday), a tough one as well. Give (the Lakers) credit, they made a lot of tough shots, a lot just unreal, but it can happen. These guys play with no fear and have the green light to get them up." The Spurs host the Sacramento Kings on Monday before ending their season at another team fighting for a playoff spot in the New Orleans Pelicans.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Trail Blazers All-Star PG Damian Lillard (ankle) sat out Thursday for precautionary reasons and is day-to-day.

2. Spurs PF LaMarcus Aldridge is averaging 27.8 points and 10.8 rebounds over the last four games.

3. Portland took three of the last four meetings, including a 111-110 home win in the most recent matchup on Jan. 7.

PREDICTION: Spurs 108, Trail Blazers 99