Chicago @ San Antonio preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 21, 2017 ) San Antonio 87, Chicago 77

The Chicago Bulls are playing so poorly that team president Michael Reinsdorf is fielding questions about the job security of third-year coach Fred Hoiberg. The Bulls possess the third-worst record in the NBA and will try to halt a three-game losing streak when they visit the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.

Chicago dropped to 1-4 at home with Friday's 105-87 setback against the Indiana Pacers, a defeat that came just hours after Reinsdorf addressed Hoiberg's status. "We have to see, but right now we're happy," Reinsdorf told reporters. "The team is playing hard. Fred's got them playing hard. It's not going unnoticed." San Antonio is 3-2 on a six-game homestand after dropping a 94-87 decision against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday in a sloppy showing featuring 18 turnovers. "We played pretty poorly for most of the game and they played better," Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said afterward. "We adjusted to their defense late in the game but it was too late. It's hard to win an NBA game with 18 turnovers."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN Chicago, FSN Southwest (San Antonio)

ABOUT THE BULLS (2-8): Third-year forward Bobby Portis posted double-doubles in his first two games of the season while averaging 20.5 points and 12 rebounds. Portis was suspended for the first eight games of the season after punching forward Nikola Mirotic (broken facial bones) during a preseason practice and indicated the strong outings are a product of his offseason work. "I put a lot of work in over the summer," Portis said after Friday's loss. "On my jump shot, my low post game and everything and feel like I've tuned everything to get it to be an NBA player. This is a big year for me."

ABOUT THE SPURS (7-5): Power forward LaMarcus Aldridge has been able to thrive as a focal part of the offense with All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard (quadriceps) out and scored 20 or more points in 10 of 12 games. He had 20 points and 12 rebounds against Milwaukee for his fifth double-double of the season and is scoring in a way that is reminiscent of his five straight seasons of averaging more than 21 points per game for the Portland Trail Blazers. Veteran small forward Rudy Gay had just six points on 3-of-12 shooting against the Bucks after scoring 20 or more in two of the previous three contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Aldridge scored 28 points as the Spurs registered an 87-77 road victory over the Bulls on Oct. 21.

2. Ginobili scored a season-best 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting against the Bucks.

3. Chicago C Robin Lopez had three points on 1-of-7 shooting against the Pacers after scoring 20 on 10-of-11 shooting in the club's previous game against the Toronto Raptors.

PREDICTION: Spurs 97, Bulls 85