San Antonio @ Brooklyn preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 26, 2017 ) Brooklyn 97, San Antonio 109

The San Antonio Spurs have been exchanging wins and losses all month and hope to bounce back from another setback when they continue a three-game road trip at the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. The Spurs opened the trip with a 102-99 loss at Atlanta while getting dominated on the glass and giving up 30 fourth-quarter points.

The setback came with Kawhi Leonard (quad, shoulder) again watching from the sidelines and with Manu Ginobili (thigh) exiting in the first quarter after a collision with Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon. "With Kawhi out and then Manu went down, it was tough," Danny Green told reporters. "But we have to take care of business. Whether it's in the afternoon or the evening, road or home, we have got to play the same way, whoever is on the floor or not." The Nets lost five of their last six after dropping a 119-104 decision to the New York Knicks on Monday to begin a three-game homestand. They've also dropped five straight against the Spurs, including a 109-97 final at San Antonio last month.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (San Antonio), YES (Brooklyn)

ABOUT THE SPURS (29-16): Ginobili is doubtful for this one but Leonard - who last played Saturday against Denver - hopes to return, as coach Gregg Popovich indicated before the Hawks game that there was no new injury for his All-Star. Leonard scored 21 points in 26 minutes in the win over the Nets last month and is averaging 21.7 to go along with 6.3 rebounds and four steals in three games in January. LaMarcus Aldridge continues to be the steadying force for the Spurs, and the star forward had 25 points and 11 rebounds in the loss to Atlanta.

ABOUT THE NETS (16-28): The starting backcourt of Spencer Dinwiddie and Allen Crabbe combined to shoot 3-of-21 - including 1-of-10 from long range - in the loss to the Knicks, and some of the low percentages may be tied to a relative lack of ball movement. "We do have to do a better job of kicking it out. If they have two guys waiting for us at the rim, we have to make that extra pass," coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters. "We've regressed in our 'making-the-extra-pass' philosophy." Since averaging 25.7 points during a three-game stretch earlier this month, Dinwiddie is averaging 10.8 while making 13-of-50 shots over the last four contests.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Spurs C Pau Gasol had 15 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in the win over Brooklyn on Dec. 26.

2. Nets F DeMarre Carroll is averaging 16 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals in three games since returning from a knee sprain.

3. Aldridge is averaging 24.2 points on 54.4 percent shooting over the last five outings.

PREDICTION: Spurs 107, Nets 101