San Antonio @ Sacramento preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 12, 2018 ) San Antonio 99, Sacramento 104

The San Antonio Spurs are surging again with wins in five straight games and will need that momentum to last as they get set to embark on the annual "rodeo road trip." The Spurs will begin an eight-game road trip that bridges the All-Star break when they visit the Sacramento Kings on Monday.

San Antonio annually gives up its arena to the rodeo with mixed results and is hoping for a better showing than the 2-4 trip that bridged the break last season. The Spurs are heading into this season's trip on a roll and finished off a sweep of a four-game homestand with a 113-108 triumph over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday as All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge recorded his third consecutive double-double. The Kings are gaining confidence with each victory and are winners of six straight at home after knocking off the Philadelphia 76ers 115-108 on Saturday. Sacramento will challenge San Antonio's veterans with a young core led by shooting guard Buddy Hield, who scored 34 points on 12-of-21 shooting to lead the way against the 76ers.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, NBATV, FS Southwest (San Antonio), NBCS California (Sacramento)

ABOUT THE SPURS (32-22): Aldridge needed only 27 minutes to record 25 points and 14 rebounds on Saturday and is averaging 26.4 points and 12.4 boards over the last five contests. The 33-year-old is getting some help in the frontcourt from fellow veteran Rudy Gay, who is averaging 17 points in nine games since returning from a sprained wrist. The two are holding things down on the offensive end until the return to form of shooting guard DeMar DeRozan, who is 8-of-26 from the floor in two games since returning from a knee injury.

ABOUT THE KINGS (27-25): Hield is not the only young player developing quickly this season and rookie power forward Marvin Bagley III is making a leap of late. The 19-year-old Duke product collected 17 points and 12 rebounds in a 135-113 win over the Atlanta Hawks to open the homestand on Wednesday and followed that with 14 points and 13 boards in 33 minutes off the bench on Saturday. Hield and Bagley are benefiting from the play of second-year point guard De'Aaron Fox, who added 19 points and eight assists to Saturday's triumph.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Spurs PF Dante Cunningham (ankle) sat out Saturday and is day-to-day.

2. Kings SG Bogdan Bogdanovic is 6-of-33 from 3-point range over the last five games.

3. Sacramento snapped a 14-game losing streak in the series with a 104-99 home win over San Antonio on Nov. 12.

PREDICTION: Spurs 121, Kings 119