The Spurs made the most of their home schedule prior to the annual rodeo road trip. They won’t have to worry about losing their first game at the ATT Center until early next month, because they won’t be there. The trip begins Tuesday in Miami with eight stops and a week-long break for All-Star festivities in between.
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SCHEDULING
The Spurs haven’t played since Saturday’s close win over the Lakers and head into the All-Star break with a back-to-back set that begins Tuesday in Miami. That game starts a stretch of eight straight on the road. Of course, the Spurs will have a week off following Wednesday’s trip to Orlando and open the post-break portion of its schedule in Los Angles for a six-game Western Conference swing. Saturday’s win improved the Spurs’ home record to 28-0. However, they are 15-8 SU and 14-9 ATS on the road, including a 7-4 mark against the Eastern Conference.
Miami returned home Sunday following a stretch where it played 14 of 16 games on the road. The Heat went 8-8 during that span and ended it with six wins over the final seven games. But the Heat struggled against the Clippers, dropping a 100-93 decision, losing for the third time in their past four home games and falling to 16-10 at the AAC. Tuesday’s game is the final contest before the break for the Heat and will be their first consecutive home games since early January.
INJURIES
Spurs center Tim Duncan remains sidelined due to soreness in his right knee and there is no timetable for his return. Duncan hasn’t played since Jan. 22 and the team will likely sit him through the All-Star break. Also, Manu Ginobili is out with a groin injury and will miss another four weeks minimum.
Three games after returning from a hip injury that forced him out of six contests, Heat center Hassan Whiteside tweaked his ankle Sunday against the Clippers when he landed on another player’s foot. He exited the game a few possessions later and never returned, though Whiteside said he could have played. He’s listed as day-to-day. Meanwhile, guard Tyler Johnson had surgery to repair the rotator cuff on his left shoulder and will miss the remainder of the season.
KEY MATCHUP
With Duncan likely out until after the All-Star break, the resurgence of LaMarcus Aldridge couldn’t have come at a better time for the Spurs. Aldridge has been splendid since Duncan exited the rotation and collected his fourth game of better than 20 points in Saturday’s win over the Lakers. In the seven games without Duncan, Aldridge has picked up his scoring pace by averaging 21.3 points over that time, increasing his season average to 16.7. He dropped in a season-high 36 against the Pelicans last Wednesday, netted 28 on the Magic Feb. 1 and amassed 26 against the Lakers. Aldridge is more aggressive calling for the ball and has attempted at least 11 field goals in each of the last six games while making better than 60 percent of his shots in five of those games. Aldridge could be featured again in the Spurs offense when they play the Heat, who could be playing with a limited Whiteside, who rolled an ankle Sunday and just returned after missing several games with a hip injury.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
The Heat are probably looking forward to a week off for the All-Star break after completing a recent stretch where they played 14 of 16 games on the road. They looked a little jet-lagged Sunday, falling to the Clippers, and have lost three of their last four at the AAC. This is Miami’s final game before the break so there is no reason to not leave it all on the court. The Spurs were not their usual efficient selves against the Lakers, slopping their way to a four-point home win on Saturday. San Antonio doesn’t usually play consecutive poor games and that’s bad news for the Heat. The Spurs top the NBA in scoring defense and Kawhi Leonard will shadow Chris Bosh with Tony Parker blanketing Dwyane Wade, forcing someone else to supply the points. Miami doesn’t have the secondary scoring to make up for the shortage and the Spurs will escape with a win.
San Antonio 107, Miami 98
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