The Golden State Warriors have 45 wins, a winning record on the road (20-16) and are fighting for their playoff lives, so you'd think they would have a decent shot at winning in San Antonio tonight, right?
Wrong.
Sure, the Warriors are 2-0 against the Spurs this season. But Golden State has lost a whopping 19 straight games at San Antonio. The last time the Warriors defeated the Spurs on the road was Feb. 14, 1997.
San Antonio has won those 19 by an average of 17.2 points, and Golden State has averaged only 84.5 points in that stretch. Not to mention that San Antonio has won seven games in a row overall this season and is 31-6 at home (including four straight wins there).
No wonder San Antonio is an 8.5-point favorite tonight (over/under: 207) on WagerWeb.com.
The Warriors need this one more than the Spurs, as Golden State is in eighth place in the West, one-half game behind Dallas and one-half game ahead of No. 9 Denver.
"We don't want to count on anybody else," forward Matt Barnes said. "I think if we take care of our business and win the games we're supposed to win, we'll get in. We don't want it to come down to someone else get us in the playoffs."
The Spurs are tied for first place in the West with New Orleans, but the top six teams are separated by just a few games.
San Antonio, as usual, is clicking at the right time. For example, after a long dry spell, swingman Michael Finley is rolling. Finley had a rough 10-game stretch in March, averaging just five points on woeful 19-of-66 field goal shooting. However, the 15-year veteran has found the mark again, averaging nearly 20 points on 31- of-45 shooting in his last four outings."I lost confidence a little bit, but I got it back, "Finley said. "I took it upon myself to step my game up, and that's what I've been doing."
And Tony Parker, last year's NBA Finals MVP, is beginning to look like his old self after battling a heel injury.
All of that was on display in the Spurs' latest victory, a 109-88 thumping of Houston on Sunday those rates as one of the teams most complete of the season (San Antonio shot 53 percent from the field and committed only five turnovers).
I think there is always room for improvement, but we are focused," said Parker, who had 22 points Sunday to match Finley's 22. "Everyone understands we have eight games left, and the real stuff is about to start."
Tonight's game will be very contrasting styles: the Warriors have scored at least 100 points in 37 straight games, while San Antonio is allowing just 86.7 points during its winning streak.
The Spurs could be shorthanded tonight as Brent Barry, who has not played since he re-signed with the Spurs on March 23, won't return to action until the end of the week. And Robert Horry, who has missed five games with a left knee contusion, is still listed as day-to-day.
Betting trends: Over is 9-2 in Warriors' last 11 vs. Southwest Division. ... Warriors are 13-5 ATS in their last 18 vs. Southwest. ... Warriors are 33-40 overall ATS. ... Warriors are 40-31 vs. over/under. ... Warriors are 5-2 ATS in last 7 games on the road. ... Spurs are 34-38-2 ATS overall. ... Spurs are 31-43 vs. over/under. ... San Antonio is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 home games vs. Golden State.
The last word: This is probably the one team Golden State wouldn't want to see in the playoffs. I don't expect a Warriors win tonight ... but they should cover the number.
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