The San Antonio Spurs extended their winning streak to three games with a resounding 37-point victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday. Five players scored in double-figures for the Spurs who moved to within 3.5 games of the league-leading Golden State Warriors. They will look to slice that deficit even further when they take on the Washington Wizards in an intriguing showdown at AT&T Center.
Who will grab the victory in this NBA matchup? Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this mouth-watering clash and while you’re at it, you can check out our previews of Portland vs. Oklahoma City and Memphis vs. Chicago.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Washington Wizards vs. San Antonio Spurs Preview
Where: AT&T Center, San Antonio
When: Wednesday, December 16, 8:30 PM ET
Line: Washington Wizards (+13) at San Antonio Spurs (-13); total: 197.5 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: CSNB/FSSW
Betting on the Washington Wizards (10-13)
Washington’s losing woes show no sign of abating as the Wizards crashed to a 112-95 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. The Wizards had no answer for Marc Gasol and Mike Conley who finished with 24 and 18 points, respectively. The Wizards have now lost four of their last five games as they dropped down to 10-13 in the team standings.
Things are bound to get tougher for the reeling Wizards as standing in their way in their next game are the red-hot San Antonio Spurs. The five-time NBA champions are averaging 110 points during their current three-game unbeaten run. That’s a major concern for the Wizards who have allowed at least 100 points in their last eight outings. The Wizards need to buckle down on their defense, particularly on the three-point area. The Wizards are last in the NBA in 3-pointers allowed at 10.45 a contest.
Apart from improving their defense, the Wizards also need to get a much better performance from John Wall. He struggled in their last game against the Grizzlies, scoring just six points on 2-of-11 shooting from the field. He’s averaging just 13.2 points in five career games at San Antonio. The onus is on Wall to carry Washington’s scoring load now that Bradley Beal is out for at least a month because of a stress reaction in his right leg.
The Wizards are 2-0 SU and ATS in their last two games against the Spurs.
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Betting on the San Antonio Spurs (21-5)
The San Antonio Spurs preserved their unbeaten home record with an emphatic 118-81 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday night. Kawhi Leonard led the way for the Spurs, scoring a game-high 22 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Leonard has been solid on both ends of the floor for San Antonio, averaging 20.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.04 blocks per game this season.
[sc:NBA240banner ]Key to the Spurs’ hot start this campaign has been their incredible defense. San Antonio is first in the NBA in scoring defense, surrendering a measly 87.9 points per game this season. That rock-solid defense was in full display Monday against Utah where they held the Jazz to a season-low 81 points on a horrid 40.5 percent shooting from the field.
The Spurs will look to continue their excellent home form when they take on the Washington Wizards later tonight. They will be licking their chops at the prospect of facing a Washington side that is allowing an Eastern Conference-worst 105.6 points per game this season. That will be music to the ears of Popovich whose team is shooting nearly 48 percent from the field and putting up 104.7 points per 100 possessions, the fourth-best mark in the NBA this campaign.
The Spurs are 10-0 SU and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 home games against the Wizards.
Writer’s Prediction
The Spurs (-13) ease past the Wizards, 102-83.
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