Spurs try to piece together win against Blazers (Jan 07, 2018)
PORTLAND, Ore. -- It's all hands-on deck even more than usual this season for the San Antonio Spurs, who visit Moda Center in Portland on Sunday night to take on the Portland Trail Blazers there for the second time in 2 1/2 weeks.
Coach Gregg Popovich has been manipulating bodies like a chiropractor this season, working through injuries and providing rest for veterans with the Spurs, who at 27-13 have the third-best record in the Western Conference.
When San Antonio won 93-91 at Moda Center on Dec. 20, Popovich rested forward Kawhi Leonard and point guard Tony Parker on what the Spurs call "return-from-injury management."
In Friday's 103-89 win over the Phoenix Suns at AT&T Center, the Spurs were without forward LaMarcus Aldridge (rest), guard Danny Green (groin) and forward Rudy Gay (heel).
It's a good bet that Aldridge will be in action Sunday against his former team. Gay, who is expected to miss at least two weeks, is out. Green, who has been in and out of the lineup the past month, is questionable.
Then there are Leonard and Parker, who are working their way back to health after injuries that kept them sidelined through much of the first six weeks of the season.
With Parker in and out, Popovich has used Patty Mills and Dejounte Murray at the point. Mills, instrumental off the bench for the Spurs the past couple of seasons, has been inconsistent with his shot this season while playing both guard spots.
"It's been tough for Patty," Popovich told the media. "He's been all over the place. He's trying to help us any way he can. It has hurt his numbers a little bit."
Mills has had to juggle two roles -- as spark-plug sixth man and as a disciplined point guard.
"It's difficult, because it's a whole different kind of mentality that you've got to have playing both styles," he said.
Green's injury has paved the way for more playing time for second-year shooting guard Bryn Forbes and veteran Manu Ginobili. Forbes scored 16 points in 32 minutes as a starter against Phoenix. Ginobili, 40, came off the bench for a season-high 21 points on 7-of-17 shooting in 19 minutes against the Suns. He became the first NBA player 40 years or older to score 20-plus points in less than 20 minutes.
"I was feeling very well, very energetic," Ginobili said. "I had nine hours of sleep (Thursday) night. Doesn't happen that often in a family with three kids."
Said Forbes: "He has Grandpa juice. It's amazing what he can do. It makes you want to play a little bit harder when you see him doing it."
The last time the Spurs played at Moda, Aldridge collected 22 points and eight rebounds and center Pau Gasol chipped in 20 points, 17 boards and five assists.
The Trail Blazers (20-18) are trying to build on Friday's 110-89 pounding of Atlanta, their second straight triumph at Moda Center after dropping their previous six home contests.
"It was good to see," Portland coach Terry Stotts said after the rout of the Hawks. "It's nice to have one of those at home. We're playing better, but momentum can come and go."
The Blazers had a season-high 30 assists against Atlanta.
"Our passing has been improved the last three games," Stotts said. "It's been below average most of the season. Tonight, it may have been making the extra pass. I don't want to overanalyze it. Let's just be happy."
Through the past decade, Portland has been one of the most worthy opponents for San Antonio. Since the start of the 2008-09 season, the Blazers are 19-14 against the Spurs in the regular season, including 10-5 at home.
