The New Orleans Pelicans and perhaps, the best young forward in the league, Anthony Davis, go up against the San Antonio Spurs and Davis' role model, Tim Duncan. The game will be FREE LiveStreaming Online from San Antonio at 8:30 PM ET
The Spurs are familiar with strong finishes to the regular season under Gregg Popovich. But they're on the verge of something they haven't accomplished in 18 years.
Undefeated since Feb. 26, San Antonio (56-16) has built a three-game lead atop the Western Conference over second-place Oklahoma City. It's not the first time the Spurs have closed the regular season on a torrid stretch. They won 21 of their last 23 in 2012, four years after winning 12 of their final 15. They went on a 25-3 run in 2007 before losing their final three, though they rested starters in the last two contests.
A victory Saturday would mark the club's first 17-game winning streak since Feb. 29-March 31, 1996.
"It's a big challenge," said Duncan, who has rested the last three games after resting last Saturday at Golden State. "People can get lackadaisical and look past certain games. We've done a good job of not doing that."
The Spurs are averaging 112.7 points and shooting 49.6 percent during their winning streak. They recorded 37 assists against the Nuggets and are assisting on 69.0 percent of made baskets over the last 16 games. San Antonio had registered assists on 60.6 percent of its field goals prior to the streak.
New Orleans (32-40) is also hot, winning a season-best five in a row and nine of 12. The win streak is the team's longest since taking 10 straight from Jan. 9-26, 2011.
Extending their win streak could be difficult after Anthony Davis left in the first quarter of Friday's 102-95 victory over Utah with a left ankle injury.
The Pelicans are 3-6 on the season without Davis, who had been averaging 29.8 points and 13.5 rebounds over his last 10 games prior to Friday.
A healthy Davis may not make much difference, however, considering the Spurs have won 10 of 11 in the series and 17 of 19 meetings in San Antonio.
The game will be live streaming online at www.nbalivestreamfree.net
