Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans

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San Antonio Spurs vs. New Orleans Pelicans

AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX

March 30, 2016, 7:30 p.m. Spurs Time

TV: FSSW Radio: WOAI 1200AM

The very last game of the 2014-15 season had major ramifications for both Spurs and Pelicans. For New Orleans, it meant the first of (probably) many trips to the postseason for Anthony Davis, even they merely served as cannon fodder for the future-champion Warriors. The extra game in the loss column also sent San Antonio tumbling from second place in the West to sixth, stripping them of homecourt advantage and forcing an ill-fated first-round matchup against the Clippers.

The Spurs are once again in second place, while New Orleans' bad string of luck with players' health has resulted in something of a lost season. If you were playing as this year's New Orleans Pelicans in NBA 2K, you would've hit reset a long time ago. Or you would've just simulated the rest of the year and started over in 2016-17. Either way, unless you were a glutton for pain and struggle, there would be little point to continuing on a season without Anthony Davis. Or Tyreke Evans. Or Eric Gordon. Or Ryan Anderson. Or Quincy Pondexter.

That could be why head coach Alvin Gentry usually has the exasperated look of someone who's been stuck in traffic all day. Or maybe that's how he always looks.

Either way, you can now count Jrue Holiday and Alonzo Gee as more reasons for Gentry to grimace. Both players suffered injuries earlier this week and are expected to also be out tonight. On the Spurs side, Kawhi Leonard is expected to be back. Matching up against guys like Luke Babbitt and Dante Cunningham will be a good chance for him to test out that quad.

As for the rest of the starting lineup, I'm expecting the usual five. The Spurs only play again on Saturday against Toronto, so it would make sense for everyone to play and get some reps in unless there are any meddling injuries we don't know about.

No matter who sits, a home win should be expected against a Pelicans team that's lost 12 of its last 16 games. The Pelicans have a penchant for upsetting the Spurs, but it'd likely take career nights from multiple players to make up for the advantage San Antonio has in talent.

Matchup to watch: David West and Kendrick Perkins: Which big man has the best scowl? We'll find out in the AT&T Center's latest exhilarating half-time entertainment act. Eight lucky children will be selected from the audience and placed in front of these players to see once and for all who is more frightening. Tears will be shed! Parents will whimper! If you liked 'Baby Races', you'll love 'Baby Faces'!

Or Kyle Anderson versus Luke Babbitt.

Game prediction: Spurs by 20.

For the Pelicans fans' perspective, visit The Bird Writes.

As always Tony must dominate Fisher.