Trail Blazers vs Spurs Sunday, 12/12/10 AT 12:30PM

David vs. Goliath, Trail Blazers at Spurs

12/11/10

  1. Written by: Grant Lucas  / avg. rating: 4.8

    The Portland Trail Blazers faced a difficult four-game road trip. In their last trek not too long ago, they couldn't tally a win. After three home wins, however, the Trail Blazers seem renewed and regenerated, proving that with a 101-94 victory in Phoenix on Friday.

    Now, Portland (12-11) rides its four-game win streak into the AT&T Center to match up with the San Antonio Spurs (19-3) on Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 12:30 PM.

    Projected to start for the Trail Blazers are Wesley Matthews, LaMarcus Aldridge, Marcus Camby, Brandon Roy and Andre Miller.

    Roy comes off a game-high 26-point performance against the Suns on Friday, receiving help from Camby's season-high 16 points and 18 rebounds, as well as Aldridge's 23 points.

    During its recent success, Portland has seen its starters post better than 78 points per game while shooting nearly 45 percent from the field. Matthews has led the way with 21.5 points in the last four contests, as well as a 50 percent mark from the floor.

    The Trail Blazers have registered 101 points per game in this four-game stretch, while holding their opponents to less than 92. Compare that to the six-game losing streak when Portland put up less than 87 points per contest while allowing nearly 95.

    Portland will have the daunting task of facing the NBA's best team in the Spurs, who have strung together four consecutive wins - three of which were by at least 16 points. San Antonio sits atop the league leaderboard in point differential, as the Spurs have defeated their opponents by nearly 10 points per game.

    Although the Trail Blazers have taken the last five matchups and six of the last seven, they take on a San Antonio squad that ranks third in the league in scoring at 106.96 points per game, while shooting 47 percent from the floor and an NBA-best 41 percent from long range.

    Portland will look to repeat last year's defensive efforts, during which the Spurs were held to a 44.2 shooting percentage and a 23.7 percent mark from beyond the arc.

    Two of San Antonio's starters, Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker, average better than 17 points per contest, but, as of late, the Trail Blazers have succeeded in shutting down key players, including the Suns' Jason Richardson and each three-point threat on the Orlando Magic.

    The Spurs' Tim Duncan did average a double-double of 17.7 points and 10.3 boards, but the Trail Blazers outrebounded the opposition 129-106 en route to Portland's first season sweep of San Antonio since 1996-97.

    Portland will be without Greg Oden and Elliot Williams, as they are both sidelined with knee injuries.

    Sunday's showdown will air on Comcast SportsNet with Mike Barrett and Mike Rice, while Brian Wheeler and Antonio Harvey will have the play-by-play on 95.5 FM The Game.

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