The San Antonio Spurs (44-9) will face the Washington Wizards (14-37) tonight in Washington D.C. as they will look to shake off their loss last night to the Philadelphia 76ers and get back on the winning track.

However, the Spurs might be facing a Wizards team without key players Josh Howard and Rashard Lewis:

Among those questionable include swingman Josh Howard and forward Rashard Lewis, both of whom have knee tendinitis. Howard participated in practice this morning, but Coach Flip Saunders didn't sound optimistic while not officially ruling him out. Lewis, meantime, missed a second straight practice.

Lewis has managed to play through tendinitis in his right knee, although it has limited his effectiveness. Lewis is averaging 7.8 points over his past four games, including just three points on 1-for-5 shooting in Wednesday's 100-85 win against Milwaukee.

Lewis said shortly after joining the Wizards that his knee had been bothering him since Washington acquired the two-time all-star from Orlando in exchange for Gilbert Arenas on Jan. 18. (washingtonpost.com)

Lewis was a thorn in the Spurs' side in their first meeting in San Antonio this season. He scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Howard managed to score 11 points on the Spurs in that game.

The San Antonio Spurs made a stop in Auburn Hills, Michigan to face the Detroit Pistons during their Rodeo Road Trip this month.

Not only was it a win for the Spurs over the Pistons, 100-89, it was a homecoming of sorts for Spurs' Antonio McDyess who played with the Pistons from 2004-2009 before signing with his current team in the summer of 2009 as a free-agent.

I had a chance to speak with McDyess in Philadelphia before last night's tip-off to get his thoughts on his recent trip to the Palace of Auburn Hills, and the situation with Pistons' guard Rip Hamilton.

Jeff: How was the recent visit to the Palace?

Antonio: It was definitely fun to see old teammates and going back to the arena. I had my best years there. Was the highlight of my career. It's always fun to go back there. To see those guys struggling on the other end, it's kind of tough to watch that because over half the team are still my friends. Even some of the coaching staff. It's tough to see but still I feel like it's my home.

We are seeing Rip Hamilton being relegated to the bench. What are your thoughts on Hamilton's situation?

It's kind of tough to see because I know how Rip is. He's a winner. He plays hard every possession, he wants to win. He's a guy that wants to win when he's on the court. He doesn't do anything but care about winning. To see him not playing, and knowing he can contribute to that team, is tough to watch.

The San Antonio Spurs (44-9) lost to the Philadelphia 76ers (25-28) last night, 77 to 71, in Philadelphia on their Rodeo Road Trip.

After the game I caught up with the newest Spur, Steve Novak, and got his thoughts on the Spurs loss, playing for the Spurs, learning from "Coach B" and more.

Jeff: Spurs have a difficult time playing in Philadelphia. The Sixers have now won four straight games over San Antonio here in Philadelphia. What is it about this team at home that gives the Spurs troubles?

Steve: You know what? I just think tonight obviously on our side we just didn't shoot the ball well. But they [Sixers] played great. Look at how many deflections they had, how active they were on defense, I think they made it difficult for us to kind of get into what we needed to get into. I think on some plays they had deflections on three, four different passes. I think that they just played really good. And credit goes to them obviously. We've been playing well and we came in here and they were ready for us.

Is this loss to the Sixers a sign that fatigue might be setting in for this team in this long road trip?

No I don't think so. I think if any team that I've seen that has mastered in terms of keeping guys fresh and really understanding what the bodies feel like, I think it's these guys (Spurs). Coach Popovich does a great job at walk-throughs and practices in keeping guys fresh, even mentally. He doesn't over do things especially at this point. These are all veteran guys who have been through it so they know what to do with their bodies. So I don't think it's fatigue. I think if anything it's just we came in here and ran into a buzz saw with how well they were playing.

What happened towards the end of the game when the ball was in Ginboili's hands? Was that a play gone wrong or what the Sixers did defensively?

SAN ANTONIO SPURS (44-9) vs. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (14-37)

The Washington Wizards will try to avoid an 11th straight loss to the San Antonio Spurs when the teams meet tonight at the Verizon Center in Washington. The Wizards snapped their eight game losing streak with a 100-85 home win over the Milwaukee Bucks with six players scoring in double figures.

Nick Young scored 26 points in the team's latest win, while JaVale McGee had 16 points and 17 rebounds. The Wizards improved to 14-12 on their home floor but remain win-less on the road.

The Spurs boasts the league's best record, but had a terrible time scoring last night in a 77-71 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers. San Antonio had their four-game winning streak snapped as they shot a season-worst 33.3 percent from the floor, including a 3-17 from beyond the arc. Their 71 point output is also their lowest of the season.

Manu Ginobili had eight points on 2-10 shooting from the floor and Tony Parker finished with nine points on 3-10 field goal shooting. While his teammates struggled, Tim Duncan recorded his 19th double-double of the season with 16 points and 13 rebounds. It was the Spurs' first loss of the season where Duncan had a double-double.

The Wizards have averaged 82.8 points during their 10-game losing streak against the Spurs. They haven't defeated San Antonio since a 110-95 home victory last November 12, 2005. 

Hit the jump for the keys of the game and find out which team will win this matchup.

PHILADELPHIA - The weather in the Northeast of the United States is bitterly cold, but the shooting from the San Antonio Spurs tonight was even colder and the main reason they fell to 44-9 for the season losing to the Philadelphia 76ers (25-28) tonight in Philadelphia 77 to 71 on the Rodeo Road Trip.

"Both teams sort of set offensive basketball back a decade or so tonight for whatever reason. But both teams kept motoring, kept trying to get after it," Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich said. "Neither team could make a damn shot down the stretch. We had a couple of turnovers, they had a couple of offensive boards, made a shot or two, end of story."

Philadelphia held the Spurs to a season-low 71 points, their lowest total since scoring 64 at Utah in 2008.

"Yeah it doesn't happen quite that often," Popovich commented on the offensive drought from both teams in the third and fourth quarters.

For the game the Spurs shot a season-low 33.3% from the floor while Spurs guards Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker shot 5-of-20 and scored 17 points combined.

The poor shooting not only was seen with the Spurs' two starting guards, but it was every starter who could not find their shooting stroke. Richard Jefferson went 1-of-8, Tim Duncan went 7-of-18, DeJuan Blair went 3-of-11 and Ginobili also went 0-of-5 from the three-point line.

But despite their shooting woes, the Spurs transition defense was practically non-existent as the 76ers finished the game with 21 fast break points to the Spurs' five.

The Sixers, as mentioned, also had their share of frigid shooting. Andre Iguodala went 2-of-15 from the floor and scored seven points.

"Forget the offense. Our whole game plan was around three things. First and foremost, keep those guards out of the paint. That was the number one key," said Sixers coach Doug Collins.

The Spurs were led by Duncan, who finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds and two blocked shots. Gary Neal and Antonio McDyess scored 11 points apiece off the bench.

Richard Jefferson weighed in on the shooting struggles from both teams.

"I wouldn't necessarily say it was cold. Oh, no. It was cold. Both teams were cold."

Perhaps Popovich said it best when he said, "Want me to say it again? Neither team shot well."

Notes:

• With the win, the Sixers split the season series against the Spurs for the fourth straight season.
• The Sixers have now won four straight at home versus the Spurs.
• The Spurs fall to 4-2 on the Rodeo Road Trip.
• The Spurs were 12-0 when holding opponents below 90 points heading into tonight's contest.
• The Spurs finished 14/18 (77.8%) from the free-throw line.
• Jrue Holiday led the Sixers with 27 points. Spencer Hawes scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
• The Spurs will next face the Washington Wizards tomorrow night in Washington.

• John Smallwood of Philly.com handed out his NBA awards heading into the All Star break. Look who he had as his MVP thus far:

But I do have co-MVPs - Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, of the San Antonio Spurs.

• Stephen Brotherston of Hoopsworld wrote an excellent piece on the San Antonio Spurs' latest gem, Gary Neal:

Neal has developed his offensive skills, his basketball knowledge and matured physically and emotionally.  The Spurs have once again found themselves a player who has made an immediate impact and the rest of the league just overlooked.

• Sam Smith of Bulls.com answered questions from his mailbag. One of the questions was regarding Tim Duncan getting picked over Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge for the All Star Game:

But the coaches picked him. I was surprised. I thought the commissioner would add him, though the coaches likely wanted to honor the Spurs' record with two guys and already had the allotment of guards.

Hit the "read more" button to find out Bonner's role in the NBA bargaining agreement, changes during the Jerry Sloan era and whether Tim Duncan has ever eaten a sandwich with Matt Bonner.

PHILADELPHIA - The San Antonio Spurs (44-8) face the Philadelphia 76ers (24-28) tonight and here is what Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess had to say about their opponent:

Jefferson on the matchup against the Sixers:

"(We) just try and play our game.They're a young, talented team that run the court extremely well. They're great at forcing turnovers which fuels their offense and confidence. They have a great home crowd who really supports them and enjoys the way they play. This is a tough building for a lot of teams."

McDyess on the Sixers:

"Tough team. They're not a .500 team but they are a tough team. They're still the seventh seed in the playoffs. On paper they're so they are so much better than their record shows. They're really athletic, play hard, got young guys, they mix things up. It's going to be a tough battle for us. Even though we got a great record, but they got a great stand right now at home.

PHILADELPHIA - San Antonio Spurs' rookie Tiago Splitter will be out of action tonight as the Spurs face the Philadelphia 76ers after a hard fall on the court against the Toronto Raptors.

Before tonight's game I spoke to Splitter and he gave me an update on his injury.

"We don't know yet," said Splitter when asked how soon will he be back on the court.

"We're looking day-by-day and let's see how I feel tomorrow. Tomorrow we are playing again so let's see if I'll be able to play."

When asked what is it with him and falling under the basket, as he did with a dunk earlier this season, he just laughed and had this to say.

"The second time I knew when I was there [under the basket] I knew I was going to fall bad. It happens and now I will just try the rehab and get on the court as soon as possible."

Splitter did say the Spurs have not given him a time-frame as to when he will be back on the court.

The Spurs are 68 percent favorites to win tonight's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, according to AccuScore. Check out their game simulation, player projections and full game forecast below.

 

Former San Antonio Spurs' player Dennis Rodman and member of the Detroit Pistons 1989, 1990 championship teams is set to have his jersey number 10 retired by the Pistons.

“Individual accomplishments have never been a big deal for me as a player, but to be honored for my contributions in this way by the Detroit Pistons organization is truly humbling,” Rodman said in a statement issued through his manager, Steven Simon of Prince Marketing Group. “This organization gave me a chance to blossom, regardless of my size or what school I came from. My only regret is that the man that believed in me more than I did myself, Chuck Daly, is no longer with us. I’m sure he’ll be with us that evening in his own way.”

Rodman was traded to the Spurs for Sean Elliott in 1993 and played with the Spurs until 1995. He averaged 17.3 rebounds in 1993-1994 season and 16.8 rebounds in his final season before being traded to the Chicago Bulls for Will Perdue.

For his career, the "Worm" played in 911 games, averaged 7.3 points, 13.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists.

Despite his off-the-court issues, there is no denying he was a master rebounder, relentless defender, and champion.

He truly belongs in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

(Detroit Free Press)