Brooklyn Nets vs. San Antonio Spurs
8:30 p.m.
TV: YES Network
Jeremy Lin Practices With Nets:
Jeremy Lin participated in Nets practice on Friday for the first time since suffering a strained left hamstring on Nov. 2. It’s a big step forward for Lin, who has missed 16 games, but he’s not quite ready to make his return and will be out again on Saturday night in San Antonio.
“It’s huge for us, his presence in the locker room,” Coach Kenny Atkinson said after Friday’s practice. “He’s been great and very supportive of the guys, but it’s different when you’re out there sweating with the guys and getting the guys huddled together. You see that difference, not only playing ability, but leadership ability. He’s thrilled just to be out there mixing it up a little.”
Nets Sign Spencer Dinwiddie
The Brooklyn Nets signed free agent guard Spencer Dinwiddie on Thursday afternoon, hours after waiving Yogi Ferrell.
Dinwiddie, the Detroit Pistons second-round pick (38th overall) in the 2014 NBA Draft, played 46 NBA games from 2014-16, but most recently played in the NBA D-League with Chicago’s affiliate, the Windy City Bulls.
In nine games with Windy City this season, Dinwiddie averaged 19.4 points, 8.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 37.4 minutes per contest. In his NBA stints, Dinwiddie averaged 4.4 points, 2.7 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 13.3 minutes.
Chris McCullough Out:
Chris McCullough will miss Saturday’s game in San Antonio on a D-League assignment.
San Antonio Notes:
The Spurs are looking to bounce back after a 95-91 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. The Spurs (18-5) have only lost back-to-back games once this season and are 13-2 in their last 15 games. Overall, San Antonio is 18-5, the second-best record in the Association.
Kawhi Leonard is the Spurs go-to guy on offense, leading the team with 24.4 points while LaMarcus Aldridge is chipping in 16.7 ppg. Pau Gasol is San Antonio’s top rebounder averaging 7.4 per game, while 34-year-old Tony Parker leads the Spurs with 4.4 apg.
As dominant as the Spurs have been on the road (13-1), they’re 5-4 at home. The Nets have not won in San Antonio since 2002.