It's astonishing to think that the San Antonio Spurs' longtime run of playoff appearances was in a bit of jeopardy not too long ago.
Now the reigning champions are fighting for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference on the heels of a 10-game winning streak, and there's no reason to think their roll won't continue Sunday night at home against the floundering Phoenix Suns.
"If you put it in perspective with all the injuries, the struggles in the middle of the season, that would be great for us to get second place," point guard Tony Parker told the NBA's official website.
Parker, Kawhi Leonard and Manu Ginobili are among the many Spurs to miss 10 games or more due to injury, part of the reason they were seventh in the West on Feb. 26 and only four games clear of being in playoff position. However, since a four-game losing streak during its annual rodeo road trip - during which the team has gotten many past seasons on track - San Antonio is a league-best 20-3.
"When we lost those four games in a row on the (rodeo) road trip, even the playoff part was not guaranteed," Ginobili said. "We were starting to worry a little bit, because we got everybody back, everybody was healthy at that point and we were not playing well. There were some concerns. Nobody, nobody could have thought that we were with two games to go fighting for the second spot. It's ridiculous."
The Spurs (54-26) are coming off a home-and-home sweep of one of the teams also chasing the West's second seed. Friday's 104-103 victory in Houston came after San Antonio had tied an NBA record with nine straight wins by at least 12 points.
"It's great to be where we are, amazing to be where we are," said Tim Duncan, who has led San Antonio to 18 consecutive playoff berths. "But we're playing right at the right time and that's what you want. We're healthy at the right time. That's what you want. Hopefully we can close out these last two games and end it."
Duncan, who turns 39 later this month, continued to amaze with 29 points on 12-of-15 shooting and 10 rebounds Friday as well as blocking James Harden's layup with 2.9 seconds left. He's shot 70.3 percent from the field over the past five games.
"He still has it, obviously," teammate Patty Mills said. "And it doesn't look like it's ever gonna go away."
Though Friday's win marked the first time in 10 games the Spurs allowed the opposition to score 100 points, they did hold league scoring leader Harden to 16 on 5-of-19 shooting and forced 20 turnovers.
San Antonio shouldn't have trouble defending a Phoenix team averaging 88.1 points over its last eight games and 87.7 in three meetings with the Spurs. The Suns lost the last two while committing an average of 19.5 turnovers.
They're 1-8 in San Antonio - the only victory came in overtime - since winning there twice in the 2010 playoffs. San Antonio has won eight straight home games and 20 of 22, with the only losses coming to Cleveland in overtime and to the Clippers.
Phoenix (39-41) has dropped three straight and eight of nine, including five consecutive road losses following a 90-75 defeat in New Orleans on Friday.
"We gave them some easy shots, but I thought we battled," coach Jeff Hornacek said. "The guys tried hard, I can't fault them for that."
The Suns must win out to avoid finishing under .500 for the third time in five seasons.
While they continue trying to play spoiler, hosting the Clippers on Tuesday in their finale, the Spurs finish Wednesday in New Orleans.