For the second consecutive Christmas, the San Antonio Spurs will not participate in the NBA’s five-game holiday lineup. In spite of the franchise’s storied history and competitive nature, the league’s schedule-makers opted to go in a different direction.
Six teams — Utah, Portland, Golden State, Los Angeles, Oklahoma City and Houston — are set to represent the Western Conference for Noel. Up to this point in the season, San Antonio has defeated five of those six teams and will meet with Paul George and the Thunder for the first time on Jan.