San Antonio defeated Charlotte, 108-101, at home three weeks ago.

San Antonio has been disappointing on the road so far, but have enough factors going its way that they should be backed here.

The Spurs are an above average free throw shooting team. Charlotte ranks last in the NBA in free throw percentage.

Missed free throws cost the Hornets in a 100-99 road loss to the Cavaliers last night. Now the Hornets have to play without rest while the Spurs have been idle since Wednesday night following a 107-90 road loss to the Pelicans. You know a 17-point loss didn't sit well with Gregg Popovich, the best coach in the Western Conference if not all of basketball.

This is Charlotte's third game in four days. The Hornets had to go overtime against the Wizards on Wednesday. Three of the Hornets starters had to log more than 35 minutes last night.

The Hornets were without Nicolas Batum, who has an elbow injury, against the Cavaliers. That moved Jeremy Lamb into the starting lineup and further weakened an already mediocre Charlotte bench. The Spurs' reserves outscored Charlotte's bench, 64-16, in the first meeting.