Spurs vs. Knicks: Preview, game time and TV schedule

Mar 7, 2012; San Antonio, TX, USA; New York Knicks forward Jared Jeffries (9) shoots during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT

A battle of the East and West’s best teams is set for Thursday night. San Antonio, riding a three game win streak, will attempt to hand the New York Knicks their first loss of the season.

The Knicks are 5-0, and travel to San Antonio for their third road game of the season. In their two road outings this year, the Knicks won both by double-digits, but this is a place New York has struggled at for years.

The Spurs hold a nine-game win streak over the Knicks at the AT&T Center, and they will try to extend that as five-point favorites.

It will be tough, though. San Antonio goes up against Carmelo Anthony, who has averaged 26.8 points per game so far, and a Knicks team ranked second in scoring and first in points allowed.

San Antonio will have to find a way to get past Tyson Chandler, but the way Tim Duncan and DeJuan Blair have been playing, the Spurs should be able to compete with Chandler.

The big question is can the Spurs continue to create shot opportunities and the move ball effectively. The Knicks defense has been superb, and San Antonio may need a little extra on offense to pull this game out.

Where to watch: The game will be shown on Fox Sports Southwest (FSSW) at 7:30 p.m. CST. It will also air on stations 1200 WOAI and 1350 KCOR in Spanish.

Injury report: Iman Shumpert (left knee surgery) and Amare Stoudemire (athroscopic left knee surgery) will miss tonight’s game. Ronnie Brewer (swollen left knee) is questionable.