Six Straight For Spurs?

San Antonio, TX - The San Antonio Spurs have been pushed to the limit in their last two games while extending their winning streak to five games.

They may have an easier time getting No. 6 on Tuesday when they host a Milwaukee Bucks team that has struggled mightily in the Lone Star State in recent years.

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After beating the Phoenix Suns on Roger Mason's 3-point buzzer-beater on Christmas Day, the Spurs (20-10) needed two overtimes to defeat Memphis 106-103 on Saturday for their 11th win in 13 games. Tony Parker scored 32 points and had two of San Antonio's three baskets in the second extra period.

Oddsmakers from Online Sportsbook Sports Interaction have made the Spurs -8 point spread favorites for Tuesday’s game against the Bucks. Current NBA Public Betting Information shows that 70% of more than 98 bets for this game have been placed on the Spurs -8.

"Tony stepped up and knocked down a couple of big shots," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "It was a good win."

Parker has been the catalyst during San Antonio's current win streak, averaging 27.4 points on 53.9 percent shooting and 7.4 assists.

After the Spurs played five games in seven days, forward Tim Duncan thinks the two days off before this game will be a huge help after he, Parker and Manu Ginobili all logged extensive minutes the last two games.

"Two days is a very long break, especially with the type of schedule we have been holding lately," said Duncan, who had 29 points in nearly 46 minutes before fouling out on Saturday. "We have a lot of guys who have played a lot of minutes, so a break will be great."

Parker played more than 47 minutes Saturday, while Ginobili saw just under 41.

The Bucks (14-17) have known little other than misery in Texas the past five seasons.

Milwaukee has made two treks to the Lone Star State each season in that time frame, while some Eastern Conference teams play at Dallas, San Antonio and Houston in one road trip. The Bucks, who play at Houston on Wednesday, are 0-10 in the back-to-back games, and 1-14 cumulatively in Texas since the start of the 2003-04 season - though the lone victory was a 114-107 win at San Antonio on Dec. 26, 2006.

Facing the 6-foot-11 Duncan along with the 6-10 Matt Bonner and 6-9 Kurt Thomas may prove problematic for Milwaukee, which struggled with Detroit's taller lineup in an 87-76 loss to the Pistons on Saturday. Andrew Bogut had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Bucks, who were outrebounded 53-44 and outscored 36-28 in the paint.

Coach Scott Skiles was fairly frustrated with his starting five, barely playing them in the fourth quarter after the Bucks were outscored 27-11 in the third. Leading scorer Michael Redd had only four points on 2-of-11 shooting, and the Bucks shot a season-low 30.4 percent.

"Because I'm putting the other guys in doesn't mean I'm giving up on the game," Skiles said. "I still intend to win the game. It can be very confusing on certain nights of why certain guys just don't have it, but it does happen in the NBA."

Redd, who is averaging 18.5 points, has been in an offensive funk in his last five games, scoring 14.4 per contest on 30.5 percent shooting (25-for-82). He has averaged 19.6 points in 14 lifetime games versus the Spurs, but has not made a 3-pointer in his last eight games against them.

Even without an injured Redd, Milwaukee beat San Antonio 82-78 on Nov. 12 as the Spurs played without Parker and Ginobili. Bogut had 10 points and 17 rebounds.

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Posted: 12/30/08 2:37AM ET