More defensive dominance as Raptors led by Leonard
TORONTO Joel Embiid had the ball with a couple of minutes to play and Philadelphia on a roll when Kawhi Leonard decided to help himself to the ball. The steal — one of Leonard’s four on the night — turned into a running layup by Pascal Siakam and the Sixers never threatened again.
On a night Leonard scored 31 points, breaking a Raptors record by starting his Toronto career with six straight 20-plus point games, it was as much his defence that lifted Toronto to a 129112 victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday.
“He can guard the ball, he can guard people coming off pindowns, he can guard guys on the post,” coach Nick Nurse said of Leonard, who broke Rudy Gay’s record. “But mostly, I think it’s just his natural instinct for getting his hands on stuff. The ball’s popping around and, boom, he comes out of there with it any variety of ways. Post feeds, cross-court passes, pocket passes.”
Jonas Valanciunas had 23 points off the bench, while Kyle Lowry had 20 points and 12 assists for the Raptors (7-1), who remain undefeated at home. Serge Ibaka chipped in with 20 points, while Pascal Siakam had 15 and a careerhigh 15 rebounds, and Danny Green finished with 10.
Joel Embiid led the Sixers (44) with 31 points.
CAVALIERS 136, HAWKS 114
CLEVELAND — Rodney Hood scored a season-high 26 points, Cedi Osman added 20 and Cleveland ended its sixgame losing streak to start the season, beating the Atlanta Hawks in the Cavaliers’ first game since coach Tyronn Lue was fired.
The Cavs came in as the NBA’s only winless team, and Lue paid the price for club’s slow start.
But with Larry Drew serving as Cleveland’s “acting” coach while he tries to get the team to restructure his contract, the Cavs played a complete game — Cleveland had seven players in double figures — and avoided their first 0-7 start since 1995-96.
THUNDER 128, CLIPPERS 110
OKLAHOMA CITY — Russell Westbrook scored 32 points and had another run-in with Patrick Beverley in Oklahoma City victory over Los Angeles.
In the fourth quarter, Beverley dove at Westbrook’s left knee, and both were issued technical after jawing in front of the benches. Police officers stepped onto the court to help keep the teams separated. Upon review, Beverley’s foul was ruled a flagrant 1.
Westbrook tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee during the playoffs in 2013 when Beverley lunged for the ball as Westbrook prepared to call timeout.
CELTICS 108, PISTONS 105
BOSTON — Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 31 points, Marcus Morris had 15 points and nine rebounds and Boston beat Detroit, handing the Pistons back-to-back losses after a 4-0 start.