DEFENSE LIFTS SPURS VS. HORNETS
San Antonio Spurs limit Hornets to just 22 percent shooting in first half Boston Celtics rally in the third quarter to beat Indiana Pacers Stephen Curry bucks poor start to help Warriors beat Pelicans
Pau Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge each had 17 points and seven rebounds, and the San Antonio Spurs held the Charlotte Hornets to 37 percent shooting in a 106-86 victory on Saturday night.
Rudy Gay added 15 points for the Spurs, who snapped Charlotte’s three-game home win streak.
The Hornets entered the game 7-2 at the Spectrum Center, but shot just 22 percent from the field in the first half, fell behind by 11 at halftime and could never make a serious run at the Spurs.
Kemba Walker, who left the game briefly in the third quarter with a left shoulder injury, returned to finish with 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting. He didn’t get much help as Charlotte’s four other starters — Nic Batum, Dwight Howard, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Marvin Williams — were a combined 6 of 29 from the field.
CELTICS 108, PACERS 98
In Indianapolis, Kyrie Irving scored 25 points and Al Horford added 21 to lead Boston over Indiana.
Boston (18-3) outscored Indiana 37-16 in the third quarter to turn a nine-point deficit into an 82-70 lead entering the final quarter. Horford had 12 points during a period that saw Indiana record two three-minute scoring droughts.
The Pacers (11-9) were led by Myles Turner, who had 19 points but spent much of the night in foul trouble. Lance Stephenson had 16 points and eight rebounds, and Damontas Sabonis had 17 points and eight boards.
Victor Oladipo, leading Indiana with 22.9 points per game, did not play for the first time this season. He sat with a bruised right knee sustained in Friday’s 107-104 win over Toronto.
WARRIORS 110, PELICANS 95
In Oakland, Stephen Curry bounced back after an 0-for10 start and scored 14 of his 27 points in the third quarter, Klay Thompson added 24 points and Golden State held on to beat New Orleans. /