Depleted Spurs dim Suns; Rockets hottest on the road
PHOENIX – San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich says Bryn Forbes has “never seen a shot he didn’t like.’’
There was one in particular that both of them must have loved Saturday night.
Forbes sank his only 3-pointer of the night with 21.5 seconds to play and the severely depleted Spurs held off a fourth-quarter Phoenix rally to beat the Suns 104-101.
“It was our fifth game in seven nights, on the road, had a back-to-back to end it all,’’ Popovich said. “I thought we were pretty tired, but I thought they hung in as well as they could.’’
The Spurs left Pau Gasol and Manu Ginobili home to rest after a victory over Boston on Friday night and had Danny Green (left groin tightness) and Kyle Anderson (left MCL sprain) out with injuries.
Still, they led by as many as 19 points in the third quarter before the Suns came back to take their first lead of the night, 100-99, on Marquese Chriss’ breakaway dunk with 1:32 to go after a San Antonio turnover.
In Portland, the NBA’s hottest team has found a home on the road.
Houston won its ninth consecutive game after James Harden scored 48 points and the Rockets rallied from 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 124-117 on Saturday night.
The Rockets, who trailed for most of the game, won their eighth consecutive road game, running their season road record to 12-1. It is Houston’s best road start since the 1996-97 season.
In Los Angeles, LeBron James posted his third triple double of the season and 58th of his career as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 105-98 on Saturday night.
James had a hand in Cleveland’s final 22 points of the game as he finished with 30 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists in 39 minutes.
James’ late-game productive streak is the most points scored or assisted on for any player this season to close out a game.
“That’s a crazy stat,” said James. “I didn’t know that, that’s for sure.”
In Mexico City, Goran Dragic scored 20 points as the Miami Heat beat the Brooklyn Nets 101-89.
Tyler Johnson also scored 20 points for the Heat to follow up his seasonhigh 25-point showing in Wednesday’s loss at San Antonio. He helped Miami stay close by scoring 18 points in the first half.
Elsewhere, Lou Williams’ threepointer was the final dagger in the Los Angeles Clippers’ wild 113-112 triumph over the Washington Wizards.
A frenetic finish saw the lead change hands three times in the final 13 seconds, but Williams had the last word with a 30-foot jump shot made over the outstretched arms of Washington’s Bradley Beal.