Aldridge injured as Wizards beat Spurs to snap losing streak
WASHINGTON » Accustomed by now to playing without their best player, the Washington Wizards put on another clinic of team basketball before they get five-time All-Star John Wall back.
Seven players scored in double figures as the Wizards beat the San Antonio Spurs 116-106 on Tuesday night to snap a three-game losing streak in the middle of a tight Eastern Conference playoff race. San Antonio lost for just the second time in eight games but may have been dealt a more serious blow with a left knee injury to star LaMarcus Aldridge.
“We are at a point if LaMarcus gets a cough, a cold, we are in deep trouble,” veteran guard Manu Ginobili said. “So hopefully it’s just a one half thing because if not it’s really going to get tough to score down the stretch. We’ve got tough opponents. We’re playing against teams that need wins. Hopefully it’s nothing.”
Markieff Morris led Washington with 15 points on 7-of-7 shooting in just 17 minutes, and the rest of the lineup showcased the kind of balance that helped the Wizards go 15-11 in 26 consecutive games without Wall.
“We want to welcome him back with momentum, not with losing a couple games and wanting him to come back and like save the day,” Morris said. “We want him to come back while we’re in the flow, while guys are feeling good and he just brings the presence that he always brings.”
While Wall is on the verge of returning from a twomonth absence after left knee surgery, the Spurs await an MRI on Aldridge’s left knee after he limped off late in the second quarter. Aldridge was the game’s leading scorer with 13 points at the time. HEAT 98, CAVALIERS 79» Kelly Olynyk scored 19 points, Dwyane Wade blocked a pair of shots by LeBron James as part of a stifling defensive effort by Miami, and the Heat had little trouble on the way to beating Cleveland.
Josh Richardson and James Johnson each scored 15 points for Miami, which has won 10 of its last 11 home games. TRAIL BLAZERS 107, PELICANS 103» Damian Lillard scored 20 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter, and Portland beat New Orleans.
Lillard hit his first six shots of the fourth quarter, including two 3-pointers, to push Portland into its first lead since early in the first quarter. He made two free throws with 1.3 seconds left to seal the victory. ROCKETS 118, BULLS 86» Eric Gordon scored 31 points and tied a career high with eight 3-pointers on a night James Harden sat out to rest, and Houston got its 10th straight win with a rout of Chicago.
Trevor Ariza added 21 points and Chris Paul had 13 points and 10 assists in his return after missing three games with a sore hamstring. RAPTORS 114, NUGGETS 110 » DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas, and Fred VanVleet each scored 15 points and Toronto beat Denver.