Spurs upend Utah in OT, win sixth in row

Aldridge scores 45 to carry San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO — Lamarcus Aldridge and the San Antonio Spurs outlasted Utah rookie Donovan Mitchell and the Jazz.

Aldridge had a career-high 45 points, helping San Antonio overcome Mitchell’s 35-point performance in the Spurs’ 124-120 overtime victory over Utah on Friday.

“(Aldridge) was ridiculous the previous two games, too,” San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili said. “He’s carrying us. He’s just saying, ‘OK, follow me, guys, and we’ll be OK.’”

After losing three straight to drop out of a playoff spot, the Spurs have won six straight and beat the Jazz for the first time in four meetings this season.

San Antonio remained sixth in the Western Conference with the same record as fifth-place New Orleans, a half-game behind Oklahoma City for fourth. Utah remained eighth in the West.

“It’s time to try to put it together on both ends of the floor,” Aldridge said. “Feel like everyone’s been locked in and trying to take care of business.”

Utah’s 12-game road win streak ended, but only after Mitchell had 14 points in the fourth quarter, including three 3-pointers in the final two minutes to force overtime.

“He’s tough,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Those two 3s he hit were just ridiculous, but he’s got courage, and he’s got the skill, (and) he’s willing to take those shots.” At Oakland, Calif., Stephen Curry returned from a six-game absence with a right ankle injury only to strain his left knee after scoring 29 points for Golden State. The new injury reportedly is to his MCL, and Curry is scheduled for an MRI examination Saturday to determine the severity.

Warriors 106, Hawks 94 — Celtics 105, Trail Blazers 100

— At Portland, Ore., Marcus Morris scored 30 points for Boston, which overcame a 12-point second-half deficit to hand Portland its second straight loss after a 13-game win streak. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum scored 26 points each for the Blazers.

At Chicago, Bishop Gorman product Shabazz Muhammad scored 21 points off the bench to help Milwaukee overcome the absence of All-star Giannis Antetokounmpo (right ankle sprain) and move within a half-game of seventh-place Miami in the East.

At New York, Karl-anthony Towns had 24 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota, which clinched its first winning record in 13 years. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a career-high 39 points for New York.

At Toronto, Kyle Lowry had 25 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds for Toronto in its 12th straight win over Brooklyn. D’angelo Russell had 18 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds for the Nets.

At Cleveland, Lebron James scored 27 points in three quarters for Cleveland, which welcomed back forwards Tristan Thompson, Larry Nance Jr. and Rodney Hood from injuries.

At Indianapolis, Bojan Bogdanovic scored 28 points for Indiana, which went on a late 9-0 run and moved within one win or one Detroit loss from clinching a playoff berth.

At Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook scored 17 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter and had 13 rebounds and eight assists for Oklahoma City in its seventh win in eight games.

At Washington, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray scored 25 points apiece for Denver, which stayed two games behind Minnesota in the West.

Bucks 118, Bulls 105 — Timberwolves 108, Knicks 104 — Raptors 116, Nets 112 — Cavaliers 120, Suns 95 — Pacers 109, Clippers 104 — Thunder 105, Heat 99 — Nuggets 108, Wizards 100 —