Fall to 4-41 in San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO — The Spurs’ first game with every player healthy and available went as the team expected.

There was some hesitation and a rash of early turnovers, but they grew comfortable as the game progressed. Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points, LaMarcus Aldridge added 20 and San Antonio beat Brooklyn, 109-97, on Tuesday night for its 15th straight victory at home over the Nets, who are 4-41 all-time in San Antonio. “(The rash of injuries is) very unusual for us, but we still have a month and a half until the rodeo (road trip) starts,” Spurs veteran Manu Ginobili said. “This is a good time to get everybody playing, everybody feeling good. Get Kawhi and Tony (Parker) back to their usual selves, back to their rhythm, feeling good and I think we are accomplishing that. Slowly, because they haven’t been back for so long, but they are really showing progress.”

San Antonio is third in the Western Conference at 24-11 despite being without Leonard and/or Parker for 30 games this season. Aldridge has led the team during the duo’s absence and his resurgent season has not slowed with their return. The 6-foot-11 forward was 7 for 15 from the field and had nine rebounds against Brooklyn.

“You know, obviously, watching (Aldridge and Pau Gasol) play and see them do the things they do for our team is great, and it inspires everyone on the bench, me, even guys playing,” Leonard said. “But just with me, just taking it slow and trying not to skip any steps, like I said before, so I can be healthy down the road.”

The Nets kept pace early despite injuries to their top two point guards, D’Angelo Russell and Jeremy Lin. Caris LeVert led Brooklyn with 18 points and Allen Crabbe added 15. “I like the process. The results weren’t great offensively but we did some good things,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said.