Spurs get 2-digit win, lose 1 digit
The San Antonio Spurs got a glimpse of their future and it was both encouraging and daunting.
Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points, rookie Dejounte Murray added a season-high 24 and the shorthanded Spurs overcame a pregame injury to Pau Gasol in beating the visiting Denver Nuggets 118-104 on Thursday night.
Denver’s three-game winning streak was snapped despite 35 points from Nikola Jokic.
Leonard had his fifth straight 30-point performance, right after learning he was elected to start for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game for the second consecutive season.
“I’m just happy that my hard work is paying off,” Leonard said. “It’s just another stepping point to my career and hopefully I can keep going from there.”
Murray demonstrated his potential, playing a personalhigh 34 minutes in place of ailing point guard Tony Parker. But the Spurs’ immediate future is uncertain without Gasol, their starting center.
“We’re going to have it looked at tomorrow, but he’s going to be out for a while,” head coach Gregg Popovich said.
Gasol broke the ring finger on his left (non-shooting) hand when he jammed it against Kyle Anderson’s shoulder while attempting a running hook during pregame warm-ups. The Spurs said they should have a better idea how long Gasol will be out following additional tests Friday.
The Spurs also unexpectedly went without Parker and then Popovich, who was ejected for the first time this season.
Former Warriors forward David Lee had 10 points and 16 rebounds while starting in place of Gasol. Timberwolves 104, Clippers 101: Karl-Anthony Towns scored 37 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 45 seconds left, and Minnesota snapped its six-game road losing streak. Andrew Wiggins added 27 points, including two free throws with five seconds left. DeAndre Jordan had 29 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Clippers. Los Angeles point guard Chris Paul is out six to eight weeks after surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb Wednesday. L.A. forward Blake Griffin also is sidelined.
Cavaliers 118, Suns 103: Kyrie Irving scored 26 points, All-Star teammate LeBron James had 21 points and 15 assists, and host Cleveland bounced back from its 35-point loss to the
Warriors on Monday night. The Cavs improved to 30-11 — the same record they had at the halfway point of the 2015-16 championship season. Tyson Chandler had 22 points and 16 rebounds, but Phoenix lost for the fourth time in five games. Wizards 113, Knicks 110: John Wall had 29 points and 13 assists, scoring visiting Washington’s final four points in the last 32 seconds. Otto Porter Jr. made six three-pointers for the second straight night and added 23 points. Carmelo Anthony finished with 34 points for New York.
Heat 99, Mavericks 95: Goran Dragic had 32 points, St. Francis alum Tyler Johnson scored 10 of his 23 in the fourth quarter and host Miami ended Dallas’ three-game winning streak. Dragic shot 11-for-15 from the field, including 4-for-4 from three-point range. Dirk Nowitzki scored 19 points for the Mavericks.