Aldridge steps up to help Spurs down Rockets

Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge scored 26 points apiece to help the San Antonio Spurs, now without Tony Parker, beat the Houston Rockets 103-92 on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.

Aldridge had managed just 19 points combined in the first two games, but stepped up in the wake of Parker’s seasonending leg injury, scoring nine points in the fourth quarter to help the Spurs pull away.

Game 4 is Sunday night in Houston.

James Harden led the Rockets with 43 points after scoring just 13 in Game 2. But he had just five assists and complained about the officiating all night long.

The Spurs were playing in the postseason without Parker for the first time since 2001, ending an NBA record of 221 straight playoff appearances for the Frenchman.

Parker has surgery on ruptured tendon

The Spurs say veteran guard Tony Parker has undergone successful surgery to repair a ruptured left quadriceps tendon.

The team said Friday’s procedure was performed by Spurs physician Dr. David Schmidt and a timeline for Parker’s return will be determined later.

Hawks fire GM, coach resigns some duties

The Atlanta Hawks’ next general manager will have total authority of personnel decisions following moves on Friday which dismantled the two-tier management team of Mike Budenholzer and Wes Wilcox.

Budenholzer resigned as the Hawks’ president of basketball operations and will remain as coach, and Wilcox resigned as general manager and “will become an adviser to ownership.”