Johnson has 23 points, 21 boards as Spurs beat Cavaliers 116-110

CLEVELAND >> Keldon Johnson scored 23 points and grabbed a career-high 21 rebounds, and Dejounte Murray had 22 points as the San

Antonio Spurs held on for a 116-110, wire-to-wire victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

Johnson, a second-year pro, shot 9 of 19, was 5 of 7 from the foul line and had 11 offensive rebounds. Tim Duncan was the last Spurs player with a 20-point, 20-rebound game in 2013 and had their last 11-offensive board performance in 2010.

Johnson’s previous NBA best was 14 rebounds against Dallas on Jan. 22 and he had 17 total boards in his last five games.

DeMar DeRozan had 20 points and seven assists in his return to the Spurs after missing four games for the funeral of his father Frank. San Antonio, which led by 22 in the third quarter, won its third straight to move a season-high six games over .500.

Darius Garland had a career-high 29 points and eight assists for the Cavaliers, who have lost five of their last six. Collin Sexton also scored 29 points and Jarrett Allen had 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Cleveland pulled within 114-110 on a 3-pointer by two-way player Brodric Thomas with 9 seconds left, but Murray made two free throws to lock up the victory.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Patty Mills extended San Antonio’s advantage to 75-53 late in the third. DeRozan had eight points during the 21-11 spurt to open the second half.

Johnson had 15 points and 11 rebounds in the first half, helping San Antonio take a 54-42 lead. Garland scored 16 points for the Cavaliers, who trailed by 15 in the second.

San Antonio led 25-22 after the first as Johnson had six points and six rebounds. Garland scored 10 points and Sexton had nine for Cleveland.

TIME TO GRIEVE

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich fully supported DeRozan spending the past week to grieve with his family following the death of his dad. Frank DeRozan passed away in Los Angeles on Feb. 19. “Circumstances are always different, but he did what was necessary for his family and I applaud him for that,” Popovich said. “Your family loves you. Basketball doesn’t.”