HEAT SMOTHERS CLEVELAND, 120-92
Miami Heat wins for the 18th time in last 22 games with rout of Cleveland Cavs opted to rest superstars LeBron James and Kyrie Irving San Antoino outlasts Minnesota, nabs 20th straight playoff spot
Goran Dragic scored 23 points and Hassan Whiteside had 20 points and 13 rebounds as the Miami Heat beat the undermanned Cleveland Cavaliers 120-92 on Saturday night.
Tyler Johnson added 17 points for the Heat, who won for the 18th time in their last 22 games.
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving sat out for Cleveland, both getting the night off to rest. The Cavaliers fell to 0-5 this season when James isn’t in the lineup, and continue to be without two other would-be starters in Kevin Love and J.R. Smith — both still recovering from surgeries. Newly signed center Andrew Bogut also wasn’t with the Cavaliers.
Channing Frye scored 21 points and Kyle Korver added 15 for the Cavaliers, who have lost their last 12 games in Miami. This one was largely drama-free until the final seconds, when players from both sides did a little shouting back and forth, with Miami’s Dion Waiters — a former Cavs guard — among those most upset.
In San Antonio, Kawhi Leonard had 34 points and 10 rebounds as San Antonio overcame a listless start to beat Minnesota , 97-90, and wrap up its 20th straight playoff spot.
The Spurs won in overtime for the second straight night to extend their winning streak to seven.
LaMarcus Aldridge added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Spurs, and Pau Gasol had 17 points and eight rebounds in his fifth straight game as a reserve. The Spurs outscored the Timberwolves 35-20 in the final quarter and overtime.
Karl-Anthony Towns had 24 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota. The Timberwolves had not played since Wednesday night in Utah and had won four of five.
In Chicago, Reserve Jamal Crawford scored 25 points and took over down the stretch to carry Los Angeles over Chicago, 101-91.
Crawford, a former Bulls guard who won his third Sixth Man of the Year award last season, scored 10 points in a 14-7 spurt in the fourth quarter as the Clippers won for just the second time in six games.
Chris Paul added 17 points and Blake Griffin had 16 for Los Angeles, which lost in Milwaukee on Friday and had fallen to the fifth spot in the Western Conference standings.
Jimmy Butler scored 16 points for the Bulls, who had won five of their last six games.
In Houston, James Harden scored 33 points and Clint Capela had 24 to help Houston build a big lead in the third quarter and coast to a victory over Memphis, 123-108. /