Spurs shoot down Rockets
HOUSTON – San Antonio’s winning streak reached double figures and the Spurs moved above Houston in the intense fight for the NBA Southwest Division title by beating the Rockets, 104-103, on Friday, with Tim Duncan preserving the victory by blocking a layup attempt with 2.9 seconds left.
The Spurs remained half a game behind Southwest leader Memphis, which maintained its edge by beating Utah thanks to a missed free throw which ended the game.
In other key results, Atlanta comfortably beat Charlotte to reach 60 wins for the first time in franchise history, and Boston boosted its playoff hopes with a road win at Cleveland.
San Antonio’s Duncan had 29 points and blocked James Harden’s last-gasp layup attempt to preserve a victory which moved the Spurs up to third in the Western Conference standings, while Houston slipped to sixth.
Memphis stayed just ahead of San Antonio by winnin,g 89-88, at Utah.
Atlanta replacement Mike Muscala scored 17 points to be the unlikely top scorer as the Hawks beat Charlotte, 104-80.
Muscala was 8 for 9 from the field in 25 1/2 minutes while filling in for injured forward Paul Millsap, while Kyle Korver had 16 points for the Hawks, who have already secured the Southeast Division title, and unveiled the banner before the game.
Boston maintained its share of seventh place in the East standings with a 99-93 win at Cleveland.
Brooklyn stayed level with Boston by routing Washington, 117-80.
New Orleans kept pace in the fight for eighth in the West by defeating Phoenix, 90-75.
Dallas’ Raymond Felton hit a layup with 1.5 seconds remaining in double overtime, then blocked a last-second shot to give the Mavericks a 144-143 win at Denver.
Toronto’s Lou Williams made a 3-pointer with 9.9 seconds left, lifting the Raptors to a 101-99 win at Orlando and their 11th straight victory over the Magic.
Oklahoma City stayed in equal eighth in the West by downing Sacramento, 116103, with Russell Westbrook contributing 27 points and 10 assists.
Indiana kept up its playoff push – a game behind Brooklyn and Boston in the East – by winning 107-103 at Detroit, as Rodney Stuckey hit three straight jumpshots late on his way to 24 points.