Michael Jordan punched Steve Kerr

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge each had 22 things in addition to San Antonio Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-110 Thursday night to secure the second-best residence begin to a period in league history.

The Spurs have claimed 34 straight home to start the season and just trail the 37 wins because of the Chicago Bulls throughout their historical 72-victory season in 1995-96. The Orlando Magic won 33 directly to start the growing season that same season.

a prominent third quarter enabled San Antonio to sit its beginners for a lot of the 4th quarter prior to Saturday’s showdown with Golden State. The Warriors additionally the Spurs have both clinched playoff berths and unit games and are on rate in order to complete with two associated with three best single-season files in league history.

C.J. McCollum had 26 points and Damian Lillard had 23 for Portland.

San Antonio only had two turnovers in the 1st one half while shooting 50 percent from the industry but had trouble getting any split from Portland.

But while they have inked in their house winning streak, the Spurs dominated the start of the 2nd half to take demand regarding the game. San Antonio unsealed the third one-fourth on a 10-0 run, with Aldridge scoring seven things and Leonard igniting the run with a 3-pointer. The Spurs had 14 helps on 16 field targets in third quarter.

Leonard had 11 things inside 3rd quarter, providing a good start on offense and security. The 6-foot-7 forward covered a pass to Duncan for an uncontested dunk after drawing three defenders inside lane. Leonard after that disrupted a 3-point attempt and drained his own 3 on the ensuing control.

TIP-INS

Trail Blazers: Portland forward/center Meyers Leonard is expected to miss at the least three games after dislocating their left neck in practice Wednesday. The damage took place after Gerald Henderson swiped at their arm. Leonard dislocated the same shoulder against San Antonio on Nov. 11, resulting in a seven-game lack. … The Trail Blazers have actually won 16 of the previous 24 games. … Portland is 20-1 whenever leading at the one half and 2-13 whenever trailing. … The Trail Blazers, just who perform Friday in brand new Orleans, tend to be 12-17 in back-to-back games.

Spurs: Aldridge features averaged 17 points and six rebounds in three games against the Trail Blazers this year. The 6-foot-11 ahead left Portland to signal with San Antonio in the offseason. … The Spurs have obtained 54 of their past 62 games. … San Antonio took a 56-54 lead during the one half whenever Patty Mills drained a pair of free throws after being fouled near midcourt by Lillard with 0.1 moments continuing to be.

MIAMI (AP) — Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker each scored 21 things, and Charlotte Hornets overcame a 15-point first-half shortage to conquer the Miami Heat 109-106 on Thursday night.

Nic Batum scored 19 when it comes to Hornets, which separate four games with Miami this season now have the same 39-29 record as temperature in jampacked Eastern meeting playoff chase. The Hornets are now actually 15-3 inside their last 18 games.

Charlotte trailed 45-30 in second quarter, then took the lead by halftime and presented it for most for the second half. Courtney Lee had 13 and Marvin Williams scored 12 for Hornets.

Luol Deng led the Heat with 22 points. It had been the 10th time this season that Miami destroyed a casino game for which it led at one point by dual figures, with six of the coming in the home.

Charlotte led by six with 3:24 remaining, but couldn’t shake the Heat.

Dwyane Wade started 1 for 10 from floor, but made a pair of layups in the last moments – each getting Miami within a point. Charlotte’s Jeremy Lin got provided for the foul range after each and every of the baskets by Wade and went 4 for 4 from the stripe in those moments, the very last of those coming with 3.8 moments left to revive the Hornets’ three-point lead.