Michael Jordan returns to basketball

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge each had 22 points plus the San Antonio Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers 118-110 Thursday evening to secure the second-best residence start to a season in league history.

The Spurs have actually obtained 34 straight home to open the season and just trail the 37 victories by the Chicago Bulls in their historical 72-victory season in 1995-96. The Orlando Magic won 33 directly to open up the growing season that same period.

a dominant 3rd one-fourth allowed San Antonio to sit its starters for much of the fourth quarter prior to Saturday’s showdown with Golden State. The Warriors additionally the Spurs have both clinched playoff berths and unit brands and generally are on speed to complete with two for the three most useful 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 first 1 / 2 while shooting 50 % through the field but had difficulty gaining any split from Portland.

But while they have inked throughout their house winning streak, the Spurs dominated the beginning of the next one half to take demand for the game. San Antonio started the 3rd one-fourth on a 10-0 run, with Aldridge scoring seven points and Leonard igniting the run with a 3-pointer. The Spurs had 14 helps on 16 field targets inside 3rd one-fourth.

Leonard had 11 things inside 3rd quarter, supplying a lift on offense and security. The 6-foot-7 forward covered a pass to Duncan for an uncontested dunk after attracting three defenders in lane. Leonard then disrupted a 3-point effort and drained their own 3 in the ensuing possession.

TIP-INS

Trail Blazers: Portland forward/center Meyers Leonard is expected to miss at least three games after dislocating their remaining neck used Wednesday. The injury took place after Gerald Henderson swiped at his arm. Leonard dislocated exactly the same shoulder against San Antonio on Nov. 11, resulting in a seven-game absence. … The Trail Blazers have obtained 16 of the previous 24 games. … Portland is 20-1 when leading on half and 2-13 whenever trailing. … The Trail Blazers, just who play Friday in New Orleans, tend to be 12-17 in back-to-back games.

Spurs: Aldridge has actually averaged 17 points and six rebounds in three games against the Trail Blazers this year. The 6-foot-11 forward left Portland to signal with San Antonio in offseason. … The Spurs have obtained 54 of their past 62 games. … San Antonio took a 56-54 lead at half when Patty Mills drained a set of free throws after being fouled near midcourt by Lillard with 0.1 seconds staying.

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

Nic Batum scored 19 for the Hornets, who separate four games with Miami this season and today have a similar 39-29 record as the Heat within the jampacked Eastern Conference playoff chase. The Hornets are now 15-3 in their final 18 games.

Charlotte trailed 45-30 when you look at the 2nd quarter, after that took the lead by halftime and held it for most associated with the second half. Courtney Lee had 13 and Marvin Williams scored 12 for Hornets.

Luol Deng led heat with 22 points. It had been the 10th time in 2010 that Miami lost a game for which it led at one-point by two fold numbers, with six of the coming in the home.

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

Dwyane Wade started 1 for 10 from flooring, but made a pair of layups when you look at the last seconds – each getting Miami within a point. Charlotte’s Jeremy Lin got sent to the foul range after every of these baskets by Wade and moved 4 for 4 from stripe in those moments, the final of those coming with 3.8 moments left to bring back the Hornets’ three-point lead.

Which is sufficient, as Wade’s 3-pointer with another remaining missed.

Josh Richardson scored 18, Hassan Whiteside had 17, Goran Dragic completed with 16 and Joe Johnson added 13 for Miami.

Miami utilized a 12-0 run to take the 15-point lead at specific midpoint associated with the 2nd quarter, and every little it was gone by halftime. Walker had 13 points within just 5 minutes to fuel just what became a 24-7 burst because of the Hornets to close the one half, including a 3-pointer that delivered all of them into the locker area with a 54-52 lead.

The Heat shortly had the lead two times when you look at the 3rd, but a 13-5 set you back close that quarter sent Charlotte in to the final 12 minutes with an 82-73 edge.

Into the 4th, Whiteside and Richardson either scored or had the assist on first six Miami baskets. Richardson – who's averaging 15.8 points in the final five games on 66 percent shooting, including 15-for-21 from 3-point range – made a 3 to obtain the Heat within 91-90 midway through fourth, but Charlotte wouldn't normally drop the lead at any point in the final one-fourth.

Hornets: Charlotte lost beginning C Cody Zeller at halftime with left knee discomfort. Zeller played 14 mins before the break, scoring six things and grabbing three rebounds. He made their last three shots through the floor. Jefferson began the 2nd one half inside the place. … The Hornets are now actually 11-3 with Lee as a starter.

Temperature: Miami reached 100 points when it comes to ninth successive game. … Richardson made 7 of his 9 shots. … Wade scored 11 things, getting him within 13 of 20, 000 for his career. … A trio of previous Miami Hurricane soccer standouts – Stephen Morris, Jon Feliciano and Ryan Williams – were in attendance, sitting close to the Heat bench.

BOSH’S TWINS

Chris Bosh, who had been regarding the Heat bench Monday the very first time since a blood coagulum pushed him from the courtroom in February, wasn't with his group Thursday night – for reasonable. Bosh along with his spouse Adrienne welcomed twin sons on Tuesday. The kids, Lennox Noel and Phoenix Avery, met their three siblings the very first time on Thursday.

ALONG THE STRETCH

Charlotte’s routine throughout the season seems positive. Of this Hornets’ last 14 games, as few as four could be against groups which actually make the playoffs. As well as the Hornets still have a complete of four games remaining to relax and play against Brooklyn and Philadelphia, the 2 worst teams within the Eastern Conference. Having said that, nine of Charlotte’s final 12 are on the road.

The overall game had been more than, there have been significantly less than 10 seconds left and Milwaukee was in front of short-handed Memphis by 10. The Grizzlies had the baseball, but frequently a new player simply dribbles it, fingers it to the referee, and starts preparing to go to the club.

After that Henson imply mugged.

Henson ended up being ejected for taunting. He had been great with this, high-fiving followers and tossing their jersey for them while he left the arena.

An ejection was not adequate for Barnes — he in the course of time chased Henson down the tunnel. Watch Grizzlies’ mentor Dave Joerger attempt to hold Barnes and call security over before Barnes breaks no-cost and goes operating after Henson.

Barnes got all the way into dollars locker space but failed to find Henson.

Several resources said Barnes joined Bucks locker area after-game in search of Henson.

— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel)

Barnes could get a multi-game suspension for this. Henson might writing a check towards the league. Ke

The Wizards were getting frustrated. They'd led Thursday night’s game by 24, nevertheless the Sixers had made a comeback and had been which makes it a casino game.

Markieff Morris took it a step too much. The Sixers’ Isaiah Canaan had been on a breakaway and Morris raced up with the opportunity to challenge the shot, but rather, he ended up striking Canaan into the mind.

Intentional or perhaps not, it was a blow into the head hence’s a computerized ejection. Morris may see an excellent for the.