NBA Game 3 Recap: Cavs, Spurs improve to 4-0 and Durant leads Warriors
The San Antonio Spurs preserved their 100 per cent record, while Kevin Durant starred for the Golden State Warriors.
Sunday saw the Spurs make it four wins from as many NBA games with a 106-99 victory over the Miami Heat.
Despite the absence of LaMarcus Aldridge and Danny Green, the Spurs maintained their perfect record thanks to another impressive Kawhi Leonard display.
Durant is right at home in Golden State after leading the Warriors past the winless Phoenix Suns 106-100.
After 38 minutes of action, Durant posted a game-high 37 points.
The Los Angeles Clippers held firm to beat the Utah Jazz 88-75, while the Detroit Pistons and the Oklahoma City Thunder also triumphed.
WHITESIDE NOT ENOUGH TO SINK SPURS
Heat centre Hassan Whiteside erupted on Sunday, recording a double-double.
Whiteside finished with an equal-high 27 points and 15 rebounds.
But his effort was still not enough to condemn San Antonio to their first loss of the season.
The Spurs were led by Leonard’s 27 points in Miami.
DURANT PROVING HIS WORTH
The Warriors hit the headlines when they acquired Durant from the Thunder as a free agent in the off-season.
Durant, however, has not disappointed since making the high-profile move. After posting a combined 57 points in his first games, the 2014 NBA MVP scored 37 points against the Suns.
And his exploits do not appear to be hindering two-time reigning MVP Steph Curry, who added 28 points of his own for Golden State’s second win of the season.
SHOE OR NO SHOE, DURANT DOES IT ALL, MANU TURNS BACK CLOCK
No shoe, no problem for Kevin Durant! #GSWatPHX pic.twitter.com/l9wmev3HrI
— NBA (@NBA) October 30, 2016
MANU GONNA MANU pic.twitter.com/MQ94fONwdu
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) October 30, 2016
WESTBROOK’S THE TRIPLE-DOUBLE KING
Coming off a 51-point triple-double against the Suns on Friday, Russell Westbrook was at it again on Sunday.
Westbrook scored 33 points, tallied 16 assists and 12 rebounds as the Thunder accounted for the Los Angeles Lakers 113-96.
DRUMMOND INSPIRES PISTONS
Andre Drummond put up 20 points and 23 rebounds in a mammoth display to power the Pistons to a 98-83 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Memphis Grizzlies edged the Washington Wizards 112-103 in overtime, while the Dallas Mavericks lost 93-92 to the Houston Rockets.
BULLS, HAWKS BID TO STAY PERFECT
The unbeaten Chicago Bulls (2-0) are on the road against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, while the Atlanta Hawks (2-0) host the Sacramento Kings.
Reigning champions the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs both made it three wins to open the NBA season following their respective victories on Saturday.
LeBron James and the Cavs downed the Orlando Magic 105-99, while the Spurs blitzed the New Orleans Pelicans 98-79.
The Chicago Bulls had six players with double-digit points as they overcame the Indiana Pacers 118-101 to remain undefeated through two games.
Also unbeaten are the Atlanta Hawks (2-0), who accounted for the Philadelphia 76ers 104-72.
There were also wins for the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks.
CAVS WITHSTAND RALLY
The Magic huffed and puffed but could not condemn the Cavs to their first defeat of the season.
Cleveland surged into a 22-point lead late in the third quarter before Orlando gave the Cavs a scare, trailing 88-85 with four minutes remaining.
The Cavs steadied but the Magic responded again, this time via Serge Ibaka to be within three points with 45 seconds to play but J.R. Smith ended Orlando’s hopes.
Smith finished with 16 points, while James led the way by posting a game-high 23 points and nine assists. Kyrie Irving contributed 20, while Kevin Love added 19.
Evan Fournier starred with 22 points for the Magic, who are winless after three outings.
DOMINANT THIRD QUARTER SEES SPURS HOME
Even with Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, the Spurs remain a formidable force, evident by their performance in the third quarter.
Leading by 10 at half-time, the Spurs pulled clear in the third after outscoring the helpless Pelicans 28-15.
San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard led the way again with 20 points.
SIMMONS SHOWS NO MERCY
Simmons with yet another vicious dunk! @Spurs up big on @NBATV. #NBARapidReplay https://t.co/zDpUyDsRgf
— NBA (@NBA) October 30, 2016
Porzingis with the 2 hand flush at MSG! #NBAVine https://t.co/iYhzb4ryjh
— NBA (@NBA) October 30, 2016
BULLS SHAREÂ LOVE
This year’s version of the Bulls is vastly different than recent seasons, and through two games of the campaign that is a good thing.
In a 17-point win over the Pacers, six different Bulls scored in double figures with Doug McDermott leading the way with 23 on nine-of-14 shooting.
Rajon Rondo scored just six points but dished out 13 assists, while Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade scored 16 and 14 points, respectively. Even Robin Lopez is imposing his will with 12 points and nice defensive play.
BUCKS WIN ON THE BUZZER
With the scores locked at 108-apiece, reserve centre John Henson came up big late, tipping in Jabari Parker’s miss on the buzzer to give the Bucks a 110-108 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
The Knicks defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 111-104, the Celtics saw off the Charlotte Hornets 104-98, the Portland Trail Blazers prevailed 115-113 in overtime against the Denver Nuggets, while the Sacramento Kings pipped the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-103.
