Spurs beat Warriors to stay perfect at home, Cavs fall to Heat
The San Antonio Spurs improved to 35-0 at home this season after upstaging defending NBA champions the Golden State Warriors 87-79.
Golden State (62-7) headed to San Antonio on Saturday 10 victories shy of matching the Chicago Bulls’ 72-win record, after eclipsing the Dallas Mavericks 24 hours earlier.
However, ‘Splash Brothers’ Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson struggled as the Spurs preserved their 100 per cent record at AT&T Center, snapping the Warriors’ seven-game winning streak in the process.
Curry, who shot four-of-18, posted just 14 points as he was limited to less than 20 points in a game for only the 10th time this season.
The reigning MVP made just one three-pointer from 12 attempts, while Thompson was seven-of-20 from the field for 15 points.
LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard, however, produced commanding double-double performances to lead the Spurs.
Aldridge finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds, and he was aided by Leonard’s 18 points and 14 rebounds.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were stunned 122-101 by the Miami Heat on a landmark night for Dwyane Wade.
Three-time NBA champion and 12-time All-Star Wade posted 24 points as he reached 20,000 career points, the 41st player in league history to do so.
The Heat, who led by as many as 33 points, also had Josh Richardson (19), Goran Dragic (18, 11 assists), Joe Johnson (18) and Hassan Whiteside (16, 13 rebounds) in double digits.
LeBron James had 26 points for the beaten Cavs, while Richard Jefferson chipped in with 20.
Elsewhere, Russell Westbrook recorded back-to-back triple-doubles as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers 115-111, despite 45 points from Paul George.
The Washington Wizards made it four straight wins after rallying to beat the New York Knicks 99-89, the Los Angeles Clippers fell 113-102 to the Memphis Grizzlies and the Chicago Bulls overcame the Utah Jazz 92-85.
D.J. Augustin led the Denver Nuggets to a 101-93 victory at the Charlotte Hornets, the Atlanta Hawks accounted for the Houston Rockets 109-97, while the Detroit Pistons downed the Brooklyn Nets 115-103.
