(The Sports Xchange) – Kawhi Leonard scored 25 points beforeleaving to a standing ovation with 10:32 to play as the San Antonio Spurs clobbered the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-74 on Monday.
The loss dropped the Cavaliers a half-game behind idle Boston for the best record in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland’s 74 points were a season low.
San Antonio, which has won five straight games, pulled back to within two games of idle Golden State in the race for the best record in the NBA. The Spurs and Warriors play in San Antonio today.
Thunder 92, Mavericks 91
Russell Westbrook racked his 37th triple-double with 37 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, and he finished off a 14-0 game-ending run with an 18-foot jumper to lift Oklahoma City past Dallas.
The Thunder trailed by as many as 14 in the fourth, but after the Mavericks went up 91-78, they wouldn’t score again.
Knicks 109, Pistons 95
Kristaps Porzingis came through for New York with 25 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Carmelo Anthony, who missed the previous two games with a sore knee, had 21 points, and Derrick Rose added 27 points.
The Pistons have lost four straight and seven of their last eight. The loss dropped the Pistons 1 1/2 games behind the Heat for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Marcus Morris led the Pistons with 20 points.
Raptors 131, Magic 112
DeMar DeRozan scored 36 points to lead Toronto to its sixth straight victory.
Cory Joseph added a double-double for the Raptors with 15 points and a career-best 13 assists.
Elfrid Payton led Orlando with 22 points and nine assists.
Kings 91, Grizzlies 90
Darren Collison scored 23 points and made two free throws with 5.7 seconds left, and Sacramento edged Memphis for its second win in two days in the final seconds.
Memphis guard Mike Conley missed on a drive to the hoop with 14 seconds left, and Collison rebounded, drove the length of the court and drew a foul. His two free throws gave the Kings their first winning streak since February.
Jazz 108, Pelicans 100
Rudy Gobert scored 20 points, collected 19 rebounds and blocked five shots to lead Utah past New Orleans.
Rodney Hood also scored 20 points while Joe Ingles added 19 and George Hill tacked on 17. That trio combined to make a dozen three-pointers. Utah swept the season series 3-0 after dominating from the perimeter for four quarters.
