NEW YORK – LaMarcus Aldridge scored 19 points, Kawhi Leonard had 18 points and 14 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs beat the New York Knicks 94-84 on Monday night (Tuesday in Manila) to give Tim Duncan a milestone victory.
Duncan had 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in his NBA-record 954th victory with one team. He passed Hall of Fame point guard John Stockton, who went 953-551 with the Utah Jazz. Duncan, in his 19th season, is 954-381.
Tony Parker also finished with 16 points.
Carmelo Anthony scored 19 points for the Knicks but struggled to just 4-of-17 shooting while often guarded by Defensive Player of the Year Leonard. Anthony was coming off a season-best 37 points on Saturday in a victory at Washington.
Aldridge followed his best game with the Spurs, a 24-point performance in a 95-87 victory in Boston on Sunday, by shooting 8 of 15 and grabbing six rebounds.
Rookie Kristaps Porzingis had 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks but left the game with 2:49 remaining when Anthony appeared to land on Porzingis' head while taking a shot. Porzingis was on the floor trying to retrieve a loose ball under the basket. Anthony picked it up first and shot, then tumbled backward over the Latvian. Porzingis remained down, holding his head while play continued.
Porzingis had a highlight moment earlier in the game, climbing high over Aldridge from behind to throw down a follow dunk.
The Spurs led by just four with under 9 1/2 minutes remaining when Manu Ginobili made a 3-pointer, and the lead was never less than five again. Ginobili talked the Spurs into letting him play despite coach Gregg Popovich's intentions to rest him on the second night of a back-to-back.
TIP-INS
Spurs: Duncan also tied Gary Payton for 10th place on the career list with 1,335 games played. San Antonio has won three straight since a season-opening loss to Oklahoma City.
Knicks: Forward Kevin Seraphin made his first appearance with the Knicks in the second half. Signed from Washington in the off-season, he had missed the first three games recovering from a sore right knee. Fellow newcomer Arron Afflalo remains out with a strained left hamstring. New York City Marathon champions Stanley Biwott and Mary Keitany were at the game.
UP NEXT
The Spurs take on the Wizards while the Knicks visit Cleveland on Wednesday night (Thursday in Manila).