SAN ANTONIO – The Cleveland Cavaliers gave San Antonio another tense test at home before the Spurs rose up on defense for what they deemed their biggest win of the season.
Tony Parker had 24 points and San Antonio used a furious start to the fourth quarter to beat Cleveland, 99-95, on Thursday night, remaining undefeated at home and avenging their previous loss in their own arena.
“Coming into this building, they’re never going to make many mistakes,” said Cavaliers star LeBron James, who had 22 points. “(Spurs coach Gregg Popovich) definitely puts those guys in the right position every single possession to be successful for their team.”
In Oakland, California, Stephen Curry scored 26 points, with his first eight baskets coming on three-pointers, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 116-98, in what was likely Kobe Bryant’s last game in Oakland.
Bryant had eight points, six rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes. It was the Lakers’ final regular-season visit to Oracle Arena, and Bryant plans to retire after the season.
Curry put the Warriors ahead 84-70 on a one-handed breakaway dunk off a long pass from Andre Iguodala in the closing seconds of the third quarter for his first score inside the 3-point line. The reigning NBA MVP made eight 3s for the eighth time this season and the 18th time in his career – most in NBA history.
In other results, Toronto foiled Orlando, 106-103; Chicago repulsed Philadelphia, 115-111; Memphis edged Detroit, 103-101; and Sacramento upended Utah, 103-101.
Back in San Antonio, the Spurs (35-6) extended their home winning streak to 23 games to begin the season. San Antonio has won 32 straight at home dating to 2015 and became the first team in NBA history with a 10-game winning streak in six consecutive seasons.
The team’s last loss in San Antonio came against the Cavaliers on March 12 last year when Kyrie Irving scored an NBA season-high and career-high 57 points in a 128-125 overtime victory.
Irving was limited to 16 points on 6-for-16 shooting this time, but the game was just as intense.
Instead of folding on defense in the fourth period as they did in their previous home loss to Cleveland, San Antonio rallied in the final quarter Thursday.
“One of the best opponents we can play against. It gave us so many mismatches. They play different than most other teams,” Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said. “Of course, when you have a guy like LeBron, the whole team plays different. Kawhi (Leonard) did a very good job of making him play uncomfortable. As a team we were pretty sharp after that first quarter.”
James shot 9 for 17 and attempted only four free throws.
The Spurs stiffened on defense and forced 18 turnovers after falling behind by 15 points in the opening quarter.
San Antonio limited Cleveland to 9-for-23 shooting in the fourth while making 58 percent of its own shots.
Leonard added 20 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio, which has won 10 straight overall.
Tristan Thompson had 18 points and 14 rebounds for Cleveland, which had won eight in a row. Kevin Love finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds, and J.R. Smith scored 17.
After a 32-point opening quarter, the Cavs were limited to 18 in the second.
“They did a good job of taking us out of our sets, but we also had some really good looks that didn’t go down for us,” James said.