Spurs, Warriors win at home in NBA

The San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors enjoyed contrasting NBA wins at home.

The San Antonio Spurs bench celebrates a basket by Spurs

Even when Tim Duncan goes scoreless, the San Antonio Spurs are unbeatable at home. (AAP)

Even when Tim Duncan goes scoreless, the San Antonio Spurs are unbeatable at home.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 24 points and Kawhi Leonard added 22 on Saturday night as the Spurs overcame the first scoreless game of Duncan's career and routed the Houston Rockets, 121-103, to remain perfect at home.

France's Boris Diaw scored 20 points off the bench for the Spurs (29-6), who improved to 20-0 at the AT&T Center.

San Antonio tied the 1985-86 Houston Rockets for the second-best home start by a Western Conference team.

This was the 39-year-old Duncan's 1,360th career game.

The future Hall of Famer had missed the last three contests - one for rest and two due to knee soreness. He started but played just 14 minutes, missing all three of his shots.

"It's very unusual, of course," said Spurs guard Manu Ginobili.

"But he didn't play much. He hadn't played in a week. If he's playing until he's 48, I guess he's gonna have that a couple more times."

As Duncan has gotten older, new stars have arrived for the Spurs.

Aldridge, signed as a free agent in the off-season, made 10-of-16 shots and added nine rebounds. Leonard, the 2014 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, was 8-of-12, including 2-of-2 three-pointers.

The Spurs also got a big game from Green, who hadn't scored more than 11 points in a game since November 23.

Green scored 18 points - making six of San Antonio's season-high 13 three-pointers - and helped hold James Harden to 17 points, 11 below his average.

Tony Parker had 10 assists for the Spurs, who have won four in a row and 11 of 12 overall, with the only loss a Christmas setback to the Rockets. Dwight Howard had 22 points and 12 rebounds for Houston (16-19), who have lost four straight since beating San Antonio.

Elsewhere: Golden State Warriors 111, Denver Nuggets 108 (OT): The Warriors welcomed back superstar Stephen Curry, then lost him to a shin injury and barely held on to improve to 16-0 at home.

Draymond Green had 29 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists for Golden State. Italy's Danilo Gallinari scored 24 points for the Nuggets, losers of five straight. With Green running the show, Australian centre Andrew Bogut played 25 minutes for just two points plus seven rebounds and two assists.

Cleveland Cavaliers 104, Orlando Magic 79: LeBron James scored 29 points in three quarters for the host Cavaliers, who beat the Magic for the third time this season.

Oklahoma City Thunder 109, Charlotte Hornets 90: Kevin Durant had 29 points and 13 rebounds for the visiting Thunder, who have won four straight games. Kemba Walker scored 32 for the Hornets, losers of three in a row.

Other winners were Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks.


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Source: AAP



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