Year Michael Jordan retired

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge each had 22 things additionally the San Antonio Spurs overcome the Portland Trail Blazers 118-110 Thursday night to secure the second-best house begin to a period in league record.

The Spurs have actually obtained 34 straight at home to start the growing season and only trail the 37 wins because of the Chicago Bulls in their historic 72-victory season in 1995-96. The Orlando Magic won 33 straight to open the summer season that same season.

a prominent third quarter enabled San Antonio to stay its starters for most of the fourth quarter before Saturday’s showdown with Golden State. The Warriors additionally the Spurs have actually both clinched playoff berths and unit titles and are on pace to complete with two of three most useful single-season documents in league history.

C.J. McCollum had 26 things and Damian Lillard had 23 for Portland.

San Antonio just had two turnovers in the first one half while shooting 50 per cent through the industry but had trouble getting any split from Portland.

But because they have done in their home winning streak, the Spurs dominated the start of the next 1 / 2 to take demand associated with the online game. San Antonio unsealed the third quarter on a 10-0 run, with Aldridge scoring seven points and Leonard igniting the run with a 3-pointer. The Spurs had 14 helps on 16 industry objectives within the 3rd quarter.

Leonard had 11 things in the third one-fourth, supplying a boost on offense and security. The 6-foot-7 forward covered a pass to Duncan for an uncontested dunk after drawing three defenders in lane. Leonard after that disrupted a 3-point effort then exhausted his very own 3 on the ensuing control.

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Trail Blazers: Portland forward/center Meyers Leonard is expected to miss about three games after dislocating their left shoulder in practice Wednesday. The injury happened after Gerald Henderson swiped at their supply. Leonard dislocated similar neck against San Antonio on Nov. 11, ultimately causing a seven-game absence. … The path Blazers have claimed 16 of these previous 24 games. … Portland is 20-1 when leading during the 1 / 2 and 2-13 when trailing. … The Trail Blazers, which play Friday in New Orleans, are 12-17 in back-to-back games.

Spurs: Aldridge has actually averaged 17 points and six rebounds in three games against the Trail Blazers in 2010. The 6-foot-11 forward left Portland to signal with San Antonio in offseason. … The Spurs have actually obtained 54 of the past 62 games. … San Antonio took a 56-54 lead on one half when Patty Mills drained a set of no-cost punches after becoming fouled near midcourt by Lillard with 0.1 seconds remaining.

MIAMI (AP) — Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker each scored 21 things, and Charlotte Hornets overcame a 15-point first-half shortage to conquer the Miami temperature 109-106 on Thursday evening.