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Leonard fires Spurs past Pacers
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KAWHI Leonard nailed a clutch jump shot with two seconds remaining to lift the San Antonio Spurs to a 100-99 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.
Leonard’s game-winning shot capped a 31-point performance for the American in front of a crowd of 18,400 at the AT&T Center arena in San Antonio, Texas.
Leonard drained the shot despite being guarded by Pacers star Paul George. It was then George’s turn at glory but his shot from beyond the arc bounced harmlessly off the rim, ending the contest.
“Coach drew up a good play and LaMarcus (Aldridge) set a good screen for me,” Leonard said about his final shot. “We had about nine seconds. I wanted to take my time and try to get off a good shot and it ended up going in for me.”
The Spurs led 98-97 before Danny Green missed a layup with 1:46 to play. Myles Turner took advantage on the other end with a jumper 11 seconds later to give Indiana a 99-98 lead.
After a pair of empty possessions by both teams, Monta Ellis missed two free throws for the Pacers with nine seconds to play, giving San Antonio a final shot at the victory.
“There’s no A-B-C-D to Kawhi’s game — he’s going to go A to B with no shortcuts,” George said. “I knew he was going to try to work his way in. Kawhi is really good at getting to a spot — he made some tough shots and the last one was a tough one.”
In Boston, Isaiah Thomas had 31 points, including the go-ahead free throws, as the Celtics outlasted LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-99.
Boston’s win overshadowed the seventh triple-double of the season for James, who finished with 28 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Kyrie Irving added 28 points for the Cavaliers, who lost for the first time when leading at any point in the fourth quarter on the road.
The game marked the third meeting this season between the top two teams in the NBA Eastern Conference, and the first win by the Celtics.
Jae Crowder had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Boston, which led by three entering the fourth before there were six ties and 10 lead changes in the final 12 minutes.
Deron Williams, signed by Cleveland earlier this week, scored four points in 24 minutes in his Cavaliers debut.
Elsewhere in the NBA on Wednesday, it was: Knicks 101, Magic 90; Hawks 100, Mavericks 95; Heat 125, 76ers 98; Wizards 105, Raptors 96; Nuggets 110, Bucks 98; Pelicans 109, Pistons 86; Timberwolves 107, Jazz 80; Nets 109, Kings 100; and Rockets 122, Clippers 103.
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