Spurs’ victory is double-digit win, single-digit loss
Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points, rookie Dejounte Murray added a season-high 24 and the shorthanded Spurs overcame a pregame injury to Pau Gasol in beating the visiting Denver Nuggets 118-104 on Thursday night.
Leonard had his fifth straight 30-point performance, right after learning he was elected to start for the Western Conference in the All-Star Game for the second consecutive season.
Gasol broke the ring finger on his left (non-shooting) hand when he jammed it against Kyle Anderson’s shoulder while attempting a running hook during pregame warm-ups.
Karl-Anthony Towns scored 37 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 45 seconds left, and Minnesota snapped its six-game road losing streak.
Los Angeles point guard Chris Paul is out six to eight weeks after surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb Wednesday.
Kyrie Irving scored 26 points, All-Star teammate LeBron James had 21 points and 15 assists, and host Cleveland bounced back from its 35-point loss to the Warriors on Monday night.
Goran Dragic had 32 points, St. Francis alum Tyler Johnson scored 10 of his 23 in the fourth quarter and host Miami ended Dallas’ three-game winning streak.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 19 points for the Mavericks.