Sixers extend losing streak after losing to Spurs, 109-103

The San Antonio Spurs didn’t have Tim Duncan or Tony Parker, and it gave Kawhi Leonard a chance to shine.

Leonard scored a game-high 26 points and had a crucial three-point play in the final minute to help the Spurs defeat the Philadelphia 76ers, 109-103, extending Philadelphia’s franchise-worst losing streak to start the season to 0-17.

“I try to assert myself every night, but tonight there were a lot of shots to shoot,” Leonard said.

The visiting Spurs (13-4) played without stars Duncan (rest) and Parker (shoulder). Even without the duo’s more than 31 points, San Antonio had little trouble dispatching Philadelphia. Aron Baynes scored 15 points and Manu Ginobili and Cory Joseph each added 14 for San Antonio, which won its eighth straight. Leonard also had 10 rebounds while tying a career-high in points.

The 76ers also were short-handed, as leading scorer Tony Wroten (knee) missed his second straight game and rookie first-round pick Nerlens Noel (hip) sat after getting injured in Sunday’s practice.

Philadelphia became just the fourth team in league history to open a season with 17 losses, joining the 1998-99 Clippers (0-17), 1988-89 Heat (0-17) and the 2009-10 Nets (0-18). The 76ers can tie the Nets for the worst start in NBA history on Wednesday at Minnesota, with a potential chance to break the record at home on Friday against Oklahoma City.

at Washington 107, Miami 86: Washington made its first seven three-pointers while holding Miami to two for 22 from beyond the arc for the game, and John Wall finished with 18 points and 13 assists to lead the Wizards past the Heat. Rasual Butler scored 23, and Marcin Gortat added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards, who never trailed and led by 21 in the first half and 25 in the second. Chris Bosh led Miami with 21 points, and Dwyane Wade had 20 in his second game back from an injured right hamstring. A night earlier, Wade returned after missing seven games and scored 27 points in a victory at New York. The Heat came into the game leading the NBA in three-point shooting at 38.6%, but they made only 9.1% this time.

Denver 103, at Utah 101: Ty Lawson had 15 points and made a double-pump jumper to beat the shot clock with 29.6 seconds left that boosted the Nuggets over the Jazz. The game heated up after Arron Afflalo was ejected and the Jazz stormed back from a 22-point deficit to tie the game in the final minutes. Lawson, who also had 12 assists, made the game-winner from the left wing between two Jazz defenders. Gordon Hayward was blocked and Trey Burke missed a potential go-ahead three-pointer on the other end before Darrell Arthur clinched the game with two free throws with 4.2 seconds remaining. Wilson Chandler scored 10, Afflalo had 14 and Arthur added 12 for the Nuggets, who have won eight of their last 10 games.