Spurs improve to 29-0 at home and clinch playoff berth

Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 23 as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Detroit Pistons, 97-81, on Wednesday night to clinch their 19th straight playoff berth.

San Antonio (51-9) won its 29th straight home game to open the season in its first game after a monthlong trip brought on by the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.

Leonard and Aldridge excelled against a Detroit team thinned by injuries to forwards Anthony Tolliver and Stanley Johnson. Aldridge added 10 rebounds and Leonard had six rebounds and five assists for San Antonio, which has won six in a row.

Detroit center Andre Drummond had nine points and 14 rebounds, ending his run of 13 consecutive double-doubles.

at Boston 116, Portland 93: Isaiah Thomas had 30 points to lead the Celtics to their fourth straight win and 12th in a row at home. The streak ties Boston’s longest since it won 13 straight at the Garden during the 2008-09 season. Six Celtics reached double figures, they had a 60-34 edge in the paint and committed only five turnovers.

at Orlando 102, Chicago 89: Both teams were on the second game of back-to-backs and it looked it, as the Magic shot 40.2% from the field to the Bulls’ 38.4%. Nikola Vucevic scored 24 points and rookie Mario Hezonja added a career-high 21 for Orlando.

Charlotte 119, at Philadelphia 99: Kemba Walker scored 30 points and the Hornets won for the 10th time in 13 games. The 76ers, who have lost 10 in a row, have given up 100-plus points in nine straight games and more than 120 points four times during that span.

at Toronto 104, Utah 94: Kyle Lowry scored 32 points, DeMar DeRozan added 31 and the Raptors picked up their club-record 11th straight home win. Toronto (40-19) led the entire second half.

at Houston 100, New Orleans 95: James Harden scored 39 points and the Rockets won despite making only three of 34 three-point attempts. Harden added 12 rebounds and made 16 of 18 free throws.

at Memphis 104, Sacramento 98: Mike Conley scored 24 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Grizzlies. Conley, who also had five assists, made nine of 12 shots, including all three attempts from three-point range.

Indiana 104, at Milwaukee 99: Jordan Hill had 19 points and the Pacers survived a last-minute rally to end a three-game losing streak. Greg Monroe scored 11 straight points to start the fourth quarter to bring the Bucks within six.

Washington 104, at Minnesota 98: Bradley Beal scored 26 points and the Wizards won their fourth in a row. Washington’s bench outscored the Timberwolves’ second unit, 64-18, and the Wizards scored 50 points in the paint.