Spurs earn second-best home start in NBA history with 118-110 win over Trail Blazers

Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge each had 22 points and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Portland Trail Blazers, 118-110, Thursday night to secure the second-best home start to a season in league history.

The Spurs have won 34 straight at home to open the season and trail only the 37 wins by the Chicago Bulls during their historic 72-victory season in 1995-96. The Orlando Magic won 33 straight to open the season that same season.

A dominant third quarter enabled San Antonio to sit its starters for much of the fourth quarter in advance of Saturday’s showdown with Golden State. The Warriors and the Spurs have both clinched playoff berths and division titles and are on pace to finish with two of the three best single-season records in league history.

Tony Parker had 18 points and a season-high 16 assists. The Spurs shot 52% while committing seven turnovers, which was one off its season low.

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

Toronto 101, at Indiana 94 (OT): With Kyle Lowry and DeMar Derozan driving from the backcourt, the Raptors are on track for the best season in franchise history. The duo wore down the Pacers late and gave Toronto the clutch plays it needed to keep close to Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland. Both Lowry and DeRozan finished with 28 points in guiding the Raptors.

Charlotte 109, at Miami 106: Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker each scored 21 points, and the Hornets overcame a 15-point first-half deficit to beat the Heat. Nic Batum scored 19 for the Hornets, who split four games with Miami this season and now have the same 39-29 record as the Heat in the jampacked Eastern Conference playoff chase.

Washington 99, at Philadelphia 94: John Wall had 16 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds for his fourth triple-double of the season and the Wizards held on for a victory over the 76ers.

at Atlanta 116, Denver 98: Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a season-high 21 points in his first start of the season and the surging Hawks beat the Nuggets. Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague each had 16 points for the Hawks, who have won four straight and seven of eight to move to third place in the Eastern Conference.

at Chicago 118, Brooklyn 102: Doug McDermott scored 25 points and Jimmy Butler added 22 to help the Bulls beat the Nets. It’s the third straight 20-plus point game for McDermott as Chicago moved a half-game in front of idle Detroit into eighth place and the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

at Milwaukee 96, Memphis 86: Tyler Ennis scored all 13 of his points in the fourth quarter to lead the Bucks to a victory over the short-handed Grizzlies.

at Utah 103, Phoenix 69: Joe Ingles had a season-high 15 points and career-high six steals, Trey Lyles had 17 points and the Jazz beat the Suns to close the playoff gap with 14 games remaining. The Jazz are now one game behind the Rockets and Mavericks, who are tied for the last two Western Conference playoff spots. They are also 1 1/2 back of the Trail Blazers for sixth.