INDIANAPOLIS, United States (AFP) — Kawhi Leonard tallied a game-high 32 points as the San Antonio Spurs once again avoided back-to-back losses with a 110-106 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 19 points, and Danny Green, David Lee and Tony Parker each scored 12 for the Spurs, who were coming off a surprising 94-90 loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday.
The Spurs have lost two in a row only twice this NBA season and are 9-1 on the second night of consecutive games.
Aldridge’s three-point play with 52 seconds left gave the Spurs a 105-100 lead, and Parker made two free throws with 23 seconds remaining that bumped the lead to 107-101.
Two Aldridge free throws at the 3:55 mark and Leonard’s baseline jumper with 3:34 to play gave San Antonio a 98-97 lead. Another Leonard basket stretched the lead to 100-97 with just under three minutes left.
Paul George scored a team-high 27 points for Indiana who dropped to 29-26 on the season.
Myles Turner finished with 22, Jeff Teague scored 15 and Rodney Stuckey added 13 for the Pacers who lost their fourth straight game..
San Antonio outrebounded Indiana 49-37.
Leonard and Patty Mills sank three-pointers in the third quarter’s final 2:24, and the Spurs led 83-79 through 36 minutes. George had 12 third-quarter points to help the Pacers remain within striking distance.
The Pacers then surged to an 85-84 lead after beginning the fourth on a 6-1 run.
San Antonio outscored Indiana 21-12 to close the second quarter as the teams went into the half tied 49-49.
The Pacers hit 48.7 percent overall from the floor while the Spurs shot 46 percent.
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