Spurs, Warriors remain perfect at home

The San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors kept their perfect home records intact as the Western Conference teams moved closer the Chicago Bulls' all-time single season record for consecutive home wins with 11 games remaining.

The Warriors toppled Los Angeles 114-98 to sweep the season series with the Clippers while the Spurs dumped the Miami Heat 112-88 on Wednesday as Kawhi Leonard matched his career high with 32 points.

The Spurs improved to 36-0 at home to move within one of the 1995-96 Bulls NBA record of 37 wins and no losses from the start of the season.

The Warriors aren't far behind as they improved to 33-0 to move into a tie with the 1995-96 Orlando Magic for third place on the all time list.

Both the Spurs (60-11) and the Warriors (64-7) have 11 games left in the regular season as they each try to become the first team to finish the season without a loss at home.

"If we take care of home court the rest of the way it would be good," said Warriors star Stephen Curry on Wednesday night. "We don't want to limp into the playoffs. With the schedule we have, we got to take advantage of it."
Both teams are back at home on Friday with the Warriors facing Memphis and the Spurs hosting Dallas.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr also said earlier Wednesday that the club's quest to set the NBA single-season win record was a real lure.

"We're getting there," he said. "That's pretty enticing."

The Warriors swept the season series over the Clippers as Curry scored a game-high 33 points while Klay Thompson wasn’t far behind with 32. The teammates combined for 11 three-pointers.

Draymond Green notched his 11th double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds and Shaun Livingston came off the bench to score 11 points.

The victory allowed the Warriors to remain four games up on San Antonio in the battle for top seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

Leonard equalled his career high 32 points in 24 minutes of playing time before leaving the Spurs game against the Heat with a bruised quadriceps.

Leonard left the floor midway through the third quarter and headed to the San Antonio locker room with a towel over his face. He did not return, but he was not needed as the Spurs went on a 18-4 burst in the first five minutes after he left.

- Love lets loose in return -

Kevin Love returned to the lineup and finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 113-104.

LeBron James had 26 points, eight assists and six rebounds, and Kyrie Irving had 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Cavaliers, who have won four of their last five.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 24 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Bucks, who lost their third straight. Greg Monroe had 14 points.

Love missed one game with a cold that bothered him for about a week and broke out of a shooting funk that bothered him since the all-star break. He hit eight of 14 shots from the floor.

James spoke earlier telling the US media he would take less money to play on the same NBA team with his basketball friends -- Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul -- before his basketball career ends.

"I really hope that, before our career is over, we can all play together," James said. "At least one, maybe one or two seasons -- me, Melo, D-Wade, CP -- we can get a year in. I would actually take a pay cut to do that."

Elsewhere, the Boston Celtics ensured their first winning season in three years under Brad Stevens, by posting a 91-79 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Despite the loss, Toronto clinched its third consecutive post-season berth thanks to a 115-107 loss by Chicago to the New York Knicks.
Source: AFP