Pacers back in playoff contention


(MENAFN- Arab Times) SAN ANTONIO April 6 (AP): Kawhi Leonard matched his career-high with 26 points and set a career-high with seven steals and the San Antonio Spurs rolled past Golden State 107-92 on Sunday ending the Warriors' 12-game winning streak while extending their own to seven straight. San Antonio also extended its home winning streak over Golden State to 32 straight.

Tim Duncan had 19 points and Danny Green added 18 points for San Antonio which led by as many as 28 points. Stephen Curry had 24 points but was harassed into 9-for-17 shooting by Leonard. Klay Thompson was held to six points on 3-for-11 shooting for Golden State.

Pacers 112 Heat 89

In Indianapolis Paul George's season debut provided a needed boost Sunday as the Pacers put themselves back in the playoff contention. George finished with 13 points in 15 minutes his first action since breaking his right leg Aug 1. Luis Scola scored a season-high 23 points to lead Indiana to its second straight win.

The Pacers moved into a tie with Miami for the No. 9 spot in the Eastern Conference. Both teams trail Boston by one game for the conference's eighth and final playoff spot. Miami was led by Dwyane Wade with 27 points but lost its fourth in a row.

Rockets 115 Thunder 112

In Oklahoma City James Harden scored 41 points and the Houston Rockets overcame Russell Westbrook's triple-double to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder. Harden and Westbrook the league's top two scorers both entered the game averaging 27.5 points.

Harden made 12 of 22 shots and 6 of 9 3-pointers before fouling out with 33 seconds left. The Rockets hung on to win for the seventh time in eight games. Westbrook finished with 40 points 13 assists and 11 rebounds. It was his 11th triple-double of the season and the 18th of his career.

Enes Kanter added 21 points and 17 rebounds for the Thunder who lost their third straight. Their lead over New Orleans for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference was cut to a half game.

Cavaliers 99 Bulls 94

In Cleveland LeBron James recorded his first triple-double since returning to Cleveland and the Cavaliers made 16 3-pointers while winning their 18th straight home game. J.R. Smith made eight 3s Kyrie Irving casually dropped one from 52 feet and scored 27 as the Cavs moved closer to a Central Division title and securing the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Mike Dunleavy scored 24 and Aaron Brooks 17 for the Bulls who could have star guard Derrick Rose back in the next few days.

James finished with 20 points 12 assists and 10 rebounds his first triple-double in a Cleveland uniform since May 13 2010 two months before he left as a free agent for Miami.

Clippers 106 Lakers 78

In Los Angeles Blake Griffin scored 18 points DeAndre Jordan added 16 points and 11 rebounds and the Los Angeles Clippers sent the Lakers to their team-record 56th defeat of the season.

Matt Barnes scored 14 points and Chris Paul had 15 assists for the Clippers who handed that historic loss to their Staples Center roommates while beating the Lakers for a record sixth straight time overall.

With six games still to play the Lakers have surpassed last season's team as the worst in the 16-time champion franchise's illustrious history.

The playoff-bound Clippers have won 10 of 11 down the stretch staying in the tight five-team race behind Golden State for homecourt advantage in the first two rounds of the Western Conference playoffs.

Jazz 101 Kings 95

In Sacramento California Rodney Hood scored 13 of his season-high 25 points in the fourth quarter and the Utah Jazz pulled away.

The Jazz were clinging to an 83-82 lead with 6:10 remaining when Hood scored the first nine points of a 14-2 run. He had a pair of three-point plays and a 3-pointer during the streak then later made a 17-foot jumper to give Utah a 99-88 lead.

Rudy Gobert added 10 points and nine rebounds Derrick Favors scored 11 and Jeremy Evans had 10 points off the bench for the Jazz. Utah bounced back from a disappointing two-point loss in Phoenix 24 hours earlier.

Knicks 101 76ers 91

In New York Andrea Bargnani scored 25 points and Shane Larking added 15 and 11 rebounds and the New York Knicks ended a nine-game losing streak. Lance Thomas chipped in 14 points for the Knicks whose last victory was on March 17 over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. Ish Smith and reserve forward Hollis Thompson each had 17 points for the visiting 76ers who've lost six straight.


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