DeRozan has triple-double, Spurs win in Leonard’s return
By RAUL DOMINGUEZ
SAN ANTONIO (AP) _ DeMar DeRozan had his first career triple-double with 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists and the San Antonio Spurs welcomed back Kawhi Leonard with thunderous jeers in a 125-107 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night.
Leonard scored 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting, but the anger the Spurs’ fans showered on him seemed to impact the MVP candidate. Leonard had to take a step back at the free throw line and compose himself amid chants of “Traitor! Traitor!” and “Quitter! Quitter!” from the capacity crowd that adored him during his seven seasons in San Antonio.
Leonard forced his way out of San Antonio in a trade that yielded DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl from Toronto for Leonard and Danny Green.
Leonard was booed heavily from the moment he walked onto the court for warmup. The boos continued during a pregame video tribute and player introductions, whenever he touched the ball and as he walked off the court following the lopsided loss.
DeRozan and the Spurs dominated the battle of former teammates, leading by as many as 28 points in snapping the Raptors’ three-game winning streak.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 23 points for San Antonio, Bryn Forbes added 20, Derrick White 19 and Rudy Gay 13.
The night belonged to DeRozan, though as he became the first San Antonio player with a triple-double at home since Tim Duncan in 2003.
After leading by as many as 26 points in the first half, San Antonio opened the second half on a 12-0 run to take a 79-51 lead.
The crowd erupted during a sequence of plays when Leonard had the ball tipped away, which led to a slam dunk by White. That possession was followed by Leonard being unable to corral an alley-oop pass, which led to DeRozan tossing in a runner and being fouled by Serge Ibaka. DeRozan made the free throw amid chants of “MVP! MVP!” _ something Leonard heard during his time in San Antonio.
As the game ended, Gregg Popovich and Leonard embraced in a long hug and the Spurs coach led his former star to San Antonio’s bench to greet assistant coach Ettore Messina.
TIP-INS
Raptors: The Spurs played a tribute video for Leonard and Green prior to the game that ended with “Thank you Danny and Kawhi.” Green ran over to and hugged Popovich prior to tipoff. … Lowry missed his fourth straight game due to lower back pain. The Raptors lost for the first time in that stretch.
Spurs: DeRozan is the first Spurs player to have at least 15 points 10 rebounds and five assists in a half since Tim Duncan in 2007. DeRozan also recorded his first double-double in a half. … Gay played 23 minutes to Popovich’s surprise, who thought the 13-year veteran would miss the game with a sprained left wrist.
UP NEXT
Raptors: At Milwaukee on Saturday night.
Spurs: Host Memphis on Saturday night.
James Harden rallies Rockets in OT to beat Warriors 135-134
By JANIE McCAULEY
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) _ James Harden hit a contested 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left in overtime and finished with his second triple-double of the week and fifth straight 40-point game, rallying the Houston Rockets past the Golden State Warriors 135-134 in a thriller between Western Conference powers Thursday night for a sixth straight victory.
Kevin Durant’s long 3-pointer missed as the buzzer sounded.
Harden had 44 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds.
Stephen Curry put the Warriors ahead with 23.1 seconds remaining in OT on the way to 35 points, but Harden had one more improbable, acrobatic moment still in him. He released the ball with at least four hands in his face for the game-winner.
He also hit 3-pointers at the 3:52 and 2:02 marks of OT in a game featuring dazzling displays on both ends by some of the game’s biggest stars.
Klay Thompson made a go-ahead layup with 40.6 seconds left in the extra period, then Harden tied it at 132 on a pair of free throws with 33.5 seconds left.