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NBA game roundup: Spurs stars sit, but Sixers stay winless
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
PHILADELPHIA — The San Antonio Spurs were without two of their best players. The winless Philadelphia 76ers, as a result, had a chance.
The Sixers cut a 25-point, first-half deficit to five in the closing minutes, but the Spurs hung on for a 109-103 victory behind the 26-point, 10-rebound, four-assist effort of forward Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard’s three-point play with 42.7 seconds left allowed San Antonio to extend its lead to 104-96 on a night when forward Tim Duncan rested and guard Tony Parker sat out with bruised ribs.
Philadelphia fell to 0-17 despite getting 24 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists from guard Michael Carter-Williams.
Philadelphia is one loss away from equaling the NBA record for consecutive defeats to start a season, established by the then-New Jersey Nets in 2009-10. The 76ers visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, and host to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.
Wizards 107, Heat 86
WASHINGTON — Swingman Rasual Butler scored 23 points and guard John Wall had 18 points and 13 assists as Washington dominated Miami.
Center Marcin Gortat had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards (10-5), who led the Heat by as many as 25 points and by double digits throughout. Butler made three 3-pointers off the bench to help the Wizards to their largest margin of victory this season. Wall’s 13 assists topped Miami’s combined total of 12.
Center Chris Bosh scored 21 points and guard Dwyane Wade had 20 points for the Heat, which was just 2 for 22 on 3-point shots.
Nuggets 103, Jazz 101
SALT LAKE CITY — Point guard Ty Lawson hit a go-ahead jumper and forward Darrell Arthur nailed two clutch free throws to lift Denver.
Denver led by as many as 22 points in the first half, but the Jazz made it close at the end.
Lawson, who finished with 15 points and 12 assists, hit a tricky off-balance jumper with 29.6 seconds remaining to give the Nuggets the lead for good. Arthur clinched the victory for the Nuggets with two free throws with 4.4 seconds remaining.
Utah played without starting center Derrick Favors, the team’s second-leading scorer and top rebounder, because of an illness.
Clippers 127, Timberwolves 101
LOS ANGELES — Forward Blake Griffin and guard J.J. Redick scored 23 points apiece, and Los Angeles rolled past Minnesota before an announced crowd of 19,060 at Staples Center.
Redick, who made seven of 11 shots from the floor, including four of five 3-pointers, scored 17 first-half points as the Clippers (12-5) claimed a season-high fifth straight win and earned their 10th consecutive verdict over the Timberwolves.
Spencer Hawes delivered 14 points off the bench, point guard Chris Paul scored 12 points and recorded eight assists and center DeAndre Jordan finished with 11 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. None of the Los Angeles starters played in the fourth quarter.
