SAN ANTONIO - Kawhi Leonard scored 26 points and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 93-85 on Saturday night for their 41st straight home victory, the third-longest streak in NBA history.
The Spurs avenged a season-opening loss to the Thunder and made it 32 straight wins to open this season at home, where they haven't lost in the regular season since last March.
Only Golden State, which had won 47 in a row entering Saturday, and the Chicago teams that won 44 straight in 1995-96 had longer streaks.
LaMarcus Aldridge added 24 points and Tim Duncan had 11 for San Antonio, which extended its lead over Oklahoma City (44-22) to 12 games for the second seed in the Western Conference.
Kevin Durant had 28 points for the Thunder. (see full story)
Hornets push win streak to 7 with win over Rockets
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Kemba Walker scored 17 of his 26 points in the second half, and the Charlotte Hornets used a 27-8 run to open the fourth quarter and beat the Houston Rockets 125-109 Saturday night for their seventh straight victory.
Marvin Williams added 25 points, Jeremy Lin scored 16 and Al Jefferson added 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Hornets, who have won 13 of their last 15 games during their recent playoff push.
Corey Brewer had 21 points and Dwight Howard added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Rockets.
James Harden struggled most of the night from the field, shooting 2 of 14 and finishing with 12 points and 10 assists.
The Hornets snapped a 10-game losing streak against the Rockets. Their last win against Houston game came on Nov. 26, 2010. (see full story)
DeRozan's 38 lift Raptors past heat in OT
TORONTO - DeMar DeRozan matched his season high with 38 points and added 10 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors beat the Miami Heat 112-104 in overtime on Saturday night.
Jonas Valanciunas added 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Kyle Lowry chipped in with 16 points for the Raptors, who secured the season series against the Heat for the second straight season, as well as a potential playoff tiebreaker should they finish with the same record.
Joe Johnson had 28 points while Luol Deng added 20 for the Heat, who have lost five of their last six games against Toronto.
Deng tied it at 97 on a 3-pointer from the corner with 3.1 seconds remaining in regulation, and DeRozan's jumper before the buzzer went in and out. (see full story)
Lillard, Blazers demolish Magic
PORTLAND, Ore. - Damian Lillard scored 19 points and had 10 of Portland's season-high 34 assists as the Trail Blazers beat the short-handed Orlando Magic 121-84 on Saturday night.
C.J. McCollum and Allen Crabbe each had 18 points for the Blazers, who won for the sixth time in their last seven home games.
Victor Oladipo scored 18 points for the Magic, who were without starters Elfrid Payton (sprained elbow) and Nikola Vucevic (strained groin), as well as backup guard Brandon Jennings (sore Achilles).
An otherwise sleepy affair heated up midway through the third quarter. Already a blowout, Lillard and Orlando's Jason Smith had to be separated after exchanging words following an offensive foul on Smith.
Later in the quarter, Blazers reserve Ed Davis was ejected for a flagrant foul on Smith. (see full story)
Ellis returns to Dallas, helps Pacers beat Mavs
DALLAS (AP) - Monta Ellis scored 17 points in his return to Dallas, Paul George had 18 of his 20 in the second half and the Indiana Pacers extended the Mavericks' longest losing streak of the season to five games with a 112-105 victory Saturday.
Ellis got a warm greeting in his first visit since the end of last season, when he was the first leading scorer not named Dirk Nowitzki for Dallas since 2000. He signed with Indiana as a free agent.
George Hill hit three 3-pointers and scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter to help keep the Pacers in front in their third straight victory.
Nowitzki scored 30 points to lead the Mavericks, who are three games into a nine-game stretch of opponents currently with winning records. (see full story)