Spurs extend streak to 9 straight, beat Warriors 111-105

DeMar DeRozan had 26 points and nine rebounds, LaMarcus Aldridge added 23 points and 13 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Golden State Warriors 111-105 on Monday night for their ninth straight win.

San Antonio won its 11th straight at home and moved into fifth in the Western Conference at 42-29 following Oklahoma City's loss to Miami.

Stephen Curry had 25 points after a slow start and Kevin Durant added 24 for Golden State, which entered the game having won two straight. The Warriors have dropped into a tie with Denver for first place in the West with matching 47-22 records.

San Antonio Spurs guard Marco Belinelli, third from left, celebrates with teammates DeMar DeRozan (10), Patty Mills (8), LaMarcus Aldridge (12) and Davis Bertans, back right, after scoring against the Golden State Warriors during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

There were nine ties in the intense matchup between the West's best and the league's hottest team.

The Warriors had to rally in the second half after a sluggish start.

Curry and Klay Thompson opened the game a combined 0 for 11, but the Warriors' defense allowed them to tie the game at 25 when Curry threw in a 61-footer to close the first quarter.

Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) is hit across the face as he scores against San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Thompson finished with 14 points.

After tailing by 11 in the third quarter, the Warriors' offense awoke to silence the sold-out crowd with a 16-5 run to forge a 75-all tie. The run included a shakedown, step-back 3-pointer by Curry and a pair of quick passes from Curry to Draymond Green to Shaun Livingston for an emphatic dunk. Curry had eight points in the run.

DeRozan scored 10 points in the final quarter, including a pair of pull-up jumpers over Thompson, to seal the victory.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) is grabbed by teammates as he reacts after being called for a foul during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Rudy Gay added 17 points for San Antonio and Derrick White had 12.

TIP-INS

Warriors: Andrew Bogut started the game. Bogut spent four seasons with Golden State before rejoining the team March 6 as a free agent. ... The Warriors have won at least 23 road games in six straight seasons. They lost for the fifth time in 24 games away from home. ... Golden State defeated San Antonio by 39 points in their previous meeting, Feb. 6 at Oracle Arena. It was the largest winning margin over the Spurs in franchise history.

San Antonio Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan (10) passes the ball around Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Spurs: DeRozan has 1,400 points, 400 rebounds and 400 assists with the Spurs this season. LeBron James, who accomplished the feat this season, Steve Francis ('05 with Orlando) and Tracy McGrady ('05 with Houston) are the last three players to accomplish that feat in the first year with a new team. ... Aldridge has 18,854 career points, moving past Glen Rice for 69th all-time in league history. Rice had 18,338 career points over 15 seasons beginning in 1989. ... DeRozan is the first Spurs guard to make 300 free throws in a season since Manu Ginobili in 2011.

UP NEXT

Warriors: At Minnesota on Tuesday night.

San Antonio Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan (10) shoots against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Spurs: Host Miami on Wednesday night.

More AP NBA: www.apnews.com/NBA and www.twitter.com/AP_Sports

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs center LaMarcus Aldridge (12) and forward Davis Bertans (42) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, in San Antonio, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) is hit across the face as he score against San Antonio Spurs center Jakob Poeltl (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, in San Antonio, Monday, March 18, 2019. (AP PhotoEric Gay)

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero had 31 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Suggs added 24 points and the Orlando Magic handed Cleveland the worst playoff loss in franchise history, winning 121-83 on Thursday night to cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 2-1 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Franz Wagner finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Magic, who led by 43 points in the fourth quarter on the way to the third-largest margin of victory in a playoff game. They earned their first playoff victory since 2019 and the first on their home floor since April 26, 2011.

They can even the series with a victory at home Sunday.

Jarrett Allen had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Cavaliers, who shot 39% from the field and 23.5% from 3-point range. Caris LeVert added 15 points and Donovan Mitchell had 13 points and seven assists.

76ERS 125, KNICKS 114

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid scored 50 points, making all four 3-point attempts and scoring 18 in a potential series-shifting third quarter to lead Philadelphia to a win over New York in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Embiid boldly stated “we’re going to win this series” after the 76ers dropped Game 2.

With one of the finest postseason efforts of his career, Embiid became the third player to ever score 50 points against the Knicks in the postseason and kept the hope of a Philadelphia series comeback very much alive.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday in Philadelphia.

Embiid was 13 of 19 from the floor overall, made 19 of 21 free throws and hit five 3-pointers.

NUGGETS 112, LAKERS 105

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Gordon had 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and Denver moved to the brink of the second round with a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series..

Jamal Murray scored 22 points as the defending NBA champion Nuggets won their 11th consecutive meeting with LeBron James and the Lakers in dominating style.

Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season’s Western Conference finals.

Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) makes a shot as he gets past Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)