Leonard Spur of moment; Wade in Bull-strong start

SACRAMENTO, California – Kawhi Leonard ripped the ball away from Ben McLemore and drove the other way for a three-point play. Then the next time down the court, Leonard grabbed it away from McLemore and scored on the other end.

Those two plays turned the momentum San Antonio’s way and sent the Spurs home with a very successful season-opening trip following a 102-94 victory over the Kings on Thursday night that spoiled the regular season opener at Sacramento’s new downtown arena.

‘’He took two away in a row and said, ‘Gimme that.’ He just grabbed it away from whoever it was,’’ Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. ‘’He just grabbed it and took it twice in a row. I don’t see many people doing that.’’

In Chicago, Dwyane Wade tallied 22 points in his Chicago homecoming as the Bulls showed off their retooled roster with a 105-99 win over the Boston Celtics at the United Center.

After trading point guard Derrick Rose to the New York Knicks, Chicago overhauled last season’s roster with the addition of Wade and Rajon Rondo, who signed with the Bulls in the offseason.

Few people are doing what Leonard is early this season. After scoring a career-high 35 points to go with five steals in a 129-100 season-opening win at Golden State on Tuesday night, Leonard had 30 points and five steals against the Kings.

Leonard is the first player to put together back-to-back 30-point, five-steal games since Eddie Jones did it for Miami in December 2002.

‘’You see players play at an extremely high level on offense, but this guy does it on both ends,’’ teammate Pau Gasol said. ‘’It’s hard to say where he’s more exceptional. He’s a very special player.’’