Spurs douse Suns behind Leonard's double-double

SAN ANTONIO – Kawhi Leonard had 24 points and 13 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs held the Phoenix Suns to season-low production in a 98-84 victory on Monday night (Tuesday in Manila).

 

Phoenix was averaging 106.5 points per game, but was held to season-lows in the first half (34) and total points and committed a season-high 28 turnovers.

 

Tony Parker had 20 points and eight assists and Danny Green added 18 points on 4-for-9 shooting on 3-pointers for San Antonio, which is off to an 11-3 start.

 

Markieff Morris had 28 points and Brandon Knight added 18 points for Phoenix.

 

LaMarcus Aldridge missed his second straight game with a mild sprain of his left ankle, but the Spurs were able to collect their second victory without their major offseason acquisition.

 

Leonard had seven points, three rebounds and an assist to key a 14-2 run that put San Antonio up 61-43 with 4 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.

 

A pair of turnovers by Morris on successive possessions resulted a pair of fast-break baskets by Leonard. The forward had a one-handed dunk followed by a layup that led to a technical on Phoenix coach Jeff Hornacek, who was upset no foul was called for Morris. Leonard later drove into the lane and kicked the ball out to Green for a 3-pointer and a 59-41 lead.

 

Leonard finished 11 for 18 from the field for San Antonio, which is unbeaten in seven home games.

 

TIP-INS

Suns: Eric Bledsooe missed the game due to a sore left knee. Bledsoe and Knight entered Monday's game averaging a combined 44.2 points per game, second only to the 47.9 averaged by Golden State's All-Star backcourt of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

 

Spurs: Phoenix 34 points in the first half marked the sixth time San Antonio has held an opponent to less than 40 points before intermission. Last season, the Spurs held the Suns to a franchise-low 24 points in the first half on Feb. 28. After being the team's second or third option offensively in previous seasons, Leonard has led the Spurs in scoring nine times this season. He is averaging 21.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, both career highs.

 

UP NEXT

Suns host New Orleans while the Spurs take on Dallas at home. Both games are on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).