Aldridge has 24 points, Spurs beat Rockets 121-103

Though he played just 13:45 in the win, the Spurs are the hottest team in the National Basketball Association not named the Golden State Warriors.

San Antonio Spurs veteran big man Tim Duncan scored an unusual feat last Saturday in his 19-year career, as for the first time in a game he has not scored a point in their 121-103 home victory over the Houston Rockets.

After Houston fell to 16-18 on the year with a 114-110 loss to Golden State, Howard said the Rockets could learn something from the way the Warriors play and their unselfishness. It was the first time in 1,360 games of his Hall of Fame career that Duncan was held scoreless. Dwight Howard’s 22 points were a Houston team-high, followed by James Harden’s 17. “I ended up getting some shots that were open and got a good rhythm going”. Thompson then made one of two free throws before Barton’s desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer hit the rim.

Three turnovers in the first 2 minutes of the second half kept the Spurs from extending their lead as the Rockets quickly erased the 5 point deficit.

Duncan had four rebounds and two assists in 13 minutes in his return from a three-game absence. “It was just the heat of the moment, playing hard and you’re going to have moments like that”.

Following the game, Denver forward Kenneth Faried was taken off the court on a stretcher with a neck brace stabilizing his head. Faried, who took an elbow to the back of the neck while jostling for a rebound late in overtime, was taken to hospital for tests.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook got a major boost from the Oklahoma City bench Saturday night. Oklahoma City has won 10 in a row against Charlotte dating to the 2010-11 season.

Cleveland extended its succession of wins over Orlando to 13 by beating the Magic 104-79. With the score tied at 65 with 8:49 left in the period, the Spurs went on a 31-7 run that gave them a 96-72 lead heading into the fourth quarter. He added four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Duncan returned to the lineup after missing the previous three games.

Magic point guard Elfrid Payton epitomized the putrid effort Orlando put up against the Cavaliers. Aaron Gordon scored a team-high 11.

Paul George is doing his part to keep the rivalry between IN and Detroit heated.

At the final buzzer, Marcus Morris shoved George twice, sparking a minor scuffle.

After holding a modest 60-55 halftime lead, the Spurs went on a 36-17 third quarter tear and built a 24-point second half advantage to bury Houston, which fell to 0-4 following its Christmas Day triumph.

Saturday was Green’s seventh time in his career where he made 6 threes in a regular season game. David West scored the next 6 Spurs points, all while wearing the same focused/angry look he dons every night.

Marc Gasol scored 20 for Memphis but missed a wide-open jumper that would have won the game in regulation.

Houston obviously still has major work to do on defense and will try to again get things moving in the right direction when it visits the Utah Jazz on Monday night.