Spurs push win streak to 12 with win over Suns

The Spurs started their three-game road trip off with a victory on Thursday night, defeating the Phoenix Suns, 117-89.

Superstar small forward Kawhi Leonard, who was selected by fans Thursday as an All-Star Game starter for the first time in his career, led the way for the Spurs with 21 points at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix. Devon Booker had 23 points for the Suns in the loss.

NOTES: The Suns played without starters G Brandon Knight (left adductor) and F Markieff Morris (right shoulder) and reserves F Jon Leuer (back spasms) and F Mirza Teletovic (left ankle).

The Spurs (37-6) matched the best start in franchise history through 43 games with Thursday night’s win, tying the mark set by the 2010-2011 squad.

Through his first 38 games, Curry averaged a career-high 29.7 points, shooting a career-high 51 percent (while sinking an incredible 45-percent of the 10 3-pointers a game that he attempts).

Andre Drummond had 19 points and 22 rebounds for Detroit.

“It was just a time for us to really execute our plays and make sure we were in our defensive rotation”, Leonard said.

The Suns closed within 25-22 early in the second quarter, but the Spurs countered by scoring 13 straight points during a 17-2 run early in the second quarter for a 42-24 lead.

The Spurs have a sizable 12-and-a-half-game lead in the Southwest Division and will be looking to extend that before the All-Star break.

Spurs: Popovich said Leonard has a large responsibility being a standout two-way player. “You can probably count them on one hand that do it night after night after night.”… The Spurs lead the all-time series between the teams 86-75. Jefferson appeared in six games for the Suns after opening the season on the roster.

Meanwhile, the Lakers are in last place in the Western Conference, losers of four in a row.