SAN ANTONIO (AP) San Antonio extended its unbeaten home record to 22 games by edging the New York Knicks 100-99 on Friday.
The Spurs improved to 32-6 – equaling the franchise’s best-ever record after 38 games – but had to sweat on a missed 3-point attempt by New York at the death which could have snatched victory.
Even at this relatively early stage of the season, the three division winners in the Western Conference seem set, with the Spurs, Oklahoma City and Golden State all holding double-digit game leads in their respective divisions.
Golden State continued on its winning way with a comfortable victory at Portland and Oklahoma City won narrowly at a Lou Williams-inspired Los Angeles Lakers, while the East’s division leaders Toronto, Cleveland and Miami also won.
San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Spurs, who just withstood their most searching test on home court this season.
New York’s Kristaps Porzingis had 28 points and 11 rebounds but was on the bench when the Knicks started a 14-4 run to pull within two points with 1:27 remaining.
Jose Calderon missed a contested 3-pointer from the left corner for New York that would have won it.
Golden State’s Klay Thompson scored 36 points, making seven 3-pointers, to lead the Warriors to a 128-108 win at Portland and a fifth straight victory.
Reigning league MVP Stephen Curry added 26 points and nine assists in three quarters for the Warriors (34-2), who made 18 3-pointers.
Curry started despite continued soreness from a bruised left shin that kept him out of a pair of games late last month, and which he aggravated on Tuesday against the Lakers.
Damian Lillard had a season-high 40 points and 10 assists for Portland.
Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan scored 21 of his season-high 35 points in the second half to steer the Raptors to a 97-88 win against Washington.
Kyle Lowry had 21 points and 10 assists for the Raptors, who overcame a season-high 23 turnovers, taking control with an 18-4 run that put them 10 points ahead late in the third quarter.
John Wall scored 21 points as Washington (15-19) lost for the fifth time in six games. The Wizards swept a four-game playoff series between the two teams last spring but has lost six consecutive regular-season meetings to the Raptors.
Cleveland stretched its winning streak to six with a 125-99 victory at Minnesota.
J.R. Smith scored a season-high 27 points and Kevin Love had 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists in his return to Minnesota.
The Cavaliers outscored the Timberwolves 22-5 in transition. Smith made 5 of 6 3-pointers in just 19 minutes and Cleveland was 13 of 27 from long range to cruise to the win.
Andrew Wiggins scored 35 points for the Timberwolves, who have lost nine of their past 10.
Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton sank a driving layup with less than 10 seconds to play to give the Bucks a 96-95 win against Dallas.
Middleton scored 27 points and John Henson added 16 as Milwaukee ended a run of six straight losses to the Mavericks.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points for Dallas. He hit two free throws with 38 seconds left for Dallas’ first lead since early in the first quarter, but Henson later blocked his pass and it deflected to Middleton, who raced down the court and scored.
Deron Williams missed at the buzzer for Dallas.
Miami beat Phoenix for the 11th straight time, with Dwyane Wade scoring 27 points in a 103-95 victory.
Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook had 36 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, and the Thunder needed all of it to win 117-113 at the Lakers, who were led by 44 points from Lou Williams.
Memphis’ Mario Chalmers made a pair of 3-pointers in the final 1:30 to seal the Grizzlies’ 91-84 win against Denver.
Indiana won 91-86 at New Orleans, which lost Anthony Davis to a lower back bruise early in the game after he dived into the crowd trying to stop a ball going out of bounds.
Brooklyn’s run of home defeats stretched to nine, losing 83-77 to Orlando.
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