Kawhi Leonard Scores 39 Points, Spurs Beat Rockets 112-110

Kawhi Leonard scored 39 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter, and provided the San Antonio Spurs with support on both ends to lead them to a 112-110 home victory over the Houston Rockets on Monday night.

Kawhi Leonard Leads Spurs Past Rockets 112-110

Leonard was treated to chants of “MVP!” that reverberated throughout the AT&T Center.

”Kawhi wanted it badly, and he went and took it,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

Houston’s James Harden matched Leonard’s 39 points, and also had 12 assists in the final game of the season between the state rivals.

Harden scored one of two free throws to give the Rockets a 108-107 lead with 39.7 seconds left, but Leonard countered with a 3-pointer over Nene 14 seconds later for a 110-108 advantage. Leonard then blocked Harden’s layup attempt from behind, knocking the ball against the glass with 18.9 seconds remaining.

”I saw him get an easy lane to the basket and just tried to chase him down and time the layup,” Leonard said. ”David Lee did a good job of not letting him really get athletic and just keeping a body and (going up) just straight. It let me get the ball.”

Leonard, who was named Western Conference Player of the Week, added a pair of free throws for a 12-108 lead with 14.5 seconds remaining to give the Spurs (49-13, 2nd in Western Conference) their third victory in four games against the Rockets this season.

He also provided prime coverage on Harden in the last quarter, holding the All-Star to 1-for-5 shooting in the period.

Danny Green offered to play defense on Harden late in the fourth quarter but Leonard declined.

”It was probably 3 minutes left in the game and I felt like I had the energy to be able to guard him still and just make things tough on him,” Leonard said.

It marked the fourth consecutive game has sealed a come-from-behind victory with a game-winning shot or game-saving steal.

Tony Parker added 19 points for San Antonio, shooting 3-for-6 on 3-pointers. LaMarcus Aldridge added 15 points.

The Rockets led by up to 16 points in the first quarter.

The Spurs went on a 20-4 run to take a 73-71 lead with 3:30 left in the third. San Antonio also forced five turnovers and scored four 3-pointers in the run, three by Parker.

Rockets (44-20, 3rd in Western Conference) forward Ryan Anderson left the game in the third quarter with lower back tightness.

The Rockets next host Utah on Wednesday night, when the Spurs host Sacramento.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the San Antonio Spurs dribbles the ball against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on February 13, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Article by Pablo Mena