The San Antonio Spurs took another step toward securing home-court advantage throughout the NBA postseason with a 111-102 win over the Utah Jazz on Saturday.
Having wrapped up the top seeding in the Western Conference, the Spurs are 1.5 games ahead of Eastern Conference leaders Chicago, with the Bulls having three games left to play.
San Antonio seized control of a close first half with a 15-2 run that straddled halftime and held off a surge by the Jazz early in the fourth that saw the Spurs’ lead narrowed to 91-85.
Richard Jefferson scored 20 points and Tony Parker had 13 as all five Spurs starters scored double digits, despite seeing limited action after opening up a large lead.
“All year long, and pretty much most of my career, whenever I score big numbers it’s because my teammates got me the ball,” said Jefferson, who connected on 4-of 7 from three-point range.
“A lob from Gary Neal, some passes from Tony Parker early really got me going. Last year I struggled a little bit, especially from the three-point line. This summer when I worked with the coaches I really focused in on that because that was my role. It’s really helped me this season,” he said.
The Spurs bench added 44 points, led by Tiago Splitter’s 13, and Gary Neal added 12 points, as San Antonio cruised to their fourth win in a row.
Al Jefferson led the Jazz with 23 points.
NUGGETS 130, TIMBERWOLVES 106
In Denver, Ty Lawson made his first 10 three-pointers on Saturday and scored a career-high 37 points to lead the short-handed Denver Nuggets to a 130-106 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Lawson, who was banged up from Denver’s rough-and-tumble loss at Oklahoma City one night before, didn’t score until sinking a pair of free throws at the six-minute mark of the second quarter.
He then hit 10 of 11 from beyond the arc, including six during a nine minute stretch spanning halftime that turned a tight game (41-39) into a laugher.
Martell Webster and Lazar Hayward led the Timberwolves with 15 points each.
BUCKS 108, CAVALIERS 101
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Drew Gooden had his first career triple-double and John Salmons scored 32 points for Milwaukee.
Gooden had 15 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists for the Bucks, hitting double-digits in all three stat categories in the middle of the third quarter.
Baron Davis scored 19 points and Ramon Sessions added 15 for the Cavaliers in a match-up between two teams that have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Rockets 99, Clippers 78
In Houston, Chase Budinger, Kevin Martin and Brad Miller scored 16 points each and Chuck Hayes had 12 points and 13 rebounds to lead Houston.
Goran Dragic had 14 points, seven assists and a career-high 10 rebounds in his first start for the Rockets since he was acquired from Phoenix at the trade deadline.
Eric Gordon scored 19 points and Blake Griffin had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers.
In other NBA action, it was:
‧ Wizards 115, Hawks 83
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