Pacers snap Spurs' home streak
The San Antonio Spurs' 14-game home winning streak was ended by the Indiana Pacers, who triumphed 94-86 on Sunday.
The AT&T Center has been a fortress for the San Antonio Spurs this season but they came unstuck against Victor Oladipo and the Indiana Pacers in the NBA. San Antonio's 14-game home winning streak was ended by the Pacers, who triumphed 94-86 on Sunday.
Oladipo scored 19 points for the Pacers – who became the first Eastern Conference team to sweep a season series against the San Antonio in three years – as the Spurs lost at home for the first time since November 10. Tony Parker had 12 points in the absence of Spurs stars Kawhi Leonard, Rudy Gay and Manu Ginobili.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic trumped the slumping Boston Celtics 103-95 despite 40 points from Kyrie Irving. Irving put up big numbers in his return from injury but the lowly Magic, second from bottom in the Eastern Conference, still managed to upstage the high-flying Celtics.
Boston – amid a three-game losing run – held a one-point first-half lead, but the Magic outscored the Celtics 32-12 in the third quarter. Irving tried to lead a fourth-quarter rally, but Orlando held on despite scoring only 13 points in the fourth.
Elfrid Payton led the Magic with 22 points and six rebounds. Evan Fournier added 19 points, and Aaron Gordon poured in 11 points with 13 rebounds. Orlando has now won two of their last three games and lost by just one point to the Cleveland Cavaliers in between.
Pacers guard Oladipo has played like an All-Star all season, and he continued his run of good form by scoring 19 points on eight-of-14 shooting, four rebounds and three steals against the Spurs. Oladipo, averaging over 24 points per game this season, has been a steal for the Pacers.
Detroit Pistons guard Avery Bradley came into the night averaging almost 16 points per game but had just seven points (on three-of-12 shooting) in a 101-100 loss to the Brooklyn Nets.
SUNDAY'S RESULTS
Orlando Magic 103-95 Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets 101-100 Detroit Pistons
Los Angeles Lakers 127-107 New York Knicks
Indiana Pacers 94-86 San Antonio Spurs