If all expected was a duel in the Alamo City between two of the NBA's erstwhile MVP candidates, San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard and Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, they might have been disappointed by the way the Spurs' 108-94 win over the Thunder at the AT&T Center played out Tuesday. Yes, Leonard (36 points and eight rebounds) and Westbrook (27 points and 14 assists) both led their respective teams in scoring and were spectacular in their own ways. But it was the Spurs' bench that proved to be the difference, helping to turn the tide at the end of the third and the beginning of the fourth quarters after San Antonio (37-11) squandered an 18-point lead over a horrid seven-minute stretch. The Spurs' reserves responded by outscoring Oklahoma City 15-2 and, once the starters returned the Thunder had no answer. Overall, the Spurs' bench racked up 32 points to 22 for Oklahoma City's reserves, with most of that damage coming in the pivotal stretch bridging the third and fourth quarters. Leonard scored 30 or more points for the 15th time this season while LaMarcus Aldridge added 23 points and was the only other San Antonio player in double-figure scoring. "We're fired up just playing against Russ out there, just out there competing every possession," Leonard said. Westbrook, who is the only player in the NBA averaging a triple-double, had just six rebounds; he has still has never had a triple-double against San Antonio. "Overall, we played more competitively for more of the 48 minutes than we have recently," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. Stephen Adams added 16 points and a game-high 12 rebounds for the Thunder (28-21). Victor Oladipo scored 15 points, Domantas Sabonis hit for 13 and pulled down 10 rebounds and Anthony Morrow tallied 11 points for Oklahoma City. The Thunder had 20 turnovers that led to 24 points for San Antonio. Wizards 117, Knicks 101: Bradley Beal scored 28 points and the surging Washington Wizards defeated the New York Knicks 117-101 for their NBA-best 15th straight home victory. Markieff Morris had 24 points and 10 rebounds while John Wall had 15 points and 13 assists for the Wizards, who won their last five games and 12 of 14 — two against the Knicks. Washington shot 55.7 percent from the field and led by as many as 21 points. Raptors 108, Pelicans 106 (OT): Kyle Lowry made a step-back jumper with 4.3 seconds left in overtime to lift Toronto. Lowry finished with 33 points and 10 assists as the Raptors won for only the second time in their past eight games. Rockets 105, Kings 83: Ryan Anderson recorded his second double-double of the season and Houston opened a four-game homestand with a victory over road-weary Sacramento. Anderson finished with a team-high 25 points plus 11 rebounds as the Rockets appeared refreshed in their return from a five-game road trip. James Harden added 10 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Trail Blazers 115, Hornets 98: Damian Lillard scored 27 points as Portland blew away Charlotte. Allen Crabbe added 21 points off the bench and C.J. McCollum contributed 18 as the Trail Blazers won for the fourth time in five outings. Portland won the battle in rebounds 51-42 and points in the paint 44-22, and held the Hornets to 39.8 percent shooting. The Trail Blazers had only eight turnovers, one more than its season low. Lakers 120, Nuggets 116: D'Angelo Russell returned to score 22 points and hand out a career-high 10 assists, and Los Angeles captured a win over Denver. Nick Young had 23 points and Lou Williams added 21 points and seven assists for the Lakers, who snapped a seven-game skid to the Nuggets at Staples. Russell missed the previous three games with a mild MCL sprain in his right knee and a strained right calf. Los Angeles rookie Ivica Zubac scored a career-high 17 points.
