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OKLAHOMA CITY -- Kawhi Leonard matched a career high with 26 points, and the San Antonio Spurs rolled past the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-88 on Tuesday night for their eighth straight victory. The defending NBA champions have won each game during their streak by double digits, and by an average of 20.9 points. Tim Duncan had 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks for the Spurs, who still have a shot at the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. San Antonio point guard Tony Parker left the game with tightness in his right Achilles tendon and did not return. Russell Westbrook scored 17 points for the Thunder, who lost their fourth straight and fell a half-game behind the New Orleans Pelicans for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference standings. PELICANS 103, WARRIORS 100 NEW ORLEANS -- Anthony Davis scored 23 of his 29 points in the second half, including two free throws with 9 seconds left, and New Orleans moved into eighth place in the Western Conference by beating Golden State. Stephen Curry scored 25 points, hitting five 3-pointers, but his final attempt that would have tied the game went in and out. That allowed the Pelicans to move back into the West's last playoff spot by a half-game over Oklahoma City, which lost to San Antonio. Quincy Pondexter had 20 points for New Orleans, including his fourth 3 of the game to tie it at 95. Draymond Green had 24 points for Golden State and Andrew Bogut blocked nine shots. HEAT 105, HORNETS 100 MIAMI -- Goran Dragic scored 28 points, his most since coming to Miami in a February trade, and the Heat helped their playoff chances by topping Charlotte. Luol Deng scored 21 for the Heat, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Dwyane Wade had 19 and Hassan Whiteside added 12 on 6-for-8 shooting for Miami. Gerald Henderson led the Hornets with 29 points. Kemba Walker scored 17, Mo Williams had 15, Bismack Biyombo had a 12-point, 12-rebound night, and Marvin Williams grabbed 13 rebounds for Charlotte. Down 11 early in the fourth, Charlotte trimmed the deficit to three on three occasions -- surely bringing back memories of how Miami wasted a 15-point late lead in what became a 99-98 loss at Detroit on Saturday. The Heat hung on this time. HAWKS 96, SUNS 69 ATLANTA -- Atlanta set a single-season franchise high with its 58th victory, getting 16 points each from DeMarre Carroll and Jeff Teague in a win over Phoenix. Mike Muscala, starting for injured All-Star forward Paul Millsap, finished with 16 points and Al Horford added 14 for the Eastern Conference champion Hawks. The Suns missed 31 of 40 shots from the field in the second half to score a season low. Gerald Green, with 15 points, was the only Phoenix player to score in double figures. Eric Bledsoe, ejected in the third quarter for arguing with officials, led the Suns' starters with nine points. The 1986-87 and 1993-94 Hawks each won 57 games in the regular season.
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