Leonard, Aldridge help Spurs edge Bucks
MILWAUKEE -- Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points and LeMarcus Aldridge added 18 as the San Antonio Spurs stayed perfect on the road this season with a 97-96 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks Monday night at the Bradley Center.
Jabari Parker scored nine of his team-leading 23 points in the fourth quarter while Giannis Antetokounmpo added 22 with 11 rebounds for the Bucks, who shot 41.1 percent from the floor as their four-game winning streak came to a halt.
Leading 26-24 after one, the Bucks opened the second on an 11-2 run and were locked in defensively, holding the Spurs to just nine points in the quarter and 35 points for the half.
But the Spurs snapped out of their funk for 36 in the third. Nicolas Laprovittola's corner 3 made it a 58-53 game with 5:28 left in the quarter, capping an 8-0 San Antonio run.
Tempers flared late in the quarter when Greg Monroe and Dewayne Dedmon got tangled up on a Malcolm Brodgon miss. Davis Bertans charged into the altercation and shoved Monroe and Michael Beasley quickly got involved, as well.
Four technicals were assessed on the play: one each to Monroe, Dedmon, Bertans and Beasley. Both Bertans and Beasley were ejected for their roles and the Spurs closed to within two heading into the fourth.
Leonard dunk with 10 minutes left made it a one-point game and after Terry missed a 3 from the corner, Dedmon converted a three-point play to put the Spurs ahead. Mirza Teletovic put Milwaukee back in front with a 3-pointer but Aldridge tied it up at 78 on a jumper with 8:15 to play.
Antetokounmpo was called for goaltending with 21.2 seconds left, giving San Antonio a 97-96 lead.
Teletovic missed an open 3-pointer from the corner in the waning seconds.
NOTES: PG Tony Parker returned to the San Antonio starting lineup after missing the last two games with a left quad contusion. Parker has appeared in 13 games for the Spurs this season, averaging 9.7 points and 4.3 assists in 26.3 minutes per game. ... Milwaukee began the day holding opponents to an NBA-low 42.7 percent shooting average and a 39.8 mark on 3-point attempts. ... The Bucks brought a season-high four-game winning streak into the contest, averaging 111.3 points on 48.4 percent shooting during that stretch. ... The Spurs came into the game with a perfect 11-0 record on the road this season. They're just the third team in NBA history to start a season undefeated through 11 road contests. ... San Antonio has won 12 of the last 13 meetings with Milwaukee including the last eight in a row. The Bucks haven't beaten the Spurs since Jan. 10 2012.