San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, right, argues a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers. AP
SAN ANTONIO – Kawhi Leonard had 19 points and Manu Ginobili added 17 points and the San Antonio Spurs overcame a listless start to beat the Portland Trail Blazers 93-80 on Monday (Tuesday Manila time) for their fifth straight victory.
Danny Green and Boris Diaw each had 12 points and Tony Parker and Tim Duncan both added 10.
Damian Lillard scored 27 points and Al-Farouq Aminu added 17 points for Portland.
Leonard and Ginobili both missed the previous game with minor ailments and their returns were needed.
San Antonio and Portland both set season lows for points in the first half with the Trail Blazers’ 28 points falling just four points of matching a franchise low.
The teams shot a combined 27 percent from the field in an erratic first quarter.
The Spurs ignited their offense some passing.
Ginobili and Green each had a 3-pointer during a 12-2 run that put San Antonio up 75-62 with 9 1/2 minutes left in the game. But the Spurs had trouble closing out the victory, just as they had in their previous game against winless Philadelphia.
Noah Vonleh’s first 3-pointer of the season pulled Portland within 81-78. The run ended with Ginobili scoring San Antonio’s next nine points, capped by a high 3-pointer. The Spurs backed Ginobili’s personal 9-2 run with three blocks, including two against Lillard.