The San Antonio Spurs took control early, never trailed and blew out the Oklahoma City Thunder 113-88 on Tuesday night at Chesapeake Arena in Oklahoma City, winning their eighth straight game, and handing the Thunder their fourth straight defeat.
Kawhi Leonard matched his career high with 26 points, scoring 12 of the first 21 Spurs points to help them to a 29-10 lead after the first quarter.
The 10 points were the fewest in a quarter all season for the Thunder.
OKC rallied with an 11-0 run in the second quarter, but the Spurs responded and led by 22 at halftime.
The lead grew to 34 in the second half as San Antonio shot 53 percent from the field for the game and made 10 three-pointers.
Russell Westbrook led the Thunder with 17 points.
Jeremy Lamb scored 11 off the bench, all of them late once the game had been decided, while Dion Waiters and Perry Jones added 10 apiece.
The loss is not just the fourth straight for OKC, but with New Orleans beating Golden State on Tuesday night, the Thunder have dropped a half game behind the Pelicans for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
The Thunder dropped to 42-36 on the season, and with four games left in the regular season, host the Sacramento Kings next on Friday night at Chesapeake Arena at 7:00.
