The San Antonio Spurs matched an NBA record set 25 years ago by the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers matched a feat the Spurs accomplished last week.
San Antonio beat Phoenix 97-83 Sunday to finish with a 16-0 record in March, the best month by an NBA team since the Lakers went 16-0 in December 1971 en route to the best record in NBA history (69-13).The Lakers, meanwhile, moved to 4-0 on their five-game road trip by beating the Toronto Raptors 111-106. The Spurs are the only team to go undefeated on a road trip of four games or longer this season. They did it March 20-25 as part of their current win streak.
"We did talk about getting a win tonight because it really meant something to be a part of history. Tonight was a challenge for us because we wanted to do something that only one other team in NBA history has done," San Antonio center David Robinson said.
Robinson scored 22 points, Avery Johnson had 20, Sean Elliott had 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists; and Charles Smith scored 12 points for the Spurs, who opened a nine-point lead after one quarter and led the rest of the way.
In other games, Orlando beat New York 98-79, Atlanta beat Boston 93-92, Sacramento beat Cleveland 105-100 in overtime, Portland beat Dallas 115-100, Charlotte beat Vancouver 121-88, Indiana beat New Jersey 118-100, and the Los Angeles Clippers beat Minnesota 110-107.
Spurs 97, Suns 83
A crowd of 32,272 watched at the Alamodome as San Antonio extended its Midwest Division lead over Utah to three games and its winning streak to 17.
"This was the first night we really talked about it (the streak)," Avery Johnson said. "It was a challenge for us, especially when we get 30,000 (32,272) fans here."
"This was a good win because Phoenix is a possible first-round opponent for us," Robinson said. "It (the record) really meant something to become a part of history."
The teams have a rematch Tuesday night.
Lakers 111, Raptors 106
Los Angeles, which started its road trip with victories at Orlando, Miami and Atlanta, withstood a rally by Toronto to win its 45th of the season. The Lakers will go for five road wins in a row Tuesday night at Charlotte.
Vlade Divac had 20 points and 19 rebounds, Anthony Peeler scored 10 points during a late 16-4 burst, Magic Johnson scored 19 points and Cedric Ceballos had 15 off the bench.
`The difference in this league is usually the bench," Lakers coach Del Harris said after the Lakers' subs outscored Toronto's 39-4. "You can sneak up and win a ballgame with your bench, and that's what we did."
"The last four games, we've been playing fantastic," Johnson said. "They just know how to play off each other, and that's what makes this team so dangerous."
Magic 98, Knicks 79
At Orlando, the Magic clinched the Atlantic Division title behind a 32-point performance by Shaquille O'Neal. "I'm glad we clinched, but it's just a little step in what we're trying to accomplish. There's no room for celebration. They wanted to give us shirts. We don't want no stinking shirt," O'Neal said.
Orlando tied the NBA record for fewest turnovers in a game (three) while improving to 34-1 at home.
New York trimmed its deficit to four before O'Neal and Horace Grant scored all the points in an 13-0 run that put Orlando up 70-53. The Knicks trailed by at least 20 for most of the last period.
Hawks 93, Celtics 92
At Boston, Mookie Blaylock made two 3-point shots in the last 26.6 seconds, including the game-winner from the top of the key at the buzzer, as Atlanta came back from a five-point deficit in the final 52 seconds.
The Hawks moved within 1/2 game of fifth-seeded Cleveland and a game of fourth-seeded New York in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Kings 105, Cavaliers 100, OT
At Sacramento, the Kings went 11-of-15 from the foul line in overtime and 31-of-43 overall as they opened a two-game lead over Golden State in the race for the eighth playoff spot in the West.
Brian Grant scored a career-high 32 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Mitch Richmond added 30 points.
Trail Blazers 115, Mavericks 100
At Dallas, Arvydas Sabonis scored 21 points and Clifford Robinson added 17 as the streaking Trail Blazers eased to their 10th victory in 11 games, completing the best month of March in club history (11-3).
The Blazers improved to 36-35, surpassing the .500 point for the first time since Jan. 21, and moved closer to securing a playoff berth for an NBA-best 14th straight year.
Hornets 121, Grizzlies 88
At Vancouver, the Hornets snapped a two-game losing streak and finished 3-2 on their five-game trip as they moved within one game of Miami in the race for the eighth playoff spot in the East.
Matt Geiger led the Hornets with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Glen Rice scored 18 despite playing with a sore back.
Pacers 118, Nets 100
At Indianapolis, Antonio Davis started in place of Dale Davis, who was disciplined for arriving late to a team meeting, and scored all 21 of his points in the first half as the Pacers prevented a season sweep by the Nets.
Clippers 110, Timberwolves 107
At Minneapolis, Rodney Rogers had a season-high 25 points, Loy Vaught had 16 points and 13 rebounds, and Stanley Roberts 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who broke a five-game road losing streak.