San Antonio Spurs at Cleveland Cavaliers
· National Basketball AssociationDrummond scores 28, Sexton 26 as Cavaliers down Spurs in OT
Drummond, who missed the past three games with a strained left calf, put the Cavs up 124-22 with a layup and Love followed with his 3 from the corner 28 seconds later to put Cleveland up by five.
Love had missed his first four attempts from long range before his clutch shot and he finished just 3 of 12 from the field, but added 18 rebounds.
Derrick White hit a 3 to pull the Spurs within 131-129 in the final seconds, but Collin Sexton made a free throw for the Cavs and San Antonio didn't get off a last-second heave in time.
It was the second straight close win for the young Cavs, who beat Denver 104-102 on Saturday. Cleveland improved to 5-5 under coach J.B. Bickerstaff and matched its win total from last season, when the Cavs went 19-63.
"It means that we can, the belief in what you can accomplish," said Bickerstaff, who took over when John Beilein resigned 54 games into his first season. "We've shown we can put together some really good stretches against some really good teams and we've been able to find a way."
Sexton scored 26, Larry Nance Jr. 19 and Matthew Dellavedova had 14 and 11 assists. Dellavedova has an NBA-high 38 assists in his past four games.
DeMar DeRozan scored 25 and Rudy Gay 19 for the Spurs, who played their sixth straight game without center LaMarcus Aldridge because of a strained right shoulder. The Spurs were also missing center Jakob Poeltl (sprained knee) for the fourth game in a row.
"With all these guys out, we're trying to do everything on the fly," DeRozan said. "It's tough, period. The less bodies, the harder it is. It's exhausting."
Sexton's two free throws gave the Cavs a 118-116 lead with 3.2 seconds left in regulation. But after a timeout by San Antonio, Gay dropped a 20-foot jumper to tie it with one second left. Gay twice tied the game in the final 1:02 with 3-pointers.
FOUL PRONE
The first half turned into a prolonged free-throw shooting contest as the officials called 33 fouls, leading to a combined 46 free throws. San Antonio made its first 15 and went 21 of 23 from the line, while Cleveland finished 20 of 23 in the opening half.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and DeRozan both expressed frustration the All-Star forward isn't getting fouls called on drives. DeRozan got a technical for complaining in the third quarter.
"It seems like the guys that flop are the ones that get the calls," said DeRozan, who attempted 12 free throws.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Cavaliers had four players record double-doubles in the same game for the first time since 1990.
HEATING UP
With Drummond back and Aldridge out, the Cavs attacked the rim and led by double digits for much of the first half. But the Spurs, who made just 1 of 11 3-point attempts in the first half, warmed up and scored 41 in the third to carry a 91-87 lead into the fourth.
TRAIL BLAZING WOMEN
On International Women's Day, both teams could celebrate their female assistant coaches: Becky Hammon with the Spurs, Lindsay Gottlieb with the Cavs.
Hammon became the first female coach in NBA history in 2014.
"Becky has been exactly who we thought she'd be: She's a leader, she's intelligent, she understands the game as far as how it all works," Popovich said. "Everyone respects her."
Gottlieb is in her first season with the Cavs after a successful run at Cal.
"She's really good at her job," Bickerstaff said. "She has a way of teaching by putting people at ease first. She has a really calming demeanor and you know by how she treats you that she's about the right things."
TIP-INS
Cavaliers: F/C Tristan Thompson suffered an injury to his right eye in the first half and did not return. He played just eight minutes. ... Rookie Darius Garland missed his fourth straight game with a groin strain, and rookie swingman Kevin Porter Jr. remains in concussion protocol.
UP NEXT
Spurs: Start four-game home stretch Tuesday against Dallas.
Cavaliers: With their arena to host college hoops tournaments the next two weeks, the Cavs begin a six-game trip in Chicago on Tuesday.
--
Regular Season Series
CLE wins series 2-0
Recent Plays
| 5th 0.0 | ![]() |
End of Game | 129 - 132 |
| 5th 0.0 | ![]() |
End of the 1st Overtime | 129 - 132 |
| 5th 1.8 | ![]() |
Keldon Johnson defensive rebound | 129 - 132 |
| 5th 1.8 | ![]() |
Collin Sexton misses free throw 2 of 2 | 129 - 132 |
| 5th 1.8 | ![]() |
Spurs Full timeout | 129 - 132 |
Statistics
SA |
CLE |
|
|---|---|---|
| 43-98 | FG | 43-94 |
| 44 | Field Goal % | 46 |
| 10-26 | 3PT | 13-34 |
| 38 | Three Point % | 38 |
| 33-36 | FT | 33-45 |
| 92 | Free Throw % | 73 |
| 49 | Rebounds | 72 |
| 6 | Offensive Rebounds | 14 |
| 38 | Defensive Rebounds | 46 |
| 20 | Assists | 26 |
| 15 | Steals | 4 |
| 6 | Blocks | 4 |
| 9 | Turnovers | 18 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 9 | Total Turnovers | 18 |
| 2 | Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 2 | Total Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 6 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 24 |
| 15 | Fast Break Points | 11 |
| 52 | Points in Paint | 52 |
| 34 | Fouls | 24 |
| 6 | Largest Lead | 17 |
Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Jarrett Allen, C | Day-To-Day | Mar 3 |
| Dean Wade, F | Out | Mar 3 |
| Max Strus, G | Out | Mar 3 |
| Donovan Mitchell, G | Out | Mar 2 |
San Antonio Spurs Injuries
| NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Mason Plumlee, C | Out | Mar 4 |
| Harrison Barnes, F | Out | Mar 4 |
| Harrison Ingram, F | Day-To-Day | Mar 3 |
| David Jones Garcia, F | Out | Feb 4 |
Game Information
Location: Cleveland, OH
Attendance: 17,995 · Capacity:
2025-26 Southwest Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
San Antonio |
44 | 17 | .721 | - | W1 |
Houston |
38 | 22 | .633 | 5.5 | W1 |
Memphis |
23 | 37 | .383 | 20.5 | L1 |
Dallas |
21 | 40 | .344 | 23 | L4 |
New Orleans |
19 | 44 | .302 | 26 | L2 |
NBA News
Man pleads guilty in 2024 athlete home burglaries case
Alexander Esteban Huaiquil Chavez, a member of a theft group comprising Chilean nationals that burglarized the homes of athletes across the United States in 2024, pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property on Wednesday.
Grizzlies sign Olivier-Maxence Prosper to multiyear contract
Grizzlies forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper has signed a multi-year contract.
Trial date set for Chauncey Billups, others in rigged poker case
Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, former guard Damon Jones and nearly three dozen co-defendants will stand trial beginning Nov. 2, a federal judge said.
Fantasy basketball H2H Category and Roto rankings: Chet Holmgren, Amen Thompson crack the top 10
Updated fantasy basketball rankings for roto and category leagues, with Chet Holmgren and Amen Thompson cracking the top 10.
Fantasy basketball points league rankings: Anthony Edwards among safest top-10 options
Updated fantasy basketball rankings for points leagues, with Anthony Edwards being one of the most reliable options in the top 10.





SA
CLE
Houston
Memphis
Dallas
New Orleans
Detroit
Milwaukee
Chicago
Indiana