Still a little rusty, but San Antonio Spurs recorded a 96-90 win over Fenerbahce on the Asian side of Istanbul to end their overseas trip.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will take comfort that his NBA champions were able to get a win on the board but knows that there is still work to be done.
Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 23 points. Tony Parker added 22 in the win. It was by no means convincing, but as they now travel back to the States to face the Phoenix Suns on Thursday, they can travel to the desert on the back of a victory, that admittedly was much needed, despite it being pre-season.
Reigning Turkish league champions Fenerbahce begin their defence with an away trip to Ankara on Tuesday to face Turk Telekom and the serious business of the Euroleague starts three days later at home to EA7 Milano. They will take confidence from their performance and especially Andrew Goudelock, who led all scorers with 30 points.
CAVS NEED OVERTIME TO EDGE HEAT IN AWKWARD GAME
When LeBron James set a screen on his own team-mate in the very early stages of the first quarter, everyone watching at the HSBC Arena in Rio and on TV screens were as confused as the person sat next to them. James played on like nothing happened – which is the right thing to do – but it was witnessed.
Still, paced by 25 points from Kevin Love, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Miami Heat 122-119 in overtime in Anderson Verejao’s return to Brazil.
“There was a certain level of strangeness to it,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “I think it benefits both teams to get the awkwardness out of the way in the preseason.”
Cavs’ Kyrie Irving didn’t play due to an ankle injury.
BROOKLYN WIN IN CHINA
Brooklyn Nets brought the NBA Global Games, pre-season to an end with a 97-95 win over the Sacramento Kings in Shanghai, China.
Brook Lopez led the Nets with 18 points as they continue their fine form abroad. They defeated the Atlanta Hawks at the O2 Arena in London in January.
