Aldridge, Leonard lead Spurs to 97-90 win over Grizzlies (Mar 23, 2017)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) The Memphis Grizzlies got into the Spurs defensively, pushing San Antonio around and making every possession a fierce fight.

The Spurs enjoyed it, especially their defensive-minded coach.

LaMarcus Aldridge scored 23 points, Kawhi Leonard added 19 and San Antonio beat Memphis 97-90 on Thursday night in a possible first-round playoff preview.

''It's good for the team and myself that we're seeing this early instead of being hit in the playoffs,'' Leonard said.

San Antonio opened a four-game homestand by moving two games behind idle Golden State for the league's best record. The Spurs (55-16) close the homestand against the Warriors (57-14) next Wednesday.

Memphis (40-32) is seventh in the Western Conference, which would result in a first-round matchup with San Antonio if the standings remain.

''I thought both teams played good defense,'' Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. ''As usual, making some shots down the stretch matters, but overall I thought we moved the ball pretty well and we didn't turn it over too much. We played a pretty good game.''

Mike Conley had 22 points and six assists for Memphis, which fell 1 1/2 games behind Oklahoma City for sixth place.

Marc Gasol, who had 13 points, was the only other Grizzlies player in double figures.

San Antonio lost the first two meetings, both in Memphis, by a combined 23 points.

''They were more clear on their plan defensively,'' said Marc Gasol, who outscored his brother, Pau, by four points. ''They did a good job. We didn't really run. They moved the ball, they made a lot of shots.''

Aldridge reached 15,000 career points with his final basket, a 13-foot jumper that gave San Antonio a 90-81 lead with 2:10 remaining.

The 11-year veteran is averaging 21.4 points in five games since returning from a two-game absence after being diagnosed with a minor heart arrhythmia.

''I don't know, I'm just trying to play basketball, really,'' Aldridge said. ''Trying to be more dominant out there. I'm just trying to take my shots and play in the flow. I'm not being as passive as I was earlier in the year. It's working out for me.''

Leonard finished 7 for 15 from the field while battling the aggressive hands-on defense of Tony Allen and James Ennis III.

Leonard responded with his own defense to preserve the win. The 6-foot-7 forward sprinted in front of Allen to tip away a pass and leapt out of bounds to save the ball to Aldridge. The play led to a three-point play by Patty Mills after he was fouled on a 3-on-1 layup for an 88-80 lead with 4 minutes remaining.

Mills was 3 for 6 on 3s, finishing with 15 points.

''Our effort was fantastic,'' Memphis coach David Fizdale said. ''We really competed defensively. It was stretches there where we had our mental lapses, but that's the Spurs.''

TIP-INS

Grizzlies: Allen had eight points and four rebounds in 29 minutes after being listed as questionable due to an injured left knee. ... Memphis has lost two straight following a four-game winning streak. . The Grizzlies have lost four straight in San Antonio, last winning at the AT&T Center on Dec. 17, 2014, in triple overtime. ... The Grizzlies made 10 3-pointers, extending their franchise record for 3s in a season to 669. Memphis is making 9.3 3-pointers this season after averaging 4.3 in the previous six seasons combined.

Spurs: San Antonio is 13-2 with Dewayne Dedmon in the starting lineup alongside Leonard, Aldridge, Danny Green and Tony Parker. ... Rookie PG Dejounte Murray missed his seventh straight game with a left groin injury.

FEELING GOOD

Aldridge has appeared more relaxed since returning from tests on his heart. The 6-foot-11 forward was diagnosed with a minor heart arrhythmia after telling the Spurs ''he felt odd'' in the second half against Oklahoma City on March 9.

Doctors cleared Aldridge to play without restrictions.

''Maybe it put his life in perspective and just playing with less pressure,'' Parker said. ''I agree, since he got back, he's been playing in a good rhythm.''

Aldridge has responded with his best stretch of the season, helping the Spurs to three straight victories.

''I was getting passive at times,'' Aldridge said. ''It's on me to play basketball. I'm taking my shots with confidence. I'm just finding my rhythm out there. My teammates are trying to find me and it's working out.''

BROTHERLY LOVE

The Gasol brothers are close off the court, but they act like strangers on the court. That sibling rivalry continued Thursday as Marc Gasol got the better of his older brother of five years.

Marc Gasol had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Pau Gasol had nine points and four rebounds.

''During the game we barely acknowledge each other,'' Marc said. ''We sure want to take each other's heads off and win the game for our team. We are both team-first guys.''

UP NEXT

Grizzlies: At Golden State on Sunday night.

Spurs: Host New York on Saturday night.