PHILADELPHIA — The Spurs didn’t have Tim Duncan or Tony Parker, and that gave Kawhi Leonard a chance to shine.

Leonard scored 26 points and had a crucial three-point play in the final minute to help the San Antonio Spurs defeat the winless 76ers 109-103, extending Philadelphia’s franchise-worst losing streak at the start of the season to 0-17.

“I try to assert myself every night but tonight there were a lot of shots to shoot,” Leonard said.

The Spurs (13-4) played without stars Duncan (rest) and Parker (shoulder). Even without the duo’s more than 31 points per game, San Antonio had little trouble dispatching Philadelphia. Aron Baynes scored 15 points and Manu Ginobili and Cory Joseph each added 14 for San Antonio, which won its eighth straight. Leonard also had 10 rebounds while tying a career high in points.

Leonard scored 20-plus points for the fourth time this season after doing it three times all of last season.

Michael Carter-Williams had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Alexey Shved added 19 points for Philadelphia.

The 76ers also were short-handed, as leading scorer Tony Wroten (knee) missed his second straight game and rookie first-round pick Nerlens Noel (hip) sat after getting injured in Sunday’s practice.

Philadelphia coach Brett Brown was surprised Noel, who is day-to-day, pulled himself out after warming up.

“It kind of surprised me he didn’t play,” Brown said. “I think the lesson is everybody in the NBA is injured.”

Philadelphia became just the fourth team in league history to open a season with 17 losses, joining the 1998-99 Clippers (0-17), 1988-89 Heat (0-17) and the 2009-10 Nets (0-18). The 76ers can tie the Nets for the worst start in NBA history on Wednesday at Minnesota.