Improving Clippers sizzle in cooling off the Heat

Associated Press

Thursday, January 13, 2011

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Baron Davis' Clippers won their 13th while ending the Heat's 13-game road run.

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Blake Griffin had 24 points and 14 rebounds for his 30th double-double, and the Los Angeles Clippers surprised visiting Miami 111-105 on Wednesday night, ending the Heat's 13-game road winning streak.

Eric Gordon added 26 points and Baron Davis had 20 points and nine assists for the Clippers, who led virtually the entire game against the NBA's second-best team to win their 13th game this season.

"Beat the Heat!" the sellout crowd stood and chanted in the closing seconds.

Dwyane Wade scored 31 points, LeBron James added 27 and Chris Bosh had 26 points and 13 rebounds for the Heat, who had also won nine in a row overall.

Miami cut the lead to two twice midway through the fourth quarter, but Eric Gordon hit a long three and Davis and Griffin stepped up as Los Angeles rebuilt its lead to nine.

Los Angeles won its third in a row and eighth in its last 11, while notching its 10th homewin.

The transition game and high-energy crowd helped the Clippers match a season-high with 68 points in the first half, including 44 points on 77 percent shooting in the first quarter while building a 21-point lead.

Jazz 131, Knicks 125:

Deron Williams and reserve C.J. Miles scored 24 points apiece, and Utah won despite losing a three-point shootout - the Jazz hit 10 of 22 and New York made 14 of 29. ... Reserve Shawne Williams was 7-for-8 from behind the arc and scored 25 points for the Knicks, who have not won in Salt Lake City since 2005. ... Amare Stoudemire played just 16 minutes through the first three quarters because of foul trouble and finished with 22 points.

Suns 118, Nets 109:

Steve Nash had 23 points and 16 assists, Vince Carter also scored 23 points, and host Phoenix erased a 15-point, fourth-quarter deficit to win in overtime. ... Nash scored 10 in overtime and Carter had his highest point total since coming from Orlando in a Dec. 18 trade. ... Phoenix trailed 90-75 with eight minutes left in regulation before turning up the defense, winning for the second time in six games.

Spurs 91, Bucks 84:

Reserve Matt Bonner scored all 17 of his points in the second half, Manu Ginobili added 23 and visiting San Antonio notched its fourth straight win. ... The Spurs improved the NBA's best record to 33-6 despite a pace more fitting to the grinding Bucks, who came in as the worst shooting and lowest scoring team in the league.

Hornets 92, Magic 89:

Emeka Okafor had 18 points and 14 rebounds, and host New Orleans held off Orlando in overtime, snapping the Magic's nine-game winning streak. ... Marcus Thornton capped a 22-point performance with a crucial jumper and two free throws in the final minute of the extra period as the Hornets took the lead for good and won their second straight.

Thunder 118, Rockets 112:

Kevin Durant scored 30 points, Russell Westbrook added 23 points and 13 assists, and Oklahoma City snapped the franchise's 11-game losing streak in Houston. ... The franchise won in Houston for the first time since Feb. 22, 2005, when the team was still the Seattle SuperSonics.

Bobcats 96, Bulls 91:

D.J. Augustin had 22 points and 12 assists, outplaying Derrick Rose in host Charlotte's victory. ... The Bulls, off to their best start since their last title under Michael Jordan in 1998, couldn't keep it going with Jordan at courtside. The Bobcats owner stood and clapped as Charlotte got its fourth straight win.

Grizzlies 107, Pistons 99:

Zach Randolph had 34 points and 17 rebounds for visiting Memphis, and Rudy Gay scored 26 points. ... The Pistons debuted a new starting lineup and benched Richard Hamilton. Ben Wallace (ankle) missed the game and was replaced by rookie Greg Monroe, while Tracy McGrady and Chris Wilcox came in for Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.

Celtics 119, Kings 95:

Paul Pierce scored 25 points and Rajon Rondo had 10 points and 13 assists for host Boston. ... Pierce scored 15 in the first quarter as Boston got off to a quick start. The Celtics had been 5-5 since Christmas.

Pacers 102, Mavericks 89:

Brandon Rush scored eight of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to help host Indiana get the victory. ... Danny Granger and Darren Collison both scored 17 points and rookie Paul George added a season-high 16 for the Pacers, who won their second straight.

Hawks 104, Raptors 101:

Mike Bibby made a go-ahead three-pointer with 8.2 seconds left, Jamal Crawford scored a season-high 36 points and visiting Atlanta won its fifth straight.

This article appeared on page B - 4 of the San Francisco Chronicle

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