NEW ORLEANS — Chris Kaman scored 20 points and the Hornets rallyied for a 97-90 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night, spoiling Chris Paul’s return to New Orleans. NEW ORLEANS — Chris Kaman scored 20 points and
NEW ORLEANS — Chris Kaman scored 20 points and the Hornets rallyied for a 97-90 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night, spoiling Chris Paul’s return to New Orleans.
The Clippers were held to 11 points in the fourth quarter as they shot 4 for 23 from the field. Los Angeles also missed its last 19 3-point attempts.
After trailing throughout the first three quarters, the Hornets went ahead with an 11-2 run at the start of the fourth and led the rest of the way.
Jarrett Jack and Jason Smith each scored 17 as New Orleans snapped a five-game home losing streak.
Blake Griffin had 21 points for Los Angeles, which has lost three in a row for the first time this season. Paul, who forced a trade from New Orleans before the season, added 16 points on 5-for-14 shooting.
Celtics 100, Bucks 91
MILWAUKEE — Paul Pierce scored 25 points to help Boston snap Milwaukee’s six-game winning streak.
Kevin Garnett had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Mickael Pietrus scored 13 points for the Celtics, who were playing their seventh game on an eight-game road trip. With Thursday’s win, the Celtics improved to 4-3 on the trip.
Brandon Jennings had 19 points for Milwaukee.
It was the Bucks home debut for Monta Ellis, who was acquired along with forward Ekpe Udoh in a trade with the Golden State Warriors last week. Ellis went first in pregame introductions and received a loud ovation.
Ellis scored 13 points on 6-for-18 shooting.
Rockets 109,
Warriors 83
HOUSTON — Goran Dragic had 17 points and nine assists, rookie Chandler Parsons had 20 points and a career-high 11 rebounds to lead Houston.
Luis Scola scored 18 and Samuel Dalembert added 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who dominated the Warriors inside, outrebounding Golden State 48-31 and scoring 58 points in the paint.
Richard Jefferson scored 14 points and David Lee added 12 for the Warriors, who’ve lost five of their last six games.
The Rockets maintained their hold on the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference by beating Golden State for the 13th time in the last 15 meetings. The Warriors have lost seven straight games in Houston dating to December 2007.
Pacers 85, Wizards 83
WASHINGTON — David West grabbed three offensive rebounds in the final 70 seconds, Darren Collison made a key steal of an inbounds pass, and Paul George’s 3-pointer with 1:01 to play gave Indiana its their first lead of the game, completing a 22-point comeback.
The Pacers effectively kept the ball away from the Wizards in the game’s final minute until Washington got one final possession with 9.5 seconds to play. John Wall, trying to find room for an open shot, essentially dribbled out the clock, making a would-be-tying 12-footer after the horn had sounded.
Roy Hibbert scored 19 points, Danny Granger had 16, and West and George finished with 13 apiece for the Pacers, who recovered from an abysmal first half.
Trail blazers 97, Grizzlies 93
PORTLAND, Ore. — Nicolas Batum had 24 points and new-look Portland held off Memphis.
Jamal Crawford had 17 points, including four clutch free throws in the final seconds for the Blazers, who snapped a two-game skid to even to 2-2 under interim head coach Kaleb Canales.
Marc Gasol’s layup narrowed it to 91-88 with 2:15 to go. Neither side could get a shot to fall as time wound down, but Wesley Matthews made free throws for Portland before Mike Conley’s 3-pointer kept the Grizzlies close at 93-91.
Crawford’s two free throws with 13 seconds left gave Portland some cushion, and after O.J. Mayo made a layup for the Grizzlies, Crawford added two more.
Rudy Gay missed a 3 at the buzzer for Memphis.
Jazz 103, Kings 102
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Al Jefferson’s putback with 0.9 seconds remaining lifted Utah past Sacramento.
The Jazz went almost 9 minutes without a basket in the fourth quarter and blew a 14-point second-half lead before Jefferson bailed them out with the game-winner to silence the crowd.
Jefferson finished with 26 points and seven rebounds, Derrick Favors added 12 points and 10 rebounds and Gordon Hayward scored 18 points for Utah, which remained one-half game behind Houston for eighth place in the Western Conference.
Tyreke Evans scored 11 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter for the Kings. Marcus Thornton added 22 points and 18 rebounds, but shot an airball on his 3-point attempt at the buzzer.
