Pistons fail to fire against Clippers
Los Angeles, Feb. 10: Lou Williams scored a teamhigh 26 points as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Detroit Pistons 108- 95, spoiling Blake Griffin’s bid to beat his former team on Friday night.
Montrezl Harrell came off the bench to score 18 points and DeAndre Jordan added 17 rebounds as the visiting Clippers snapped the Pistons’ fivegame winning streak.
One longtime piece was missing for the Clippers, but it didn’t matter. They dealt Griffin to Detroit last month and Friday was his first opportunity to get even, but instead it turned into his first loss.
Griffin had re- signed with the Clippers in July with the understanding that he’d be a ‘ Clipper for life.’ His tenure with the Clippers after inking a $ 171 million contract lasted just over half a season.
Elsewhere, Hassan Whiteside had 12 points and 16 rebounds and Dwyane Wade got a warm welcome in his return to south Florida as the Miami Heat beat the Milwaukee Bucks 91- 85.
Wade scored just three points but still made his presence felt by delivering a key block late in the game as the Heat snapped a five- game losing skid.
Tyler Johnson scored 19 points and Bam Adebayo added 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Josh Richardson chipped in 16 points for Miami.
In Atlanta, LeBron James had a triple- double and Kyle Korver scored a seasonhigh 30 points as Cleveland defeated the Atlanta Hawks 123- 107 for a successful start after retooling their roster at the trade deadline.
“It felt like we played together,” said James, who had 22 points, 19 assists and 12 rebounds.
“Offensively and defensively the communication was really high. The ball was moving around. The ball was popping and everybody felt like they were in a good rhythm.”
One day after unloading six players, including guards Isaiah Thomas and Wade, in three trades, the Cavaliers used a patchwork roster against the Hawks. Korver helped make up for a short bench, making seven of 13 from beyond the arc and finishing two points shy of equalling his career high of 32 points. — AFP