Raging Bulls stop Oklahoma City
Harden, Houston cool off the Spurs
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Chicago Bulls were angry and on edge after three straight losses. They channeled those emotions into one of their best wins of the season.
Jimmy Butler scored 23 points, and Pau Gasol had 21 points and 13 rebounds in the Bulls’ 105-96 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.
In a game that featured several skirmishes, the Bulls out-rebounded the NBA’s No. 2 rebounding team 53-48.
“We’ve just got to go out there and attack,” said Chicago forward Taj Gibson, who got a double technical with Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka. “It’s no time to be friends with anybody right now. We’ve got enough friends in here. We’re with each other 24/7. We can’t go out there and look to be nice to everybody.”
Derrick Rose added 19 points, and Gibson had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Kevin Durant had 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for Oklahoma City, and Russell Westbrook added 26 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. The Thunder had won three straight and nine of 10.
“I think we did a really good job of making sure we closed out to 3-point shooters,” Rose said. “We trusted the game plan. We know K.D. is a great 3-point shooter, (Anthony) Morrow and Westbrook when his feet are set, and you just can’t let them get hot.”
ROCKETS 88, SPURS 84: In Houston, James Harden had 20 points and the Rockets slowed soaring San Antonio.
The improved Houston defense held the Spurs to a season low in points to snap their season-best seven-game winning streak.
Houston used an 8-2 run to take a 78-71 lead with about 5 minutes left. Tim Duncan made a hook shot after that, but Harden hit a 3-pointer. A layup by Duncan came next before Harden brought the crowd to its feet with an offbalance 3-pointer from the corner that made it 84-75.
The Spurs resorted to the Hack-A-Howard tactic soon after that, intentionally fouling Dwight Howard on two straight possessions. He missed all four free throws, and a basket by LaMarcus Aldridge got the Spurs to 86-81.
Kawhi Leonard made a 3-pointer after two free throws by Houston to allow San Antonio to cut the lead to four, but he missed a shot a few seconds later and Houston held on for the victory.
Leonard had 20 points to lead San Antonio.
HEAT 94, PELICANS 88 (OT): In Miami, Chris Bosh scored 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Dwyane Wade added 19 points, and the Heat survived some shaky moments late to beat New Orleans in overtime — spoiling Anthony Davis’ dazzling debut as part of the league’s holiday lineup.
The win moved the Heat to an NBA-best 10-2 all-time on Christmas, including seven straight wins. Bosh and Wade combined for 13 of Miami’s 16 points in overtime.
Davis was stellar in his Christmas debut, leading the Pelicans with 29 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and four steals. But he missed a contested jumper on New Orleans’ final possession of regulation, and the Heat controlled the extra session.
“That’s why I get paid the big bucks, to win games for us down the stretch,” Davis said.
CLIPPERS 94, LAKERS 84: In Los Angeles, Chris Paul had a game high 23 points and Blake Griffin added 13 and 12 rebounds as the Clippers, who led the whole game, beat the crosstown rival Lakers.
D’Angelo Russell lead the Lakers with 16 points off the bench. Kobe Bryant scored 12.