Griffin beats buzzer, keeps Clippers perfect
Blake Griffin made a 3-pointer as time expired, and the Los Angeles Clippers remained unbeaten with a 104-103 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night.
Griffin, who scored 16 of his 25 points during the fourth quarter, got the ball on the left side of the floor and hit the 3-pointer just inside the line, the game’s sixth lead change during the final two minutes.
DeAndre Jordan had seven points and 18 rebounds for visiting Los Angeles, which at 4- 0 is one of two unbeaten teams remaining. Danilo Gallinari and Austin Rivers had 16 points apiece for the Clippers.
Damian Lillard scored 14 of his 25 points during the third quarter for Portland (3-2). C. J. McCollum had 23 points, but missed one of two free throws with five seconds remaining that could have given the Blazers a three-point lead. All five Portland starters scored in double figures.
The fourth quarter was a tight battle where neither team led by more than five points. Portland wiped out an 89-84 deficit when a clear-path foul led to a five-point possession for Al-Farouq Aminu.
Griffin gave the Clippers a 101-100 lead with a minute to play, but McCollum put the Blazers in front when he hit an uncontested 12-foot jumper with 44 seconds remaining. Following an offensive foul by Rivers with five seconds left, McCollum made 1 of 2 free throws, opening the door for Griffin’s winner.
The Clippers never trailed in the first half after Gallinari hit two free throws for a 14-13 lead.
PELICANS 114, KINGS 106 »
DeMarcus Cousins immediately scored after winning the opening tip and never stopped on the way to 41 points and 23 rebounds, helping to rally New Orleans past his former team in his return to Sacramento. Cousins hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:21 to play for a 108-106 lead. New Orleans trailed by 14 at intermission playing without injured star Anthony Davis.
De’Aaron Fox scored 14 points off the bench to lead the Kings.
Cousins received overwhelming support during pregame introductions with a few boos. After his initial basket, the Kings answered with a 17-2 run. CELTICS 96, BUCKS 89 » Al Horford had 27 points and nine rebounds, and Boston spoiled Milwaukee’s return to the Mecca. Kyrie Irving added 24 points and seven assists for Boston, which avenged a loss to Milwaukee in Boston earlier this month. The game was played at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, formerly known as the Mecca, which served as the Bucks’ home from 1968 until the team moved into the Bradley Center in 1988. GRIZZLIES 96, MAVERICKS 91 » Marc Gasol had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Mike Conley added 22 points, and Memphis held on to beat visiting Dallas. Memphis held a 20-point lead in the third quarter, but the Mavericks cut into the lead behind Wesley Matthews, who finished with 18 points and made four 3-pointers in the period. A fourth- quarter push gave the Mavericks an 86- 84 lead with 3:56 left. That was the last lead for Dallas, as Conley scored the next five points and had nine of the Grizzlies’ final 10. BULLS 91, HAWKS 86 » Rookie Lauri Markkanen scored11 ofhis 14 points in the second half, including a key 3-pointer with 48.5 seconds left, and Chicago beat Atlanta for its first win of the season. STERN CALLS FOR NBA CHANGES OF MARIJUANA RULES » Former NBA commissioner David Stern believes medicinal marijuana use by players should be allowed, but the league says it won’t allow it for recreational use. Stern was interviewed by ex- NBA player Al Harrington for the website Uninterrupted’s documentary “Concept of Cannabis.” Stern said he thought there was “universal agreement that marijuana for medical purposes should be completely legal.”