Clippers hold back Raptors
LOS ANGELES— Los Angeles pair Chris Paul and Blake Griffin scored 26 points each as the Clippers beat Toronto, 123-115, on Monday in an early-season match of NBA division leaders.
The Clippers stayed a game clear atop the Pacific Division ahead of Golden State, which routed Indiana on its own court.
Among other key results, Memphis extended its winning streak to five games by defeating Charlotte, while Detroit went down to a fourth straight defeat, losing narrowly to Houston.
Paul had 12 assists while DeAndre Jordan had 15 rebounds for the Clippers, who improved the NBA’s best record to 13-2 with their 10th victory in 11 games.
The Clippers led by 17 in the second half but the Raptors cut the margin to 119-115 with less than a minute to play. J.J. Redick made four free throws down the stretch to seal it and end a run of four successive losses to the Raptors.
Kyle Lowry led Toronto with 27 points.
Thompson
Golden State’s Klay Thompson scored 25 points in 26 minutes as the Warriors routed Indiana 120-83.
Two-time MVP Stephen Curry added 22 points for the Warriors, who have won eight straight and kept their starters on the bench for the entire fourth quarter after taking a 29-point lead.
Rodney Stuckey had 21 points for the Pacers, who were without three-time All-Star Paul George, starting center Myles Turner and backup forward C.J. Miles due to injuries.
Memphis’ Mike Conley had 31 points to steer the Grizzlies past Charlotte 105-90.
Conley had five 3-pointers and shot 11 of 21 from the field, including a long 3 with 4 minutes left that thwarted Charlotte’s fourth-quarter rally and sent the crowd streaming toward the exits.
Dominance
Marc Gasol was dominant in the first half and narrowly missed a tripledouble, finishing with 13 points, nine assists and eight rebounds. The Grizzlies led by 24 at halftime after shooting 58 percent from the field, including 10 of 16 from 3-point range.
Frank Kaminsky turned in perhaps his best game as a pro for Charlotte, tying a career high with 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting.
Houston’s James Harden had 28 points and 11 assists to lift the Rockets over Detroit 99-96.
Clint Capela added 15 points and 12 rebounds for the Rockets, who won their third straight game.
Kentavious CaldwellPope scored 26 points and Andre Drummond had 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Pistons.
With the Rockets clinging to a two-point lead and 4.6 seconds to go, Drummond missed two free throws before Harden made one of two. CaldwellPope missed a halfcourt heave at the buzzer. (AP)