Griffin comes back to haunt Clippers

Blake Griffin scored 44 points in his return to Staples Center for the first time against his old team, and the Pistons beat the Clippers 109-104 on Saturday to snap a four-game skid.

Griffin was greeted with introductions and received a first-quarter video tribute from first overall in 2009.

He clearly wanted to beat the team that traded him last January after he had signed a $171 million, five-year extension. Griffin scored 15 points in the first quarter and 26 in the first half to help the Pistons take a 65-54 lead.

■ Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and a career-high 27 rebounds to help the Timberwolves hold off Anthony Davis and the Pelicans for a 110-106 victory. Davis had 30 points and 14 rebounds . ... A person with direct knowledge says Mavericks guard J.J. Barea has a torn right Achilles tendon, a season-ending setback. Barea was injured Friday in the Mavericks’ 119-115 win at Minnesota. Barea was averaging 10.9 points and a team-high 5.6 assists per game. cheers during pregame standing ovation after a the team that drafted him