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 cheers during pregame introductions and received a standing ovation after a first-quarter video tribute from the team that drafted him 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.

His 3-pointer to start the third and a basket by Andre Drummond pushed Detroit to a 16-point lead. Griffin had a one-handed slam reminiscent of his Lob City days.

■ A person with direct knowledge of the injury 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.