Griffin, Pistons defeat Clippers

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

Griffin was greeted with cheers during pregame introductions and received a standing ovation after a firstquarter video tribute from the team that drafted him first overall in 2009.

Griffin scored 15 points in the opening quarter. He had 26 points in the first half to help Detroit to a 65-54 lead.

His 3-pointer to start the third and a basket by Andre Drummond pushed Detroit to a 16-point lead.

Andre Drummond had 20 points and 21 rebounds for the Pistons.

Danilo Gallinari led the Clippers with 23 points.

MAGIC 105, CELTICS 103: Aaron Gordon had 28 points and 12 rebounds and Orlando held off Boston. Jayson Tatum missed a jumper at the buzzer that would have tied it for the Celtics. They charged back from a nine-point deficit in the final 1:43 before losing to the Magic for the second time this season. Kyrie Irving scored 25 points for the Celtics. Nikola Vucevic added 16 points and 13 rebounds for Orlando. THUNDER 122, SPURS 112: Dennis Schroder scored all of his 19 points in the second half to help Oklahoma City beat San Antonio. Russell Westbrook had 24 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for Oklahoma City, which bounced back from a 154-147 loss in doubleovertime loss to the Spurs on Thursday.