Clippers get rare win in Cleveland
CLEVELAND — Jamal Crawford eyes the 3-point line and sees something else — four points.
Crawford scored 24 points, converting a four-point play and making another 3-pointer in the fourth quarter, and Chris Paul had 15 assists as the Los Angeles Clippers finally switched on the after-burners in the final minutes and beat the Cavaliers 105-89 on Friday night for their first win in Cleveland since 2002.
The Clippers had lost 10 straight at Quicken Loans Arena, but sparked by Crawford’s 37th career four-point play, pushed aside the Cavs for their fourth win in a row.
“The hardest part of that is making the free throw, honestly,” Crawford said. “There’s so much pressure on that free throw, you better make it.”
Blake Griffin had 16 points and 11 rebounds as the Clippers, having their best season in franchise history, tuned up for Sunday’s showdown at home against Oklahoma City.
Rookie Dion Waiters scored 17 for the Cavs, who played their third straight game without injured AllStar guard Kyrie Irving.
OTHER GAMES
Spurs 130, Kings 102 at San Antonio: DeJuan Blair scored 16 points off the bench to pace eight players in double figures, and San Antonio overcame the loss of Tony Parker to beat Sacramento.
The Spurs rebounded from their first home loss in 18 games two nights earlier against Phoenix, but it may have been a costly victory. Parker, the Spurs’ leading scorer, went down with a left ankle sprain with 4:40 left in the third quarter after a drive to the basket and scooping bucket. He did not return.
Parker finished with 13 points and seven assists.
Pacers 93, Raptors 81 at Toronto: Paul George had 22 points and 10 rebounds, David West had 15 points and 11 rebounds and Roy Hibbert returned from a one-game suspension to score 18 points as the Central Division leaders won for the sixth time in seven games.
Rudy Gay scored 21 points and Alan Anderson had 14 for the Raptors, who have lost three straight and four of five.
Mavericks 98, Nets 90 at New York: Dirk Nowitzki and former Nets guard Vince Carter each scored 20 points, and Dallas avoided another late collapse by holding off Brooklyn.
Dallas led by as many as 20 points, then looked as if it might repeat its performance from its previous game, when it blew a 25-point lead against the Grizzlies. But O.J. Mayo added 17 points as the Mavericks ended their three-game losing streak.
Deron Williams scored 17 of his 24 points in the first half for the Nets.
Celtics 94, Warriors 86 at Boston: Paul Pierce had 26 points, Jeff Green scored 14 of his 18 in the second half and Boston overcame foul trouble and some erratic free throw shooting in a victory over Golden State.
Golden State guard Stephen Curry, coming off a 54-point performance Wednesday in a loss at New York, was held to 25 on 6-of-22 shooting.
Rockets 118, Magic 110 at Orlando: James Harden scored 24 points, and Chandler Parsons and Carlos Delfino added 21 apiece as Houston stopped a twogame skid and ended a five-game losing streak to Orlando. Houston trailed by two late in the game, before using an 11-0 run to seize control.
Tobias Harris scored a career-high 27 points to lead Orlando.
Knicks 96, Wizards 88 at Washington: CarmeloAnthony scored 30 points, Raymond Felton added 23, J.R. Smith chipped in with 13 points and 12 rebounds, and some strong defense allowed New York to beat Washington.
Rookie Bradley Beal led the Wizards with a careerhigh 29 points.
Hornets 100, Pistons 95 at New Orleans: Greivis Vasquez capped a 25-point, nine-assist performance by hitting a running floater off the backboard with 12 seconds left, and New Orleans snapped a two-game skid. Eric Gordon added 21 points and Ryan Anderson 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Hornets.
New Orleans native Greg Monroe had 27 points and 10 rebounds for Detroit, while Brandon Knight added 22 points, including a 3-pointer that tied the score at 91.
Suns 92, Hawks 87 at Phoenix: Marcus Morris tied his career high with four 3-pointers in five attempts, and scored 16 points in his fifth game with Phoenix, helping the Suns win their third in a row.
Jazz 98, Bobcats 86 at Salt Lake City: Enes Kanter had career highs with 23 points and 22 rebounds in a rare start, helping Utah snap a three-game losing streak.
DEVELOPMENTS
Paternity suit filed against Jordan: An Atlanta woman has filed a lawsuit saying basketball Hall of Famer and Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan is the father of her teenage son.
The lawsuit was filed Feb. 6 by Pamela Smith in Fulton County Superior Court. It requests Jordan take a paternity test, pay child support and share medical, dental and hospital costs that are not covered by insurance.
76ers’ Bynum says he may miss entire season: Andrew Bynum’s latest setback may be the one that finally ends his year.
Bynum admitted for the first time that he may not play for the Philadelphia 76ers because of swelling in his right knee. Bynum had been steadfast since training camp that he would eventually make his Sixers’ debut, even setting an All-Star break target date. Bynum backed off Friday because he still had swelling in his right knee from five-on-five drills last week.
“It’s getting really late,” he said. “I don’t know.”