NBA: Clippers take down Spurs again, but lose Chris Paul to injury

Despite losing Chris Paul to a hamstring injury, the Los Angeles Clippers beat the San Antonio Spurs 106-101 at Staples Center on Thursday.

Paul suffered a strained left hamstring early in the third quarter and did not return. He finished with a team-high 19 points, six assists and seven rebounds in 23 minutes.

Without Paul, the Clippers received a boost from their bench. Marreese Speights had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Raymond Felton added 13 points.

Jamal Crawford chipped in 11 points as the Clippers' reserves outscored the Spurs' bench 58-31.

Center DeAndre Jordan had 11 points and nine rebounds, and J.J. Redick also scored 11 for the Clippers (22-8), who beat the Spurs for the second time this season.

Kawhi Leonard led the Spurs (23-6) with 27 points and nine rebounds. Pau Gasol contributed 21 points and eight rebounds. Danny Green and LaMarcus Aldridge scored 10 apiece.

The Spurs lost for only the second time on the road and are 15-2 away from home.

The Spurs played without reserve Manu Ginobili after Spurs coach Gregg Popovich decided to rest the 39-year-old before the trip.

Before leaving, Paul passed Kevin Garnett (16th) for career steals with 1,859. Paul is one theft shy of moving pass Isiah Thomas for 15th place at 1,861.

Paul's problem added to the Clippers' injury woes. Forward Blake Griffin underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Tuesday and could be out for up to six weeks.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Warriors hold off Thunder; Heat snap losing streak

Warriors 91, Thunder 86

Marreese Speights scored a season-high 28 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 91-86 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The win pushed the Warriors' record to 10-2 on the season while the Thunder fell to 3-12.

Reggie Jackson led the way with 22 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for Oklahoma City, who are still playing without injured All Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

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Trail Blazers 94, Celtics 88
LaMarcus Aldridge powered the Trail Blazers with a double-double, scoring a game-high 20 points and scooping up 14 rebounds, as they defeated Boston 94-88.

Portland (10-3) have now won seven in a row and their last four against Boston (4-8), who lost for the fifth time in their last six games.

Jeff Green and Jared Sullinger led the Celtics with 19 points apiece.

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Heat 94, Hornets 93

The Miami Heat snapped a three-game home losing streak by defeating the Charlotte Hornets 94-93.

Chris Bosh hit a fade-away jumper with 31 seconds left to give Miami the lead, and the Hornets (4-10) failed with several chances to win in the final seconds.

Luol Deng led the Heat (8-6) with 26 points, eight rebounds and one key block, while Bosh added 20 points and 10 rebounds.

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com