Brooklyn Nets small forward Paul Pierce (centre) goes up for a basket as he is defended by Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kent Bazemore (left) and teammate Jordan Hill (right) during the first half of their NBA game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, on Sunday. (EPA)
Agencies/Los Angeles
League top gun Kevin Durant continued to put up MVP-calibre numbers but the LA Clippers had plenty firepower of their own.
Jamal Crawford dropped in 36 points, Matt Barnes hit six triples en route to 24, and the visiting Clippers withstood Durant’s 42-point effort to beat the West-best Oklahoma City Thunder 125-117 in a Sunday matinee shootout.
The Clippers erupted for the most points in a game this season against the normally stingy Thunder defence that yields 97.7 points per game.
“They’re an excellent defensive team and the way we scored against them is really impressive,” Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.
Blake Griffin netted 20 points, Chris Paul contributed 18 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds while DeAndre Jordan finished with 18 points and 12 boards for the Clippers (38-20), who stopped a three-game road slide.
“We were talking about how we hadn’t beaten any really good teams on the road and how this would be the perfect time to start,” Paul said. “Hopefully, this is a win that gets us going.”
Power forward Glen Davis, who orchestrated a buyout from Orlando Friday, informed the Clippers he will sign with them once he clears waivers on Monday.
Serge Ibaka netted 20 points and Derek Fisher added 15 on five triples off the bench for the Thunder (43-14), who suffered a rare second straight home loss.
“We got to play defence,” said Durant, who handed out 10 assists. “We can’t just let teams come in and do whatever they want offensively.”
The Clippers extended a 72-66 halftime lead to 15 late in the third quarter. But Fisher nailed two triples to spark a 13-4 period-ending run and the Thunder was within 99-93 heading into the final frame.
Durant’s 3-pointer gave the Thunder a short-lived 115-112 edge with 2 minutes 43 seconds left. But the Clippers responded.
Crawford buried his fifth triple of the game and a floater around Durant’s layup at the other end to put the Clippers ahead, 121-117 with 39 seconds remaining.
After Westbrook missed a 3-pointer, Paul and Griffin each hit two free throws to wrap up the win.
“Every time they made a run and we needed a timely shot, Jamal was our guy,” Paul said.
Elsewhere: Brooklyn Nets 108, LA Lakers 102: Deron Williams scored 30 points, Paul Pierce added 25, and the visiting Nets ended an 11-game slide against the Lakers.
Earlier in the day, Jason Collins made history signing a 10-day contract to become the first openly gay player in North America’s major professional team sports.
The 12-year veteran backup centre received a smattering of applause upon entering in the second quarter. He went scoreless with two rebounds, one steal, and five fouls in 11 minutes.
“It was fun running up and down the court,” Collins said. “I didn’t get tired. It felt good to go out there and foul people. That’s what I do.”
Spaniard Pau Gasol led the West-worst Lakers (19-37) with 22 points with 11 rebounds.
Playing without league MVP LeBron James because of a broken nose, Chris Bosh picked up the slack with 28 points and 10 rebounds, Dwyane Wade added 23 and 10 boards, as the Heat beat the visiting Bulls 93-79 for their fifth straight win.
Joakim Noah finished with 20 points and a game-high 15 rebounds for Chicago, which had its season-high tying five-game winning streak stopped.
Patrick Beverley scored 20 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer and two free throws in the final 34 seconds, as the visiting Rockets shaded the Suns 115-112, who wasted a career-high 35 points by Slovenia’s Goran Dragic.
Damian Lillard tossed in 32 points, Thomas Robinson added 14 with a career-best 18 rebounds, and the Trail Blazers rallied to end the visiting T-Wolves’ three-game winning streak despite Kevin Love’s 31-point, 10-rebound effort. Blazers beat the Timbrewolves 108-97.