(The Sports Xchange) – Derrick Rose scored a game-high 22 points as the Chicago Bulls cruised to a 104-81 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Forward Jimmy Butler added 17 points for the Bulls, who won for only the third time in their past nine games. Forward Pau Gasol tallied 12 points and 17 rebounds for his 25th double-double of the season.
San Antonio shot 37.0 percent from the field to spoil a four-game winning streak. Forward Kawhi Leonard led the Spurs with 16 points, all of which came in the first half, and guard Patty Mills added 12 points off the bench.
Chicago improved to 10-6 against teams from the Western Conference.
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Clippers 123, Nets 84
Blake Griffin played like the All-Star starter he was announced as earlier in the day, scoring 22 points by halftime as the Los Angeles Clippers steamrolled the Brooklyn Nets.
The 22-point first half was Griffin’s biggest output of the season, but he had plenty of help. Clippers center DeAndre Jordan had a double-double by halftime and point guard Chris Paul had 11 of his 17 assists in the first half.
Griffin finished with a game-high 24 points. Jordan finished with 14 points, 12 rebounds and two blocked shots.
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Celtics 90, Trail Blazers 89
Guard Evan Turner’s three-pointer with one second left gave Boston a 90-89 victory over Portland.
Guard Avery Bradley scored 18 points, and forward Jared Sullinger had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
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Jazz 101, Bucks 99
Gordon Hayward contributed 13 points, two assists and a steal in the fourth quarter, as Utah surged late to overcome Milwaukee.
Despite making 13 three-pointers through the first three quarters, the Jazz entered the fourth trailing 79-76.
A three-pointer from by forward Joe Ingles made it an 89-89 game with 6:30 to play, and two free throws by Hayward put the Jazz ahead for the first time since early in the half.
