(The Sports Xchange) – – – –
Trail Blazers 105, Jazz 94
LaMarcus Aldridge scored a game-high 24 points hours after being named the Western Conference player of the week, lifting the Portland Trail Blazers to a victory over the Utah Jazz.
Utah, who lost 130-98 in Portland on Friday, made a game of it in the fourth quarter despite trailing by 15 points in the second half and playing without the injured Derrick Favors and Marvin Williams.
The Blazers (18-4) held off the Jazz (4-19) with late back-to-back three-pointers.
Point guard Damian Lillard added 18 points and grabbed five rebounds in the win.
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Clippers 94, 76ers 83
Blake Griffin scored 26 points, and point guard Chris Paul had 12 of his 25 points and five of his 13 assists in the pivotal third quarter, as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Philadelphia 76ers.
Los Angeles (14-8) reeled off the first 13 points of the third quarter to blow the game open and cruise to the win.
DeAndre Jordan added 11 points and a season-high 21 rebounds for the Clippers.
Evan Turner scored 25 points to lead Philadelphia (7-15), who are 0-3 since losing rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams to a skin infection on the front of his right knee.
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Bobcats 115, Warriors 111
Kemba Walker scored 31 points, including 27 in the second half, as the Charlotte Bobcats beat the Golden State Warriors despite 43 points from Stephen Curry.
Walker put the game away with six free throws in the final minute, on a night when the Bobcats let a 15-point second-half lead slip away but were able to hold on in a frantic finish.
The win was Charlotte’s second straight and raised their record to 10-11, while Golden State fell to 12-10.
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Nuggets 75, Wizards 74
Wilson Chandler scored 17 points and guard Nate Robinson had 16 as the Denver Nuggets outlasted the Washington Wizards.
With the Wizards failing to make a field goal in the final four minutes, the Nuggets (13-8) won despite scoring their fewest points of the season and committing 22 turnovers.
John Wall had 20 points and eight assists for the Wizards (9-11), but missed four shots inside the final 2:31 and committed a turnover on the final possession where he had the ball swiped away before he could attempt a shot.
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Grizzlies 94, Magic 85
The Memphis Grizzlies shook off their home slump with a win over the Magic as power forward Zach Randolph scored 19 points with 12 rebounds.
Memphis (10-10) had lost four of five at home but they turned it around by pounding Orlando inside and outrebounding them 52-35.
Orlando (6-15) lost their sixth straight and their road record dropped to 1-10.
Andrew Nicholson and Jameer Nelson had 19 points each for the Magic.
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Kings 112, Mavericks 97
DeMarcus Cousins had 32 points and 19 rebounds while Derrick Williams scored 31 points as Sacramento routed Dallas with their new players on hand to watch.
Watching from a luxury box were Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray, the three players the Kings (6-13) acquired in a trade with the Toronto Raptors on Sunday. The trade was announced officially on Monday.
Guard Monta Ellis scored 21 points to lead the Mavericks (13-9). Forward Dirk Nowitzki added 18 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
