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 Bulls 129, Raptors 120
Chicago chased the Toronto Raptors for most of the game before
Chicago put up a franchise-best 49 points in the fourth quarter to
secure a victory.
Led by starting Chicago (18-9) guards Derrick Rose (29 points) and
Jimmy Butler (27 points, 11 rebounds), the Bulls outscored the
Raptors -- the top team in the Eastern Conference -- by 12 in the
final quarter.
Kyle Lowery scored a game-high 34 points, and center Jonas
Valanciunas added 20 points for Toronto (22-7).
- - -
 Hawks 105, Mavericks 102
Atlanta point guard Dennis Schroder scored 22 points to lead a
balanced attack in the Hawks' win over the Dallas Mavericks.
The Hawks (20-7) earned their fourth consecutive win and 13th in the
past 14 games. Atlanta is in second place in the Eastern Conference.
The Mavericks (20-9) lost despite 13 points and 11 assists from
Rajon Rondo who was playing his second game since being acquired in
a trade.
- - -
Spurs 125, Clippers 118
Tony Parker dropped 26 points on the Los Angeles Clippers, leading
the Spurs to a victory that snapped a four-game losing streak.
Parker returned to his spot at point guard, after missing eight of
the last nine games with a strained left hamstring, as San Antonio
(18-11) earned a season-high output in points and assists with 37.
Chris Paul led the Clippers (19-9) with 25 points and nine assists.
- - -
Rockets 110, Trail Blazers 95
James Harden poured in 44 points in a whirling dervish performance
to carry the Houston Rockets to a victory over the Portland Trail
Blazers.
Harden added seven assists and five steals to help the Rockets
(20-7) snap a modest two-game home losing skid. He had 31 points by
the intermission, capping his fabulous first half with a
buzzer-beating driving layup that pushed the Rockets to a 76-56
halftime cushion.
[to top of second column] |
The Trail Blazers (22-7) had their five-game winning streak snapped.
- - -
Hornets, 110, Nuggets 82
Al Jefferson scored 22 points in less than three quarters of action,
and the Charlotte Hornets cruised to their third straight win with a
victory over the Denver Nuggets.
The Hornets (9-19) never trailed, leading by as many as 23 in the
first half and then pushing the lead to as many as 30 in the second.
- - -
Jazz 97, Grizzlies 91
Alec Burks scored 23 points and Gordon Hayward added 21 as the Jazz
wrapped up their six-game pre-Christmas road trip with a win over
the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies (21-7) played without injured starters Tony Allen and
Zach Randolph.
It was the Grizzlies' third game in four days and Memphis' third
consecutive loss -- the franchise's longest losing streak since
December 2013. (Editing by Sudipto Ganguly)
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