(The Sports Xchange) – Highlights of Wednesday’s National Basketball Association games.
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Clippers 96, Celtics 88
Former Celtics coach and current Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers earned a win in his emotional return to Boston.
Veteran backup guard Jamal Crawford led the way with 21 points for Los Angeles (15-8), and hit back-to-back 3-pointers, the second with 2:11 left to seal the game.
Rivers, who coached for nine years and won a world championship in Boston, received standing ovations as his team held off the Celtics (10-14) despite 20 points and nine assists from Jordan Crawford.
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Thunder 116, Grizzlies 100
Russell Westbrook had 27 points and nine assists, Kevin Durant added 18 and the Oklahoma City Thunder won for the 12th time in 13 games.
The Thunder (17-4) pushed the lead to 24 points in the third quarter and the Grizzlies did not recover.
Mike Conley led Memphis (10-11) with 20 points and nine assists.
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Spurs 109, Bucks 77
Tim Duncan scored 21 points with 16 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs rolled to a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
San Antonio (16-4) never trailed in the contest and led by as many 38 points. Spurs coach Greg Popovich was even able to give his reserves extended minutes while the starters still racked up some impressive numbers.
Milwaukee (5-17) had won two of its last three.
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Knicks 83, Bulls 78
Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks in scoring for the 21st time in as many games, pouring in 30 points in New York’s win over the Chicago Bulls.
The Knicks (6-15) forward is the only player to lead his team in scoring in every game this season.
Chicago (8-12) received 20 points from forward Mike Dunleavy but lost their third straight and fell for the ninth time in 11 games.
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Timberwolves 106, 76ers 99
Kevin Love (26 points, 15 rebounds) and Nikola Pekovic (20 and 10) produced double-doubles, and the Minnesota Timberwolves overcame a 19-point deficit in the first half to win.
