ATLANTA (AP) – Atlanta stormed back from a 13-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 107-104 last night, racking up their 14th victory in 15 games and moving within half a game of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference lead.
The Hawks also opened a 1-1/2 game lead in the Southeast Division ahead of Washington, which were beaten at home by Central Division leader Chicago.
Portland stretched their lead in the Northwest Division to a yawning 9-1/2 games by beating nearest rival Oklahoma City, while Phoenix recorded their highest score of the season in beating Dallas.
Atlanta’s DeMarre Carroll scored a career-high 25 points while Al Horford contributed 20.
Blake Griffin had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Clippers, who missed a chance to make up ground on Pacific Division leader Golden State.
Rose spurs Chicago
Chicago maintained their 1-1/2 game lead in the Central by winning 99-91 at Washington.
Derrick Rose scored 25 points and Pau Gasol had 18 for the Bulls, who fell behind by a point with 3:44 minutes remaining but reeled off eight straight points – six from Rose – to regain control.
After Washington scored 12 straight – ten by John Wall – to take an 87-86 lead with 3:44 remaining, Chicago steadied and scored eight straight, six by Rose, to lead 94-87 with 1:48 to play.
John Wall led the Wizards with 18 points; ten coming in a run of 12 straight points that had seen the hosts briefly snatch the lead.
It was the first meeting of the teams since Washington eliminated Chicago in the first round of last year’s playoffs.
40 for Lillard and Westbrook
Portland’s Damian Lillard scored 40 points, making a tying three-pointer with three seconds left in regulation, to guide the Trail Blazers to a 115-111 overtime win against Oklahoma City.
Lillard’s 40-point outing was his second in Portland’s last four games. He also had 11 assists.
Russell Westbrook scored a season-high 40 points and added ten rebounds and six assists for Oklahoma City before fouling out with 1:39 left in overtime.
The Thunder, which led by 13 points in the fourth quarter, could not hold on in their third straight game without MVP Kevin Durant, who has a sprained ankle.
Bledsoe’s triple double
Phoenix’s Eric Bledsoe got his second career triple-double to lead the Suns to a 124-115 victory over Dallas. Bledsoe had 16 points and 11 assists, then grabbed his tenth rebound with 31 seconds to play.
Goran Dragic scored 25 for the Suns, coming off a 3-0 trip to the East.
Dirk Nowitzki and Tyson Chandler scored 22 apiece for the Mavericks.
No Kobe, no problem
Los Angeles’ Carlos Boozer scored 18 points in his new role off the bench, helping the Lakers offset the absence of the rested Kobe Bryant and pull off a surprise 115-105 win against league-leading Golden State.
The NBA’s No. 3 career scorer sat out for the first time this season to rest his 36-year-old legs.
Stephen Curry had 22 points and six assists for the Warriors, who lost for only the fourth time in their first 27 games.
Other scores:
Brooklyn nets 102, Denver Nuggets 96
Indiana Pacers 96, New Orleans Pelicans 84
Charlotte Hornets 108, Milwaukee Bucks 101
Cleveland Cavaliers 125, Minnesota Timberwolves 104
Orlando Magic 100, Boston Celtics 95
Philadelphia 76ers 91, Miami Heat 87