Andrew Bynum scored 19 points to help the Lakers snapped their three-game skid with their first win of the season over their fellow Staples Center tenants. The Clippers beat the Lakers twice in the preseason and again earlier this month, staking an early claim to L.A. superiority with their revamped lineup.
The Lakers aren’t ready to cede the city just yet — and they were willing to fight for it. The clubs combined for six technical fouls, and the Lakers’ Josh McRoberts was ejected.
Blake Griffin had 26 points and nine rebounds, and Caron Butler and Mo Williams added 16 points apiece for the Clippers, who led for nearly every possession of the first 3 1/2 quarters. Chris Paul had four points and 12 assists for the Clippers in his return from a five-game absence because of a strained left hamstring.
In Dallas, Kevin Love had 31 points and 10 rebounds after signing his new contract and Minnesota handed defending NBA champion Dallas another ceremonious loss.
The end of the Mavericks’ seven-game home winning streak, and their franchise-record streak of holding 15 consecutive opponents under 100 points, came after they finally received their championship rings during a pregame ceremony.
That presentation came exactly a month after Dallas raised the championship banner before the season opener. They trailed by 21 points at halftime that day on the way to a 105-94 loss to Miami in an NBA finals rematch.
In Auburn Hills, Michigan, LeBron James scored 32 points, including the game’s last six from the free throw line, to lead Miami past Detroit.
The Heat trailed 98-95 after a 3-pointer by Detroit’s Jonas Jerebko, but James made two free throws to cut the deficit to one with 1:19 left. After Damien Wilkins fumbled the ball out of bounds for the Pistons, James drove straight at Austin Daye, drawing another foul and putting Miami up 99-98.
James made two more free throws with 9.4 seconds remaining after Detroit’s Greg Monroe missed inside.
Chris Bosh hit his first seven shots and finished with 27 points for Miami — which was without Dwyane Wade, who sat out because of a right ankle injury.
In Chicago, Danny Granger scored 22 points Wednesday night and Indiana became the first visiting team to win on Chicago’s home floor this season.
Roy Hibbert added 20 points, including a key dunk after a mad scramble that gave the Pacers a four-point lead with 13 seconds to go. The Pacers, who lost to the Bulls in a heated opening round of the playoffs last spring, trailed by 10 at the half Wednesday night.
The Bulls, missing injured starting forward Luol Deng (torn ligament left wrist), are 16-4 and 8-1 at home. Derrick Rose led Chicago with 24 points but had only two in the final quarter.
In Salt Lake City, Jose Calderon hit a 3-pointer to tie it at the end of regulation and Toronto overcame an 18-point first-quarter deficit to beat Utah.
Andrea Bargnani and reserve Linas Kleiza each scored 25 points for the Raptors, who won in Salt Lake City for the first time since 2004. Kleiza hit four of Toronto’s 10 3-pointers.
The Raptors won 99-96 in Phoenix on Tuesday night to end an eight-game losing streak against Phoenix before halting their 11-game skid against the Jazz.
In Sacramento, California, Danilo Gallinari celebrated a contract extension by scoring 21 of his 23 points in the first half and Denver routed Sacramento for its fifth straight victory and fifth in a row on the road.
Denver led by 23 points at the half and scored the first eight points of the third quarter. They have won five consecutive road wins for the first time since joining the NBA in 1976-77.
The Nuggets, who have the second-best record in the Western Conference at 13-5, signed Gallinari to a four-year, $42 million contract extension earlier in the day.
In Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant scored 25 points to lead Oklahoma City to its 10th win in 11 games.
Durant was 9 of 13 from the field and had a team-high seven rebounds.
The Thunder improved to 15-3, the best record in the Western Conference, despite an off night from guard Russell Westbrook and 21 turnovers. Westbrook was 4 of 14 from the field and had 14 points.
In Cleveland, Anderson Varejao had 16 rebounds, a powerful dunk down the stretch and outhustled New York’s big men to help Cleveland end a four-game losing streak and hand the Knicks their seventh loss in eight games.
Antawn Jamison added 15 points for the Cavs, who won their ninth straight at home over New York. The Knicks haven’t won in Cleveland since 2006.
Amare Stoudemire had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the sloppy Knicks, who had 23 turnovers — six in the fourth quarter.
In San Antonio, Matt Bonner and DeJuan Blair each scored 17 points, and San Antonio handed surging Atlanta its first lopsided loss of the season.
Tiago Splitter added 16 points for the Spurs, who relished a convincing win over the Southeast Division leaders after losing two of their previous three and barely squeaking past woeful New Orleans on Monday night.
Jeff Teague led Atlanta with 22 points. Kirk Hinrich made his season debut, after missing 18 games recovering from shoulder surgery, and scored seven points in 14 minutes.
In Washington, Nick Young scored 20 points, and Andray Blatche had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead Washington past Charlotte in Randy Wittman’s first game as the Wizards’ coach
Wittman took over for the fired Flip Saunders on Tuesday, and guided the team without the benefit of a practice. Saunders’ lead assistant also has coached Minnesota and Cleveland.
In Philadelphia, Deron Williams scored 34 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 26.8 seconds left in overtime, to lift New Jersey past Philadelphia.
Kris Humphries had 13 points and a season-high 19 rebounds, and Anthony Morrow had 16 points to help New Jersey improve to 6-13.
In Oakland, California, Stephen Curry scored a season-high 32 points and added seven assists and six rebounds, and Golden State extended its recent home dominance against Portland.
David Lee had 26 points and five rebounds, and Brandon Rush scored 14 points to help give Golden State its 12th win in the last 13 meetings at home against Portland. The Warriors also snapped a three-game losing streak and beat a Western Conference opponent for the first time this season after an 0-6 start.
In Houston, Stephen Jackson and Brandon Jennings each scored 20 points, Ersan Ilyasova had a career-high 19 rebounds after Andrew Bogut sprained his left ankle, and Milwaukee snapped an 11-game losing streak in Houston.
Bogut left in the first quarter and did not return, but Milwaukee hit a season-high 14 shots from 3-point range to win in Houston for the first time since Nov. 2, 1999, when the Rockets still played in the Compaq Center.
