CHICAGO: Chicago shook off its poor recent form with an authoritative 104-81 win against NBA champion San Antonio on Thursday, building their lead in the NBA Central Division while handing the Spurs their heaviest loss of the season.

As convincing as the Bulls’ victory was, it was put in the shade by the Los Angeles Clippers 39-point win over a disappointing Brooklyn, while the day’s other games saw Boston and Utah record narrow victories over Portland and Milwaukee respectively.

Chicago built its Central lead out to 4-1/2 games by cruising past the Spurs.

Derrick Rose scored 22 points, hitting 9 of 16 shots, to lead six Chicago players in double figures including Pau Gasol who had 12 points and 17 rebounds.

The Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard scored all of his team-leading 16 points in the first half, but as he fell away, so did his team as Chicago outscored its opponent 31-20 in the third quarter.

Jazz 101, Bucks 99: In Milwaukee, Gordon Hayward scored 13 of his game-high 24 points in the fourth quarter and the Utah Jazz held on for the win as the Bucks missed their last five shots in the closing minute.

The Jazz appeared to be in control after a 15-3 run, taking a 101-92 lead on two free throws by Hayward with 2:35 remaining. But the Bucks pulled within the final score on Jared Dudley’s 3-pointer from the top right with 1:29 left.

The Bucks had a final opportunity when an officials review awarded them the ball out of bounds under the basket with 7.1 seconds left. Brandon Knight missed a jumper with two seconds left and Zaza Pachulia missed the tip-in at the buzzer.

Celtics 90, Trail Blazers 89: In Portland, Evan Turner hit a 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds left and the Boston Celtics overcame the shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers.

Avery Bradley had 18 points to lead the Celtics, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Jared Sullinger added 17 points and nine rebounds.

Damian Lillard had 21 points and seven assists to lead the Blazers, who have lost five of their last six as they struggle with injuries to their front line.

The Blazers were hit before the game with the news that three-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge had torn a ligament in his left thumb and would need surgery. The 6-foot-11 power forward is expected to miss from six to eight weeks.

Clippers 123, Nets 84: In Los Angeles, Blake Griffin scored 22 of his 24 points in the first half, when the Clippers led by 33 points, and Los Angeles went on to its largest victory ever over the Brooklyn Nets.

J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford added 17 points each, DeAndre Jordan had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Chris Paul had a season-high 17 assists for the Clippers, who have won nine of their last 12 and three in a row.

With Kevin Garnett resting, the Nets were led by Mason Plumlee with 16 points. Darius Morris and Jerome Jordan had 11 points each, and Jordan had 11 rebounds. They have lost nine of 11.

The Clippers put the game away in the first half, when they shot 66 percent and Jordan had already secured his double-double.