Ross scores 51 but Clippers beat Raptors 126-118
Los Angeles Clippers’ Jamal Crawford, right, drives past Toronto Raptors’ John Salmons during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014 in Toronto. AP
TORONTO, Canada—Jamal Crawford had a season-high 37 points and 11 assists, and the Los Angeles Clippers overcame Terrence Ross’ 51 points to beat the Toronto Raptors 126-118 in the National Basketball Association on Saturday night.
Ross matched Vince Carter’s franchise record set 14 years ago and nearly doubled his previous career high of 26 points against Portland on Jan. 2, 2013.
The second-year guard connected on 16 of 29 field goal attempts, made 10 of 17 from three-point range and went 9 for 10 at the free throw line. But he missed his final foul shot with four seconds left, failing to top the 51 points Carter scored in a 103-102 win over Phoenix on Feb. 27, 2000.
Ross’ big night wasn’t enough for the Raptors, though.
Blake Griffin scored 30 points and J.J. Redick had 18 as the Clippers won for the 10th time in 13 games and ended a four-game losing streak in Toronto. Los Angeles improved to 8-3 without star guard Chris Paul, sidelined with a separated shoulder.
Darren Collison added 12 points and Matt Barnes 11 for the Clippers.
Jonas Valanciunas had 17 points and 12 rebounds, Kyle Lowry added 11 points and 12 assists, and DeMar DeRozan scored 10 points before leaving with a foot injury as the Raptors lost for the first time in three games.
DeRozan sprained his left foot when he landed awkwardly on Hedo Turkoglu’s leg after attempting a jump shot with 7:53 remaining in the second quarter. DeRozan stayed in the game but was replaced close to the half and headed to the locker room for treatment. He started the third, but left again soon after and didn’t return.
In Denver, Wilson Chandler scored a season-high 25 points and the Denver Nuggets broke a three-game losing streak by beating the Indiana Pacers 109-96.
Nate Robinson and Timofey Mosgov each added 15 as first-year Nuggets coach Brian Shaw won in his first matchup against Indiana since leaving his job as a Pacers assistant for Denver.
J.J. Hickson had 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Lance Stephenson scored 23 for Indiana.
In Philadelphia, Kevin Durant had 32 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists in his return from a shoulder injury to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to their seventh straight win, a 103-91 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Durant and the Thunder let the 12-win Sixers within four points before Durant keyed a 14-5 run to open up a comfortable lead.
Also Saturday, D.J. Augustin scored 15 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter and the Chicago Bulls held off the Charlotte Bobcats 89-87 and Mike Conley scored 17 points and Zach Randolph had 15 points and 17 rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Houston Rockets for the second consecutive night, 99-81.
In other games, the Atlanta Hawks had a 112-87 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, the Utah Jazz edged the Washington Wizards 104-101 and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 115-104.
RELATED STORIES
Durant sits but Thunder still cruise by Celtics
Anthony sets records with 62 points as Knicks roll past Bobcats
