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SPORTS Saturday 17 March 2018

Rockets beat Clippers, clinch

Southwest Division title

By The Associated Press reel dunk in the first quarter 76ERS 118, KNICKS 110
HOUSTON (AP) — James that had the fans at the NEW YORK (AP) — Joel Em-
Harden scored 24 points, Moda Center momentarily biid had 29 points and 10
Eric Gordon added 23 and stunned. He also had 14 re- rebounds, Ben Simmons fin-
the Houston Rockets out- bounds for his sixth straight ished with a triple-double,
lasted the Los Angeles Clip- double-double. Kyle Korver and Philadelphia used a
pers for a 101-96 victory on added 19 points. big final period to rally past
Thursday night. RAPTORS 106, PACERS 99 New York.
The Clippers scored six INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — De- The Sixers, who hold the
straight points, with four Mar DeRozan scored 24 sixth spot in the Eastern
from Austin Rivers, to cut points, Jonas Valanciunas Conference playoff race,
the lead to a basket with added 16 points and 17 re- trailed by as many as 13
less than a minute left. But bounds, and Toronto rallied points in the third quarter
on the next possession, late to get past Indiana for before storming back in
Harden stepped back its 10th straight victory. the final period, going on a
and knocked down a long The Raptors need one more 20-6 run during the last five
2-pointer with Rivers in his win to tie the franchise's minutes of regulation.
face to make it 100-96. longest winning streak. Simmons finished with 13
Rivers missed a 3-pointer They haven't lost since Feb. points, 12 assists and 10 re-
after that before Harden 23 and broke a tie with the bounds.
made one of two free 2016-17 squad for longest Michael Beasley had 24
throws with 6.2 seconds left road winning streak, which points and 13 rebounds,
to secure the victory. is now at eight. and Courtney Lee and Trey
It's Houston's third straight But it sure wasn't easy on Burke each contributed 16
win and snaps a three- a night Darren Collison points for the Knicks, who
game winning streak for scored 22 points and Al Jef- have lost a season-high
the Clippers. The victory, ferson had a season-high nine straight games and
coupled with a loss by 20 for Indiana. 17 of 18. The Knicks' last win Houston Rockets' Eric Gordon (10) shoots against the Los Ange-
the Pelicans to the Spurs, SPURS 98, PELICANS 93 came on Feb. 22 at Orlan- les Clippers during the second half of an NBA basketball game
wrapped up the Southwest SAN ANTONIO (AP) — La- do. Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Houston. The Rockets won 101-96.
Division title for the Rockets. Marcus Aldridge scored NUGGETS 120, PISTONS 113 Associated Press
Tobias Harris led the Clip- 25 points, Dejounte Murray DENVER (AP) — Nikola
pers with 29 points and Riv- had 18 points and 12 re- Jokic had 23 points, 12 re- The fading Pistons dropped utive victory.
ers had 20. bounds, and San Antonio bounds and 10 assists for his their 11th straight road Joe Ingles scored 17 points,
TRAIL BLAZERS 113, CAVA- overcame another late eighth triple-double of the game despite Andre Drum- including four 3-pointers,
LIERS 105 rally to beat New Orleans. season, Jamal Murray add- mond scoring 21 points and Jae Crowder added
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — CJ New Orleans was playing ed 26 points and Denver's and grabbing 17 rebounds. 12 for the Jazz, who have
McCollum scored 29 points hours after learning Peli- playoff hopes received a Blake Griffin added 26 won 20 of their last 22
and Portland won its NBA- cans owner Tom Benson much-needed boost with a points and nine assists. games.
best 11th straight game had died. Benson was hos- victory over Detroit. Jokic's eight triple-doubles T.J. Warren paced Phoenix
with a victory over Cleve- pitalized with the flu on Feb. Will Barton hit a big basket are the most by a Nuggets with 19 points while Josh
land. 16 and never recovered. down the stretch and later player in a season since Fat Jackson had 17 and Devin
Damian Lillard added 24 The 90-year-old native of knocked down two free Lever had nine in 1988-89. Booker had 12. The Suns
points for the Blazers, on San Antonio owned both throws to help the Nuggets JAZZ 116, SUNS 88 have lost seven in a row.
their longest run since also the Pelicans and the Saints. hold off a Pistons team that SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Ricky Rubio had 12 points
winning 11 in a row in 2013. Anthony Davis finished with trailed by as many as 26 Donovan Mitchell scored and 11 assists, and Dante
It was the Blazers' eighth 21 points and 14 rebounds, points in the third quarter. 23 points and Rudy Gobert Exum made his first appear-
straight win at home. but fouled out after playing The Nuggets now hit the had 21 points and 13 re- ance of the season for the
LeBron James had 35 36 minutes. New Orleans road for a pivotal seven- bounds to lead Utah over Jazz and finished with 10
points, including a highlight- fell to sixth in the West. game trip. Phoenix, its eighth consec- points.q