Bulls hold off Celtics; Clippers trip Blazers

Chicago— Chicago’s Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng each scored 23 points as the Bulls escaped with an 89-80 victory over the Boston Celtics in the NBA on Thursday after blowing a 16-point lead.

It was hardly an easy night for the Bulls, but they continued to pile up the wins even though reigning MVP Derrick Rose missed his fourth straight game because of lower back pain.

They struggled early before going on a big run that gave them a 16-point lead early in the third quarter. Boston came roaring back and was up 61-60 early in the fourth, but a 12-point run broke a 69-69 tie and sent Chicago to its seventh win in eight games.

Kevin Garnett scored 18 points to lead the Celtics.

Clippers 74,

Blazers 71

In Portland, Oregon, Blake Griffin had 21 points and 14 rebounds to help Los Angeles rally from an 18-point second-half deficit and beat Portland.

Chris Paul, scoreless through three quarters, finished with 13 points as the Clippers outscored the Trail Blazers 22-11 during the fourth quarter. The win was Los Angeles’ first in Portland for three seasons.

Both teams were held to season lows for points.

Nicolas Batum and Jamal Crawford each scored 19 points for Portland, which was playing its second straight game without All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who sprained an ankle Tuesday.

Pacers 93, Nets 88

In Indianapolis, Danny Granger played through a sprained left ankle to score 32 points and help struggling Indiana snap a season-worst five-game losing skid by beating struggling New Jersey.

Granger had missed the Pacers previous seven quarters and the team sorely missed his presence.

He made 10 of 20 shots, 8 of 9 from the free-throw line and grabbed five rebounds in a game the Pacers desperately needed to win.

Deron Williams scored 29 points to lead New Jersey, not quite enough to snap a skid that hit eight straight. /ap