Grizzlies down Thunder for sixth straight victory
Oklahoma City — Rudy Gay scored a season-high 28 points and Zach Randolph added 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies extended their best start in team history by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 107-97 on Wednesday.
Marc Gasol chipped in 14 points as the Grizzlies won their sixth straight game.
The Grizzlies outscored Oklahoma City by 21 in the second quarter to take control of a contentious game, which ended with Randolph and the Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins being ejected following an altercation.
Kevin Durant scored a season-high 34 points and Russell Westbrook had 17 points and 13 assists as both Oklahoma City All-Stars logged more than 42 minutes for the second straight game while trying to lead a fourth-quarter comeback.
This time it fell short as the Thunder had their five-game winning streak broken.
In Los Angeles, the Clippers won their fourth straight game, beating the defending NBA champions, the Miami Heat, 107-100.
Blake Griffin had 20 points and 14 rebounds and Chris Paul had 16 points and 10 assists to lead five Clippers players in double figures. Jamal Crawford added 22 points off the bench.
LeBron James scored 30 points for the Heat, who lost their fifth in a row against the Clippers in Los Angeles and dropped to 2-2 on their current six-game road trip. Dwyane Wade was held to six points — well below his 18.4 average — playing with a sprained left foot that kept him out of the morning shootaround.
Carlos Boozer had 28 points and 14 rebounds as the Chicago Bulls dominated the Phoenix Suns in the paint and won in overtime, 112-106. /ap
