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Home , Jodie Meeks

Sports FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2013 King James reigns as Heat enjoy Xmas Warriors overpower Clippers 105-103

LOS ANGELES: Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade scored 23 points each as the Miami Heat beat the 101-95 on Wednesday for their sixth straight win. Bosh also had 11 rebounds in the Heat’s fifth consecutive victo- ry against the Lakers in a Christmas Day game. LeBron James added 19 points and Ray Allen had 12. Miami shot 51 percent (41 for 80) from the field while improving to 7-0 against the Western Conference this season. It was its 19th straight win overall against West oppo- nents. Nick Young scored 20 points for the Lakers, who were tied four times in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles shot 42 percent (33 for 79) in its third straight loss. Kobe Bryant was relegated to the sideline with his fractured left knee, leaving him unable to extend his NBA- record Christmas Day appearances to 16. Jodie Meeks had 17 points for Los Angeles, Xavier Henry added 14, and Pau Gasol had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Jordan Farmar returned from a left hamstring tear after miss- ing 10 games, giving the Lakers a true point guard to run the offense. But he was ineffec- tive, with three points and two assists in 32 minutes.

WARRIORS 105, CLIPPERS 103 The coaches can downplay a rivalry all they want. The signs of dislike and fiery competi- tion are right there on the court, with the players involved. An all-California Christmas nightcap got heated in a hurry. Flailing arms, swinging elbows, even tussling that spilled into the postgame exit with Stephen Jackson mouthing off in the middle of it all. Golden State’s Draymond Green was ejected for a fla- grant 2 foul after the third quarter of the Warriors’ 105-103 win Wednesday night for throwing an elbow on a play that drew a tech- nical on , then Griffin followed him to the locker room with 10:43 remaining when he drew his second technical. The thing is: The Clippers questioned whether Golden State did all it could to ignite Griffin and get him thrown out. If this isn’t a rivalry, it’s darn close. “I still believe this isn’t a rivalry because neither one of us have done LOS ANGELES: Miami Heat center Chris Bosh (top) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Lakers forward Xavier Henry during the second half of anything,” Golden State coach Mark Jackson an NBA game in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Dec 25, 2013. — AP said. “It was two teams playing with an edge competing against each other.” That’s not gled near the tunnel to the Clippers’ locker are playing for something.” Griffin was held shooting. Amare Stoudemire scored a season- quite how Griffin and Clippers coach Doc room and security personnel stepped in - and back by teammates at the end of the third high 22 points, and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 21 Rivers saw it. “If you look at it, I didn’t do any- former Warriors swingman Jackson could be quarter while jawing with Green. Following a for the Knicks, who also were missing point thing and I got thrown out of the game. It all seen screaming in the fray. Whether the review, Griffin received a technical and Green guard Raymond Felton. J.R. Smith scored 20 boils down to they (referees) fell for it,” Griffin Warriors intended to ignite Griffin, Rivers can was ejected for a flagrant foul 2 after throw- points, but shot 8 for 22 and was booed when said. “To me, it’s cowardly basketball. I don’t only guess. “I don’t know if they were but it ing an elbow. “You have some key matchups he left the court for good. know their intentions, but it worked. ... If I sure looked like it. I can’t accuse them of that in the game where guys want to go at each knew the answer I’d probably be in a different but it looked like it. I’m not sure but that’s other,” Green said. “Any time you have that, ROCKETS 111, SPURS 98 position. Tonight I got two technicals for what it looked like,” Rivers said. “It’s whatever you’re going to have a tough, hard-nosed scored 28 points and nothing.” you have to do to win, I guess.” game.” Then, officials went to review once Dwight Howard had 15 points and 20 With Griffin gone, the Clippers missed sev- This one sure was feisty and festive from more to look at a tussle between Griffin and rebounds, leading balanced Houston past San eral key chances in the waning moments. Klay the opening tipoff at sold-out Oracle Arena, Bogut. Griffin left the game while Bogut was Antonio. Each of Houston’s starters scored in Thompson blocked a shot by Chris Paul with 1 where fans wore “Christmas Whiteout” hit with a flagrant 1 and a technical. double figures to help the Rockets improve to second left then contested Jamal Crawford’s snowflake Warriors T-shirts for the holiday 2-0 against the Spurs this season. Chandler 3-pointer that fell short at the final buzzer as occasion. Paul had 26 points and 11 assists as THUNDER 123, KNICKS 94 Parsons and Terrence Jones each scored 21 the Warriors rallied in the second half. Griffin he and Curry put on a late-game show Kevin Durant scored 29 points and Russell points, and had 13 points, eight was ejected for his second technical after scuf- between two of the Western Conference’s top Westbrook had a triple-double by the middle assists and only one turnover. Manu Ginobili fling with Andrew Bogut, following Green to point guards. Griffin added 20 points, 14 of the third quarter as Oklahoma rolled past led San Antonio with 22 points. the showers. Paul’s lay-in with 11.9 seconds rebounds and five assists before his early exit. New York, which played without Carmelo left went around the rim and out, but Andre Bogut added 10 points and 14 rebounds. Both Anthony. The Durant-Anthony showdown BULLS 95, NETS 78 Iguodala missed a pair of free throws with 9.3 Rivers and Jackson said before the game this between the NBA’s top two scorers was can- scored 20 points and Jimmy seconds remaining. That gave the Clippers the can’t truly be a rivalry until both teams are celed because of Anthony’s sprained left Butler added 15 to help Chicago rout ball back with 8.3 seconds to go. Stephen consistent contenders year after year. ankle, so the Thunder had the Christmas spot- Brooklyn. Butler keyed a 21-5 run that gave Curry overcame a slow start to score seven of It’s certainly getting testy enough to be light to themselves while winning for the 10th Chicago control in the third quarter. his 15 points over the final 3:01 to go with 11 close to such status. And they see each other time in 11 games. The 29-point victory was the Returning from a right ankle injury that side- assists as Golden State snapped the Pacific twice more. The Clippers come back Jan 30. largest for a road team on Christmas. lined him a game, Butler started the burst Division-leading Clippers’ season-best five- “We like them. Merry Christmas,” Jackson said Westbrook finished with 14 points, 13 with a 3-pointer and had a three-point play game winning streak. Thompson finished with jokingly. “It’s just physical basketball, so we rebounds and 10 assists in his first triple-dou- that made it 57-52. Deron Williams scored 18 23 points and David Lee had 23 points and 13 don’t get caught up in that. ... It’s good, old- ble of the season and seventh of his career. points for Brooklyn. The Nets have lost four rebounds. When the game ended, players tan- fashioned basketball between two teams that added 24 points on 10-of-14 straight. — Agencies