BondasLiga

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 Kyle Lowry scored 25 points Saturday as he
outplayed All-Star Chris Paul, and the Toronto Raptors pulled away in
the fourth quarter for a 110-98 victory over the Los Angeles
Clippers, who had an eight-game home winning streak snapped.
Lithuania's Jonas Valanciunas had 22 points and 11 rebounds for the
Raptors, who began a six-game road trip with Monday's loss at Chicago
and still have visits to Golden State and Portland on their
itinerary. Toronto improved to 23-7, the best record in the Eastern
Conference, and is 10-4 since losing All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan to
a groin injury.
Lowry got the better of Paul, considered by many as the best point
guard in the NBA. Paul made just 3-of-12 shots and scored 10 points,
matching his season low.
The Clippers (20-11) had not lost at home since Nov. 17 and began a
nine-game homestand - the longest in the NBA in 35 years - with a
Christmas win over league-leading Golden State.
The Raptors pulled away in the fourth quarter without the help of
Lowry. Toronto got a huge boost from reserves Greivis Vasquez of
Venezuela (16 points), Patrick Patterson (10), and Lou Williams (9).
Elsewhere:
Memphis Grizzlies 103, Miami Heat 95: Spanish star Marc Gasol had 22
points and 10 rebounds as the visiting Grizzlies snapped a four-game
slide. Dwyane Wade scored 25 points for the Heat.
Chicago Bulls 107, New Orleans Pelicans 100: Jimmy Butler scored 33
points to power the host Bulls to their sixth straight win. Chicago
native Anthony Davis had 29 points, 11 boards and six blocks for the
Pelicans.
In other games, the host Washington Wizards handled the Boston
Celtics, 101-88; the visiting Orlando Magic got past the Charlotte
Hornets, 102-94; the Indiana Pacers trounced the host Brooklyn Nets,
110-85; the visiting Atlanta Hawks edged the Milwaukee Bucks, 90-85;
the host Utah Jazz routed the Philadelphia 76ers, 88-71; the
Sacramento Kings trimmed the visiting New York Knicks, 135-129, in
overtime; and the host Golden State Warriors defeated the Minnesota
Timberwolves, 110-97.