Kyle Lowry scored 21 points as the Toronto Raptors thumped the Los Angeles Clippers 112-94 Sunday to stretch their winning streak to eight games and close in on NBA Eastern Conference leaders Cleveland. The Raptors' latest win, on their home floor in Toronto, was their 29th in 44 games this season, one less than the Cavaliers, who top the East at 30-12. The Raptors have built the second-longest winning streak in club history, behind a nine-game run in 2002. Seven Toronto players scored in double figures, led by Lowry who also handed out six assists. Center Jonas Valanciunas scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds and guard DeMar DeRozan added 18 points — ending his string of three straight games of at least 30. The Raptors' four reserves, Cory Joseph, Terrence Ross, Patrick Patterson and Bismack Biyombo, out-scored the Clippers' bench 51-29 and helped turn the game around after Los Angeles had leapt to an early lead. The Raptors led 62-49 at halftime and were up by 16 early in the third quarter. The Clippers, paced by Chris Paul's 23 points, twice trimmed the deficit to four in the third period, but could get no closer. "(The Clippers) had 34 in the first quarter and I thought it was going to be a long night but the second unit ... came in and changed the game, started getting into bodies, getting into players, being physical and I thought that changed the mentality," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. Rockets 115, Mavericks 104: James Harden and Josh Smith keyed a second-half offensive resurgence and the Houston Rockets rallied from a third-quarter, double-digit deficit to race past the Dallas Mavericks 115-104 at Toyota Center. Harden posted his eighth career triple-double and second this season, finishing with 23 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists. Smith, in his second game with the Rockets (24-22) following his acquisition from the Clippers on Friday, added 16 points off the Houston bench. Celtics 112, 76ers 92: Isaiah Thomas scored 13 of his 20 points in the decisive third quarter as the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 112-92 in a game that was rescheduled from Saturday because of snow. Nets 116, Thunder 106: Brook Lopez totaled a season-high 31 points and 10 rebounds and the Brooklyn Nets never trailed in a 116-106 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder at Barclays Center. Lopez, who was held to eight points in Friday's ugly loss to Utah, reached double figures for the 43rd time in 45 games. He shot 11 of 19 and posted his 18th double-double as the Nets (12-33) snapped a five-game losing streak. — Agencies
