NEW YORK — Paul George maintained his fantastic early season form with 27 points, six rebounds and five assists as the Indiana Pacers improved their franchise-best start to 16-1 with a 105-100 win over LA Clippers Sunday. Despite squandering a 14-point lead in the second half, Indiani held on for the win with David West chipping in with 24 points and 12 rebounds. The Clippers (12-6) saw Chris Paul return to action after he missed a game with an injured hamstring, but they ended up losing for only the second time at home this season. Los Angeles was without J.J. Redick, who will miss 6-8 weeks with a hand fracture. Thunder 113, Timberwolves 103: Kevin Durant racked up his fourth career triple-double while leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Durant finished with 32 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds, four steals and four blocks to help the Thunder (12-3) to a sixth straight win. Heat 99, Bobcats 98: Chris Bosh made three consecutive three-pointers in the final two-plus minutes to help the Miami Heat rally from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit and steal a win. Bosh finished with 22 points, LeBron James led the Heat with 26, and Dwyane Wade added 17 as Miami (14-3) extended their winning streak to 10 games. Guard Kemba Walker led Charlotte (8-10) with 27 points. Warriors 115, Kings 113: Stephen Curry broke a tie by sinking two free throws with 8.6 seconds left, and Andrew Bogut blocked a driving layup by Isaiah Thomas just before the final horn as the Golden State Warriors outlasted the Sacramento Kings. Curry finished with 36 points and 10 assists to lead Golden State (10-8). Nuggets 112, Raptors 98: Nate Robinson hit two three-pointers in the final two minutes and scored 23 points coming off the bench as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Toronto Raptors. Kenneth Faried had 12 points and 12 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season for the Nuggets (10-6). Rudy Gay scored 23 points to lead the Raptors (6-10), who lost their third game in a row. Pistons 115, 76ers 100: Second-year center Andre Drummond poured in a career-high 31 points and grabbed 19 rebounds to power the Detroit Pistons past the slumping Philadelphia 76ers. Brandon Jennings had 20 points and 12 assists for Detroit (7-10), while the Sixers (6-12) have lost eight of their last nine and seven straight on the road. Pelicans 103, Knicks 99: The New Orleans Pelicans overcame an injury to their star player, power forward Anthony Davis, to get a gritty win over the New York Knicks. The Pelicans (8-8) played the last three quarters without Davis, who left the game in the first quarter with a non-displaced fracture of his left hand and is out indefinitely. Ryan Anderson came off the Pelicans' bench to score 31 points while Carmelo Anthony's 23 points could not save the Knicks (3-13) from a ninth straight defeat. Blazers 114, Lakers 108: LaMarcus Aldridge scored 27 points as the Portland Trail Blazers came close to squandering a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter before holding off the Los Angeles Lakers. Portland led 94-74 after three quarters but the Lakers made a furious run to pull within 101-100 before Portland scored five straight points. Portland (14-3) has won 12 of their last 13 games. Xavier Henry had 27 off the bench for the Lakers (9-9). — Agencies
