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Giddey helps clip LA's wings as NBA contenders clash

Staff WritersAP
Kawhi Leonard's 20 points wasn't enough for his Clippers, going down 129-107 to Josh Giddey's OKC. (AP PHOTO)
Camera IconKawhi Leonard's 20 points wasn't enough for his Clippers, going down 129-107 to Josh Giddey's OKC. (AP PHOTO) Credit: AP

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points and Australia's Josh Giddey chipped in with 12 as Oklahoma City comfortably beat the Los Angeles Clippers 129-107 in a match-up of NBA Western Conference contenders.

Lu Dort added 19 points, Jalen Williams had 18 and Chet Holmgren 17 for the Thunder on Friday (AEDT).

Giddey had 23 minutes on court, also contributing five rebounds and two assists.

OKC won the season series with the Clippers, improving to 38-17 and within a game of the conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points and Nolan Powell added 19 points for LA as the third-placed Clippers fell to 36-18.

In Dallas, Luka Doncic scored 41 points, Kyrie Irving added 29 and Aussie Josh Green had nine points, two rebounds and five assists as the Mavericks beat Phoenix 123-113 to extended their winning streak to seven games.

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The Mavs pulled even with the Suns in the standings at 33-23 and took the head-to-head tiebreaker with a 2-1 record in a pairing of teams battling for a guaranteed spot in the play-offs.

Doncic added 11 assists and nine rebounds matched against fellow All-Stars Devin Booker, who scored 35 points, and Kevin Durant, who had 23 on an ordinary shooting night for the 14-time All-Star.

In Chicago, Derrick White scored 28 points and Jayson Tatum added 25 as NBA-leading Boston beat the Bulls 129-112 for their season-high seventh straight victory.

White and Tatum each made five of the visitor's 23 three-pointers. Jaylen Brown scored 21 points, and the Celtics (44-12) came away with another convincing victory after pounding Brooklyn by 50 points before the All-Star break.

In Philadelphia, Jalen Brunson had 21 points and 12 assists as New York beat the 76ers 110-96.

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 22 points for the Knicks, Josh Hart had 18 points and 12 rebounds and Precious Achiuwa added 18 points and 11 rebounds.

All-Star Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 35 points.

In Indianapolis, point guard Tyrese Haliburton had 25 points and 13 assists to help the Pacers beat NBA-worst Detroit Pistons 129-115.

Coming off a 32-point night in the All-Star clash, Haliburton had his 15th game of the season with at least 25 points and 10 assists.

In Cleveland, Mortiz Wagner had 22 points and his younger brother Franz added 14 as the Orlando Magic beat the Cavaliers 116-109, just their third loss in 21 games.

In New Orleans, Zion Williamson had 27 points and 10 assists as the Pelicans beat the struggling Houston Rockets 127-105 for their eighth victory in nine.

In a jam-packed day of NBA action, the Raptors crushed the Nets 121-93, the Nuggets beat the Wizards 130-110, the Hornets trumped the Jazz 115-107, the Warriors defeated the Lakers 128-110 and the Kings scored a 127-112 win over the Spurs.

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