Clippers stretch win streak to 13

PHOENIX, Arizona - Agence France-Presse

Guard Jamal Crawford (L) scored 22 points as the Los Angeles Clippers crushed the Phoenix Suns 103-77.AP photo

Blake Griffin scored 23 points and Jamal Crawford added 22 as the Los Angeles Clippers stretched their team-record NBA win streak to 13 games by routing the Phoenix Suns 103-77 on Dec. 23.

The Clippers, a laughingstock of the league for years, have not lost since November 26, shattering the old club mark of 11 consecutive triumphs established in the 1974-75 season when the team was based in Buffalo.

The Clippers had lost in their 10 prior trips to Phoenix but laid that futility span to rest by taking their sixth triumph on the road during the current win streak.

At 21-6, the Clippers top the Pacific Division and trail only the Oklahoma City Thunder (21-5) for the NBA’s best record. The Suns fell to 11-17.

Chris Paul added 17 points and a game-high 13 assists for the Clippers, who also got 11 rebounds from Griffin.

Jared Dudley led Phoenix with 19 points while Argentina’s Luis Scola added 11 for the Suns.

Meanwhile, Danny Green scored a career-high 25 points and sparked a San Antonio three-point barrage to lead the Spurs over Dallas 129-91, spoiling the NBA return of German star Dirk Nowitzki.

Frenchman Tony Parker added 18 points and Tim Duncan contributed 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and two blocks for the Spurs, who hit 20-of-30 3-point attempts, powered by Green’s 7-of-8 showing from beyond the arc.

Nowitzki missed the first 27 games of the season for the Mavericks because of a knee injury but came off the bench on Sunday to contribute eight points and six rebounds in just over 20 minutes on the court.

Darren Collison had 15 points and Vince Carter 13 to lead the Mavericks, who lost their third game in a row, sliding to 12-16. San Antonio improved to 21-8, one game ahead of Memphis atop the Southwest division.

Kawhi Leonard added 17 points and five steals for the Spurs, who hit 7-of-9 3-pointers in the third period, outscoring Dallas 36-14 in the period, and stretched their lead as large as 46 points in the final minutes.