CHRISTIAN Wood scored 19 points, all in the second half, while John Wall produced a triple-double as the Houston Rockets snapped their franchise-record 20-game losing streak with a 117-99 victory over the visiting Toronto Raptors on Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
Wood scored 12 points in the third period, and his floater at the 3:08 mark lifted Houston to an 86-73 lead. However, Toronto closed the third with a 13-2 run that included two Fred VanVleet 3-pointers and a Chris Boucher three-point play. The Raptors pulled within 88-87 on a free throw early in the fourth, but Houston didn’t fold.
Wall finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists while Houston’s Jae’Sean Tate contributed 22 points, six boards and five assists. Sterling Brown added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who were without Victor Oladipo, Kevin Porter Jr., Eric Gordon, and David Nwaba.
VanVleet led the Raptors with 27 points. Pascal Siakam added 21 points and 10 rebounds, Norman Powell scored 19 points and Kyle Lowry 17. Toronto dropped its ninth consecutive game.
In other games, it was the Clippers 119, Hawks 110; Jazz 120, Bulls 95; Grizzlies 132, Celtics 126 (OT); Bucks 140, Pacers 113; Thunder 112, Wolves 103; Hornets 100, Spurs 97; and Kings 119, Cavs 105.
Clippers 119, Hawks 110
Led by its second unit, host Los Angeles battled back from a 22-point deficit in the second half to halt Atlanta’s winning streak at eight games.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue pulled his starters midway through the third quarter, and the reserves cut the Hawks’ lead to eight points at the end of the third quarter with a half-court heave by Luke Kennard. Kennard finished 8 for 8 for the field, totaling 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 18 minutes.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 25 points, and Terance Mann added 21 points and 10 rebounds. Trae Young finished with 28 points and eight assists to lead the Hawks. John Collins had 23 points and seven rebounds, and Clint Capela notched 14 rebounds and 12 points.
