LOS ANGELES -- The Oklahoma City Thunder took the court hours after the death of part-owner Aubrey McClendon and squandered a 22-point lead in a 103-98 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night.
Chris Paul had 21 points and 13 assists for Los Angeles and DeAndre Jordan had 20 points and 18 rebounds. The Clippers ended the game with a stunning 26-5 run after trailing by 16 points with 7:30 left. The Thunder had only one field goal during that stretch, a 17-foot jumper by Durant.
It was the largest comeback win of the season for the Clippers, who reached the 40-win mark for the fifth year in a row and ninth time since the club relocated from San Diego to Los Angeles in 1984.
Kevin Durant scored 30 points and Russell Westbrook had 24 points and 12 assists for Oklahoma City (see full recap).
Spurs win to clinch 19th straight playoff berth
SAN ANTONIO -- Kawhi Leonard scored 27 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 23 as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Detroit Pistons 97-81 on Wednesday night to clinch their 19th straight playoff berth.
San Antonio (51-9) won its 29th straight home game to open the season in its first game following a month-long road trip brought on by the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.
San Antonio joins Golden State as the only teams to clinch spots in the postseason.
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Leonard and Aldridge excelled against a Detroit team thinned by injuries to forwards Anthony Tolliver and Stanley Johnson. Aldridge added 10 rebounds and Leonard had six rebounds and five assists for San Antonio, which has won six straight.
Detroit center Andre Drummond had nine points and 14 rebounds, ending his career-high and the league's season-high of consecutive double-doubles at 13 straight.
Marcus Morris and Tobias Harris had 16 points each for the Pistons (see full recap).
Harden, Rockets rally past Pelicans
HOUSTON -- James Harden had 39 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists to help the Houston Rockets overcome miserable shooting in a 100-95 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night.
The Rockets went 3 of 34 on 3-point attempts and committed 21 turnovers but were able to rally past New Orleans thanks to an off night from Pelicans star Anthony Davis.
With their horrendous shooting performance, Houston became the first team in NBA history to make fewer than four 3s on 30 or more attempts.
But on the 34th attempt, Houston point guard Patrick Beverley delivered the most important shot of the game, a 3-pointer from the corner that gave the Rockets a lead with less than a minute remaining (see full recap).
Thomas leads Celtics to 12th straight home win
BOSTON -- Isaiah Thomas had 30 points to lead the Boston Celtics to their fourth straight win, 116-93 over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.
Avery Bradley added 17 points as the Celtics won their 12th straight at home. The streak ties Boston's longest since it won 13 straight at the Garden during the 2008-09 season.
Six Boston players reached double figures and the Celtics also outscored Portland 60-34 in the paint, while committing just five turnovers.
The Celtics trailed by 12 points in the first quarter, but blew the game open in the third quarter, outscoring the Blazers 30-12.
Damian Lillard led Portland with 20 points. C.J. McCollum added 17 (see full recap).