Clippers Extend Winning Run by Beating Pelicans

The Los Angeles Clippers extended their impressive run of form with a 123-110 win at New Orleans on Monday, maintaining a three-game lead atop the NBA Pacific Division, thanks chiefly to Jamal Crawford's 7 3-pointers.

The Clippers retained the three-game buffer ahead of Golden State, which put in a strong second-half defensive performance to win at Detroit, while the day's other key game saw Dallas edge New York when Dirk Nowitzki's buzzer-beater bounced off the rim then fell in.

Los Angeles's Crawford had 24 points and picked up where he left off in Oklahoma City the previous day, when he made five 3-pointers and finished with 36 points in the impressive victory.

Chris Paul had 19 points and 13 assists for the Clippers in his latest return to New Orleans, and all five L.A. starters and two reserves scored in double figures.

Anthony Davis had 26 points and 11 rebounds for New Orleans.

Golden State beat Detroit for the sixth-straight time, winning 104-96.

Stephen Curry had 19 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, while Klay Thompson scored 19 points for the Warriors, who were again without an ill David Lee but welcomed back Andrew Bogut from a shoulder injury.

Greg Monroe had 23 points for the Pistons, who were held to only 33 points in the second half after 63 in the first.

Golden State's reserves outscored Detroit's 42-15.

Dallas took a 110-108 win at New York, as Nowitzki's 19-foot jumper hit the backboard, then the front of the rim, bounced up and then fell in as time expired.

Vince Carter scored 23 points and Monta Ellis had 22 for the Mavericks, who blew an eight-point lead in the final 90 seconds but still escaped with a victory.

Carmelo Anthony had 44 points and nine rebounds for the Knicks, who have lost six of seven and are a season-worst 15 games below .500.

Milwaukee had seven players in double figures — led by O.J. Mayo's seven 3-pointers and 25 points — in beating Philadelphia 130-110 and sending the 76ers to their 11th straight loss.

Utah ended a run of six-successive defeats at the hands of Boston by beating the Celtics 110-98, with Alec Burks scoring 21 points.