CP3, Clippers rout Rose-less Chicago
LOS ANGELES—Jared Dudley scored a season-high 21 points, Chris Paul added 16 points and 17 assists, and the Los Angeles Clippers jumped all over the Chicago Bulls in Derrick Rose’s absence for a 121-82 victory Sunday.
J.J. Redick scored 19 points and Blake Griffin had 15 points and 12 rebounds in the Pacific Division-leading Clippers’ seventh win in nine games.
Los Angeles finished strong in a stretch of four games in five days, posting the biggest margin of victory over Chicago in franchise history.
Luol Deng scored 22 points as the Bulls got off to a rough start to their latest stretch without Rose, who tore cartilage in his right knee Friday night in Portland.
The 2011 NBA MVP headed home to Chicago to prepare for surgery on Monday, when Chicago should find out how long he’ll be sidelined.
Kirk Hinrich had nine points and seven assists while starting in place of Rose, who missed last season while recovering from surgery on his left knee.
Pistons 109, Nets 97
NEW YORK—Reserve Rodney Stuckey scored a season27 points and Detroit sent Brooklyn to a fifth straight loss and sole possession of last place in the Atlantic Division.
The Nets, with their enormous payroll and enormous expectations, fell to 3-10, a halfgame behind the New York Knicks, and were hearing boos at Barclays Center in the second half.
Greg Monroe had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons, who bounced back from consecutive losses to Atlanta. Brandon Jennings added 14 points and 10 assists, making all 10 free throws to make up for a 2-for-10 shooting performance.
Joe Johnson made eight 3pointers and scored a seasonhigh 34 points, but the shorthanded Nets couldn’t overcome another cold night from Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, who were a combined 7 for 22.