NBA: The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Miami Heat
Last Updated: 08/12/14 8:31am
The Memphis Grizzlies>/b> used a 17-3 run early in the final quarter to beat Miami Heat 103-87.
The Heat (9-11) got within three points but ran out of gas to lose their fourth straight game, despite a game-high 25 points by Dwayne Wade.
Reserve forward Jon Leuer led Memphis with a season-best 20 points as the Grizzlies (16-4) bounced back from their first home defeat of the season against San Antonio on Friday.
The Boston Celtics almost blew a 25-point second-half lead but held on for their third straight victory against former captain Paul Pierce and his Washington Wizards 101-93.
Guard Avery Bradley nailed a three-pointer from the right corner with 37 seconds left, after Pierce had missed one at the other end, and the Celtics (7-11) survived to halt a four-game winning streak for the Wizards (13-6).
The Atlanta Hawks built a 24-point lead in the third quarter on their way to a 96-84 victory over the injury-depleted Denver Nuggets, who lost their third in a row.
Forward Paul Millsap scored 23 points as the Hawks (13-6) posted their sixth consecutive victory, their longest winning streak in more than two years.
Kevin Durant scored 28 points in his third game back from a broken right foot as the Oklahoma City Thunder's 96-94 win handed the Detroit Pistons their 12th consecutive loss.
The Thunder (7-13) won for the fourth time in five games, while the Pistons moved within one game of their longest losing streak since they dropped 13 in a row during the 2009-10 season.
The Portland Trail Blazers started their five-game road trip with a 103-99 win over the New York Knicks.
Forward LaMarcus Aldridge led Portland (16-4) with 24 points, while Carmelo Anthony scored 20 points for the Knicks (4-18), who lost their eighth in a row.
The forward duo of Chandler Parsons and Dirk Nowitzki combined for 49 points, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 125-102 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
It was the Mavericks' (16-6) fifth win in six games, and they beat the Bucks (11-11) for the second time in five days.
Forward Anthony Davis scored 23 points, and point guard Jrue Holiday added 22 points guiding the New Orleans Pelicans to a 104-87 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Guard Kobe Bryant scored 14 points on 6-of-18 shooting to lead six Lakers in double figures but it did not prevent Los Angeles (5-16) from losing a third game in a row.