LOS ANGELES – Eric Gordon scored 30 points, and Blake Griffin had 18 points and 15 rebounds after a foul-plagued start, as the Los Angeles Clippers ended the Los Angeles Lakers’ seven-game winning streak with a 99-92 victory Sunday.
Four players were ejected from this crosstown rivalry game after a scuffle under the basket with 5.7 seconds to play.
After Lamar Odom grabbed Griffin’s jersey while fighting for a rebound, Baron Davis intervened and shoved Odom firmly in the chest, leading to more shoves. Odom, Griffin, Davis and Ron Artest all were ejected after the officials conferenced, a decision that visibly baffled Griffin and Artest.
Kobe Bryant had 27 points and nine rebounds, and Andrew Bynum added 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers.
At San Antonio, Tony Parker scored 30 points for San Antonio, while Carmelo Anthony labored through a rough game as rumors of an imminent trade slightly cooled as the Spurs downed the Denver Nuggets, 110-97.
Anthony, upbeat before the game, scored 12 points on just 5-of-17 shooting amid rumors he will soon be traded to the New Jersey Nets.
Manu Ginobili added 18 points for the NBA-leading Spurs (35-6), who won their sixth straight and reached the season’s midway mark tied for the third-best first half in NBA history.
Gary Neal and George Hill scored 14 apiece, and Tim Duncan had 16 rebounds for the Spurs.
Al Harrington led the Nuggets with 18 points, Nene added 17 and Arron Afflalo 14.