NBA on Dec. 20: Heat snap Rockets' 5-game win streak

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Josh Richardson scored 22 points, Tyler Johnson added 19 and the Miami Heat held off the Houston Rockets 101-99 on Thursday night for their first three-game winning streak of the season.

James Harden (R) of the Houston Rockets is defended by Rodney McGruder of the Miami Heat during their NBA game at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, December 20, 2018. /VCG Photo

James Harden scored 35 for the Rockets, whose five-game winning streak was snapped when Eric Gordon's 3-point try at the buzzer hit the rim and bounced away. The worst part of the night for Houston, however, will likely be the loss of point guard Chris Paul in the second quarter to a strained left hamstring.

Chris Paul #3 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket against the Miami Heat during their NBA game at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, December 20, 2018. /VCG Photo

Gordon's 3-pointer with 37 seconds left got Houston within two, and the Rockets got a stop on a long ensuing Heat possession. Dwyane Wade missed, Hassan Whiteside got the offensive rebound and Wade wound up missing again, with the Rockets finally corralling the ball with 3.8 seconds left.

Josh Richardson #0 of the Miami Heat reacts after a three-pointer against the Houston Rockets during their NBA game at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, December 20, 2018. /VCG Photo

The last play went to Gordon, and his 3 – Houston's 54th attempt of the night from beyond the arc – was off, and Miami escaped.

Derrick Jones Jr. scored 15 for Miami, which got 11 from James Johnson and 10 from Wade. Gordon scored 20 for the Rockets, who got 14 from PJ Tucker and 10 from Danuel House Jr.

Clippers snap four-game losing streak by holding off Mavericks

Danilo Gallinari #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers scores on a reverse slam dunk against the Dallas Mavericks during their NBA game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, U.S., December 20, 2018. /VCG Photo

Danilo Gallinari scored 32 points, Lou Williams added 26 and Los Angeles snapped a four-game losing streak with a 125-121 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night.

Rookie Luka Doncic scored a season-high 32 points for the Mavericks and JJ Barea added 19. DeAndre Jordan had 11 points and 22 rebounds in his first game back at Staples Center against his former team.

Luka Doncic (R) of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball against Avery Bradley of the Los Angeles Clippers during their NBA game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, December 20, 2018. /VCG Photo

Dallas trailed 89-82 at the start of the fourth quarter before scoring eight straight points to take the lead, with six coming from Devin Harris. That would be the first of six lead changes and four ties over the final 10 minutes.

Maxi Kieber's jumper put the Mavericks up 109-104 with 5:14 remaining before the Clippers regained control with a 15-2 run. A pair of free throws by Gallinari tied it at 111 and was part of a run of 12 straight points that gave Los Angeles an eight-point lead with 1:02 remaining.

Dallas, which has dropped its last four, made a late run to get within 123-121 but Tobias Harris made a pair of free throws to ice it. Montrezl Harrell scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half.

Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts after scoring and getting fouled by DeAndre Jordan #6 of the Dallas Mavericks during their NBA game at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, December 20, 2018. /VCG Photo

Los Angeles led 32-30 early in the second quarter before scoring seven straight points. The Clippers would lead by as many as 13 late in the quarter before going to halftime up 65-54.

Dallas trailed 69-58 less than three minutes into the third quarter before it started to steadily whittle down the deficit. Doncic scored six points during an 8-1 run that got the Mavericks within four. Devin Harris' layup with 1:14 remaining drew the Mavericks within 85-82 before the Clippers scored the final four points of the quarter.

Source(s): AP