Pacers Suffer First Losing Streak Of Season – NBA Roundup For Dec. 19th

UNDATED (AP) — It was a tough night for the NBA's two conference leaders.

The Indiana Pacers have their first losing streak of the season after blowing a 15-point lead in the second half of a 97-94 loss at Miami. Ray Allen hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with just under a minute left to cap a 10-0 spurt that lifted the Heat. Dwyane (dwayn) Wade poured in 32 points and Chris Bosh added 15, including a game-tying 3 late in the final period.

LeBron James had 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists after his playing status was questionable in the afternoon because of a twisted ankle.

Paul George scored 25 points for the Pacers but missed a 3-pointer that would have tied it with 4 seconds left. David West added 23 points for the Pacers, whose lead in the NBA's Eastern Conference is down to one game over Miami.

Portland is a half-game ahead of Oklahoma City and San Antonio in the West, but the Thunder are percentage points in front of the Trail Blazers.

Kevin Love had 29 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists in Minnesota's 120-109 victory over the Blazers. Nikola Pekovic had 30 points and nine rebounds for the Timberwolves, who led by 32 in the second quarter and held off a late charge by Portland.

Damian Lillard had 36 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added just 15 as the Blazers fell to 22-5.

The Spurs picked up a game on Portland by downing Phoenix 108-101. Manu Ginobili (MAN'-oo jih-NOH'-blee) scored 11 of his 24 points in the final four-plus minutes to help the Spurs pull within a half-game of the NBA's Western Conference lead. Tim Duncan added 17 points and 13 rebounds, while Kawhi (kah-WY') Leonard scored 14 as the Spurs ended the Suns' five-game winning streak.

In other NBA finals:

— DeAndre Jordan grabbed 20 rebounds while scoring 14 points in the Los Angeles Clippers' 108-95 win over New Orleans. Blake Griffin finished with 21 points and 10 boards, Jared Dudley had 20 points and Chris Paul delivered 12 points and 11 assists in the Clippers' third straight win.

— Kyle Korver made seven consecutive 3-point attempts on his way to a season-high 28 points in Atlanta's 124-107 win against Sacramento. Al Horford added 25 points and 10 rebounds to the Hawks' fifth victory in seven games.

— Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points in the Mavericks' 105-88 win against Memphis at Dallas. The Grizzlies cut a 16-point deficit to four in the third quarter before Nowitzki scored four points during a 10-2 spurt.

— Dwight Howard shot 11-for-14 from the field and finished with 23 points and nine rebounds in Houston's 109-94 rout of Chicago. James Harden and Chandler Parsons each chipped in 19 points as the Rockets improved to 11-3 at home.

— Brandon Jennings scored 28 points and matched his season high with 14 assists as Detroit won for the seventh time in 11 games, beating the Celtics 107-106 in Boston. Andre Drummond scored 14 points with 16 rebounds, while Josh Smith added 20 points for the Pistons.

— John Wall scored 21 points and Nene added 17 in Washington's 113-107 triumph at Brooklyn.

— Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points and Beno Udrih (BAY'-noh OO'-drihk) added a season-high 21 as New York beat Milwaukee 107-101 in double-overtime.

— Kemba Walker capped his 29-point night by hitting a buzzer-beating jumper in overtime to give Charlotte a 104-102 win at Toronto.

— Trey Burke had a career-high 30 points and eight assists in Utah's 86-82 victory at Orlando.