Greivis Vasquez (sore right ankle) and Caris LeVert (left foot rehab) wer

MIAMI -- Turns out, DeAndre Jordan does more than catch lobs. Sometimes he grabs offensive rebounds and scores to clinch games for the Los Angeles Clippers.And that was a most fitting ending on Friday night.Blake Griffin scored 20 points, Chris Paul and J.J. Redick each added 17 and the Clippers held on to beat the Miami Heat 102-98 for their fourth consecutive win. Jordan had a putback of a missed free throw by Paul with 7.7 seconds left to seal the win for Los Angeles.Thats what he does, Paul said. Rebound, get buckets, make shots.Jordan had 12 points and 19 rebounds, his big night coming a day after Heat center Hassan Whiteside said Jordan just catches lobs -- a comment he would insist Friday was misconstrued.I just wanted to come out here and get a win, Jordan said.Goran Dragic had 21 points and 11 assists, Justise Winslow scored 15 and Wayne Ellington added 13 points before leaving injured for Miami.Whiteside had 11 points and 17 rebounds, and wasnt on the floor for Jordans final rebound. Miami was going with a small lineup, guessing that Paul wouldnt miss from the line and trying to set up what it figured would be a 3-point shot for a tie.DJ took advantage of the size and then made the shot, which was even better, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said.The Clippers led by 16 in the first half. Miami got within six before Los Angeles went up 16 again in the third quarter -- then had to hang on.We lost this game in the first half, Dragic said.A three-point play by Josh Richardson with 13.2 seconds left got Miami within three, and the Heat forced a turnover on the Clippers ensuing inbounds pass. The Clippers didnt want to give up a 3 and fouled Dragic, who made both to make it 99-98.A terrific second half against a team thats obviously a championship-caliber team, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. But you have to play 48 minutes.TIP-INSClippers: Los Angeles had 60 points in the first half, 42 in the second. ... It was Pauls 800th regular-season game. No one in NBA history had as many points, assists and steals through 800 games, and only John Stockton, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson had more assists at this point in their careers. ... Luc Mbah a Moute (shoulder) missed his second consecutive game.Heat: Tyler Johnson (illness) did not play. ... Ellington left in the third quarter with a right hamstring strain. ... Miami made 10 of its first 17 shots, then four of its next 17. ... Winslow met up with U.S. soccer star Jozy Altidore postgame, chatting and posing for photos.SAGER TRIBUTEThe Heat had a pregame tribute video and moment of silence to honor the life of broadcaster Craig Sager, who died this week after a long fight with leukemia.Rivers was a business partner of Sagers for about nine years in a sports bar called Jocks & Jills.I didnt get any profits -- I think Craig enjoyed himself quite a bit, Rivers said.Spoelstra called Sager a pillar of greatness and character.PIERCE IN MIAMIPaul Pierce didnt get in for the Clippers on Friday, meaning hes probably played for the last time in Miami. He has more regular-season points (1,205) against Miami than anyone in history, and no one has more than his 79 combined regular-season and playoff appearances against the Heat. Pierce has said he will retire after this season.UP NEXTClippers: Visit Washington on Sunday, their last road game against an East team until Jan. 23.Heat: Host Boston on Sunday, the second and final time the Celtics visit this season. Mark Clayton Jersey . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Christian Wilkins Youth Jersey . Most important, perhaps, it went off without a hitch. Organizers poked a little fun at the now-infamous opening ceremony gaffe that saw only four out of five snowflakes open up into rings, leaving the Olympics logo one ring short. http://www.dolphinsrookiestore.com/Dolphins-Dan-Marino-Jersey/ . 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NEW YORK -- The Brooklyn Nets hit nearly all their shots at the start, and Trevor Booker made the stops at the end.Brook Lopez had 34 points and 11 rebounds, Sean Kilpatrick added 24 points, and the Nets beat the Pistons 109-101 on Wednesday night.We made some big plays down the stretch that really sealed the deal, Booker said. It was a tremendous game by everybody. Defensive plays by me, offense by Sean and Brook. It was a great team effort.Brooklyn hit 16 of its 20 shots in the first quarter to take a 38-30 advantage. The Nets had more turnovers (5) than misses. Brooklyns first miss came at the 6:03 mark in the first when Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was off on a 3-pointer. Lopez had 14 in the first quarter and 24 by the end of the first half to lead the Nets as Brooklyn took a 71-55 lead to the locker room.Detroit cut the lead to 11 heading into the fourth quarter and then as close as five with 1:34 remaining.Booker stole a rebound from Aaron Baynes with 1:20 remaining and then blocked a Caldwell-Pope layup on the break with 58 seconds remaining. After Bojan Bogdanovic then hit two free throws and Harris responded with a three with 38 seconds to go, Booker grabbed an offensive rebound with 16 seconds remaining before finding Lopez on the wing. Lopez was fouled and hit two free throws.Those plays are just so huge for us, Lopez said. He always brings that intensity and its definitely contagious. If we can continue to play the way we did tonight as far as energy, effort and plays like that, 50-50 balls, well be alright.Despite the win, it wasnt all good news for Brooklyn. Already think at point guard with Greivis Vasquez out, Jeremy Lin left the game with a strained left hamstring.No update yet, Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. The doctor said hell let me know. Theyre still evaluating, theyll evaluate him again tomorrow when he comes to the facility. We can have more for you then.Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris each scored 23 points, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 15 points and Jon Leuer added 11 for the Pistons.We didnt guard anybody, Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. We came with no energy. We couldnt keep up with their pace. We couldnt guard them on pick and rolll.dddddddddddd Brooklyn played very well, moved the ball, shot the ball very well. They outplayed us for 48 minutes in every aspect of the game. Every game is a new game and we brought nothing to the table defensively tonight and we couldnt guard anybody, so of course its disappointing.TIP-INSPistons: Van Gundy praised the addition of Ish Smith. We wanted a backup point guard who would push the pace a little bit more, really pick up the tempo of the game, which I knew he would do, he said. I had Ish for a short time in Orlando and also knew what kind of person he is and I thought hed be a great team guy for us. ... Reggie Bullock (back spasms) and Reggie Jackson (left knee rehab) were out.Nets: Lopez made multiple 3-pointers in a game for the first time in his career. ... Brooklyns 38-point first quarter was the teams highest scoring quarter of the season. ... Randy Foye (mild strain, right hamstring), Greivis Vasquez (sore right ankle) and Caris LeVert (left foot rehab) were out.VAN GUNDY ON RESTING PLAYERSLook, Im not one to do it, Van Gundy said. Our guys get paid to play 82 games. Everybody thats healthy will play for us every single night, but thats just us. Unfortunately, youve got to be willing to -- as a coach now -- youre going to get criticized for that. If you try to win every game, you get criticized for that now. You dont have a long-term vision and youre short sighted. That all may be true of me, but were going to put our best guys out there every night and try to win. Its been a little surprising to me the guys being rested already. I mean are guys really worn down already? Were four games into the year and guys are resting their players. That part has been surprising to me. I know its a league-wide trend as we get into the season, but I really didnt expect to see it the first week to be quite honest.UP NEXTPistons: Host Denver on Saturday. Detroit heads to Denver as winners of three of its last four games.Nets: Host Charlotte on Friday. Brooklyn looks to get its first winning streak of the season against the Hornets. ' ' '