NBA: Miami Heat win on the road as San Antonio Spurs need double overtime to triumph

The Miami Heat managed to get the better of Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers to snap a five-game road losing streak in Wednesday's NBA action.

LeBron James scored 31 points and also had 12 assists and eight rebounds as the Heat triumphed 116-112 at the Staples Center, despite a season-high 43-point haul from Griffin.

The San Antonio Spurs were also made to work hard by the Washington Wizards, eventually winning 125-118 after double overtime.

Tim Duncan had a season-high 31 points and 11 rebounds and guard Patty Mills scored 23 for the Spurs, who had to do without guard Tony Parker for the entire second half due to a back problem.

Suns eclipsed

The Houston Rockets were on target with 11 of their 16 three-point attempts to see off the Phoenix Suns 122-108. Dwight Howard didn't hit any of them, though the centre still managed 34 points.

The Oklahoma City Thunder made the most of the absence of Kevin Love for Minnesota, Kevin Durant posting 26 points, nine boards and seven assists in the 106-97 win over the Timberwolves.

The Portland Trail Blazers had four players in double figures as they defeated the New York Knicks 94-90 while the Dallas Mavericks beat Memphis 110-96, meaning they move two games ahead of the Grizzlies for the last play-off spot in the Western Conference.

Anthony Davis scored 10 of his 26 points in the final four minutes as the New Orleans Pelicans won 105-100 against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Los Angeles Lakers had a career-high 26 points from forward Ryan Kelly in a 119-108 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers that saw them finish with no reserves left on the bench, meaning center Robert Sacre was allowed to play with six fouls.

The Denver Nuggets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 110-100 and Jeff Green's 36 points helped the Boston Celtics defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-108 for their second successive win - having won just two of their previous 18.

The Orlando Magic saw off the Detroit Pistons 112-98 while the Sacramento Kings withstood a last-quarter fightback from the Toronto Raptors to claim a 109-101 success, Rudy Gay scoring 24 points against the team who traded him earlier in the season.