Clippers 92, Magic 80
The Los Angeles Clippers refused to get caught up in the hoopla surrounding the return of Grant Hill.
The Clippers spoiled Hill's comeback, relying on stifling defense and rallying from an early 10-point deficit to beat Orlando 92-80 Monday night.
Hill, a five-time All-Star who signed a seven-year, $92.8 million contract with the Detroit Pistons before he was traded to Orlando on Aug. 3, missed 17 games and was sidelined since Nov. 3 because of an injured ankle.
Los Angeles, which got 17 points, seven rebounds and eight assists from Lamar Odom and 15 points from Eric Piatkowski, shut down Hill and high-scoring teammate Tracy McGrady en route to just its third victory in 13 games.
"Even though Grant Hill is one of the best players in the league and a player that I look up to, you have to approach him like any individual," Odom said. "With him missing so many games, McGrady was the man we really wanted to focus on. With Grant, we were willing to take the risk of his going off."
Hill failed to go off, and McGrady failed to sustain his torrid scoring pace.
McGrady, who entered the game as the league's seventh-leading scorer with a 25.7 average, had 14 points and eight rebounds after averaging 33 points in his previous five games.
After playing in two of Orlando's first three games, Hill was placed on the injured list to continue rehabilitation of his left ankle, which was operated on in April. The Magic were 8-9 in Hill's absence.
Hill played the first seven minutes, blocking a shot by Odom and then hitting his first two shots and finished with 19 points in 25 minutes.
ROCKETS 82, GRIZZLIES 75: Cuttino Mobley scored 16 points in Houston's victory at Vancouver.
Steve Francis added 15 points and Kenny Thomas grabbed 12 rebounds for the Rockets, who won despite shooting 41 percent.
TIMBERWOLVES 96, 76ERS 91:Kevin Garnett had 23 points and 12 rebounds and Terrell Brandon added 16 points as Minnesota held host Philadelphia to one field goal in overtime and handed the 76ers their first loss in eight games at home this season.
SUNS 86, BULLS 80: Cliff Robinson scored 24 points and Jason Kidd had 12 points and 13 assists as Phoenix withstood a fourth-quarter rally by Chicago and won consecutive road games for the first time this season.