ks before playing Nevada. Of course, Cal Poly, Nevadas season-opening opponent had a whole offseason to get ready for the Wolf Pack. Hawaii has a

LOS ANGELES -- The Clippers needed more offense and Mo Buckets delivered in the clutch.Maurice Speights scored 11 of his season-high 16 points in the fourth quarter, rallying Los Angeles past Chicago 102-95 on Saturday night to snap the Bulls four-game winning streak.You can take losing in this league, but you dont want to lose that way, Chicagos Dwyane Wade said.Even with all the offense, Speights biggest play came on an assist with 49 seconds left . Jamal Crawford missed a 3-pointer and Speights grabbed the offensive rebound. He fed Crawford for a driving reverse layup that restored the Clippers lead to five points.I was in position to get it and he didnt expect it so I surprised him, said Speights, who was yanked after going scoreless during a brief stint in the first half.Clippers coach Doc Rivers said, It was a great example where you just got to figure it out.Blake Griffin had 26 points and 13 rebounds and Chris Paul added 19 points for the Clippers, whose only two losses have come at home to Oklahoma City and Memphis. Rallying from a 19-point deficit for the victory moved them to an NBA-best 12-2.Wade led Chicago with 28 points, hitting five 3-pointers. Jimmy Butler added 22 points, making 11 of 12 free throws.They had to dig deep into their bag to pull this one out at home, Wade said. Thats what we want to do, make teams walk away scarred up. Feeling like that got away with one, and thats what they should be feeling.The Bulls made just one field goal over the final 6:30, keeping it close on seven consecutive free throws, including five by Butler. Isaiah Canaan hit a 3-pointer to draw them to 97-95 with 44 seconds left.Butler fouled Griffin with 20 seconds to go and he made both for a 99-95 lead. Wade missed a pullup jumper before Taj Gibson and coach Fred Hoiberg were hit with technical fouls in the closing seconds. Hoiberg was ejected.Thats a great team, playing the best basketball in the league, Hoiberg said. We fought them and we gave ourselves a chance.Wade scored 10 of the Bulls first 12 points to start the second quarter, pushing their lead to 19 points before the Clippers suddenly awakened.They outscored Chicago 21-7 to head into halftime trailing 52-47.Griffin scored eight points, highlighted by his dunk over Robin Lopez off a bounce pass in the lane from Paul. Griffin elevated, with his left hand on Lopezs shoulder, and slammed the ball down, drawing a foul. Wades wife, Gabrielle Union, grimaced from her fourth-row seat while the crowd roared.TIP-INSBulls: They shot 68 percent in the first quarter, their best in a quarter this season. ... They are 0-3 in the first game of a back-to-back and 1-1 in the second game.Clippers: Griffin has scored 20-plus points in seven straight games. ... Since their home opener on Oct. 30, they have played 12 games in 20 days, most in the league in that span. They dont have two days off in between games until Dec. 5-6. ... C Diamond Stone was assigned to the Santa Cruz Warriors of the D-League after appearing in three games for the Clippers. Stone was the 40th overall pick in the June draft after playing one season at Maryland. ... F Wesley Johnson missed his fifth straight game with a left heel contusion.HE SAID ITHe proves you can be a gentleman and a killer at the same time. -- Rivers on Butler.RONDO RETURNSRajon Rondo returned to Chicagos starting lineup after missing two games because of a sprained left ankle and bronchitis. He just missed a triple-double, finishing with nine points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.Hoiberg said the team missed Rondos energy.Hes done a nice job of throwing the ball ahead, getting the ball to our wings where we can attack or getting the ball to the post, Hoiberg said.UP NEXTBulls: They stay in LA to play the Lakers on Sunday in the second game of a back-to-back, their third of the season. They swept the Lakers last season for the second time in three years.Clippers: Host Toronto on Monday before departing on a six-game trip, their longest of the season. John Wensink Avalanche Jersey . -- Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be out at least six weeks with a torn tendon in his right hand. Matt Calvert Avalanche Jersey . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. http://www.hockeyavalanche.com/authentic-matt-calvert-avalanche-jersey/ . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. John Wensink Avalanche Jersey . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. Paul Kariya Jersey . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Purdue coach Darrell Hazell knows his team must find solutions.The Boilermakers defense cant continue struggling to get off the field on third down. It cant continue to let opponents run for 4.7 yards per carry, and Purdue certainly cant afford to have David Blough throw five interceptions.So after spending the bye week seeking answers, Hazell expects to see some changes Saturday against Nevada.You cant let one game turn into two games of doing those things, Hazell said.Blough threw five interceptions two weeks ago in a 38-20 loss to Cincinnati and now faces a Wolf Pack defense ranked No. 8 in the nation. And turnovers are only one issue for the Boilermakers.Hazell went into the bye week contemplating possible defensive changes. He decided against making any moves even though Purdue (1-1) has allowed a Big Ten-worst 31.0 points per game and allowed opponents to convert a league-worst 56.1 percent of third-down attempts.And Nevada (2-1) can run the ball.Junior James Butler already has two 100-yard games this season and freshman Jaxson Kincaide came up one yard short of cracking the 100-yard mark in last weeks win over Buffalo.Theyre committed to running the football. They got a really good back (Butler). Hes quick, hes got really good vision, he makes a lot of people miss in the backfield, Hazell said. Thats probably what our No. 1 goal is, to stop him.Here are some other things to watch Saturday:POLIANS BACK: Nevada coach Brian Polian is making his second trip to the Hoosier State this month. Two weeks ago, his team lost at Notre Dame. This week, the son of the former Indianapolis Colts president and general manager Bill Polian hopes to leaad the Wolf Pack to their second win in six tries against a Big Ten foe.dddddddddddd Nevadas first win came 10 years ago at Northwestern.GETTING HEALTHY: The best news for Purdue may be that a week off gave some key players a chance to heal. Hazell expects running back Markell Jones back after he injured his shoulder two weeks ago. He also listed starting cornerback DaWan Hunte and starting defensive end Austin Larkin as probable.THREE FOR THE SHOW: As if Nevadas opening stretch hasnt been tough enough -- traveling to Indiana twice in four weeks and Hawaii next week -- there is this: Purdue will be the second straight opponent and third this season that has had more than a week to prepare for the game. Buffalo and Purdue both had bye weeks before playing Nevada. Of course, Cal Poly, Nevadas season-opening opponent had a whole offseason to get ready for the Wolf Pack. Hawaii has a bye this week.HOLDING ON: So far, the Boilermakers offensive line has stood up to the challenge, allowing no sacks through the first two games. The last time that happened came in 2004 against Ball State and Syracuse. But going sack-free again could be imminently more difficult Saturday. Right tackle Matt McCann injured an ankle at practice Tuesday and is unlikely to play, and left tackle Martesse Patterson is dealing with personal issues and may not play either.RED FLAG: One advantage for Purdue could be red-zone success. Nevadas first three opponents have moved inside the 20-yard line 11 times -- and have scored on all 11 possessions. ' ' '