Monta Ellis' 30 help Mavericks put Raptors in check

Monta Ellis scored 15 of his 30 points in the fourth and the Mavericks won for the eighth time in 10 games, beating Toronto 106-102 on Friday night.

Ellis accounted for 15 of Dallas' final 19 points, including 10 straight at one stretch, as the Mavericks opened a four-game road trip on a winning note.

Kyle Lowry scored 25 points, Amir Johnson had 20 and Lou Williams 16 for the Raptors, who saw All-Star DeMar DeRozan leave in the third with a strained left groin.

Mavericks at Raptors box score

Clippers 102 Rockets 85

Blake Griffin had 30 points and 10 rebounds and Jamal Crawford added 21 points to help the Clippers coast to a 102-85 win over the injury-depleted Houston Rockets.

The Rockets were playing their fifth straight game without Dwight Howard (knee strain) and were also missing two other starters.

In the sixth game of a seven-game trip, the Clippers took the lead at the end of the first quarter and didn't trail again.

James Harden had 16 points to lead Houston.

Clippers at Rockets box score

Bucks 104 Pistons 88

The Bucks, playing without John Henson and Zaza Pachulia, didn't have a single starter in double figures scoring, but still managed to beat the hapless Pistons 104-88.

Milwaukee had a 69-13 edge in bench scoring, including 13 of 22 3-point shooting while Detroit's reserves went 1 for 10.

Jared Dudley scored 16 points, while former Piston Khris Middleton added 12 points for Milwaukee, which got four reserves into double figures. Andre Drummond led Detroit with 26 points and 20 rebounds, but Greg Monroe only had five points on three shots.

Bucks at Pistons box score