New York, Oct. 21 (BUS): Julius Randle scored 35 points, and Evan Fournier made the green light 3 points in the second overtime and added 32 points against his former team, and the New York Knicks beat Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics. 138-134 on Wednesday night.
Brown scored a career high of 46 points after beating a bout of COVID-19, and Jason Tatum captured the biggest basket in his horrific opener with a three-point play that gave Boston a 134-133 lead with 1:05 remaining.
Fournier then scored his fourth 3-pointer from overtime with 56 seconds left, and Derek Rose finished it off with a basket with 22 seconds to play, as the Knicks finally put together a game they seemed to have won much earlier, The Associated Press reports
The Celtics put in a late boost in organizing their first game under coach Aim Odoka and Marcus Smart tied with a 3-pointer at the bell.
RJ Barrett scored all 19 of his points after the first half and Obi Tobin added 14 in his career best for the Knicks. Kemba Walker scored 10 points and eight assists against his former team.
Tatum had 20 points and 11 rebounds, but was 7 for 30 from the field, including a 2 for 15 from a 3-point range. The US Olympic gold medalist erred so badly on the jump that she could have won in the first overtime break.
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Charlotte, North Carolina: Lamelo Ball scored 31 points, scored seven three-pointers, and used Charlotte 24-0 in the third inning to strike back and defeat Indiana.
Indiana led by 122-121 on Tori Craig’s foul shots with 12.7 left. PJ Washington made two free throws with 4.6 seconds left before Domantas Sabonis fouled from 11 feet to seal the Hornets victory.
He scored 12 points in the third round and finished with nine rebounds and seven assists. Gordon Hayward scored 27 points for Charlotte, each with 14 points from newcomers Kelly Uber Jr. and Ash Smith.
Sabonis scored 33 points, Malcolm Brogdon 28 and Chris Duarte 27 for Indiana. The Pacers had a 21-point lead at the start of the second half.
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New Orleans: Joel Embiid scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Furkan Korkmaz scored four three-pointers in the fourth quarter to also score 22 points, and Philadelphia withdrew on New Orleans.
A subplot of the inaugural season for both teams involved who did not play. New Orleans was without superstar strength star Zion Williamson, who is recovering from surgery to repair his broken foot. The Sixers lost disgruntled striker Ben Simmons, who was suspended in one game for detrimental behavior to the team.
Brandon Ingram scored 25 points for New Orleans, and Nickel Alexander Walker, the season opener in his third season, scored 23 points.
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Detroit: Zach Lavigne scored 15 of his 34 points in the third quarter, to lead Chicago past Detroit.
Detroit’s Jeramy Grant was far from a basic 11-foot jump with 50 seconds left, and missed an opportunity to tie it. Bulls seal victory by free throws.
The Pistons were without rookie guard Kid Cunningham, the No. 1 overall, whose NBA debut was delayed by a right ankle sprain.
DeMar DeRozan had 17 points, and Lonzo Paul 12 on his Bulls debut. Nikola Vucevic scored 10 points and 11 rebounds in the first half and finished the game with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Grant led the Pistons with 24 points.
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Memphis, Tenn: Ja Morant scored 37 points and made six assists, Diantoni Melton added 20 points and Memphis fell in the fourth quarter to defeat Cleveland.
Morant and Milton combined for 14 points down the extension as the Cavaliers got past one on several occasions but never got past Memphis. Desmond added between 22 points for Memphis.
Garrett Allen led the Cavaliers with 25 points, taking 11 of his shots from the field. Colin Sexton and rookie Evan Mobley added 17 points each. Sidi Othman, exploded in the first half and finished with 15.
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Toronto: Bradley Beal scored 23 points, Montrezel Harrell scored 22 on his Wizards debut, and Washington spoiled Toronto’s homecoming.
Kyle Kuzma—earned with Harrell in the deal that sent Russell Westbrook to the Lakers—has 11 points and 15 rebounds for Washington. Spencer Dinwiddie, acquired from the Nets in the same four-team deal, scored 13 points for the Wizards, who advanced by 29 points to give new coach Wes Unseld Jr a victory in his first game.
Fred Van Vliet scored 12 points and rookie Scotty Barnes scored 12 points on his debut, but it was a disappointing performance for the Raptors, who played in Toronto for the first time since their February 28, 2020 loss to Charlotte. Toronto moved to Tampa last season due to border restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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MINNEAPOLIS: Anthony Edwards energized the first large crowd of his nascent career with 29 points in 31 minutes in Minnesota’s win over Houston.
Karl-Anthony Towns advanced over Minnesota with 30 points and 10 rebounds, and D’Angelo Russell added 22 points and seven assists.
Christian Wood scored 16 points and nine rebounds for Houston.
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Salt Lake City: Rudy Gobert scored 16 points and 21 rebounds to lead Utah over Oklahoma City.
Bojan Bogdanovic led Utah with 22 points and Jordan Clarkson added 18.
Shay Gilgus Alexander scored 18 points for Oklahoma City.
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San Antonio: Devin Fassel scored 19 points, Lonely Walker added 17, and San Antonio continued their opening night success by dominating Orlando.
San Antonio 23-2 early in the season under coach Greg Popovich.
Mo Bamba scored 18 points for Orlando.