NBA roundup: Tempers flare as Rockets down Lakers

James Harden scored 36 points, and Chris Paul added 28 points with 10 assists as the Houston Rockets spoiled LeBron James’ home opener with the Los Angeles Lakers by earning a high-intensity 124115 victory Saturday night.

Three players were ejected with 4:13 remaining after an on-court altercation that started after the Lakers’ Brandon Ingram committed a hard foul on Harden. After the whistle, Paul and the Lakers’ Rajon Rondo threw punches at each other, with Ingram also joining the fray. Paul, Rondo and Ingram all were ejected.

James scored 24 points on his new home floor, adding five rebounds and five assists. James, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances, signed a four-year, $154 million deal with the Lakers in the offseason.

The Rockets led 109-108 at the time of the on-court confrontation and put the game away afterward, getting a key 3-pointer from PJ Tucker with 2:31 remaining for a 117-112 lead. Harden added a 3pointer of his own with 1:12 remaining to give Houston a 120-113 lead. Nuggets 119, Suns 91 Nikola Jokic scored 11 of his game-high 35 points in an early runaway, helping host Denver blow out Phoenix in a battle of teams that had won their NBA openers.

Jokic hit all 11 of his shots and completed his 17th career tripledouble with game highs of 12 rebounds and 11 assists for the Nuggets, who were making their home debut after winning 107-98 in Los Angeles against the Clippers on Wednesday.

Devin Booker had 25 points for the Suns, who had opened at home with an impressive 121-100 thumping of the Dallas on Wednesday. Trail Blazers 121, Spurs 108 Damian Lillard put on a spectacular offensive display, and host Portland collected 75 points in the middle two quarters in beating San Antonio.

Lillard scored 29 points and dished out nine assists with no turnovers, sinking 9 of 15 shots from the field, 3 of 6 from 3-point range and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line in just 30 minutes. CJ McCollum added 24 points on 9-for-15 shooting for the Blazers. DeMar DeRozan totaled 28 points and nine assists for the Spurs. Hornets 113, Heat 112 Kemba Walker scored 39 points and hit a free throw with 0.5 seconds remaining to give Charlotte a bizarre win at Miami.

Walker, who surpassed the career 10,000-point plateau early in the third quarter, was fouled as the Hornets played for the final shot with the score tied 112-112. He made the first free throw, then intentionally missed the second to allow the clock to expire.

Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 21 points. Goran Dragic scored 20, Rodney McGruder 19 and Derrick Jones Jr. and Bam Adebayo had 12 each. The Heat played without four regulars — Dion Waiters (knee), James Johnson (hernia), Justise Winslow (hamstring) and Wayne Ellington (ankle). Mavericks 140, Timberwolves 136 Dennis Smith Jr. drained a step-back jumper and drew a foul for a three-point play with 6.1 seconds left to break a tie and lead Dallas to a wild win in its home opener against Minnesota, which was playing without the disenchanted Jimmy Butler on the second night of a back-to-back. The Mavs, after losing by 21 points at Phoenix in their season opener Wednesday, got 26 points from rookie Luka Doncic, who showed poise down the stretch that included two big baskets late in the fourth. Free agent acquisition DeAndre Jordan provided 22 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots.

The Wolves were led by Karl-Anthony Towns’ 31 points and 28 from a rejuvenated Derrick Rose. They were the most points Rose has scored in a game since March 27, 2017. Pistons 118, Bulls 116 Ish Smith made a finger roll with 5.4 seconds remaining, giving Detroit a victory over host Chicago. The game-winner came after Chicago scored five unanswered points to tie it. Following a timeout, Smith weaved past defenders and dropped in his layup. Zach LaVine, who led the Bulls with 33 points, then had a 3-point attempt swatted away by Blake Griffin, securing the Pistons’ victory.

Griffin finished with 33 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and one block. Reggie Jackson supplied 18 points and six assists while Smith had 15 points and five assists off the bench. Raptors 117, Wizards 113 Kyle Lowry had 28 points and 12 assists, and visiting Toronto held off a late Washington rally.