Pistons rally for 104-99 win over Cavs despite James’ 30
AUBURN HILLS: Andre Drummond had 25 points and 18 rebounds, and made some crucial free throws when he was fouled intentionally, helping the Detroit Pistons rally to a 10499 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday. LeBron James scored 23 of his 30 points in the first half, but the Pistons doubleteamed him on a couple of big possessions down the stretch and Cleveland couldn’t convert. The Cavs lost their second straight after winning eight in a row. Drummond’s free throw with 2:07 left gave the Pistons a 98-97 advantage, and Detroit was able to hold on. It was 102-99 with 13.8 seconds remaining after Reggie Jackson made two free throws for the Pistons. J.R. Smith then missed a contested 3pointer from near the top of the key.
WARRIORS 115, RAPTORS 110
Stephen Curry scored 37 points to lead defending champion Golden State to its 12th straight win to open the season, a hardfought victory over Toronto. Klay Thompson added 19 points and Andrew Bogut scored 13 for the Warriors, off to the best start since Dallas won the first 14 games in 2002-03. Golden State needs three wins to equal the NBA record of 15-0 held by the 1948-49 Washington Capitols and the 1993-94 Houston Rockets. It didn’t come easy as Toronto fought back from an 18-point deficit and trailed by one late in the game with the ball. But Kyle Lowry was called for an offensive foul and Curry hit two free throws to help seal it. Lowry and DeMar DeRozan scored 28 points apiece for the Raptors, who have lost five of seven following a 5-0 start.
NUGGETS 115, PELICANS 98
Danilo Gallinari scored a season-high 32 points for the Nuggets and New Orleans’ Anthony Davis hurt his left shoulder in the first quarter as Denver defeated the downtrodden Pelicans. Jameer Nelson scored all 16 of his points in the last 14:10 of the game, helping Denver secure its fourth victory in five games. Will Barton added 17 points and Gary Harris 16. Ryan Anderson scored 24 and Eric Gordon 19 for the injury-riddled Pelicans, who were able to stay within single digits most of the game before fading in the final minutes.
NETS 90, HAWKS 88
Brook Lopez had 26 points and Thaddeus Boston Toronto NY Knicks Brooklyn Philadelphia
Cleveland Chicago Indiana Detroit Milwaukee
Atlanta Miami Washington Orlando Charlotte
Young hit two free throws with 1.4 seconds left to give Brooklyn a victory over Atlanta. After a timeout, Young knocked away Thabo Sefolosha’s inbounds pass to Al Horford as time expired. Young finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Jarrett Jack and Shane Larkin each had 14. Horford scored 18 points for the Hawks. Paul Millsap had 17 and Kyle Korver added 13.
TIMBERWOLVES 103, HEAT 91
Andrew Wiggins scored 24 points and Zach LaVine added 17 as Minnesota overcame a triple-double by Miami’s Hassan Whiteside to beat the Heat. Shabazz Muhammad scored 16 and Karl-Anthony Towns had 14 points and 14 rebounds for Minnesota, which snapped a four-game slide. Whiteside had 22 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocks - his second tripledouble - for Miami, which was outscored 4122 in the fourth. Luol Deng scored 20 points, Goran Dragic had 16 and Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh each scored 10 for Miami.
KNICKS 102, HORNETS 94
Rookie Kristaps Porzingis scored a seasonhigh
29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as New York beat Charlotte. Less than a week after he just missed beating the Hornets when his 3-pointer was ruled after the buzzer, Porzingis couldn’t be denied by Charlotte defenders or the clock in the 20-year-old Latvian’s biggest moment in the NBA. The slender, 7-foot-3 forward who was thunderously booed when the Knicks drafted him with the No. 4 pick had fans chanting “Porzing-is! Por-zing-is!” in the fourth quarter, shortly after his three-point play gave the Knicks a 93-81 lead. Carmelo Anthony added 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks. Arron Afflalo scored 16. Kemba Walker scored a season-high 31 points for the Hornets.
WIZARDS 115, BUCKS 86
John Wall had 19 points, nine assists and six rebounds as Washington beat Milwaukee. Otto Porter also scored 19 to help the Wizards win by double digits for the first time this season. Washington had six players in double figures. Milwaukee was led by Khris Middleton, who scored 14 points in the team’s worst loss of the season. — AP