Davis returns with 33 points in Pelicans’ last exhibition
The New Orleans Pelicans would have been happy just seeing Anthony Davis on the court. The way he played should make them ecstatic. The star forward returned sooner than expected from a sprained right ankle and had 33 points, 13 rebounds and four assists’ in the Pelicans’ 114-111 overtime loss in Orlando on Thursday night. Davis was hurt Oct. 12 during a preseason game against Houston in China and the Pelicans said he was expected back in 10 days to two weeks, a timeline that could have meant missing the regular-season opener next Wednesday. But Davis made it back in about a week, returning to practice Wednesday and dominating right from the start of Thursday’s game. He scored 16 points in 9 minutes of the first quarter as the Pelicans raced to a 38-22 lead. It would grow to 23 later in the game before Orlando rallied, then pulled it out in OT after rookie Buddy Hield missed a chance to win it for New Orleans before the regulation buzzer. Terrence Jones added 20 points for the Pelicans, who finished 1-4. Evan Fournier scored 22 points as the Magic avoided a winless preseason. Serge Ibaka added 18.
HORNETS 96, HEAT 88
Kemba Walker had 17 points and six assists as the Hornets won the matchup of last teams who met in the first round of last season’s playoffs. Frank Kaminsky added 16 points and six rebounds for the Hornets, who close their preseason schedule tonight against Minnesota. Rodney McGruder scored 16 points as the Heat, who beat the Hornets in seven games last spring, went largely with reserves. Okaro White finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Derrick Williams also scored 13 points . ... Hassan Whiteside shot 1 for 6 and had four points in 15 minutes . ... Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow didn’t play. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 10 points and 14 rebounds. Roy Hibbert added eight points, 11 boards and three blocked shots . ... Nicolas Batum scored 14 points but missed all three 3-point attempts.
KNICKS 116, NETS 111
Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points and the Knicks beat the Nets for the second time this preseason. Brooklyn played its starters into the final minutes and nearly came back, cutting the Knicks’ lead to three before turning it over in the closing seconds. Jeremy Lin, who sat out the first meeting against his former team, led the Nets with 24 points and 10 assists. Coach Jeff Hornacek said he expects to meet with Derrick Rose on Friday to show him tape of what he missed while away from the team for his civil rape trial. — AP