Dragic, Heat survive Bucks in overtime after wild rallies
Love’s near triple-double leads Cavaliers over Pacers
MILWAUKEE: Reserve guard Goran Dragic had a team-high 25 points — including six in overtime — and eight assists as the Miami Heat rallied and then survived the host Milwaukee Bucks 131-126 on Saturday night. The Bucks sent the game to overtime on a put-back by Giannis Antetokounmpo just a splitsecond before the regulation buzzer. Antetokounmpo had rebounded an air ball by Khris Middleton to tie the score 121-121. Antetokounmpo, the NBA’s reigning MVP, fouled out with 2:31 left in overtime, finishing with 29 points, 17 rebounds, nine assists, three steals and two blocks. But he also committed eight turnovers, missed all five of his 3-point attempts and fouled out for his second straight game. Earlier in the game, Milwaukee blew a 21-point third-quarter lead, as Miami seemingly took control. The Heat had a ninepoint lead with 3:33 left in the fourth quarter. But Miami missed three straight free throws with 3.3 seconds left — one by Bam Adebayo and two by Justise Winslow, setting the stage for Antetokounmpo’s dramatic put-back.
ROCKETS 126, PELICANS 123
Russell Westbrook surpassed Magic Johnson in career triple-doubles, and host Houston held on to beat short-handed New Orleans. Westbrook notched 28 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists for his 139th triple-double, moving past Johnson for second place in NBA history. His two free throws with 6.1 seconds left built the lead to three. Brandon Ingram was exceptional for the Pelicans, who played without guard Jrue Holiday (knee). Ingram paired 35 points with 15 rebounds, both game-highs, and added five assists. He received support from Lonzo Ball (18 points, 10 assists) and JJ Redick (14 points).
CAVALIERS 110, PACERS 99
Kevin Love came one assist shy of a triple-double, Tristan Thompson scored 25 points, and host Cleveland held off a late rally to beat Indiana. Cleveland led almost wire-to-wire, building an advantage that swelled to as many as 24 points. The frontcourt duo of Love and Thompson set the tone, with Love registering 21 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, and Thompson posting a double-double with 13 rebounds. His team-high 25 points included his first career 3-pointer.
76ERS 117, PISTONS 111
Tobias Harris had 29 points and Al Horford tossed in 23 points, including a late flurry that lifted visiting Philadelphia over Detroit. Both sides were missing key players. Sixers All-Star center Joel Embiid sat out with a right ankle sprain. Pistons All-Star forward Blake Griffin (hamstring, knee) remained sidelined, and starting point guard Reggie Jackson (sore back) joined him in street clothes. Horford also contributed nine rebounds and five assists. Ben Simmons posted 13 points, 10 assists and seven steals, and Mike Scott added 17 points off the bench, including five 3-point makes. Derrick Rose carried the Pistons with 31 points off the bench.
SUNS 130, CLIPPERS 122
Devin Booker had 30 points and eight assists, and Frank Kaminsky had 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists off the bench as host Phoenix beat Los Angeles to break a 12-game losing streak in the series. Kelly Oubre Jr. had 20 points and made all nine of his freethrow attempts, and Dario Saric had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns, who have split two games since center Deandre Ayton was suspended Thursday for 25 games for violating the NBA/NBPA anti-drug program. Kawhi Leonard had 27 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, and Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams combined for 51 points off the bench for the Clippers, who were attempting to become the first team in the league to three victories.
HAWKS 103, MAGIC 99
Trae Young had 39 points, seven rebounds and nine assists to lead Atlanta to a win against visiting Orlando. Kevin Huerter and Jabari Parker scored 10 points each off the bench, and John Collins finished with nine points and 12 rebounds for Atlanta. Evan Fournier scored 23 points, Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and 10 rebounds, D.J. Augustin scored 14 and Markelle Fultz had 12 off the bench for the Magic.
CELTICS 118, KNICKS 95
Marcus Smart scored 12 points off the bench, including a 3-pointer during an 8-0 Boston run to start the fourth quarter, and the Celtics pulled away to defeat host New York. Kemba Walker had a gamehigh 32 points, a majority of them on seven made 3pointers, as the Celtics overcame a horrible start to sweep a back-to-back sequence that began with a home win over Toronto on Friday. RJ Barrett went for 26 points for the Knicks, who lost their home opener after tipping off the season with a pair of defeats on the road. Barrett and Julius Randle combined for 12 points when the Knicks, coming off a 113-109 loss at Brooklyn on Friday night, blitzed the Celtics early with a 16-4 run to open the game. — Reuters