Thunder’s Big 3 lead way in 102-91 win over Pelicans
OKLAHOMA CITY: The Thunder’s new Big Three looked ready to do big things in their first action together.
Fans got their first chance to see reigning MVP Russell Westbrook and All-Stars Paul George and Carmelo Anthony play together since the Thunder acquired George and Anthony in trades. They were dominant in Oklahoma City’s 102-91 win over New Orleans on Friday night.
Westbrook played for the first time this preseason after getting a platelet rich plasma injection in his knee. He missed the team’s Blue-White scrimmage and the preseason opener against Houston in Tulsa on Monday. He finished with nine points, four assists and one rebound in 9:58 before coming out for good late in the first quarter. Westbrook has said that he is fine and the injection is something he does each year, but he did it later than usual this year because he spent a lot of time at home focusing on his newborn son.
George scored 25 points in just over 27 minutes and Anthony added nine points and six rebounds.
Anthony Davis led the Pelicans with 14 points and seven rebounds. DeMarcus Cousins scored 13 points and Ian Clark and Jrue Holiday each scored 11.
Wizards 104 Knicks 100: John Wall scored 19 points, knocking down 9 of 14 shots in just under 24 minutes in Washington’s preseason home win. Kelly Oubre scored 14 points and Bradley Beal added 13 for the Wizards.
Enes Kanter, a center New York acquired in the deal that sent Carmelo Anthony to Oklahoma City, led the Knicks with 16 points. He made 6 of 11 shots.
The Wizards shot 47 percent as Beal and Wall combined to make 15 of 25 shots.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 15 points, Courtney Lee scored 12 and Jarrett Jack added 11 for the Knicks. Joakim Noah played just 12 minutes as a reserve.The Knicks outrebounded the Wizards 46-36.
Celtics 110 76ers 102: Kyrie Irving scored 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting as Boston won at Philadelphia. Irving also had three assists in just under 25 minutes. Terry Rozier scored 13 points and Aron Baynes added 12 for the Celtics.
Jerryd Bayless scored 15 points and J.J. Redick added 12 for the 76ers.
New addition Gordon Hayward scored nine points on 4-for-9 shooting for the Celtics while Al Horford scored just seven points, but he had nine rebounds and two blocks in 19 minutes. Marcus Smart scored 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting.