Bucks’ Super Freak powers team to win in opener at Boston
BOSTON — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 16 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter, and the Milwaukee Bucks opened their season with a 108-100 victory over Boston on Wednesday night to spoil the homecoming of a Celtics team coming off a late and emotional season opener.
One night after a gruesome broken ankle just six minutes into the season cost Boston top free agent Gordon Hayward — perhaps for the entire season — the Celtics fell to 0-2 by giving up an 11-1 run that left Milwaukee with a 97-90 lead and under three minutes to play.
Antetokounmpo added 13 rebounds, Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon scored 19 points and Khris Middleton had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Bucks.
Kyrie Irving scored 17 points on 7-for-25 shooting in his Boston debut.
At Dallas, Dennis Schroder scored 28 points in his first game as the front man for Atlanta and the rebuilding Hawks spoiled rookie Dennis Smith Jr.’s solid Dallas debut. Smith had 16 points and a game-high 10 assists.
At Washington, John Wall scored 28 points, Bradley Beal rebounded from a rough start to add 25 and Washington spoiled the NBA debuts of top picks Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz.
At San Antonio, Lamarcus Aldridge had 25 points and 10 rebounds, and San Antonio won despite opening the season without leading scorer Kawhi Leonard. The Spurs were also without Tony Parker.
At Sacramento, Calif., James Harden had 27 points and nine assists, and Houston started the season with a perfect two-game road trip despite playing without Chris Paul on Wednesday.
At Indianapolis, Victor Oladipo scored 22 points in his Indiana debut, Darren Collison added 21 points and 11 assists in his return to Indianapolis, and the Pacers held off the Nets in their season opener.
At Orlando, Fla., Evan Fournier scored 23 points, Nikola Vucevic had 19 points and 13 rebounds and Orlando won its home opener. Hassan Whiteside had 26 points and 22 rebounds for Miami.
At Memphis, Tenn., Mike Conley scored 27 points, rookie Dillon Brooks added 19 and Memphis won its opener for the second straight year, a first in franchise history.
At Salt Lake City, Rudy Gobert had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Utah won its first game without Gordan Hayward and George Hill. Alec Burks finished with 16 points for the Jazz.
At Detroit, Tobias Harris scored 17 of his 27 points in the first quarter, helping Detroit celebrate its return downtown with a victory at new facility Little Caesars Arena.
At Phoenix, Damian Lillard scored 27 points and Portland opened the season by handing Phoenix the most one-sided loss in the franchise’s 49-year history.
Hawks 117, Mavericks 111 — Wizards 120, 76ers 115 — Spurs 107, Timberwolves 99 — Rockets 105, Kings 100 — Pacers 140, Nets 131 — Magic 116, Heat 109 — Grizzlies 103, Pelicans 91 — Jazz 106, Nuggets 96 — Pistons 102, Hornets 90 — Trail Blazers 124, Suns 76 —