Durant, Warriors off to a strong start

Kevin Durant helped the defending champions get defensive in a hurry, finishing with 24 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Golden State Warriors returned to their old dominant selves at playoff time to beat the cold-shooting San Antonio Spurs 113-92 on Saturday at Oakland.

Durant, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson took charge in Game 1 of the first-round series to elevate the Warriors’ intensity without All-Star and injured twotime MVP Stephen Curry, sidelined since March 23 with a sprained left knee.

Thompson scored 27 points, making 11 of 13 shots, while 7-footer JaVale McGee started in Steve Kerr’s center-by-committee approach and contributed 15 points, four rebounds and two blocked shots in 16 minutes.

“Absolutely,” Thompson said about playing a memorable, statement-making Game 1. “We did not end the season on a high note, we kind of hobbled into the playoffs.”

Rudy Gay led the Spurs with 15 points off the bench as LaMarcus Aldridge was limited to 14 points on fivefor-12 shooting.

at Toronto 114, Washington 106: Serge Ibaka had 23 points and 12 rebounds, Delon Wright scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, and the Raptors ended a 10game losing streak in playoff series openers.

DeMar DeRozan added 17 points and Kyle Lowry had 11 points and nine assists for the Raptors, who made 16 of 30 three-point attempts.

at Philadelphia 130, Miami 103: Ben Simmons had 17 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds in his playoff debut, and the 76ers romped again without Joel Embiid for their 17th straight win.

New Orleans 97, at Portland 95: Anthony Davis had 35 points and 14 rebounds as the Pelicans took a 19-point lead and held off a late charge by the Trail Blazers in their series opener.