Knicks make 24 3s, crush Magic

Knicks 121, Magic 96: Julius Randle had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and New York improved to 2-0 for the first time since the 2012-13 season, cruising to a win over host Orlando on Friday night.

Evan Fournier added 18 points for the Knicks, who opened the season with a double-overtime win over Boston on Wednesday.

New York had it easier in Orlando’s home opener. The Knicks made a franchise-record 24 3-pointers against the rebuilding Magic (0-2), who fell behind by 31 points in the second quarter and were hardly competitive.

The Knicks shot 50% overall and 24 of 54 (44.4%) from beyond the arc.

Rookie Franz Wagner led the Magic with 16 points, making 4 of 5 from 3point range.

Nets 114, 76ers 109: Kevin Durant had 29 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists, James Harden scored 20 points and Brooklyn closed with a 16-1 run to beat host Philadelphia as each team played without a much-discussed star guard.

The Nets were missing Kyrie Irving, who isn’t with the team due to his refusal to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Ben Simmons sat out the home opener for personal reasons and the Sixers do not know when the three-time All-Star will return.

They could have used Simmons’ defense to shut down the Nets late.

Durant made two free throws to seal Brooklyn’s comeback from 14 points down.

Joel Embiid scored 19 points on a sore right knee suffered against New Orleans in the opener.

Tobias Harris and Seth Curry each scored 23 points for the Sixers.

Hornets 123, Cavaliers 112: Miles Bridges scored 30 points, Kelly Oubre Jr. added 25 and Charlotte took advantage of Cleveland’s sloppiness to open the fourth quarter in a a victory, wrecking the Cavaliers’ home opener.

The Hornets only led by one entering the final 12 minutes before outscoring the Cavs 19-2 in the first 3:27, when Cleveland turned the ball over seven times.

Gordon Hayward made two 3pointes in the decisive run as Charlotte won its second straight to open the season. Hayward finished with 18 points and LaMelo Ball had 17 for the Hornets.

Collin Sexton scored 33 points for the Cavs.

Wizards 135, Pacers 134 (OT): Davis Bertans made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 34.4 seconds left in overtime, and host Washington overcame the absence of Bradley Beal to beat Indiana.

Beal was out because of hip problems, but Spencer Dinwiddie scored 34 points in his home debut for the Wizards, including a 3-pointer to tie the game with 33.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Myles Turner scored a career-high 40 points for the Pacers, and Brogdon and Domantas Sabonis added 28 apiece. Kuzma had 26 for the Wizards.

Dinwiddie did miss a 3 at the end of regulation that could have won it.

Raptors 115, Celtics 83: Scottie Barnes had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Gary Trent Jr. scored 12 of his 20 points in the third quarter and Toronto beat Boston to spoil the Celtics’ home opener.

Precious Achiuwa had 15 points and 15 rebounds, and Fred VanVleet had 11 points and nine assists for Toronto, which lost its opener to the Wizards.

In new Boston coach Ime Udoka’s home debut, Jayson Tatum scored 18 points and Al Horford returned for a second stint with the Celtics to add 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Jaylen Brown, who scored a careerhigh 46 points in a season-opening, double-overtime loss to New York on Wednesday night, had nine points on 3for-13 shooting.

Rockets 124, Thunder 91: Christian Wood had 31 points and 14 rebounds and Houston beat Oklahoma City in the Rockets’ home opener.

Oklahoma City had few answers for Wood, who went 13 for 19 from the field, including 4 of 6 from the 3-point line. Fourth in Most Improved Player voting last season, he also blocked four shots and had a steal.

The Rockets looked much better than they did in their 124-106 season-opening loss in Minnesota on Wednesday.

Kevin Porter Jr. had 18 points and nine assists.

Bulls 128, Pelicans 112: Zach LaVine scored 32 points, DeMar DeRozan added 26 and Chicago beat New Orleans in its home opener.

Chicago’s Lonzo Ball added a tripledouble against his former team with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

And the Bulls delighted their fans, rolling to an easy victory with Pelicans star Zion Williams recovering from surgery on his right foot.

LaVine welcomed the crowd prior to the first game at the United Center without capacity restrictions since the 2019-20 season, then put on a dazzling display.