Leonard makes nice first impression in Toronto debut
Kawhi Leonard had 24 points and a team-high 13 rebounds in his Toronto debut, Kyle Lowry scored 27 points, and the Raptors beat the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers 116-104 on Wednesday night in the season-opener for both teams.
The Raptors won their sixth straight season opener and gave Nick Nurse a victory in his first game as head coach.
Kevin Love scored 21 points, and Cedi Osman had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers.
Leonard played 37 minutes in his first competitive game since January with San Antonio. He was limited to nine games last season because of a quadriceps injury.
Leonard was introduced to a thunderous ovation, the final Raptors starter to have his name announced to the capacity crowd of 19,915. NEW ORLEANS 131, HOUSTON 112 >> Anthony Davis had 32 points, 16 rebounds and eight assists while Nikola Mirotic scored 30 points to lead visiting New Orleans over Houston. Davis added three blocks and three steals, while Mirotic shot a sizzling 6 of 8 from 3-point range, and Julius Randle had 25 points off the bench.
Eric Gordon led the Rockets with 21 points off the bench, while P.J. Tucker and Chris Paul both added 19 points. James Harden had 18 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.
KNICKS 126, HAWKS 107 >> Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 31 points, sparking New York during its franchise-record, 49-point second quarter in the rout in the first game under coach David Fizdale. Atlanta’s Trae Young finished with 14 points and five assists in his debut. BUCKS 113, HORNETS 112 >> Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists, and Milwaukee spoiled Charlotte’s celebration of 30 years of basketball. Antetokounmpo made two free throws with 23.7 seconds remaining to put the Bucks ahead after the Hornets battled back from a 20-point deficit behind 41 points from Kemba Walker.
MAGIC 104, HEAT 101 >> Rookie Mohamed Bamba dunked twice and blocked a shot during Orlando’s 9-0 run in the fourth quarter, and the Magic held off Miami. Aaron Gordon had 26 points and 16 rebounds for the Magic.
SPURS 112, TIMBERWOLVES 108 >> DeMar DeRozan had 28 points in his San Antonio debut, LaMarcus Aldridge added 21 points and 19 rebounds and the Spurs overcame a 23-point performance by Minnesota’s Jimmy Butler.
JAZZ 123, KINGS 117 >> Donovan Mitchell scored 11 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter as Utah won at Sacramento in its opener. Utah trailed by 16 early in the first quarter, blew a 14-point lead in the third and then pulled away in the fourth. Willie Cauley-Stein had 23 points and seven rebounds for Sacramento. Marvin Bagley III, the second overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, had six points and five rebounds in 12 minutes off the bench for the Kings.
PISTONS HONOR ARETHA >> The Detroit Pistons honored Aretha Franklin before their season opener by playing a recording of her singing the national anthem. Former Pistons star Isiah Thomas spoke briefly, asking for a moment of silence for Franklin, who died in August. After the moment of silence, and with no additional announcement, a recording of Franklin signing the anthem at the 2004 NBA Finals began playing.