Spurs handle Sixers, who drop to 0-3
PHILADELPHIA — Doug McDermott hit four 3-pointers and scored all 14 of his points in the second half and the San Antonio Spurs beat Philadelphia 114-105 on Sunday night to send the 76ers to their third straight loss to open the season.
Devin Vassell scored 20 of his 22 points in the first half, and Keldon Johnson had 21. Coming off a 137134 victory at Indiana on Friday night, the Spurs were 16 for 38 from 3-point range and had a 40-10 advantage in bench points.
Joel Embiid had 40 points as Philadelphia fell to 0-3 for the first time since 2016-17.
PACERS 124, PISTONS 115: In Indianapolis, rookie Bennedict Mathurin scored 27 points, hitting three 3-pointers in a pivotal third quarter, and Indiana beat Detroit to snap a 12-game losing streak dating to last season.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 22 points.
CELTICS 126, MAGIC 120: In Orlando, Fla., Jayson Tatum and Derrick White combined for 12 straight points late in the fourth quarter to help Boston beat Orlando.
Tatum had 40 points and eight rebounds. White scored 27 points, two short of his career high, to help the Celtics win for the second straight night. The Magic lost to the Celtics for a 10th straight time.
CAVS 128, BULLS 96: In Chicago, Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points, and Cleveland pounded the Bulls in their home opener.
Mitchell just missed a tripledouble with nine rebounds and eight assists, after scoring 31 in his Cleveland debut. The threetime All-Star whose arrival from Utah in a blockbuster trade sent expectations soaring also made four 3-pointers.
Zach LaVine led Chicago with 23 points.
BUCKS 125, ROCKETS 105: In Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 44 points and became Milwaukee’s career free throws leader as the Bucks rolled over Houston. Antetokounmpo went 8 of 13 from the foul line to increase his total to 3,508 free throws out of 4,891 attempts (71.7%). Sidney Moncrief made 3,505 free throws with the Bucks from 1979-89.
The two-time MVP played less than 28 minutes but still had 12 rebounds. Antetokounmpo shot 17 of 21 from the floor, 2 of 3 on 3s.
MAVERICKS 137, GRIZZLIES 96:
In Dallas, Luka Doncic scored 21 of his 32 points in the first quarter, and the Mavs rode a hot start to a victory over Memphis in their home opener.
Ja Morant finished with 20 points a night after a 49-point showing in a victory at Houston.
NUGGETS 122, THUNDER 117: In Denver, Nikola Jokic tied Wilt Chamberlain for sixth all-time with his 78th triple-double as Denver outlasted Oklahoma City.
Jokic scored 19 points, pulled down 16 rebounds and dished out 13 assists. Michael Porter Jr. added 22 points and Kentavious CaldwellPope chipped in 21 points on the strength of six 3-pointers.
HEAT 112, RAPTORS 109: In Miami, Jimmy Butler scored 24 points, Max Strus added 20 off the bench and the Heat topped Toronto.
Miami’s Kyle Lowry had 17 points against his former club, Tyler Herro had 14 and Bam Adebayo added 10 for the Heat — who wasted much of a 24-point lead before hanging on.