Davis returns with 33 points in Pelicans’ last exhibition

76ers Brand announces retirement

The New Orleans Pelicans would have been happy just seeing Anthony Davis on the court.

The way he played should make them ecstatic.

The star forward returned sooner than expected from a sprained right ankle and had 33 points, 13 rebounds and four assists’ in the Pelicans’ 114-111 overtime loss in Orlando on Thursday night.

Davis was hurt Oct. 12 during a preseason game against Houston in China and the Pelicans said he was expected back in 10 days to two weeks, a timeline that could have meant missing the regular-season opener next Wednesday.

But Davis made it back in about a week, returning to practice Wednesday and dominating right from the start of Thursday’s game. He scored 16 points in 9 minutes of the first quarter as the Pelicans raced to a 38-22 lead. It would grow to 23 later in the game before Orlando rallied, then pulled it out in OT after rookie Buddy Hield missed a chance to win it for New Orleans before the regulation buzzer.

Terrence Jones added 20 points for the Pelicans, who finished 1-4.

Evan Fournier scored 22 points as the Magic avoided a winless preseason. Serge Ibaka added 18. HAWKS 97, BULLS 81 >> Dwight Howard had 16 points and 15 rebounds in a strong finish to his first preseason with the Hawks.

Kyle Korver, who played at Creighton, also scored 16 points as Atlanta finished 5-2. Jimmy Butler scored 16 points as Chicago wrapped up exhibition play at 3-4. HORNETS 96, HEAT 88 >> Kemba Walker had 17 points and six assists as the Hornets won the matchup of last teams who met in the first round of last season’s playoffs.

Frank Kaminsky added 16 points and six rebounds for the Hornets, who close their preseason schedule Friday against Minnesota.

The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA >> Philadelphia 76ers forward Elton Brand has announced his retirement.

Brand was the first overall pick out of Duke in the 1999 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls and was named rookie of the year. Brand played 17 seasons in the NBA and was in his second stint with the Sixers.

He averaged 15.9 points and 8.5 rebounds in 1,058 games with the Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks and Sixers.

Brand was a two-time AllStar when he spurned better offers and signed an $82 million, five-year free-agent contract in 2008 with Philadelphia.

He made the announcement Thursday at the Sixers training complex in Camden, New Jersey. Brand says playing in the NBA has been “a wonderful journey. It’s been an honor and a privilege.”

Brand had not played in the preseason and will still collect $1 million.

Rodney McGruder scored 16 points as the Heat, who beat the Hornets in seven games last spring, went largely with reserves. KNICKS 116, NETS 111 >> Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points and the Knicks beat the Nets for the second time this preseason.

Brooklyn played its starters into the final minutes and nearly came back, cutting the Knicks’ lead to three before turning it over in the closing seconds.

Jeremy Lin, who sat out the first meeting against his former team, led the Nets with 24 points and 10 assists.