Celtics cruise past Sixers; Warriors turn back Lakers

BOSTON — Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 35 points and the Boston Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 126-117 on Tuesday night in the opening game of the NBA regular season.

The defending Eastern Conference champions gave interim coach Joe Mazzulla a victory in his debut after Ime Udoka was suspended for the season for violations of team policies.

James Harden scored 35 points — his most since joining the 76ers last season.

Warriors roll: Stephen Curry scored 33 points as Golden State beat the Los Angeles Lakers 123-109 after receiving rings for winning their fourth championship in eight seasons.

During the ceremony, Curry voiced support of Brittney Griner as the WNBA star spent her 32nd birthday in a Russian prison.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

S. Carolina starts atop women’s poll

Defending champion South Carolina was the unanimous choice in the Associated Press preseason women’s poll. South Carolina went wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team last year and has been the top team for 20 straight weeks.

Stanford, Texas, Iowa and Tennessee rounded out the top five.

NASCAR

Wallace suspended for Vegas fracas

Bubba Wallace received a one-race suspension from NASCAR on Tuesday after an investigation determined he deliberately spun reigning Cup champion Kyle Larson in a “dangerous act” of retaliation before confronting him afterward at Sunday’s race in Las Vegas. Wallace had a shoving match with Larson and pushed away a NASCAR official.

Steve O’Donnell, the executive in charge of competition and racing operations, said the penalties were for Wallace's dangerous and deliberate retaliation against Larson, not the fracas a few moments later.

Wallace is the first Cup Series driver suspended for an on-track incident since Matt Kenseth for two races in 2015.

GOLF

Tour adds events to $20 million tier

The PGA Tour will have a four-month stretch of 12 events that are either majors or have $20 million purses.

The tour will announce Wednesday that the WM Phoenix Open, RBC Heritage at Hilton Head, Wells Fargo Championship and Travelers Championship will be “elevated events” that top players will be required to play.

The concept of elevated events was first announced in late August as a response to the Saudi-funded LIV Golf league.

MLB Tatis goes under the knife again

Suspended Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. had a follow-up surgery on his left wrist and should be recovered from that and recent shoulder surgery by spring training.

Tatis is serving an 80game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.