Bridges’ 32 points help Hornets remain unbeaten
Miles Bridges had 32 points and nine rebounds, Ish Smith added 11 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and the Charlotte Hornets improved to 3-0 for the first time by beating the Brooklyn Nets 111-95 on Sunday.
LaMelo Ball had 18 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Hornets, but it was their backups who led them in a dominant final quarter. Cody Martin had eight of his 12 in the final 12 minutes.
Bridges had his second 30-point outing in the first three games and finished a point shy of his career high.
Kevin Durant scored 38 points for the Nets, who fell to 1-2. James Harden had 15 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for Brooklyn.
It was a disappointing home opener that featured demonstrators outside the arena supporting Nets guard Kyrie Irving and protesting New York’s vaccine mandate.
The Nets are not allowed to let Irving play while he is not vaccinated against COVID-19, due to the city’s mandate.
76ERS 115, THUNDER 103 >> Seth Curry scored 28 points to help Philadelphia beat Oklahoma City.
Joel Embiid added 22 points and nine rebounds for Philadelphia. The 76ers are off to a 2-1 start as they work through issues with Ben Simmons, the point guard the team listed as out because of personal reasons.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points, and rookie Josh Giddey had 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals for the Thunder. They are 0-3.
Curry scored 23 points in the first quarter and made 6 of 7 3-pointers to help the 76ers take a 3626 lead.
CELTICS 107, ROCKETS 97 >> Jayson Tatum had 31 points and nine rebounds and Boston beat Houston to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2013.
Tatum, had 20 points in the first half on 8-of13 shooting. Al Horford added 17 points, including 11 in the third quarter, and 10 rebounds. Dennis Schröder, who started for the injured Jaylen Brown, finished with 18 points, and Grant Williams added 18 points.
Second overall pick Jalen Green had 30 points, making 8 of 10 on 3-pointers, for Houston. Christian Wood had 20 points and nine rebounds.
MAGIC 110, KNICKS 104 >> Cole Anthony had 29 points and a career-high 16 rebounds and Terrence Ross scored all 22 of his points in the fourth quarter in Orlando’s victory over New York. Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. added 11 points apiece to Orlando help Orlando end a season-opening, two-game losing streak. Julius Randle had 30 points and 16 rebounds for New York. The Knicks lost for the first time this season.