LeBron James converted a key putback and finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as the Philadelphia 76ers edged the visiting New York Knicks 98-93 on Friday.
On a night when all NBA games were the teams’ openers in NBA Cup play, Philadelphia was without Jaylen Brown (knee), giving Anfernee Simons an opportunity to shine in an expanded role. Simons scored 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 27 points, while VJ Edgecombe hit a clutch 3-pointer and finished with 13 points. The Sixers have won five of their first six games.
New York, meanwhile, has lost four of its first six, including two defeats against Philadelphia. Jalen Brunson scored 24 points on 8-of-22 shooting, while Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks.
Brunson’s 3-pointer with 1:32 left gave New York a 90-89 lead. James answered with a tough fadeaway on the other end to put the Sixers back in front. Following a Brunson miss, Edgecombe beat the shot-clock buzzer with a 3-pointer to make it 94-90. Brunson split two free throws to make it a one-possession game before James put back Maxey’s airball with 11.9 seconds remaining.
Warriors 112, Lakers 95
Stephen Curry poured in 31 points, the bench chipped in 50 more, and Golden State exacted a measure of revenge for an opening-night loss with a triumph over Los Angeles in San Francisco.
Coming off a 44-point performance, Curry buried eight of his 14 attempts from 3-point range as the Warriors overcame a 25-point deficit. Brandin Podziemski finished with four 3-pointers and 21 points, while De’Anthony Melton (16 points) and George Niang (11) made key contributions off the bench as the Warriors won their third straight after an 0-3 start.
Luka Doncic, whose 21 first-quarter points ignited the Lakers’ fast start, connected on six 3-pointers en route to his game-high total of 37. He also had seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Austin Reaves added 21 points, while fellow starters Jake LaRavia, Walker Kessler and Matisse Thybulle each scored 10.
Mavericks 116, Rockets 111
Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg combined for 68 points, and Dallas erased an 11-point second-half deficit to beat visiting Houston.
Irving posted 35 points on 12-for-19 shooting and nine assists. Flagg scored 33 points on 13-for-19 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. The tandem totaled 27 points in the fourth quarter, with Irving drilling two 3-pointers early before Flagg sank a floater and converted the three-point play with 1:40 left to play, giving the Mavericks a 105-100 lead.
Flagg sank a turnaround jumper with 24.3 seconds left after Amen Thompson missed two free throws that would have tied the game with 42 seconds to play. Jabari Smith Jr. pulled the Rockets to within 109-108 with a 3-pointer, but Daniel Gafford answered with two free throws. Kevin Durant led Houston with 28 points. Smith added 22.
Celtics 125, Bulls 111
Payton Pritchard scored a season-high 30 points off the bench, Jayson Tatum added 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and Boston defeated visiting Chicago.
Paul George had 18 points, six rebounds and eight assists for Boston, which led by as many as 32 points in the second quarter and won its fourth straight game after opening the season with a road loss to the Detroit Pistons. Neemias Queta scored 13 points, and Mitchell Robinson chipped in 11.
Caleb Wilson led Chicago with 23 points, including six 3-pointers. Norman Powell scored 16 points, Matas Buzelis added 14 and Josh Giddey had 13. The Bulls lost their fourth straight game while shooting 37.6% from the field and 30% (15 of 50) from 3-point range.
Pistons 110, Nets 94
Reserve Ronald Holland II sparked a dominant third quarter with 12 of his season-high 18 points for Detroit, which took control en route to a victory over winless Brooklyn in an NBA Cup game at New York.
Cade Cunningham scored a game-high 20 points for the Pistons, who have won two in a row. Duncan Robinson added 17 points.
Moritz Wagner finished with 16 points for the Nets, who are off to their second straight 0-5 start. Brooklyn committed 24 turnovers that led to 27 points.
Wizards 95, Hornets 79
Anthony Davis poured in 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Washington whipped visiting Charlotte.
Trae Young racked up 21 points and 2026 No. 1 overall draft pick AJ Dybantsa, making his NBA home debut, provided 17 points for the Wizards, who avenged a Monday loss at Charlotte.
Brandon Miller scored 19 points for the Hornets, who didn’t protect an early 10-point lead. Charlotte took 29 more field-goal attempts than Washington but converted only 30 of 101 (29.7%). The Wizards’ 38.9% shooting proved sufficient.
Magic 121, Raptors 114
Desmond Bane scored 28 points and Franz Wagner finished with 26 points and 11 assists to lead Orlando to a bounce-back win at Toronto.
Wendell Carter Jr. had 20 points and seven rebounds while Anthony Black finished with 17 points and 10 assists for the Magic, who lost 129-99 at Toronto on Wednesday.
Scottie Barnes paced the Raptors with a career-high 41 points on 19-of-34 shooting, adding five rebounds and five assists before fouling out. Immanuel Quickley totaled 17 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
Timberwolves 127, Clippers 101
LaMelo Ball scored 24 points and dished seven assists as Minnesota pulled away for a win over Los Angeles in Minneapolis.
Jaden McDaniels finished with 23 points, six rebounds and seven assists for Minnesota, which snapped a two-game skid. Bones Hyland added 19 points off the bench.
Darius Garland scored 24 points on 10-for-22 shooting to lead Los Angeles, which took its fourth loss in a row. Brook Lopez scored 13 points off the bench.
Heat 145, Pacers 125
Giannis Antetokounmpo recorded a triple-double with 31 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists to help Miami cruise past visiting Indiana.
Bam Adebayo added 27 points and nine rebounds while Klay Thompson scored 25 points and sank seven 3-pointers in the Heat’s first home win of the season.
Quenton Jackson led the Pacers with 24 points off the bench, and Andrew Nembhard logged 22 points and nine assists. Indiana took its third straight defeat.
Nuggets 127, Suns 120
Jamal Murray scored 39 points and made seven 3-pointers, Christian Braun had 29 points and a career-high seven 3-pointers, and Denver won at Phoenix.
Nikola Jokic had 18 points and 10 assists and finished three rebounds short of his second consecutive triple-double for the Nuggets, who swept their two-game trip.
Miles Bridges scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Devin Booker added 20 points for the Suns, who have lost three of four. Phoenix’s Dillon Brooks put up 22 points before he was ejected in the third quarter for kicking Murray in the groin while attempting a shot.
