LOS ANGELES — The new-look Los Angeles Lakers, with Kobe Bryant retired and coach Luke Walton at the helm, opened their NBA season with a 120-114 victory over the Houston Rockets Wednesday.
Jordan Clarkson came off the bench to score 12 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter. D’Angelo Russell scored 20 points and Julius Randle added 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Lakers, who overcame James Harden’s 34 points and career-high 17 assists for Houston — who lost in former Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni’s first game in charge of the Rockets.
“It feels good,” said Walton, a former Laker who cut his coaching teeth as an assistant to Steve Kerr at Golden State.
Walton admitted to “nerves and excitement” before the contest, but was buoyed by the presence of his father, former NBA star Bill Walton.
Nuggets 107, Pelicans 102
Jusuf Nurkic had 23 points and nine rebounds, and Will Barton added 22 points to foil a 50-point effort by Anthony Davis and lift the Denver Nuggets to a 107-102 season-opening victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Davis shot 17 of 34 from the field and made 16 of 17 free throws. He also grabbed 16 rebounds, blocked four shots and had seven steals. It was Davis’ eighth career 40-plus-point game.
Celtics 122, Nets 117
Boston held off a furious Brooklyn charge and escaped with an opening-game victory, spoiling the head-coaching debut of the Nets’ Kenny Atkinson.
Brooklyn was down 21 points with 5 1/2 minutes left, and after the Boston starters re-entered the game, cut the deficit down to three in the final minute. However, Bojan Bogdanovich missed back-to-back 3-pointers on the same possession, and Isaiah Thomas iced the game with two free throws with 11.9 seconds left.
Heat 108, Magic 96
Hassan Whiteside had 18 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots, leading Miami past Orlando.
It was the sixth consecutive season-opening victory for Miami and its first victory without star guard Dwyane Wade, who left for the Chicago Bulls during the offseason.
Pacers 130, Mavericks
121 (OT)
Myles Turner had 30 points and 16 rebounds, including a crucial 3-pointer with 1:21 remaining in overtime, leading Indiana to a season-opening victory over Dallas.
Paul George, who finished with 25 points, added a 3-pointer with 52 seconds left in overtime, pushing the Indiana lead to 125-118. Jeff Teague added 20 points and Monta Ellis 19 for the Pacers.
Deron Williams led Dallas with 25 points, and Dirk Nowitzki and J.J, Barea each scored 22.
Grizzlies 102, Timberwolves 98
Mike Conley scored 24 points, and Memphis defeated Minnesota in the season opener for both teams.
Timberwolves guard Zach LaVine (19 points) hit a 3-pointer with 14 seconds left to close the gap to 98-96, but Minnesota would not get closer as Conley and JayMichal Green sealed the win for Memphis at the foul line.
Raptors 109, Pistons 91
DeMar DeRozan set a franchise record for points on opening night with 40 as Toronto topped Detroit. DeRozan finished 17 for 27 from the field and went a perfect 6 for 6 from the line.
Jonas Valanciunas added 32 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors, while Kyle Lowry had 10 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
Hornets 107, Bucks 96
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scored 23 points and grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds in his return to action, leading Charlotte to a season-opening victory over Milwaukee.
Thunder 103, 76ers 97
Russell Westbrook scored nine of his 32 points in the last 4:09, including the go-ahead free throws with 35 seconds left, as the Oklahoma City beat Philadelphia in the season opener for both teams.
Kings 113, Suns 94
DeMarcus Cousins scored 24 points, and Sacramento opened the season with a strong win over Phoenix. — Agencies
