CLEVELAND — Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 32 points as the reigning NBA champions Cavaliers beat Houston 128-120 Tuesday to improve to 4-0 in the new season.
The Cavs made it four straight to open a season for the first time in 16 years thanks to a team effort that saw six players score in double figures.
San Antonio could not keep up, losing its first game of the season in a surprise result at home against Utah, while Miami continued its home dominance against Sacramento with an overtime win.
Cleveland’s Kevin Love scored 24 points while LeBron James added 19 points and 13 rebounds.
Ryan Anderson’s 3-pointer cut Cleveland’s lead to 114-112 with 2:18 to play, but 3-pointers by James and J.R. Smith and another 3 by Irving with 34 seconds left pushed the margin to 125-116.
James Harden scored a season-high 41 points and had 15 assists for the Rockets.
Utah made a season-high 15 3-pointers in a 106-91 win at San Antonio.
George Hill had 22 points and Rodney Hood added 19 for the Jazz, who were in hot shooting form early to build a 12-point lead. Their seven 3-pointers in the first quarter was one more than they had totaled in any game this season.
Kawhi Leonard had 30 points for the Spurs.
Miami made it 15 straight home wins over Sacramento but needed overtime to do it, edging the Kings 108-96.
Goran Dragic scored 25 points and Tyler Johnson had seven of his 22 in overtime for the Heat.
Rudy Gay scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Sacramento, which rallied from nine points down with six minutes left in regulation to force overtime, but was outscored 17-5 in the extra period.
Detroit made it three straight victories by double-digit margins, beating New York 102-89.
Tobias Harris scored 25 points and Marcus Morris added 22 for the Pistons, who held the Knicks to just 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 19 points for Detroit.
Orlando’s Serge Ibaka sank two free throws with 1.4 seconds to put the Magic ahead, and they won 103-101 against Philadelphia.
The Magic rallied from an 18-point deficit to win for the first time in four games this season.
Hollis Thompson led the Sixers with 22 points.
Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo had 24 points and 10 rebounds as the Bucks won 117-113 at New Orleans, keeping the Pelicans winless.
Minnesota’s Zach LaVine scored 31 points and hit five 3-pointers as the Timberwolves crushed Memphis 116-80.
Golden State’s Stephen Curry scored 23 points in the third quarter, and just five for the rest of the game, as they Warriors defeated Portland 127-104.
Indiana’s Paul George scored 30 points, including Indiana’s final 12 of the game to rally the Pacers over the Los Angeles Lakers 115-108. — AP
