LOS ANGELES (AP) Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio had a career-high 28 points as the Timberwolves rallied from a 16-point deficit in the second half to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 112-111 on Wednesday in their opening game of the new NBA season.
It was an emotional win for the Timberwolves, coming three days after longtime coach and team president Flip Saunders died following a battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Among other games, Cleveland dominated a misfiring Memphis in the Grizzlies’ home opener, Oklahoma City’s Billy Donovan won on his coaching debut against San Antonio, and Miami defeated Charlotte.
Minnesota led by nine points with 2:11 left and seemed to have the game sewn up, but the Lakers finished on a 9-1 run. Lou Williams hit a 3-pointer with 31 seconds left to trim Minnesota’s lead to one point. Minnesota’s Kevin Martin missed a jumper before Williams missed a leaning 4-footer at the buzzer.
Rubio also had 14 assists and Martin scored 23 points for the Timberwolves, while Kobe Bryant scored 24 points in the first game of his 20th season with the Lakers, breaking John Stockton’s NBA record for the most seasons with one team.
Cleveland’s Kevin Love had 17 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Cavaliers to a 106-76 win at Memphis.
Richard Jefferson had 14 points for Cleveland, which capitalized on Memphis’ shooting woes, building a double-digit lead in the first quarter and extending the margin to 32 in the fourth.
Jefferson shot five of six, including all three 3-point tries, part of Cleveland shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc.
Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 12 points apiece.
Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook had 33 points and 10 assists to lead the Thunder past San Antonio 112-106.
Kevin Durant scored 22 points in his first regular-season game since February. He made just 6 of 19 field goals, but hit two critical free throws with 11.5 seconds remaining to put the Thunder in control.
Enes Kanter had 15 points and 16 rebounds off the bench for the Thunder.
Miami’s Chris Bosh scored 21 points in his first game since getting sick last February, and helped the Heat beat Charlotte 104-94.
Dwyane Wade added 20 for Miami, which used a 26-6 run in the second quarter to take control and beat the Hornets for the 14th consecutive time at home.
The Heat made 12 of 20 shots from 3-point range.
Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 19 points.
Los Angeles’ Paul Pierce endeared himself to his new teammates by putting the Clippers ahead for good with a late jumper that sealed a 111-104 victory over Sacramento.
Blake Griffin had 33 points for the Clippers, who blew a 15-point lead before surviving for the season-opening win.
DeMarcus Cousins had 32 points and 13 rebounds for the Kings.
Chicago made it two wins in two night to start the season by taking a 115-100 victory at Brooklyn.
Jimmy Butler scored 24 points and Nikola Mirotic had 18 for the Bulls, who shot 54 percent and led by as many as 19 points. They blew most of that advantage with a defenseless second quarter and quickly pulled away again in the third.
Brook Lopez had 26 points for the Nets.
Portland opened its campaign with a 112-94 home win against an under-strength New Orleans.
C.J. McCollum scored a career-high 37 points, including six 3-pointers, for the Blazers, who have now won 15 successive home openers, surpassing Boston’s record of 14 between 1979 and 1992.
Damian Lillard, Portland’s only remaining starter from last season, had 21 points and 11 assists. The Blazers are the third-youngest team in the NBA this season.
Anthony Davis had 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Pelicans.
Toronto’s Jonas Valanciunas had 21 points and 15 rebounds as the Raptors beat Indiana 106-99.
Eight Dallas players reached double figures in points as the Mavericks won 1110-95, with Raymond Felton leading the way with 18.
Denver led from start to finish in taking a 105-85 win at Houston, led by 23 points by Danilo Gallinari.
Detroit’s Reggie Jackson put the Pistons ahead on a driving layup with 17 seconds left, and the hosts held on to beat Utah 92-87.
New York’s Derrick Williams scored 24 points and Kristaps Porzingis had 16 in his NBA debut as the Knicks defeated Milwaukee 122-97.
Boston’s Isaiah Thomas had 27 points and seven assists in a 112-95 win against Philadelphia.
Washington rallied to beat Orlando 88-87, with John Wall hitting a floater with 12.7 seconds to play.
25% Bonus via Western Union
