Indiana recorded the best season start in franchise history by improving to 7-0 with a 96-91 win over Brooklyn on Saturday.
Among the day’s other games, Jeff Green’s buzzer-beating three-pointer lifted Boston over Miami, Cleveland also won a nail-biter by downing Philadelphia in double overtime and the Los Angeles Clippers surged past Houston in the second half.
Indiana’s Paul George scored 24 points as the Pacers extended the NBA’s only undefeated record.
David West added 18 points and hit the clinching free throws for the Pacers, who had won their first six games in 1970-1971 when they played in the ABA.
They have the longest winning streak to open an NBA season since both the Lakers and New Orleans were 8-0 in 2010-2011, according to STATS.
Deron Williams and Joe Johnson each had 17 points for the Nets, who lost at home for the first time this season.
Boston’s Jeff Green received a pass from Gerald Wallace in the right corner and unleashed his long shot over the hands of LeBron James for a memorable winner — which stood up after a video review — in the Celtics 111-110 victory over the Miami Heat.
Wallace hit a layup with 1.6 seconds remaining and fouled Dwyane Wade with 0.6 seconds remaining. Wade missed the first free throw and deliberately bounced the second attempt off the backboard.
Green finished with 24 points and was five of eight on three-pointers. Avery Bradley scored 17 points for the Celtics.
James led Miami with 25 points and 10 assists.
Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 39 points and hit the winning layup with 0.6 seconds remaining in second overtime to lift the Cavaliers to a 127--125 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Cavaliers called time out with 11.3 seconds remaining in second overtime and the scores tied. Irving, who missed potential game-winning shots at the end of regulation and first overtime, took the inbounds pass, avoided a double team near the top of the key, drove the lane and scored on a left-handed lay-in.
Philadelphia called timeout, but the inbounds pass went out of bounds.
Evan Turner, whose basket tied the game at the end of first overtime, led the Sixers with 31 points.
Los Angeles’ Blake Griffin and J.J. Redick scored 22 points apiece as the Clippers used an 18-0 run in the second half to rally for a 107-94 victory over the Houston Rockets.
Griffin had seven rebounds and Redick shot eight for 15 from the field for Los Angeles, who shot 14 for 23 on free throws, but just nine for 24 on three-pointers.
Dwight Howard had 21 points and eight rebounds for the Rockets, but was just five for 11 on free throws.
Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Trail Blazers to a 96-85 win over Sacramento.
Wesley Matthews scored 21 points for the Blazers.
DeMarcus Cousins had 15 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter and also grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Kings, who have lost five straight since winning their season-opener.
Toronto’s Tyler Hansbrough scored a season-high 23 points as the Raptors snapped a seven-game home losing streak against Utah and beat the Jazz 115-91.
Atlanta’s Jeff Teague had 19 points and 13 assists to lead the Hawks past the Orlando Magic 104-94.
Dallas’ Monta Ellis got the best of his former team, shaking off boos from the crowd while contributing 18 points and five assists to help the Mavericks hold off the Milwaukee Bucks 91-83.
Memphis’ Zach Randolph had 23 points and 11 rebounds, and six Grizzlies reached double figures in their 108-90 rout of the Golden State Warriors.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care