LeBron James scored 36 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls 114-108 in overtime on Friday night.
James was at his best after struggling the previous night, scoring eight points in the extra period, and the Cavaliers picked up the win after opening with a loss at home to New York.
Derrick Rose scored 20 points for Chicago, but his first meaningful home game in about a year was spoiled by a sprained left ankle and a dominant performance by the Cavaliers’ megastar.
Photo: EPA
Cleveland rallied from five down in the closing minute of regulation after blowing a 9-point lead to start the fourth quarter.
GRIZZLIES 97, PACERS 89
In Indianapolis, Zach Randolph scored 11 of his 22 points in the third quarter and added 13 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies.
Marc Gasol had 20 points and six rebounds and Mike Conley added 17 points for the Grizzlies, who are 2-0 for just the third time in franchise history. They have a shot to open the season with three straight wins for the first time.
Chris Copeland came off the bench with 16 points and six rebounds and C.J. Miles finished with 13 for the short-handed Pacers.
Conley and Randolph combined for 13 points in a 26-2 run by Memphis to take a 74-63 lead with 2:23 remaining in the third quarter.
SUNS 94, SPURS 89
In Phoenix, Isaiah Thomas scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, rallying Phoenix with a relentless series of driving layups, as the Suns beat the San Antonio Spurs.
Phoenix took its first lead when Thomas’ layup made it 88-87 with 3:34 to play. It was part of a 10-0 run that put the Suns up 92-87 on Markieff Morris’ dunk with 1:09 left.
Manu Ginobili made two of three free throws with 59.8 seconds left to cut the lead to 92-89. Then San Antonio had a chance to tie at the finish, but with 6.5 seconds remaining Boris Diaw could not get the ball inbounds and was called for a five-second violation.
Tony Parker scored 19 for the Spurs and Tim Duncan added 16, none in the final quarter.
CLIPPERS 118, LAKERS 111
In Los Angeles, Blake Griffin scored 39 points and went 11-for-12 from the free-throw line, powering the Los Angeles Clippers to a gritty victory over the winless Lakers.
DeAndre Jordan had 11 points and 13 rebounds during a foul-plagued 39 minutes.
The two-time defending Pacific Division champions have won eight of nine against the Lakers since the start of the 2012-2013 campaign, including victories by margins of 36, 48 and 23 points in the final three meetings last season.
Chris Paul had 12 points, 10 assists and two steals for the Clippers.
Jordan Hill scored 13 of his 21 points in the third quarter and Kobe Bryant had 21, but cost the Lakers down the stretch with his cold shooting.
KINGS 103, TRAIL BLAZERS 94
In Sacramento, California, Rudy Gay scored 40 points — one off his career high — including a pair of key three-pointers, as the Sacramento Kings surprised the Portland Trail Blazers.
DeMarcus Cousins added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Kings, who rebounded from a sloppy season-opening loss to the Golden State Warriors.
Darren Collison added 17 points, eight assists and eight rebounds. Omri Casspi had 10 points.
LaMarcus Aldridge scored 22 points to lead the Trail Blazers, who were coming off a season-opening victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Damian Lillard added 20 points, Wesley Matthews had 16 and Chris Kaman 12.
BUCKS 93, SIXERS 81
In Milwaukee, O.J Mayo scored 10 of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter, and rookie Jabari Parker had 11 points and 10 rebounds in his Milwaukee debut to lead the Bucks in their home opener.
Mayo’s three-pointer with 5 minutes, 10 seconds left put Milwaukee up 88-81. The veteran guard sparked a 7-0 run to start the fourth quarter with another three.
Parker scored nine in the first quarter on four-of-six shooting. Larry Sanders grabbed 15 rebounds.
Rookie Nerlens Noel had 14 points and 10 boards for Philadelphia.
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