NBA roundup: VJ Edgecombe’s historic debut leads Sixers past Celtics

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Tyrese Maxey tossed in a game-high 40 points and rookie VJ Edgecombe got off to a historic start with 34 to lead the visiting Philadelphia 76ers to a 117-116 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night in the NBA opener for each team.

Boston trailed 117-116 after Edgecombe missed two free-throw attempts with 8.5 seconds left, but Payton Pritchard missed two shots on Boston’s final possession.

Edgecombe, the third pick in this year’s NBA draft, rang up the third-most points in an NBA debut all time and the most since Wilt Chamberlain totaled 43 on Oct. 24, 1959. The old Sixers record for the most points by a player in his first game was 30, set by Allen Iverson on Nov. 1, 1996, vs. the Milwaukee Bucks. He also had seven rebounds and three assists.

Boston received 25 points from both Derrick White and Jaylen Brown. The Celtics were 11 of 43 from 3-point territory.

Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid was on a minutes restriction and had four points and six rebounds in 20 minutes. Embiid, who was 1 of 9 from the field, had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April.

Spurs 125, Mavericks 92

Victor Wembanyama turned in a highlight-reel performance with 40 points and 15 rebounds as visiting San Antonio opened the season with a victory over Dallas.

Stephon Castle contributed 22 points, seven rebounds and six assists for the Spurs, who led by as many as 33 and never trailed in the second half.

Anthony Davis had 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Mavericks. No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg posted a double-double in his debut, scoring 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting and adding 10 rebounds.

Jazz 129, Clippers 108

Three Utah players scored at least 20 points in a season-opening rout of Los Angeles in Salt Lake City.

Walker Kessler led the Jazz with 22 points while Lauri Markkanen and Brice Sensabaugh each netted 20 points. The Jazz shot 55.2% from the field and dished out 38 assists while setting a franchise record for points in a season opener.

Ivica Zubac topped the Clippers with 19 points. James Harden had 15 points and 11 assists, and Kawhi Leonard chipped in 10.

Timberwolves 118, Trail Blazers 114

Anthony Edwards recorded 41 points and seven rebounds and Minnesota used a strong fourth quarter to post a victory over host Portland in the season opener for both teams.

Julius Randle had 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists and Jaden McDaniels scored 18 points for Minnesota, which never led by more than four points.

New reserve Jerami Grant scored 29 points on 10-of-14 shooting for Portland. Deni Avdija added 20 points and seven rebounds.

Suns 120, Kings 116

Devin Booker scored 31 points, Dillon Brooks added 22 and host Phoenix overcame a 20-point deficit to beat Sacramento in the season opener for both teams.

Grayson Allen scored all of his 18 points in the second for the Suns, who won in coach Jordan Ott’s NBA debut. Ott is their fourth coach in four seasons.

Zach LaVine put up 30 points, DeMar DeRozan added 29 and Malik Monk amassed 19 points for the Kings, who held a 17-point lead at halftime.

Magic 125, Heat 121

Desmond Bane scored 23 points in his Orlando debut and Wendell Carter Jr. had a clutch rebound and sank two clinching free throws to lift the Magic past visiting Miami in the season opener for both teams.

Bane, who came to Orlando from the Memphis Grizzlies in an offseason trade, went 3-for-7 from 3-point range and was 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero each had 24 points for the Magic. Tristan da Silva added 16, and Jalen Suggs scored 14.

Norman Powell, making his Heat debut, scored a game-high 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Andrew Wiggins put up 18 points for the Heat, who were missing starter Tyler Herro due to a foot injury. Miami’s Davion Mitchell (16 points, 12 assists) and Bam Adebayo (15 points, 12 rebounds) each had a double-double.

Bucks 133, Wizards 120

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 37 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Milwaukee to a season-opening victory over visiting Washington.

Gary Trent Jr. added 17 points and hit five 3-pointers for the Bucks.

In his return to Milwaukee, Khris Middleton led Washington with 23 points. Middleton played 12 seasons for the Bucks, winning an NBA championship in 2021, before he was traded to the Wizards in February. Kyshawn George added 21 points and nine rebounds.

Knicks 119, Cavaliers 111

Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby each played through injury to record double-doubles for host New York, which pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Cleveland in a season opener pitting two Eastern Conference favorites.

Towns, who was listed as doubtful earlier due to a strained right quad, converted the tiebreaking three-point play during the decisive 14-0 fourth-quarter run for the Knicks, who squandered all of a 17-point lead before winning Mike Brown’s debut as head coach. Anunoby, who had an ankle injury, collected 24 points and 14 rebounds while Towns finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Jalen Brunson scored 23 points.

Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 31 points for the Cavaliers, who led the Eastern Conference with a 64-18 record last season before falling to the Indiana Pacers in the second round. Evan Mobley had 22 points and eight rebounds while Sam Merrill finished with 19 points.

Raptors 138, Hawks 118

RJ Barrett scored 25 points to lead seven Toronto players in double figures as the Raptors rolled to an easy win over host Atlanta.

Barrett was 9-for-12 from the floor and added eight rebounds and five assists. Scottie Barnes scored 22 points and had nine assists. Brandon Ingram, playing in his first game for Toronto after being acquired in a trade in February, added 16 points and nine rebounds.

Atlanta was led by Jalen Johnson with 22 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Trae Young had 22 points and five assists and Kristaps Porzingis, Atlanta’s big offseason acquisition, had 20 points and seven rebounds.

Bulls 115, Pistons 111

Nikola Vucevic had 28 points and 14 rebounds and Josh Giddey contributed 19 points and 11 assists to boost Chicago to a victory against visiting Detroit in the teams’ season opener.

Cade Cunningham had 23 points and 10 assists for the Pistons, while Isaiah Stewart had 20 points and 10 boards.

Trailing by double digits for much of the night and 15 entering the fourth quarter, Detroit rallied to tie the game at 105 on Ronald Holland II’s 3-pointer with 2:54 remaining. The teams traded baskets on the next five possessions, with the Bulls grabbing the lead for good at 111-109 on Vucevic’s hook shot with 1:31 left.

Hornets 136, Nets 117

Brandon Miller’s 25 points and LaMelo Ball’s 20 points helped carry Charlotte to a victory against visiting Brooklyn in the teams’ season opener.

Miles Bridges racked up 18 points and 11 rebounds and newcomer Collin Sexton scored 15 points in an encouraging start for the Hornets in a matchup between teams that failed to qualify for the playoffs last season. Charlotte set a franchise record with nine players with double-digit point totals.

Nic Claxton scored 17 points and Cam Thomas had 15, but the Nets couldn’t overcome 44.3% shooting from the field and 17 turnovers. Charlotte shot 53.3% from the field, including 47.2% from 3-point range. Brooklyn’s Day’Ron Sharpe and Egor Demin each added 14 points off the bench.

Grizzlies 128, Pelicans 122

Ja Morant scored a game-high 35 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 18 points, eight rebounds and six blocks to lead Memphis to a victory over visiting New Orleans in the season opener for both teams.

Zion Williamson led the Pelicans with 27 points and nine rebounds, but committed a turnover with 5.6 seconds and the Pelicans trailing by four. Three Pelicans — Jordan Poole, Herbert Jones and rookie Jeremiah Fears scored 17 each.

Memphis, which finished with 12 blocks, made its final six free throws in the closing 16.7 seconds. The Grizzlies overcame losing their two big men — Jackson and Jock Landale — in the fourth quarter due to foul trouble. Grizzlies first-round draft pick Cedric Coward finished with 14 points.

–Field Level Media