NBA: Celtics down Magic for third straight win, Spurs shock Sixers

LOS ANGELES -- Boston forward Jayson Tatum poured in 40 points as the Celtics beat the Orlando Magic 126-120 on Saturday to improve to 3-0 in the fledgling NBA season while the Philadelphia 76ers fell to 0-3.

The rebuilding San Antonio Spurs stunned the Sixers 114-105 in Philadelphia, where frustrated 76ers coach Doc Rivers said after the game his team was "not ready" to win yet.

In Orlando, Tatum's exploits and a 27-point contribution from guard Derrick White helped the Celtics notch another win in a game that featured 21 lead changes with neither team able to build a double-digit advantage.

Orlando big man Wendell Carter knotted the score at 111-111 with a put-back dunk with 4:23 to play.

Carter then fouled Tatum and Tatum's two free throws ignited a 10-2 scoring run that put Boston up for good.

Terrence Ross led the Magic with 29 points and top draft pick Paolo Banchero added 23, but Orlando fell to 0-3.

That's also where the 76ers found themselves after the inexperienced Spurs -- whose championship chances were downplayed by none other than coach Gregg Popovich before the season -- drained 16 three-pointers on the way to their second straight win.

Devin Vassell scored 22 points, Keldon Johnson added 21 and Tre Jones chipped in 17 for San Antonio while Doug McDermott made four three-pointers on the way to 14 points.

San Antonio's top-scoring trio all have less than three years experience in the league, and Popovich said he was impressed with the young team's performance on the second night of a road back-to-back.

"What it showed me was they are serious about getting better and knowing what the league is like," Popovich said.

The Spurs withstood a 40-point performance from Philadelphia's star big man Joel Embiid but held James Harden to 12.

"We're not ready yet," Rivers said. "Honestly, we're just not. We're not ready to win yet. You can feel that and so we've got a lot of work to do.

"It's almost like we played these first two games hard, competed, and then felt like 'OK, now we can win some games' -- you've still got to go out and earn the game."

- Mavs rout Grizzlies -

In Dallas, Luka Doncic scored 21 of his 32 points in the first quarter and the Mavericks steamrolled the Memphis Grizzlies 137-96 in their home opener.

Ja Morant, coming off a 49-point display against the Houston Rockets, finished with 20 points for the Grizzlies, who were on the back foot from the opening tip-off.

Dallas led by as many as 25 points in the first period and, with the game well in hand, Doncic sat out the fourth quarter.

In Milwaukee, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 44 points as the Bucks launched a six-game homestand with a dominant 125-105 victory over the Houston Rockets.

The two-time NBA Most Valuable Player was frighteningly efficient in less than 28 minutes on the court, connecting on 17 of his 21 shots from the field, including two of three from three-point range.

The Greek superstar also pulled down 12 rebounds and made eight of 13 free throw attempts, and with 3,508 career free throws overtook Sidney Moncrief (3,505) as the Bucks' all-time leader from the foul line.

Milwaukee opened the game on an 11-0 run and never trailed against a flat Rockets team that fell to 0-3.

In Miami, Jimmy Butler scored 24 points and Max Strus added 20 off the bench as the Heat held off the Toronto Raptors 112-109 in a game that saw a player from each team ejected.

The Heat led by 19 when Toronto's Christian Koloko and Miami's Caleb Martin were ejected with 7:46 left in the third quarter.

They tangled after fighting for a rebound and ended up scuffling in the courtside seats.

The fired-up Raptors then went on a 17-2 scoring run, but Miami held on down the stretch.

Agence France-Presse

Ja, dominant Grizzlies cruise past Magic

Ja Morant had 25 points and 7 assists, Desmond Bane scored 24 points and the host Memphis Grizzlies completed a season sweep of the Orlando Magic with a 124-96 victory on Saturday night.

Memphis shot 50 percent in the 1st half, highlighted by an 11-for-20 effort from 3-point range as Morant and reserve guard Tyus Jones each had 3 triples, en route to a commanding 68-45 halftime lead. The Grizzlies pulled ahead by 32 points in the 4th quarter as the Magic lost in Memphis for the 17th time in 21 overall meetings.

Morant played 28 minutes and went 9-for-17, including 3 for 6 from beyond the arc. Jones finished with 14 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. converted 9 of 11 free throws and scored 13 points for Memphis, which also defeated Orlando 135-115 on February 5.

Saturday's rematch saw the Grizzlies shoot 50 percent from the floor and 14 for 34 (41 percent) from long range. Brandon Clarke contributed 11 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals and Kyle Anderson, who was questionable because of left foot soreness, scored 7 of his 9 points in the 1st quarter.

The Magic, who fell to 2-12 playing the 2nd game of a back-to-back, were led by Cole Anthony's 19 points and Franz Wagner's 15 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds. Mo Wagner totaled 17 points and 11 rebounds off the bench after missing 9 consecutive games with a left rib contusion.

Ignas Brazdeikis scored 12 points, Mo Bamba had 10 points and Markelle Fultz came off the bench for six points and three assists in his third game of the season.

Orlando was without starters Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. Suggs did not play after spraining his right ankle late in the fourth quarter of Orlando's 103-97 win at Toronto on Friday, while Carter was out for the second straight game due to a non-COVID illness.

Franz Wagner, Chuma Okeke, R.J. Hampton, Anthony and Bamba made up Orlando's starting unit for the second time this season. The Magic trailed 31-29 after the first quarter, but Memphis outscored Orlando 37-16 in the second stanza highlighted by a Ziaire Williams one-handed dunk in transition off Morant's alley-oop pass.

-reuters

NBA: Balanced attack guides Magic past Siakam, Raptors

Cole Anthony had 15 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists and the visiting Orlando Magic defeated the Toronto Raptors 103-97 Friday night.

Jalen Suggs also scored 15 points and Mo Bamba added 14 for the Magic, who had lost their 9 previous regular-season games to the Raptors.

Franz Wagner, Gary Harris and R.J. Hampton each scored 11 points and Chuma Okeke had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Pascal Siakam had 34 points and 14 rebounds for the Raptors, who have lost 2 in a row. Malachi Flynn added 20 points, Precious Achiuwa 11 and Scottie Barnes 10.

The Magic led by as many as 14 points in the 3rd quarter and took a 12-point lead into the 4th. The lead reached 15 with 10:18 to play in the 4th on Hampton's jump shot and free throw. Toronto responded with 5 straight points.

Wagner's layup boosted the lead to 14 with 6:12 remaining. Toronto responded again, and Yuta Watanabe's block started Siakam on his way to a dunk that cut the lead to 10 with 4:18 remaining.

Barnes made a layup and a free throw with 2:47 left, cutting the Toronto deficit to 7. Bamba came back with 2 dunks to increase the lead to 11 with 2:07 to play.

Orlando led 27-23 after one quarter, and Bamba made a layup and a free throw to give Orlando a 10-point lead with 3:26 remaining in the second quarter.

Orlando's lead reached 11 on Anthony's 3-pointer with 1:44 remaining in the half. Achiuwa made one of two free throws to complete the first-half scoring, with Orlando leading 48-39.

Harris made two free throws with 4:41 left in the third quarter to increase the lead to 60-46. Siakam's 3-pointer capped a 7-0 run that trimmed the margin to seven. Okeke and Harris responded with 3-pointers, putting Orlando up 13 with 2:18 left. The Magic led 72-60 after the third.

OG Anunoby (finger) and Fred VanVleet (knee) were out for Toronto.

Orlando was without Markelle Fultz (knee injury management) and Wendell Carter Jr. (non-COVID-19 illness).

-reuters

NBA: Malcolm Brogdon leads Pacers' rally for OT win over Magic

Malcolm Brogdon collected 31 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists as the visiting Indiana Pacers rallied for a 122-114 overtime victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

Indiana overcame an 18-point deficit late in the third quarter with a spirited fourth and a dominant performance in overtime.

Tyrese Haliburton dunk to tie the game in OT before he and Buddy Hield each sank 3-pointers to give the Pacers a six-point lead with 1:05 to go.

Indiana avenged a 109-103 setback at Orlando on Monday. Brogdon returned after sitting out that contest, the second night of a back-to-back set, as he works his way back from a right Achilles injury.

Haliburton finished with 21 points, Hield added 17 and Isaiah Jackson made all eight of his shots to contribute 16 points as Indiana salvaged the finale of the three-game season series.

Jalen Smith added 15 points and 15 rebounds off the Indiana bench. He was fined $20,000 by the NBA earlier on Wednesday for directing profane language toward a game official during the Monday game.

Orlando rookie Franz Wagner scored 28 points and Mo Bamba added 19 points and 12 rebounds. Bamba tipped home a rebound with 5.8 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to force overtime.

Wendell Carter Jr. collected 13 points and 18 rebounds to log his sixth straight double-double for the Magic, who saw their modest two-game winning streak come to a halt.

Orlando held a 91-76 lead after three quarters before Indiana opened the fourth on a 25-8 run. Brogdon scored 11 points during that surge and Haliburton drained a 3-pointer to give the Pacers a 101-99 lead with 4:58 to play.

The Magic appeared to seize control of the game in the third, with Wagner sinking a pair of 3-pointers, two interior baskets and a pair of free throws during Orlando's 18-5 run to begin the quarter.

Bamba enjoyed a fast start by making his first four shots -- including two from 3-point range -- to stake Orlando to a 16-8 lead. The Magic extended their lead to 13 points midway into the second quarter before Oshae Brissett's 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds remaining brought the Pacers within four at halftime.

-reuters

NBA: Celtics cruise past hapless Magic

Jaylen Brown scored 26 points, Dennis Schroder contributed 22 points off the bench and the Boston Celtics extended their season-best win streak to five games with a 116-83 victory over the host Orlando Magic on Sunday night.

Boston easily overcame an uneven shooting performance by All-Star Jayson Tatum, who had 15 points on 6-for-18 shooting from the floor 2-for-8 from 3-point range, to defeat Orlando for the ninth straight time dating back to January 2020. Tatum also collected nine rebounds and seven assists.

Al Horford's double-double featured 13 points and 11 rebounds. Schroder hit 8 of 15 shots, making four 3-pointers, and reserve forward Grant Williams (5-for-9 shooting) also provided key minutes with 12 points as Boston improved to 12-4 over its last 16 games.

Robert Williams III added 10 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots despite foul trouble in Boston's wire-to-wire victory.

Jalen Suggs paced Orlando with 17 points, but the Magic shot 35.8 percent (29-for-81) from the floor and made only five triples (5-for-26) against one of the league's top defensive clubs.

Wendell Carter Jr. was the only other Magic player in double figures, scoring 14 points to go along with eight rebounds. Cole Anthony had nine points on 3-for-10 shooting and Mo Bamba (10 rebounds), Franz Wagner (seven rebounds) and Chuma Okeke scored eight points apiece.

The Celtics held a 29-22 scoring edge in the third quarter for a 78-61 lead, then outscored Orlando 38-22 during the fourth to sweep the three-game season series. 

Boston once again stifled the Magic offensively after holding them to a season-low 79 points on Nov. 3.

The Magic converted 20 of 21 free throws during their 20th home loss of the season.

Boston missed 12 3-pointers in the first quarter, but the Celtics managed to make five triples in the next period en route to a 49-39 halftime lead. The Celtics ended the first half on a 12-5 run, while Orlando shot 32 percent during the opening 24 minutes with a 1-for-12 mark from beyond the arc.

-reuters

NBA: Mavs stay hot with 108-92 win over Magic

Luka Doncic had 23 points and nine rebounds, and Kristaps Porzingis scored 19 points playing his first game in 15 days, helping the host Dallas Mavericks to a 108-92 victory over the Orlando Magic on Saturday night.

Porzingis, who grabbed seven rebounds and scored all but seven of his points in the first quarter, cleared the league's health and safety protocol after missing the previous seven games.

Dallas head coach Jason Kidd also cleared protocol following a four-game absence as he watched the Mavericks win for the ninth time in 11 games.

Doncic, who went 7-for-19 from the field and 8-for-9 at the free-throw line, scored 13 first-half points as the Mavericks built a 55-43 lead. Jalen Brunson (8-for-11 shooting) also had a strong outing with 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 17 points off the bench, making three of Dallas' 12 3-pointers. The Mavericks led by as many as 23 points during a chippy fourth quarter as Orlando's Moe Wagner and Doncic were assessed technical fouls with 8:59 remaining.

Orlando, which was without center Wendell Carter Jr. (hamstring) for the fifth straight game, was led by Robin Lopez, Jalen Suggs and Wagner, who scored 16 points apiece. Cole Anthony was the only other Magic player in double figures with 12 points.

Magic center Mo Bamba returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games with a sprained right toe, posting six points and six rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.

The Mavericks converted 32-of-38 free throws -- including a 9-for-12 effort by Porzingis -- compared with 11 of 16 for Orlando, which has lost 10 consecutive games in Dallas dating to 2011.

Orlando also committed 17 total turnovers that resulted in 21 Dallas points.

Dallas completed a back-to-back sweep that included Friday's 27-point victory at Memphis.

The Mavericks led Orlando 32-23, when Porzingis pump-faked a pair of Magic defenders and hit a corner three as time expired in the first quarter.

-reuters-

NBA: Julius Randle triple-double leads Knicks past Magic

Reggie Bullock scored 20 points and came up with a big steal with 5.9 seconds left as the host New York Knicks held on for a 94-93 victory over the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.

Bullock saved the Knicks from completely collapsing after they blew a 16-point, third-quarter lead and trailed by five points twice in the fourth. 

The Knicks held a 94-90 lead after Alec Burks hit a floater in the lane with 31.5 seconds left but Orlando drew within 94-93 on Evan Fournier's 3-pointer with 27.6 seconds left.

The Knicks had a chance to clinch the win but Bullock got tied up by Fournier and lost a jump ball with 19.5 seconds left. 

After Orlando called a timeout, Aaron Gordon inbounded to Fournier, who moved around a screen by Nikola Vucevic but Bullock trailed Fournier and came up with the clutch steal beyond the 3-point line.

Burks led the Knicks with 21 points and also added 10 assists. 

Julius Randle posted his third triple-double of the season with 18 points, a career-high 17 assists and 10 rebounds as the Knicks shot 43 percent and bounced back from close losses to Brooklyn and Philadelphia.

Fournier scored 23 points for Orlando, which lost its ninth straight game. Gordon and Vucevic added 17 apiece for the Magic, who shot 42.7 percent

After allowing the game's first five points, the Magic took a 20-10 lead on Fournier's one-legged 3-pointer with 5:50 left in the first quarter. 

New York outscored Orlando, 14-6, the rest of the frame to get within 26-24 after 12 minutes, before taking a 45-44 lead by intermission.

Randle's 3-pointer put New York up 72-56 with 1:59 left in the third but Orlando scored the final 10 points of the quarter and got within 72-66 after Khem Birch hit a bank shot with one second left. 

Orlando regained the lead when Fournier's 3-pointer made it 75-74 with 9:54 left in the fourth.

Orlando took its second five-point lead of the fourth at 87-82 on Vucevic's 14-footer with 5:15 left but the Knicks took an 88-87 lead on Frank Ntilikina's 3-pointer with 3:49 remaining. 

Randle then hit two jumpers to give the Knicks a 92-87 edge with 2:39 left.

Orlando had a chance to retake the lead when Bullock missed a 3-pointer with 56.4 seconds left in the third but Dwayne Bacon missed a wide-open 3-pointer with 44.7 seconds to go.

-reuters

Kevin Durant’s 49 points carry Warriors past Magic

OAKLAND, Calif. — Ever the perfectionist and competitor, Kevin Durant knows he should have scored well more than 50 points if a few more shots had fallen.

“I’m pretty sure all my teammates felt that way,” the typically efficient Golden State star said.


Durant scored a season-high 49 points, giving Golden State the lead on a three-point play with 1:19 left before hitting a 3-pointer with 22 seconds remaining to send the Warriors past the Orlando Magic, 116-110 on Monday night.

“I still missed 17 shots. I tricked off a 50-piece. I felt like I had some shots that I wish I could have made last game and this game,” Durant said.



“I could be in a better groove I feel like. Just playing a lot of minutes and having the ball in your hands, especially with the way the game is, the flow of the game. Obviously if you can score a little bit, you’re going to score some points in this league.”

Durant topped his 44-point performance two nights earlier with another brilliant outing on both ends, even if he didn’t like shooting 16 for 33. Klay Thompson was his scoring sidekick once more as the two-time defending NBA champions played without injured All-Stars Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.



Thompson hit his sixth 3 of the night to tie it with 1:45 left and finished with 29 points.

The past three games, Durant has scored 125 points and Thompson 91.

“It was hard to stop them. That’s why they’re such great players,” Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic said. “They made shot after shot at the end.”

Durant became the seventh player in Warriors history to post consecutive 40-point games — along with Rick Barry, Wilt Chamberlain, Curry, Antawn Jamison, Purvis Short and Thompson, according to Elias.

Vucevic had 30 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for the Magic, who were coming off a victory at the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.


Durant also had nine assists, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks, having taken his defense to another level the past week.

He and Thompson have carried the load as the Warriors won a third straight following a rare four-game losing streak.

Golden State closed the third on a 12-2 run to pull within 83-79 heading into the final 12 minutes. Mo Bamba’s 3 with 10:35 to go gave the Magic an 88-79 lead before Thompson answered from deep the next two possessions.



Quinn Cook, starting in place of Curry, contributed eight points, six rebounds and four assists as Golden State concluded a four-game homestand by beating the Magic for the 11th straight time — the Warriors’ second-longest active streak against an opponent after 16 wins in a row against Phoenix.

The Warriors shot just 4 for 15 from 3-point range in the first half and fell behind 64-47 at the break. They hope two-time MVP Curry will return at some point during their upcoming five-game road trip. Curry missed his 11th straight game with a strained left groin, while Green sat out a sixth in a row and eighth in all with a sprained right toe.

Evan Fournier made four of his first six shots then missed his final eight for Orlando.

CURRY UPDATE

Curry scrimmaged Monday and is scheduled to go through a full practice Tuesday, making it possible he could play Thursday at Toronto.

“He might,” coach Steve Kerr said.

Curry was hurt Nov. 8 against the Bucks trying to contest a shot in transition by Eric Bledsoe.

“Steph looked good today. Totally dominated the film crew,” Kerr quipped. “They couldn’t guard him. (Assistant) Willie Green put up a pretty good fight, but he’s a couple of years past his prime.”

TIP-INS

Magic: Aaron Gordon began 0 for 6 then left in the third with lower back tightness and didn’t return. … The Magic are 2-2 on the road vs. the West. … Orlando hasn’t beaten the Warriors since Dec. 14, 2012, and not in Oakland since Dec. 3 that same year.

Warriors: Durant is 29 of 30 from the free throw line the past two games. “I’m trying to stay over 90 this year. Hopefully my 3-point percentage comes up, too.”… Golden State is 7-1 against the Eastern Conference this season. … The Warriors won their sixth straight at home vs. Orlando. … Green was limited to conditioning work Monday and rode the bike. He needs to be on the court a couple of times before Kerr is ready to put him back in a game. … Key reserve Alfonzo McKinnie was sidelined a sixth consecutive game.

UP NEXT

Magic: Continue their West Coast swing at Portland on Wednesday.

Warriors: At Raptors on Thursday trying for a ninth straight victory in the series and fifth in a row in Toronto.

source: sports.inquirer.net