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Cavaliers 102, Celtics 99
LeBron James outdueled his former teammate and NBA Finals
partner Kyrie Irving in the Cleveland Cavaliers' 102-99 win over
the Boston Celtics in their season opener on Tuesday.
However, the bigger loss for Boston was new forward Gordon
Hayward, who fractured his left ankle in the first period. The
injury occurred when Hayward was bumped in the air by LeBron
James and fell with his leg pinned under him.
Hayward, 27, who signed a four-year, $128 million contract in
the offseason with the Celtics, immediately called for help with
his foot and ankle dangling in the wrong direction.
James finished with 29 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists
after missing most of the preseason with a left ankle sprain.
Irving, who requested a trade away from James and the Cavs in
the offseason and was dealt to the Celtics, finished with 22
points and 10 assists in his return to Cleveland.
Rockets 122, Warriors 121
Luc Mbah a Moute ignited a rally with 12 fourth-quarter points,
and P.J. Tucker scored the game's final two on a pair of free
throws with 44.1 seconds left, helping the Houston Rockets stun
the Golden State Warriors 122-121 in the defending champion's
ring-ceremony opener.
Houston trailed by 11 entering the final period and were 114-107
after a Stephen Curry 3-pointer with 5:12 left before rallying
to hand Golden State its second consecutive opening night loss
at home.
The Rockets also beat Golden State in the teams' first meeting
last season, a double-overtime thriller, before the Warriors
captured the season series by taking the final three matchups.
Eric Gordon had a three-point play and Tucker a 3-point shot
during the late flurry, which was capped when two offensive
rebounds gave the Rockets a third possession in the final
minute, down 121-120.
Tucker was then fouled and dropped both free throws for the
game's final scoring.
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