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NBA game roundup: Knicks spoil James’ homecoming
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
CLEVELAND — Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points, including a big basket over LeBron James in the final minute, and the New York Knicks spoiled James’ reunion celebration with a 95-90 victory over the revamped Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.
The Cavaliers fizzled under the spotlight of opening night. James shot just 5-for-15 and finished with 17 points, five rebounds and eight turnovers. It was the superstar forward’s first game back since announcing July 11 he was returning to Cleveland after four years in Miami.
Cleveland cut a nine-point deficit to 88-85 in the final minute, but guard J.R. Smith’s floater with 48 seconds left pushed the Knicks’ lead to 90-85. Anthony followed with a jumper over James to stretch it to 92-87. Smith had 11 points as part of a Knicks bench that outscored the Cavs’ reserves 41-12.
Anthony, the star forward who re-signed with New York in July, made nine of 17 shots from the floor.
Mavericks 120, Jazz 102
DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points, and sizzling Dallas pounded Utah.
The Mavericks (1-1) bounced back from a tough opening-night loss at San Antonio by blowing the Jazz out the gym early. Utah fell to 0-2, with both its setbacks coming by double figures.
Dallas shot 55 percent for the game, 60 percent in the first half, and outscored the Jazz 52-28 in the paint. Nowitzki played only 24 stress-free minutes, and the power forward knocked down nine of 13 shots.
The Mavs had seven players score at least 12 points.
Timberwolves 97, Pistons 91
MINNEAPOLIS — Center Nikola Pekovic notched his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Minnesota fended off a fourth-quarter rally by Detroit for the victory.
After holding a one-point lead at the half, the Timberwolves opened the third quarter by outscoring the Pistons 23-7.
The Pistons slowly chipped away at the lead. Detroit was within one point with a little over two minutes to go, but Timberwolves guard Mo Williams hit a long jump shot and forward Thaddeus Young (19 points) added a 3-pointer on the next possession to keep Minnesota ahead for good.
Wizards 105, Magic 98
ORLANDO, Fla. — All-Star point guard John Wall had 30 points and 12 assists, leading Washington past Orlando.
The Wizards, who lost their opener Tuesday in Miami, led by as many as 17 points early in the fourth quarter and then held off a late Magic charge. The Magic closed to 100-98 with 44 seconds remaining before Wall scored the final five points.
All Washington starters scored in double figures. Center Marcin Gortat had 20 points and 12 rebounds. Forward Paul Pierce added 16 points, and forward Nene and guard Garrett Temple had 12 each. Center Nikola Vucevic led the Magic with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
