NBA: Rockets nip Lakers
Shane Battier made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds left, and the Houston Rockets withstood a furious rally from Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in a 95-93 victory on Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
Bryant scored 45 points, 18 in the fourth quarter, in a rally that came up just short.
Tracy McGrady scored 30 points, Yao Ming had 25 points and 12 rebounds, and the Rockets made Rick Adelman’s debut as their coach a success.
Former Gonzaga University star Ronny Turiaf started and scored eight for the Lakers in 24-plus minutes.
Spurs 106, Trail Blazers 97: Tim Duncan had 24 points and 13 rebounds, and San Antonio got its title defense off to a successful start with a victory over Portland in San Antonio.
Tony Parker added 19 points for the Spurs and Manu Ginobili had 16 points and eight assists.
LaMarcus Aldridge led the Trail Blazers with 27 points.
“We played a very talented team, a very young team. I think they’re going to be pretty good,” Parker said. “They played a tough game. They stayed in the game, and we didn’t shoot the ball well from outside.”
Aldridge said he’s using the Spurs as motivation.
“I was so pumped and I was so excited because I feel one day we are going to be in that position where we’re going to win and get our rings one night,” he said. “I felt like tonight was our first step in that direction.”
Before the game, the team’s fourth championship banner was unveiled to deafening cheers from a sellout crowd.
“It’s to be appreciated and enjoyed until the very, very last minute,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of the title. “So if we lose, blame it on my bad prep.”
“Tim Duncan has agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract extension with the Spurs, an official familiar with the negotiations said.
Jazz 117, Warriors 96: Carlos Boozer had 32 points and 15 rebounds, Deron Williams added 24 points and Utah jumped right back into last season’s playoff form with a victory over Golden State in Oakland, Calif.
Ronnie Brewer scored 18 points and Paul Millsap added 16 for the Jazz, who reached the Western Conference finals last spring with a five-game victory over Golden State in the second round, ending the eighth-seeded Warriors’ unlikely playoff run.
Five months later in both clubs’ season opener, the Jazz still had too many of the qualities lacked by the flashy Warriors, whose raucous sellout crowd was quieted well before the final buzzer.
Baron Davis had 25 points and 10 assists for the Warriors, who ended a 13-year playoff drought and upset the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks last season before bowing out to the Jazz. Mickael Pietrus and Monta Ellis scored 17 points apiece.
Around the league
The Mavericks are bringing back Juwan Howard after agreeing to terms with the veteran forward. Howard and the Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to a buyout Monday. To make room for Howard, the Mavericks waived center DJ Mbenga. … Sasha Pavlovic agreed to a three-year contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, ending his lengthy holdout. Terms weren’t released. … The Boston Celtics have exercised their contract option on starting point guard Rajon Rondo for the 2008-09 season. … Timberwolves point guard Randy Foye will be out several weeks because of a lingering knee injury.