Duncan lifts Spurs past Davis, Hornets
NBA: Tim Duncan scored 24 points, Tony Parker hit a huge 3-pointer, and the San Antonio Spurs opened the season with a 99-95 victory over the New Orleans Hornets in the debut for top draft pick Anthony Davis on Wednesday night in New Orleans.
Davis scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds, a promising start for the player who spent only one year at Kentucky, leading the Wildcats to the national title.
But the wily Spurs showed the rebuilding Hornets a thing or two.
After Davis made two free throws with 1:08 remaining to give New Orleans its final lead, 95-94, the Spurs closed strong. Parker connected from beyond the arc with 49.6 seconds left, finishing with 23 points. After Greivis Vasquez missed an open 3, Duncan padded the lead with two fouls shots.
• Lakers drop second straight: Dwight Howard’s double-double was not enough for the visiting Los Angeles Lakers in a 116-106 loss to the inspired Portland Trail Blazers.
Nicolas Batum had 26 points and the Blazers led by as many as 19 in handing the Lakers their second straight loss to open the season. L.A.’s troubles were compounded when guard Steve Nash limped to the locker room late in the first half.
• Jazz top Mavs behind Williams duo: Mo Williams and Marvin Williams each scored 21 points to lead the Jazz to a 113-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Salt Lake City.
The score was tied at 70 before Mo Williams hit back-to-back 3-pointers then scored on a driving layup. Marvin Williams followed with his second 3-pointer, putting Utah up 11 points with 2:57 left in the third.
• Big fourth from Landry propels Warriors: Carl Landry scored 14 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and the Golden State Warriors beat the host Phoenix Suns 87-85 in the teams’ season opener.
With 4.4 seconds left the Suns had a chance at a game-winning shot, but Sebastian Telfair’s 3-point attempt came after the buzzer, and misfired anyway.
• Clips open season with win: Jamal Crawford scored 29 points in 30 minutes in his first official game with his new team, and the host Los Angeles Clippers converted 21 turnovers into 29 points in a 101-92 victory that extended the Memphis Grizzlies’ NBA-record streak of opening-night losses to 12.
• Harden magnificent in Rockets debut: James Harden had 37 points and 12 assists in a stirring debut for Houston, and Carlos Delfino made four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to lift the Rockets to a 105-96 victory in Auburn Hills, Mich., over the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit led 83-72 early in the fourth, but Harden and Delfino brought the Rockets back. Harden fell just short of his career high of 40 points, and his 12 assists were a career best.
• Pacers win in closing seconds: George Hill scored the go-ahead basket with two seconds left, completing the Indiana Pacers’ rally for a 90-88 season-opening win over the host Toronto Raptors.
David West scored 14 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter for the Pacers, who trailed 84-74 with just less than 6 minutes left.
• Nets-Knicks opener in Brooklyn postponed: The Knicks-Nets game that was scheduled for tonight at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn has been postponed at Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s request after damage from Hurricane Sandy.
Though the NBA had said Tuesday night the game would go on as planned, Bloomberg asked the league that it be called off.
• New chairman says Grizzlies to stay in Memphis: The Memphis Grizzlies announced that the reported $377 million sale by Michael Heisley had been finalized to a group led by Robert J. Pera.
The Grizzlies new chairman, Pera, made the ownerships commitment to staying in Tennessee clear. “The Grizzlies are here to stay in Memphis,” he said.
Querrey shocks Djokovic in Paris
Tennis: American Sam Querrey used 18 aces to upset top-ranked Novak Djokovic 0-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the second round of the Paris Masters.
It marked the first time since March 2010 that Djokovic’s been eliminated so early in a tournament.
NYC Marathon to go on in wake of Sandy
Miscellany: The New York City Marathon is a go for Sunday, and while logistical questions persist one thing is certain: The 26-mile route will have a disaster for a backdrop.
Race organizers were still trying to assess how widespread damage from Superstorm Sandy might affect plans, including getting runners into the city to transporting them to the start line on Staten Island.
• NHL isn’t making much noise: All was quiet on the NHL labor front, marking the 13th consecutive day representatives of the league and the players’ association did not meet.
The lockout, imposed by the owners, hits its 47th day today.