Associated Press
NEW YORK — Paul George scored 24 points and the Indiana Pacers improved the NBA’s only undefeated record and the best start in franchise history to 7-0 by beating the Brooklyn Nets 96-91 Saturday night.
David West added 18 points and hit the clinching free throws for the Pacers, who had won their first six games in 1970-71, when they played in the ABA. They have the longest winning streak to open an NBA season since both the Lakers and New Orleans were 8-0 in 2010-11, according to STATS.
“I really don’t get too caught up in the historical value of it, other than we’re ahead of the race,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. “We’re trying to get the 1 seed to put ourselves in the position come playoff time with the best chance to come out of the East.”
Roy Hibbert finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Lance Stephenson also scored 15 points.
“We executed. That’s the maturity for this team,” George said. “Years ago we would have lost that game. We would have lost this game tonight just on not making shots and not executing and getting guys in spots to be aggressive at. But we’re growing as a team. We’re getting mature and we’re finding ways to win games.”
Deron Williams and Joe Johnson each had 17 points for the Nets, who fell to 2-4 and lost at home for the first time this season. Brook Lopez scored 16 and Paul Pierce had 15.
CELTICS 111, HEAT 110
MIAMI — Jeff Green hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer and Boston beat Miami for its third straight win.
Gerald Wallace’s pass found Green in the right corner, where he unleashed a shot over the outstretched hands of LeBron James. The shot was confirmed after a video review.
Wallace hit a layup with 1.6 seconds remaining and fouled Dwayne Wade with 0.6 seconds remaining. Wade missed the first free throw and deliberately bounced the second attempt off the backboard.
Green finished with 24 points and was 5 of 8 on 3-pointers. Avery Bradley scored 17 points and Jordan Crawford added 15 for the Celtics.
James led Miami with 25 points and 10 assists. Chris Bosh had 20 points and Wade finished with 18.
CAVS 127, 76ERS 125, 2OT
CLEVELAND — Kyrie Irving scored a season-high 39 points and hit the winning layup with 0.6 seconds remaining in the second overtime to lift Cleveland over Philadelphia.
The Cavaliers called time out after rookie Michael Carter-Williams’ 3-pointer Irving tied the game with 11.3 seconds remaining in the second overtime. Irving, who missed potential game-winning shots at the end of regulation and the first overtime, took the inbounds pass, avoided a double team near the top of the key, drove the lane and scored on a left-handed lay-in.
Philadelphia called timeout, but Carter-Williams’ inbounds pass went out of bounds.
Thaddeus Young’s lay-in with 5.5 seconds remaining tied the game in regulation and Evan Turner’s baseline drive tied it with 8.7 seconds left in the first overtime.
Turner led the Sixers with 31 points and Young had 29.
CLIPPERS 107
ROCKETS 94
HOUSTON — Blake Griffin and J.J. Redick scored 22 points apiece and Los Angeles used an 18-0 run in the second half to rally for the victory over Houston.
Jamal Crawford had 16 points, Chris Paul added 14 points and 13 assists, and DeAndre Jordan had 12 points and 18 rebounds for the Clippers. Griffin had seven rebounds and Redick shot 8 for 15 from the field.
Los Angeles shot 14 for 23 on free throws, but just 9 for 24 on 3-pointers.
Dwight Howard had 21 points and eight rebounds for the Rockets, but was just 5 for 11 on free throws. Chandler Parsons added 23 points and eight rebounds, while Patrick Beverley scored 19 points.
James Harden, who was a game-time decision with a bruised left foot, had 12 points on 4-for-15 shooting.
RAPTORS 115, JAZZ 91
TORONTO — Tyler Hansbrough scored a season-high 23 points, DeMar DeRozan added 18 and Toronto snapped a seven-game home losing streak against Utah.
Jonas Valanciunas scored 14 points and Rudy Gay had 11 as the Raptors earned their first home victory over the Jazz since Dec. 22, 2004.
Raptors guard Kyle Lowry sprained his right ankle on the final play of the first half and did not return. He finished with nine points.
Playing for the fourth time in five days, struggling Utah was no match for a Raptors team that had lost four of its previous five, including three straight. Gordon Hayward scored 24 points and Derrick Favors had 17 for the Jazz.
HAWKS 104, MAGIC 94
ATLANTA — Jeff Teague had 19 points and 13 assists and Paul Millsap scored 18 points with 11 rebounds to lead Atlanta past Orlando.
Arron Afflalo finished with 21 points for Orlando, which has dropped 15 straight on the road dating to March 4.
Mike Scott had 17 points in a reserve role for Atlanta and Al Horford scored 15 and Kyle Korver added 14.
Korver made a 3 in his 79th consecutive game to surpass Dennis Scott and tie Michael Adams for second place on the NBA career list.
The Hawks have won nine straight over the Magic at Philips Arena.
MAVS 91, BUCKS 83
MILWAUKEE — Monta Ellis got the best of his former team, shaking off boos from the crowd while contributing 18 points and five assists to help Dallas hold off Milwaukee.
Dirk Nowitzki had 16 points and Shawn Marion added 14 for the Mavericks, who blew a big first-half lead with sloppy offensive play.
O.J. Mayo had 28 points and Caron Butler added 19 for the Bucks, who were playing their second straight game without forward Larry Sanders. Mayo also was facing his former team.
GRIZZLIES 108
WARRIORS 90
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Zach Randolph had 23 points and 11 rebounds, and six Memphis players reached double figures in the rout of Golden State.
Mike Conley added 20 points and six assists, Marc Gasol had 18 points and Memphis won its 10th straight over the Warriors. Mike Miller finished with 15 points, connecting on all but one of his five shots outside the 3-point arc.
Stephen Curry, who returned after missing Friday night’s loss at San Antonio with a bruised left ankle, led the Warriors with 22 points. Andre Iguodala had 19 points, hitting 8 of 10 shots. David Lee finished with 13 points and nine rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
Memphis dominated the inside game all night with a 54-18 advantage in the paint, outrebounding the Warriors 44-33.
