DAMIAN Lillard scored 30 points while leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 124-109 road win over the Philadelphia Sixers on Wednesday night (Thursday in Manila) in the season opener for both teams.
Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 25 points on 8-of-11 shooting to go along with 14 rebounds and seven assists for Milwaukee. Bobby Portis chipped in 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting off the bench, while Taurean Prince also had 16 points, fueled by 4-of-5 success on 3-point attempts.
Tyrese Maxey shot 10 of 31 en route to 25 points for Philadelphia, which played without Joel Embiid and Paul George, both of whom are nursing knee injuries. Kelly Oubre Jr. pitched in 21 points, while Andre Drummond had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
The Sixers led by one point after the first quarter, and the score remained close for most of the second quarter before the Bucks began to create some separation. Milwaukee was up 58-47 at halftime before erupting for 42 points in the third quarter, including 15 from Lillard.
In the other games, it was the Pelicans 123, Bulls 111; Pacers 115, Pistons 109; Magic 116, Heat 97; Cavs 136, Raptors 106; Hawks 120, Nets 116; Hornets 110, Rockets 105; Grizzlies 126, Jazz 124; and Warriors 139, Blazers 104.
Pelicans 123, Bulls 111
Brandon Ingram scored 33 points and CJ McCollum added 23 as host New Orleans defeated Chicago in the season opener for both teams.
Dejounte Murray had 14 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, Jordan Hawkins scored 13 points and rookie Yves Missi chipped in 12 to help the Pelicans overcome the absence of Zion Williamson (illness).
Zach LaVine scored 27 and Nikola Vucevic tallied 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls. Lonzo Ball, who played in a regular-season game for the first time since Jan. 14, 2022, after recovering from knee issues, scored five points in 14 minutes.
Pacers 115, Pistons 109
Myles Turner had 20 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four blocks as visiting Indiana spoiled J.B. Bickerstaff’s first game as Detroit’s head coach in the season opener for both teams.
Pascal Siakam had 19 points, eight rebounds and nine assists and Bennedict Mathurin also tossed in 19 points for Indiana, which overcame a 12-point second-half deficit. Tyrese Haliburton had 15 points, and T.J. McConnell chipped in 14.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 28 points and eight assists. Jaden Ivey had 17 points, and Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley supplied 14 points apiece. Jalen Duren contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Tobias Harris added 13 points.
