DAMION Lee knocked down the game-winning shot with 9.7 seconds left and the Phoenix Suns rallied from a 22-point, third-quarter deficit to notch a 107-105 victory over the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night (Thursday in Manila) in a rematch of last season’s Western Conference semifinals.
Lee hit a 10-foot fallaway jumper over Spencer Dinwiddie to cap an electric Phoenix comeback in the season opener for both teams. Dallas star Luka Doncic missed a 3-point attempt just before time expired.
Devin Booker recorded 28 points and nine assists and Deandre Ayton contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Suns. Cameron Johnson added 15 points, Mikal Bridges had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Lee scored 11 points off the bench.
Doncic had 35 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Mavericks. Christian Wood added 25 points and eight rebounds in his Dallas debut while Dinwiddie added 15 points.
In other games, it was the Wolves 115, Thunder 108; Blazers 115, Kings 108; Jazz 123, Nuggets 102; Grizzlies 115, Knicks 112 (OT); Bulls 116, Heat 108; Hornets 129, Spurs 102; Hawks 117, Rockets 107; Pistons 113, Magic 109; Wizards 114, Pacers 107; Pelicans 130, Nets 108; and Raptors 108, Cavs 105.
Wolves 115, Thunder 108
Rudy Gobert scored 23 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to help Minnesota earn a season-opening win over Oklahoma City in Minneapolis.
D’Angelo Russell added 20 points and Jaden McDaniels had 19 for Minnesota. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 12 points and seven assists.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points on 12-of-23 shooting. Josh Giddey added 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Blazers 115, Kings 108
Jerami Grant capped a team-high 23-point performance in his Portland debut with a go-ahead, three-point play with 50.4 seconds remaining, lifting visiting Trail Blazers past Sacramento on Opening Night.
Anfernee Simons scored 22 points, Damian Lillard 20 and Josh Hart 19 in a balanced attack that allowed the Trail Blazers to avenge a three-point home defeat at the hands of the Kings in last year’s opener. — Field Level Media
