JAYSON Tatum had 37 points and 11 rebounds as the host Boston Celtics spoiled the much-anticipated return of LeBron James in a 130-108 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night.
James finished with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting and six rebounds in 32 minutes after missing the Lakers’ previous eight games with an abdominal strain.
Marcus Smart totaled 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists for Boston. Celtics guard Dennis Schroder scored 21 against his former team. Al Horford added 18 points and Josh Richardson chipped in 15 for the Celtics, who earned their sixth win in nine games.
Anthony Davis scored 31 points, Carmelo Anthony added 13 and Russell Westbrook totaled just 12 points, six assists and four boards for Los Angeles, which went 3-5 without James.
In other games, it was the Nets 115, Magic 113; Warriors 105, Pistons 102; Bucks 96, Thunder 89; Pelicans 94, Clippers 81; Bulls 114, Nuggets 108; Suns 112, Mavericks 104; and Raptors 108, Kings 89.
James Harden scored 13 of his 36 points in the third quarter and Brooklyn survived some shaky moments in the fourth before eking out a win over Orlando in New York.
The Nets won for the 10th time in 12 games and also survived star Kevin Durant (sprained right shoulder) missing his first game of the season. Harden shot just 7 of 25 from the floor but added 10 rebounds and eight assists. Brooklyn’s Patty Mills scored 22 points while James Johnson contributed 17.
Rookie Jalen Suggs scored 17 of his 21 points in Orlando’s 41-point first quarter. Chuma Okeke and rookie Franz Wagner added 17 apiece wfor Orlando.
Hornets 121, Pacers 118
LaMelo Ball produced a big first half on his way to 32 points as host Charlotte won its fifth game in a row, beating Indiana. Ball shot 12-for-22 from the field and also had 11 rebounds and eight assists.
Gordon Hayward scored 25 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed 16 for the Hornets.
Jeremy Lamb scored 23 points off the bench and Malcolm Brogdon netted 16 for the Pacers, who have lost three games in a row.
Jordan Poole scored a season-high 32 points and short-handed Golden State held off host Detroit despite missing several key players, including two-time Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry.
