CADE Cunningham had 25 points and 10 assists as the host Detroit Pistons overcame a career high from Zach LaVine and defeated the Chicago Bulls 118-102 in their home opener on Saturday night (Sunday in Manila).
LaVine scored 51 points as he knocked down 19 of 33 field-goal attempts and 6 of 8 free throws. DeMar DeRozan had 20 points and Nikola Vucevic chipped in 12.
Jalen Duren supplied 23 points, 15 rebounds and five assists as Detroit snapped its 15-game losing streak against the Bulls. Alec Burks contributed 18 points off the bench.
LaVine surpassed the 50-point mark with 4:28 left in the game on a layup. DeRozan made a jumper to cut the Pistons’ lead to 10, 109-99, but Detroit then scored the next nine points to put the game out of reach.
In other games, it was the Sixers 114, Raptors 107; Wolves 106, Heat 90; Pacers 125, Cavs 113; Wizards 113, Grizzlies 106; Pelicans 96, Knicks 87; and Suns 126, Jazz 104.
Sixers 114, Raptors 107
Tyrese Maxey scored 15 of his 34 points in the second quarter and Philadelphia won on coach Nick Nurse’s return to Toronto.
Joel Embiid also scored 34 points to go with nine rebounds, eight assists and two blocked shots. Nurse, who coached the Raptors for the previous five seasons, was honored with a video tribute during the first quarter. Nurse guided the Raptors to their only NBA championship in 2019.
Scottie Barnes scored 24 points for the Raptors. Gary Trent Jr. added 17 and rookie Gradey Dick contributed 16.
Wolves 106, Heat 90
Reserve Naz Reid scored 11 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter as Minnesota pulled away down the stretch and beat short-handed Miami in Minneapolis.
Reid made 10 of 14 shots from the floor and tied a career high by hitting four treys as Minnesota’s bench contributed 42 points. Anthony Edwards added 19 points and seven assists and Gobert contributed 14 points and 14 rebounds.
Playing the second night of a back-to-back, the Heat rested Jimmy Butler, the former Minnesota player who heard “Where is Jimmy” chants from the crowd. Caleb Martin (knee) and Kevin Love (shoulder) also sat out. Herro led the Heat with 22 points on 8-of-23 shooting and Bam Adebayo added 19.