Midway through the second quarter of the Toronto Raptors’ season opener, Jose Calderon threw a high looping pass to Chris Bosh that the All-Star forward finished with a resounding dunk. The point guard tandem of Calderon and T.J. Ford wanted to set the tone for the new season, and they did just that while leading the defending Atlantic Division champions to a 106-97 victory over the Philadelphia…
Antoine Wright has learned to deal with rejection very well. Told by the New Jersey Nets last week that they won’t be picking up the option on his contract next year, Wright started his walk year by making a statement. Wright scored 14 of his career-high 21 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to lead the Nets to a 112-103 victory over the distracted Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
Joey Crawford officiated his first NBA regular-season game Wednesday night since being suspended for the end of last season and the playoffs for improper on-court conduct. Crawford worked Indiana’s 119-110 overtime victory over Washington. Commissioner David Stern suspended Crawford in April for the referee’s conduct toward San Antonio’s Tim Duncan.
When Chris Paul reported for training camp, he declared that the Hornets had all the tools in place to make their full-time return to New Orleans a special one. On opening night, at least, they were as good as advertised. Paul had 22 points and 12 assists, while Peja Stojakovic showed some of his All-Star form of old with 19 points to help the Hornets beat the Sacramento Kings 104-90 on Wednesday…
They raised a championship banner. LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers then collapsed. Jason Terry made six 3-pointers and scored 24 points, Dirk Nowitzki added 15 and the Dallas Mavericks, whose NBA title pursuit last season ended with a stunning first-round exit against Golden State, opened 2007-08 with a 92-74 victory over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
Rashard Lewis came out decidedly on top in a matchup of two frontcourt debuts. Yi Jianlian proved he could be dangerous with a little more experience. Lewis, the former Seattle All-Star who landed a $118 million offseason payday, scored 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting Wednesday night to help the Orlando Magic beat the Milwaukee Bucks 102-83.
Jamaal Tinsley flashed his old form for his new coach. Indiana’s point guard looked like the playmaker who dazzled the NBA as a rookie in 2001 with his fearlessness and clutch play. He scored 16 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, and the Pacers beat the Washington Wizards 119-110 on Wednesday night to give coach Jim O’Brien a win in his debut.
Even with the NBA season under way, commissioner David Stern hasn’t forgotten the New York Knicks’ embarrassing offseason. In an interview broadcast Tuesday, Stern questioned the conduct of Knicks management, which lost a sexual-harassment case in early October. Asked about the state of the Knicks, Stern told ESPN: “It demonstrates that they’re not a model of intelligent management.
Rick Adelman’s first game as the Houston Rockets’ coach was a winning one. Kobe Bryant made it a nervous one. Bryant scored 45 points, 18 in the fourth quarter, but Shane Battier made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds left in the Rockets’ 95-93 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
Jason Terry scored 24 points, Dirk Nowitzki added 15 and the Mavericks, whose NBA title pursuit last season ended with a stunning first-round exit against Golden State, opened 2007-08 with a 92-74 victory over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
