MIAMI (AP) -Miami’s season-long wait for Dwyane Wade ended. So, too, did Seattle’s quest for its first win of the Kevin Durant era.
Chris Wilcox scored 20 points, Damien Wilkins added 19 and the SuperSonics spoiled Wade’s return to the Heat lineup by beating Miami 104-95 Wednesday night – Seattle’s first win in nine games this season.
Durant, the highly touted rookie, finished with 18 on 6-of-16 shooting for Seattle, which stormed out to a 20-point halftime lead to negate whatever emotional lift Miami got from Wade’s comeback from offseason surgeries on his left knee and left shoulder.
Wade scored 15 points in 25 minutes on 5-for-9 shooting for Miami (1-7), which is 0-4 at home for the second time in franchise history.
Ricky Davis scored 19 points on just 5-for-18 shooting for Miami. Jason Williams scored 14, Alonzo Mourning added 13 and Shaquille O’Neal finished with 10 for the Heat.
Celtics 91, Nets 69
BOSTON (AP) – The Celtics turned up the defense and the tempo while Kevin Garnett was on the bench with three fouls and improved to 7-0, their best start since they opened 10-0 in 1972-73.
Their best start was 14-0 in 1957-58.
The Celtic’s three stars all had decent games, hardly their best of the season. Garnett had 16 points and eight rebounds, Paul Pierce scored 15 points and Ray Allen had 14.
They got plenty of help from point guard Rajon Rondo and Tony Allen, a strong defensive guard, with 13 points apiece, and center Kendrick Perkins with 10.
Richard Jefferson scored 21 points and Jason Kidd had 19 for the Nets, who dropped their third straight game.
Magic 117, Cavaliers 116, OT
CLEVELAND (AP) – Dwight Howard matched a career high with 35 points and Hedo Turkoglu tied up LeBron James for a jump ball in the final second of overtime to help Orlando remain unbeaten on the road.
James finished with 39 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, James is the first player to record that many points, assists and rebounds in a game since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968.
Howard added 16 rebounds and Jameer Nelson had 21 points and 11 assists for the Magic, who last opened a season 7-2 in 1998-99.
Drew Gooden added 23 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskas 18 for Cleveland, playing its first game at home following a six-game road trip out West.
Timberwolves 108, Kings 103
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Rashad McCants scored a career-high 33 points on 13-for-22 shooting and Minnesota beat Sacramento for its first victory this season.
Ron Artest returned from his seven-game suspension with 17 points and six assists for the Kings, who have lost all five of their road games.
Antoine Walker, who had only 14 points in Minnesota’s first five games, scored 19 points on 7-for-14 shooting. Al Jefferson did the rest down low, with 23 points and seven rebounds.
Kevin Martin had 18 of his 22 points in the second half for Sacramento, and Brad Miller added 17 points.
Hornets 95, 76ers 76
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Morris Peterson hit six 3-pointers and finished with 27 points to help New Orleans beat Philadelphia for its third straight victory.
At 7-2, the Hornets have matched their best start in franchise’s 20-year history, tying a mark set in 2002-03, their first season in New Orleans after moving from Charlotte.
Willie Green scored 20 points for the Sixers, who have lost four straight. Andre Miller added 17 points.
Tyson Chandler and Paul each notched their fifth double-doubles of the season. Chandler had 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Paul had 13 points and 10 assists, improving the Hornets to 3-0 when both accomplish that feat in the same game.
Hawks 117, Bobcats 109
ATLANTA (AP) – Joe Johnson scored a season-high 34 points, Josh Childress added 23, also a season best, and Atlanta never trailed in a victory over Charlotte.
The victory may have been costly, however, with two starters going down with injuries.
Josh Smith, who had 15 points and five blocks, strained his left quad strain early in the third quarter and did not return. The Hawks also lost rookie point guard Acie Law with a left ankle sprain with 6:47 left in the third period. He had two points and six assists. Both did not return.
Gerald Wallace and Jason Richardson led the Bobcats with 27 points apiece.
Bucks 102, Grizzlies 99
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Desmond Mason hit a 14-foot jumper with 13.6 seconds left, and Memphis’ Pau Gasol missed a tying 3-pointer.
Michael Redd scored 31 points, and Andrew Bogut had 23 points and 12 rebounds to help Milwaukee overcome a bad early shooting effort. The Bucks have won all three of their home games.
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