The China Mail - Sixers suffer first loss, Bulls stay perfect as NBA Cup opens

The Celtics avenged a 117-116 loss to the 76ers in their opener at Boston and improved to 3-3 while dropping the host Sixers to 4-1.

"Just grit. I think we just slugged it out," said Brown, whose 13-of-19 shooting including 4-of-7 from three-point range.

"We made a bunch of mistakes but we found a way to win in the end."

Tyrese Maxey, who led Philadelphia with 26 points and 14 assists, and VJ Edgecombe sank three-pointers to lift the 76ers within 108-106 with 51 seconds remaining.

Brown added what turned out to be the deciding free throw with 32.9 seconds remaining but Maxey sank a layup with 20.8 to play to lift the 76ers within the final margin.

Brown, who scored 16 points in the first quarter, committed a foul to turn the ball over with 11.6 seconds remaining but Maxey missed a short jumper.

After Boston's Josh Minott missed two free throws, the hosts had a final chance but Joel Embiid, who had 20 points, missed a three-point shot at the buzzer.

Improving to 5-0 on the campaign were the Chicago Bulls, who were led by Josh Giddey's 32 points and 26 from Nikola Vucevic in a 135-125 home victory over the New York Knicks.

Jalen Brunson scored 29 points to lead the Knicks (2-3).

Chicago clung to a 120-116 lead when Vucevic went on a late 6-0 run and then assisted on a Giddey hoop to seal the victory.

- Doncic scores 44 -

Los Angeles Lakers star guard Luka Doncic, sidelined a week ago with a left finger sprain and lower left leg bruise, scored 44 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and passed off six assists in a triumphant return with a 117-112 victory at Memphis.

"I was very happy to see him back," Lakers standout Austin Reaves said. "He has the capability of putting a team on his back and I think he did that tonight."

Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points, including the game-winning basket with 0.4 of a second remaining, and James Harden added 24 to give the Los Angeles Clippers a 126-124 home victory over New Orleans.

Portland's Jerami Grant sank two free throws with 1.4 seconds to play to give the Trail Blazers a 109-107 home victory over Denver.

The Nuggets got 21 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists from Nikola Jokic, his streak of four straight triple-doubles to start the season ending in the defeat.

Devin Booker's 36 points led Phoenix to a 118-96 home victory over Utah.

The Atlanta Hawks, playing without star guard Trae Young due to a right knee sprain, improved to 3-3 by beating winless host Indiana 128-108.

Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 22 points and 13 rebounds. The Pacers, who fell to 0-5, also learned Friday that forward Obi Toppin is out for three months due to a broken right foot.

Toronto had 20 points each from Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett and reserve Jamison Battle in a 112-101 victory at Cleveland.

In the NBA Cup, all 30 NBA teams were drawn into six five-team groups with each club playing four games through November 28 that will count in round-robin Cup play and the regular-season standings.

Eight teams will advance to the Cup quarter-finals, the six group winners and top runner-up in the Eastern and Western Conference.

Quarter-final matches will be played on December 9-10 with the last four going to Las Vegas for semi-finals on December 13 and the championship game December 16.

G.Fung--ThChM