PORTLAND, Oregon— Damian Lillard scored 25 points in his first regular-season game since rejoining the Trail Blazers, leading Portland to a 124-83 season-opening rout of the Phoenix Suns in the NBA on Wednesday night. Offseason addition Ja Morant had 14 points and eight assists for the Blazers, who jumped out to a 21-0 lead and

LOS ANGELES— Walker Kessler scored 26 points on 12-for-12 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds during his auspicious debut for the Los Angeles Lakers in a 127-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA on Wednesday night. Luka Doncic scored 28 points in three quarters and Austin Reaves added 23 as the Lakers began

HOUSTON— Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. scored 30 points apiece and the Houston Rockets used a big second quarter to build a huge lead and coast to a 128-110 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night in the NBA season opener for both teams. The Rockets led by six after the first quarter

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Ty Jerome scored a career-high 45 points as the Memphis Grizzlies used a third-quarter rally enroute to a 123-103 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night in the NBA season opener for both teams. The game featured two of the top rookies in the current class: Utah picked Darryn Peterson of

NEW ORLEANS— Pascal Siakam scored 30 points, including 12 in the final quarter, Tyrese Haliburton added 23 points and 12 assists in his first NBA regular-season game since rupturing his right Achilles tendon 16 months ago and the Indiana Pacers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 123-120 on Wednesday night. With Indiana trailing 92-86 entering the

TORONTO— Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points in his return to Toronto, Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley also had 23 apiece and the Raptors routed the Chicago Bulls 135-92 on Wednesday night in the NBA season opener for both teams. RJ Barrett added 20 points and Ja’Kobe Walter had 10 for the Raptors, who never trailed.

NEW YORK — Naz Reid had 20 points and 11 rebounds in his Charlotte debut, Grayson Allen added 21 points off the bench and the Hornets beat the Brooklyn Nets 110-103 in the NBA on Wednesday night. Dennis Schroder scored eight of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, Brandon Miller had 18 and Moussa

Aurora Gaming and Team Falcons are on the brink of a grand finals appearance and an M8 World Championship ticket after separate victories in the upper bracket semifinals on Thursday at the PhilSports Arena.

MIAM — Anthony Edwards hit nine 3-pointers and scored 45 points to join an elite club, LaMelo Ball scored 21 in his Minnesota debut and the Timberwolves spoiled Giannis Antetokounmpo’s first game with Miami by beating the Heat 131-106 in the NBA on Wednesday night. Edwards, who scored 41 in last season’s opener at Portland,