JALEN Johnson and reserve Aaron Wiggins each scored 19 points as visiting Atlanta blew out the Charlotte Hornets 128-81 on Friday, the biggest margin of victory in Hawks history.
The 47-point gap topped the old record of 46 set in a 126-80 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Nov 15, 2017. Nickeil Alexander-Walker put up 14 points, CJ McCollum posted 13 points, Dyson Daniels contributed 11 points, nine rebounds and seven steals and Corey Kispert also had 11 points for Atlanta, which won its second straight to start the season.
It was a miserable home opener for the Hornets, who won two nights earlier at Brooklyn to start their campaign. They committed 27 turnovers. Naz Reid scored 17 points for Charlotte and Grayson Allen came off the bench for 11 points. Both players were in their home debuts with the Hornets. Reserve Tidjane Salaun also scored 11 points.
The gap reached 97-62 by the end of the third quarter. The Hornets couldn’t even get it cranked up when the margin was out of hand, needing about 6 1/2 minutes to reach a double-digit total in the fourth quarter.
Celtics 107, Knicks 103
Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 36 points, including nine late in the fourth quarter, as Boston withstood a late comeback bid by visiting New York to escape with a victory.
Tatum finished with nine rebounds and seven assists for the Celtics, who have split their first two games. Paul George and reserve Neemias Queta had 15 points apiece while Derrick White added 12 points.
Karl-Anthony Towns (22 points, 10 rebounds), OG Anunoby (20 points, 10 rebounds) and Josh Hart (10 points, 12 rebounds) all had double-doubles for the reigning NBA champion Knicks, who have lost their first two games..
Mavericks 121, Pacers 105
Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 24 points as Dallas defeated Indiana in Indianapolis, but the victory was overshadowed by a left shoulder injury to Mavericks star Cooper Flagg.
Flagg was hurt in the last minute of the first half when he was fouled from behind by Aaron Nesmith, who was assessed a flagrant-1 foul. Flagg finished with 14 points, five rebounds and six assists, while teammate P.J. Washington added 20 points and 13 rebounds.
Pascal Siakam paced Indiana with 23 points and Tyrese Haliburton contributed 18 points. Both teams ended the game with a 1-1 record. (Reuters)