Mavericks set NBA-record with 50-point halftime lead in rout

Luka Doncic scored 24 points and Dallas Mavericks led by an NBA-record 50 points at halftime in a 124-73 rout of Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.

Josh Richardson ded 21 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. h 18 points for Mavericks.

Clippers trailed 77-27 at halftime, with ir 50-point deficit being largest at break in shot-clock era, which began in 1954-55.

Paul George led Kawhi Leonard-less Clippers with 15 points before sitting out second half. Serge Ibaka ded 13 points and nine rebounds over three-quarters of team’s first loss. Clippers opened with victories over defending NBA champion Lakers and Denver.

Leonard sat out after needing eight stitches in his mouth after accidentally getting elbowed by 7-foot Ibaka going for a rebound in Friday’ night at Denver.

CAVALIERS 118, 76ERS 94

CLEVELAND (AP) — Andre Drummond h 24 points, 14 rebounds and three steals to help Cleveland beat Philelphia for its third straight victory to start season.

Collin Sexton ded 22 points and Darius Garland h 14 points and seven assists for Cleveland. Cavaliers h second-worst record in NBA last season at 19-46. y Cavaliers are 3-0 for first time since winning six in a row to begin 2016-17.

Tobias Harris h 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Philelphia, which fell to 2-1 and played without center Joel Embiid (back tightness).

MAGIC 120, WIZARDS 113

WASHINGTON (AP) — Markelle Fultz and Terrence Ross each scored 26 points and Orlando rallied to beat Washington for its first 3-0 start since 2009-10.

Nikola Vucevic scored in post to give Orlando a 114-113 le with 25.1 seconds as Magic scored final 10 points of game in beating Wizards for sixth straight game.

Vucevic h with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Evan Fournier ded 19 points.

Brley Beal h 29 points and seven assists for Washington. Russell Westbrook was held out for rest.

KNICKS 130, BUCKS 110

NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Thibodeau’s first victory as Knicks coach came surprisingly easy against a top opponent, as New York routed Milwaukee.

Julius Randle h 29 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, Elfrid Payton scored 27 points in his best game as a Knick, and New York led by as much as 28 against team that h best record in NBA previous two seasons.

Knicks were among NBA’s worst during that time but are hoping for a turnaround under Thibodeau, former Coach of Year who engineered comebacks in Chicago and Minnesota. Knicks opened his tenure by hanging with Indiana and Philelphia for a half before those teams pulled away in final two quarters.

Giannis Antetokounmpo h 27 points and 13 rebounds for Bucks.

PELICANS 98, SPURS 95

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Brandon Ingram h 28 points and 11 rebounds and New Orleans held off San Antonio.

Spurs h a chance to tie it after Steven ams, whose put-back dunk put New Orleans up 97-91 with two minutes left, missed a pair of free throws with 11 seconds to go. But Eric Bledsoe blocked DeMar DeRozan’s 3-point attempt from behind in final seconds to preserve victory.

Zion Williamson h 18 points and 11 rebounds for Pelicans, scoring about half of his points on dunks. Lonzo Ball h 16 points and five steals.

Rudy Gay scored 22 points for Spurs. y opened with two victories.

HORNETS 106, NETS 104

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Gordon Hayward h 28 points, seven assists and six rebounds and Charlotte handed Brooklyn its first loss of season.

Terry Rozier ded 19 points, including two clutch free throws, and P.J. Washington finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds for Hornets.

Kevin Durant led Nets with 29 points, and Kyrie Irving h 25 points.

(Im credits: AP)