Brandon Miller scores 34 points as the Hornets beat the winless Heat

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Brandon Miller scored 34 points and the Charlotte Hornets beat the winless Miami Heat 115-110 on Saturday, bouncing back from one of the worst losses in franchise history a night earlier.

Charlotte’s 128-81 loss to Atlanta on Friday in its home opener was the fifth-largest in franchise history. Miller missed 12 of 14 field goal attempts and 10 of his 11 3-point tries in a six-point effort that came four days after he had signed a five-year, $209 million contract extension.

Dennis Schroder added 25 points, Naz Reid had 23 and Grayson Allen 20 for Charlotte (2-1).

Giannis Antetokounmpo was limited to 14 points — more than 20 fewer than the 35.5 per game he averaged in his first two games after his trade from the Milwaukee Bucks in one of the biggest NBA offseason transactions.

76ERS 127, BUCKS 116

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joel Embiid had a triple-double with LeBron James out, Jaylen Brown scored 27 points on his 30th birthday and Philadelphia remained undefeated with a win over Milwaukee.

James was officially ruled out with lower back pain management in the first of back-to-back games for the Sixers this weekend. He was expected to play Sunday night at home against Detroit.

Embiid had 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists and went 12 of 14 from the free-throw line. Tyrese Maxey scored 26 points and VJ Edgecombe had 17.

Brown hit a 3-pointer off a pass from Embiid that made it 120-114 and gave the All-Star center the triple-double. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope sank a 3 off a turnover for the nine-point lead that sent fans to their feet and ended Milwaukee’s late push for the win.

Kyle Kuzma had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the winless Bucks (0-3). Jamie Jacquez Jr. led the Bucks with 21 points.

CAVALIERS 126, NETS 121

CLEVELAND (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 22 points, Jarrett Allen added 21 points, and Cleveland won their home opener over Brooklyn.

Evan Mobley added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who bounced back after blowing a 29-point lead in Thursday’s 114-106 season-opening loss at Philadelphia.

Michael Porter Jr. led Brooklyn with 28 points, Julius Randle scored 23 and Egor Demin 22, including 15 in the fourth quarter.

SPURS 122 , MAVERICKS 106

DALLAS (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 23 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, Dylan Harper scored 22 points and San Antonio beat Dallas for their first victory of the season.

De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle added 19 points apiece as the Spurs avoided their first 0-3 start since 2008-09. They lost to Oklahoma City on Tuesday and to Houston in Austin on Friday.

Rookie Sergio de Larrea led the Mavericks (1-2) with 21 points off the bench, going 3 of 4 behind the arc. Dallas’ five starters combined for 50 points, topped by P.J. Washington with 12 points.

The Mavericks played without their two marquee players, Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving.

WIZARDS 124, BULLS 120

CHICAGO (AP) — Trae Young had 25 points and nine assists, and Washington held off Chicago Bulls for a victory.

Kyshawn George had 22 points and nine rebounds for Washington in the opener of a three-game trip. Anthony Davis added 19 points, and Justin Champagnie had 11 points and 14 rebounds.

The Wizards played without AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick in the draft. The 19-year-old Dybantsa is day to day with a sprained left ankle, delaying his anticipated NBA debut.

Caleb Wilson had 30 points and 14 rebounds for Chicago in its home opener. It was the first double-double for the No. 4 selection in the draft, but he went 1 for 9 from 3-point range.

ROCKETS 121, HAWKS 114

ATLANTA (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 22 points and both Reed Sheppard and Tari Eason had 19 points as Houston beat Atlanta.

The Hawks nearly pulled off a comeback by cutting Houston’s 20-point lead down to five in the closing moments, but Durant knocked down two three throws with 18.9 seconds remaining to push the lead back to three possessions.

The win gave Houston its first 3-0 start since 2017-18, and spoiled Atlanta’s home opener after the Hawks won their first two games of the season on the road.

Seven Rockets scored in double figures. Amen Thompson posted his third consecutive double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Alperen Sengun had one of his own with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Jalen Johnson sored 26 points and tied his career-high with 16 assists for the Hawks.

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