Kyrie Irving scored 28 points as Boston Celtics ended Milwaukee Bucks’ unbeaten start to the season with a 117-113 victory at TD Garden.
The Celtics nearly blew a 15-point fourth quarter lead but took advantage of a missed free throw by Eric Bledsoe with 12.8 seconds left to hand the visitors their first loss.
Irving hit six three-pointers to account for the majority of his team-high 28 points while the Celtics buried 24 threes in total.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was the game’s leading scorer with 33 points and topped the rebound charts with 11 for the Bucks. The Bucks have a 7-1 record while the Celtics improved to 6-2.
De’Aaron Fox picked up his first career triple-double as the Sacramento Kings beat the Atlanta Hawks 146-115 for their fifth consecutive win, making it their best start to a season in 16 years.
Fox, last year’s fifth overall pick, recorded 31 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds, setting career-highs in all three categories.
Joel Embiid contributed 41 points and 13 rebounds as he helped the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 122-113. It was Embiid’s sixth game already this season with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds.
Ben Simmons added 14 points and 11 assists while Markelle Fultz came to the fore in the third quarter and finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
Damian Lillard scored 26 points to help Portland beat New Orleans 132-119 in the first meeting between the teams since the Pelicans defeated the Trail Blazers in the first round of last season’s play-offs.
Jusuf Nurkic added 20 points and nine rebounds for the Blazers in their third straight win.
A 110-91 win over Cleveland Cavaliers saw the Denver Nuggets improve to 7-1, making their best start to a season since 1976-77.
Juan Hernangomez hit five three-pointers for the Nuggets while Paul Millsap, who hit the game-winning shot in Chicago on Wednesday night, finished with 16 points on six of nine shooting.
Steven Adams starred in Oklahoma City Thunder’s 111-107 victory over Charlotte Hornets. The big Kiwi only managed five points in 33 minutes but grabbed 12 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.
Adams also contributed three steals and three blocks as Thunder improved their record to three wins from seven games.
