(Reuters) Brooklyn snapped a 13-game losing streak to Miami and overcame a furious Heat charge in the final three minutes for a 101-100 victory in their home opener Friday night in New York.
The score was tied 47-47 at halftime, but the Nets (1-1) began the second half on a 24-8 run to go up 71-55.
Brooklyn still led 96-84 when Joe Johnson hit a three-pointer with 2:47 to go, but a 10-0 Miami run capped by a Mario Chalmers three-pointer with 18 seconds to play got the Heat (1-2) within two.
Deron Williams hit one of two free throws with 18 seconds left, but Ray Allen could only make one of his two on the other end.
Two free throws from Paul Pierce pushed the lead back to four, but LeBron James hit a 3-pointer with four seconds to play to cut it back to 99-98.
Johnson hit two free throws to make it 101-98. Bosh answered with two of his own, but the Nets were able to run out the clock.
Pierce and Johnson led the Nets with 19 points, and Brook Lopez added 13. James led all scorers with 26 points and Wade added 21. Bosh, Chalmers and Allen also finished in double figures, but Miami was out-rebounded 40-30.
The NBA champions have started the season with two losses in their first three games.
– –
Rockets 113, Mavericks 105
James Harden scored a game-high 34 points and carried the Houston Rockets through an uneven performance to a 113-105 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Harden ended his tug-of-war with Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki with 6:11 remaining, drawing a foul while converting a driving layup to send the foul-plagued Nowitzki to the bench once and for all.
Harden completed the three-point play to boost the Houston lead to 96-83.
Nowitzki finished with 22 points but only four rebounds as the Rockets’ interior tandem of Dwight Howard and Omer Asik controlled the glass.
After totaling 40 rebounds against the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday, Howard and Asik snagged 28 boards against the Mavericks (1-1).
Dallas forced Houston (2-0) into 23 turnovers but converted those into only 18 points.
– –
Magic 110, Pelicans 90
Veteran Aaron Afflalo scored 30 points and Maurice Harkless had 20 as the Orlando Magic celebrated their home opener by burying the New Orleans Pelicans 110-90.
The Magic led almost from start to finish for their first victory after two earlier losses.
The Pelicans, who had beaten the Magic twice during the exhibition schedule, offered little resistance after the first quarter. They remain winless.