NBA roundup: Paul, Rockets halt losing skid

Paul helped the Rockets snap a four-game skid and avoid their first 1-6 start
since 2010-11 by shooting 13-for-27 from the field. Paul also made five
3-pointers, including two that beat the buzzer in the second and third
quarters. Carmelo Anthony drained six threes and scored 28 points in 31
minutes off the bench.

The Rockets played their third straight game without James Harden (strained
left hamstring). Harden worked out on the court before the opening tip, and
coach Mike D'Antoni said he would probably play Saturday in Chicago.

Caris LeVert scored a career-high 29 points for the Nets, who lost for the
fourth time in five games. Joe Harris added 18 while Spencer Dinwiddie
contributed 12.

Thunder 134, Wizards 111

Russell Westbrook had 23 points and 12 assists, Jerami Grant scored 22 and
visiting Oklahoma City routed Washington, spoiling the debut of Dwight Howard.

Westbrook hit 10 of 16 field-goal attempts, and Grant made 9 of 11 for the
Thunder, who pulled away in the second quarter. Paul George scored 17 points,
and Dennis Schroder added 16 off the bench as Oklahoma City, playing the
second of road back-to-backs, won its fourth straight game.

Bradley Beal led Washington with a game-high 27 points. Howard, who missed
training camp, preseason and the team's first seven games due to a strained
piriformis muscle in his lower back, scored 20 points on 7-of-8 shooting in 23
minutes as the Wizards lost their fifth straight game.

Pacers 107, Bulls 105

Darren Collison's 19-footer broke a tie with 18.5 seconds remaining, helping
Indiana survive a see-saw battle with host Chicago.

After watching Antonio Blakeney improbably rally the Bulls from a 105-101
deficit with a four-point play with 30.5 seconds to go on a foul by Collison,
the Pacers called a timeout and got the game-winning shot from Collison 12
seconds later.

The win was the Pacers' fourth straight on the road and the fourth overall in
their last five games as Victor Oladipo recorded a game-high 25-point,
14-rebound double-double. Chicago, meanwhile, dropped a third straight in the
midst of a four-game homestand.

Knicks 118, Mavericks 106

Undrafted rookie guard Allonzo Trier scored 23 points and led four bench
players in double figures as New York earned its first road win of the season
over struggling Dallas.

The Knicks, who entered the game ranked 25th in the NBA in scoring (106.0
points per game) and 26th in field-goal percentage (.431), had seven players
score in double figures. New York shot 54.8 percent overall despite going just
7 of 29 from beyond the arc.

Mavs reserve Dorian Finney-Smith scored a season-high 19 points, rookie point
guard Luka Doncic had 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists and Harrison
Barnes added 14 points on just 4-of-14 shooting while being shut out in the
second half.

Grizzlies 110, Jazz 100

Mike Conley scored 28 points, and Shelvin Mack added 19 off the bench to rally
Memphis to a 10-point victory over host Utah.

Marc Gasol added 17 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals to help
the Grizzlies notch their second road win over the Jazz. Memphis has won three
straight and five of its past six overall.

Ricky Rubio scored 22 points to lead Utah. Joe Ingles added 19 points, and Jae
Crowder chipped in 18. Rudy Gobert collected 16 rebounds. The Jazz remain
winless at home, dropping to 0-3 in Salt Lake City. Utah played without guard
Donovan Mitchell, who was sidelined with right hamstring tightness.

Clippers 120, Magic 95

Los Angeles stopped a two-game losing streak with a blowout win at Orlando.

Lou Williams led Los Angeles with 28 points in just 21 minutes off the bench,
including shooting 5-for-5 from 3-point range. Tobias Harris scored 21 with
seven rebounds, and Boban Marjanovic posted a double-double with 10 points and
11 rebounds in his first start with the Clippers.

Marjanovic got the nod ahead of Marcin Gortat, who was healthy but did not
play Friday night. Gortat had started 186 straight games but was averaging
just 3.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game through eight starts this season.

--Field Level Media