MIAMI — The Miami Heat score the first 14 points of the second half to turn a close game against the Orlando Magic into a one-sided 96-70 victory in the NBA on Friday.
Dwyane Wade scored 26 points in Miami's home opener, while LeBron James had 15 points and seven assists.
And if this game was the measuring stick to see how the new-look Heat are coming together, the result had to be an enjoyable one for Miami's Big 3 of Wade, James and Chris Bosh. The Heat held Orlando to its lowest point total since 2005.
Hornets 101, Nuggets 95
In New Orleans, the hosts kept rookie coach Monty Williams unbeaten by defeating Denver.
Chris Paul scored 18 points and David West added 17 for the Hornets.
Carmelo Anthony had 24 points and 10 rebounds for Denver, which led 79-74 early in the fourth quarter before Paul returned from a rest to score 10 of his points inside the final nine minutes.
Both teams shot better than 48 percent, but the Hornets' defense stepped up late with blocks.
Celtics 105, Knicks 101
In Boston, Rajon Rondo had a triple-double with a career-high 24 assists to lead Boston over New York.
Rondo had 10 points and 10 rebounds and topped his regular-season personal best of 18 assists, but fell short of the franchise record of 28 set by Bob Cousy in 1959.
Paul Pierce scored 25 points with 14 rebounds for the Celtics.
Amare' Stoudemire scored 27 for the Knicks.
Timberwolves 96, Bucks 85
In Minneapolis, Minnesota pounded Milwaukee on the boards for a comfortable victory.
Michael Beasley had 21 points and 10 rebounds and Kevin Love added 17 points and 16 rebounds, as the Timberwolves outrebounded the Bucks 62-39.
Corey Maggette scored 23 points for Milwaukee, which shot just 36 percent, including 3 for 20 from 3-point range.
The Timberwolves weren't exactly sharp shooters themselves at 38 percent, but their 26-9 advantage in second-chance points made all the difference.
Nets 106, Kings 100
In Newark, New Jersey staged another late rally to defeat Sacramento.
New Jersey closed with a 17-3 surge over the final 3:40. Devin Harris scored seven straight late in the run and finished with 21 points and 10 assists.
The Nets, who squandered an 18-point lead in this one, needed 21 games last season to get two wins. Now they have done it in two games this season.
New Jersey erased a seven-point deficit in the final 1:40 to beat Detroit in their opener on Wednesday.
Tyreke Evans and Francisco Garcia had 18 points apiece for Sacramento.
Hawks 104, 76ers 101
In Philadelphia, Al Horford had 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead Atlanta over Philadelphia.
Joe Johnson scored 22 points and Jamal Crawford finished with 19 for the Hawks, who hung on despite blowing most of a 15-point lead.
Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand had the kind of games the Sixers expected to see more off when they signed them both to $80 million contracts in 2008. Iguodala had 27 points, 10 assists and six rebounds, and Brand had 20 points and eight boards.
Pacers 104, Bobcats 101
In Charlotte, Danny Granger scored 33 points as Indiana rallied to beat Charlotte.
Indiana's Tyler Hansbrough, who led North Carolina to a national college championship but was injured for most of his rookie season injured, hit two free throws with 10.7 seconds left.
D.J. Augustin and Stephen Jackson then missed tying 3-point attempts for the Bobcats.
Gerald Wallace led Charlotte with 29 points.
Raptors 101, Cavaliers 81
In Toronto, the hosts dominated in a game between two sides adjusting to life without big-name stars.
Andrea Bargnani scored 20 points and Linas Kleiza added 19 for the Raptors, who are learning to live without Chris Bosh.
Antawn Jamison scored 13 points for the new-look, no-LeBron-James Cavaliers, who were without Mo Williams and Anderson Varejao.
Thunder 105, Pistons 104
In Auburn Hills, Jeff Green made a layup with 2.5 seconds left for Oklahoma City to snatch victory over Detroit.
The Pistons were out of timeouts at the end of the game and failed to attempt a shot.
Charlie Villanueva made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 7.5 seconds left, but Detroit's defense allowed the Thunder to make one too many easy shots with the game on the line.
Kevin Durant finished with 30 points and Green had 21 for the Thunder, who made their first 24 free throws.
Ben Gordon had 32 points for the Pistons. (AP)