The 76ers avoided tying the record for the worst start to a season in NBA history, ending their 0-17 skid with an 85-77 victory over the Timberwolves on Wednesday night.
A loss to the Timberwolves would have tied the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets for the worst start to a season in league history at 0-18. Many of these Sixers, including point guard Michael Carter-Williams and coach Brett Brown, were part of the team that lost 26 straight games last season, which tied the record for consecutive losses.
Carter-Williams had 20 points, nine rebounds and nine assists and Robert Covington added 17 points in a game between two of the worst teams in the league. Gorgui Dieng had 15 points and 16 rebounds for the Timberwolves.
Sixers at Timberwolves box score
Grizzlies 96 Rockets 105
Tarik Black started in place of injured Dwight Howard and had 10 points and a season-high 11 rebounds for the first double-double of his young NBA career.
James Harden scored 21 points, and Trevor Ariza and Jason Terry added 16 each to help the short-handed Rockets cruise to victory.
The Grizzlies (15-3) had won five in a row, and their two previous losses this season had been by a combined five points. Mike Conley had 15 points and six assists for Memphis, but also had five of the team's 20 turnovers.
Grizzlies at Rockets box score
Pistons 102 Celtics 109
Jeff Green scored 32 points, including a 3-pointer as Boston opened overtime with eight straight points, and the Celtics snapped a five-game losing streak by beating Detroit.
The loss was the 10th in a row for Detroit. Greg Monroe scored 15 of his 29 points after the 3:13 mark of the fourth, when the Pistons rallied from an 84-83 deficit. But Detroit never recovered after giving up the first three baskets -- including 3-pointers by Jared Sullinger and Green to open the overtime.
Andre Drummond had 27 points, 14 rebounds, four steals and five blocked shots, including Green's potential game-winner at the end of regulation, for Detroit.
Pistons at Celtics box score
Hawks 112 Heat 102
Jeff Teague scored 27 points, Kyle Korver scored 18 and the Hawks beat the Heat 112-102 on Wednesday night -- just the third time in 66 games that a visitor came into Miami, allowed the Heat to shoot that well and still emerge victorious.
Dennis Schroder scored 16 and Paul Millsap finished with 14 for the Hawks, who are 2-0 against the Heat this season. Dwyane Wade scored 28 points and Chris Bosh finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds for Miami, which has lost six of its last eight home games.
Hawks at Heat box score