Holmgren scores 31 points, Gilgeous-Alexander has 30 to lead Oklahoma City past the Hawks

ATLANTA (AP) — Chet Holmgren scored 31 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 and the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder pulled away in the second half for a 117-100 victory over the short-handed Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night.

The Thunder improved to 3-0 on the season, getting off to another quick start after winning seven straight at the start a year ago on the way to a title.

Gilgeous-Alexander, the league’s MVP last season. had another big night coming off a career-best 55-point performance in a 141-135 victory at Indiana on Thursday night.

Holmgren was 6 of 8 from beyond the 3-point stripe and grabbed 12 rebounds. Gilgeous-Alexander was nearly perfect on shots inside the arc, making 10 of 11.

After going to double-overtime to win its first two games, the Thunder didn’t need any extra time to finish off an Atlanta squad that was missing three starters.

Kristaps Porzingis (flu-like symptoms) and Zaccharie Risacher (right ankle sprain) each missed their second straight game. They were joined on the bench by Jalen Johnson, who sprained his right ankle in a victory at Orlando the previous night.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 17 points. Atlanta has lost its first two home games of the season by a combined 37 points, sandwiched around the road victory over the Magic.

BULLS 110, MAGIC 98

ORLANDO, Florida (AP) — Josh Giddey had 21 points and eight rebounds, and Chicago beat Orlando for a 2-0 start.

Jalen Smith added 16 points for the Bulls, one of their four players off the bench in double figures. Ayo Dosunmu and Nikola Vucevic each finished with 15 points.

Paolo Banchero scored 24 points for the Magic, who were a woeful 3 for 24 (12.5%) from 3-point range. Orlando shot 39% overall and fell to 1-2.

Banchero also grabbed 10 rebounds but shot just 7 for 21. Anthony Black added 19 points and Franz Wagner had 17 for the Magic.

The Bulls led 83-80 after three quarters before Dosunmu went 3 for 3 from 3-point range in the fourth. Smith followed one of Dosunmu’s 3s with one of his own as Chicago pushed a three-point lead to 94-85 and never was really threatened again.

76ERS 125, HORNETS 121

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Quentin Grimes snapped a tie with a 3-pointer with 14 seconds left and scored 24 points, and Tyrese Maxey scored 28 to lead Philadelphia to a win over Charlotte.

Joel Embiid scored 20 points with only two rebounds for the Sixers in their home opener. VJ Edgecombe had 15 points for the Sixers after the 2025 No. 3 overall pick scored 34 in the opener against Boston, the third-most points for an NBA player in his first game.

The Hornets lost Brandon Miller in the first half to left shoulder soreness. Miller grabbed his shoulder in pain and ran to the locker room after he was hurt on a play in the second quarter. He scored four points in nine minutes.

LaMelo Ball led the Hornets with 27 points and Collin Sexton had 21.

GRIZZLIES 128, PACERS 103

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Rookie Cedric Coward scored 22 of his 27 points in the second half, and Memphis pulled away for a victory over Indiana.

Ja Morant finished with 19 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 17. Coward, the No. 11 pick in the draft out of Washington State, made all six 3-point attempts and finished 9 for 13 overall. He has reached double figures in all three games.

Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana with 26 points, going 8 for 12 from the field and making a pair of 3-pointers. Aaron Nesmith added 15 points, while Obi Toppin and Pascal Siakam scored 13 apiece as the Pacers fell to 0-2.

NUGGETS 133, SUNS 111

DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic had his second triple-double of the season despite a quiet shooting night, Jamal Murray scored 23 points, and Denver beat Phoenix in their home opener.

Jokic finished with 15 assists, 14 rebounds and 14 points on just 5 of 8 shooting. His first field goal attempt came with 2:26 left in the second quarter. He notched the triple-double on a turnaround hook shot with 57 seconds in the period.

Jokic has 166 career triple-doubles during the regular season, third behind Russell Westbrook (203) and Oscar Robertson (181), and 18 more in the playoffs.

Devin Booker had 31 points and Grayson Allen scored 17 for the Suns, who were playing the second game of a tough back-to-back. They tipped off Saturday night 20 hours after losing by 27 to the Los Angeles Clippers and didn’t have center Mark Williams, who was out with a right knee injury.