Patty Mills celebrate after hitting a three-point shot against the Memphis Grizzlies. Source: AP
PATTY Mills led an early pointscoring charge to help the San Antonio Spurs to a 101-94 home win over the Memphis Grizzlies in their NBA season opener.
The newly-promoted Spurs back-up point guard didn't miss a beat, adding 12 points in just nine minutes in Wednesday night's rematch of last season's Western Conference finalists.
The 25-year-old's entry provided an instant boost, draining three straight three-pointers and a free throw to give San Antonio a 37-22 lead with 6:48 left in the first half.
Mills was one of six Spurs who finished on double figures - led by Kawhi Leonard and Boris Diaw on 14 points, and starting point guard Tony Parker with 13.
Tim Duncan left the game with a chest contusion after taking an inadvertent elbow in the third quarter and didn't return for the rest of the game.
Tony Allen had 15 points and Marc Gasol and Mike Conley 14 each for Memphis, while Mike Miller - in his return to the Grizzlies after playing last season for Miami Heat - laid on 11.
Meanwhile former Australian Boomers coach Brett Brown enjoyed a major upset in his NBA head coaching debut at the helm of the lowly-rated Philadelphia 76ers who downed reigning NBA champions Miami Heat 114-110.
The Sixers were strong from the opening tip, making their first 11 shots and racing to a 26-4 lead against the Heat - who had opened the season with a win over the Chicago Bulls.
The Heat erased the deficit in the third quarter and appeared to take control behind LeBron James.
But James blew two straight late chances to put Miami up, losing the ball on a drive down the middle, then missing a six-footer on the next possession.
Spencer Hawes scored 24 points and hit the winning basket for Philadelphia.
31 Oct, 2013
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Source: http://www.news.com.au/sport/basketball/patty-mills-nails-12-points-in-seasonopening-win-for-san-antonio-spurs/story-fndkzqrr-1226750636281?from=public_rss
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