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Raptors off to 4-0 start for first time

The Toronto Raptors' Kyle Lowry runs up court against the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 3.

The Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry runs up court against the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 3.

(Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press)
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Kyle Lowry scored 27 points, and the Toronto Raptors spoiled the home opener in Dallas, beating the Mavericks, 102-91, on Tuesday night for the first 4-0 start in franchise history.

The Raptors took the lead for good on a 12-0 run that started in the middle of the fourth quarter. Jonas Valanciunas had six of his 16 points during the decisive stretch.

The Mavericks went almost four minutes without a basket after Dirk Nowitzki made a three-pointer for an 86-82 lead. Nowitzki finished with 18 points. DeMar DeRozan scored 20 points, and Luis Scola had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors, who had opened with three straight wins two other times in their first 20 seasons.

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at Charlotte 130, Chicago 105: Jeremy Lamb scored 20 points on nine-of-10 shooting, Nicolas Batum added 18 and the Hornets cruised to their first victory of the season. With owner Michael Jordan watching, the Hornets (1-3) led by as many as 27 in the second quarter after starting the game by making 13 of 18 shots from the field and all 11 foul shots in the first quarter. The Bulls never mounted a serious challenge. The Hornets were so hot, even the team mascot made an over-the-shoulder shot from midcourt during a break in the action in the fourth quarter. Jimmy Butler led the Bulls (3-2) with a season-high 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting. “We ain’t been playing no defense,” Butler said of the Bulls.

Indiana 94, at Detroit 82: Rodney Stuckey scored 23 points against his former team, Paul George added 16 points and nine rebounds and the Pacers used a 22-0 run over the first and second quarters to pick up their first victory. Andre Drummond had 25 points and a career-high 29 rebounds, becoming the first Piston with back-to-back 20/20 games since at least 1985, according to STATS. Reggie Jackson added 20 points. The Pistons led 30-22 late in the first quarter, and by the time Stan Van Gundy called timeout with 7:13 left in the half, the Pacers had a 44-30 edge.

Atlanta 98, at Miami 92: Jeff Teague had 26 points and nine assists and the Hawks topped the Heat for the seventh straight time. Al Horford had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Hawks, who have won four straight after a season-opening loss. Hassan Whiteside finished with 23 points and 14 rebounds for Miami. Dwyane Wade scored 21 points despite spending a long stretch of the second half back in the Heat locker room for reasons that weren’t immediately clear.

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Orlando 103, at New Orleans 94: Evan Fournier capped a 30-point performance with two three-pointers in the final 1:13 and the Magic won for the first time this season. Nikola Vucevic added 22 points for the Magic, while the injury-plagued Pelicans have given up more than 100 points in all four losses under new Coach Alvin Gentry.

Memphis at Sacramento, late

Denver at Lakers, late

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