NBA Wrap: Sixers spoil Kobe's farewell hometown game to end losing streak

PHILADELPHIA — Kobe Bryant won over the fans. He just couldn't beat the previously winless Philadelphia 76ers.

With the spotlight on Bryant during the final game of his career in his hometown, the Sixers stole the show and defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 103-91 on Tuesday night (Wednesday Manila time) for their first victory of the season.

The Sixers had lost their first 18 games, and 28 overall dating to last season — the longest skid in the history of major professional sports in the United States. But they remained tied for the worst start in NBA history with the 2009-10 New Jersey Nets, who also opened 0-18.

It was the first win for the Sixers since March 25 at Denver.

Bryant, who will end his 20-year career this season, opened the first leg of his farewell tour in his hometown and was feted with the kind of reverence and gratitude normally reserved for a Sixers great.

He buried a 3-pointer off the opening tip and hit another 3 on the next possession. Bryant made it 3 for 3 and had the Philly crowd chanting "M-V-P!" as he turned back the clock to his championship form. He scored 20 points on 7-of-26 shooting and made four 3s.

Robert Covington scored 23 points for the Sixers.

WIZARDS 97, CAVALIERS 85

CLEVELAND — John Wall scored a season-high 35 points as Washington handed Cleveland its first home loss of the season.

The Wizards, who never trailed, scored the first 10 points of the game and went on a 9-0 run to begin the second half in snapping a four-game losing streak.

LeBron James had 24 points, but the Cavaliers lost for the first time in 10 games this season at Quicken Loans Arena.

Wall was 14 of 24 from the field and had 10 assists. Bradley Beal scored 18 and Marcin Gortat added 15 points with 11 rebounds for the Wizards.

GRIZZLIES 113, PELICANS 104

NEW ORLEANS — Marc Gasol scored a career-high 38 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Memphis defeated New Orleans.

The Pelicans lost despite the return of starting guard Tyreke Evans and top reserve Norris Cole. Evans had 20 points and 10 assists, but that wasn't enough to overcome a Grizzlies squad that scored 52 points in the paint and missed only one of 26 free throws.

Gasol was 11 of 22 from the field and made all 16 of his foul shots. Zach Randolph added 14 points, while Courtney Lee and Matt Barnes scored 13 each.

Anthony Davis had 17 points, 14 rebounds and career high-tying nine blocked shots for the Pelicans. But he struggled with his shooting, going 4 of 15 from the field and 8 of 13 on free throws.

Ryan Anderson scored 16 for New Orleans, which has lost three straight.

MAGIC 96, TIMBERWOLVES 93

MINNEAPOLIS — Nikola Vucevic had 18 points and 12 rebounds as Orlando topped Minnesota for its fourth straight victory.

Elfrid Payton had 14 points and eight rebounds, and Andrew Nicholson scored 15 for the Magic, who have won four straight for the first time since December 2012.

Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points for the Timberwolves, but missed a free throw with 5.6 seconds to play that would have tied the game. Minnesota shot just 37.7 percent and fell to 2-7 at home this season.

The Magic led by as many as 17 in the third quarter. Minnesota had it tied with 4:30 to play, but went 3:40 without a bucket late in the fourth.

NETS 94, SUNS 91

NEW YORK — Brook Lopez scored 23 points as Brooklyn beat Phoenix for its fourth consecutive win at home.

Brooklyn reserves Shane Larkin and Wayne Ellington each had 11 points and both made a basket in the brief flurry that helped the Nets win consecutive games for the first time this season. Jarrett Jack also scored 11 and added eight assists.

Brandon Knight scored 26 points and Eric Bledsoe had 17 for the Suns, who had a long dry spell from the field in the fourth quarter after leading by nine earlier in the period. They botched their final possession trailing by three with 4 seconds remaining.

The Suns fell to 1-1 on their six-game road trip.