Aches, pains and an early start time couldn't slow down RashardLewis. The Los Angeles Clippers offered little resistance as well.
Lewis scored a career-high 50 points today in Japan to lead theSeattle SuperSonics to a 124-105 victory over the Clippers.
"I felt sore when I woke up this morning," Lewis said followingthe game, which started at noon. "I wasn't really thinking about thepoints, but more about by how much we were up."
Seattle swept Los Angeles in the two-game, season-opening seriesat Saitama Super Arena. Lewis had a big hand in both victories.
"It just comes down to a lot of hard work over the summer," Lewissaid. "I am one of the go-to guys on this team and it all comes downto making the right decisions and not making bad shots."
Lewis, who led the Sonics with 25 points in Thursday's 109-100win, scored 26 points in the first half today and nearly matched thattotal after the break.
He made 18-of-25 shots from the field, 4-for-7 from 3-point range,and was 10-of-13 at the foul line. His previous career high was 37points, set last season.
"Obviously, it was not a good game for us," Clipper Coach MikeDunleavy said. "Rashard Lewis had an incredible game. We tried todouble-team him late but he got hot and stayed hot all game."
Ronald Murray had 22 points, and Brent Barry added 14 for Seattle,which had five scorers in double figures.
Seattle used pressure defense to force several turnovers and openup a 17-point lead with just over 10 minutes left in the game.
"Defense was a big key," Sonics Coach Nate McMillan said. "Wedidn't play well defensively in the first half when we scored 66points but gave up 58. We talked about that at the break and improveda lot in the second half."
Corey Maggette led the Clippers with 26 points, and QuentinRichardson was next with 19.
Pistons 93, Heat 81 - At Miami, Chauncey Billups scored 27 points,and Detroit beat winless Miami.
The Heat fell to 0-3, losing its home opener under new Coach StanVan Gundy.
Richard Hamilton added 24 points, including Detroit's final 10after the Heat closed to 83-76. Coach Larry Brown earned his 880thcareer victory and his first with the Pistons, his seventh NBA team.
Detroit 18-year-old forward Darko Milicic made his NBA debut with1:23 left, finishing with two rebounds, two turnovers and a foul.
Bucks 93, Pacers 79 - At Indianapolis, Milwaukee rookie T.J. Fordhad 11 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in his NBA debut.
Michael Redd added 21 points and Tim Thomas scored 20 for theBucks, who gave new coach Terry Porter his first win.
Pacers guard Reggie Miller left after the third quarter with asore back and didn't return.
Nets 84, Timberwolves 61 - At East Rutherford, N.J., Jason Kiddpicked up his game after Kenyon Martin went down with an ugly ankleinjury.
Kidd recorded his 51st career triple-double with 21 points, 14assists and 11 rebounds. Richard Jefferson added 26 points for theNets in their home opener.
New Jersey held Minnesota to a franchise low in points.
Kevin Garnett had 23 points to lead the Timberwolves, whoseprevious team low was 66.
Celtics 93, Grizzlies 91 - At Memphis, Tenn., Mike James hit a 16-foot jumper with 1.8 seconds left to lift Boston.
Vin Baker led Boston with 24 points and eight rebounds. James had16 points and six assists.
Memphis was led by Stromile Swift with 18 points.
Raptors 82, Wizards 79 - At Toronto, Vince Carter scored 18 of his26 points in the second half as Toronto recovered from its lowest-scoring first half ever - 27 points.
Jerome Williams added 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Antonio Davishad 15 rebounds as the Raptors improved to 2-0 under new Coach KevinO'Neill.
Bulls 100, Hawks 94 - At Chicago, Eddy Curry scored 22 points, andTyson Chandler had 13 with a career-high 22 rebounds for the Bulls.
Atlanta's Jason Terry scored 24 points and Stephen Jackson added17.
Kings 100, 76ers 89 - At Sacramento, Calif., Peja Stojakovicscored 28 points, and Bobby Jackson had 18 as the Kings beatPhiladelphia for the sixth straight time.
Mike Bibby had 16 points and five assists for the Kings, whoearned their 19th straight home victory against Eastern Conferenceteams.
Allen Iverson had 27 points and seven assists for the 76ers afterstraining his left shoulder during practice Thursday.
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