NBA: Reigning champs Lakers lose in season opener

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - The latest NBA champions Los Angeles Lakers were beaten by rivals Los Angeles Clippers 116-109 on Tuesday as the 2020-21 NBA season has begun.

Clippers' duo Paul George and Kawhi Leonard combined for 59 points to bring the first win of the season.

George scored 33 points, including a 15-point-eruption in third quarter. Leonard racked up 26 points at Staples Center, Los Angeles.

In addition, four Clippers players scored in double digits against the Lakers.

Lakers superstar LeBron James had 22 points. Anthony Davis scored 18 points and had 7 rebounds.

Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schroder each made "double-double" for the Lakers.

Harrell had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Schroder tallied 14 points and 12 rebounds, also dishing out 8 assists.

- Durant returns to action with win

US forward Kevin Durant, who did not play in any official game since June 2019 when he had an Achilles tendon rupture, returned to the courts with a win against his former team Golden State Warriors.

Durant and Kyrie Irving led the Brooklyn Nets to a 125-99 win at Barclays Center, Brooklyn.

The Nets pair Durant and Irving scored 48 points total. Durant had 22 points. Irving scored 26 points.

Caris LeVert had 20 points and 9 rebounds for the Nets.

The Warriors point guard Stephen Curry had "double-double" with 20 points and 10 assists.

Warriors' 19-year-old rookie James Wiseman bagged 19 points in his first official NBA game.