Harden makes quick impact

James Harden made an impressive debut for the Houston Rockets, helping them to victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Harden poured in 37 points as the Rockets finished strongly, with a 33-15 final quarter helping them to a 105-96 success at Palace of Auburn Hills.

A 27-17 final quarter gave the Indiana Pacers a 90-88 win over the Raptors at Toronto's Air Canada Centre, with George Hill scoring the go-ahead basket with two seconds remaining.

Tim Duncan scored 24 points as the San Antonio Spurs opened the season with a 99-95 victory at the New Orleans Hornets, while a 37-13 quarter did much of the damage as the Utah Jazz inflicted a 113-94 defeat on the visiting Dallas Mavericks.

Carl Landry scored 14 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Golden

State Warriors overcame the Phoenix Suns 87-85 at the US Airways Center.

Dwight Howard's 33 points were not enough to prevent the Los Angeles Lakers slipping to a 116-106 loss to the Trail Blazers at Portland's Rose Garden, while a 28-15 final quarter made sure the Los Angeles Clippers saw off the visiting Memphis Grizzlies 101-92 - Jamal Crawford leading the way for the victors with 29 points.

The Philadelphia 76ers made home advantage pay at the Wells Fargo Center, seeing off the Denver Nuggets 84-75, while the Chicago Bulls did likewise at the United Center, downing the Sacramento Kings 93-87.

Friday's game between the New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets at the new Barclays Center has been postponed at the request of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, following damage from Hurricane Sandy.