Kyrie Irving's first exhibition game was a success. Irving scored 21 points — including five free throws in the final minute — in the Cleveland Cavaliers' 91-87 victory over Detroit Friday. The Pistons nearly rallied from an 11-point deficit, but they turned the ball over with a chance to tie and Irving helped seal the win from the line. The Pistons went on a 10-0 run to cut Cleveland's lead to one. Irving's free throw with 30.6 seconds left made it 87-85, and Greg Monroe lost the ball in the low post on Detroit's next possession. Bulls 95, Pacers 86: The only thing about the Indiana-Chicago matchup Friday night that resembled a preseason game was the fact that it didn't count in the regular-season standings. The crowd was juiced up, and fairly large number of red-clad fans made the trip from Chicago to watch the Bulls beat the Pacers 95-86 in a preseason opener for both teams that looked more like an extension of last season's intense first-round playoff series. Hornets 97, Grizzlies 90: Jarrett Jack scored 24 points, Quincy Pondexter and Emeka Okafor added 12 apiece and the New Orleans Hornets beat the Memphis Grizzlies. The Hornets, playing their first game since the trade of star guard Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers this week, scored six straight points to take a 95-89 lead. Trevor Ariza scored 11 points for New Orleans, and Carldell Johnson finished with 10, while playing only in the fourth quarter. Tony Allen led Memphis with 17 points, while Rudy Gay and Jeremy Pargo scored 15 each. O.J. Mayo had 12, but was 5 of 15 from the field. 76ers 103, Wizards 78: Wizards coach Flip Saunders cursed. He raised his voice. He spared no criticism, including of point guard John Wall. Saunders ripped his best player — “He was bad,” the coach said — and most of his team for a poor-passing, cold-shooting, weak-defending display in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, the first of two post-lockout exhibition games between the teams. With new 76ers owner Josh Harris sitting behind a baseline, Lou Williams scored 19 points, and Evan Turner — chosen second behind No. 1 overall pick Wall in the 2010 draft — added 16. Relying on the core that led them to last season's playoffs, the 76ers shot 51 percent in their first game since Harris' group completed its purchase in October.
