AP - The Dallas Mavericks began anew. LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers wish they could start over. Jason Terry scored 24 points, Dirk Nowitzki added 15 and the Mavericks, whose NBA title pursuit last season ended with a stunning first-round exit against Golden State, opened 2007-08 with a 92-74 victory over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

AP - Jason Williams scored his second goal with 20.4 seconds left and the Chicago Blackhawks snapped a nine-game losing streak in Dallas, beating the Stars 5-4 on Wednesday night.

AP - Chris Paul and the rest of the Hornets' starting five got their team's full-time return to New Orleans off to a promising start. Paul had 22 points and 12 assists, while Peja Stojakovic showed some of his All-Star form of old with 19 points to help the Hornets beat the Sacramento Kings 104-90 on Wednesday night.

AP - Unwanted Antoine Wright scored 14 of his career-high 21 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to lead the New Jersey Nets to a 112-103 victory over the distracted Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.

AP - Joe Torre grew up in Brooklyn rooting against the Dodgers. Now, a half-century after they moved west, he's their manager. Torre was hired by Los Angeles to succeed Grady Little on Thursday, taking the job two weeks after walking away from the New York Yankees.

AP - Although his first choice remains Boston, Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling said on his blog that he would consider a dozen other teams for a "last year" based on quality of life and a chance to make it back to the playoffs.

AP - Rashard Lewis scored 26 points and Hedo Turkoglu had 24 to lift the sharp-shooting Orlando Magic to a 102-83 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in the teams' season opener Wednesday night.

AP - Andrea Bargnani scored 20 points and the Toronto Raptors began the defense of their Atlantic Division title Wednesday night with a 106-97 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

AP - Jay Pandolfo scored three goals to lead New Jersey to a 6-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night, giving the Devils their first victory at the Prudential Center.