Vols in the NBA: Oct. 20 recap

The 2021-22 NBA season is underway and three former University of Tennessee basketball players appeared in their opening games Wednesday night.

Two other former Volunteers were inactive.

In New York, the Celtics lost to the Knicks, 138-134, in overtime at Madison Square Garden.

Grant Williams started for Boston at power forward. He played 31 minutes.

Williams totaled 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and one steal against the Knicks. He was 6-for-9 from the field and 3-for-5 from beyond the 3-point arc.

Josh Richardson was inactive for Boston as he was nursing a migraine.

In New Orleans, Philadelphia defeated the Pelicans, 117-97, at Smoothie King Center.

Tobias Harris started and played 28 minutes for the 76ers. He totaled 20 points and 12 rebounds.

He was 8-for-16 from the floor and missed both of his 3-point attempts. Harris was 4-for-5 from the free throw line and had two assists and one block.

Rookie Jaden Springer played two minutes for Philadelphia in his NBA regular season debut, but posted no stats.