Nikola Jokić is already in full regular-season form, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 133-128 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
The Serbian superstar only needed to get into preseason mode to record a triple-double, finishing the game with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.
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Aaron Gordon was also outstanding with 25 points and 6 rebounds in just 23 minutes, shooting 9-for-12, while Cameron Johnson added 15 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals.
For the Bulls, L. Miller stood out with 26 points and 7 rebounds on 11-of-14 shooting, while K. Wilson had 17 points and 5 assists.
Showing a much-improved performance compared to their preseason opener, the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 105-90. Brandon Miller made his debut and led his team in scoring with 18 points and four three-pointers, while Naz Reid added 16.
The home team essentially sealed the game with a 13-0 run before halftime, heading into the locker room up by 15 (60-45), and extended their lead even further in the third quarter. For Milwaukee, which fell to 1-2, Tyler Hero had 18 points and 7 rebounds, while Ryan Rollins and Kyle Kuzma each added 12.
The Cleveland Cavaliers also celebrated their first preseason win, defeating the Orlando Magic 119-105, with James Harden making an impressive debut. The veteran guard scored 24 points on 7-for-10 shooting and 3-for-5 from three-point range in 26 minutes, racking up 20 of those points in the first half alone.
Evan Mobley followed with 14 points, Mario Hezonja and Jalen Tyson each scored 13, Thomas Bryant had 12, and Donovan Mitchell had 11 along with 6 assists. Cleveland led 61-50 at halftime and 90-75 at the end of the third quarter, comfortably maintaining control until the final buzzer, while for Orlando, Tristan da Silva was the leading scorer with 17 points.
*photo source: AP
