The NBA opening night was full of excitement, standout individual performances, and plenty of new faces. From Ty Jerome’s 45 points to the dynamic debuts of Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, and Kevin Durant, this first glimpse of the new season provided plenty of stories.
Magic-Hawks 125-132
Nikiel Alexander-Walker scored 31 points and led the Hawks, with Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson each adding 20. For Orlando, Paolo Banchero had 35 points and 10 assists, but Atlanta closed out the game stronger.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Wizards-Bucks 128-116
An impressive debut for Anthony Davis in Washington with 34 points and 12 rebounds, while Trae Young had 20 points and 13 assists. The Wizards made the difference in the fourth quarter with a 21-4 run.
Nets-Hornets 103-110
Naz Reid began his tenure in Charlotte with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Grayson Allen scored 21. For Brooklyn, Julius Randle had 33 points and Michael Porter Jr. had 26.
Raptors-Bulls 135-92
Kawhi Leonard returned to Toronto with 23 points, the same number scored by Scottie Barnes and Emmanuel Quickley. The Raptors never trailed and capitalized on Chicago’s 27 turnovers.
Grizzlies-Jazz 123-103
It was a career night for Ty Jerome, who finished with 45 points on 17-of-25 shooting and set a Memphis franchise record for points in a season opener. The Grizzlies built a lead of as many as 27 points and were never in danger down the stretch.
Pelicans-Pacers 120-123
Pascal Siakam scored 30 points, while Tyrese Haliburton returned to regular-season action after 16 months with 23 points and 12 assists. The Pacers overcame an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter and clinched the game in the closing moments.
Rockets-Mavericks 128-110
Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. each scored 30 points and led Houston, which finished the first half up by 32. Cooper Flagg stood out for Dallas with 32 points, while Kyrie Irving had 15 in his return.
*photo source: AP
