Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls, 128-96 Cavs Win
Top Performers:
Donovan Mitchell
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 32 | 9 | 8 | 10/19 | 4/6 | 8/9 | 1 | 0 |
Zach LaVine
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 23 | 3 | 4 | 9/17 | 2/6 | 3/4 | 2 | 0 |
Key Game Notes:
- The Cleveland Cavaliers were able to pick up their first win of the season as Donovan Mitchell became the first player in Cavs history to open the season with back-to-back 30-point games.
- This home opener was also the season debut for All-Star guard Zach LaVine who led the Bulls with 23 points. Notable news came out after the game that LaVine will likely not play in back-to-backs this season due to his knee injury.
- Also, notable that DeMar DeRozan finished with only 13 points before being ejected in the final four minutes after aggressively disputing a quick call by a referee.
- The Cavaliers got strong contributions from the bench as Cedi Osman, Kevin Love and Robin Lopez combined for 42 of Cleveland’s 56 bench points.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets, 122-117 Nuggets Win
Top Performers:
Josh Giddey
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 19 | 12 | 6 | 8/17 | 2/4 | 1/2 | 1 | 1 |
Nikola Jokic
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 19 | 16 | 13 | 6/10 | 1/1 | 6/9 | 1 | 1 |
Key Game Notes:
- The Denver Nuggets home opener was filled with celebrations: The return of Jamal Murray, celebrating Nikola Jokic’s second straight MVP, and Jokic finishing the night tied with Wilt Chamberlain for sixth all-time with 78 triple-doubles.
- Notable performers for the Nuggets: Murray finished with 16 points, four rebounds, and five assists while Michael Porter Jr. led the team with 22 points along with six rebounds. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was second on the team with 21 points and hit 6-of-10 threes.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 28 points along with seven assists. Lugentz Dort finished the game with 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals despite going 3-of-13 from the field and 1-of-7 from three.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Philadelphia 76ers, 114-105 Spurs Win
Top Performers:
Jakob Poeltl
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 13 | 12 | 3 | 6/9 | 0/0 | 1/2 | 0 | 1 |
Joel Embiid
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 40 | 13 | 3 | 14/25 | 0/2 | 12/15 | 1 | 2 |
Key Game Notes:
- After ducking the media following the Sixers’ close loss to the Bucks, Joel Embiid made up for it with a dominant individual performance. Unfortunately, it came in a loss.
- Following two straight 30+ point games to open the season, it was James Harden who did not show up in this one as he finished with 12 points in 40 minutes. He did almost triple-double, though, with nine rebounds and 12 assists, but he shot 4-of-18 from the field.
- For the Spurs, Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell combined for 43 points and 12 rebounds; Tre Jones also had a good night with 17 points and four assists.
Detroit Pistons vs. Indiana Pacers, 124-115 Pacers Win
Top Performers:
Saddiq Bey
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 20 | 11 | 3 | 5/16 | 2/8 | 8/8 | 1 | 0 |
Tyrese Haliburton
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 24 | 4 | 10 | 7/16 | 3/6 | 7/8 | 5 | 0 |
Key Game Notes:
- Indiana’s rookie guard Benedict Mathurin continues to look electrifying as he finished with a game-high 27 points while hitting some crucial threes down the stretch to seal the game.
- Strong performances from the Pacers bigs as Jalen Smith finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks. Goga Bitadze finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds in 25 minutes off the bench. Two solid rotational bigs performing well in the absence of Myles Turner.
- Notable performers for the Pistons: Cade Cunningham led the team with 22 points, rookie guard Jaden Ivey finished with 17 points, ten rebounds, and five assists, and Isaiah Stewart had a good outing with 11 points and 17 rebounds despite only shooting 2-of-10 from the field.
Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic, 126-120 Celtics Win
Top Performers:
Jayson Tatum
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 40 | 8 | 1 | 14/21 | 4/10 | 8/9 | 1 | 2 |
Wendell Carter Jr.
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 15 | 12 | 5 | 6/13 | 1/1 | 2/4 | 0 | 1 |
Key Game Notes:
- Although this game was much closer than anticipated, Jayson Tatum and Derrick White combined for 12 straight points late in the fourth quarter to help the Celtics pull out the victory. White finished the game with 27 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
- Strong performances from the Magic starters: Rookie Paolo Banchero’s third straight game with 20+ points (23 points and 5 rebounds), Terrance Ross led the team with 29 points, Franz Wagner finished with 18 points and six rebounds while Cole Anthony finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
Houston Rockets vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 125-105 Bucks Win
Top Performers:
Kevin Porter Jr.
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 18 | 5 | 7 | 5/15 | 2/4 | 6/7 | 2 | 0 |
Giannis Antetokounmpo
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 44 | 12 | 3 | 17/21 | 2/3 | 8/13 | 0 | 0 |
Key Game Notes:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo became Milwaukee’s all-time career free-throw leader with 3,508 made free throws passing previous record holder Sidney Moncrief. Giannis’s 44 points also led all scorers last night.
- Aside from Giannis, the only real big-time performers were Jrue Holiday, who finished with 19 points, five rebounds, and ten assists, and Bobby Portis with 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
- Second-year guard Jalen Green led the Rockets in scoring with 22 points while hitting 4-of-7 threes. Rookie forward Jabari Smith had a strong outing with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks.
Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat, 112-109 Heat Win
Top Performers:
Pascal Siakam
|
PTS |
REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 23 | 8 | 9 | 8/19 | 0/2 | 7/8 | 1 |
1 |
Jimmy Butler
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 24 | 4 | 5 | 7/16 | 1/1 | 9/11 | 0 | 0 |
Key Game Notes:
- There was a point in this game when the Miami Heat were up by as much as 24 points. But the Raptors were able to rally back and bring the deficit down to six by the fourth quarter.
- Coming off of a strong triple-double performance in the close loss to Brooklyn, Pascal Siakam flirted with another triple-double in this one. Other key contributors for the Raptors were Gary Trent Jr. (23 points) and Precious Achiuwa (18 points and 11 rebounds off the bench).
- Something to monitor is after 13 minutes of play, Scottie Barnes left the game with a right ankle sprain and did not return.
- Key contributors for the Miami Heat were Max Strus (20 points in 37 minutes off the bench) and Tyler Herro with a solid overall game of 14 points, eight rebounds, and six assists in 22 minutes as part of the starting lineup.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Dallas Mavericks, 137-96 Mavs Win
Top Performers:
Ja Morant
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 20 | 1 | 4 | 6/12 | 0/2 | 8/8 | 1 | 0 |
Luka Doncic
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 32 | 7 | 10 | 12/23 | 4/9 | 4/5 | 2 | 2 |
Key Game Notes:
- Luka Doncic and the Mavericks came out and set the tone early with a strong 39 to 17 first quarter and never looked back. Doncic will dominate headlines because of his near 32-point triple-double, but the Mavericks bench should also get significant praise.
- Off the Mavericks’ bench, newcomer Christian Wood and Tim Hardaway combined for 41 points in 25 minutes played apiece.
- Memphis’s offense was held relatively in check as Ja Morant and Desmond Bane (14 points) were the only starters to score in the double-digits.
- Don’t sleep on Grizzlies rookie David Roddy. When he gets into the game, he is a more than eager shot hunter and showed that in this game. Roddy finished with 12 points on 12 shots (tied with Morant for most shot attempts on the team) in 23 minutes off the bench.
LA Clippers vs. Sacramento Kings, 111-109 Clippers Win
Top Performers:
Paul George
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 40 | 6 | 6 | 16/31 | 3/10 | 5/5 | 1 | 0 |
De’Aaron Fox
| PTS | REB | AST | FG% | 3P% | FT% | STL | BLK |
| 36 | 5 | 4 | 15/23 | 3/5 | 3/6 | 1 | 1 |
Key Game Notes:
- With no Kawhi Leonard in this one, Paul George carried the Clippers as he led the game in points (40), shot attempts (31) and even minutes played (38). The next highest scorer for the Clippers was Reggie Jackson with 14 points along with five assists.
- Solid debut for the rookie forward Keegan Murray who finished the game with 19 points and five rebounds on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting from the field.
- Solid but quiet all-around performance from Domantas Sabonis who finished with 11 points, ten rebounds, and seven assists. Kevin Huerter was also strong from beyond the arc with 15 of his 18 points coming off threes.
