29.10.2023
Cleveland Cavaliers 113 - 125 Indiana Pacers
Aaron Nesmith had a career-high 26 points and Tyrese Haliburton recorded a near triple-double with 21 points, 13 assists, and eight rebounds as the Indiana Pacers defeated the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers 125-113. Cleveland played without three starters, including Donovan Mitchell, but Evan Mobley had a stellar performance with 33 points and 14 rebounds. The Pacers outscored the Cavaliers 29-12 in the second quarter and held on for their second straight win to open the season. Tyrese Haliburton leads the league in assists with 12.0 per game.
New Orleans Pelicans 96 - 87 New York Knicks
The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the New York Knicks 96-87 with Brandon Ingram scoring 26 points and Zion Williamson adding 24. Both players showed their offensive prowess, with Williamson hitting difficult shots around the rim and flexing his biceps to celebrate, while Ingram showcased a variety of mid-range shots. The Knicks, coming off a back-to-back, struggled to keep up in the fourth quarter as Jonas Valanciunas' strong play helped the Pelicans secure the win. The Pelicans had a dominant first half, scoring 30 of their 52 points in the paint and capitalizing on fast-break opportunities. Both teams will play their next games on the road, with the Knicks visiting Cleveland and the Pelicans hosting Golden State.
Phoenix Suns 126 - 104 Utah Jazz
Kevin Durant led the way with 26 points as the Suns easily handled the Jazz 126-104, despite missing two-thirds of their star trio due to injuries. Grayson Allen's unexpected dunk in the third quarter brought the crowd to its feet, pushing the Phoenix lead to 30 points. The Suns dominated the game from start to finish, with strong defensive efforts and contributions from the supporting cast. The Jazz struggled with 19 turnovers and couldn't keep up with Phoenix's offensive firepower. Next up, the Jazz will face Denver while the Suns will host San Antonio.
Washington Wizards 113 - 106 Memphis Grizzlies
In their home opener, the Washington Wizards bounced back defensively to defeat the winless Memphis Grizzlies 113-106, led by Corey Kispert's 22 points in the first half. The Wizards took advantage of 18 turnovers by the Grizzlies and held a lead throughout the game, despite Memphis cutting it to single digits late. Jordan Poole had 27 points for Washington, while Desmond Bane led Memphis with 26 points. Tyus Jones, traded from Memphis to Washington, had 14 points and seven assists against his former team. The Wizards will host Boston next, while the Grizzlies will host Dallas.
Minnesota Timberwolves 106 - 90 Miami Heat
In the Timberwolves' home opener, Naz Reid led the team to a 106-90 victory over the short-handed Miami Heat, scoring 25 points on 10-for-14 shooting in 28 minutes. Anthony Edwards added 19 points, while Tyler Herro led the Heat with 22 points. Despite missing key players like Jimmy Butler and Kevin Love, Miami put up a fight but ultimately fell short. Reid's performance, along with strong contributions from Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, led to a dominant win for Minnesota. The Wolves' defense was on point, and they now look ahead to their next game against Atlanta.
Toronto Raptors 107 - 114 Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey each scored 34 points as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors 114-107 to give new coach Nick Nurse his first win against his former team. Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 18 points and Tobias Harris had 15 as the 76ers won their fourth straight over the Raptors. Nurse, who led the Raptors to the NBA championship in 2019, was honored with a video tribute and received mementos from his time with the team. Maxey finished 7 for 9 from 3-point range, leading the 76ers to victory. Scottie Barnes scored 24 points for the Raptors, but it wasn't enough to overcome Philadelphia. Harden did not play for the 76ers and the Raptors were missing O.G. Anunoby and Precious Achiuha due to injuries. The 76ers will host the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, while the Raptors will face the Blazers on Monday.
Detroit Pistons 118 - 102 Chicago Bulls
Despite Zach LaVine's impressive career-high 51 points, the Detroit Pistons overcame the Chicago Bulls with a final score of 118-102 on Saturday night. Jalen Duren led the Pistons with 23 points and 15 rebounds, while rookie Ausar Thompson played a key role in holding LaVine to just two points in the final eight minutes. Cade Cunningham added 25 points and 10 assists for Detroit, helping them end a 15-game losing streak to the Bulls. The Pistons shot 60.5% from the floor and received strong contributions from their bench, including Alec Burks and Marvin Bagley III. LaVine's performance marked the first 50-point game of the NBA season, but it wasn't enough to secure a victory for the Bulls.