Hornets Tangle With Cavaliers In Cleveland
The Cleveland Cavaliers will host the Charlotte Hornets at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Friday evening.
The Hornets (1-0) kicked off their season with a tight 123-122 win over the Indiana Pacers, and that result allowed them to snap the three-game losing streak they were carrying in the preseason. LaMelo Ball paced the Hornets with 31 points, adding nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Gordon Hayward supplied 27 points, five boards, three assists and one steal. Kelly Oubre and Ish Smith generated matching 14-point contributions while recording three rebounds and five assists, respectively. Miles Bridges registered 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. Cody Martin managed 10 points, six rebounds, one steal and one block. Mason Plumlee mustered eight points, 10 boards, five assists and one block in his regular-season team debut. This will be the first road game for the Hornets this season, and it's worth noting Terry Rozier will be a game-time decision due to an ankle injury.
The Cavaliers (0-1) didn't have a good start to the season and suffered a 132-121 loss at the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. Jarrett Allen led the way for the Cavs with 25 points on 11-of-11 shooting, in 29 minutes. Collin Sexton and Evan Mobley followed up with 17 points each, while Cedi Osman chipped in 15 points off the bench. The Cavs shot 50.5 percent from the field, including 14-of-38 from deep, in that opening-season loss, and while the future looks promising for the franchise, it's clear they're just in the middle of what promises to be a long rebuilding process. This will be the Cavaliers' home opener in the campaign. To make things even more complicated, it remains to be seen if Darius Garland will be available since he suffered an ankle injury.
The Hornets (1-0) kicked off their season with a tight 123-122 win over the Indiana Pacers, and that result allowed them to snap the three-game losing streak they were carrying in the preseason. LaMelo Ball paced the Hornets with 31 points, adding nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Gordon Hayward supplied 27 points, five boards, three assists and one steal. Kelly Oubre and Ish Smith generated matching 14-point contributions while recording three rebounds and five assists, respectively. Miles Bridges registered 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three steals and one block. Cody Martin managed 10 points, six rebounds, one steal and one block. Mason Plumlee mustered eight points, 10 boards, five assists and one block in his regular-season team debut. This will be the first road game for the Hornets this season, and it's worth noting Terry Rozier will be a game-time decision due to an ankle injury.
The Cavaliers (0-1) didn't have a good start to the season and suffered a 132-121 loss at the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. Jarrett Allen led the way for the Cavs with 25 points on 11-of-11 shooting, in 29 minutes. Collin Sexton and Evan Mobley followed up with 17 points each, while Cedi Osman chipped in 15 points off the bench. The Cavs shot 50.5 percent from the field, including 14-of-38 from deep, in that opening-season loss, and while the future looks promising for the franchise, it's clear they're just in the middle of what promises to be a long rebuilding process. This will be the Cavaliers' home opener in the campaign. To make things even more complicated, it remains to be seen if Darius Garland will be available since he suffered an ankle injury.
Knicks and Magic Primed for Friday Night Showdown
The New York Knicks take on the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on Friday night.
The Knicks (1-0) come into Friday's matchup riding the momentum of a memorable 138-134 double overtime win over the Celtics in their opener Wednesday night. In that contest, Julius Randle led the way for the Knicks with 35 points, adding nine assists, eight rebounds and three blocks. Evan Fournier provided 32 points, six boards, three assists, four steals and one block in his team debut. R.J. Barrett delivered 19 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Obi Toppin turned in 14 points, five rebounds and one block. Mitchell Robinson generated an 11-point, 17-rebound double-double that also included three assists and two blocks. Kemba Walker totaled 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one steal.
The Knicks will remain without Nerlens Noel (knee) for Friday's game. Taj Gibson (personal) will be listed as questionable.
The Magic (0-1) will head into Friday's contest reeling from a season-opening 123-97 defeat at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs. Mo Bamba led the way for the Magic with 18 points, complementing them with four rebounds, four assists, four blocks and one steal. Terrance Ross delivered 15 points and three boards. Wendell Carter, Jr. supplied 13 points, eight rebounds, one assist and one steal. Franz Wagner totaled 12 points, four boards, two assists, two blocks and one steal. Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs mustered matching 10-point contributions, with Anthony adding five rebounds and four assists.
The Magic will be without Chuma Okeke (hip), Gary Harris (hamstring), E'Twaun Moore (knee), Markelle Fultz (knee) and Michael Carter-Williams (ankle) for Friday's contest.
Friday's game marks the first of four meetings between the teams this season. The Knicks prevailed in the 2020-21 season series by a 2-1 margin.
The Knicks (1-0) come into Friday's matchup riding the momentum of a memorable 138-134 double overtime win over the Celtics in their opener Wednesday night. In that contest, Julius Randle led the way for the Knicks with 35 points, adding nine assists, eight rebounds and three blocks. Evan Fournier provided 32 points, six boards, three assists, four steals and one block in his team debut. R.J. Barrett delivered 19 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Obi Toppin turned in 14 points, five rebounds and one block. Mitchell Robinson generated an 11-point, 17-rebound double-double that also included three assists and two blocks. Kemba Walker totaled 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists and one steal.
The Knicks will remain without Nerlens Noel (knee) for Friday's game. Taj Gibson (personal) will be listed as questionable.
The Magic (0-1) will head into Friday's contest reeling from a season-opening 123-97 defeat at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs. Mo Bamba led the way for the Magic with 18 points, complementing them with four rebounds, four assists, four blocks and one steal. Terrance Ross delivered 15 points and three boards. Wendell Carter, Jr. supplied 13 points, eight rebounds, one assist and one steal. Franz Wagner totaled 12 points, four boards, two assists, two blocks and one steal. Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs mustered matching 10-point contributions, with Anthony adding five rebounds and four assists.
The Magic will be without Chuma Okeke (hip), Gary Harris (hamstring), E'Twaun Moore (knee), Markelle Fultz (knee) and Michael Carter-Williams (ankle) for Friday's contest.
Friday's game marks the first of four meetings between the teams this season. The Knicks prevailed in the 2020-21 season series by a 2-1 margin.
Wizards Make Home-Court Debut After Road Win In Season-Opener
By Dan Bruno
The Washington Wizards play host to the Indiana Pacers at Capital One Arena on Friday evening.
The Wizards (1-0) are coming off an impressive win in Toronto on Wednesday, where they went up big early and led by 22, heading into the final frame. They almost let it all slip away, as the Raptors whittled it down to a 10-point game with 2:30 left on the clock. However, they turned up the defense from there and did not allow another bucket the rest of the way. Bradley Beal was the high-point man with 23 points on 7-of-19 shooting, while Montrezl Harrell had his way with 22 points and nine rebounds, in 26 minutes off the bench. Kyle Kuzma totaled 11 points and 15 rebounds, and Spencer Dinwiddie was solid at the point with 13 points and six assists. The new-look Wizards will be making their home-court debut of the season and coming off such a confident win should help reduce any jitters from the pressure of starting at home.
The Pacers (0-1) opened their season on the road in Charlotte on Wednesday and despite a few great individual performances, suffered a heart-breaking, 123-122, loss. The Pacers had jumped out to a great start in the contest, with a, 38-27, lead after one quarter. They stayed on top through the second and pushed their lead up to 16, by halftime. However, the second half told a different story, as the Pacers were outscored by 20 points in the third quarter and entered the fourth down by four. They kept up the fight down to the wire and were unable to convert on a game-winning attempt at the buzzer. Domantas Sabonis led the way with a monstrous, 33 points and 15 rebounds, in 39 minutes. Malcolm Brogdon added 28 points, 11 assists, four rebounds and a block, while rookie, Chris Duarte impressed in his NBA debut with 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Caris LeVert (back) and T.J. Warren (foot) did not play in the season-opener and will remain out through Friday's action, leaving more room for Duarte to spread his wings, while Jeremy Lamb will also be a key figure off the bench. Lamb totaled just three points on 1-of-9 shooting last game.
The Wizards (1-0) are coming off an impressive win in Toronto on Wednesday, where they went up big early and led by 22, heading into the final frame. They almost let it all slip away, as the Raptors whittled it down to a 10-point game with 2:30 left on the clock. However, they turned up the defense from there and did not allow another bucket the rest of the way. Bradley Beal was the high-point man with 23 points on 7-of-19 shooting, while Montrezl Harrell had his way with 22 points and nine rebounds, in 26 minutes off the bench. Kyle Kuzma totaled 11 points and 15 rebounds, and Spencer Dinwiddie was solid at the point with 13 points and six assists. The new-look Wizards will be making their home-court debut of the season and coming off such a confident win should help reduce any jitters from the pressure of starting at home.
The Pacers (0-1) opened their season on the road in Charlotte on Wednesday and despite a few great individual performances, suffered a heart-breaking, 123-122, loss. The Pacers had jumped out to a great start in the contest, with a, 38-27, lead after one quarter. They stayed on top through the second and pushed their lead up to 16, by halftime. However, the second half told a different story, as the Pacers were outscored by 20 points in the third quarter and entered the fourth down by four. They kept up the fight down to the wire and were unable to convert on a game-winning attempt at the buzzer. Domantas Sabonis led the way with a monstrous, 33 points and 15 rebounds, in 39 minutes. Malcolm Brogdon added 28 points, 11 assists, four rebounds and a block, while rookie, Chris Duarte impressed in his NBA debut with 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Caris LeVert (back) and T.J. Warren (foot) did not play in the season-opener and will remain out through Friday's action, leaving more room for Duarte to spread his wings, while Jeremy Lamb will also be a key figure off the bench. Lamb totaled just three points on 1-of-9 shooting last game.
Raptors, Celtics Looking For First Win Of Season
The Boston Celtics will host the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden on Friday evening.
The Celtics (0-1) kicked off their season with a disappointing loss against their rivals, the New York Knicks, though it was a game that already looks like a candidate to be the Game of the Year -- New York won by a 138-134 score in double overtime. Despite the loss, Jaylen Brown did everything he could to prevent the Celtics from losing, as he finished with 46 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals. Jayson Tatum contributed 20 points and 11 rebounds, but he only shot 7-for-30 from the field. Robert Williams III mustered 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Grant Williams and Marcus Smart each posted 15 points. Smart also added eight rebounds and six assists as well. This will be Boston's first home game of the season.
The Raptors (0-1) also started the year with a loss, as they suffered a 98-83 loss against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday. It was a woeful performance for Toronto, as they only shot 30.9 percent from the field and 20.6 percent from three-point range in that defeat. Scottie Barnes and Fred VanVleet co-led the Raptors with 12 points apiece. Barnes added nine rebounds, one assist and one steal, while VanVleet, who was just 5-for-20 from the floor, mustered four assists, three rebounds and three steals. OG Anunoby provided 11 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block. Goran Dragic and Khem Birch generated matching nine-point tallies, with Dragic also supplying four assists and three rebounds and Birch pulling down nine rebounds. This will be Toronto's first road game of the campaign.
The Celtics (0-1) kicked off their season with a disappointing loss against their rivals, the New York Knicks, though it was a game that already looks like a candidate to be the Game of the Year -- New York won by a 138-134 score in double overtime. Despite the loss, Jaylen Brown did everything he could to prevent the Celtics from losing, as he finished with 46 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals. Jayson Tatum contributed 20 points and 11 rebounds, but he only shot 7-for-30 from the field. Robert Williams III mustered 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Grant Williams and Marcus Smart each posted 15 points. Smart also added eight rebounds and six assists as well. This will be Boston's first home game of the season.
The Raptors (0-1) also started the year with a loss, as they suffered a 98-83 loss against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday. It was a woeful performance for Toronto, as they only shot 30.9 percent from the field and 20.6 percent from three-point range in that defeat. Scottie Barnes and Fred VanVleet co-led the Raptors with 12 points apiece. Barnes added nine rebounds, one assist and one steal, while VanVleet, who was just 5-for-20 from the floor, mustered four assists, three rebounds and three steals. OG Anunoby provided 11 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block. Goran Dragic and Khem Birch generated matching nine-point tallies, with Dragic also supplying four assists and three rebounds and Birch pulling down nine rebounds. This will be Toronto's first road game of the campaign.
Nets and 76ers Clash in Philly
The Brooklyn Nets take on the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on Friday night.
The Nets (0-1) were already the subject of plenty of controversy before the season even started, as Kyrie Irving's vaccine face-off with the team is going to render him a healthy scratch for the foreseeable future. Brooklyn got its season off to a rocky start as well, dropping a 127-104 decision to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. Kevin Durant led the way for the Nets with a 32-point, 11-rebound double-double that also included four assists and two blocks. Patty Mills poured in 21 points off the bench in his team debut. James Harden totaled 20 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and one steal. Nicholas Claxton delivered 12 points and seven rebounds.
The Nets will remain without Irving (personal) for Friday's contest.
The 76ers (1-0) had a much more pleasant experience in their opener, posting a 117-97 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. Joel Embiid led the way with 22 points, complementing them with six rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block. Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey generated matching 20-point tallies while pulling down 12 and seven rebounds, respectively. Maxey also dished out five assists. Georges Niang posted 11 points off the bench, while Seth Curry managed 10 points, two rebounds and two assists.
The 76ers will remain without Ben Simmons (team decision) and Shake Milton (ankle) for Friday's game. Embiid (knee) will be a game-time decision.
Friday's game marks the first of four meetings between the teams this season. The 76ers won the 2020-21 three-game series with Brooklyn by a 2-1 margin.
The Nets (0-1) were already the subject of plenty of controversy before the season even started, as Kyrie Irving's vaccine face-off with the team is going to render him a healthy scratch for the foreseeable future. Brooklyn got its season off to a rocky start as well, dropping a 127-104 decision to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. Kevin Durant led the way for the Nets with a 32-point, 11-rebound double-double that also included four assists and two blocks. Patty Mills poured in 21 points off the bench in his team debut. James Harden totaled 20 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and one steal. Nicholas Claxton delivered 12 points and seven rebounds.
The Nets will remain without Irving (personal) for Friday's contest.
The 76ers (1-0) had a much more pleasant experience in their opener, posting a 117-97 win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night. Joel Embiid led the way with 22 points, complementing them with six rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block. Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey generated matching 20-point tallies while pulling down 12 and seven rebounds, respectively. Maxey also dished out five assists. Georges Niang posted 11 points off the bench, while Seth Curry managed 10 points, two rebounds and two assists.
The 76ers will remain without Ben Simmons (team decision) and Shake Milton (ankle) for Friday's game. Embiid (knee) will be a game-time decision.
Friday's game marks the first of four meetings between the teams this season. The 76ers won the 2020-21 three-game series with Brooklyn by a 2-1 margin.
Bulls Host Pelicans In Home-Opener
By Dan Bruno
The Chicago Bulls play host to the New Orleans Pelicans at United Center on Friday evening.
The Bulls (1-0) started their season with a road win in Detroit on Wednesday. They started the contest a bit slow with only 14 points in the first quarter, but they were able to get back in the game and trailed by four points at halftime. They kept the momentum going in the third and poured in 31 points in the quarter to pull ahead with a two-point lead heading into the final frame. The game stayed tight down the stretch, but the Bulls were able to lock down on defense during crunch time, while Zach LaVine came up clutch at the foul line with six consecutive free throws to close it out. LaVine led the way with 34 points, seven rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block, in 35 minutes. New additions, DeMar DeRozan added 17 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists, while Lonzo Ball finished with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and a block. The Bulls are set to make their home-court debut on Friday and with a solid win under their belt, they should have had a chance to shake off any early nerves. Coby White (shoulder) missed the opener and will remain out through Friday's action.
The Pelicans (0-1) are coming off a rough, 20-point home loss in their first game of the season, as they fell, 117-97, against the 76ers on Wednesday. The contest got out to a competitive start, but the Pelicans fell apart in the second half, where they were outscored, 64-44, resulting in the blowout loss. Brandon Ingram led the way for the Pelicans with 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists and a block, in 37 minutes. Nickeil Alexander-Walker followed up with 23 points, while Devonte' Graham was the only other player to score in double digits, with 18 points. Jonas Valanciunas had a rough night in his Pelicans' debut, with nine points on 3-of-19 shooting. Zion Williamson (foot) missed the contest and will remain out for the foreseeable future. Josh Hart (quad) is listed as questionable for action on Friday.
The Bulls (1-0) started their season with a road win in Detroit on Wednesday. They started the contest a bit slow with only 14 points in the first quarter, but they were able to get back in the game and trailed by four points at halftime. They kept the momentum going in the third and poured in 31 points in the quarter to pull ahead with a two-point lead heading into the final frame. The game stayed tight down the stretch, but the Bulls were able to lock down on defense during crunch time, while Zach LaVine came up clutch at the foul line with six consecutive free throws to close it out. LaVine led the way with 34 points, seven rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block, in 35 minutes. New additions, DeMar DeRozan added 17 points, seven rebounds, three steals and two assists, while Lonzo Ball finished with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and a block. The Bulls are set to make their home-court debut on Friday and with a solid win under their belt, they should have had a chance to shake off any early nerves. Coby White (shoulder) missed the opener and will remain out through Friday's action.
The Pelicans (0-1) are coming off a rough, 20-point home loss in their first game of the season, as they fell, 117-97, against the 76ers on Wednesday. The contest got out to a competitive start, but the Pelicans fell apart in the second half, where they were outscored, 64-44, resulting in the blowout loss. Brandon Ingram led the way for the Pelicans with 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists and a block, in 37 minutes. Nickeil Alexander-Walker followed up with 23 points, while Devonte' Graham was the only other player to score in double digits, with 18 points. Jonas Valanciunas had a rough night in his Pelicans' debut, with nine points on 3-of-19 shooting. Zion Williamson (foot) missed the contest and will remain out for the foreseeable future. Josh Hart (quad) is listed as questionable for action on Friday.
Rockets And Thunder Set To Fight For Their First Win Of The Season
By Dan Bruno
The Houston Rockets play host to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center on Friday evening.
The Rockets (0-1) fell in their season-opener against the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Wednesday. They fell behind early and were not able to gather themselves, as they trailed by 28 points after three quarters. They were finally able to outscore the host in the final quarter, but it was much too little, too late. However, the young Rockets squad have a chance to bounce back with a renewed enthusiasm, as they look ahead to their home-opener on Friday night. Kevin Porter Jr. finished with 11 points, three rebounds and three assists, while Jalen Green totaled nine points, four rebounds and four assists in Wednesday's loss. Christian Wood was the high-point man for the Rockets with 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting, while veteran Eric Gordon chipped in 15 points off the bench. Danuel House Jr. (personal) did not play on Wednesday night and remains questionable for action on Friday.
Meanwhile, The Thunder (0-1) are also coming off a loss in their season-opener, as they fell short in Utah on Wednesday. They did not get out to a good start in the contest and trailed by nine points after one quarter. They picked up the pace in the second but the deficit grew to 12, by halftime. The Thunder could not find any answers the rest of the way, as they were outscored, 53-44, through the second half. They only had three players score in double digits in the loss, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who totaled 18 points on 7-of-17 shooting. Darius Bazley added 15 points, seven rebounds and two assists, while Jeremiah Robinson-Earl chipped in 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, off the bench. Rookie Josh Giddey finished with just four points but hauled in 10 rebounds in his NBA debut. The Thunder will have a much better chance going up against the Rockets, which is a team in a similar position in terms of developing a young core, rather than their first game of the season which had them up against the Jazz, who had the best record in the West last season.
The Rockets (0-1) fell in their season-opener against the Timberwolves in Minnesota on Wednesday. They fell behind early and were not able to gather themselves, as they trailed by 28 points after three quarters. They were finally able to outscore the host in the final quarter, but it was much too little, too late. However, the young Rockets squad have a chance to bounce back with a renewed enthusiasm, as they look ahead to their home-opener on Friday night. Kevin Porter Jr. finished with 11 points, three rebounds and three assists, while Jalen Green totaled nine points, four rebounds and four assists in Wednesday's loss. Christian Wood was the high-point man for the Rockets with 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting, while veteran Eric Gordon chipped in 15 points off the bench. Danuel House Jr. (personal) did not play on Wednesday night and remains questionable for action on Friday.
Meanwhile, The Thunder (0-1) are also coming off a loss in their season-opener, as they fell short in Utah on Wednesday. They did not get out to a good start in the contest and trailed by nine points after one quarter. They picked up the pace in the second but the deficit grew to 12, by halftime. The Thunder could not find any answers the rest of the way, as they were outscored, 53-44, through the second half. They only had three players score in double digits in the loss, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who totaled 18 points on 7-of-17 shooting. Darius Bazley added 15 points, seven rebounds and two assists, while Jeremiah Robinson-Earl chipped in 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, off the bench. Rookie Josh Giddey finished with just four points but hauled in 10 rebounds in his NBA debut. The Thunder will have a much better chance going up against the Rockets, which is a team in a similar position in terms of developing a young core, rather than their first game of the season which had them up against the Jazz, who had the best record in the West last season.
Nuggets Host Spurs on Friday
The Denver Nuggets play host to the San Antonio Spurs at Ball Arena on Friday.
The Spurs (1-0) quietly had one of the best performances on opening night, grabbing a 123-97 blowout victory over the Orlando Magic. This Spurs team had some meager expectations this year, but this new core is nothing to sleep on. Dejounte Murray has developed into one of the best two-way guards in the NBA, while Derrick White and Jakob Poeltl look like breakout candidates as well. It remains to be seen who else will step up, but players like Devil Vassell, Lonnie Walker, and Keldon Johnson all have that ability. Getting an easy win over Orlando is nothing to write home about, though, and it'll be interesting to see how they look here against one of the most formidable opponents in the NBA.
The Nuggets (1-0) looked lost in the first half of their opener against the Phoenix Suns, but something changed in the final seconds of that half. They actually closed that quarter on an 8-0 run across the last 45 seconds and went on to ride a 59-40 second half to a comeback victory. They were down by 16 points when that second-quarter run started, and it's a testament to how much this team has grown over recent years. The best part about that comeback was seeing Will Barton and Aaron Gordon step up. We all know that Nikola Jokic will provide his ridiculous averages, but seeing those guys play so well in the absence of Jamal Murray is a great sign going forward.
Denver won the season series over San Antonio last year and have won five of their last six games over them in total. With that said, the Spurs have dominated this series historically, owning a 119-73 record against them.
The Spurs (1-0) quietly had one of the best performances on opening night, grabbing a 123-97 blowout victory over the Orlando Magic. This Spurs team had some meager expectations this year, but this new core is nothing to sleep on. Dejounte Murray has developed into one of the best two-way guards in the NBA, while Derrick White and Jakob Poeltl look like breakout candidates as well. It remains to be seen who else will step up, but players like Devil Vassell, Lonnie Walker, and Keldon Johnson all have that ability. Getting an easy win over Orlando is nothing to write home about, though, and it'll be interesting to see how they look here against one of the most formidable opponents in the NBA.
The Nuggets (1-0) looked lost in the first half of their opener against the Phoenix Suns, but something changed in the final seconds of that half. They actually closed that quarter on an 8-0 run across the last 45 seconds and went on to ride a 59-40 second half to a comeback victory. They were down by 16 points when that second-quarter run started, and it's a testament to how much this team has grown over recent years. The best part about that comeback was seeing Will Barton and Aaron Gordon step up. We all know that Nikola Jokic will provide his ridiculous averages, but seeing those guys play so well in the absence of Jamal Murray is a great sign going forward.
Denver won the season series over San Antonio last year and have won five of their last six games over them in total. With that said, the Spurs have dominated this series historically, owning a 119-73 record against them.
Lakers Host Suns With Both Teams Looking for First Win
The Los Angeles Lakers play host to the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center on Friday.
The Suns (0-1) were one of the biggest surprises of the 2020-21 season, but many people said it was a fluke. If the first game of this season is any indicator, they might have been correct. The Suns actually led by 16 points in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets, but they collapsed in the second half and allowed the Nugs to complete a 27-point turnaround in that opener. Devin Booker really let them down in that game, tallying 12 points on 3-of-15 from the field. This team simply won't get it done unless he's dropping his usual 25, and there are even more question marks regarding Deandre Ayton's contract extension or lack thereof. The last thing you want to do to a successful team is throw in variables outside of basketball, and it remains to be seen if this contractual issue ends up hurting this team in the long run.
The Lakers (0-1) had a challenging task in the opener and could not prevail against the Golden State Warriors. It was actually the first time this club has lost with Anthony Davis and LeBron James scoring 30-plus apiece, but it's hard to win when no one else does anything. They actually had no other player reach double figures in scoring, with Russell Westbrook collecting eight points, five rebounds, and four assists in his debut. That's one of the worst performances of his storied career, and it has fans wondering if this thing can work with all of these studs playing together. In any case, they have way too much talent, and they should be just fine going forward.
Phoenix won two of their three games over Los Angeles last season, with all three games being decided by 10 points or more. Before that, the Lakers won 10 of their previous 12 games over the Suns in this series.
The Suns (0-1) were one of the biggest surprises of the 2020-21 season, but many people said it was a fluke. If the first game of this season is any indicator, they might have been correct. The Suns actually led by 16 points in the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets, but they collapsed in the second half and allowed the Nugs to complete a 27-point turnaround in that opener. Devin Booker really let them down in that game, tallying 12 points on 3-of-15 from the field. This team simply won't get it done unless he's dropping his usual 25, and there are even more question marks regarding Deandre Ayton's contract extension or lack thereof. The last thing you want to do to a successful team is throw in variables outside of basketball, and it remains to be seen if this contractual issue ends up hurting this team in the long run.
The Lakers (0-1) had a challenging task in the opener and could not prevail against the Golden State Warriors. It was actually the first time this club has lost with Anthony Davis and LeBron James scoring 30-plus apiece, but it's hard to win when no one else does anything. They actually had no other player reach double figures in scoring, with Russell Westbrook collecting eight points, five rebounds, and four assists in his debut. That's one of the worst performances of his storied career, and it has fans wondering if this thing can work with all of these studs playing together. In any case, they have way too much talent, and they should be just fine going forward.
Phoenix won two of their three games over Los Angeles last season, with all three games being decided by 10 points or more. Before that, the Lakers won 10 of their previous 12 games over the Suns in this series.
Kings Host Jazz on Friday
The Sacramento Kings play host to the Utah Jazz at Golden 1 Center on Friday.
The Jazz (1-0) had an easy matchup to start the season when they hosted the Oklahoma City Thunder in their opener, and they took care of business in dominating fashion. They held Oklahoma City to just 86 points in that 21-point win, showing that last season's success was no fluke. What was really lovely to see was that they did that despite Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell struggling with their shots. That's a testament to how good the role players can be for this team, and Utah has to be one of the favorites for the most wins this season after accomplishing that last year. The next step is to advance in the postseason, but that's something that we won't see for quite some time.
The Kings (1-0) might've had the best performance of any team on Wednesday night, grabbing a 124-121 road win in Portland. They actually held a double-digit lead for a lot of that game, and fans are hopeful it's the start of a successful season. All the pieces are there for this team to thrive, with De'Aaron Fox and Richaun Holmes being the primary core. The key in that victory was Harrison Barnes, though, dropping 36 points in that gem. He's quietly had an excellent career, and it's hard to understand why he hasn't gotten more respect around the league. They got that win with Tyler Haliburton collecting two points, two rebounds and four assists as well, which is crazy since he's expected to take a significant leap this season. Many people counted this team out before the season started, but that might look silly here soon.
Utah swept the season series over Sacramento in 2020, winning by an average of 29 points per game. That gives the Jazz 13 wins in their last 15 meetings with the Kings in total.
The Jazz (1-0) had an easy matchup to start the season when they hosted the Oklahoma City Thunder in their opener, and they took care of business in dominating fashion. They held Oklahoma City to just 86 points in that 21-point win, showing that last season's success was no fluke. What was really lovely to see was that they did that despite Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell struggling with their shots. That's a testament to how good the role players can be for this team, and Utah has to be one of the favorites for the most wins this season after accomplishing that last year. The next step is to advance in the postseason, but that's something that we won't see for quite some time.
The Kings (1-0) might've had the best performance of any team on Wednesday night, grabbing a 124-121 road win in Portland. They actually held a double-digit lead for a lot of that game, and fans are hopeful it's the start of a successful season. All the pieces are there for this team to thrive, with De'Aaron Fox and Richaun Holmes being the primary core. The key in that victory was Harrison Barnes, though, dropping 36 points in that gem. He's quietly had an excellent career, and it's hard to understand why he hasn't gotten more respect around the league. They got that win with Tyler Haliburton collecting two points, two rebounds and four assists as well, which is crazy since he's expected to take a significant leap this season. Many people counted this team out before the season started, but that might look silly here soon.
Utah swept the season series over Sacramento in 2020, winning by an average of 29 points per game. That gives the Jazz 13 wins in their last 15 meetings with the Kings in total.