Tonight’s NBA Opening Night slate delivered. Three games, all competitive, all worth staying up for. If this is what the rest of the season looks like, it’s going to be a good one.
Pistons Overcome Celtics in Season Opener
Pistons 121 - Celtics 113
The Storyline:
From the first quarter to the third, this game was all Boston. Paul George led the way with a monster 38 points to push the Celtics to a 22-point lead and a 98.4% chance of winning early in the third. Payton Pritchard was lights out off the bench, and although Jayson Tatum didn’t have a great shooting night, he impacted the game as a playmaker, racking up a game-high 13 assists. The game started sloppily on both sides, with bad turnovers and constant offensive rebounds, but the players adjusted to the new season as the game went on. But after the third quarter, it was all Detroit, going on a 23-0 run to take the lead and control of the game. Duncan Robinson was Detroit’s biggest weapon with 21 points and 5 threes, getting red hot in the fourth. Javonte Green was also amazing off the bench for the Pistons with 19 points and 5 threes and a crazy +21 when he was on the court. The Cade-Duren pick-and-roll was also elite tonight, with each of them getting 22 points. When the Pistons get hot, they are very tough to beat.
Celtics’ Keys to the Game:
Look away, Celtics fans; Tatum went 6-for-23 with 11 points and some ugly misses in the 4th.
Pritchard is an instant favorite for 6th man of the year. He looked incredible.
Paul George is the real deal.
WAY too many turnovers.
Pistons’ Keys to the Game:
Hot shooting led them to a comeback.
They got fight, and they are going to give every contender a run for their money.
Rebounding in the 2nd half was dominant. Jalen Duren looked like himself pre-playoffs. Could he be worth the money?
Their bench was the difference maker.
76ers Spoil Knicks Championship Night
76ers 106 - Knicks 100
The Storyline:
Before the game started, it was amazing to see all the players and coaches receive their rings and to see the new championship banner hung in the rafters. It was truly heartwarming to see all of New York come together to celebrate a team. Then the 76ers came. The game was back and forth all night, but the superteam in Philadelphia prevailed. Maxey led the way with 28 points on strong efficiency, but the standout showing for the 76ers was their ball movement. It truly felt like there was no true alpha on the team, and they played like a well-oiled machine. This game is nothing to cry about for Knicks fans. They seemed like a better team in the first half, but very sloppy turnovers killed them. They’ll be fine.
76ers Keys to the Game:
Who is their best player? Do they even need to have one?
Anfernee Simons was electric off the bench.
Starters got heavy minutes. We saw how this worked out for OKC last season.
They need more scoring from Embiid. He looked tired and out of it.
Knicks Keys to the Game:
Andre Drummond is a more-than-viable replacement for Mitchell Robinson. 12 points and 14 rebounds are exactly what New York needs from him.
The bad passes that led to turnovers were the reason they lost. If they had controlled those, they would have won tonight.
Bridges went quiet. Only 4 points on not great efficiency. Not the Mikal we saw at his peak in the playoffs.
Do not overreact; the Knicks are still NBA champions, but the 76ers are coming to snatch their chain.
Thunder Get Revenge Against Wemby and the Spurs
Thunder 116 - Spurs 104
The Storyline:
Last night, the Thunder showed why they are still one of the best teams in the NBA even after last season’s loss to the Spurs in the WCF. SGA is hunting for his third straight MVP with 32 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Wemby wasn’t amazing with only 12 points but shut it down defensively (as per usual) with 6 blocks and 13 rebounds. Tempers flared early in this game after a flagrant foul from De’Aaron Fox on Chet Holmgren. No hate lost between these two times, and I am excited to see them go at it all season. What an opening day!
Daily Recap
NBA
Pistons 121 - 113 Celtics
76ers 106 - 100 Knicks
Spurs 116 - 104 Thunder
MLB
World Series starts on Friday Night!
NFL
Week 7 starts on Thursday night with the Bears facing the Patriots.
Looking Ahead:
The World Series is Here!
The Milwaukee Brewers swept the back-to-back champion Dodgers in four games to get here — a franchise that last appeared in the World Series in 1982 and has never won it. The Tampa Bay Rays won 98 games this season, quietly, without much fuss, the way they always do. Neither team has a championship. One of them gets one. Game 1 is Friday, October 23rd, with Milwaukee having home field advantage after finishing the regular season with the better record at 103-59. The Brewers didn’t allow more than three runs in any of their regular season meetings against the Rays. Tampa Bay will have something to say about that when it actually matters.
Tomorrow’s NBA Game to Watch
Miami Heat vs Minnesota Timberwolves - Tip-off at 12:30 am GMT
Both teams made big additions in the offseason. The Miami Heat made a blockbuster move to acquire Giannis from the Bucks while the Timberwolves traded for Lamelo Ball to make a superstar backcourt with Anthony Edwards. It will be electric to see these two teams make their debuts.
My Prediction:
Minnesota to win
The Crystal Ball
Atlanta Hawks vs Orlando Magic - Hawks to win
Milwaukee Bucks vs Washington Wizards - Wizards to win
Charlotte Hornets vs Brooklyn Nets - Hornets to win
Chicago Bulls vs Toronto Raptors - Raptors to win
Utah Jazz vs Memphis Grizzlies - Grizzlies to win
Indiana Pacers vs New Orleans Pelicans - Pacers to win
Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets - Mavericks to win
Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers - Lakers to win
Phoenix Suns vs Portland Trail Blazers - Trail Blazers to win
Sacramento Kings vs Los Angeles Clippers - Clippers to win