Hornets and Magic Tangle at Amway Arena
The Charlotte Hornets (0-1) spent Wednesday night on the receiving end of a loss in a nail-biter against the Milwaukee Bucks, 113-112. It wasn't for lack of trying for veteran Kemba Walker, who put the the team on his back to the tune of 41 points and four assists, shooting 15-of-29 from the field and 7-of-13 from beyond the arc and draining all but one of his five attempts from the foul line. Malik Monk emerged off the bench to deliver 18 points, including four triples, while Jeremy Lamb and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist posted 10 points apiece, with the former adding four boards and going 4-of-6 from the free throw line. It was a game effort for a Hornets squad looking to improve on last season's 10th place finish in the Eastern Conference. Friday marks the start of a four-game road trip for Charlotte, one that sees them visit the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors.
Wednesday also saw the Orlando Magic (1-0) take care of the visiting Miami Heat, 104-101, despite a lukewarm collective 28% shooting performance from deep. It was a team effort for the Magic, as six members of the roster finished the night with double-digit production, led by Aaron Gordon, who recorded a double-double on the back of a 26-point, 16-rebound outing, nailing four clutch three-pointers in the process. Evan Fournier finished the contest with 13 points and five assists to his credit, but was cold from deep, missing all five of his attempts from long range. Rookie Mohamed Bamba made a statement in his first regular season game as he played off the pine for 13 points and seven boards. Following Friday's game, Orlando will head off on a tough two-game East Coast trip with games slated against the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics.
Wednesday also saw the Orlando Magic (1-0) take care of the visiting Miami Heat, 104-101, despite a lukewarm collective 28% shooting performance from deep. It was a team effort for the Magic, as six members of the roster finished the night with double-digit production, led by Aaron Gordon, who recorded a double-double on the back of a 26-point, 16-rebound outing, nailing four clutch three-pointers in the process. Evan Fournier finished the contest with 13 points and five assists to his credit, but was cold from deep, missing all five of his attempts from long range. Rookie Mohamed Bamba made a statement in his first regular season game as he played off the pine for 13 points and seven boards. Following Friday's game, Orlando will head off on a tough two-game East Coast trip with games slated against the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics.
Barclays Center Hosts Knicks and Nets
The New York Knicks (0-1), pegged by many observers prior to the start of the season to finish near the bottom of the standings, made easy work of the visiting Atlanta Hawks in their home opener at MSG on Wednesday night, coming away with a 126-107 win. 11 Knicks got their names on the board, and were led in scoring by Tim Hardaway Jr., who dropped 31 points, grabbed six rebounds and facilitated five assists while making all eight of his shot attempts from the charity stripe. Enes Kanter finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds for the double-double, while Noah Vonleh had a double-double of his own off the bench with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Rookie Alonzo Trier dazzled in his first game, with 15 points and a pair of blocks when all was said and done. The team returns to the Garden on Saturday to play host to the Boston Celtics. The team will be looking to replicate their second quarter offensive onslaught from Wednesday that saw them unload a franchise-record 49 points.
The Brooklyn Nets (0-1) dropped their season opener on the road to the Detroit Pistons, 103-100, and appeared to struggle with the same issues that have plagued them on both ends of the floor for the past few seasons. Spencer Dinwiddie picked up where he left off last season from the bench, posting a team-leading 23 points and six assists. Caris LeVert contributed 27 points, four boards and four assists in a starting role, while Jarrett Allen had 17 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Jared Dudley had an atrocious showing, going 0-for-5 from the field and 0-for-4 from long range on his way to a one-point night. The Nets collective went 5-of-27 from three-point land, where they ranked 20th in the NBA last season with a per-game average of 36%. A lack of offseason moves may come back to haunt the franchise if Wednesday's performance was any indication.
The Brooklyn Nets (0-1) dropped their season opener on the road to the Detroit Pistons, 103-100, and appeared to struggle with the same issues that have plagued them on both ends of the floor for the past few seasons. Spencer Dinwiddie picked up where he left off last season from the bench, posting a team-leading 23 points and six assists. Caris LeVert contributed 27 points, four boards and four assists in a starting role, while Jarrett Allen had 17 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. Jared Dudley had an atrocious showing, going 0-for-5 from the field and 0-for-4 from long range on his way to a one-point night. The Nets collective went 5-of-27 from three-point land, where they ranked 20th in the NBA last season with a per-game average of 36%. A lack of offseason moves may come back to haunt the franchise if Wednesday's performance was any indication.
Kings Clash With Pelicans
The Sacramento Kings will travel to New Orleans on Friday to take on the Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.
The Pelicans (1-0) got off to an electric start to the season Wednesday night, beating the Rockets 131-112 in Houston. It was an incredible offensive display, with New Orleans shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 40 percent from behind the arc. The familiar faces on the Pelicans picked up right where they left off, with Anthony Davis posting 32 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and three steals, and Nikola Mirotic dropping 30 points of his own on 6-of-8 shooting from behind the arc.
However, it was the performances from the team's newest members that really stood out. Julius Randle came off the bench and put on an impressive offensive showcase, recording 25 points (8-15 FG, 2-4 3Pt), eight rebounds and three assists in just 24 minutes, while starting point guard Elfrid Payton opened up the regular season with a triple-double of 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Put it all together, and the Pelicans displayed how dangerous they could be on the offensive end this season.
Meanwhile, the Kings (0-1) put up a good fight against one of the Western Conference's best teams in the Jazz on Wednesday night, but they ultimately fell 123-117. Willie Cauley-Stein had a coming out party offensively, scoring a team-high 23 points on a very efficient 10-of-15 shooting against First-Team All-Defense center Rudy Gobert. It won't get any easier Wednesday night, however, as Cauley-Stein will be matched up with fellow Kentucky alum Davis.
And there is more where that came from, as former Kentucky star De'Aaron Fox was also impressive against the stingy Utah defense. Fox put together a great all-around effort, recording 21 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals in 38 minutes.
The Pelicans (1-0) got off to an electric start to the season Wednesday night, beating the Rockets 131-112 in Houston. It was an incredible offensive display, with New Orleans shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 40 percent from behind the arc. The familiar faces on the Pelicans picked up right where they left off, with Anthony Davis posting 32 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks and three steals, and Nikola Mirotic dropping 30 points of his own on 6-of-8 shooting from behind the arc.
However, it was the performances from the team's newest members that really stood out. Julius Randle came off the bench and put on an impressive offensive showcase, recording 25 points (8-15 FG, 2-4 3Pt), eight rebounds and three assists in just 24 minutes, while starting point guard Elfrid Payton opened up the regular season with a triple-double of 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Put it all together, and the Pelicans displayed how dangerous they could be on the offensive end this season.
Meanwhile, the Kings (0-1) put up a good fight against one of the Western Conference's best teams in the Jazz on Wednesday night, but they ultimately fell 123-117. Willie Cauley-Stein had a coming out party offensively, scoring a team-high 23 points on a very efficient 10-of-15 shooting against First-Team All-Defense center Rudy Gobert. It won't get any easier Wednesday night, however, as Cauley-Stein will be matched up with fellow Kentucky alum Davis.
And there is more where that came from, as former Kentucky star De'Aaron Fox was also impressive against the stingy Utah defense. Fox put together a great all-around effort, recording 21 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals in 38 minutes.
Cavs Enter Minnesota To Take on Timberwolves
By Dan Bruno
The Minnesota Timberwolves play host to the Cleveland Cavaliers, at Target Center on Friday evening.
Both the Timberwolves and the Cavaliers fell short in their season-openers and are looking to bounce back.
The Cavaliers (0-1) started off strong in the first half of their season-opener, but could not keep up through the full 48 minutes against the Raptors. The Cavs face a big challenge adapting to post-LeBron life, and will take some time to figure things out. On the bright side, Cedi Osman got the start for Cleveland and finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals, in the first game of the season, while Kevin Love led the way with 21 points, on 10-of-14 shooting. Rookie, Collin Sexton, finished with nine points and three rebounds, in 18 minutes off the bench. Despite the loss, the Cavs showed they are a deep team with many scoring options.
The Timberwolves (0-1) also came up short in their first game of the season, as they fell, 112-108, in San Antonio on Wednesday. Jeff Teague had a team-high 27 points in the contest, while Jimmy Butler followed up with 23 points, and Andrew Wiggins finished with 20 points. Even with great performances from three of their top players, the Timberwolves could not get the job done in the clutch. Karl-Anthony Town fouled out of the game in the second half of the fourth quarter, leaving his team at a disadvantage. Even though they have had public issues and fell short in their opener, the Timberwolves have a lot of potential and can bother just about anyone in the NBA. They will be fighting for pride at home on Friday.
Both the Timberwolves and the Cavaliers fell short in their season-openers and are looking to bounce back.
The Cavaliers (0-1) started off strong in the first half of their season-opener, but could not keep up through the full 48 minutes against the Raptors. The Cavs face a big challenge adapting to post-LeBron life, and will take some time to figure things out. On the bright side, Cedi Osman got the start for Cleveland and finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals, in the first game of the season, while Kevin Love led the way with 21 points, on 10-of-14 shooting. Rookie, Collin Sexton, finished with nine points and three rebounds, in 18 minutes off the bench. Despite the loss, the Cavs showed they are a deep team with many scoring options.
The Timberwolves (0-1) also came up short in their first game of the season, as they fell, 112-108, in San Antonio on Wednesday. Jeff Teague had a team-high 27 points in the contest, while Jimmy Butler followed up with 23 points, and Andrew Wiggins finished with 20 points. Even with great performances from three of their top players, the Timberwolves could not get the job done in the clutch. Karl-Anthony Town fouled out of the game in the second half of the fourth quarter, leaving his team at a disadvantage. Even though they have had public issues and fell short in their opener, the Timberwolves have a lot of potential and can bother just about anyone in the NBA. They will be fighting for pride at home on Friday.
Boston Travels to Face Toronto
The Boston Celtics travel north of the border to play the Toronto Raptors at Air Canda Center on Friday.
The Celtics (1-0) showed why they're a title contender in their opener, as they rolled the Philadelphia 76ers despite struggling mightily. In fact, Boston handed Philly an 18-point defeat, despite the fact that Kyrie Irving, Al Horford and Gordon Hayward all failed to surpass 10 points scored. That just shows the incredible depth of this team, with players like Marcus Morris, Jayson Tatum, and Aron Baynes all playing a huge factor in that victory. It's not like those aforementioned stars are going to struggle every night either, so this is easily one of the toughest teams to play in the NBA. Defense is the name of the game for Boston though, as they ranked top-three last season in both points allowed and defensive efficiency. That's a recipe for winning and the unbelievable depth just adds to this team's already sky-high ceiling.
The Raptors (1-0) have a new-look team with Kawhi Leonard now in the fold and early results are very promising. In Toronto's opener, Leonard tallied 24 points and 13 rebounds while taking 22 shots in 37 minutes of action. That's all you can ask for, especially considering he played just nine games last season. It led to a 12-point win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, as Kyle Lowry posted a great line of his own. In fact, Lowry led the team with 27 points and six assists, as his leadership can't be overlooked either. What's also scary about this team is how deep their bench is, considering Serge Ibaka and Fred VanVleet form one of the best guard-forward bench combos in the league. That's why this team is projected to finish top-three in the east and compete with the Celtics all season long.
Toronto has been the better team in this series over recent years, winning eight of their last 12 games over Boston dating back to 2015.
The Celtics (1-0) showed why they're a title contender in their opener, as they rolled the Philadelphia 76ers despite struggling mightily. In fact, Boston handed Philly an 18-point defeat, despite the fact that Kyrie Irving, Al Horford and Gordon Hayward all failed to surpass 10 points scored. That just shows the incredible depth of this team, with players like Marcus Morris, Jayson Tatum, and Aron Baynes all playing a huge factor in that victory. It's not like those aforementioned stars are going to struggle every night either, so this is easily one of the toughest teams to play in the NBA. Defense is the name of the game for Boston though, as they ranked top-three last season in both points allowed and defensive efficiency. That's a recipe for winning and the unbelievable depth just adds to this team's already sky-high ceiling.
The Raptors (1-0) have a new-look team with Kawhi Leonard now in the fold and early results are very promising. In Toronto's opener, Leonard tallied 24 points and 13 rebounds while taking 22 shots in 37 minutes of action. That's all you can ask for, especially considering he played just nine games last season. It led to a 12-point win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, as Kyle Lowry posted a great line of his own. In fact, Lowry led the team with 27 points and six assists, as his leadership can't be overlooked either. What's also scary about this team is how deep their bench is, considering Serge Ibaka and Fred VanVleet form one of the best guard-forward bench combos in the league. That's why this team is projected to finish top-three in the east and compete with the Celtics all season long.
Toronto has been the better team in this series over recent years, winning eight of their last 12 games over Boston dating back to 2015.
Hawks And Grizzlies Seek First Win In Memphis
The Atlanta Hawks take on the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum on Friday evening.
As a rebuilding team, the Hawks (0-1) are fully expected to struggle this season, but the season opener may have still served as a harsh dose of reality. Atlanta was routed by a team whose prospects aren't supposed too much better than their own, the New York Knicks, which walloped them by a 126-107 margin on Wednesday night. The highly anticipated debut of first-round pick Trae Young was a mixed bag, with the rookie finishing with 14 points on 5-for-14 shooting while adding six rebounds and five assists. Kent Bazemore matched Young's scoring total, while Taurean Prince, who's expected to serve as a major source of offense for Atlanta, led the way with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists.
The Hawks will be missing several key players Friday. Dewayne Dedmon and John Collins will both be out with ankle injuries, while Justin Anderson (leg) and Daniel Hamilton (shoulder) will also be sidelined. Omari Spellman (ankle) will be listed as doubtful.
The picture wasn't any prettier for the Grizzlies (0-1) in the Wednesday night tipoff of their season. Memphis fell by a 111-83 score to the Indiana Pacers, ruining the return of star guard Mike Conley after he missed the last 70 games of the 2017-18 campaign with a heel injury. Conley shot 3-for-11 on his way to 11 points, which he supplemented with three assists, two rebounds and one steal. Marc Gasol led the way for the Grizzlies with 13 points, adding six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Promising first-round pick Jaren Jackson, Jr. paced the second unit with 10 points and also hauled in five boards, dished out one assist, recorded three steals and posted one block.
The Grizzlies will list JaMychal Green (knee) as probable for Friday's contest.
The two teams split their two games last season. The Grizzlies squeaked out a 96-94 win in Memphis, while the Hawks gained revenge with a 108-82 victory in Atlanta later in the campaign.
As a rebuilding team, the Hawks (0-1) are fully expected to struggle this season, but the season opener may have still served as a harsh dose of reality. Atlanta was routed by a team whose prospects aren't supposed too much better than their own, the New York Knicks, which walloped them by a 126-107 margin on Wednesday night. The highly anticipated debut of first-round pick Trae Young was a mixed bag, with the rookie finishing with 14 points on 5-for-14 shooting while adding six rebounds and five assists. Kent Bazemore matched Young's scoring total, while Taurean Prince, who's expected to serve as a major source of offense for Atlanta, led the way with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists.
The Hawks will be missing several key players Friday. Dewayne Dedmon and John Collins will both be out with ankle injuries, while Justin Anderson (leg) and Daniel Hamilton (shoulder) will also be sidelined. Omari Spellman (ankle) will be listed as doubtful.
The picture wasn't any prettier for the Grizzlies (0-1) in the Wednesday night tipoff of their season. Memphis fell by a 111-83 score to the Indiana Pacers, ruining the return of star guard Mike Conley after he missed the last 70 games of the 2017-18 campaign with a heel injury. Conley shot 3-for-11 on his way to 11 points, which he supplemented with three assists, two rebounds and one steal. Marc Gasol led the way for the Grizzlies with 13 points, adding six rebounds, three assists and three steals. Promising first-round pick Jaren Jackson, Jr. paced the second unit with 10 points and also hauled in five boards, dished out one assist, recorded three steals and posted one block.
The Grizzlies will list JaMychal Green (knee) as probable for Friday's contest.
The two teams split their two games last season. The Grizzlies squeaked out a 96-94 win in Memphis, while the Hawks gained revenge with a 108-82 victory in Atlanta later in the campaign.
Pacers Visit Bucks for Divisional Clash
By Oscar Heanue
The Indiana Pacers will visit the Milwaukee Bucks at the brand-new Fiserv Forum on Friday.
Milwaukee (1-0) will christen its new arena on Friday, hosting its divisional rival for the debut match. The Bucks are fresh off a win against the Charlotte Hornets on the road in their season opener. While they earned a 113-112 win, Milwaukee's performance left much to be desired. The Bucks gave up a 20-point lead in the second half and allowed 41 points to Charlotte point guard Kemba Walker. Still, the Bucks squeaked out a win, thanks largely to budding superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. The 'Greek Freak' wowed in the Bucks' first contest, scoring 25 points and pulling down a whopping 18 rebounds.
Indiana (1-0), on the other hand, took its season opener in commanding fashion. The Pacers routed the Memphis Grizzlies, 111-83, behind dominant top-to-bottom performances. All-Star guard Victor Oladipo filled the stat sheet, scoring 16 points, dishing out five assists, and grabbing five rebounds. Domantas Sabonis finished with a double-double, grabbing 15 rebounds and scoring 14 points. Sabonis was a key piece of the Pacers' dominant effort on the boards, where they out-rebounded Memphis 57-28.
Both teams will look to build on their strong starts in Friday's contest.
Milwaukee (1-0) will christen its new arena on Friday, hosting its divisional rival for the debut match. The Bucks are fresh off a win against the Charlotte Hornets on the road in their season opener. While they earned a 113-112 win, Milwaukee's performance left much to be desired. The Bucks gave up a 20-point lead in the second half and allowed 41 points to Charlotte point guard Kemba Walker. Still, the Bucks squeaked out a win, thanks largely to budding superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. The 'Greek Freak' wowed in the Bucks' first contest, scoring 25 points and pulling down a whopping 18 rebounds.
Indiana (1-0), on the other hand, took its season opener in commanding fashion. The Pacers routed the Memphis Grizzlies, 111-83, behind dominant top-to-bottom performances. All-Star guard Victor Oladipo filled the stat sheet, scoring 16 points, dishing out five assists, and grabbing five rebounds. Domantas Sabonis finished with a double-double, grabbing 15 rebounds and scoring 14 points. Sabonis was a key piece of the Pacers' dominant effort on the boards, where they out-rebounded Memphis 57-28.
Both teams will look to build on their strong starts in Friday's contest.
Thunder and Clippers Seek First Win of New Season
The Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on Friday evening.
The Thunder (0-1) put up a valiant fight in their season opener against the world champion Golden State Warriors on Tuesday evening, especially considering they were playing without Russell Westbrook (knee) and a less-than-100-percent Steven Adams (back). OKC eventually fell to the Warriors by a 108-100 score, but not before throwing a scare into Golden State. Adams fought through his back discomfort with a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double. As expected, Paul George led the way with 27 points and added five assists, two rebounds and four steals. Dennis Schroder acquitted himself well in Westbrook's stead, posting 21 points, eight boards, six assists, three steals and one block.
The Thunder have listed Westbrook as out for Friday's game. Andre Roberson (kneecap) also remains out for the next several weeks.
The Clippers (0-1) gave a solid accounting of themselves as well in the inaugural game of the new season before dropping a 107-98 decision to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday evening. The two teams entered the fourth quarter with Denver holding a slim 74-72 lead before they were able to pull away from Los Angeles late. The Clippers bench was responsible for exactly half of their scoring total, with Boban Marjanovic surprisingly leading the way on the second unit with 18 points. Tobias Harris paced the team overall with 19 points and added 10 rebounds, three blocks and an assist. Danilo Gallinari complemented his efforts with 16 points and eight boards.
The Clippers will come into the contest without any injuries to report.
The Clippers won the season series between the two clubs last year by a 2-1 margin. Los Angeles scored 109-104 and 122-120 wins in the first two meetings before Denver gained a measure of revenge with a 134-115 blowout in the third and final encounter.
The Thunder (0-1) put up a valiant fight in their season opener against the world champion Golden State Warriors on Tuesday evening, especially considering they were playing without Russell Westbrook (knee) and a less-than-100-percent Steven Adams (back). OKC eventually fell to the Warriors by a 108-100 score, but not before throwing a scare into Golden State. Adams fought through his back discomfort with a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double. As expected, Paul George led the way with 27 points and added five assists, two rebounds and four steals. Dennis Schroder acquitted himself well in Westbrook's stead, posting 21 points, eight boards, six assists, three steals and one block.
The Thunder have listed Westbrook as out for Friday's game. Andre Roberson (kneecap) also remains out for the next several weeks.
The Clippers (0-1) gave a solid accounting of themselves as well in the inaugural game of the new season before dropping a 107-98 decision to the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday evening. The two teams entered the fourth quarter with Denver holding a slim 74-72 lead before they were able to pull away from Los Angeles late. The Clippers bench was responsible for exactly half of their scoring total, with Boban Marjanovic surprisingly leading the way on the second unit with 18 points. Tobias Harris paced the team overall with 19 points and added 10 rebounds, three blocks and an assist. Danilo Gallinari complemented his efforts with 16 points and eight boards.
The Clippers will come into the contest without any injuries to report.
The Clippers won the season series between the two clubs last year by a 2-1 margin. Los Angeles scored 109-104 and 122-120 wins in the first two meetings before Denver gained a measure of revenge with a 134-115 blowout in the third and final encounter.
Jazz Play Host to Champion Warriors
The Golden State Warriors travel to Salt Lake City to play the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Friday.
The Warriors (1-0) didn't look their best in their opener, but they were still able to prevail with a win. That's why this team is so good though, as they win whether they play well or not. Having four all-stars in your starting lineup can make up for those sort of deficiencies and this club looks well on their way to another deep run. What was noticeable in that win over the Oklahoma City Thunder was their defense, with the Warriors holding the Thunder to just 36 percent from the field and 27 percent from three-point range. That's all that needs to be done when you have a roster full of elite shooters, as Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant combined for 59 points in that victory. Damion Jones and Kevon Looney did a brilliant job of holding down the center position too, as they combined for 22 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks. That's pretty much what DeMarcus Cousins will provide at that position when he returns from his Achilles injury as the rich just keep getting richer.
The Jazz (1-0) are one of the scariest teams in the league, as they've developed into a defensive powerhouse. While that didn't show in their opening win over the Sacramento Kings, this is a Utah club who ranked top-three in points allowed and defensive efficiency last season. A 123-117 win on Wednesday doesn't really emphasize that point, but it shows that Utah can win in any fashion. Joe Ingles was the player of the game in that victory, collecting 22 points, six assists and four steals. Ingles has developed into one of the most valuable players on this team, as he's becoming a true two-way threat. Ricky Rubio provided just one point, two rebounds and four assists in that win, as better days are for sure ahead of the talented Spaniard. Donovan Mitchell hasn't even been mentioned yet, as his 24 points in that win show that his record-breaking rookie season was no fluke. All these pieces don't even factor in Rudy Gobert, who is undoubtedly the best rim protector in the league. Having all of these pieces is a recipe for success and many people expect this Jazz team to do just that this season.
Despite the fact that Golden State won seven of their previous eight games over Utah coming into last season, the Jazz won the four-game season series leat year, 3-1.
The Warriors (1-0) didn't look their best in their opener, but they were still able to prevail with a win. That's why this team is so good though, as they win whether they play well or not. Having four all-stars in your starting lineup can make up for those sort of deficiencies and this club looks well on their way to another deep run. What was noticeable in that win over the Oklahoma City Thunder was their defense, with the Warriors holding the Thunder to just 36 percent from the field and 27 percent from three-point range. That's all that needs to be done when you have a roster full of elite shooters, as Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant combined for 59 points in that victory. Damion Jones and Kevon Looney did a brilliant job of holding down the center position too, as they combined for 22 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks. That's pretty much what DeMarcus Cousins will provide at that position when he returns from his Achilles injury as the rich just keep getting richer.
The Jazz (1-0) are one of the scariest teams in the league, as they've developed into a defensive powerhouse. While that didn't show in their opening win over the Sacramento Kings, this is a Utah club who ranked top-three in points allowed and defensive efficiency last season. A 123-117 win on Wednesday doesn't really emphasize that point, but it shows that Utah can win in any fashion. Joe Ingles was the player of the game in that victory, collecting 22 points, six assists and four steals. Ingles has developed into one of the most valuable players on this team, as he's becoming a true two-way threat. Ricky Rubio provided just one point, two rebounds and four assists in that win, as better days are for sure ahead of the talented Spaniard. Donovan Mitchell hasn't even been mentioned yet, as his 24 points in that win show that his record-breaking rookie season was no fluke. All these pieces don't even factor in Rudy Gobert, who is undoubtedly the best rim protector in the league. Having all of these pieces is a recipe for success and many people expect this Jazz team to do just that this season.
Despite the fact that Golden State won seven of their previous eight games over Utah coming into last season, the Jazz won the four-game season series leat year, 3-1.