Six races were held in a night the two New Yorkers will never forget. Celebration nights were for Anthony and Curry, who made history. And many more, let's check it out!
[3-0] Charlotte Hornets 111 - 95 Brooklyn Nets [1-2]
Our usual journey through the world's most beautiful league begins at the Barclays Center, where the full-scoring Hornets of coach Borrego defeated the hosts despite a 38-point super Durant in the Sunday matinee.
The hosts, however, got off to a strong start, passing the measure in the first quarter (27-31) and confirming themselves in the second (50-58), gaining a comfortable lead before the long break.
On the other hand, the games reopened in the third period, with LaMelo Ball and his teammates completing the overtaking and reaching +1 when only twelve minutes remained.
The Hornets' season turned around at this point, when Lonzo's younger brother decided to make room for his backup, Ish Smith, and asked Borrego to let the former Pistons play because of his best form.
Smith led his team to victory with 11 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter, thanks to a 32-17 run that leaves Steve Nash's team at the post. Miles Bridges, another match star, finished with 32 points and 9 rebounds, while James Harden finished with 15 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds.
[1-2] Orlando Magic 110 - 104 New York Knicks [2-1]
A deluxe Terrence Ross is exactly what the Magic need to claim their first victory of the season by imposing itself on the Madison Square Garden parquet in front of Tom Thibodeau's Knicks.
A tense and evenly matched game in which the hosts put away some crucial points early on to approach the second half of the game with more calm: Randle and his teammates lea=d 52-57 at the halftime break, and they added another point to their lead in the third period.
The match's turning point occurred 12 minutes from the end, similar to how it occurred a few hours earlier in nearby Brooklyn. This time, it's up to Ross to light the Knicks' defense on fire by signing the 12-0 run that turned the game around and scoring all 22 of his points in the fourth quarter.
Nothing to do for the hosts, who were insufficient despite Randle's 30 points and 16 rebounds and Derrick Rose's 23 points off the bench. Cole Anthony, on the other hand, had a double-double extra-luxury performance, with 29 points, 16 rebounds, and 8 assists.
[1-2] Boston Celtics 107 - 97 Houston Rockets [1-2]
Despite Green and his teammates' strong start, the new Celtics of coach Udoka won their first game of the season at the Toyota Center, thanks to the 31 points of an excellent Jayson Tatum.
The Rockets set the tone for the game right away, scoring 22-30 in the first quarter. The guests, however, arrived at the start of the long interval, making up for it by putting the arrow before the long interval (53-51) and then taking off once they returned from the changing rooms to reach +17 at the end of the third quarter.
Notwithstanding the hosts' timid reaction, the game was effectively over, with coach Udoka being targeted by his team's water balloons for his first historic victory as an NBA coach.
The divine Al Horford had a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, while rookie Jalen Green had 30 points and Christian Wood had 20 points and 9 rebounds per month for the Rockets.
[2-1] Philadelphia 76ers 115 - 103 Oklahoma City Thunder [0-3]
Success in the form of Seth Curry for Doc Rivers' Sixers, who win their second game of the season in front of a more coercive Thunders than usual on the far from inviolable parquet floor of the Paycom Center.
Steph's little brother, whose hot hand helped to score the way to the final victory, put the record straight right from the start of the game, earning a double-digit lead (36-26) as a result of six triples sent to the target out of seven attempts.
OKC will be able to limit the Sixers' losses from then on, but the damage has already been done, and the technical gap between the two teams prevents the hosts from risking comebacks that are out of reach.
As a result, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his teammates will suffer their third consecutive loss in as many games in Oklahoma City, despite the star of the team's 29 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists. Seth Curry scored 28 points at the end of the game, with Embiid contributing 22 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists.
[3-0] Golden State Warriors 119 - 107 Sacramento Kings [1-2]
A distinguished milestone also for the other Curry, the most renowned Steph, who achieves 5000 assists in his professional life on the night the Warriors win their third consecutive game to start the season, at the expense of Luke Walton's unlucky Kings.
As the coach revealed, too many mistakes made during the first 48 minutes, particularly in the final game, opened the way for the guests in a fairly even match, with Barnes and his teammates scoring +2. at the long interval (60-62).
When Curry and his teammates returned to the court, they quickly reversed the race's trend, putting the arrow at the end of the third quarter and forcing the roadblock once and for all in the final twelve minutes, during which Coach Kerr's team trimmed the competition by ten points. Steph Curry triple double with 27 points, 10 assists, and 7 rebounds, but missed by three caroms.
Jordan Poole scored 22 points, while Harrison Barnes, who was on duty at the time, had the best game of his career with 24 points and 7 rebounds.
[2-1] Memphis Grizzlies 118 - 121 Los Angeles Lakers [1-2]
After a forgettable preseason and two losses in as many regular season games, coach Vogel's Lakers defeated the Grizzlies' lively Ja Morant - the match's absolute protagonist with 40 points and 10 assists - and his team.
Between the friendly walls, the Los Angeles players got off to a better start, and despite the vigor of Memphis' star, they managed to reach the halftime break with a six-point lead (56-62). The guests, on the other hand, surpassed in the third period, putting a disheartened Staples Center into hopelessness once more.
Luckily for the yellow-violet, the Lakers did not give up and mount the most classic of comebacks, relying on the men with more experience, with Carmelo Anthony scoring the game-winning basket a few seconds before Morant, who was fouled by Bazemore with 2.5 seconds left, threw away the third free throw at his disposal.
Anthony Davis had 22 points and 8 rebounds, LeBron had 19-6-6, and Melo 28 points, which was enough to pass Moses Malone for ninth place on the NBA all-time scorers list with 27,423 points. The Lakers' number seven claims he's too exhausted and should take a well-deserved break.
