Damian Lillard shined in his debut with the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring 30 points to lead them to a 124-109 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in their season opener. Giannis Antetokounmpo added 25 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists, while Bobby Portis and Taurean Prince contributed 16 points each, with Prince hitting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Philadelphia's Tyrese Maxey managed 25 points on 10-of-31 shooting, but the team was without star players Joel Embiid and Paul George, both sidelined with knee injuries. Kelly Oubre Jr. added 21 points, and Andre Drummond posted a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. After a close first half, Milwaukee pulled ahead with a strong third quarter, fueled by Lillard’s 15 points.
In another thrilling NBA opener, the Phoenix Suns edged out the Los Angeles Clippers 116-113 in overtime. Kevin Durant led the Suns with 25 points, including a clutch jumper to tie the game with just 21 seconds left in regulation. Bradley Beal added 24 points, and Devin Booker chipped in 15 despite fouling out. James Harden had 29 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists for the Clippers but missed a crucial free throw in overtime.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Chicago Bulls 123-111, led by Brandon Ingram’s 33 points. Zach LaVine paced the Bulls with 27 points, while Nikola Vucevic added 21 points and 11 rebounds.
The Indiana Pacers beat the Detroit Pistons 115-109, with Myles Turner leading the way with 20 points and four blocks. Cade Cunningham was the standout for the Pistons with 28 points and eight assists.
The Orlando Magic opened their season with a convincing 116-97 win over the Miami Heat, led by Paolo Banchero’s 33 points. Miami struggled offensively, with Jimmy Butler scoring just three points on 1-of-8 shooting.
Evan Mobley’s 25 points propelled the Cleveland Cavaliers to a commanding 136-106 win over the Toronto Raptors, while Trae Young’s 30-point, 12-assist performance helped the Atlanta Hawks secure a 120-116 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
The Charlotte Hornets overcame an 18-point deficit to beat the Houston Rockets 110-105, thanks to LaMelo Ball’s 34 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds. In another tight contest, the Memphis Grizzlies edged the Utah Jazz 126-124, led by Santi Aldama’s 27 points.
Rounding out the night, the Golden State Warriors cruised to a 139-104 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Buddy Hield, in his Warriors debut, scored 22 points, including five 3-pointers, while Scoot Henderson led the Blazers with 22 points off the bench.
This action-packed start to the NBA season set the tone for an exciting year ahead, with standout performances and unexpected turns across the board.
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