Enterprise

Dejounte Murray was injured at the start of the big action

Idris Bevan October 24, 2024

Twenty-four NBA teams have opened their 2024-25 seasons. The remaining six teams open their season on Thursday.

We’re not drawing any blanket conclusions after 12 games, but we will acknowledge the good and the bad – and the unfortunate, which includes new New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray suffering a fracture in his left (non-shooting) hand ) has contracted. per ESPN.

Boston picked up where it left off, LeBron James and Bronny James made history, and the Los Angeles Clippers played their first game in their new $2 billion Intuit Dome.

Here are winners and losers from the first two nights of the 2024-25 NBA season:

winner

Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Santi Aldama

Memphis Grizzlies guards Ja Morant and Desmond Bane and forward center Santi Aldama combined for 73 points in Memphis’ 126-124 win over Utah. Morant had 22 points, 10 assists and five rebounds; Bane scored 24 points; and Aldama had 27 points.

Onyeka Okongwu, Trae Young

Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu came off the bench to score a career-high 28 points on 11-for-12 shooting. Hawks guard Trae Young delivered 30 points, 12 assists and five rebounds in a win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Paolo Banchero

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, who was an All-Star in his second season last season and made USA TODAY’s list of the top 30 NBA players for 2024-25, collected 33 points and 11 rebounds in a 116-97 victory -Victory against Miami.

Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard posted 30 points, nine rebounds and six assists in a 124-109 win over Philadelphia. That’s the type of game the Bucks need from Lillard, who was supported by Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (25 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists).

Charles Lee, Kenny Atkinson, Mike Budenholzer, JJ Redick

Charlotte Hornets coach Charles Lee, Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson, Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick and Phoenix Suns coach Mike Budenholzer picked up victories in their first games with their new teams – the Hornets defeated Houston 110-105, the Cavaliers defeated Toronto 136-106, the Lakers defeated Minnesota 110-103 and the Suns defeated the Clippers 116-113 in overtime.

Jayson Tatum

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum had 37 points and 10 rebounds and made eight of his 11 3-pointers against the New York Knicks, jump-starting his MVP campaign on opening night.

Celtics 3s

The Celtics made 29 3-pointers against the Knicks, setting the NBA record for most 3-pointers in a game. In addition to Tatum’s eight threes, Derrick White made six, Jaylen Brown five, Jrue Holiday four, Al Horford three, Sam Hauser two and Payton Pritchard one.

Lonzo Ball

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball played his first NBA game in nearly three years after undergoing three left knee procedures and grueling rehab. Even in just 14 minutes with five points, four assists and two rebounds in a loss to New Orleans, it was a triumphant return.

LaMelo Ball

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, Lonzo’s brother, scored 34 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds in the win over Houston.

LeBron James, Bronny James

LeBron James and Bronny James were the first father-son combination to play in the NBA at the same time – in the same game and on the same team. Cool moment for the James Gang and the league.

loser

New Orleans Pelicans

Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram scored 33 points and guard Dejounte Murray, playing in his first game for New Orleans since Atlanta traded him in the offseason, had 14 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in a 123-111 win over the Chicago Bulls. But now Murray is injured and it is uncertain when he will return.

Philadelphia 76ers

No Paul George, no Joel Embiid in the season opener in Philadelphia, and while the 76ers want those two to make the playoffs healthy, their absence took the shine off the matchup against the Bucks.

Houston Rockets

Looking to build on a promising 2023-24 season, the Houston Rockets lost their season opener at home to the Hornets, who outscored the Rockets 61-45 in the second half.

Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler and center Bam Adebayo combined to go 2 of 13 from the field in a loss to the Magic.

JB Bickerstaff, Jordi Fernandez

Detroit Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff and Brooklyn Nets coach Jordi Fernandez lost their first games with their new teams – Indiana beat Detroit 115-109 and Atlanta stopped Brooklyn 120-116.

Trail Blazers, Pistons, Sixers 3s

The Portland Trail Blazers made 23.5% of three-pointers in a 139-104 loss to Golden State, the Pistons made 27.3% of three-pointers in a loss to Indiana and the Sixers made 25.8% of three-pointers against Milwaukee.

New York Knicks

Whatever message the Knicks wanted to send to Boston, the 132-109 loss wasn’t the right one. The Knicks were down by as many as 35 points, just one other team – at least that night – on the Celtics’ schedule.

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Dejounte Murray was injured at the start of the big action