NBA roundup: Damian Lillard, Bucks win opener over 76ers
Thu Oct 24 1:27am ET
Field Level Media
Damian Lillard scored 30 points while leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 124-109 road win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.
Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 25 points on 8-of-11 shooting to go along with 14 rebounds and seven assists for Milwaukee. Bobby Portis chipped in 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting off the bench, while Taurean Prince also had 16 points, fueled by 4-of-5 success on 3-point attempts.
Tyrese Maxey shot 10 of 31 en route to 25 points for Philadelphia, which played without Joel Embiid and Paul George, both of whom are nursing knee injuries. Kelly Oubre Jr. pitched in 21 points, while Andre Drummond had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
The Sixers led by one point after the first quarter, and the score remained close for most of the second quarter before the Bucks began to create some separation. Milwaukee was up 58-47 at halftime before erupting for 42 points in the third quarter, including 15 from Lillard.
Pelicans 123, Bulls 111
Brandon Ingram scored 33 points and CJ McCollum added 23 as host New Orleans defeated Chicago in the season opener for both teams.
Dejounte Murray had 14 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, Jordan Hawkins scored 13 points and rookie Yves Missi chipped in 12 to help the Pelicans overcome the absence of Zion Williamson (illness).
Zach LaVine scored 27 and Nikola Vucevic tallied 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls. Lonzo Ball, who played in a regular-season game for the first time since Jan. 14, 2022, after recovering from knee issues, scored five points in 14 minutes.
Pacers 115, Pistons 109
Myles Turner had 20 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four blocks as visiting Indiana spoiled J.B. Bickerstaff's first game as Detroit's head coach in the season opener for both teams.
Pascal Siakam had 19 points, eight rebounds and nine assists and Bennedict Mathurin also tossed in 19 points for Indiana, which overcame a 12-point second-half deficit. Tyrese Haliburton had 15 points, and T.J. McConnell chipped in 14.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 28 points and eight assists. Jaden Ivey had 17 points, and Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley supplied 14 points apiece. Jalen Duren contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Tobias Harris added 13 points.
Magic 116, Heat 97
Paolo Banchero scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, leading Orlando to a season-opening win at Miami, spoiling a night when the Heat named their home court for team president and former coach Pat Riley.
Franz Wagner added 23 points for the Magic, and Wendell Carter Jr. had a game-high 14 rebounds. Orlando also got 18 points off the bench from Gary Harris, who went 6 of 9 on 3-point attempts.
Terry Rozier led Miami with 19 points, and Nikola Jovic had 15 points. However, Jimmy Butler was 1-for-8 shooting and finished with three points, and Bam Adebayo was held to nine points, five rebounds.
Cavaliers 136, Raptors 106
Evan Mobley scored 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds as visiting Cleveland routed Toronto in each team's season opener.
Donovan Mitchell added 21 points for the Cavaliers, who took command of the game in the second quarter and led by 26 entering the fourth. Caris LeVert scored 15 of his 19 points in the third quarter for the Cavaliers and shot 8-for-9 from the field.
Chris Boucher scored 18 points for the Raptors, who began their 30th season. Gradey Dick added 16 points. Immanuel Quickley did not play in the second half due to a right pelvic contusion. He finished with 13 points and four assists.
Hawks 120, Nets 116
Trae Young collected 30 points and 12 assists and reserve Onyeka Okongwu added a career-high 28 points as Atlanta surged ahead in the fourth quarter and held off visiting Brooklyn in the season opener for both teams.
Young scored 12 points in the final quarter when the Hawks nearly blew an eight-point edge in the final 20.9 seconds. He shot 7-for-16 from the floor and hit 14 of 16 free-throw attempts. Okongwu had his way inside, sinking 11 of 12 shots, including four dunks, as the Hawks scored 37 points in the fourth.
Cam Thomas led all scorers with 36 points and scored 20 in the final quarter for the Nets, who committed 32 fouls in the coaching debut of Jordi Fernandez. Ben Simmons, returning from back surgery performed in March, totaled six points and eight assists in 24 minutes. He also committed six turnovers.
Hornets 110, Rockets 105
LaMelo Ball racked up 34 points with 11 assists and eight rebounds as visiting Charlotte opened the season by erasing an 18-point deficit in the first half to claim a victory over Houston.
Tre Mann chipped in 24 points off the bench for Charlotte, terrorizing the Rockets' defense off the dribble en route to 8-for-16 shooting, which included 4-for-8 success from 3-point range. Ball made all 10 of his free-throw attempts, and Miles Bridges contributed 10 points and nine rebounds for the Hornets.
Jalen Green led the Rockets with 28 points, while Alperen Sengun added 25 points and 18 rebounds. Fred VanVleet put up 14 points and Amen Thompson scored all 13 of his points in the first half for Houston, which shot just 13-for-43 (30.2 percent) from beyond the arc.
Grizzlies 126, Jazz 124
Three Memphis players scored at least 22 points and the Grizzlies withstood a big rally from Utah for a victory in each team's season opener in Salt Lake City.
Santi Aldama had team highs of 27 points and five 3-pointers, Desmond Bane scored 24 points and Ja Morant tallied 22 points, 10 assists and five rebounds for the Grizzlies.
Lauri Markkanen netted a game-high 35 points and added nine rebounds, and six other Jazz players scored in double figures.
Warriors 139, Trail Blazers 104
Buddy Hield made five 3-pointers and scored 22 points off the bench in his Golden State debut to help the Warriors notch a convincing victory at Portland in the season opener for both teams.
Andrew Wiggins dropped in 20 points and Stephen Curry added 17 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in three quarters for the Warriors, who opened a season without Klay Thompson on the roster for the first time since the 2010-11 campaign.
Scoot Henderson led the Trail Blazers with 22 points off the bench. Jerami Grant scored 16.
- NBA roundup: Damian Lillard, Bucks win opener over 76ers
- Pelicans star F Zion Williamson (illness) scratched from opener
- NBA to investigate 76ers over Joel Embiid's playing status
- Thunder exercise options for Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams
- History made: LeBron James shares floor with son Bronny
- Wolves give Rudy Gobert 3-year, $110M extension
- A-Rod, Marc Lore put $940M in escrow in move to buy Wolves
- Stephen Curry passes LeBron James as NBA's top earner
- Joel Embiid, Paul George out for Sixers' season opener
- Trends reveal why public is behind Celtics on banner night
- NBA season-preview capsules: Northwest Division
- Nuggets give Aaron Gordon 4-year, $133M extension
- Hawks extend F Jalen Johnson, reportedly for $150M
- Rockets G Jalen Green inks 3-year, $106M extension
- Magic G Jalen Suggs gets 5-year, $150.5M contract extension
- Wizards F Corey Kispert agrees to 4-year, $54M extension
- NBA season-preview capsules: Southeast Division
- Pelicans G Trey Murphy III signs 4-year, $112M extension
- Bucks vet Khris Middleton (ankles) to miss opener
- NBA season-preview capsules: Southwest Division
Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (pelvic) has been ruled out for the rest of Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Quickley suffered what is being called a right pelvis contusion during the second quarter of this contest. The Raptors will hold him out for the second half of this game and will likely give more details after the game. He finished with 13 points and four assists across 14 minutes of play before exiting. Davion Mitchell started in the second half and would likely be asked to take on a bigger role if Quickley misses time. Mitchell has been inconsistent throughout his career, but could be a possible streaming option if Quickley is sidelined for multiple games.
Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen (Achilles) is available ahead of Wednesday's season opener against the Los Angeles Clippers. Allen missed the entire preseason due to a lingering Achilles issue. However, Allen has been cleared to play, but it's uncertain how much time on the court he'll see in the opener. Allen figures to be one of the Suns primary reserves off the bench throughout the season. He should be able to carve out consistent playing time, but the Suns might ease him back into action for the first few games. Allen is more of a deep league option and is avoidable for DFS contests on Wednesday.
Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson is not part of the starting five during Wednesday's season opener against the Golden State Warriors. The expectation was that Henderson would start alongside Anfernee Simons in the backcourt. Instead, Simons will be the point guard while Toumani Camara serves as the shooting guard on Wednesday. The hope is that Henderson will get roughly 20 minutes of action off the bench. It seems a bit odd that the rebuilding Blazers have opted to have their former No. 3 overall selection come off the bench, but maybe things will change over time. Henderson is worth rostering in most formats, but isn't a must-start right now.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (ankle) has been removed from the injury report ahead of Thursday's season opener against the Denver Nuggets. Williams suffered a left ankle sprain during a preseason contest against Atlanta and missed practice last week because of it. Despite that, Williams appears to be ready to go and should be in the starting five for Thursday's game. The 23-year-old averaged 19.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.6 assists across 31 minutes per game last season. He figures to start at power forward and be a viable fantasy option in most formats.
Indiana Pacers center James Wiseman (calf) won't return during Wednesday's season opener against the Detroit Pistons. Wiseman limped off the court after suffering what looked to be a non-contact injury during the first half of Wednesday's game. This is bad news with Isaiah Jackson (groin) inactive for the season opener. That means, Obi Toppin could see big minutes during the second half of this contest. Wiseman finished with six points and one rebound in four minutes of action. The 23-year-old figures to be the primary backup to Jackson once both players are healthy. Until then, Toppin could be asked to play big minutes for Indiana.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray (personal) will play on Wednesday against Chicago. He was away while dealing with a personal matter. However, the veteran was at shootaround on Wednesday and warmed up with the team, so fantasy managers had a feeling he'd be out there. Without Zion Williamson (illness) available, Murray could surge versus the Bulls. He'll also be a popular DFS option.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado (knee) will suit up for Wednesday's matchup against the Bulls. He's been plagued by a right knee contusion and was listed as questionable. Fortunately, he's good to go. The Pelicans could certainly use him, considering the team will be without Zion Williamson (illness). As a result, Alvarado may see more minutes from off the bench, making him a viable fantasy option in any format.
Brooklyn Nets utility man Ben Simmons will start in Wednesday's matchup versus the Hawks. Nicolas Claxton (hamstring) will suit up. However, head coach Jordi Fernandez indicated he would be on a minutes restriction. Simmons struggled last season. Yet, there's no denying his triple-double upside, so he could easily surpass his fantasy expectations now that he's in the starting lineup.
Charlotte Hornets forward Josh Green (Achilles) won't play on Wednesday versus the Rockets. The 23-year-old is battling Achilles soreness and was initially listed as questionable. However, he won't be available, so his next chance to suit up will be on Friday versus Atlanta. Without Green in the mix, Cody Martin will likely take his spot in the rotation. The 2019 No. 36 overall pick was decent in 22 starts last season, averaging 7.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.0 steals, giving him value to fantasy managers in deeper formats.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Dean Wade will start in Wednesday's meeting with the Raptors. Max Strus (ankle) will be sidelined for at least four weeks, so Wade will do his best to fill the void in the lineup. Unfortunately, the 27-year-old averaged only 6.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 32 starts last season. With that in mind, fantasy managers shouldn't consider him a trustworthy option versus Toronto. Instead, Caris LeVert could exceed offensive expectations and is worth streaming, even though he'll come off the bench.
Philadelphia 76ers' guard Eric Gordon will start Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks. The veteran signed a one-year deal with the 76ers in the off-season after spending last season in Phoenix, where he averaged 8.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists across 68 games. As the season progresses, the 35-year-old will provide a three-point scoring threat off the bench but will likely not be much of a fantasy factor.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Dejounte Murray (personal) has been upgraded from questionable to probable for Wednesday's meeting with the Chicago Bulls. He was away from the team due to a personal matter, although he was spotted at shootaround on Wednesday and is currently warming up. Of course, anything can change, but it appears fantasy managers will have him in the lineup for opening night. With Zion Williamson (illness) out, Murray could exceed his fantasy expectations, especially on the scoring end.
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (illness) won't play against the Bulls on Wednesday. The 24-year-old has been under the weather, so fantasy managers already felt things were moving in this direction. However, he missed shootaround on Wednesday, which further solidified he wouldn't be good to go. Without Williamson in the lineup, Javonte Green may roll with the first five. But Dejounte Murray (personal), assuming he plays, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum will likely benefit the most.
Brooklyn Nets center Nicolas Claxton (hamstring) will play fewer minutes than usual in Wednesday's matchup versus the Hawks. The 25-year-old missed the entire preseason with a hamstring injury, so head coach Jordi Fernandez wants to play it safe. Still, Claxton is worth starting in all fantasy setups, even with a cap on his minutes. But with Day'Ron Sharpe (hamstring) sidelined, Noah Clowney could spend more time in the middle. There's also a chance the Nets go small, with Dorian Finney-Smith and Ben Simmons handling things underneath the basket.
Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond will start on Wednesday night versus Milwaukee. Joel Embiid (knee) won't suit up for at least three games, so Drummond may see plenty of time in the middle for the foreseeable future. The 31-year-old was dominant in 10 starts with the Bulls last season, averaging 14.1 points, 17.9 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and 1.1 steals. As a result, Drummond should be featured in any fantasy lineup imaginable. There's also room for Guerschon Yabusele to get involved enough to warrant starting consideration in deeper fantasy setups.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) will suit up for Wednesday's matchup with the 76ers. He has a case of Tendinitis. However, the veteran was listed as probable, so there wasn't much concern regarding his availability. With Khris Middleton (ankles) still sidelined, Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard should see even more looks at the basket. Fantasy managers already know he's a must-start. Yet, Antetokounmpo's fantasy potential is greater without Middleton on the floor.
Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced on Wednesday that the Thunder had exercised their fourth-year contract option on guard/forward Jalen Williams (ankle). Williams started all 72 games he suited up for last season, averaging 19.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.13 steals in 31.3 minutes per contest. The 23-year-old has been named to the NBA Rising Stars team in the last two seasons, and he should be a force in fantasy for many years to come. Williams is listed as questionable for Thursday's regular-season opener versus Denver due to a left ankle sprain, but he has been practicing.
On Wednesday, Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced they had exercised their fourth-year contract option on forward Ousmane Dieng. Dieng has played 72 games in the past two seasons and averaged 4.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 13 minutes per contest. The 21-year-old had an excellent season in the G League in 2024 as he helped the Blue win their first Championship and was named G League Finals MVP.
On Wednesday, Oklahoma City Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti announced that the team had exercised its fourth-year contract option on forward/center Chet Holmgren. Last season, he received NBA All-Rookie First Team honors as he started 82 games. He also finished second in Rookie of the Year voting after averaging 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 2.3 blocks in 29.4 minutes. The 22-year-old quietly filled the stat sheet last season, and he will also make a significant impact in fantasy for this year's campaign.
Boston Celtics small forward Sam Hauser is listed as questionable for tomorrow night's game against the Washington Wizards with lower back pain. Hauser was able to log 24 minutes in Tuesday night's thrashing of the New York Knicks and put up 10 points while going two-for-seven from deep. Those numbers are in line with what Hauser produced off the bench for Boston last season and aren't fully a beneficiary of garbage time. If Hauser is ruled out for tomorrow night's game, expect Xavier Tillman Sr. to get a bit more shooting volume at the forward position, though his scoring threats are more likely to happen in the interior rather than from deep. It's possible that Payton Pritchard may see more of an uptick in three point attempts to make up for Hauser's absence if he is indeed ruled out. Fantasy managers should target Pritchard over Tillman Sr. if there's a choice between the two.