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The new NBA season is underway, and there’s plenty to talk about. Here are the winners and losers of the NBA season so far.
Hawks get a big win against the Wizards
The new-look Atlanta Hawks opened their season with a big win over the Wizards 114-99. Dwight Howard in his first game for his hometown Hawks didn’t play a big role on the scoreboard only scoring 11 but he added 19 rebounds.
It was a returning face for Hawks in Tim Hardaway jJr who was the star, scoring 21 points 12 of which were in the decisive fourth quarter.
With Howard providing the heavy lifting on the boards Paul Millsap could concentrate at the offensive side scoring a game high 28 points.
The Wizards were led by Markieff Morris scoring 22 points but the backcourt duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal were unable to provide any spark to the game scoring 12 points and 13 points respectively.
Next up for Atlanta is a road game in Philadelphia on Monday, for Washington is a date with the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday.
New Team same Wade
The Chicago Bulls got their season started with a big win over the much more fancied Boston Celtics 105-99. Dwyane Wade – playing in his first game for the Bulls – hit a game-clinching three with 26.3 seconds left to shock the Celtics who were playing in a back to back game.
Jimmy Butler top scored for the Bulls with 24 and Taj Gibson added in 18 points of his own to go along with ten rebounds, but Wade was the headline act for the Bulls after moving from Miami in the offseason. Wade scored 22 points going 4-6 from the three point range including the game clincher.
Boston were led by Isiah Thomas who led the game with 25 points and had some assistance from Avery Bradley (16 points) and Jae Crowder (14) but it just wasn’t enough to get the win over the refreshed Bulls.
Boston goes on the road to face the Charlotte Hornets while the Bulls play host to the Indiana Pacers, both games are on Sunday.
Sacramento open their new arena with a loss
Kawhi Leonard had another big night for the San Antonio Spurs helping them get a win over the Sacramento Kings 102-94. Sacramento rolled out the red carpet opening up their brand new arena to regular season action. In what was a close game all night Leonard single handily changed the momentum of the game forcing two quick turnovers and scoring on the fast break, Leonard led the Spurs with 30 points and a game high five steals.
DeMarcus Cousins did his best to get the win for the home crowd scoring 37 points and collecting 16 rebounds but it was not to be. The regular season opener of the new arena was always going to be tough for the Kings fans – not just with who the opponent was – but the painful reminder of how close the team was to being relocated to Seattle until the new owner Vivek Ranadive stepped in to save the city.
San Antonio play their home opener against the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday meanwhile the Kings will welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves and their star big man Karl-Anthony Towns on the same day.
LA Clippers stop the outside shot get the win
The Los Angeles Clippers had one goal against the Portland Trailblazers and that was to stop their outside shooting, and they executed it perfectly limiting Portland to just four made three pointers in a 114-106 win.
Chris Paul and Blake Griffin led the way for the Clippers combining for 54 points in the opening game for the Clippers. Along with his 27 points, Griffin chipped in with 13 rebounds while for the Blazers Damian Lillard backed up his strong first game with 29 points and ten rebounds.
The game was marred by some questionable officiating however both teams were involved in a number of scuffles in the third and fourth quarter which would ultimately swing the ball game into the Clippers hands.
Next up for each team is the Clippers against the Utah Jazz on Monday, while the Blazers travel to Denver to face the Nuggets on Sunday.
Final scores
Washington Wizards 99
Atlanta Hawks 114
Boston Celtics 99
Chicago Bulls 105
Los Angeles Clippers 114
Portland Trail Blazers 106
San Antonio Spurs 102
Sacramento Kings 94
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