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Dejounte Murray injury early major storyline

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2 weeks ago

October 25, 2024

Dejounte Murray injury early major storyline

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

We’re not making sweeping conclusions after 12 video games, however we’ll acknowledge the great and the dangerous – and the unlucky, which incorporates new New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray sustaining a fracture in his left (non-shooting hand), per ESPN.

Boston picked up proper the place it left off, LeBron James and Bronny James made historical past and the Los Angeles Clippers performed their first recreation of their new $2 billion Intuit Dome.

Listed here are winners and losers from the primary two nights of the 2024-25 NBA season:

Winners

Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Santi Aldama

Memphis Grizzlies guards Ja Morant and Desmond Bane and forward-center Santi Aldama mixed for 73 factors in Memphis’ 126-124 victory in opposition to Utah. Morant had 22 factors, 10 assists and 5 rebounds; Bane scored 24 factors; and Aldama had 27 factors.

Onyeka Okongwu, Trae Younger

Atlanta Hawks ahead Onyeka Okongwu got here off the bench and scored a career-high 28 factors on 11-for-12 taking pictures, and Hawks guard Trae Younger delivered 30 factors, 12 assists and 5 rebounds in a win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Paolo Banchero

Orlando Magic ahead Paolo Banchero, who was an All-Star final season in his second season and made USA TODAY’s high 30 NBA gamers checklist for 2024-25, compiled 33 factors and 11 rebounds in a 116-97 victory in opposition to Miami.

Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard had 30 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 assists in a 124-109 victory in opposition to Philadelphia. That’s the sort of play the Bucks want from Lillard, who had assist from Bucks ahead Giannis Antetokounmpo (25 factors, 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 collected victories of their first video games with their new groups – the Hornets beat Houston 110-105, the Cavaliers beat Toronto 136-106, the Lakers topped Minnesota 110-103 and the Suns beat the Clippers 116-113 in extra time.

Jayson Tatum

Boston Celtics forward-guard Jayson Tatum had 37 factors and 10 rebounds and made eight of his 11 3-pointers in opposition to the New York Knicks, jump-starting his MVP marketing campaign on opening night time.

Celtics 3s

The Celtics made 29 3-pointers, tying an NBA report for many 3s in a recreation, in opposition to the Knicks. Moreover Tatum’s eight 3s, Derrick White made six, Jaylen Brown 5, Jrue Vacation 4, Al Horford three, Sam Hauser two, and Payton Pritchard one.

Lonzo Ball

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball performed in his first NBA recreation in nearly three years after present process three procedures on his left knee and grueling rehab. Even in simply 14 minutes with 5 factors, 4 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, posted 34 factors, 11 assists and eight rebounds within the victory in opposition to Houston.

LeBron James, Bronny James

LeBron James and Bronny James turned the primary father-son combo to play within the NBA on the similar time – and in the identical recreation and on the identical staff. Cool second for the James Gang and the league.

Losers

New Orleans Pelicans

Pelicans ahead Brandon Ingram scored 33 factors, and guard Dejounte Murray, taking part in in his first recreation with New Orleans since Atlanta traded him within the offseason, produced 14 factors, 10 assists and eight rebounds in a 123-111 win over the Chicago Bulls. However now Murray is injured and it is unsure when he’ll return.

Philadelphia 76ers

No Paul George, no Joel Embiid in Philadelphia’s season-opener and whereas the 76ers need these two wholesome for the playoffs, their absence took the flicker off the matchup in opposition to the Bucks.

Houston Rockets

Seeking to construct on a promising 2023-24 season, the Houston Rockets misplaced their season-opener at house in opposition to the Hornets, who outscored the Rockets 61-45 within the second half.

Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo

Miami Warmth ahead Jimmy Butler and middle Bam Adebayo have been a mixed 2-for-13 from the sphere in a loss to the Magic.

J.B. Bickerstaff, Jordi Fernandez

Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Brooklyn Nets coach Jordi Fernandez misplaced their first video games with their new groups – Indiana topped Detroit 115-109, and Atlanta stopped Brooklyn 120-116.

Path Blazers, Pistons, Sixers 3s

The Portland Path Blazers shot 23.5% on 3s in a 139-104 loss to Golden State, the Pistons shot 27.3% on 3s within the loss to Indiana and the Sixers shot 25.8% on 3s in opposition to Milwaukee.

New York Knicks

No matter message the Knicks needed to ship Boston that 132-109 loss wasn’t it. The Knicks trailed by as many as 35, simply one other staff – not less than on this night time – on the Celtics’ schedule.