Starting 5, Oct. 25: Klay Thompson’s historic debut, Thunder rumble and more

OKC is again, and already in midseason type. ⚡

THE LINEUP 🏀

Oct. 25, 2024 | What’s inside right this moment’s version?

The Courts Are Right here: Try all 30 eye-popping NBA Cup 2024 courtroom designs

Early Impressions: Klay units file in Mavs debut, Randle & DeRozan go off with new golf equipment

Heavyweights: Final 12 months’s prime two seeds out West went toe-to-toe, whereas the C’s stayed red-hot

Dream Doubleheader: A historic rivalry resumes Friday earlier than a LeBron-KD showdown

Warmth Test: Three must-see matchups on NBA League Go between six younger scorers

BUT FIRST … ⏰

A Friday stuffed with hoops…

Ten video games tip off tonight with an eight-game slate on NBA League Go and a can’t-miss doubleheader on ESPN that includes acquainted foes. First, the Knicks will host the rival Pacers at MSG (7:30 ET, ESPN). Then, Kevin Durant and the Suns go to LeBron James and the Lakers (10 ET, ESPN).

On Thursday, the Liberty held their championship parade and ceremony in New York Metropolis, celebrating the group’s first title in franchise historical past.

1. NBA UNVEILS ALL 30 EMIRATES NBA CUP COURTS

The Emirates NBA Cup 2024 is simply 18 days away. And it’ll have a contemporary new look.

On Thursday, the NBA unveiled all 30 group courts that can be used all through the second annual in-season competitors.

• Designed by artist Victor Solomon, the courts can be used throughout Group Play and the Quarterfinals, showcasing a leaguewide, distinctive scheme
• The colours of the courts are designed to distinction with the house groups’ Nike NBA Assertion Version uniforms, whereas highway groups will put on Nike NBA Affiliation Version uniforms

Whereas Emirates NBA Cup video games depend towards the common season standings, they carry their very own model of power and depth from the gamers, coaches, followers and even the courts, with daring colours and signature event parts.

• Every courtroom options three concentric circles radiating from middle courtroom in tonal hues of a core group shade
• These circles symbolize the three phases of competitors as groups pursue the NBA Cup: Group Play, the Quarterfinals and the Semifinals and Championship held in Las Vegas
• The NBA Cup – the trophy each group is chasing – is featured at middle courtroom and within the lane
• The bounce circle at middle courtroom options group logos, whereas groups labored with Soloman to make use of a emblem, wordmark or graphic over your complete courtroom

Participant Reactions: Stars like Anthony Davis, Victor Wembanyama, Paul George, Jalen Brunson, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown and extra shared their preliminary reactions to their group’s courtroom. Listed here are a couple of standouts:

• Bradley Beal likes the colour: “The courtroom is vibrant, man. So I believe it’s simply gonna proceed to spice up up the power and the ambiance.”
• Giannis Antetokounmpo sees the long run: “I find it irresistible … You see the Bucks emblem on the Cup, so I simply envision myself profitable that Cup.”
• Nikola Jokic offers an MVP stamp: “I like the colours, I just like the emblem within the center. I approve it.”

The brand new courts will make their debut on Tuesday, Nov. 12 when Group Play opens with a TNT doubleheader that includes the Knicks visiting the Sixers and the Warriors internet hosting the Mavs.

2. EARLY IMPRESSIONS: THOMPSON, RANDLE, DEROZAN SHINE

In June, the Mavericks completed three wins shy of an NBA title.

One month later, they added a generational sharpshooter in hopes of summiting the mountaintop in 2024-25.

Klay Thompson — who’s made the sixth-most 3-pointers in NBA historical past — sank 207 catch-and-shoot 3s final season, 65 greater than any Mavericks participant.

On Thursday, Dallas’ new star broke the file for many triples by a Maverick of their debut, going 6-of-10 from deep for 22 factors in a 120-109 win over the Spurs. | Recap | All-Entry

• Star Trio: Klay added seven boards and three steals whereas combining for 65 factors with Luka Dončić (28 pts, 10 reb, 8 ast) and Kyrie Irving (15 pts, 2 ast, 2 stl) within the trio’s first-ever sport collectively
• First Factors, First Dub: Thompson wasted no time recording his first bucket and first 3 as a Mav, and helped spark a 21-7 Dallas run to open the 4th quarter and put the sport away
• Klay On His Debut: “Wow. Simply unbelievable … I’m not happy, however I’m joyful for what we did tonight.”

• CP3’s First Displaying: Thompson wasn’t the one veteran star debuting with a brand new membership, as Chris Paul notched a team-high eight assists and three factors in his first outing with the Spurs
• Wemby & Spurs Standouts: Victor Wembanyama added 17 factors, 9 boards and one block, whereas Jeremy Sochan and Julian Champagnie led San Antonio with 18 factors apiece
• Highlights Of The Sport: This ridiculous no-look dime from Luka, and his no-look celly earlier than a Klay 3

Julius Randle and DeMar DeRozan each went from East to West this offseason – Randle from New York to Minnesota and DeRozan from Chicago to Sacramento.

Each newcomers led their group in scoring on Thursday as Randle (33 pts, 13-17 FG, 5-6 3P) and the Wolves edged out DeRozan (26 pts, 8 reb in his debut sport) and the Kings, 117-115. | Recap | Watch The End

• Ant-Man On Randle’s Debut: “Ohhhhhhhh my god. We advised him this morning, don’t match round us, we’ll match round you, and he confirmed us right this moment.”
• Edwards The Nearer: Anthony Edwards scored 13 of his 32 factors within the 4th quarter, together with the go-ahead free throws with 2.4 seconds left. On the Kings’ closing shot, Edwards contested Keegan Murray’s potential game-winning 3 that rimmed out
• Tremendous Subs: Reigning Sixth Man of the 12 months Naz Reid had a double-double off the Wolves bench (19 pts, 13 reb, 4 3s), whereas runner-up Malik Monk had 17 factors and 4 dimes off the Kings’ bench

3. HEAVYWEIGHTS: OKC-DENVER DUEL, C’s ROLL

The Thunder and Nuggets completed final season with similar 57-25 information – one of the best mark within the Western Convention. OKC obtained the No. 1 seed by advantage of holding the head-to-head tiebreaker – profitable the season sequence with Denver 3-1.

With the West anticipated to be simply as aggressive this season, these head-to-head matchups tackle added significance – even in the primary sport of the season for each groups. The Thunder struck first with a 102-87 win behind a mixed 53 factors from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren. | Recap | All-Entry

Stat Sheet Stuffers: SGA (28 pts, 7 reb, 8 ast, 2 stl, 3 blk) and Chet (25 pts, 14 reb, 5 ast, 4 blk) had been every enormous on either side of the ball for OKC, whereas Nikola Jokić (16 pts, 12 reb, 13 ast) recorded the NBA’s first triple-double of the season and the 131st of his profession

• Chet’s Double Stuff: No play sums up two-way Chet higher than this Third-quarter sequence that began with blocking Jokić within the lane, then beating the Joker down the courtroom, getting a dime from SGA and throwing down a jam that earned the second-best Dunk Rating of the evening (65.7)
• Remembering Mutombo: The Nuggets, who drafted Dikembe Mutombo in 1991, honored the late NBA icon with a video tribute and a 55-second standing ovation, matching the quantity he wore all through his profession, which is retired by Denver

Celtics 122, Wizards 102: Jordan Poole (26 pts, 4 ast, 4 stl) completed the first quarter with 17 factors and 5 3s because the Wizards jumped out to an early lead, however Jaylen Brown (27 pts, 8 reb, 3 ast, 4 stl) and Jayson Tatum (25 pts, 11 reb, 6 ast) rallied Boston earlier than the half and the reigning champs pulled away to enhance to 2-0. | Recap | All-Entry

• C’s 3s: After tying the NBA single-game file with 29 made 3s of their season-opening win in opposition to the Knicks, Boston went 17-of-45 (37.8%) from downtown, led by Payton Pritchard (5 3P), Derrick White (4), Brown (3) and Tatum (3)
• A First On Each Ends: In his NBA debut, Washington’s No. 2 total decide, Alex Sarr (2 pts, 5 reb, 2 blk) celebrated his first profession swat with a slam on the opposite finish for his first bucket

4. HISTORIC RIVALS + LEGENDARY SCORERS MEET FRIDAY

159 days in the past – on Might 19, 2024 – the Pacers ended the Knicks season at Madison Sq. Backyard with a Sport 7 win within the Jap Convention Semifinals, including a brand new chapter to a historic NBA rivalry.

Tonight (7:30 ET, ESPN), the Knicks host the Pacers once more, this time within the second sport of the 2024-25 season for 2 groups that every have visions of one other deep Playoff run.

• New Look Knicks: After posting their first 50+ win season in over a decade, the Knicks had a busy offseason to proceed to improve their roster – buying Mikal Bridges from Brooklyn and Karl-Anthony Cities from Minnesota
• Pacers Run It Again: Then again, Indy’s offseason was about securing long-term offers with its core gamers as they give the impression of being to construct on a runner-up end for the first-ever NBA Cup and its first journey to the East Finals in a decade
• All-Star Guards Conflict: The marquee matchup can be within the backcourt between NY’s Jalen Brunson (29.7 ppg, 6.1 apg within the East Semis) and Indy’s Tyrese Haliburton (21.3 ppg, 7.0 apg within the sequence)

After going through one another twice within the preseason, the Lakers and Suns meet tonight (10 ET, ESPN) for the primary of two video games within the opening week of the common season.

• If 4 video games within the span of 23 days wasn’t sufficient, the groups will even meet in Group Play of the Emirates NBA Cup (Nov. 26) for a second straight 12 months
• Within the inaugural in-season competitors, the Lakers beat the Suns by three factors in each Group Play and the Quarterfinals on their approach to securing the NBA Cup
• Scoring Stars: On the middle of this matchup are two of the best scorers in NBA historical past – LeBron James and Kevin Durant – who each rank within the prime eight in complete factors and factors per sport, whereas averaging 25+ ppg for probably the most seasons in league historical past

5. HEAT CHECK: 3 MUST-SEE MATCHUPS BETWEEN STAR SCORERS

NBA League Go boasts eight extra video games tonight, together with three must-see matchups between six younger scorers who made statements of their season debuts on Wednesday.

Hornets at Hawks (7:30 ET, League Go): LaMelo Ball vs. Trae Younger

• LaMelo Makes Historical past: In Wednesday’s win in opposition to the Rockets, Ball (34 pts, 8 reb, 11 ast) turned the first-ever Hornet to file 30+ factors and 10+ assists in a season opener
• Ball additionally turned simply the fifteenth participant in NBA historical past to file 30+ factors, 5+ rebounds and 10+ assists in a season opener
• Ice Trae Tally: In the meantime, Younger (30 pts, 5 reb, 12 ast) tied Luka Dončić for the fifth-most 30/10 video games in NBA historical past (78) in a win over the Nets

Nets at Magic (7 ET, League Go): Cam Thomas vs. Paolo Banchero

• Brooklyn Bucket: After posting a career-high 22.5 ppg final season, Thomas started 12 months 4 with a bang, pouring in 36 factors in opposition to Atlanta, together with 20 within the 4th quarter, whereas splashing seven 3s
• Future Scoring Champ? NBA.com’s John Schuhmann has Thomas as a top-five candidate to win this season’s scoring title
• Magic Man: Recent off his first All-Star marketing campaign in his second season, Paolo (33 pts, 11 reb) placed on a present to tip-off 12 months 3 whereas main Orlando to a season-opening dub in opposition to the rival Warmth

Grizzlies at Rockets (8 ET, League Go): Ja Morant vs. Jalen Inexperienced

• Ja’s Again: In his first regular-season sport in 292 days, Morant (22 pts, 10 ast) went for a double-double whereas going 7-of-12 from the ground. What’s going to the Grizzlies celebrity have in retailer tonight?
• Rocket Gasoline: One other electrifying younger guard, Inexperienced went off for 28 factors and 5 3s on Wednesday, simply days after agreeing to a three-year extension with Houston

The star energy continues on League Go all through the evening as 5 extra matchups tip off, together with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks taking over the Bulls earlier than Steph Curry and the Warriors face Lauri Markkanen and the Jazz.