NBA

Looking a step quicker than Brooklyn all night in Barclays Center, the Pelicans attacked the Nets from the start and rolled to a dominant victory i...

Pelicans) and the Lakers (list of reasons too lengthy to list), but in a poll asking whether the Trail Blazers, Lakers or Sacramento is the most dangerous to become a top-six seed out of projected play-in teams, the Kings dominated. New Orleans’ first unit had not played together at all in preseason, but you never would’ve known that based on the group staking the visitors to an immediate double-digit lead. Valanciunas planted himself under the hoop for many of his 15 points and 13 rebounds; the Lithuanian center helped the Pelicans score 20 first-quarter points in the paint out of 32 overall. Jonas Valanciunas proved to be too much on the doorstep for a Brooklyn frontcourt that has some length but not much muscle or bulk. New Orleans made few changes from a 2021-22 roster that made a giant leap in the second half of last season. Points in the paint, getting to the free throw line, we shot the ball well, and we took care of the basketball.

Our writers give their verdicts on the new season, which starts on Tuesday night. Who is MVP? Who gets Victor Wembanyama? And who are the dark horses?

AS However, the NBA has a [history of teams winning after suffering heartbreak the year before](https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bulls/ct-chicago-bulls-detroit-pistons-1991-playoffs-20200425-srhvhl4bzjhqplyqbzs3nkkcae-story.html), and the Celtics should win in seven games. The Clippers will be their greatest threat with the return of Kawhi Leonard and addition of John Wall, but the Warriors’ experience will get them back to the finals. OK, so it was just a one-game cameo in the play-in tournament but it still counts as an improvement! With one championship and a cabinet full of individual awards under his belt, the only thing left for Giannis to do to strengthen his resume is to add a couple of rings to his oversized Greek mitt. I always go with Giannis Antetokounmpo as the de facto best player in the NBA for his unbelievable combination of offensive skills and game-changing defense. Voters go out of their way to avoid picking the same player three times in a row. Vegas has had Luka Doncic as the odds-on favorite for MVP for a few years running, but I really think this is his year. It would be interesting for the Utah Jazz, having just moved on from the 7ft 1in Frenchman Rudy Gobert, to land the 7ft 4in Frenchman Wembanyama as a replacement. They’re due for a renaissance in south Texas, and we know the Spurs are no stranger to international talent, so it makes sense on several levels. [LeBron James’s inevitable coronation as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33563684/lebron-james-path-breaking-kareem-abdul-jabbar-all-nba-points-record-news-stats-schedule-projections) to engage in more tedious [GOAT discussions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzFqzZFMS3k). Another year on, fans should be able to refocus their attention entirely on basketball – for example, Kyrie Irving will be in the news for

The NBA Japan Games 2022 have come and gone, but Japanese fans are eager for more live viewing opportunities and the growth of the league in their country.

“Just to play in front of Japanese fans, it was a very special moment for me and the team and the country,” he said. “It was one of the great memories in my life,” he added. “I attended Game 1 and Saturday Night of the NBA Japan Games, Kokushi said. “This whole trip was special and different.” “It was a special moment for me, and this team, this country,” he said. “That’s what the game is about,” he said. While many Japanese kids play basketball in junior high and high school, its popularity as a spectator sport remains limited, so reaching adolescents at the age when basketball is a bigger part of their lives makes sense. “The best way to enjoy sports, not only the NBA, is to watch them live in an arena,” said Makoto Kokushi, a Los Angeles Lakers fan from Tokyo who works in the printing and publishing industry. Tanaka, for one, became an NBA fan in 2007 as a junior high school student when the league was still on TV, a fandom which has now persisted 15 years and counting. “Trying to build inspiration, confidence, fun for the next generation of kids that look up to us and love basketball, love sports.” “This showed us tons of Japanese guys love NBA Games.” And those experiences imprint, and make a level of difference.”

The RotoWire NBA crew offers their favorite bets for opening night. Will Joel Embiid dominate the glass against a shorthanded Boston frontcourt?

[Jordan Poole](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/jordan-poole-4791) 25+ points, 4+ rebounds and 4+ assists (+1000) [Al Horford](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/al-horford-2816) and [Luke Kornet](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/luke-kornet-4151) are not slowing down Embiid inside. [Tyrese Maxey](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/tyrese-maxey-5158) is one of the first names that comes to my mind. [Robert Williams](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/robert-williams-4382), and Harden hoists enough threes that he should comfortably sink two or more. [Jayson Tatum](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/jayson-tatum-4108) 20+ points, Embiid 10+ rebounds, Harden 2+ threes parlay (+260) [NBA Picks](/betting/nba/picks/) series.

Coming into the new NBA season, things feel more wide open, with more possible contenders than last season. At the same time, however, we could have on our ...

And if the former happens, why not look to trade Durant and bottom out in the hopes of a big prize that could jump-start a rebuild. There’s a fair bit of parity among the top teams in the NBA coming into the season. He came into training camp in tremendous shape as a sign that he’s looking to be a lot more serious than in seasons past but the Harden that shows up in the fall and winter is often different than the one that has played in the spring. For everyone else, however, including the teams that might only be fighting to make the playoffs or the play-in games, expect to see an intense race to the bottom for a chance to draft Wembanyama. Now, the Suns will have to deal with this fallout as the very foundation of the organization has been rocked and is about to be upheaved, all the while also dealing with an unhappy Deandre Ayton, who returns after the off-sheet he signed with the Pacers was matched by the Suns. But things can change at the trade deadline this season or even in the 2023 off-season. What should be a strong Warriors team coming in to defend its title might actually be a fractured club, though, thanks to the ugly altercation between Green and Poole that blew up all over social media. Memphis won 56 games last season and finished second in the Western Conference and there’s no reason to believe they can’t do the same or even better this season. There’s not much weakness to point to with this roster other than the injury bug. Their acquisition of Christian Wood from the Rockets appears like a good move, but he’s only ever put up numbers on a bad Houston Rockets team and is entering a contract year where he’ll be asked to come off the bench. That’s the question of the season for the Nuggets. As mentioned off the top, there are quite a few legitimate contenders to consider coming into the season.

Everything you need to know about 76ers-Celtics and Lakers-Warriors as the 2022-23 season tips off.

Harden then allowed [Jayson Tatum](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum) to coast by him for a layup on the following possession, and Embiid then committed his third foul at the other end. [Marcus Smart](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2990992/marcus-smart) gets tangled up with Philly's [Joel Embiid](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3059318/joel-embiid), who hooked his arm and drew a foul. While [Marcus Smart](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2990992/marcus-smart) was the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year last season, it was Horford (third in NBA) and [Robert Williams III](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4066211/robert-williams-iii) (11th) who had the highest Defensive Real Plus Minus (DRPM) scores on the team. For all of the understandable focus on [Stephen Curry](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3975/stephen-curry)'s heroics in that series, Boston lost because its offense couldn't get it done against Golden State's defense. [LeBron James](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/1966/lebron-james) at power forward. He has already drawn three 3-point shooting fouls, including a completed four-point play, and also became the first player in the NBA to shoot the free throw for the new take-foul rule at the 6:13 mark of the first quarter. [Steph Curry](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3975/stephen-curry) era, but the franchise has leaned into their total titles in new signage around the Chase Center. [Jaylen Brown](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown) then came over and got in Embiid's face. [What to know about all 30 teams](/nba/story/_/id/34795174/nba-season-preview-2022-23-contenders-stars-big-questions) [Al Horford](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3213/al-horford) is plus-12 in 18 minutes played even though he's only 1-for-4 from the field for 3 points. [Golden State Warriors](/nba/team/_/name/gs/golden-state-warriors) received their rings after winning their fourth title in the past eight seasons. "We don't want to be one of those teams -- and you very rarely see that in the NBA -- where teams are swaying according to who their opponent is starting," Ham said during his pregame remarks.

Visit ESPN for the game recap of the Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics NBA basketball game on 19 October 2022.

[Malcolm Brogdon](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2566769/malcolm-brogdon) added 16 points and [Grant Williams](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4066218/grant-williams) finished with 15 as the defending Eastern Conference champions gave interim coach Joe Mazzulla a victory in his debut on a night the team honored the legacy of [Bill Russell](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4152/bill-russell). [Joel Embiid](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3059318/joel-embiid) added 26 points and 15 rebounds. The uniforms included 11 gold diamonds down the sides, signifying the 11 championships Russell helped bring Boston during his career. … Shot 71% in the second quarter with no turnovers. The 10-time All-Star frustrated the Celtics, displaying the mobility he was missing a year ago. The team also wore No. “I think at the end of the game, the 'Let's go Celtics! He was able to get to the free throw line often. Celtics: Outscored the 76ers 24-2 in fast-break points. “It was just unique and special," Brown said. “It was a proud moment,” Mazzulla said. [Jayson Tatum](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum) and [Jaylen Brown](http://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown) each scored 35 points and the Celtics beat the [Philadelphia 76ers](http://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/phi/philadelphia-76ers) 126-117 on Tuesday night in the NBA's season opener.

Who will win each conference and the NBA Finals? When will LeBron surpass Kareem as the all-time scoring champ? Our experts are making their predictions.

Tim MacMahon: Bucks over Warriors in 6 Tim Legler: Warriors over Bucks in 6 [What to know for '22-23](/nba/story/_/id/34795174/nba-season-preview-2022-23-contenders-stars-big-questions) James is 1,325 points behind [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4145/kareem-abdul-jabbar)'s mark, so we should expect the record to be broken some time near the 2022-23 season's second half. And while our expert panel places the defending champs among the contenders to reach the Finals again in 2023, we weren't as kind to the Celtics. [LA Clippers](/nba/team/_/name/lac/la-clippers) were a trendy pick among our panel, and rightfully so.

As another NBA season is around the corner, a lowdown of the contenders, wildcards, dark horses and disappointments.

Nikola Jokic’s performances have been stellar last year, and with Michael Porter Jr and Jamal Murray’s return taking the pressure off the Serbian, especially defensively, he will concentrate on his elite playmaking and inspire his team to be clutch in the postseason. The problem for them will be their lack of playoff experience, but with the talents of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr, and Danny Green, they can test themselves against the best in the West. They would have been stronger favourites without all the pre-season drama, but with Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons and Kevin Durant leading the offence, the Nets have plenty of potential to cause upsets, that is if they do not fail to live up to their potential again. There are doubts how they can make it work defensively, but if the chemistry in the group is there, the Hawks can be a real problem for the rest of the East. There is an argument to be made that the 76ers are the team with the highest ceiling in the league this year. The 2021 champions struggled during the defence of their title last year, and still just narrowly missed out on the Eastern finals after a seven-game series with the Boston Celtics.

The 2022-23 NBA season tips off Tuesday, and our fantasy basketball experts are here to talk about the best players they see readily available on the free ...

[Herbert Jones](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4277813/herbert-jones) or [Cameron Johnson](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3138196/cameron-johnson). -- Cregan [Malik Beasley](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3907822/malik-beasley), SG, [Utah Jazz](/nba/team/_/name/utah/utah-jazz) (46.3% rostered) For those in deeper formats, rookie wing [Bennedict Mathurin](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4683634/bennedict-mathurin) (14.3%) shined in the preseason and could be surprisingly productive early in his career in Rick Carlisle's fantasy-friendly system. A 24/7 threat to deal their one marquee low-post player ( [Myles Turner](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3133628/myles-turner)). Fast forward to today, and he's come into the season in great shape and is a serious contender for the Most Improved Player Award. [Myles Turner](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3133628/myles-turner) is back in the fold, but the longer play includes him breaking out in an unrestricted role for a lottery-bound Indiana team. While we don't know exactly what the plan is for the Jazz this season, we do know that Beasley is still only 25 years old, and that he showed during his time with the Timberwolves at the end of the 2019-20 season and over the whole of the 2020-21 season that he is fully capable of volume scoring on good percentages with excellent contributions from 3-point range. [Bones Hyland](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4592492/bones-hyland), PG, [Denver Nuggets](/nba/team/_/name/den/denver-nuggets) (24% rostered) Hyland has gotten a lot of buzz this offseason for the Nuggets. Adams doesn't score much or block many shots, but only 12 qualified players averaged double-digit rebounds last season, and he was one of them. [Jalen Smith](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4397189/jalen-smith), PF, [Indiana Pacers](/nba/team/_/name/ind/indiana-pacers) (56.4% rostered) [Steven Adams](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2991235/steven-adams), C, [Memphis Grizzlies](/nba/team/_/name/mem/memphis-grizzlies) (45.9% rostered)

Boston Celtics · Milwaukee Bucks · Philadelphia 76ers · Brooklyn Nets · Miami Heat · Chicago Bulls · Cleveland Cavaliers · Toronto Raptors ...

You can also watch it on NBA.com and NBA mobile application on a subscription basis. - Atlanta Hawks vs Houston Rockets - October 20 - 5:00 AM IST Eight teams will qualify for the playoffs where there will be three rounds - Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals. - Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls - October 20 - 5:00 AM IST - Toronto Raptors vs Cleveland Cavaliers - October 20 - 5:00 AM IST The long season will witness each team playing 82 games.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 35 points and the Celtics beat the 76ers 126-117 on Tuesday night in the NBA season opener.

The 10-time All-Star frustrated the Celtics, displaying the mobility he was missing a year ago. He was able to get to the free throw line often. The 76ers are looking to contend with the top teams in the Eastern Conference with Harden embarking on his first full season in Philadelphia after being swapped for Ben Simmons late last season in a trade with Brooklyn.

Stephen Curry equalled LeBron James at four title wins when his team Golden State Warriors won the NBA Finals against Boston Celtics last season.

While Warriors, after a fourth title win under coach Steve Kerr, come in with a stable and established lineup, Lakers have a fresh look to it. The handshake between the two following the match showed the mutual respect and admiration. LeBron, then with Cleveland Cavaliers, faced Steph Curry, who was just building his empire with the Dubs, in the Finals in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Curry made a statement with the title and Finals MVP award wins last season. Further, it has been a case of everything that could go wrong, going wrong for LeBron and his Lakers side. This is low given that the six-foot-seven marauder used to breeze his way through 70 games every year.

The 2022-23 NBA season tips off & last year's finalists Boston Celtics & Golden State Warriors are leading NBA title contenders again along with the LA ...

“FanDuel TV was designed for viewers to watch and wager and Run it Back will bring a 360° view of the NBA including wagering trends to our audience,” said FanDuel’s Chief Commercial Officer Mike Raffensperger. Curry earns the highest figure playing basketball and on the court this season at $48.1 million. 18 nightcap, and the Warriors are leading contenders again and co-favorites to win the Western Conference with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Forbes list of The defending champion Golden State Warriors battle the Los Angeles Lakers in the Oct. The Celtics are a leading favorite to return to the NBA finals for the second straight season, but a slight second choice behind the Eastern Conference favorite Milwaukee Bucks.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown of the Celtics scored 35 each as the Boston-based team romped to a win over James Harden's 76ers in the opening fixture of the ...

The 10-time All-Star frustrated the Celtics, displaying the mobility he was missing a year ago. He was able to get to the free-throw line often. The 76ers are looking to contend with the top teams in the Eastern Conference with Harden embarking on his first full season in Philadelphia after being swapped for Ben Simmons late last season in a trade with Brooklyn.

1. A Sleeping Giant in Minnesota? The Minnesota Timberwolves were at the forefront of one of the biggest trades of this offseason, sending four players, four ...

[million dollars](https://www.spotrac.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/klay-thompson-8062/#:~:text=Klay%20Thompson%20signed%20a%205,dead%20cap%20value%20of%20%2440%2C600%2C080.) in each of the next two seasons. [Both](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/jordan-poole-andrew-wiggins-extensions-fulfill-post-nba-finals-prophecy) Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins recently signed new four-year extensions, which puts the team in a suffocating bind financially. With two key cogs of The Victory Machine potentially out the door after this season, what does this team look like moving forward? And while he was arguably the team’s second-best player last season (No. And that’s without Williamson (a career 33.3% 3-point shooter) playing significant minutes. Remember, there are 150 starters in the NBA, so that means each of these guys is contributing starter-level production. White was not the engine of this voyage, but his blend of point-of-attack defense, screen navigation, and secondary ball handling gave the Celtics the necessary backcourt depth to help the engine get started. However, the naysayers are not giving enough credit to Gobert (a three-time Defensive Player of the Year) and his new coach, Chris Finch. And who knows, maybe shift a series in the process. But one could also posit that this version of Gobert is superior to the iteration of Chandler that anchored the Mavericks all the way to the NBA title. Along with Wagner, the roster houses Paolo Banchero (6-10), Wendell Carter Jr. [offensive pegasus](https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-blazing-the-trail-dirk-nowitzki-the-unicorn-that-became-world-champion-dallas-mavericks-dwane-casey-brad-davis-adrian-griffin-greg-buckner-kevin-durant-nikola-jokic) Dirk Nowitzki with defensive stalwart Tyson Chandler?

After receiving their championship rings in a pregame ceremony, the Golden State Warriors powered past LA Lakers in their regular season opener spearheaded ...

Golden State coach Steve Kerr limited the minutes of both Thompson and Green, who was away from the team until last Thursday. Poole wound up with 12 points and seven assists. 5, then took a brief leave of absence from the team to work on his emotions.

The Golden State Warriors beat LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers 123-109 after receiving their championship rings in a pregame ceremony.

“And now they get to see another kid who is the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. “I’m excited for the city of Saginaw, Michigan, to get to see a kid that represents the city well and happens to be playing some really good basketball and playing at a high level his entire career in Draymond Green,” Ham said. “That has to be something that’s in our fabric, not just against Golden State but against the entire league.” “You’ve always got to be ready for the third quarters, and we were not tonight.” “He came in and it was bothering him. Kerr said he will increase Thompson’s minutes each game as a precaution following his return in January from an absence of more than 2 1/2 years for surgeries to his left knee and right Achilles tendon. These guys have played at the highest level over and over and over again.” “It was a ring night and that’s really what we were focused on finishing the first game. Anthony Davis added 27 points, but the Lakers couldn’t keep up in another signature, runaway third quarter by reigning NBA Finals MVP Curry and Co. It was a huge win against a really good team.” “I’m thrilled with the win,” coach Steve Kerr said. 5, then took a brief leave of absence from the team to work on his emotions.

Stephen Curry began the season with 33 points, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Los Angeles Lakers 123-109 on Tuesday night after receiving their ...

"During the peak of racial tension in our society, he represented a type of nobility and honour that transcended sports", the Celtics Guard concluded. In Boston, the Celtics paid tribute to the mythical N6 of the franchise Bill Russell, who died in July. "Bill Russell was a great man for what and who he stood for", Jaylen Brown noted.

'Tanking already?': Lakers 'stink' in opener as great 'p***ed' at Westbrook saga.

You know in our league there’s teams that can do that,” James added. “It’s time for the Lakers to move him ... I think the wear and tear mentally last year and starting this year, playing with Patrick Beverley ... I hate the fact that they made him and (former coach Frank Vogel) scapegoats. “This guy (Westbrook) used to be so exuberant, playing with great energy and great emotion. James, Davis and Westbrook -- supposed to form a “Big Three” capable of challenging for the title last year -- ended up playing only 21 games together. We’ve been through an awful lot together. “He broke our trust with this incident, but I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt because I think he has earned that and I think our team feels the same way. A roster rebuild that saw the arrival of Westbrook and the departure of several players involved in the 2020 title run was seen by many as the main reason behind the Lakers defensive demise. The Warriors coach says he expects Green -- one of his most trusted on-court lieutenants during a run that has included six trips to the NBA Finals since 2015 -- to rebuild “trust” with teammates and coaches. For most of the past decade, the Warriors have been a model of consistency on and off the court, a well-coached, well-run organisation that has set a standard for the rest of the league. LA was well beaten 32-19 in the third term to trail by as much as 27 points as it was left with no answers on the defensive end to Golden State’s barrage of shooting.

Jayson Tatum has confidence-booster game, James Harden shows lethal touch and 76ers' new faces have rough debuts.

None of the three were major factors in the loss to the Celtics. A fair number of players who played at the same level of Griffin wouldn’t stick around for this. They’ll need to be at their best when the Sixers are matched against the East powers. It’s an inconvenience at best, and a big loss at worst, for Boston as the Celtics make do until then. But Horford is 36 and the Celtics are rather thin at the power positions. It made for an interesting test case against Embiid, who led the league in scoring last season and, for the second time, was runner-up in the Kia MVP voting. He reset over the summer, reduced weight, signed a team-friendly contract extension that allowed the Sixers to add other players and came to camp feeling determined. Also, he was guarded Tuesday by Marcus Smart, the reigning Kia Defensive Player of the Year. He arrived in midseason from Brooklyn and the initial expectations were just too steep and maybe unrealistic. By the way, Brown and Tatum have each had 30-plus points in the same regular season game 13 times in their careers together. Tatum had some terrific transitional moments against Philly where he made defensive stops and followed up with jumpers and layups, especially in the game-changing third quarter when the balance flipped to Boston. Last we saw Tatum, he was tossing bricks in the 2022 NBA Finals and coming up short in performance and energy against the Warriors.

Klay Thompson has cited Barcelona's tiki-taka as inspiration for the Golden State Warriors tactics at the start of the new NBA season.

[It involves a series of short sharp passing, keeping the ball moving constantly. The tactic was also used to great effect by the Spain national team, who clinched back-to-back European Championships either side of a World Cup triumph in 2010. [TNT](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfSfdWqwbNQ&t=361s), saying: "You guys are the best without the ball that I have seen without the ball in a long time."

Hello and welcome to Sportstar's LIVE coverage of the GSW vs La Lakers match on the opening night of NBA 2022/23. LAL 8-11 GSW.

The jump ball is done and Lakers starts with the attack. He too is out on the floor for warm up. The Golden State Warriors team is donning jumpers that read ‘NBA Champions’. The title win banner for 2021/22 is hoisted at the Warriors home stadium. Austin Reeves with a lay up gets the bucket and is also fouled by Poole from behind. He gives the early lead to GSW and Lakers call a timeout. He is fouled and converts the three-point opportunity. Jordan Poole fires a three from the left side of the court. Davis is then fouled and he nails only one of the free throws. He first brushes past JaMychel Green and shoots from close to the rim. Warriors bench challenges and the decision is overturned. The game is getting pace here.

No player goes 1-on-1 more than Luka Doncic. There are plenty of impressive reasons why.

"When he plays, the only thing he hears is like the music that's playing in his head," Shammgod says. "And all of a sudden he finds a way to spin out and somehow shoots left-handed over his head -- and he makes those shots." During timeouts, Doncic will sometimes juggle the basketball with his foot, a flashback to his childhood playing soccer in Slovenia. "If you use the contact correctly, it's a big advantage, for sure." He often initiates contact, off the dribble or as he's going up to finish, using his strength to create pockets of space. "It's a fadeaway, so it's tough to block, tough to defend. The one-legged fadeaway has become such a respected part of Doncic's repertoire that he occasionally embarrasses defenders determined to contest it. It's a move that Doncic mastered between his rookie and sophomore seasons, essentially adding a midrange escape clause to his isolation game. "You want to have it where every dribbling move he does is a part of that [step-back] package, because that's his favorite shot," Shammgod says. "That's part of the fabric of who he is, because it can set up so many other things." "Sometimes as a coach you want to run all these plays," says Kidd, who has frequently surrounded Doncic with 3-point threats, employing five-out offenses to open the floor for him to operate. In these moments, the court feels like a canvas for Doncic, who Mavs coach Jason Kidd compared to a young Picasso at the start of last season.

No player goes 1-on-1 more than Luka Doncic. There are plenty of impressive reasons why.

"When he plays, the only thing he hears is like the music that's playing in his head," Shammgod says. "And all of a sudden he finds a way to spin out and somehow shoots left-handed over his head -- and he makes those shots." During timeouts, Doncic will sometimes juggle the basketball with his foot, a flashback to his childhood playing soccer in Slovenia. "If you use the contact correctly, it's a big advantage, for sure." He often initiates contact, off the dribble or as he's going up to finish, using his strength to create pockets of space. "It's a fadeaway, so it's tough to block, tough to defend. The one-legged fadeaway has become such a respected part of Doncic's repertoire that he occasionally embarrasses defenders determined to contest it. It's a move that Doncic mastered between his rookie and sophomore seasons, essentially adding a midrange escape clause to his isolation game. "You want to have it where every dribbling move he does is a part of that [step-back] package, because that's his favorite shot," Shammgod says. "That's part of the fabric of who he is, because it can set up so many other things." "Sometimes as a coach you want to run all these plays," says Kidd, who has frequently surrounded Doncic with 3-point threats, employing five-out offenses to open the floor for him to operate. In these moments, the court feels like a canvas for Doncic, who Mavs coach Jason Kidd compared to a young Picasso at the start of last season.

NBA star Klay Thompson has said that Barcelona's tiki-taka is the inspiration behind the Golden State Warriors' tactics at the start of the new NBA season.

It was an evolution of Johan Cruyff’s total football tactics and also built on Frank Rijkaard’s and Louis van Gaal’s desire to play with short passes. It’s easy to step up to the open man and give the open man with us, keep it moving and it just plays to me and Steph [Curry] strengths so much.” The NBA star said, “I give Steve credit [Kerr], he walked in and had a vision just to keep the thing hot.

Listing the top five basketball shoes worn during the opening night of the 2022-23 NBA season.

Meanwhile, James wore the Nike LeBron 20 in the 'Purple & Gold' colorway. The Nike LeBron 20 has flown off the shelves since its release in late September. We knew the 2022 NBA Finals MVP, Stephen Curry, would go big on ring night. Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden wore a new colorway of the Adidas Harden Vol. [complicated history](https://www.si.com/fannation/sneakers/on-court/jaden-ivey-makes-summer-league-debut-in-nike-kobe-6) of the shoes back in July. So it was only fitting that the German company supply the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year with special shoes for the big night. Below is our ranking of the top five shoes from the 2022 NBA Opening Night. Harden has worn different colorways of his 7th signature sneaker with Adidas throughout the summer. [Nike LeBron 20](https://www.si.com/fannation/sneakers/tag/nike-lebron-20) in the 'Time Machine' colorway. Later, the reigning champion Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers. In the first matchup, the Boston Celtics handled the Philadelphia 76ers. However, the shoes still have not been released to the public.

No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero leads an intriguing group of newcomers in 2022-23.

He played well with the Cavs in Las Vegas (15 ppg, 4.8 rpg) but now might get more reps with the rebuilding Jazz. He hit 61% of his shots while averaging 14.4 points in five games and he led all rookies with 26 total assists (5.2 per game). With Holmgren out, Dieng has the distinction of being the Thunder rookie not named (Jaylin or Jalen) Williams. The Pistons envision a backcourt duo with last year’s No. One role model who’s been mentioned: Draymond Green, right down to the “triple-single” offensive results. As eager as Thunder fans were to see Holmgren play before the August foot injury that wiped out his season, they might get even more excited if the setback shifts OKC into an unabashed “2023 Draft” strategy. No. The only exceptions: New York’s Mark Jackson in 1988, the No. That happened in 2003 with Phoenix’s Amar’e Stoudemire (9th overall in 2002) and again in 2014 with Michael Carter-Williams (11th overall). 18 pick overall in the previous spring’s draft; and Milwaukee’s Malcolm Brogdon in 2017, rising up from No. For one of the newcomers, there will be a special prize in about eight months: the Kia Rookie of the Year Award. Shaking commissioner Adam Silver’s hand on draft night was one thing; suiting up and playing in actual NBA regular-season competition is a whole other level.

Fulwell 73 Productions will produce a 10-part docuseries on the 2023 NBA Playoffs, which is set to be shopped to outlets soon.

At Fulwell 73, Winston is a partner with Leo Pearlman, Ben Turner and Gabe Turner. The 10-part docuseries, which is currently untitled, will soon be brought to market. We’re thrilled to partner with the NBA to offer fans an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the most exciting ten weeks in sports.”

Buzzer, a mobile platform for live sports aimed at young people, has renewed its deals with the NBA and WNBA. The platform allows fans to watch games via ...

“We look at our partnership with FanDuel as one of a user engagement tool for NBA and WNBA games,” Han said. FanDuel’s odds are integrated into the Buzzer app, and ads for Buzzer appear in FanDuel’s app. In a lot of ways, it’s optimized for a device that the next generation engages with and uses.” With the FanDuel partnership, fans who bet on NBA or WNBA games through FanDuel are alerted to watch them via Buzzer. It involves Buzzer distributing live moments from boxing matches DAZN airs with the goal of people watching the clips and signing up for DAZN. In addition, young fans also are typically glued to their mobile phones searching social media and the internet, so Buzzer was created as a mobile platform that those fans could easily access. “The goal here is how do we become a bridge to the next generation and how do we address an audience that is not addressed by television,” Han said. “For a two-year-old startup, it’s incredible affirmation and I’m looking forward to seeing how Buzzer will continue to innovate and roll out features that bring mobile-first basketball fans back to the live window.” They can also purchase full access to NBA League Pass, which costs $99.99 for the entire season without commercials, and the WNBA League Pass, which cost $24.99 for the 2022 season that ended last month. The company, which now has 42 full-time employees according to Han, raised a $4 million seed round in March 2020 and a $20 million Series A round in March 2021, which was led by Sapphire Sport and Canaan Partners. Before founding Buzzer, Han was the director of live content at Twitter, where he negotiated deals with professional sports leagues to stream their games on the platform. “The market dynamics have shifted quite a bit as everyone has seen and experienced,” Han said.

The wait is finally over. The NBA is back, and Monday night's opening matchups did not disappoint: from the tunnel fits to a head-to-head matchup in Boston ...

[Their young core](https://www.slamonline.com/nba/steve-kerr-on-the-strong-foundation-the-warriors-have-built/) ( [Moses](https://www.slamonline.com/tag/moses-moody/) [Moody](https://www.slamonline.com/tag/Moses-Moody/), [James Wiseman](https://www.slamonline.com/tag/James-Wiseman/), [Jonathan Kuminga](https://www.slamonline.com/tag/Jonathan-Kuminga/)) came in off the bench and provided valuable minutes. [Draymond Green](https://www.slamonline.com/tag/draymond-green/) and [Kevon Looney](https://www.slamonline.com/tag/kevon-looney/) anchored a strong defensive performance. [](https://www.slamonline.com/tag/moses-moody/) October 18th marked the beginning of the NBA season, but it was also Britney Griner’s 32nd birthday. Near the end of their contest against the Celtics, Stan Van Gundy joked that Mazzulla now has the best winning percentage in NBA history. After the game, The King was quick to recognize this deficiency in the Lakers’ offense, citing a lack of “lasers.” The Dubs had their trademark explosive third quarter, and signature contributions from [Klay Thompson](https://www.slamonline.com/tag/klay-thompson/), [Jordan Poole](https://www.slamonline.com/tag/jordan-poole/), Curry, and [Andrew Wiggins](https://www.slamonline.com/tag/andrew-wiggins/) on offense guided them to a win. Darvin Ham and Joe Mazzulla both made their head coaching debuts on opening night. 6 retired around the League, and every team is wearing a “6” patch on their jersey to honor him. The NBA is back, and Monday night’s opening matchups did not disappoint: from the tunnel fits to a head-to-head matchup in Boston and ring night in the Bay. They have three ECF trips under their belt and a recent appearance in the NBA Finals — they’re not supposed to still be getting better. Both were attacking from every part of the floor.

Is Joel Embiid going to win MVP? Is Jordan Poole the runaway favorite for Sixth Man? We talk NBA awards and how to bet them in this PBT Podcast.

Officer Craig Warren said in the report that Bouknight had glassy eyes and a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath. “Cliff has been there for me every step of the way since he got here,” Bouknight said. Police said that once Bouknight was awake, he refused to comply with commands and appeared confused for several minutes. He had the handgun in his hands. Bouknight was placed under arrest for DWI since he was in a public area and behind the wheel of a running vehicle, in drive, in the traffic way while intoxicated. According to the police report, officers saw Bouknight unconscious inside the vehicle with the vehicle running and in drive.

The 2022-23 NBA Season is now here, and we have the full preview you've been looking for. Standings, Awards and the Playoff Results are all here for you.

Standings, Awards and the Playoff Results are all here for you The 2022-23 NBA Season is upon us. [gave you the preview for the Cavs’ season this morning](https://kingjamesgospel.com/2022/10/19/cavs-2022-23-season-preview-4-stars-3-awards-1-playoff-berth/).

Looking spry and explosive, Zion Williamson returned from an 18-month absence with 25 points and 9 rebounds.

Unrestricted free agency awaits Kyrie next summer; in the meantime, Irving has that much time to put opening night in the rearview and prove that it was a fluke. And while Durant, Irving and Simmons are all in uniform, the Nets can’t be accurately judged one way or another until Seth Curry and Joe Harris return to the rotation. Therefore, he comes into 2022-23 with plenty of incentive to (a) put aside his quirks, especially if they interfere with his play or threaten the team’s success, and (b) deliver a star-quality season. Question: When was the last time the Nets were at full strength since Durant and Irving teamed up in the summer of 2019? It’s the first of 82, and the Nets have clearly stated a desire to remain patient with Simmons … Kyrie shot just 6-for-19, missed all six of his 3-pointers, and when the Nets needed a second option, he couldn’t fulfill the role. The good news for the Nets is Kyrie is actually eligible to play at home, which wasn’t always the case last season because of his vaccination status. The success and failure of the Pelicans this season, therefore, will rest with what they can muster defensively. The force and rim-attacking and gentle touch around the basket all resurfaced and rekindled the image of Zion as a dominant player, which he was during most of the 85 games played in his short and injury-interrupted career. That said, the level of disappointment needs to be placed in the proper context: It wasn’t anything like his playoff game finish in Philly two years ago when he bypassed a layup over the Hawks’ Trae Young, and there won’t be any dreadful fallout from this game. He also showed a very solid cohesion with Brandon Ingram and the two Pelicans had a 1-2 inside-outside punch all night, with Ingram dropping 28 points. And yet, Simmons in Brooklyn looked suspiciously like the last time we saw Simmons in Philly.

Here are the results and highlights from the NBA 2022-23 matches that took place on Wednesday - October 20, 2022.

Washington had 17 points and Gordon Hayward added 15 as all five Hornets starters scored in double figures. Rudy Gay scored 16 points, Malik Beasley had 15 and Mike Conley, the lone returning starter, had 13 as Utah had seven players in double-figure scoring. Julius Randle led the Knicks with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while reserve Cam Reddish added 22 points, making 9 of 15 shots from the field. Cavaliers All-Star guard Darius Garland left the game in the second quarter after injuring his left eye in a collision with Raptors guard Gary Trent. Bickerstaff said Garland was bleeding from a cut inside the left eyelid after being poked in the eye by Trent with 3:51 to play in the first half. Jaylen Nowell, who had 13 points, put the Timberwolves ahead for good with his layup with 10:47 remaining. The Mavericks led 67-45 early in the third quarter and 93-80 with eight minutes left, but the Suns kept pushing. LaVine played in three of Chicago’s preseason games and experienced discomfort in recent days — which Bulls coach Billy Donovan said is to be expected, given that LaVine was limited for much of the summer. Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and 13 rebounds. That knee had him in and out of the lineup last season and required surgery in May. He fouled out early in the fourth quarter with four points, five rebounds and five assists, taking three shots. Patty Mills had 16 points and Kyrie Irving managed 15 on 6-for-19 shooting, going 0 for 6 from 3-point range.

The NBA match between Nets and Raptors will take place on October 22 at 5:00 am IST (Oct 21, 7:30 pm ET) at the Barclays Center.

Ben Simmons is back, Zion Williamson is ready to be unleashed and first-round draft pick Dyson Daniels is ready to make his NBA debut.

He has earned some minutes during the preseason.” “He is competing, he’s mature for 19. He works extremely hard. “That’s the message,” Nash said on encouraging Simmons to be aggressive with the ball. “The goal and the vision is for him to be the engine of this team [on] both sides of the ball,” Nash said. If Simmons is good to go though, Nash said the Nets have a clear idea on what sort of role the two-time All-Star will play in Brooklyn.

Brandon Ingram scored 28 points and Zion Williamson scored 25 as he returns from the foot injury that sidelined him for a season to help the Pelicans beat ...

In Memphis the Grizzlies thwarted the New York Knicks’ comeback bid for a 115-112 overtime victory. we’re a resilient team and it showed.” “It’s crazy,” said Williamson, the 2019 top draft pick who at 22 has already battled a raft of injuries. “I felt like we did that very well, even though the game was still close… I’m just excited to go.” “I’m still learning my teammates…

The NBA match between Heat and Celtics will take place on October 22 at 5:00 am IST (Oct 21, 7:30 pm ET) at the FTX Arena.

Not only did all three of New Orleans' stars shine brightly, so too did other Pels who stepped out onto the floor.

As a team, the Pelicans grabbed 12 more offensive rebounds in leading to a lopsided 61-39 overall advantage on the glass. Irving was off, hitting only six of 19 shot attempts, and the Net’s defense was just porous throughout. We can all still vividly remember his performances in the play-in games and playoffs from last spring, but he legitimately looked to be an improved player over that version of himself. You know, points in the paint, getting to the free throw line, we shot the ball well, and we took care of the basketball. He also added nine rebounds and dropped a couple of dimes. He really controlled the game well, and it appeared playing most of his minutes alongside Williamson greatly aided the generational talent to enjoy a fantastic debut after his long layoff. “I told our guys in the locker room that’s what our team is about. In 24 minutes, the second-year man hit four of six 3s to finish with 16 points. [New Orleans Pelicans](https://www.thebirdwrites.com) arrived in Brooklyn in hopes of finding a way to claw out a victory against, at worst, a near championship contender. Glancing at his box score, like tonight’s six-point, four-rebound, three-assist line, will never reveal the whole story, but just ask Durant about consistently being hounded by Jones. It’s fun to watch.” “Wire-to-wire, I thought it was a pretty dominant performance.