Luka Doncic delivered an impressive performance with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, while Klay Thompson contributed 22 points in his debut for the Mavericks. Dallas secured a victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, marking the season opener for both teams, thanks to a dominant second half.
The Mavericks found their rhythm in the third quarter, overcoming a two-point deficit at halftime to establish a 14-point lead. Even after the Spurs narrowed the gap to seven points as the fourth quarter began, Dallas responded decisively, extending their advantage to 111-90 with 6:01 remaining in the game.
Thompson excelled from three-point range, hitting 6 of 10 attempts. Additionally, Dereck Lively II recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Kyrie Irving also added 15 points. Jaden Hardy and P.J. Washington each contributed 11 points to the team’s success.
Julian Champagnie and Jeremy Sochan led the Spurs with 18 points each. Victor Wembanyama and Harrison Barnes contributed 17 points each as well. Wembanyama also recorded nine rebounds but struggled with his shooting, finishing 5 of 18 from the field, including 1 of 8 from three-point range.
Timberwolves 117-115 Sacramento Kings
Anthony Edwards concluded a stellar 32-point outing by sinking two crucial free throws with just 2.4 seconds remaining, while Julius Randle led all scorers with 33 points as the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves narrowly defeated the Sacramento Kings in their season opener.
Naz Reid contributed significantly off the bench, recording 19 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves, whereas Rudy Gobert managed only three points but secured 11 rebounds.
In his debut for the Kings, DeMar DeRozan led the team with 26 points, as Sacramento held a 12-point advantage midway through the third quarter. Domantas Sabonis added 24 points, Keegan Murray scored 23 points along with a team-high 11 rebounds, and De’Aaron Fox contributed 15 points and a team-high 11 assists.
Oklahoma City Thunder 102-87 Denver Nuggets
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the scoring with 28 points, while Chet Holmgren added 25 points and 14 rebounds, helping the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder secure a victory over the Denver Nuggets in the season opener for both teams, despite Nikola Jokic’s impressive triple-double performance.
Aaron Wiggins provided a valuable contribution off the bench with 15 points, aiding the Thunder in extending their winning streak to four games against Denver.
Jokic concluded the game with 16 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds. Christian Braun also matched Jokic’s scoring total with 16 points, but the Nuggets struggled from beyond the arc, making only 7 of 39 attempts.
Boston Celtics 122-102 New York Knicks
The defending champion Boston Celtics, fresh off a dominant season opener against the New York Knicks, experienced a sluggish start against the Washington Wizards, who finished last season with the second-worst record. Washington managed to establish an early lead, going up by as much as eight points. With five minutes remaining in the second quarter, the score was tied at 51-51. However, Boston surged ahead by ending the first half with a 13-3 run, ultimately securing a comfortable 122-102 victory. Jaylen Brown marked his 28th birthday with a standout performance, scoring 27 points, while Jayson Tatum contributed 25 points and 11 rebounds. Derrick White also played a key role, adding 19 points for the Celtics.
