Starting 5, Oct. 26: AD sparks electric Lakers' rally, two pure scorers ...
No rim is safe when the Greek Freak gets going.
THE LINEUP ????
Oct. 26, 2024 | What’s inside today’s edition?
Friday Fantastic: The Lakers outshine the Suns, a scoring showdown & a NOLA game-winner
Bodega KAT: Karl-Anthony Towns is embracing NYC, while others are embracing the 3
Buckets In Bulk: Sibling chemistry and young talent cooked up some big numbers
Star-Studded Tripleheader: Three can’t-miss matchups on NBA TV headline today’s slate
LP Lineup: Rising clubs & contenders clash on League Pass after a marquee reunion
BUT FIRST … ⏰
A stacked Saturday schedule…
Ten more matchups tip off today, highlighted by NBA TV’s tripleheader, beginning with Clippers at Nuggets (5 ET) before the Grizzlies host the Magic (8 ET) and the Kings take on the rival Lakers (10:30 ET).
The Third Annual ACES Hustle & Heart Classic — a tournament showcasing the country’s top-ranked high school hoopers on the national stage — returns to New York City today (5 ET, NBA App).
It’s not too late to debut! Sign up for the NBA ID Challenge: Your Season Debut by Sunday to earn limited-time badges, access exclusive trivia and get a shot at winning a trip to the Emirates NBA Cup Championship (US & Canada fans, excl. QC).
1. AD MAKES HISTORY, TRAE & LAMELO GO OFF, INGRAM CALLS GAME
In 88 total games last season, the Lakers notched one 20+ point comeback.
Through two games this season, they’ve already matched that mark.
Staring at a 22-point deficit with 9:43 left in the 2nd quarter, Anthony Davis (35 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast), Austin Reaves (26 pts, 8 ast, 3 stl) and LeBron James (21 pts, 4 reb, 8 ast) jump-started the Lakers, who outscored Phoenix 97-68 the rest of the way to improve to 2-0 with a 123-116 win. | Recap
AD’s Legendary Company: Fresh off a 36-point outing in Tuesday’s win over the Wolves, Davis became just the third-ever Laker to start a season with back-to-back 35+ point games, joining Elgin Baylor and Jerry West Feeling It: Davis (11-18 FG), Reaves (8-12) and James (7-13) all shot over 50% from the field and the Lakers went 51.9% (14-27) from beyond the arc JJ’s Hot Start: Under the guidance of first-year coach JJ Redick, the Lakers are now 2-0 for the first time since 2010-11Both Trae Young and LaMelo Ball made history in their team’s season-opening wins on Wednesday.
On Friday, the two each notched another milestone while going head-to-head — and put on a show in the process — as Ball (34 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast) buried a career-high nine 3s, while Young (38 pts, 8 reb, 10 ast) became the second player in NBA history to open a season with back-to-back 30/10 games in a 125-120 Hawks win. | Recap
Hornets Rally: Despite never leading, Charlotte pulled even twice in the 4th quarter, but Ball (9-14 3PM) fouled out with 3:33 left, and Atlanta prevailed down the stretch The Reason? Young. Trae dropped 14 points in the 4th, including a pair of late free throws to put the game on ice Other Standouts: Miles Bridges added 27 points for the Hornets, while De’Andre Hunter tallied 24 as Atlanta moved to 2-0Pelicans 105, Trail Blazers 103: Jerami Grant (34 pts, career-high 8 3s, 6 reb) and the Blazers led for over 36 minutes and held a 16-point edge in the 2nd quarter, but Brandon Ingram (21 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl) and Zion Williamson (16 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast, 3 blk) rallied New Orleans, and Ingram splashed a game-winning fadeaway with 4.9 seconds left to stamp a thrilling win. | Recap
2. NEW YORK’S NEW STARS SHINE, WHILE 3s FUEL FRIDAY DUBS
A native of Northern New Jersey, Karl-Anthony Towns grew up less than an hour from Madison Square Garden.
In his home debut with the Knicks on Friday, it took him far less time to make his mark at the Mecca.
A turnaround baby hook for his first bucket early in the 1st quarter, followed by a triple 15 seconds later and then a two-handed hammer brought the Garden to its feet as Towns (21 pts, 15 reb, 2 blk) showed off his wide-ranging game.
Soon after, Towns helped spark a 27-10 run to end the half, giving the Knicks a 16-point lead that they stretched into a 123-98 win. | Recap
KAT & Bridges Cook: Towns had 12 points, two 3s, four boards and two blocks at the half, and his 21 points were matched by Mikal Bridges (8-12 FG, 5 ast), who also showed out in his Knicks home debut Everybody Eats: Jalen Brunson (26 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast) led all scorers, Josh Hart added a 20-piece, and OG Anunoby rounded out New York’s starting five with 14 points Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin led Indiana with 20 points, but the Knicks outscored the Pacers 34-19 in the 3rd to put the game away
Bulls 133, Bucks 122: Giannis Antetokounmpo (38 pts, 11 reb, 5 ast) and Damian Lillard (28 pts, 4 reb, 8 ast) shined, combining for 66 points to keep the Bucks within striking distance, but Chicago prevailed thanks to huge nights from Coby White (35 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast), Zach LaVine (25 pts, 5 reb) and Nikola Vučević (22 pts, 10 reb, 4 ast). | Recap
Red-Hot: White (7 3s), LaVine (2) and Vučević (4) combined for 13 triples, and Josh Giddey added 17 points and a game-high nine assists as Chicago improved to 1-1 with the dub Bulls History: In the win, LaVine (1,001) became the second Bull to reach 1,000 made 3s, joining Kirk Hinrich (1,049). Meanwhile, White (776) moved into third place for most triples in franchise historyWarriors 127, Jazz 86: For the second straight game, Buddy Hield (27 pts, 7 3s, 6 ast) led the Warriors in scoring in a 30+ point victory as he, Steph Curry (20 pts, 4 3s, 4 ast, 2 stl) and the Dubs took down Lauri Markkanen (13 pts, 8 reb) and the Jazz in Utah. | Recap
Golden From 3: Six Warriors scored in double figures, five made at least two 3s and the Dubs have now scored 120+ points in back-to-back games after Wednesday’s 140-104 win over Portland Buddy System: Curry and his newest backcourt partner, Hield, have combined for 19 triples in those two games while shooting a combined 52.8% from 33. WAGNER BROS, BARNES & YOUNG SCORERS FILL IT UP
Magic 116, Nets 101: Brothers Franz Wagner (29 pts, 6 reb 5 ast) and Moritz Wagner (18 pts, 7-8 FG) led the Magic in scoring, while Paolo Banchero added 15 points and a game-high nine dimes to help Orlando race past Cam Thomas (24 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast), Dennis Schröder (20 pts, 6 ast) and the Nets to improve to 2-0. | Recap
Cavaliers 113, Pistons 101: Cade Cunningham went off for 33 points and six dimes on 14-of-24 shooting, but it wasn’t enough as Donovan Mitchell (19 pts, 5 ast, including this spinning behind-the-back dish), Dean Wade (19 pts, 5-7 3PM, 5 reb) and Jarrett Allen (17 pts, 11 reb) helped the Cavs pull away for their second win. | Recap
Raptors 115, 76ers 107: Scottie Barnes (27 pts, 8-11 FG, 5 reb, 4 ast, 2 stl, 1 blk) did it all and got help from Jakob Pöltl (19 pts, 9 reb, 4 blk) to power the Raptors past Kelly Oubre Jr. (28 pts, 3 3s), Tyrese Maxey (24 pts, 4 ast) and the Sixers for their first win. | Recap
Rockets 128, Grizzlies 108: After an opening loss to the Hornets, the Rockets rebounded with a convincing dub over Ja Morant (24 pts, 2 ast, 1 must-see bucket) and the Grizzlies thanks to seven double-digit scorers, led by Jalen Green’s 22 points and double-doubles from Alperen Sengun (16 pts, 15 reb) and Jabari Smith Jr. (14 pts, 16 reb). | Recap
4. SATURDAY’S STAR-POWERED TRIPLEHEADER
Three games. Three must-see matchups. And a stacked lineup of stars.
NBA TV’s tripleheader boasts two Western Conference duels featuring four former Kia NBA MVPs and an electrifying showdown between Ja Morant and Paolo Banchero.
Clippers at Nuggets (5 ET, NBA TV): After each winning 50+ games in 2023-24, which side will rebound from its opening season loss?
Russ Reunion: After spending 1.5 seasons with LA, nine-time All-Star Russell Westbrook will face his former team in his second outing with Denver Stars Shine: In their respective season openers, James Harden (29 pts, 12 reb, 8 ast) stuffed the stat sheet, while Nikola Jokić (16 pts, 12 reb, 13 ast) recorded the season’s first triple-double Another Joker Ace? In three games against LA last year, Jokić averaged a near triple-double (30.0 ppg, 16.0 rpg, 9.7 apg), but the two clubs ultimately split the season series 2-2Magic at Grizzlies (8 ET, NBA TV): With both teams in the second leg of a back-to-back, Ja Morant and Memphis will look to rebound from Friday’s loss as they host Paolo Banchero and the Magic, who will look to improve to 3-0.
Kings at Lakers (10:30 ET, NBA TV): After going 0-4 against the Kings last season, can LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the 2-0 Lakers help swing the in-state rivalry back in their favor?
Kings Of L.A.? The Kings have gone 7-1 against the Lakers over the last two years and haven’t dropped a season series to Los Angeles since 2019-20, when the Lakers won the NBA title New Royalty: In his Kings debut on Thursday, DeMar DeRozan poured in a team-high 26 points in a loss to the Wolves AD ???? Kobe: After dropping 36 points on opening night and 35 last night, Davis became the first Laker to score 30+ points in the team’s first two games since Kobe Bryant did so in 20055. KEY REUNION + RISING CLUBS & CONTENDERS CLASH ON LEAGUE PASS
Seven of Saturday’s 10 games air on NBA League Pass, headlined by two marquee matchups out West and a reunion for two standout guards facing their former teams.
Thunder at Bulls (8 ET, League Pass): Just four days after the 2023-24 season ended, the Thunder and Bulls completed a trade, bringing one of the best on-ball defenders in Alex Caruso to OKC and a young playmaking guard in Josh Giddey to Chicago. And just four days into the 2024-25 season, they’ll meet for the first time.
Rockets at Spurs (8:30 ET, League Pass): In a Texas tango between two rising teams out West, Victor Wembanyama, Chris Paul and the Spurs will take on Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green and the Rockets. The matchup also features two favorites to win Kia Rookie of the Year, according to the 2024-25 NBA GM Survey, as Houston’s Reed Sheppard (No. 3 overall pick) will go up against San Antonio’s Stephon Castle (No. 4).
Mavericks at Suns (10 ET, League Pass): The star power continues Saturday night as Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson and the Mavs face Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and the Suns in the Valley. In three games against Phoenix last year, Dončić averaged 41.7 points, including a 50-piece on Christmas Day.
Four more games get underway on League Pass throughout the night, including a matchup between Boston and Detroit as the reigning champs look to improve to 3-0, while Anthony Edwards and the Wolves host Scottie Barnes and the Raptors.
Celtics at Pistons (7 ET, League Pass) Heat at Hornets (7 ET, League Pass) Cavaliers at Wizards (7 ET, League Pass) Raptors at Timberwolves (8 ET, League Pass)
