Other than the Boston Celtics running away with their first two games – versus the New York Knicks by 23 and the Washington Wizards by 20 – there have been other intriguing storylines this week as the NBA’s schedule makers knew what they were doing with the Opening Week matchups.
Another tips off tonight when the Phoenix Suns, again laden with expectation, visit Los Angeles to take on Bronny James and the Lakers.
But last night let us see some beneath the headline matchups that deserve some ink:
2024 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR VS. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP
Victor Wembanyama was the unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year last year, securing all 99 votes, something that hadn’t been down since Karl-Anthony Towns swept the votes back in 2016.
Of course, due to his size, talent, and fanfare before he even arrived in the NBA, it was anointed well before he donned the silver and black. It was evident again last night when refs blew whistles on Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively for even glancing his way.
While whistles went his way, his performance took a back seat, with a paltry 27.8 from the field and only 17 points and nine rebounds against a guy who is a couple inches shorter (even with the hair), and who dropped a 15 and 11 double double off the bench.
Meanwhile, last year’s solid runner up (who’d have won it any other year that Wembanyama wasn’t in the running) had to go against the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokic, winner of three of the last four years.
Chet Holmgren had a banner night on the road against Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, dropping 25 and crashing the boards for 14 to help the Thunder to an improbable, yet first, win of the season. The rebounds were a career high, but under the radar, he was swatting four away and had five dimes.
Jokic, on the other hand, went for a triple double of 16, 13, and 12, but shot 46.2 percent to Holmgren’s 61.1 percent. Oklahoma City outdid the Nuggets in the paint by 10 points, thanks to Holmgren’s hustle versus Jokic’s muscle.
We’ll get to see these Slendermen square off, appropriately, next week – the day before Halloween.
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KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE LAST 24 HOURS
Brandon Miller will be out at least a week with a strain in his left glute, suffered in Wednesday’s game versus the Houston Rockets.
Dejounte Murray is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.
It may have been a battle of the reigning MVP and the runner-up, but Chet Holmgren (25 points, 15 rebounds) was too much for Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets as the Oklahoma City Thunder stuck it to Denver by 15, 10 more than the Nuggets in the paint. Jokic finished with a triple double of 16-12-13. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 28 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists for the Thunder.
Jayson Tatum had 25 in the first half on Tuesday night, and dropped 25 last night in DC, along with Jaylen Brown‘s 27 to notch their second win in their championship defense, 122-102 over the host Washington Wizards. It was also the Boston Celtics‘ second 20+ point margin of victory. Jordan Poole finished with 26 points for the Wizards.
Julius Randle‘s second outing as a Minnesota Timberwolf ought to quiet those chirping on the New York Knick message boards. Randle led all scorers in a nail-biting wire to wire contest with the Sacramento Kings with 33 points on 76.5 percent shooting to push Minnesota to its first win, 117-115. Anthony Edwards, who claims he could have scored with and shut down Michael Jordan, added 32 points. DeMar DeRozan led the Kings with 26 in his debut. Domantas Sabonis had 24, and Keegan Murray hit for 23 in the loss.
Kevin Durant heads to L.A. tonight as the Phoenix Suns face off with the Los Angeles Lakers in what will be the craziest traffic night L.A. has seen in a long, long time. Durant is eight of 18 in the regular season against James.
Luka Doncic was just two assists shy of a triple double performance on the Dallas Mavericks‘ opening night, hitting for 28, 10, and eight in the Mavs’ 120-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs. Klay Thompson debuted with 22 points and shot 60 percent from downtown. Chris Paul called his own number with just three in his first game as a Spur.
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2024 MOST VALUABLE PLAYER VERSUS MOST VALUABLE PLAYER RUNNER UP
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got 15 first-place votes for MVP in 2024, to Nikola Jokic’s 79. The Serbian horse enthusiast galloped away with the voting for the third time in the last four years.
But if a re-vote was scheduled after last night’s Oklahoma City Thunder win, things might have swung SGA’s way. The lanky guard had his way against the Denver Nuggets scoring a game-high 28 points on 45.8 percent shooting compared to Jokic’s aforementioned tepid triple double.
Gilgeous-Alexander also had seven rebounds, eight assists, two steals and three blocks; Jokic had one block, as Chet Holmgren had his way as the Thunder dominated from the outset despite being in Denver.
These two meet up again on November 6th, same arena in Denver.
THE FREE AGENT VERSUS HIS REPLACEMENT
Buddy Hield might be offended that he’s tagged as ‘the replacement’ for the roster spot formerly known as Klay Thompson with the Golden State Warriors.
The former Splash Brother felt disrespected by the organization by having to come off the bench and he used Texas’ no state tax incentive as his reason for signing with the Dallas Mavericks in the offseason.
In reality, after his injury, Thompson was seen as inching past his prime, and the disrespect was even further amplified when he wasn’t tendered an offer of an extension after going back to and winning another NBA championship.
Dallas was maybe a player or two – perhaps a Klay Thompson – away from keeping the Boston Celtics from their 18th title, but couldn’t beat the boys from Beantown.
Thompson opened with a 22 point, seven rebound night in Dallas last night, hitting 60 percent from the arc and helping his new team to a 120-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Is it more insulting that the man who replaced Thompson in San Francisco went off against the Portland Trailblazers for 22 points, five rebounds and 71.4 percent from downtown … on the road … off the bench (which Klay didn’t want to do) … and a 36 point win margin?
If you’re Thompson, you’re congratulating Buddy Love, reveling in your own debut, and looking forward to Tuesday, November 12th when the Mavericks visit Golden State at the Chase Center.
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Tracy Graven is the Senior NBA Analyst for BackSportsPage.com.
He has written the NBA, appeared as a guest on NBA Radio, and the last 24+ years for HoopsWorld, Swish Magazine, HoopsHype, the Coach Scott Fields Show, NBARadioShow.com, and also will be tackling the NFL, NCAA for BackSportsPage.
He’s spent 25 years in locker rooms in Orlando, Boise (CBA, G League), San Antonio, Phoenix, Denver, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta.
A corporate trainer by day, he currently resides in the heart of SEC Country near Knoxville, Tennessee – home of the 2024 Men’s Baseball World Series Champion Tennessee Volunteers.
Reach him on Twitter at @RealTMoneyMedia
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