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Houston, prepare for liftoff. This Brandon Miller hammer in H-Town set the early bar for the new NBA Dunk Score — hitting a mark of 108.9.
Find more on what went into the score at the end of today’s edition. For now … let’s catch you up. 💥
THE LINEUP 🏀
Oct. 24, 2024 | What’s inside today’s edition?
Courts Unveiling: The Emirates NBA Cup 2024 team courts drop today with a splash
Day 2 Debuts: Extra hoops at the Intuit Dome, the first pick’s first game and Ja’s return
Stars Show Out: Dame, Paolo and LaMelo light it up in season-opening wins
Wednesday Roundup: Three convincing wins and a 4th-quarter rally
Thursday Theater: Klay & CP3’s Texas debuts, a Denver-OKC duel and more
BUT FIRST … ⏰
A star-studded Thursday night…
In a loaded four-game slate, Klay Thompson and Chris Paul debut with their new teams as the Mavs host the Spurs (7:30 ET, TNT). Then, a heavyweight bout gets underway out West as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and OKC face Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets in Denver (10 ET, TNT).
Plus, this year’s No. 2 overall pick, Alex Sarr, will get his first NBA action as the Wizards host the Celtics (7 ET, League Pass) before DeMar DeRozan makes his Kings debut against Anthony Edwards and the Wolves (10 ET, League Pass).
Are You Ready? Test your knowledge on tonight’s four matchups with NBA Play Trivia.
1. EMIRATES NBA CUP COURTS REVEALED TODAY AT NOON
With the Emirates NBA Cup tipping off Tuesday, Nov. 12, we’ve got a surprise coming your way in just a few hours.
At 12 ET on the NBA App, NBA.com and @NBA social, we’ll be unveiling the 2024 NBA Cup team courts designed by artist Victor Solomon.
Keep reading for what to know … and stay tuned for something colorful.
2024 Emirates NBA Cup: 30 teams. 8 advance. 1 champion.
What Is The Emirates NBA Cup? The Emirates NBA Cup is the
2. THE DOME, THE WALL, THE GAME & TWO MARQUEE DEBUTS
Suns 116, Clippers 113 (OT): Last season, the Suns struggled in 4th quarters (they were outscored by 195 total points, 100 more than any other team), but in Wednesday’s season opener, Phoenix closed the 4th quarter on a 22-12 run to force overtime and eventually spoil LA’s debut game at the Intuit Dome. | Recap | Watch The Dramatic Finish
Suns Trio Shines: Kevin Durant (25 pts, 7 reb), Bradley Beal
Opening night of the Intuit Dome also meant the debut of “The Wall” — a dedicated seating area behind the opposing team’s 2nd-half basket, reserved for the most diehard Clippers fans to help increase the home-court advantage.
Clippers Coach Tyronn Lue: “The wall is crazy, that’s our
Hawks 120, Nets 116: Cam Thomas (36 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl) shined with 20 points in the 4th quarter, but the Nets couldn’t slow down Trae Young (30 pts, 5 reb, 12 ast) and Onyeka Okongwu (career-high 28 pts, 8 reb, 3 blk), while this year’s No. 1 overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher, added seven points in his NBA debut to help earn a Hawks dub. | Recap
First Pick’s First Shot: It didn’t take long for Risacher to
Grizzlies 126, Jazz 124: Ja Morant posted 22 points and 10 assists in his first regular-season game since Jan. 5, while Santi Aldama (team-high 27 pts, 5 3s) and Desmond Bane (24 pts, 4 3s) combined for 51 to help the Grizzlies hold off a late Jazz push to open the season 1-0. | Recap
Jazz Duo Shines: Lauri Markkanen led all scorers with 35
3. STAR SCORERS: DAME, PAOLO & LAMELO DAZZLE
In his Bucks debut last season, Damian Lillard poured in 39 points to lead Milwaukee to a win over the Sixers.
In the Bucks season opener on Wednesday, Lillard went off against Philly again, posting 30 points, nine boards and six dimes while cooking with Giannis Antetokounmpo (25 pts, 14 reb, 7 ast) to lead Milwaukee to a 124-109 win against Tyrese Maxey (25 pts, 6 reb, 3 ast) and company. | Recap
Deer Time: Lillard went 6-of-12 from 3 and Giannis went
Magic 116, Heat 97: In this year’s first edition of the Sunshine State rivalry, Paolo Banchero (33 pts, 11 reb, 3 ast) was red-hot and got help from Franz Wagner (23 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast) to push the Magic past Terry Rozier (19 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast) and the Heat in Miami. | Recap
Magic Men: Both Banchero (12-24 FG, 4-8 3P) and Wagner (10-16
Hornets 110, Rockets 105: LaMelo Ball went off (34 pts, 11 ast, 4 3s), Tre Mann shined off the bench (24 pts, 4 3s) and Grant Williams hit the clutch go-ahead 3 as the Hornets overcame an 18-point deficit to open the season with a win. | Recap
Poster Alert: Before exiting in the 1st quarter with a hip
4. ROUNDUP: PELS FLY, PACERS RALLY, DUBS & CAVS ROLL
Pelicans 123, Bulls 111: Brandon Ingram (33 pts, 7 reb, 3 3s) and CJ McCollum (23 pts, 5 ast, 5 3s) combined for 56 points to lead New Orleans past Chicago. Dejounte Murray nearly posted a triple-double (14 pts, 10 ast, 8 reb) in his Pelicans debut, but injured his left hand in the 4th quarter. | Recap
Running With The Bulls Again: In his first game in 279 days
Pacers 115, Pistons 109: Cade Cunningham (28 pts, 5 reb, 8 ast) and the Pistons were in control for the first three quarters, but Indiana outscored Detroit 33-19 in the 4th, and Tyrese Haliburton (15 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast, 3 stl) sank a dagger 3 with 20.4 seconds left to secure a Pacers win. | Recap
Front Court Control: Myles Turner (20 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast) led
Warriors 139, Trail Blazers 104: In his Warriors debut, Buddy Hield erupted for 22 points and five 3s in less than 15 minutes, while Andrew Wiggins added 20 points and Steph Curry finished one board shy of a triple-double (17 pts, 10 ast, 9 reb) as the Warriors rolled in their season opener. | Recap
Cavaliers 136, Raptors 106: Evan Mobley (25 pts, 9 reb) and Donovan Mitchell (21 pts, 3 ast, 3 stl) combined for 46 points, and Caris LeVert (19 pts, 8-9 FG, 4 ast) was feeling it as Cleveland pulled away from Chris Boucher (18 pts, 4-5 3P) and the Raptors in Toronto. | Recap
5. THURSDAY THEATER: KLAY & CP3 DEBUT IN TEXAS DUEL
One game. Two all-time talents in new threads.
Fresh off a Finals run, Dallas is looking to build on last season with a new sharpshooting wing. About four hours south in San Antonio, the Spurs paired their 2023-24 Kia Rookie of the Year with a legendary floor general.
On Thursday, the two sides will meet as Klay Thompson and Chris Paul make their regular-season debuts with their new teams in a Texas duel between the Mavs and Spurs (7:30 ET, TNT).
CP3 & Wemby: Now entering his 20th NBA season, Paul — who
The star power continues in the second leg of TNT’s doubleheader, as the top two finishers in last year’s MVP voting, Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, square off in a marquee matchup between the Nuggets and Thunder (10 ET, TNT).
New-Look Nugs: Led by Jokić, the reigning Kia MVP, Denver will
On NBA League Pass, the Wizards’ No. 2 overall pick, Alex Sarr, will make his NBA debut against the reigning champion Celtics, who will look to improve to 2-0 after their opening night win over the Knicks (7 ET, LP).
Then, DeMar DeRozan will make his Kings debut against the Wolves in Sacramento, where Anthony Edwards and Minnesota look to rebound from Tuesday’s loss to the Lakers (10 ET, LP).
What went into Miller’s 108.9 Overall Dunk Score? Scores of 67 for Defensive Contest, 70 for Style, 91 for Jump and 94 for Power.
See ya tomorrow, when we take flight again.
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