Aussies Josh Giddey, Ben Simmons and Dyson Daniels all made their season debuts as part of the NBA’s Thursday schedule (all times AEDT).
The second day of the NBA schedule saw Giddey make his debut for the Chicago Bulls as the team’s new starting point guard against the New Orleans Pelicans.
It comes after Giddey’s trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the off-season, now set to play a larger role for the Bulls as they move into a new era.
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Josh Green won’t be available to make his debut for the Charlotte Hornets against the Houston Rockets due to sore Achilles issue.
Other big games on Thursday included the Milwaukee Bucks facing the Philadelphia 76ers, though Joel Embiid, Paul George and Khris Middleton are all out, and the Orlando Magic meeting the Miami Heat.
The Golden State Warriors (playing Portland Trail Blazers) and Phoenix Suns (playing LA Clippers) were also in action later.
Read on for the latest updates from today’s NBA action!
GIDDEY DEBUTS FOR BULLS AS INGRAM MAKES STATEMENT
Josh Giddey made his debut for the Chicago Bulls on Thursday in a 123-111 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.
Giddey had 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting with five rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes, but didn’t look comfortable alongside Zach LaVine and Coby White as he adapts to his new team.
The Aussie was also brutally booed by Pelicans fans in attendance.
It was Brandon Ingram who stole in the show to lead the Pelicans to the double digit victory.
Ingram, who was in the thick of trade rumours in the off-season, stuffed the stat sheet with a game-high 33 points on 13-of-23 shooting with three triples, seven rebounds, two steals and a block.
It was thought that Ingram might take more of a backseat for the Pels this season as a likely trade candidate. And though Zion Williamson (illness) and Trey Murphy (hamstring) were both out for New Orleans to give Ingram more touches, the forward made a statement on Thursday that he’s still the guy.
New Orleans was dealt a further injury blow, with it emerging post-match there’s fears star recruit Dejounte Murray suffered a fractured hand. Murray had 14 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists in his Pelicans debut.
Elsewhere, LaVine, playing in his first game since late January, sent a reminder of what he can do, registering a team-high 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting with five three-pointers.
LaVine went off in the first half in particular, pouring in 19 points and all five of his triples in an epic return to the court after his 2023/24 campaign was riddled by injury.
But New Orleans surged ahead in the third quarter with as 36-25 run led by Ingram (six points) and CJ McCollum (10 points) that was ultimately the difference.
And so it was a less than ideal start for the Bulls in their new era as they search for their identity. Their next game is in Milwaukee on Saturday.
DYSON OUTSHINES SIMMONS IN AUSSIE CLASH
Brooklyn got the full Ben Simmons experience while Dyson Daniels looks to have quickly become a fan favourite for Atlanta as the Hawks overcame the Nets 120-116 on Thursday.
For Simmons, the first half was a reminder of why he is a three-time All-Star, with the 28-year-old on triple-double watch in his first game since being shut down by a lower back injury in February.
But the start to the third quarter saw Simmons revert to bad habits, turning the ball over and picking up cheap fouls as the Nets came up just short despite some late Cam Thomas heroics.
Daniels, meanwhile, went into this season with a goal of making First Team All-Defence and he certainly looks every chance of doing that if Thursday’s performance is anything to go by.
You can read our full wrap of the Nets vs Hawks game and how Simmons and Daniels fared here.
Claxton EJECTED after foul on Daniels | 00:44
BUCKS SMASH DEPLETED SIXERS AMID EMBIID PROBE
Damian Lillard led the Milwaukee Bucks to a resounding 122-109 win over the depleted Philadelphia 76ers in the teams’ season opener.
Lillard scored a game-high 30 points on 9-of-19 shooting with six triples, nine rebounds and six assists.
Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied 25 points on 8-of-18 shooting with 14 rebounds and seven assists as the Bucks coasted to the lopsided win against a Sixers side missing Joel Embiid and Paul George.
It came after it was reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania that the NBA is likely to launch a probe into the Sixers surrounding the player participation of Embiid, who’ll miss the first week of the season due to a knee issue.
Embiid missed all of the pre-season due to left knee injury management.
LeBron & Bronny make NBA history | 00:39
As per the player participation policy, the NBA is likely to review a team that has a superstar miss a nationally televised game like Thursday’s, which was broadcasted on ESPN Australia.
Milwaukee pushed ahead by double digits late in the second quarter after a back-to-back threes to Taurean Prince, who was filling in the starting line-up for Khris Middleton, followed by a Lillard triple.
Doc Rivers’ side led by as much as 20 points at one stage in third quarter behind a barrage of three-pointers — four to Lillard and three more assisted on— to shut the gate on Philly in its own building.
PAOLO GOES OFF AS MAGIC THUMP HEAT
Paolo Banchero poured in a 33 points with 11 rebounds to lead the Orlando Magic to a dominant 116-97 win over crosstown rivals Miami Heat.
It was a hot start to Banchero’s third season, with the former No. 1 pick shooting 12-of-24 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line with four triples and finishing with a +42 plus/minus.
After a tight first half, the Magic broke away with a 39-18 third term led by Banhero’s 12 points as the visitors went up by 25 points within the blink of an eye.
Panchero’s running partner Franz Wagner added 23 points, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope went 0-of-5 from the field in his Orlando debut.
It was a forgettable performance for Miami including Jimmy Butler (three points on 1-of-8 shooting) and Bam Adebayo (nine points on 1-of-5 shooting) struggling.
PACERS TOP PISTONS
A new season brought a familiar sinking feeling for the Detroit Pistons, who took an eight-point lead into the fourth quarter against Indiana only for the Pacers to fight back for a 115-109 victory.
Myles Turner scored 20 points and Bennedict Mathurin scored 14 of his 19 points in the final period, when the Pacers out-scored the Pistons 33-19 to take control.
It was a dream return for Mathurin, whose 2023-24 season was cut short by a shoulder injury that required surgery in March.
“Stepping away from the game for seven months makes you realize how blessed I am,” Mathurin said.
“I’m just really excited we got the win tonight.”
Pascal Siakam added 19 points and Tyrese Haliburton had 15 for Indiana, including a three-pointer that pushed the Pacers’ lead to 113-107 with 20.8 seconds remaining.
Haliburton, who allowed himself a celebratory dance, added five rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots for the Pacers, who fell to eventual champions Boston in last season’s Eastern Conference finals.
The Pistons are hoping to turn the page on a league-worst 14-68 campaign last season. But new coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s tenure started with another defeat.
Cade Cunningham scored 28 points and handed out eight assists to lead Detroit, who led by 12 points early in the third quarter.
Jaden Ivey scored 17 points and free agent acquisition Tobias Harris scored 13 as six Detroit players scored in double figures in the defeat.
“I thought our guys did a really good job, they competed their tails off,” Bickerstaff said.
— AFP
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