Pistons Host Nets at Little Caesars Arena
The Brooklyn Nets (0-0) will be looking to move past another discouraging campaign and, although they appear to be trending in a positive direction, still seem lacking the necessary foundation required to lift them out of the Eastern Conference basement. The departures of Jeremy Lin and Jahlil Okafor in the offseason won't help matters, but Nets fans can take some comfort in the re-signing of Joe Harris, who provides some much-needed depth off the pine, as he averaged 10.8 points and 3.3 rebounds last year. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will be keen to improve on last season's 13.9-point average, and is joined by D'Angelo Russell, who played 48 games and led the Nets in scoring and assists, with 15.5 and 5.2 averages, respectively, after joining the club from the L.A. Lakers. If the team longs for any measure of improvement this year, they will need to start with their woeful defense, one that allowed opponents to drop an average of 110.3 points (third worst in the league) last season. Brooklyn will contest five of its first seven games on the road to start the year, where they won only 13 game last season.
After making the Playoffs for the first time in seven seasons back in 2016, the Detroit Pistons (0-0) were earmarked by many to start making some noise in the Central Division. The interim, however, has been a letdown for the club, as they closed out 2017-18 with a 39-43 record, finishing ninth in the East. New Head Coach Dwane Casey hopes to breathe new life in the franchise, and, if his success with the Toronto Raptors is any indication, may do just that. The task will be a tall one for Casey, however, as his starting five features not much development from previous campaigns, as the team failed to make any waves in free agency. Cornerstone Andre Drummond returns, coming off another year where he featured as a league leader in double-doubles, averaging 15 points and 16 rebounds per game. Also back in the fold will be Blake Griffin, who will begin his first full year with the club after landing in Detroit from the L.A. Clippers last season, recording 18.5 points and 6.6 boards through 25 starts. Sophomore Luke Kennard will try to build on a promising rookie year that saw him deliver a 7-3-point nightly average through 73 games and nine starts. The Pistons will take to the road on Saturday night to play division rivals the Chicago Bulls.
After making the Playoffs for the first time in seven seasons back in 2016, the Detroit Pistons (0-0) were earmarked by many to start making some noise in the Central Division. The interim, however, has been a letdown for the club, as they closed out 2017-18 with a 39-43 record, finishing ninth in the East. New Head Coach Dwane Casey hopes to breathe new life in the franchise, and, if his success with the Toronto Raptors is any indication, may do just that. The task will be a tall one for Casey, however, as his starting five features not much development from previous campaigns, as the team failed to make any waves in free agency. Cornerstone Andre Drummond returns, coming off another year where he featured as a league leader in double-doubles, averaging 15 points and 16 rebounds per game. Also back in the fold will be Blake Griffin, who will begin his first full year with the club after landing in Detroit from the L.A. Clippers last season, recording 18.5 points and 6.6 boards through 25 starts. Sophomore Luke Kennard will try to build on a promising rookie year that saw him deliver a 7-3-point nightly average through 73 games and nine starts. The Pistons will take to the road on Saturday night to play division rivals the Chicago Bulls.
Grizzlies Visit Pacers To Open New Season
The Memphis Grizzlies take on the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening to open each team's 2018-19 season.
The Grizzlies begin the new campaign eager to put the last one behind them as quickly as possible. Memphis generated a 22-60 record in the 2017-18 season, a tally partly comprised of a 6-35 mark on the road. A heel injury to star point guard Mike Conley was largely responsible for their misfortune, as he ended up missing the last 70 games of the season. Conley is seemingly back to full health, with the 16.5 points (on 54.5 percent shooting), 3.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal he averaged across four exhibition games lending plenty of credence to that notion. Gasol returns for his 12th season, as does promising frontcourt mate JaMychal Green. The offseason also yielded the versatile Kyle Anderson, who brings some postseason pedigree and solid defense over from San Antonio.
The Grizzlies come into the opener without any injuries to report.
The Pacers are looking to build on an encouraging 2017-18 season that saw them finish with a 48-34 regular-season record and the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. Indiana was ultimately bounced from the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but not before they threw a scare into the eventual Eastern Conference champs by taking three games of their first-round series. The Pacers return their entire starting five from last season, including center Myles Turner, who just inked a four-year, $72 million extension earlier in the week. Darren Collison, Victor Oladipo, Bojan Bogdanovic and veteran Thaddeus Young round out the first unit, while the bench is stocked with capable pieces such as Cory Joseph, Tyreke Evans and Domantas Sabonis.
Turner is listed as questionable with ankle injury for Wednesday's contest, but he's expected to play. Joseph shares the same designation due to a knee injury.
The Pacers won both meetings between the two clubs last season, besting Memphis by scores of 116-113 and 105-101.
The Grizzlies begin the new campaign eager to put the last one behind them as quickly as possible. Memphis generated a 22-60 record in the 2017-18 season, a tally partly comprised of a 6-35 mark on the road. A heel injury to star point guard Mike Conley was largely responsible for their misfortune, as he ended up missing the last 70 games of the season. Conley is seemingly back to full health, with the 16.5 points (on 54.5 percent shooting), 3.0 assists and 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal he averaged across four exhibition games lending plenty of credence to that notion. Gasol returns for his 12th season, as does promising frontcourt mate JaMychal Green. The offseason also yielded the versatile Kyle Anderson, who brings some postseason pedigree and solid defense over from San Antonio.
The Grizzlies come into the opener without any injuries to report.
The Pacers are looking to build on an encouraging 2017-18 season that saw them finish with a 48-34 regular-season record and the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. Indiana was ultimately bounced from the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers, but not before they threw a scare into the eventual Eastern Conference champs by taking three games of their first-round series. The Pacers return their entire starting five from last season, including center Myles Turner, who just inked a four-year, $72 million extension earlier in the week. Darren Collison, Victor Oladipo, Bojan Bogdanovic and veteran Thaddeus Young round out the first unit, while the bench is stocked with capable pieces such as Cory Joseph, Tyreke Evans and Domantas Sabonis.
Turner is listed as questionable with ankle injury for Wednesday's contest, but he's expected to play. Joseph shares the same designation due to a knee injury.
The Pacers won both meetings between the two clubs last season, besting Memphis by scores of 116-113 and 105-101.
Magic Host Heat in Florida Showdown
The Orlando Magic play host to the Miami Heat at Amway Center on Wednesday.
The Heat are one of the dark horses in the east this season, as they've built one of the best rotations in the conference. The one gripe with this team is that they don't have a superstar leader, as this is a group full of role players. That sounds like a slight towards this group but it's some of the best role players in the NBA. Goran Dragic plays the point guard beautifully while Hassan Whiteside is one of the best rim protectors in the NBA. The wings are special too, as Josh Richardson has developed into one of the fiercest two-way players in the league. Those three pair up beautifully with this talented bench, as they should see plenty of minutes from guys like Dwyane Wade, James Johnson, Tyler Johnson and Bam Adebayo as well. Getting all of these pieces the minutes they deserve is the puzzle piece that Erik Spoelstra has to solve, but there may be no better coach in the league to calculate this equation and get this team on a path to success.
The Magic have some things to figure out on their side as well, as they've underperformed since the new millennium. One has to wonder how much longer they'll keep this core together, especially considering they shipped off Victor Oldaipo last season. That move couldn't look any worse either, as Oldaipo has developed into a superstar with the Indiana Pacers. Oladipo wasn't the only first-rounder sent packing, as Elfrid Payton was traded last season as well. That leaves Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vuecvic on this roster and many wonder just how much longer those two will stay in Orlando. Vucevic specifically, as the drafting of Mo Bamba foreshadows a changing of the guard at the center position. What Orlando fans really want to see is offense though, with this team ranking bottom-five last season in scoring, three-pointers and field-goal percentage. Nothing will change with this franchise until those numbers improve and it would be quite the accomplishment for this group to battle for a postseason berth.
Orlando has won five of their last seven games over Miami, despite the fact that these teams split their four-game season series last year.
The Heat are one of the dark horses in the east this season, as they've built one of the best rotations in the conference. The one gripe with this team is that they don't have a superstar leader, as this is a group full of role players. That sounds like a slight towards this group but it's some of the best role players in the NBA. Goran Dragic plays the point guard beautifully while Hassan Whiteside is one of the best rim protectors in the NBA. The wings are special too, as Josh Richardson has developed into one of the fiercest two-way players in the league. Those three pair up beautifully with this talented bench, as they should see plenty of minutes from guys like Dwyane Wade, James Johnson, Tyler Johnson and Bam Adebayo as well. Getting all of these pieces the minutes they deserve is the puzzle piece that Erik Spoelstra has to solve, but there may be no better coach in the league to calculate this equation and get this team on a path to success.
The Magic have some things to figure out on their side as well, as they've underperformed since the new millennium. One has to wonder how much longer they'll keep this core together, especially considering they shipped off Victor Oldaipo last season. That move couldn't look any worse either, as Oldaipo has developed into a superstar with the Indiana Pacers. Oladipo wasn't the only first-rounder sent packing, as Elfrid Payton was traded last season as well. That leaves Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vuecvic on this roster and many wonder just how much longer those two will stay in Orlando. Vucevic specifically, as the drafting of Mo Bamba foreshadows a changing of the guard at the center position. What Orlando fans really want to see is offense though, with this team ranking bottom-five last season in scoring, three-pointers and field-goal percentage. Nothing will change with this franchise until those numbers improve and it would be quite the accomplishment for this group to battle for a postseason berth.
Orlando has won five of their last seven games over Miami, despite the fact that these teams split their four-game season series last year.
Bucks Tangle with Hornets in Season Opener
The Milwaukee Bucks (0-0) are looking to build on a 2017-18 campaign that saw their adept young corps bring the team to a seventh place finish and 44-38 record in the Eastern Conference, one they look to eclipse with a deep Playoff run this season following their first round exit in April. With the East essentially wide open with LeBron transplanting to Los Angeles, Milwaukee feels like there's no time like the present to serve notice to the league, led once again by Giannis Antenokounmpo, who finished last year with an average of 26.9 points, 10 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. The two-time All-Star is approaching what many observers believe will be his prime and, if he can remain healthy (after missing only seven games last season), the Bucks have legitimate shot at pushing into the upper elite of the conference. Joining Antetokounmpo will be a relatively new supporting class, including Ersan Illyaova, who joined the Bucks in free agency from the Philadelphia 76ers, and Brook Lopez, coming off an unremarkable year with the L.A. Lakers. The veteran Ilyasova spent seven seasons with Milwaukee, and last year averaged a respectable 10.8 points per game with the Sixers. Not returning for the team will be Jabari Parker, who shipped off to Chicago for a two-year deal. The Bucks will return to Milwaukee on Friday evening to begin a three-game home stand.
The Charlotte Hornets (0-0), meanwhile, are looking to right their ship following two consecutive 36-46 seasons, starting at Spectrum Center with the majority of the same roster pieces in place. With an average of 22.1 points and 5.6 assists to his credit, Kemba Walker returns as the leader in both stats categories for the club. Nikolas Batum comes in at the wing in his fourth season with the Hornets, averaging 14.4 points and 5.5 dimes, despite being plagued by injuries in '17-'18. Charlotte will need both starters and reserves to remain in top form, and will have to shore up a significant loss defensively with the exit of Dwight Howard in the summer, a vacancy that newly-acquired Bismack Biyombo hopes to fill. Joining the Hornets after spending his entire career with the San Antonio Spurs will be Tony Parker who, although in the twilight of his career, put up 7.7 points and 3.5 assists in his last year in the West. The Hornets won't enjoy the comforts of home for long, as they will take to the road later in the week for a tough four-game away stretch that sees them face the likes of the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors.
The Charlotte Hornets (0-0), meanwhile, are looking to right their ship following two consecutive 36-46 seasons, starting at Spectrum Center with the majority of the same roster pieces in place. With an average of 22.1 points and 5.6 assists to his credit, Kemba Walker returns as the leader in both stats categories for the club. Nikolas Batum comes in at the wing in his fourth season with the Hornets, averaging 14.4 points and 5.5 dimes, despite being plagued by injuries in '17-'18. Charlotte will need both starters and reserves to remain in top form, and will have to shore up a significant loss defensively with the exit of Dwight Howard in the summer, a vacancy that newly-acquired Bismack Biyombo hopes to fill. Joining the Hornets after spending his entire career with the San Antonio Spurs will be Tony Parker who, although in the twilight of his career, put up 7.7 points and 3.5 assists in his last year in the West. The Hornets won't enjoy the comforts of home for long, as they will take to the road later in the week for a tough four-game away stretch that sees them face the likes of the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors.
Knicks Host Hawks in Opener
The Atlanta Hawks travel to The Big Apple to play the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.
The Hawks are in full-on rebuild mode, as the core that set a franchise record in wins four years ago is long gone. In fact, the only remaining player from that core is Kent Bazemore, as it's all about the youngsters now. There are some pieces to be encouraged by though, with Trae Young and John Collins now in charge. What's disappointing about that is the fact that Collins will miss the opening week of the season, as he continues to nurse an ankle sprain. Even with the promising young pieces, it could be a long season for Atlanta fans. In fact, many experts have this team finishing dead-last in the league, as their projected win total is right around 20. That's unfortunate for such a proud franchise, but the up-and-coming Philadelphia 76ers found themselves in the exact same scenario less than a decade ago and look where they are now.
The Knicks have a million question marks coming into the season as well, with Kristaps Porzignis (knee) status being the most important. The star center and future of the franchise tore his ACL in February and there's some serious speculation on when he'll return. There are optimists saying he'll be back before the calendar turns and pessimists saying that he'll miss the entirety of the 2018-19 season. Either way, this is a devastating blow for this team and it's hard to see them competing for a playoff berth without him. It's time for some youngsters to step up, as Enes Kanter and Tim Hardaway Jr. are expected to run the show. Where they really need to find a weapon is at point guard, considering that position has been a merry-go-round for as long as fans can remember. It's between Trey Burke, Frank Ntilikina and Emmanuel Mudiay to grab that position and it's still impossible to predict which one it'll be. Apparently, New York has decided to start Burke and Ntilikina together, which should make for some fun discussion from the loud Knicks skeptics. Additions like Mario Hezonja and Kevin Knox also add to the intrigue of this team and it's one of the most fascinating teams to watch going into next year's critical offseason.
Atlanta won the three-game season series last year, despite the fact that two of the three games were decided by four points or fewer.
The Hawks are in full-on rebuild mode, as the core that set a franchise record in wins four years ago is long gone. In fact, the only remaining player from that core is Kent Bazemore, as it's all about the youngsters now. There are some pieces to be encouraged by though, with Trae Young and John Collins now in charge. What's disappointing about that is the fact that Collins will miss the opening week of the season, as he continues to nurse an ankle sprain. Even with the promising young pieces, it could be a long season for Atlanta fans. In fact, many experts have this team finishing dead-last in the league, as their projected win total is right around 20. That's unfortunate for such a proud franchise, but the up-and-coming Philadelphia 76ers found themselves in the exact same scenario less than a decade ago and look where they are now.
The Knicks have a million question marks coming into the season as well, with Kristaps Porzignis (knee) status being the most important. The star center and future of the franchise tore his ACL in February and there's some serious speculation on when he'll return. There are optimists saying he'll be back before the calendar turns and pessimists saying that he'll miss the entirety of the 2018-19 season. Either way, this is a devastating blow for this team and it's hard to see them competing for a playoff berth without him. It's time for some youngsters to step up, as Enes Kanter and Tim Hardaway Jr. are expected to run the show. Where they really need to find a weapon is at point guard, considering that position has been a merry-go-round for as long as fans can remember. It's between Trey Burke, Frank Ntilikina and Emmanuel Mudiay to grab that position and it's still impossible to predict which one it'll be. Apparently, New York has decided to start Burke and Ntilikina together, which should make for some fun discussion from the loud Knicks skeptics. Additions like Mario Hezonja and Kevin Knox also add to the intrigue of this team and it's one of the most fascinating teams to watch going into next year's critical offseason.
Atlanta won the three-game season series last year, despite the fact that two of the three games were decided by four points or fewer.
Cavaliers Open Season North Of Border Against Raptors
The Cleveland Cavaliers take on the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday evening in the regular-season opener for both teams.
The Cavaliers have the largest predicted drop in wins coming into the season, all due to the departure of one LeBron James. The King took his talents west in his second exodus from his hometown Cavs, leaving Kevin Love in a position to take control of a team that still retains some talented complementary pieces. Rodney Hood, once a rising star in Utah before the arrival of Donovan Mitchell, should play a major offensive role, as will young veterans such as Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance, Jr. and Tristan Thompson. First-round pick Collin Sexton could carve out a sizable niche on a club whose ceiling is likely a No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, and which could well find itself with a win total in the mid-30s.
The Cavaliers have already ruled J.R. Smith (elbow) out for Wednesday's contest, while Nance is questionable with an ankle injury.
The Raptors cruised to a sparking 59-23 regular-season record in the 2017-18 campaign, one that netted the top seed in the Eastern Conference. However, they ultimately found themselves in a position all too familiar to them -- booted out of the playoffs by a LeBron James-led team. The offseason brought seismic change in the form of a blockbuster trade with the Spurs that saw Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green land in Toronto in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round pick. Leonard was healthy and productive throughout preseason, offering plenty of reason for optimism that he and Kyle Lowry will form one of the league's most lethal backcourts. The remainder of last season's starting five returns, as do key second-unit assets Fred Van Vleet, Delon Wright and Pascal Siakam.
The Raptors will list both Wright and Norman Powell as questionable for Wednesday's opener with thigh injuries.
The Cavaliers won the regular-season series with the Raptors in 2017-18 by a 2-1 margin before sweeping them in four games during the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Cavaliers have the largest predicted drop in wins coming into the season, all due to the departure of one LeBron James. The King took his talents west in his second exodus from his hometown Cavs, leaving Kevin Love in a position to take control of a team that still retains some talented complementary pieces. Rodney Hood, once a rising star in Utah before the arrival of Donovan Mitchell, should play a major offensive role, as will young veterans such as Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance, Jr. and Tristan Thompson. First-round pick Collin Sexton could carve out a sizable niche on a club whose ceiling is likely a No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, and which could well find itself with a win total in the mid-30s.
The Cavaliers have already ruled J.R. Smith (elbow) out for Wednesday's contest, while Nance is questionable with an ankle injury.
The Raptors cruised to a sparking 59-23 regular-season record in the 2017-18 campaign, one that netted the top seed in the Eastern Conference. However, they ultimately found themselves in a position all too familiar to them -- booted out of the playoffs by a LeBron James-led team. The offseason brought seismic change in the form of a blockbuster trade with the Spurs that saw Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green land in Toronto in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round pick. Leonard was healthy and productive throughout preseason, offering plenty of reason for optimism that he and Kyle Lowry will form one of the league's most lethal backcourts. The remainder of last season's starting five returns, as do key second-unit assets Fred Van Vleet, Delon Wright and Pascal Siakam.
The Raptors will list both Wright and Norman Powell as questionable for Wednesday's opener with thigh injuries.
The Cavaliers won the regular-season series with the Raptors in 2017-18 by a 2-1 margin before sweeping them in four games during the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Pelicans And Rockets Face Off In Season-Opening Conference Showdown
The New Orleans Pelicans take on the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on Wednesday evening in the regular-season opener for both teams.
The Pelicans endured a marquee departure this offseason when DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) headed west to the Golden State Warriors. That move, coupled with one of the other major ones of the summer, conspired to bring 2014 seventh overall pick Julius Randle to the Big Easy. LeBron James' arrival in Los Angeles made Randle expendable, despite his 16.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists over 82 games last season. He'll join a talented group that includes All-Star Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Nikola Mirotic and fellow offseason addition Elfrid Payton. New Orleans will be looking to build on a solid 2017-18 campaign that saw them generate a 48-34 record and secure the sixth seed in the Western Conference before they dropped a first-round series to the Utah Jazz.
The Pelicans will list Jahlil Okafor (ankle) as probable for Wednesday's game, while the newly acquired Wesley Johnson is doubtful since he's still in the midst of settling in to his new team.
The Rockets were once again a step behind the Golden State Warriors last season, despite the fact they finished the regular season with an NBA-best 65-17 record. After going 8-2 through the first two rounds of the playoffs, Houston fell in seven games during the conference finals to the eventual NBA champs, with a hamstring injury that knocked star point guard Chris Paul out of Games 6 and 7 undoubtedly playing a key role in their demise. Paul returned this summer on a max deal and is fully healthy to begin the season, while Clint Capela inked a five-year extension in late July. Along with James Harden, the trio is the core Rockets are banking on to help them finally vault Golden State in the Western Conference hierarchy. Carmelo Anthony also arrived in the offseason by way of Oklahoma City to serve as key source of offense on the second unit.
The Rockets will list Brandon Knight (knee), Marquese Chriss (ankle), Nene Hilario (calf) and Zhou Qi (knee) as out for Wednesday's game.
The Rockets took the regular-season series between the two clubs during the 2017-18 campaign by a 3-1 margin.
The Pelicans endured a marquee departure this offseason when DeMarcus Cousins (Achilles) headed west to the Golden State Warriors. That move, coupled with one of the other major ones of the summer, conspired to bring 2014 seventh overall pick Julius Randle to the Big Easy. LeBron James' arrival in Los Angeles made Randle expendable, despite his 16.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists over 82 games last season. He'll join a talented group that includes All-Star Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Nikola Mirotic and fellow offseason addition Elfrid Payton. New Orleans will be looking to build on a solid 2017-18 campaign that saw them generate a 48-34 record and secure the sixth seed in the Western Conference before they dropped a first-round series to the Utah Jazz.
The Pelicans will list Jahlil Okafor (ankle) as probable for Wednesday's game, while the newly acquired Wesley Johnson is doubtful since he's still in the midst of settling in to his new team.
The Rockets were once again a step behind the Golden State Warriors last season, despite the fact they finished the regular season with an NBA-best 65-17 record. After going 8-2 through the first two rounds of the playoffs, Houston fell in seven games during the conference finals to the eventual NBA champs, with a hamstring injury that knocked star point guard Chris Paul out of Games 6 and 7 undoubtedly playing a key role in their demise. Paul returned this summer on a max deal and is fully healthy to begin the season, while Clint Capela inked a five-year extension in late July. Along with James Harden, the trio is the core Rockets are banking on to help them finally vault Golden State in the Western Conference hierarchy. Carmelo Anthony also arrived in the offseason by way of Oklahoma City to serve as key source of offense on the second unit.
The Rockets will list Brandon Knight (knee), Marquese Chriss (ankle), Nene Hilario (calf) and Zhou Qi (knee) as out for Wednesday's game.
The Rockets took the regular-season series between the two clubs during the 2017-18 campaign by a 3-1 margin.
Timberwolves Visit San Antonio to Open Season
By Oscar Heanue
The San Antonio Spurs will play the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves at AT&T Center on Thursday.
Both teams saw dramatic summers in which their stars demanded to be traded. For the Spurs, this meant dealing former Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for a package including All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan. The Timberwolves, on the other hand, have thus far held out on trading away All-Star wing Jimmy Butler, despite his vocal frustrations with the organization. Butler was acquired by the Timberwolves in the summer of 2017 in a trade with the Chicago Bulls.
Minnesota (0-0), with Butler at the helm, earned its first playoff appearance in 13 years last season. The Timberwolves will look to repeat their success this year, and will bank on their duo of former number one picks to get them there. All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns averaged 21.3 points and 12.3 rebounds last season, and at just 22 years old, may still have room to improve. Former Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins also figures to be a key contributor, despite coming off a lackluster season. Wiggins saw his scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage drop from two seasons ago to last.
San Antonio (0-0) will be moving on from superstar forward Kawhi Leonard, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year who led the team to 67 wins in the 2015-16 season. The acquisition of an established star in DeMar DeRozan will soften the blow, though. DeRozan averaged 23.0 points per game last season and hit a career-high 69 three-pointers. San Antonio will also be returning LaMarcus Aldridge, whose 23.1 points per game last season marked his highest scoring output since joining the Spurs.
Both teams saw dramatic summers in which their stars demanded to be traded. For the Spurs, this meant dealing former Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors for a package including All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan. The Timberwolves, on the other hand, have thus far held out on trading away All-Star wing Jimmy Butler, despite his vocal frustrations with the organization. Butler was acquired by the Timberwolves in the summer of 2017 in a trade with the Chicago Bulls.
Minnesota (0-0), with Butler at the helm, earned its first playoff appearance in 13 years last season. The Timberwolves will look to repeat their success this year, and will bank on their duo of former number one picks to get them there. All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns averaged 21.3 points and 12.3 rebounds last season, and at just 22 years old, may still have room to improve. Former Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins also figures to be a key contributor, despite coming off a lackluster season. Wiggins saw his scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage drop from two seasons ago to last.
San Antonio (0-0) will be moving on from superstar forward Kawhi Leonard, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year who led the team to 67 wins in the 2015-16 season. The acquisition of an established star in DeMar DeRozan will soften the blow, though. DeRozan averaged 23.0 points per game last season and hit a career-high 69 three-pointers. San Antonio will also be returning LaMarcus Aldridge, whose 23.1 points per game last season marked his highest scoring output since joining the Spurs.
Jazz Visit Kings for Season Opener
By Oscar Heanue
The Utah Jazz will visit the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on Thursday.
These two teams saw wildly different outcomes last season, as the Jazz made a surprise playoff push while the Kings finished with a high lottery pick. Both teams will look to pick up where they left off last season, as Utah hopes to stay healthy and make a playoff run, while Sacramento looks to introduce new faces to its young core.
The Jazz (0-0) finished fifth in the Western Conference last season, winning 48 games and having one of the league's strongest records after the All-Star Break. Much of Utah's late success can be attributed to the return of French big man Rudy Gobert, who won Defensive Player of the Year honors despite missing 26 games due to injury. While Gobert anchored the team defensively, the story of Utah's season was the emergence of rookie superstar Donovan Mitchell. The Louisville product averaged 20.5 points and 3.7 assists per game in his debut season. Building around the powerhouse tandem of Mitchell and Gobert, the Jazz will hope to return to the playoffs for the third straight season this year. Veterans Ricky Rubio, Joe Ingles, and Derrick Favors will be returning to fill out Utah's starting five.
Sacramento (0-0), on the other hand, is a team that is not nearly as poised to make a playoff push. At 27-55 last season, the Kings finished just 12th in the Western Conference. The offseason brought change for Sacramento, though, in the form of exciting new additions. Sacramento chose Duke product Marvin Bagley with the second overall pick in the 2018 draft, and the big man figures to be an immediate difference-maker in the Kings' lineup. Bagley's college tenure was impressive to say the least, as he averaged 21 points and 11.1 rebounds per game while earning ACC Player of the Year Honors. Now, he will join fellow Duke product Harry Giles in the Kings' frontcourt. Giles, a 2017 draft pick, missed the 2017-18 season to rehab from a knee injury. However, he impressed in preseason, averaging over 13 points and 5 rebounds in just 22 minutes per game. Both anticipated young big men will see their first taste of NBA action in Thursday's contest.
These two teams saw wildly different outcomes last season, as the Jazz made a surprise playoff push while the Kings finished with a high lottery pick. Both teams will look to pick up where they left off last season, as Utah hopes to stay healthy and make a playoff run, while Sacramento looks to introduce new faces to its young core.
The Jazz (0-0) finished fifth in the Western Conference last season, winning 48 games and having one of the league's strongest records after the All-Star Break. Much of Utah's late success can be attributed to the return of French big man Rudy Gobert, who won Defensive Player of the Year honors despite missing 26 games due to injury. While Gobert anchored the team defensively, the story of Utah's season was the emergence of rookie superstar Donovan Mitchell. The Louisville product averaged 20.5 points and 3.7 assists per game in his debut season. Building around the powerhouse tandem of Mitchell and Gobert, the Jazz will hope to return to the playoffs for the third straight season this year. Veterans Ricky Rubio, Joe Ingles, and Derrick Favors will be returning to fill out Utah's starting five.
Sacramento (0-0), on the other hand, is a team that is not nearly as poised to make a playoff push. At 27-55 last season, the Kings finished just 12th in the Western Conference. The offseason brought change for Sacramento, though, in the form of exciting new additions. Sacramento chose Duke product Marvin Bagley with the second overall pick in the 2018 draft, and the big man figures to be an immediate difference-maker in the Kings' lineup. Bagley's college tenure was impressive to say the least, as he averaged 21 points and 11.1 rebounds per game while earning ACC Player of the Year Honors. Now, he will join fellow Duke product Harry Giles in the Kings' frontcourt. Giles, a 2017 draft pick, missed the 2017-18 season to rehab from a knee injury. However, he impressed in preseason, averaging over 13 points and 5 rebounds in just 22 minutes per game. Both anticipated young big men will see their first taste of NBA action in Thursday's contest.
Clippers Host Nuggets
By Jason Rubin
The Los Angeles Clippers will host the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on Wednesday.
Both the Nuggets and Clippers missed out on the playoffs last season, as each team finished ninth and tenth in the Western Conference. While the missed cut of the playoffs stung after hard fought campaigns to break into the top half of the conference, both teams did finish above .500 on the season. The Nuggets return with a starting lineup almost identical to last year, while the Clippers retooled after the ground breaking Blake Griffin trade to the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2017-2018 season.
Two major offseason moves highlighted the summer for Denver. The first was a high risk, high reward draft pick in Michael Porter Jr, who was pegged as a potential top overall pick before his back injury kept him off the court at Missouri. Additionally, Isaiah Thomas landed at Denver with a bench role and chance to return to his form after a turbulent year with the Cavaliers and the Lakers. Jamal Murray and Gary Harris will lead the back court, while the exceptional passing Center Nikola Jokic will start at Center.
The Clippers lost DeAndre Jordan to the Mavericks in the offseason, but picked up former Wizards Center Marcin Gortat to protect the rim. Tobias Harris will return for his first full season with Los Angeles after playing in 32 games last year following the aforementioned Blake Griffin trade. Harris averaged 19.3 points on 47 percent shooting across his half season. Danilo Gallinari will look to put together a healthy season, however luck has not been on his side given the four consecutive seasons playing less than 65 games.
The Clippers took two out of three games in last year's season series with the Nuggets, with all three contests seeing each team score 100-plus points.
Both the Nuggets and Clippers missed out on the playoffs last season, as each team finished ninth and tenth in the Western Conference. While the missed cut of the playoffs stung after hard fought campaigns to break into the top half of the conference, both teams did finish above .500 on the season. The Nuggets return with a starting lineup almost identical to last year, while the Clippers retooled after the ground breaking Blake Griffin trade to the Detroit Pistons midway through the 2017-2018 season.
Two major offseason moves highlighted the summer for Denver. The first was a high risk, high reward draft pick in Michael Porter Jr, who was pegged as a potential top overall pick before his back injury kept him off the court at Missouri. Additionally, Isaiah Thomas landed at Denver with a bench role and chance to return to his form after a turbulent year with the Cavaliers and the Lakers. Jamal Murray and Gary Harris will lead the back court, while the exceptional passing Center Nikola Jokic will start at Center.
The Clippers lost DeAndre Jordan to the Mavericks in the offseason, but picked up former Wizards Center Marcin Gortat to protect the rim. Tobias Harris will return for his first full season with Los Angeles after playing in 32 games last year following the aforementioned Blake Griffin trade. Harris averaged 19.3 points on 47 percent shooting across his half season. Danilo Gallinari will look to put together a healthy season, however luck has not been on his side given the four consecutive seasons playing less than 65 games.
The Clippers took two out of three games in last year's season series with the Nuggets, with all three contests seeing each team score 100-plus points.
Suns Host Clippers In Desert Opener
By Jason Rubin
The Dallas Mavericks travel to the desert to play the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Wednesday.
Neither the Mavericks or the Suns found the top of the standings last season, as both teams ended up on top of the 2018 NBA Draft board instead. The Mavericks traded up to the number three pick and drafted touted European prospect Luka Doncic, while the Suns took DeAndre Ayton with the number one overall pick. Both teams retooled with young talent to make a better run at the 2018-2019 season.
The Suns were eyeing the health of Devin Booker (hand), who underwent surgery in early September, but said he was both ready and excited to start in the opener after being given a six week timetable to return. Booker led the Suns in scoring with 24.9 points per game, which was good for 10th overall across the league. Phoenix is expected to start Ayton at Center, in addition to former Houston Rockets wing Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson rounding out the rest of the front court.
The Mavericks will be shorthanded in the opener, with both Harrison Barnes (hamstring) and Dirk Nowitzki (ankle) sidelined until later this month. The outlook is still positive for the Mavericks, who retooled in the offseason after a 24-58 campaign last season. The aforementioned Doncic is expected to see time at Small Forward, while second year electric point guard Dennis Smith will be paired with Wes Matthews to lead the back court. Dallas added DeAndre Jordan in the offseason to bolster a defensive effort around the rim and consistency at Center, as the veteran has averaged a double-double for five straight seasons.
The Suns prevailed in all three matchups against the Mavericks last season.
Neither the Mavericks or the Suns found the top of the standings last season, as both teams ended up on top of the 2018 NBA Draft board instead. The Mavericks traded up to the number three pick and drafted touted European prospect Luka Doncic, while the Suns took DeAndre Ayton with the number one overall pick. Both teams retooled with young talent to make a better run at the 2018-2019 season.
The Suns were eyeing the health of Devin Booker (hand), who underwent surgery in early September, but said he was both ready and excited to start in the opener after being given a six week timetable to return. Booker led the Suns in scoring with 24.9 points per game, which was good for 10th overall across the league. Phoenix is expected to start Ayton at Center, in addition to former Houston Rockets wing Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson rounding out the rest of the front court.
The Mavericks will be shorthanded in the opener, with both Harrison Barnes (hamstring) and Dirk Nowitzki (ankle) sidelined until later this month. The outlook is still positive for the Mavericks, who retooled in the offseason after a 24-58 campaign last season. The aforementioned Doncic is expected to see time at Small Forward, while second year electric point guard Dennis Smith will be paired with Wes Matthews to lead the back court. Dallas added DeAndre Jordan in the offseason to bolster a defensive effort around the rim and consistency at Center, as the veteran has averaged a double-double for five straight seasons.
The Suns prevailed in all three matchups against the Mavericks last season.