Newly minted Portland Trail Blazers guard Ja Morant said it best Wednesday: "You only get one chance at a first impression." Though the Blazers were one of several teams to ace their season openers, plenty of stars may want a do-over. Jayson Tatum's Boston Celtics blew a 22-point lead to the Pistons, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama shot 1-for-13 in a loss to the rival Oklahoma City Thunder, and Giannis Antetokounmpo's Miami Heat were blown off their home court by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kawhi Leonard made a strong return for the Toronto Raptors. The schedule-makers gifted him a home opener against the lowly Chicago Bulls, and the two-time Finals MVP took full advantage, scoring 23 points and snagging four steals in a blowout victory. Leonard played only 24 minutes, yet Toronto still managed a 43-point margin of victory, tying for the fifth largest in franchise history. The scariest part for East rivals: Leonard didn't have his signature midrange jumper dialed in.
Damian Lillard put his career back on track in his first game for Portland since 2023. The nine-time All-Star guard provided such an emotional jolt that the Blazers stormed out to a 21-0 lead and cruised to a 124-83 blowout of the Phoenix Suns. Lillard scored 25 points and hit six 3-pointers, while Morant added 14 points and eight assists. Tougher tests await, but it's nice to see Lillard back where he belongs in Rip City.
Walker Kessler made all 12 of his shots, including 10 dunks, and grabbed nine rebounds in the Lakers' blowout of the Warriors. It was his first regular-season game since last October and his first for the Lakers after arriving from the Jazz in a summer sign-and-trade deal. Shaquille O'Neal went even further, opining that Kessler is "the best big man in the NBA." Slow down, Shaq: the Lakers' debut came against an injury-plagued Warriors team that rolled over after halftime.
Source: ESPN NBA · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing