In the pools to choose the great favorites to win this season’s ring The Nuggets have not been missingalways in the shortlist of Western teams, alternatives for the Celtics. Denver accompanies Oklahoma and Dallas thinking about the teams that can reach the Finals, but is the candidacy of the Nuggets?
From the point of view of having been champions only two years ago and maintaining in their ranks the best player in the world Nowadays, of course, yes, but the results at this start suggest otherwise. Obviously two games are a trivial matter to prosecute Denverbut the start with two defeats suggests that the year for the Nuggets and for the ‘Joker‘can be something more than a nightmare.
Nikola Jokic ante Ivica Zubac.
Jokic He has already signed his first nonsense of the season: 41 points and 9 rebounds with 7 triples scored (of 12 attempted), personal best in the NBA. But his team lost to some Clippers104-109, which are not convincing either, but they had a Norman Powell huge with 37 points.
In a West emerging with very powerful and reinforced teams, the Nuggets of Jokic (and Westbrook) have been shipwrecked for the moment. It’s early, but in the NBA a bad start can turn everything upside down.
Los Celtics They are so overmatched in some games that so much confidence is going to play tricks on them at some point. He was about to pass them by. Pistonsto those who dominated 23 in the second quarter. Looking at the score, one could have gone to bed betting that the difference would not drop below 35 points.
Jayson Tatum pitches against the Pistons.
But Detroit (0-3 so far) had the Celtics (3-0) who saved their immaculate start by reacting in the fourth period, when Detroit He even went ahead on the scoreboard. Jayson Tatum (37), Jaylen Brown (24+10) y Al Hortford (17 with 5 of 8 in triples), rescued the champions from the 26 of Jaden Ivey and the 21st of Cade Cunningham.
First prodigy of the season for Victor Wembanyama. overshadowed by Doncic In the debut, the Frenchman stood out with 29 points in another Texas derby to defeat the Rockets109-106.
Victor Wembanyama blocks a Rockets shot.
And not only were the points scored by the phenomenon of Spursbut some high-quality actions that showed that the player continues to progress in his game by leaps and bounds. Jalen Green (29 points) led the comeback attempt of Houston who in the end swam to die on the shore.
Los Oklahoma City Thunder They are a cyclone, one of those tornadoes that regularly appear in their fields. They comfortably beat the Bulls, 95-114, to record their second victory of the season, this one almost on autopilot.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed 23 points and Chet Holmgren another 21 in what could be a historic couple in the NBA. Although one of the focuses of the game was the return of Alex Caruso where he went home. The now player of the Thunder He left with 3 points in 22 minutes against his exes.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ante Ayo Dosunmu.
But the highlight of the night in the United Center that’s when it appeared Lonzo Ball to play more than 1,000 days later. He already played, but in the preseason and in the first game outside of Chicago in New Orleans. This time it was before his audience, who received him with an ovation. They were the first minutes of Lonzo at home since January 14, 2022. He came off the bench, played 16 minutes and finished with 3 points.
Nuggets 104-109 Clippers
Hornets 106-114 Heat
Pistons 118-124 Celtics
Wizards 116-135 Cavaliers
Bulls 95-114 Thunder
Grizzlies 124-111 Magic
Timberwolves 112-101 Raptors
Spurs 109-106 Rockets
Suns 114-102 Mavericks
Lakers 131-127 Kings
