The 2023-24 NBA season kicked off on Tuesday night with two exciting matchups featuring some of the best teams and players in the league. The Golden State Warriors pulled off a stunning comeback to beat the Phoenix Suns, who were coming off their first championship in franchise history. The Denver Nuggets showed no mercy to the Los Angeles Lakers, who had revamped their roster with several new additions.
Warriors Rally From 19 Down to Beat Suns, 121-116
The Warriors proved that they are still a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference, as they erased a 19-point deficit in the second half to defeat the Suns in a thrilling game at Chase Center. Stephen Curry led the way with 36 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, while Klay Thompson added 25 points in his return from a two-year absence due to injuries. The Warriors also got a boost from their bench, as Jordan Poole scored 18 points and Juan Toscano-Anderson chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds.
The Suns looked dominant in the first half, as they led by as many as 21 points behind the stellar play of Kevin Durant, who had 32 points and 11 rebounds in his debut for Phoenix. Durant joined the Suns in the offseason after opting out of his contract with the Brooklyn Nets, forming a formidable duo with Devin Booker, who had 28 points and six assists. Chris Paul also had a solid game with 14 points and 12 assists, but he missed a potential game-tying three-pointer in the final seconds.
The Warriors outscored the Suns 38-23 in the third quarter, as they tightened their defense and found their rhythm on offense. Curry scored 16 points in the period, while Thompson hit three triples to spark the comeback. The Warriors took their first lead of the game at 97-96 with 8:41 left in the fourth quarter, and never trailed again. The Suns kept it close until the end, but could not overcome the Warriors’ clutch shooting and hustle plays.
Nuggets Crush Lakers in Season Opener, 115-101
The Nuggets spoiled the Lakers’ season opener, as they dominated them from start to finish at Staples Center. The Nuggets led by as many as 26 points in the third quarter, and never let the Lakers get within single digits in the fourth quarter. Nikola Jokic had a triple-double with 28 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, while Jamal Murray scored 26 points and dished out six assists. Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points and seven rebounds, as the Nuggets’ big three combined for 74 points, 25 rebounds and 18 assists.
The Lakers struggled on both ends of the floor, shooting only 42.9% from the field and 28.6% from the three-point line. They also committed 18 turnovers, which led to 24 points for the Nuggets. LeBron James led the Lakers with 25 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, but he also had six turnovers and missed seven of his 10 three-point attempts. Anthony Davis had 22 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks, but he fouled out with 4:19 left in the game.
The Lakers’ new additions did not make much of an impact in their debut. D’Angelo Russell, who returned to the Lakers after being traded to the Nets in 2017, scored only nine points on 4-of-14 shooting. Rui Hachimura, who came off the bench, had eight points and four rebounds in 18 minutes. Austin Reaves, who earned a spot on the roster as an undrafted rookie, played only four minutes and did not score.