The NBA opened its season this week with many intriguing storylines around the league. There are many familiar faces in new places.
Here are a few highlights from the first two nights of the regular season
*The new-look Philadelphia 76ers opened with an impressive 106-100 victory over the New York Knicks, spoiling the championship ring and banner ceremony at Madison Square Garden. Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 28 points. New additions Jaylen Brown scored 19 points while LeBron James had 14 points. Center Joel Embiid added 13 points. The 76ers are expected to be one of the leading contenders for the NBA title this season.
*The Minnesota Timberwolves unveiled their new backcourt in Anthony Edwards and newly acquired LaMelo Ball in Miami. It was a great success as the T’Wolves scored a 131-106 victory over the Heat. Edwards scored a game-high 45 points, while hitting nine 3-pointers. Ball added 21 points and six assists.
*After missing the entire season with an Achilles injury, guard Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers made a triumphant return in leading his team to a 123-120 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Haliburton scored 23 points and handed out 10 assists in his return.
*Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers made his return to Portland as well as his return from an Achilles injury a good one on Wednesday night. Dame Time scored 25 points and hit six 3-pointers in the Blazers’ 124-83 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
*Perennial All-Star Kawhi Leonard returned to the Toronto Raptors for the first time since 2019 when he led them to their only world championship. Leonard scored 23 points to lead the Raptors to a 135-92 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
*The Washington Wizards unveiled its dynamic inside-outside combination of Anthony Davis and Trae Young in a 128-116 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Davis scored 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Young scored 20 points and handed out 13 assists.
*The league’s biggest rivalry is between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder. The Spurs eliminated the Thunder last season to win the Western Conference and kept them from trying to repeat as NBA champions. OKC came out with a vengeance and defeated the host Spurs 116-104 behind a brilliant 32-point performance from 2026 MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
*Veteran star Kevin Durant of the Houston Rockets opened his 20th season by scoring 30 points in a 128-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Durant became the second player in NBA history to score 30 points in the opening game of his 20th season. The other player was LeBron James.
*One of the top individual performances of Wednesday night came from guard Ty Jerome of the Memphis Grizzlies. Jerome scored a career-high 45 points in a 123-103 victory over the Utah Jazz.
*The Los Angeles Lakers showed off their new acquisition in 7-foot-2 center Walker Kessler, who is the lob threat and rim-running big to complement superstar Luka Dončić. Kessler opened the season with 26 points in a 127-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors. Kessler was a perfect 12 of 12 from the field, including 10 slam dunks.