NBA HIGHLIGHTS: All the results and best action from Thursday night’s matches
MORE NBA teams got their season started in the early hours of Thursday with some scintillating action from the games and Express Sport brings you all the results plus a number of highlight plays.
Giannis Antetokounmpo put in a sensational performance against the Boston Celtics
Tuesday night saw LeBron James kick off the new season with a dramatic win over the Celtics while the Houston Rockets also claimed a gripping road win against the Golden State Warriors.
And the action continued with 22 teams on display.
The Brooklyn Nets and the Indiana Pacers were involved in a high-scoring match with Myles Turner, Victor Oladipo and Darren Collison all scoring 20+ points each.
Gianni Antetokounmpo proved his credentials for this year’s MVP with a sensational performance (37 points and 13 rebounds) for the Milwaukee Bucks to pick up a road win against the Celtics.
DUNK show in Orlando!@OrlandoMagic x @MiamiHeat pic.twitter.com/dWLDbBVipV
— NBA (@NBA) October 19, 2017
John Wall is good at this dunk thing. @WashWizards have the lead on ESPN. #DCFamily pic.twitter.com/4wyXFQqurw
— NBA (@NBA) October 19, 2017
Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins both finished with double-doubles for the New Orleans Pelicans in their season opener but were unable to beat the Memphis Grizzlies with Mike Conley shooting an impressive 60% from the floor.
The young Philadelphia 76ers gave the Washington Wizards a scare at the Capital One Arena in the televised match on ESPN and were within two points with 20 seconds remaining but John Wall and Bradley Beal’s stunning scoring stats of 28 and 25 each proved enough for the home team.
The Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat are projected to have tough years this season but were involved in a close encounter but the hosts were able to get the job done with Evan Fournier impressing with 23 points.
Down in Detroit the Piston got the job done against the Charlotte Hornets with Tobias Harris finishing with a double-double (27-10) and shooting 61.1% from the field.
The Mavericks had seven players scored 10+ points but that wasn't enough to beat the Atlanta Hawks with Marco Belinelli scoring 20 with 12 from beyond the arc while Dennis Schroder came close to his career high with 28 points off 50% shooting.
Giannis w/ a near double-double in the 1st half (15 PTS, 9 REBS) for the @Bucks!
— NBA (@NBA) October 19, 2017
MIL up 58-53 in Boston. #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/RuZTYqEXN1
The Utah Jazz may not have Gordon Haywards in their ranks anymore but Rudy Gobert stepped up to the mark on their first game of the season against the Denver Nuggets with a double-double to help secure the win.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 25 points and 10 rebounds in the absence of Kawhi Leonard to help the Spurs past a much-changed Timberwolves side.
In the biggest win of the night, Portland literally blazed past the Phoenix Suns who shot just 31.5% from the floor while Damian Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic were in top form for the Trail Blazers.
And the Rockets became the first team to go 2-0 with a five point win over the Sacramento Kings despite Chris Paul being rested.
Big time dunk from De'Aaron Fox! #NBARooks pic.twitter.com/6SepOTVGtz
— NBA (@NBA) October 19, 2017
NBA results
Boston Celtics 100-108 Milwaukee Bucks
Detroit Pistons 102-90 Charlotte Hornets
Indiana Pacers 140-131 Brooklyn Nets
Orlando Magic 116-109 Miami Heat
Washington Wizards 120-115 Philadelphia 76ers
Atlanta Hawks 117-111 Dallas Mavericks
New Orleans Pelicans 91-103 Memphis Grizzlies
Denver Nuggets 96-106 Utah Jazz
Minnesota Timberwolves 99-107 San Antonio Spurs
Portland Trailblazers 124-76 Phoenix Suns
Houston Rockets 105-100 Sacramento Kings