Pelicans roll past Memphis with Williamson, McCollum and Mitchell and hurt the Nets in Brooklyn

The Pelicans had a promising start to the season, defeating the Grizzlies 104-111 in Memphis. Against a wounded beast – with the Grizzlies without the suspended Morad and the injured Adams and Clark – the Pelicans did what they had to do from the 2nd half onwards, even improving to +17 and starting the season with a win.

CJ McCollum led the way with 24 points, Zion Williamson added 23 points (11 in the fourth quarter) and Brandon Ingram 19 points.

For the Grizzlies, Desmond Bain had 31 points and Marcus Smart and Xavier Tillman each had 17 points, while Jaren Jackson had 8 points on 2/9 shooting.

THE DODECALEPTA: 28-25, 47-57, 70-82, 104-111

GRIZZLY: Jackson 8 (2/9 shots, 5 blocks), Tillman 17 (1 3-pointer, 12 rebounds), Williams 9 (1), Smart 17 (2), Bain 31 (5/10 3-pointers), La Ravia 2, Rhode 9 (1), Rose 8 (2), Kennard 3

PELICANS: Williamson 23 (7 rebounds), Ingram 19 (7 rebounds, 6 assists), Jones 13 (2 three-pointers, 8 rebounds), Valanciunas 12 (2 three-pointers, 12 rebounds), McCollum 24 (6/11 three-pointers), 6 assists ), Nance 2 (8 rebounds), Ryan 9 (3), Lewis, Hawkins 3 (1), Daniels 6

Nets – Cavaliers 113-114

The Cavaliers started the new season with a bang. Playing without Jarrett Allen, the Cavs needed it against the Nets in Brooklyn, but a late three-pointer from Donovan Mitchell gave them a 113-114 win. The Nets had a chance to win, but Cam Thomas’ shot ended up missing the target.

Mitchell and Max Struss each had 27 points for the winners, with Isaac Okoro adding 18 points.

For the Nets, Thomas had 36 points and Michael Bridges 20 points.

THE DODECALEPTA: 32-37, 63-63, 87-90, 113-114

NETs: Johnson 12 (1), Bigges 20, Claxton 7, Dinwiddie 5 (1), Simmons 4 (10 rebounds, 9 assists), Finney-Smith 10 (2), O’Neill 5 (1), Sharpe 4, Smith 10 (2), Thomas 36 (2)

CAVALIER: Mobley 10, Okoro 18 (2), Garland 15 (1), Mitchell 27 (4/10 three-pointers), Struss 27 (7/13 three-pointers, 12 rebounds), Niang, Jones 4, LeVert 11 (3), Hieronymus 2

Heat – Pistons 103-102

The Heat then lost their own game against the Pistons. They blew a 19-point deficit and went without a basket in the final three minutes of the game. Finally, Cade Cunningham’s miss in the finale was enough to take a breather and start the season with a win, beating the Pistons 103-102.

Bam Adebayo was the winners’ top scorer with 22 points, while Jimmy Butler contributed 19 points and 13 rebounds.

For the Pistons, Cunningham had 30 points and 9 assists and Jaylen Duren had 17 points and 14 rebounds.

THE DODECALEPTA: 26-29, 58-47, 83-75, 103-102

BLOW: Love 13 (3 three-pointers, 10 rebounds), Butler 19 (13 rebounds), Adebayo 22, Lowry, Hiro 16 (2), Robinson 15 (3), Martin 2, Bryant 8, Smith 2, Yaquez 6

PISTONS: Thompson 4 (5 blocks), Stewart 14 (2 3-pointers, 14 rebounds), Duren 17 (14 rebounds), Cunningham 40 (4), Hayes 10, Bagley 8, Harris, Ivey 4, Burks 7 (2 ), Sacher 8 (2)

Clippers – Blazers 123-111

Spray, wipe, done. The Clippers were in no mood to prevail against the young Blazers. They put their foot down from the start of the game, reaching +30 and ultimately prevailing against Portland 123-111 in their first game of the year.

Paul George was the winners’ top scorer with 27 points, while Kawhi Leonard contributed 23 points and Ivica Zubac 20 points and 12 rebounds.

For the Blazers, Malcolm Brogdon had 20 points and Anferni Simons 18 points.

THE DODECALEPTA: 29-20, 67-47, 99-73, 123-111

clippers: Covington 5 (1), George 27 (4), Leonard 23 (5), Zubac 20 (12 rebounds), Westbrook 11 (1 three-pointer, 13 assists), Batum, Martin, Diabate, Plumlee 6, Hyland 17 (3) , Coffey 2, Powell 8 (2), Miller 2, Brown

BLAZER: Grant 13, Eaton 4 (12 rebounds), Tybull 8 (2), Simons 18 (2), Henderson 11, Kamara 7 (2), Walker 6, Murray, Williams 10, Brogdon 20 (3), Sharp 14 (1 ), Rupert

Pacers-Wizards 143-120

The Pacers want to run a lot this year. The Wizards’ goal is to…run and fall short of the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. Their duel resulted in the Pacers throwing a party starting in the second period, dismantling Washington by a satisfying score of 143-120.

Bruce Brown led the way with 24 points, Tyrish Halliburton added 20 points and 11 assists and Benedict Mathurin added 18 points.

For the Wizards, Kyle Kuzma had 25 points and Jordan Poole 18 points.

THE DODECALEPTA: 34-39, 73-68, 110-96, 143-120

Pacemaker: Toppin 11 (2), Brown 24 (6/8 3-pointers), Turner 11, Halliburton 20 (2 3-pointers, 11 assists), Mathurin 18 (2), Smith 13 (2 3-pointers, 8 rebounds) , Walker, Nowora 5 (1), Nesmith 7 (1), Jackson 4, McConnell 4, Nebhardt 12 (10 assists), Hield 14 (4), Shepard

WIZARD: Kuzma 25 (1), Abdiya 9, Gafford 6, Jones 16 (2), Poole 18, Gallinari 16 (2), Omorui 4, Baldwin, Kispert 11 (1), Muskala, Wright 8 (1), Butler 2 ( 1), Koulibaly 3 (1), Rollins 1

Bulls – Thunder 104-124

The Thunder started the 2023/24 season with a party. Oklahoma City did what it wanted in Chicago, beating the Bulls 104-124 and sending a message in every direction.

Cy Gilgeous-Alexander led the way with 31 points and 10 assists, while Josh Giddy and Jaylen Williams each added 16 points. Chet Holmgren scored 11 points in his NBA debut after a year-long wait.

For the disappointing Bulls, DeMar DeRozan had 20 points and Zach LaVine had 16 points (albeit with a shooting percentage of 4/16).

THE DODECALEPTA: 35-33, 55-61, 82-91, 104-124

BULLS: Williams 8, DeRozan 20 (1), Vucevic 11, White 15 (2), LaVine 16 (2), Terry, Phillips, Craig 11 93), Drummond 6, Carter 3 (1), Caruso 6 (1), Dosumnou 8 (2)

THUNDER: Holmgren 11 (2), Williams 16 (2), Gilgeous-Alexander 31 (2 3-pointers, 10 assists), Guidi 16 (2), Dort 8 (2), Waters, Pokuszewski, Dieng 9 (3) , Sarr 4, Mann, Joe 14 (3), Wiggins 2, Wallace 13 (3)

Hornets – Hawks 116-110

The Hornets defeated the Hawks in their premiership for the 2023/24 season. Charlotte showed character at home and key No. 2 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Brandon Miller (scored 8 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter), cruised to a 116-110 win.

PJ Washington led the way with 25 points, Terry Rozier added 24 points and LaMelo Ball scored 15 points (on 4/15 shooting) and 10 assists.

For the Hawks, Trae Young had 23 points (but on 4/19) and Jaylen Johnson had 21 points.

THE DODECALEPTA: 25-29, 51-52, 78-73, 116-110

HORNETS: Washington 25 (1), Haygurod 10, Williams 13 (15 rebounds), Ball 15 (4/11 3-pointers, 10 assists), Rozier 24 (2), Miller 13 (3), Thor 5 (1), Richards 7, 4 Malenton, Smith

HAWKS: Hunter 9 (1), Bay 15 (1), Capela 15 (13 rebounds), Young 23 (1/9 3-pointers, 9 assists), Murray 11, Okonio 7, Griffin 2, Johnson 21 (1), Bogdanovic 7 (1)

Magic – Missiles 116-86

The Magic smelled blood on the young Rockets and didn’t miss the opportunity. With dominant basketball, they defeated their opponents 116-86 and gave their friends a reason to smile.

Cole Anthony was the winners’ top scorer with 20 points, Franz Wagner added 19 points.

Alperen Sengun, Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet each had 14 points for the Rockets.

THE DODECALEPTA: 29-20, 54-43, 87-69, 116-86

MAGIC: Bankero 12, F. Wagner 19 (3), Carter 8, Fultz 10, Suggs 8 (2), Isaac 11 (1), Okeke, M. Wagner 2, Bitatze 7, Anthony 20 (1), Ingles, Harris 11 (1), Houston 3 (1), Black 5, Howard

ROCKETS: Smith 7, Brooks 14 (4), Sengun 14, VanVleet 14 (4), Jaylen Green 10, Jeff Green 4, Samuels, Thompson 8 (1), Whitmore, Bullock 3 (1), Tate 5 (1), Landall 3 (1), Holliday, Williams

Raptors – Wolves 97-94

The Raptors and Wolves gave the world a poor quality game. However, this hardly interested the Canadians, they ultimately won 97:94 and showed character in the final.

Dennis Schroeder led the way with 22 points, Augie Anunoby added 20 points and Scotty Barnes 17 points.

For the Wolves, Anthony Edwards had 26 points (but 8/27 shooting) and 14 rebounds and Karl-Anthony Towns had 19 points (but 8/25 shooting) and 10 rebounds.

THE DODECALEPTA: 25-25, 53-51, 73-74, 97-94

Raptors: Siakam 15 (3), Anunoby 20 (4), Barnes 17 (1 three-pointer, 5 blocks), Peltle 7 (11 rebounds), Schroeder 22 (4), McDaniels, Atshua 8, Flynn 3 (1), Trent 5 ( 1), Thick

WOLVES: Gober 15 (13 rebounds), Towns 19 (2/10 three-pointers, 10 rebounds), Conley 11 (1), Alexander-Walker 2, Edwards 26 (4 three-pointers, 14 rebounds), Anderson 7, Brown, Reed 10, Milton 4 (1)