PREMIERE WEEK
CALENDAR PORTRAIT
LUKA DONCIC
3x All-Star
Luka Doncic: phenom, DIFFERENT BREED - new face of Mavericks basketball.
MAVS UNDISPUTED FRANCHISE PLAYER
• click image for full player profile
SLATE (10/19)
(LP) • ORL 109 (0-1) @ DET 113 (1-0)
BOJAN BOGDANOVIC (DET): 24! & 5 BOARDS
-In a battle of two, up & coming Eastern Conference squads, Detroit executed down the stretch & came out on top at home. Rookies Jaden Ivey & Jalen Duren were very impressive in their first, official NBA action.
Paolo Banchero (ORL): 1st rookie since LeBron James to record at least 25-5-5 in his debut!
(LP) • WAS 114 (1-0) @ IND 107 (0-1)
BRADLEY BEAL (WAS): 23, 6 & 5 BOARDS
-Wizards take care of business on Opening Night behind strong performances from Brad Beal (23, 6 & 5) & Kyle Kuzma (22 & 13 boards).
(LP) • HOU 107 (0-1) @ ATL 117 (1-0)
TRAE YOUNG (ATL): DD - 23, 13 & 3 BOARDS
-ATL’s new backcourt of Trae Young & Dejounte Murray combined 43 points & 24 dimes!; Hawks are serious: one of the best starting fives in the game w/ nice depth.
(LP) • NOP 130! (1-0) @ BKN 108 (0-1)
BRANDON INGRAM (NOP): 28!, 7 & 5 dimes
-Welcome back, Zion! (25, 9 boards, 4 steals & 3 dimes!) • NOP took its first step towards what could be a very promising season w/ a surprising, road blowout over Brooklyn.
Brandon Ingram: 2023 All-Star lock?
(LP) • CHI 116 (1-0) @ MIA 108 (0-1)
DEMAR DEROZAN (CHI): 28!, 7 & 5 dimes
-HUGE W for Chicago without Zach LaVine (late scratch due to left knee management) - DeMar DeRozan was in midseason/MVP form w/ 37 points, 9 dimes & 6 boards & important role threats like Ayo Dosunmu (17, 6 & 4) & Goran Dragic (12 pts in 15 minutes off bench) chipped in strong support
(LP) • CLE 105 (0-1) @ TOR 108 (1-0)
PASCAL SIAKAM (TOR): DD - 23, 11 BOARDS & 3 steals
-Impressive Opening Night for the Raptors, who were able to stave off Donovan Mitchell’s 31 point, 9-assist performance in his Cavs debut. All five starters reached double figures, with Pascal Siakam & Gary Trent Jr. leading the charge.
(ESPN) • NYK 112 (0-1) @ MEM 115 (1-0) • OT
JA MORANT (MEM): 34!, 9 & 4 BOARDS
-In a exciting overtime thriller, Memphis held off the surging Knicks in extra time. Ja Morant is a legitimate MVP candidate in 2023: it’s amazing to watch when he’s in the zone - Grizzlies ALWAYS have a chance to win if he’s out there.
(LP) • OKC 108 (0-1) @ MIN 115 (1-0)
RUDY GOBERT (MIN): 34!, 9 & 4 BOARDS
-Despite the young Thunder making it fun down the stretch, Minnesota had too much firepower/talent to lose this one. Rudy Gobert showed out in his 1st game, while Undisputed X-Factor Jaden McDaniels got loose for 19 pants, 6 boards, 3 dimes & 3 steals.
(LP) • CHA 129 (1-0) @ SAS 102 (0-1)
TERRY ROZIER III (CHA): 24, 6 & BOARDS
-San Antonio is clearly in a rebuilding phase. That said, NO ONE expected the LaMelo Ball-less Hornets to win by 27 points on Opening Night. The veteran-laden starting five was led by Terry Rozier (24, 6 & 6 dimes), Gordon Hayward (20 & 5 boards) & Nick Richards! (19 & 10 off the bench).
(LP) • DEN 102 (0-1) @ UTA 123 (1-0)
COLLIN SEXTON (UTA): 20 & 5 BOARDS (OFF BENCH)
-In the shocker of the night, the supposedly tanking Jazz absolutely took it to the Denver Nuggets at home - UTA scored 75! points in the first 24 minutes, practically cruising to a easy victory (aside from a late push by DEN in the early 4th). Their roster has too many productive vets to play poorly (in my humble opinion) - Collin Sexton (20 pts), Lauri Markkannen (17 pts) & Rudy Gay (16) led a stacked offense.
(LP) • POR 115 (1-0) @ SAC 108 (0-1)
JERAMI GRANT (POR): 23 & 8 BOARDS
-Portland’s got a really interesting squad this year. New acquisition Jerami Grant helped lead a balanced attack, featuring 6 players in double figures - got the W despite an inconsistent showing form Damian Lillard.
POR = Western Conference dark horse?
ESPN GAME OF THE NIGHT
MAVS 105 (0-1) @ SUNS 107 (1-0)
DEVIN BOOKER
28, 9! & 4 boards
D. Booker (PHX): 28, 9! & 4 boards
D. Ayton (PHX): DD - 18 & 10 boards
Mik. Bridges (PHX): DD - 13 & 11! boards
D. Lee (PHX!): 11 pts - hit GW jumper!
L. Doncic (DAL): 35!, 9 & 6 dimes (featured profile: 10/19)
C. Wood (DAL): 25! & 8 boards (off bench)
S. Dinwiddie (DAL): 15, 3 & 3 dimes
NO PROJECTED WINNER
***
• PHX SUNS: came back from 22-point deficit! Successful “revenge” game from Phoenix after an extremely slow start (trailed by 17 at halftime) - great confidence booster after losing to Dallas in the 2022 postseason a few months back
• Great contributions form Christian Wood (DAL; 15 pts) & Damion Lee (PHX; 11 pts) off the bench - second unit production (or lack thereof) is a theme for both teams this season
• rookies italicized
KEY:
DD = Double-Double
TD = Triple-Double
LP = League Pass
GW = Game-Winner
START = In starting 5 for particular game
Boards = Rebounds
Dimes = Assists
TOs = Turnovers