Last year, the NBA introduced an in-season tournament—now renamed the Emirates NBA Cup—aimed at adding excitement to the regular season, responding to growing concerns about the lengthy 82-game schedule. For years, players and fans alike have found it hard to stay engaged early on, with the action often heating up only as teams make a playoff push. To address this, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver borrowed an idea from global soccer leagues: an early-season tournament to spark interest from the start.
In its first year, the tournament boosted ratings and drew in more fans during a time that usually struggles to captivate casual viewers. The Lakers emerged as the inaugural champions, defeating the Indiana Pacers, with LeBron James securing MVP honors. But with the novelty wearing off, the big question was whether the tournament would hold the same allure in its second season. After just one night, it’s clear these games mean more than a typical regular-season matchup.
Klay Returns Home
Warriors 120, Mavericks 117
On a night with eight games, it’s only fitting to start with the main event: Klay Thompson’s return. The Mavericks faced off against the Golden State Warriors in what was an iconic game to start the NBA Cup.
How do you truly pay tribute to a player who won four championships with your team, set the record for the most points in a quarter, broke the single-game three-point record, and played on one of the greatest teams both in talent and record?
The best way to honor a player of this caliber is to show appreciation for who they are. The Warriors did just that—distributing “Captain Klay” hats to everyone in the arena, including the staff, in a heartfelt celebration of Thompson’s 13 years with the franchise.
The game itself was tightly contested, and the Splash Brothers didn’t disappoint. Taking turns guarding each other, Stephen Curry finished with 37 points. Klay Thompson scored a season-high 22 points against his former team.
With the game on the line late in the fourth quarter, Curry delivered one of his signature heat-check runs. Curry scored Golden State’s final 12 points, including a dagger over Derek Lively. Curry proved once again he’s still the best shooter on the planet. Moments like these remind us that, even at 36 years old and 6’2”, Curry is still one of the league’s top players ever. You wish moments like this would last forever.
It’s easy to take these good times for granted. When Steph and Klay were in their prime, we might have overlooked just how special they were as a duo. Now, in their mid-30s, guarding each other on opposite ends of the floor, we’re reminded that time is moving on. Before long, we’ll look up, and they’ll both be retired. Tonight was a perfect reminder of just how incredible this era has been. As we look back on nights like these, we’ll wish we could experience them just one more time.
Coach Steve Kerr put a perfect bow on the whole night “We wished that this had gone forever, that Klay would have finished his career with us but circumstances always dictate these things. In the end, I think he made the right choice. I think he needed a fresh start, I think he needed kind of a new set of surroundings and that was apparent last year. He was not happy and that was hard to see because he deserves to be happy. At his core, he’s a very happy person.”
Suprise in Boston
Hawks 117, Celtics 116
Heading into tonight, this matchup looked like one of the weaker games on the schedule of the first NBA Cup night due to Trae Young’s absence from Atlanta; he was sidelined with Achilles tendinitis. However, the Hawks came out determined to make a statement against a team widely considered the best in the league. This rivalry has consistently delivered down-to-the-wire action, and tonight was no different. Last season, Dejounte Murray had an incredible game against the Celtics, dropping 44 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists on 18-44 shooting. A few years earlier, the Celtics and Hawks battled in a playoff series that Boston won in six games, but not without a fight.
The real surprise tonight was the Hawks’ unexpected hero: Dyson Daniels. Previously relatively unknown to many NBA fans, Daniels is now firmly on the radar after a breakout performance in the NBA Cup opening night. Daniels scored a career-high 28 points along with 7 assists and 6 steals. Daniels has ramped up his play over the last three games, averaging 6.3 steals and holding opponents well below their usual shooting percentages. This level of defense is exactly what Atlanta hoped for when they acquired Dejounte Murray, and it now appears they have hit the jackpot with Daniels.
Another standout for Atlanta was Jalen Johnson, who posted a triple-double with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists. After an injury cut short his breakout season last year, he’s come back looking as strong as ever, which is great news for the Hawks. While Daniels and Johnson shined, this was far from an easy win for Atlanta.
After falling behind by 15 points in the second half, the Hawks clawed back into the game. Boston’s Jayson Tatum missed a critical 3-pointer, giving Onyeka Okongwu the chance to tip in the game-winning shot. Jaylen Brown’s last-second jumper missed, sealing a thrilling 117-116 victory for the Hawks.
76ers Struggle in Embiid’s Debut
Knicks 111, 76ers 99
To say the Philadelphia 76ers have had a rough start to the NBA season would be an understatement. Before their first game, they already knew Paul George and Joel Embiid would be missing time. This left Tyrese Maxey and a relatively new roster to keep the team afloat. However, they quickly found themselves sinking to the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Just as the offseason acquisition Paul George returned Tyrese Maxey would be sidelined with an injury for multiple weeks.
Tonight marked Joel Embiid’s season debut after injury and suspension, and to put it mildly, he looked rusty. Embiid scored just 13 points in 26 minutes, shooting 2 of 11 from the field and struggling on defense while playing in short, five-minute bursts. He didn’t look like himself, as Knicks defenders were able to move him around the paint and he was frequently out of gas. Paul George’s strong performance was made, with 29 points and 10 rebounds led by him for the 76ers, though most of his impact was felt in the first half.
It’s hard to fairly evaluate this team given that their stars haven’t even played a minute together yet. The concerning part is with Embiid already on back-to-back restrictions and George facing similar limitations, this squad may only see about 50 games together before the playoffs—if they make it that far.
Let’s highlight some bright spots for the 76ers: Guerschon Yabusele, who recently signed with the team after an impressive performance in the Olympics, has seamlessly adapted to his role. He’s shooting 40% from three, a stark improvement from his first stint in the NBA. His versatility allows the 76ers to switch between small-ball lineups and traditional sets alongside Joel Embiid, as he did effectively in this game. Although it’s early in the season, Yabusele is already proving he belongs in the league.
The 76ers also have an exciting rookie in Jared McCain, who has brought much-needed shot creation off the dribble. McCain is averaging 11.5 points per game, but his contributions extend beyond the stat sheet. His energy and movement make things easier for the team’s big three. He will be a crucial asset for a deep 76er playoff push.
Knicks Team Effort
On the other hand, the Knicks put on a strong team performance. OG Anunoby led with 24 points, Josh Hart posted a triple-double with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and 13 rebounds with solid defense on Embiid, and Jalen Brunson contributed 18 points. It was a balanced effort, with six Knicks players scoring in double figures. The team recorded 31 assists on 44 field goals, shooting 49% from the floor. They opened the fourth quarter with a decisive 13-2 run. This all but, put the game out of reach just minutes into the final period.
This kind of effort is what the Knicks need as they’re still missing a few players to complete their rotation. Coach Tom Thibodeau is known for sticking with a short rotation which has had success. However, this strategy could lead to injuries and a quick playoff exit. It would be good to see players like Cam Payne, Matt Ryan, and Tyler Kolek get some minutes to help lighten the load in future games. The Knicks know better than anyone that staying healthy for the playoffs is key. With that being said this is a solid start to the NBA Cup.
Spoelstra’s Misstep Seals Pistons’ OT Victory
Pistons 123, Heat 121 (OT)
This game was marred by the absence of an NBA star, with Jimmy Butler out for the Heat. Despite Detroit jumping out to an early 39-21 lead. The Heat mounted a strong comeback, going on a 23-4 run to take the lead. Much of this resurgence was thanks to a stellar performance from Tyler Herro. Herro arguably has been the Heat’s best player this season. He finished with 40 points, including 20 in the fourth quarter and overtime.
The game had its share of scary moments, including Nikola Jovic leaving in the first after a tough collision with Malik Beasley, and Tim Hardaway Jr. getting hurt in the third after Jalen Duren accidentally hit him in the head. But in the end, it was Beasley and Cade Cunningham’s clutch shots that sealed the win for the Pistons. Beasley hit a free throw with just 1.1 seconds left in overtime, giving Detroit a 123-121 victory. The Heat had just taken a 121-119 lead on a jumper from Herro. However, after Miami mistakenly called a timeout they didn’t have, Beasley stepped up to put the Pistons ahead. He and Cunningham each finished with 21 points, giving Detroit their first NBA Cup win after going 0-4 last year.
The timeout blunder, especially coming from Coach Erik Spoelstra, is a rare misstep. In the postgame press conference, Spoelstra took full accountability, acknowledging that someone with his experience shouldn’t make such a mistake. His players had his back, with one saying, “Spo is one of the best coaches ever. Great players make bad plays… we ride with Spo no matter what.”
Amid the chaos, there was one lighter moment from a former NBA player. Jalen Rose, who was in attendance, became the face of a viral meme. His reaction to the blunder quickly spread across social media, turning a tense moment into something humorous. It was especially ironic that Rose was there, given his involvement in the infamous Chris Webber timeout. An iconic moment in the history of the University of Michigan basketball team.
Detroit will be back in action on Wednesday in Milwaukee, while the Heat will face Indiana later this week.
Fastbreaks
- Magic 114, Hornets 89 – Franz Wagner puts up 32/8/5 in three quarters. Orlando goes on to smash the Hornets from a 30-6 run in the second half.
- Bucks 99, Raptors 85 – Milwaukee gets a much-needed win over Toronto. Giannis Antetokounmpo leads with 23 points and a career-high 32 points from Gradey Dick.
- Suns 120, Jazz 112 – Devin Booker scores 15 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter. Jazz continues playing the “Capture the Flagg” game.
- Blazers 122, Wolves 108 – Portland catches fire from 3-point range (18-for-32) and upset the Minnesota Timberwolves. Standouts from the Blazers include Robert Williams III and Jerami Grant scoring 19 points apiece
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