The NBA is again! Earlier than the Golden State Warriors start their preseason motion towards the LA Clippers on Saturday, the league kicked off with three video games on Friday.
The defending champion Boston Celtics simply obtained the higher of the Denver Nuggets on the Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi, the Utah Jazz comfortably dominated the NBL’s New Zelaland Breakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves proved too good to the Los Angeles Lakers.
After a lot hypothesis about his future through the offseason, Utah Jazz ahead Lauri Markkanen did not miss a step in his first efficiency of the preseason. The 2023 All-Star had 13 factors in simply over quarter-hour, taking pictures 5 of seven from the ground and 1 of two from three-point vary within the 116-87 victory.
Markkanen as soon as once more showcased his versatile offensive abilities, together with a lofted dunk in transition. The Warriors had been the staff most closely linked to a commerce for the Finnish ahead in July, however had been finally I’m not keen to pay a excessive worth staged by Danny Ainge and the Jazz entrance workplace.
Whereas Markkanen ended up securing his future with a long-term max contract in Utah, the Warriors are left with some critical selections to make on a beginning lineup missing the spacing he in any other case would have supplied.
How the hell did Lauri Markkanen dunk that? pic.twitter.com/8d6PExbDwK
– Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) October 5, 2024
Talking of taking pictures on the courtroom, former Golden State massive man Dario Saric made his debut for the Nuggets of their 107-103 loss to the Celtics. After averaging over 17 minutes with the Warriors final season, the Croatian had 5 factors, three rebounds and an help in simply over 14 minutes towards the Celtics.
Saric’s time in Denver can be attention-grabbing after deviating from Steve Kerr’s plans at Golden State in direction of the tip of final season. The Nuggets expect a big effect from the 30-year-old, after signing Saric to a two-year, $10.6 million deal in free company.
One other former Warrior, Donte DiVincenzo, appeared like he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves eternally after his blockbuster launch from the New York Knicks final week. Simply days after the large commerce between the 2 groups has been finalizedDiVincenzo began his profession with the Timberwolves in excellent trend with 11 factors on excellent 4-of-4 taking pictures (3-of-3 from three-point vary) in lower than 10 minutes within the first quarter.
Minnesota head coach Chris Finch had clearly seen sufficient from one in all his new gamers, as DiVincenzo was rested for the ultimate three quarters of a sport, already lacking All-Star LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Julius Randle.
