NBA

Of the 17 NBA franchises featuring a Wildcat, eight have multiple Kentucky players. Detroit and Sacramento each have a trio of Wildcats on their roster while ...

1 overall (Derrick Rose – 2008, Wall – 2010, Davis – 2012, Towns – 2015). In the 2022-23 season alone, former UK players are slated to make nearly $330 million. Booker and Towns each earned their third NBA All-Star selection. – Los Angeles Clippers Of the 17 NBA franchises featuring a Wildcat, eight have multiple Kentucky players. Duke, with 24, is the only other school with more than 20 players in the NBA.

Coach of the Year? Sixth Man? Best rookie? All-NBA? Sam predicts the future of the 2022-23 NBA season.

But he’s a remarkable competitor, and one of the smartest players in the league, like the quarterback who knows where the receiver will be. I’m going with my heart again with Lauri Markkanen second since with the tanking Jazz he’s going to get a lot of shots. If he survives the season and the nor’easters he gets in the top three along with Patrick Williams. I like the share these kinds of awards, but Smart would be in there again and may be better than everyone. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Chicago Bulls. It’s too automatic and unimaginative to give the award to the No. This is the award I like the least because of its arbitrary nature and varying definitions and standards. I watched him occasionally with LeBron’s asterisk bubble title a few years back, and he seemed something of a mini Scalabrine with the head band and standing ovations in garbage time. But nobody in the NBA today—sorry, LeBron—makes a difference in games and winning like Curry does, and that’s what the award is about. The rest my my ballot would be Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, whom I think now is the best in game coach in the league, but I guess I’m just as guilty for again denying him the award he’s never won and probably should have three times. The complication, of course, in all of this is the Victor Wembanyana race to the bottom. Nobody still impacts the league more than Curry, and that’s what the award is about.

The 2022-23 NBA season tips off Tuesday, and our fantasy basketball experts are here to talk about the best players they see readily available on the free ...

[Herbert Jones](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4277813/herbert-jones) or [Cameron Johnson](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3138196/cameron-johnson). -- Cregan [Malik Beasley](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3907822/malik-beasley), SG, [Utah Jazz](/nba/team/_/name/utah/utah-jazz) (46.3% rostered) For those in deeper formats, rookie wing [Bennedict Mathurin](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4683634/bennedict-mathurin) (14.3%) shined in the preseason and could be surprisingly productive early in his career in Rick Carlisle's fantasy-friendly system. A 24/7 threat to deal their one marquee low-post player ( [Myles Turner](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3133628/myles-turner)). Fast forward to today, and he's come into the season in great shape and is a serious contender for the Most Improved Player Award. [Myles Turner](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3133628/myles-turner) is back in the fold, but the longer play includes him breaking out in an unrestricted role for a lottery-bound Indiana team. While we don't know exactly what the plan is for the Jazz this season, we do know that Beasley is still only 25 years old, and that he showed during his time with the Timberwolves at the end of the 2019-20 season and over the whole of the 2020-21 season that he is fully capable of volume scoring on good percentages with excellent contributions from 3-point range. [Bones Hyland](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4592492/bones-hyland), PG, [Denver Nuggets](/nba/team/_/name/den/denver-nuggets) (24% rostered) Hyland has gotten a lot of buzz this offseason for the Nuggets. Adams doesn't score much or block many shots, but only 12 qualified players averaged double-digit rebounds last season, and he was one of them. [Jalen Smith](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4397189/jalen-smith), PF, [Indiana Pacers](/nba/team/_/name/ind/indiana-pacers) (56.4% rostered) [Steven Adams](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2991235/steven-adams), C, [Memphis Grizzlies](/nba/team/_/name/mem/memphis-grizzlies) (45.9% rostered)

The NBA Japan Games 2022 have come and gone, but Japanese fans are eager for more live viewing opportunities and the growth of the league in their country.

“Just to play in front of Japanese fans, it was a very special moment for me and the team and the country,” he said. “It was one of the great memories in my life,” he added. “I attended Game 1 and Saturday Night of the NBA Japan Games, Kokushi said. “This whole trip was special and different.” “It was a special moment for me, and this team, this country,” he said. “That’s what the game is about,” he said. While many Japanese kids play basketball in junior high and high school, its popularity as a spectator sport remains limited, so reaching adolescents at the age when basketball is a bigger part of their lives makes sense. “The best way to enjoy sports, not only the NBA, is to watch them live in an arena,” said Makoto Kokushi, a Los Angeles Lakers fan from Tokyo who works in the printing and publishing industry. Tanaka, for one, became an NBA fan in 2007 as a junior high school student when the league was still on TV, a fandom which has now persisted 15 years and counting. “Trying to build inspiration, confidence, fun for the next generation of kids that look up to us and love basketball, love sports.” “This showed us tons of Japanese guys love NBA Games.” And those experiences imprint, and make a level of difference.”

With the NBA set to begin the 2022-23 season on Tuesday night, the Duke men's basketball program has 25 members of The Brotherhood on opening-day rosters.

16, Atlanta), Moore (No. 15, Charlotte), Griffin (No. 26, Dallas) and Keels (No. That includes 1984 Duke graduate Adam Silver The overall No. ), Charlotte (

Who will win each conference and the NBA Finals? When will LeBron surpass Kareem as the all-time scoring champ? Our experts are making their predictions.

Tim MacMahon: Bucks over Warriors in 6 Tim Legler: Warriors over Bucks in 6 [What to know for '22-23](/nba/story/_/id/34795174/nba-season-preview-2022-23-contenders-stars-big-questions) James is 1,325 points behind [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4145/kareem-abdul-jabbar)'s mark, so we should expect the record to be broken some time near the 2022-23 season's second half. And while our expert panel places the defending champs among the contenders to reach the Finals again in 2023, we weren't as kind to the Celtics. [LA Clippers](/nba/team/_/name/lac/la-clippers) were a trendy pick among our panel, and rightfully so.

The Golden State Warriors won last season's NBA Finals after opening up with +1200 odds. Nothing wrong with that payout. This season the Warriors are the ...

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NBC Sports weekly NBA Power Rankings are back to start the season, and it has the defending champion Golden State Warriors on top.

Not having ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/okc_primary-icon/) [Chet Holmgren](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/66330/chet-holmgren) for the season sucks, but there’s still talent on this team worth watching in [Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30582/shai-gilgeous-alexander) and [Josh Giddey](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/64758/josh-giddey). The Bulls are going to rely on a backcourt combo of [Ayo Dosunmu](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/51185/ayo-dosunmu) and [Alex Caruso](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30418/alex-caruso) to improve their defense. ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/nop_primary-icon/) [Zion Williamson](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/50955/zion-williamson) will play in the opener against Brooklyn despite turning his ankle in the preseason. Look for another All-NBA season from [Pascal Siakam](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30322/pascal-siakam) and a step forward from Rookie of the Year [Scottie Barnes](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/63426/scottie-barnes). Not having ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/chi_primary-icon/) [Lonzo Ball](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30428/lonzo-ball) to start the season hurts, both defensively and he is their best guard at pushing the pace. The Hawks new All-Star backcourt of ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/atl_primary-icon/) [Trae Young](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30576/trae-young) and [Dejounte Murray](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30324/dejounte-murray) were clearly still getting used to playing next to each other in the preseason, with a lot of “your turn/my turn” going on. It’s just preseason, but the Cavaliers’ new backcourt of ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/cle_primary-icon/) [Darius Garland](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/51040/darius-garland) and [Donovan Mitchell](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30439/donovan-mitchell) showed some real chemistry playing off each other. The pressure is on the Clippers this season — this is a championship level roster on paper, one that overachieved last season basically without its stars and now get a healthy ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/lac_primary-icon/) [Kawhi Leonard](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29695/kawhi-leonard) and [Paul George](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29583/paul-george) to make that run. We didn’t see much of the twin towers of ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2017/11/08/nba-power-rankings-detroit-minnesota-crash-top-five-party/min_primary-icon-2/) [Rudy Gobert](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/29944/rudy-gobert) and [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30157/karl-anthony-towns) together in the preseason — they only played together in the final game against Brooklyn (and were -16 in the minutes both were on the floor). The Grizzlies lost more than they gained this offseason with DeAnthony Melton (76ers) and ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/mem_primary-icon/) [Kyle Anderson](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30067/kyle-anderson) (Timberwolves) going out the door. Could ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/phi_primary-icon/) [Tyrese Maxey](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/58302/tyrese-maxey) be second on this team in scoring this season? This is a championship-level roster — better than the one that went to the Finals last season thanks to the addition of ](http://nba.nbcsports.com/2016/10/24/nba-power-rankings-week-1-warriors-cavaliers-top-the-list-shocking/bos_primary-icon/) [Malcolm Brogdon](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/30331/malcolm-brogdon) as a sixth man.

Coming into the new NBA season, things feel more wide open, with more possible contenders than last season. At the same time, however, we could have on our ...

And if the former happens, why not look to trade Durant and bottom out in the hopes of a big prize that could jump-start a rebuild. There’s a fair bit of parity among the top teams in the NBA coming into the season. He came into training camp in tremendous shape as a sign that he’s looking to be a lot more serious than in seasons past but the Harden that shows up in the fall and winter is often different than the one that has played in the spring. For everyone else, however, including the teams that might only be fighting to make the playoffs or the play-in games, expect to see an intense race to the bottom for a chance to draft Wembanyama. Now, the Suns will have to deal with this fallout as the very foundation of the organization has been rocked and is about to be upheaved, all the while also dealing with an unhappy Deandre Ayton, who returns after the off-sheet he signed with the Pacers was matched by the Suns. But things can change at the trade deadline this season or even in the 2023 off-season. What should be a strong Warriors team coming in to defend its title might actually be a fractured club, though, thanks to the ugly altercation between Green and Poole that blew up all over social media. Memphis won 56 games last season and finished second in the Western Conference and there’s no reason to believe they can’t do the same or even better this season. There’s not much weakness to point to with this roster other than the injury bug. Their acquisition of Christian Wood from the Rockets appears like a good move, but he’s only ever put up numbers on a bad Houston Rockets team and is entering a contract year where he’ll be asked to come off the bench. That’s the question of the season for the Nuggets. As mentioned off the top, there are quite a few legitimate contenders to consider coming into the season.

NBA LIVE: Celtics, Sixers collide to open season as Embiid begins MVP quest · Watch an average of 9 LIVE NBA Regular Season games per week on ESPN on Kayo Sports ...

The play prompted a loud “f*** Embiid” chant from the Celtics fans to create plenty of feeling in the match. There was plenty of spice early in the third as Embiid and Marcus Smart got tangled up after a rebound, leading to a scuffle between the two as they had to be broken up. But Boston got a huge response out of Tatum and Brown late in the period including going on a 9-0 run at one stage to come storming back into the contest and take the lead. Philly charged ahead early in the second term, extending its lead to double digits behind the lead of Harden and Tobias Harris. Harden’s elite play helped the Sixers get out to a 29-24 lead at the end of the first term. The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers open the NBA season on Wednesday (all times AEDT) in a thrilling showdown between two bona fide title contenders.

Everything you need to know about 76ers-Celtics and Lakers-Warriors as the 2022-23 season tips off.

[Marcus Smart](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2990992/marcus-smart) gets tangled up with Philly's [Joel Embiid](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3059318/joel-embiid), who hooked his arm and drew a foul. Harden then allowed [Jayson Tatum](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum) to coast by him for a layup on the following possession, and Embiid then committed his third foul at the other end. While [Marcus Smart](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2990992/marcus-smart) was the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year last season, it was Horford (third in NBA) and [Robert Williams III](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4066211/robert-williams-iii) (11th) who had the highest Defensive Real Plus Minus (DRPM) scores on the team. For all of the understandable focus on [Stephen Curry](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3975/stephen-curry)'s heroics in that series, Boston lost because its offense couldn't get it done against Golden State's defense. [LeBron James](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/1966/lebron-james) at power forward. He has already drawn three 3-point shooting fouls, including a completed four-point play, and also became the first player in the NBA to shoot the free throw for the new take-foul rule at the 6:13 mark of the first quarter. [Steph Curry](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3975/stephen-curry) era, but the franchise has leaned into their total titles in new signage around the Chase Center. [Jaylen Brown](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown) then came over and got in Embiid's face. [What to know about all 30 teams](/nba/story/_/id/34795174/nba-season-preview-2022-23-contenders-stars-big-questions) [Al Horford](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3213/al-horford) is plus-12 in 18 minutes played even though he's only 1-for-4 from the field for 3 points. [Golden State Warriors](/nba/team/_/name/gs/golden-state-warriors) received their rings after winning their fourth title in the past eight seasons. "We don't want to be one of those teams -- and you very rarely see that in the NBA -- where teams are swaying according to who their opponent is starting," Ham said during his pregame remarks.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each scored 35 points and the Celtics beat the 76ers 126-117 on Tuesday night in the NBA season opener.

The 10-time All-Star frustrated the Celtics, displaying the mobility he was missing a year ago. He was able to get to the free throw line often. The 76ers are looking to contend with the top teams in the Eastern Conference with Harden embarking on his first full season in Philadelphia after being swapped for Ben Simmons late last season in a trade with Brooklyn.

Everything you need to know about 76ers-Celtics and Lakers-Warriors as the 2022-23 season tips off.

Harden then allowed [Jayson Tatum](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum) to coast by him for a layup on the following possession, and Embiid then committed his third foul at the other end. [Marcus Smart](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2990992/marcus-smart) gets tangled up with Philly's [Joel Embiid](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3059318/joel-embiid), who hooked his arm and drew a foul. While [Marcus Smart](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2990992/marcus-smart) was the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year last season, it was Horford (third in NBA) and [Robert Williams III](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4066211/robert-williams-iii) (11th) who had the highest Defensive Real Plus Minus (DRPM) scores on the team. For all of the understandable focus on [Stephen Curry](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3975/stephen-curry)'s heroics in that series, Boston lost because its offense couldn't get it done against Golden State's defense. [LeBron James](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/1966/lebron-james) at power forward. He has already drawn three 3-point shooting fouls, including a completed four-point play, and also became the first player in the NBA to shoot the free throw for the new take-foul rule at the 6:13 mark of the first quarter. [Steph Curry](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3975/stephen-curry) era, but the franchise has leaned into their total titles in new signage around the Chase Center. [Jaylen Brown](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown) then came over and got in Embiid's face. [What to know about all 30 teams](/nba/story/_/id/34795174/nba-season-preview-2022-23-contenders-stars-big-questions) [Al Horford](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3213/al-horford) is plus-12 in 18 minutes played even though he's only 1-for-4 from the field for 3 points. [Golden State Warriors](/nba/team/_/name/gs/golden-state-warriors) received their rings after winning their fourth title in the past eight seasons. "We don't want to be one of those teams -- and you very rarely see that in the NBA -- where teams are swaying according to who their opponent is starting," Ham said during his pregame remarks.

The 2022-23 NBA season returns Tuesday. Here are our predictions on who will win the NBA Finals and additional award winners.

Two teams out West that could be in for something special if the stars align are the Pelicans with a healthy Zion Williamson and the Kings with their depth-filled roster. The Atlanta Hawks could jump back into the top tier of teams after landing Dejounte Murray while the Pacers and Detroit Pistons should both be fun to watch but not at serious playoff levels just yet. [Rookie of the Year](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/here-are-nba-rookie-year-favorites-2022-23), it’s fair to say [Sacramento Kings](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/kings) forward Keegan Murray is the rookie who will contribute the most out of the gate and claim the award. Based on my NBA Finals predictions, it would be safe to presume that Jokić and Antetokounmpo are once again in the conversation, along with Ja Morant, Curry and Tatum. New Orleans could be in for a 2021-22 Grizzlies jump in the standings while Sacramento could have a 2020-21 Grizzlies mini-breakout year. Rudy Gobert is probably in line for his record-tying fourth Defensive Player of the Year award now that he’s tasked with cleaning up alongside Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota. An underrated name here could be Cleveland Cavaliers second-year center Evan Mobley, who came on strong as a rookie and has more potential in him. 8 overall pick to the New Orleans Pelicans. Generally, teams that thrive in the postseason atmosphere possess superstars who defy the opposition’s tactics offensively and deploy a foundation of switchable defenders who are disciplined and can handle multiple positions. He brings both of those factors and raises the level of quality on the court. Another one is Dyson Daniels, the No. Most teams have a clean slate right now, especially with Kawhi Leonard returning to the

SAN FRANCISCO – The Golden State Warriors received their 2021-22 NBA championship rings during a special pregame ceremony Tuesday during Champions Ring ...

Next month, the Warriors Community Foundation and Chase will launch a Championship Ring Sweepstakes, offering Warriors fans a chance to win an authentic 2021-22 NBA championship ring. Additional features on the sides of the ring include seven championship trophies to represent the franchise’s seven NBA championships, the team’s “Just Us” mantra, and more. [approximately 16 carats](https://www.nba.com/warriors/photos/warriors-2022-championship-rings) of yellow and white diamonds set into yellow gold to represent the team’s 16 wins during the 2022 NBA playoffs, marking the first time a championship ring has been made up primarily of yellow diamonds.

The Warriors received their 2022 NBA championship rings on Tuesday night and they certainly did not disappoint.

Additional features on the sides of the ring include seven Championship trophies to represent the franchise’s seven NBA Championships, the team’s “Just Us” mantra, and more." "The rings feature approximately 16 carats of yellow and white diamonds set into yellow gold to represent the team’s 16 wins during the 2022 NBA Playoffs, marking the first time a Championship ring has been made up primarily of yellow diamonds," the Warriors wrote in a statement. "Seven carats of yellow cushion cut diamonds on the bezel represent the team’s seven championships, while 43 baguettes in the bridge represent Stephen Curry’s 43-point performance in Game 4 of the NBA Finals."

'Tanking already?': Lakers 'stink' in opener as great 'p***ed' at Westbrook saga.

You know in our league there’s teams that can do that,” James added. “It’s time for the Lakers to move him ... I think the wear and tear mentally last year and starting this year, playing with Patrick Beverley ... I hate the fact that they made him and (former coach Frank Vogel) scapegoats. “This guy (Westbrook) used to be so exuberant, playing with great energy and great emotion. James, Davis and Westbrook -- supposed to form a “Big Three” capable of challenging for the title last year -- ended up playing only 21 games together. We’ve been through an awful lot together. “He broke our trust with this incident, but I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt because I think he has earned that and I think our team feels the same way. A roster rebuild that saw the arrival of Westbrook and the departure of several players involved in the 2020 title run was seen by many as the main reason behind the Lakers defensive demise. The Warriors coach says he expects Green -- one of his most trusted on-court lieutenants during a run that has included six trips to the NBA Finals since 2015 -- to rebuild “trust” with teammates and coaches. For most of the past decade, the Warriors have been a model of consistency on and off the court, a well-coached, well-run organisation that has set a standard for the rest of the league. LA was well beaten 32-19 in the third term to trail by as much as 27 points as it was left with no answers on the defensive end to Golden State’s barrage of shooting.

The 2022-23 NBA season tips off & last year's finalists Boston Celtics & Golden State Warriors are leading NBA title contenders again along with the LA ...

“FanDuel TV was designed for viewers to watch and wager and Run it Back will bring a 360° view of the NBA including wagering trends to our audience,” said FanDuel’s Chief Commercial Officer Mike Raffensperger. Curry earns the highest figure playing basketball and on the court this season at $48.1 million. 18 nightcap, and the Warriors are leading contenders again and co-favorites to win the Western Conference with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Forbes list of The defending champion Golden State Warriors battle the Los Angeles Lakers in the Oct. The Celtics are a leading favorite to return to the NBA finals for the second straight season, but a slight second choice behind the Eastern Conference favorite Milwaukee Bucks.

Follow all the action live with Yahoo Sports from both opening games.

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Jayson Tatum has confidence-booster game, James Harden shows lethal touch and 76ers' new faces have rough debuts.

None of the three were major factors in the loss to the Celtics. A fair number of players who played at the same level of Griffin wouldn’t stick around for this. They’ll need to be at their best when the Sixers are matched against the East powers. It’s an inconvenience at best, and a big loss at worst, for Boston as the Celtics make do until then. But Horford is 36 and the Celtics are rather thin at the power positions. It made for an interesting test case against Embiid, who led the league in scoring last season and, for the second time, was runner-up in the Kia MVP voting. He reset over the summer, reduced weight, signed a team-friendly contract extension that allowed the Sixers to add other players and came to camp feeling determined. Also, he was guarded Tuesday by Marcus Smart, the reigning Kia Defensive Player of the Year. He arrived in midseason from Brooklyn and the initial expectations were just too steep and maybe unrealistic. By the way, Brown and Tatum have each had 30-plus points in the same regular season game 13 times in their careers together. Tatum had some terrific transitional moments against Philly where he made defensive stops and followed up with jumpers and layups, especially in the game-changing third quarter when the balance flipped to Boston. Last we saw Tatum, he was tossing bricks in the 2022 NBA Finals and coming up short in performance and energy against the Warriors.

'Tis the season for NBA prognosticating, with the league returning to the court for 2022-23 on Tuesday night. We released our forecast, which is based on ...

And you can keep track of how both systems view your favorite team all season long by checking out ESPN’s [BPI playoff odds](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/BPI-Playoff-Odds/espn-nba-basketball-power-index-playoff-odds) and [team ratings](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/Basketball-Power-Index/espn-nba-basketball-power-index), and [our NBA predictions dashboard](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2023-nba-predictions/). [injury Khris Middleton is still recovering from](https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1582015598204424192) (remember, these are all current ratings), which takes a bite out of Milwaukee’s [projected rotation strength](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2023-nba-predictions/bucks/). [performance last season](https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/2022.html) — while RAPTOR flips that around to a No. [1](#fn-1) [how much those players are projected to play](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-were-improving-our-nba-forecast-for-2022-23/), but BPI uses [Real Plus/Minus](http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/rpm) as the basis of its player ratings (rather than RAPTOR) and has a self-regulating mechanism to adjust a team’s projections when it over- or underperforms the combined RPM values of its players. [3](#fn-3) [defense of Brook Lopez](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/nba-player-ratings/?player=Brook%20Lopez&season=2021), who should be healthy again after missing all but 13 games last regular season. For Milwaukee, the difference is more on the offensive side of the ball – although the two systems’ disagreement on the Bucks is fairly comprehensive. 1 while RAPTOR ranks it No. However, there are some teams that each system likes (or dislikes) slightly more than the other: But we aren’t the only ones peering into the crystal (basket)ball: ESPN also [released a forecast](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/BPI-Playoff-Odds/espn-nba-basketball-power-index-playoff-odds) based its own rating system, the [Basketball Power Index](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/Basketball-Power-Index/espn-nba-basketball-power-index), which tracks team strength slightly differently than RAPTOR does. 13). We Both metrics adjust for strength of schedule, rest days and game location, building ratings from the bottom up based on the estimated talent of the players on each roster and [2](#fn-2) [Elo-ized form](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-we-calculate-nba-elo-ratings/) for [current rosters](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2023-nba-predictions/warriors/).

Stephen Curry began the season with 33 points, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Los Angeles Lakers 123-109 on Tuesday night after receiving their ...

"During the peak of racial tension in our society, he represented a type of nobility and honour that transcended sports", the Celtics Guard concluded. In Boston, the Celtics paid tribute to the mythical N6 of the franchise Bill Russell, who died in July. "Bill Russell was a great man for what and who he stood for", Jaylen Brown noted.

No player goes 1-on-1 more than Luka Doncic. There are plenty of impressive reasons why.

"When he plays, the only thing he hears is like the music that's playing in his head," Shammgod says. "And all of a sudden he finds a way to spin out and somehow shoots left-handed over his head -- and he makes those shots." During timeouts, Doncic will sometimes juggle the basketball with his foot, a flashback to his childhood playing soccer in Slovenia. "If you use the contact correctly, it's a big advantage, for sure." He often initiates contact, off the dribble or as he's going up to finish, using his strength to create pockets of space. "It's a fadeaway, so it's tough to block, tough to defend. The one-legged fadeaway has become such a respected part of Doncic's repertoire that he occasionally embarrasses defenders determined to contest it. It's a move that Doncic mastered between his rookie and sophomore seasons, essentially adding a midrange escape clause to his isolation game. "You want to have it where every dribbling move he does is a part of that [step-back] package, because that's his favorite shot," Shammgod says. "That's part of the fabric of who he is, because it can set up so many other things." "Sometimes as a coach you want to run all these plays," says Kidd, who has frequently surrounded Doncic with 3-point threats, employing five-out offenses to open the floor for him to operate. In these moments, the court feels like a canvas for Doncic, who Mavs coach Jason Kidd compared to a young Picasso at the start of last season.

Every member of the deep Golden State roster had a moment to shine in Tuesday's win over the Lakers.

A team with 11 players deserving of significant minutes is a blessing and a curse, and the Warriors understand that just one game into the season. [Boston Celtics](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/BOS/boston-celtics/). [Moses Moody](/nba/players/3177810/moses-moody/), who nearly every Warrior says plays and behaves beyond his years, looked like he was going to be the odd man out Tuesday night. Figuring out the secret sauce is going to be the key to the 2022-23 season. But even without a field goal, the 20-year-old showed how valuable he can be as a defender with his athleticism and versatility. [Andre Iguodala](/nba/players/498289/andre-iguodala/) when he's finally ready to play. So you have to just be patient with it, and we've all gone through it at some point in your career." Both said that Warriors observers needn't worry about the on-court chemistry between the two, and they proved it with one of the signature highlights of opening night, Poole's picture-perfect pocket pass to Green for a layup in the second quarter. They, like the veterans, each had a moment in the spotlight Tuesday night. [Kevon Looney](/nba/players/2152976/kevon-looney/) did what Kevon Looney does, putting up modest counting stats (seven points, six rebounds, two assists), but finishing at a team-high plus-30 in his 21 minutes. "He's just really good," Kerr said after the game. The Warriors' motto, "Strength in Numbers," is never more evident than on ring night.

Here's how NBA Twitter reacted to the Warriors blowing out the Lakers on opening night, plus James Harden's viral moment.

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By the numbers: The average cost for a ticket, parking and concessions is $185. That ranks 10th lowest in the NBA, according to Bookies.com.

Listing the top five basketball shoes worn during the opening night of the 2022-23 NBA season.

Meanwhile, James wore the Nike LeBron 20 in the 'Purple & Gold' colorway. The Nike LeBron 20 has flown off the shelves since its release in late September. We knew the 2022 NBA Finals MVP, Stephen Curry, would go big on ring night. Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden wore a new colorway of the Adidas Harden Vol. [complicated history](https://www.si.com/fannation/sneakers/on-court/jaden-ivey-makes-summer-league-debut-in-nike-kobe-6) of the shoes back in July. So it was only fitting that the German company supply the 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year with special shoes for the big night. Below is our ranking of the top five shoes from the 2022 NBA Opening Night. Harden has worn different colorways of his 7th signature sneaker with Adidas throughout the summer. [Nike LeBron 20](https://www.si.com/fannation/sneakers/tag/nike-lebron-20) in the 'Time Machine' colorway. Later, the reigning champion Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers. In the first matchup, the Boston Celtics handled the Philadelphia 76ers. However, the shoes still have not been released to the public.

No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero leads an intriguing group of newcomers in 2022-23.

He played well with the Cavs in Las Vegas (15 ppg, 4.8 rpg) but now might get more reps with the rebuilding Jazz. He hit 61% of his shots while averaging 14.4 points in five games and he led all rookies with 26 total assists (5.2 per game). With Holmgren out, Dieng has the distinction of being the Thunder rookie not named (Jaylin or Jalen) Williams. The Pistons envision a backcourt duo with last year’s No. One role model who’s been mentioned: Draymond Green, right down to the “triple-single” offensive results. As eager as Thunder fans were to see Holmgren play before the August foot injury that wiped out his season, they might get even more excited if the setback shifts OKC into an unabashed “2023 Draft” strategy. No. The only exceptions: New York’s Mark Jackson in 1988, the No. That happened in 2003 with Phoenix’s Amar’e Stoudemire (9th overall in 2002) and again in 2014 with Michael Carter-Williams (11th overall). 18 pick overall in the previous spring’s draft; and Milwaukee’s Malcolm Brogdon in 2017, rising up from No. For one of the newcomers, there will be a special prize in about eight months: the Kia Rookie of the Year Award. Shaking commissioner Adam Silver’s hand on draft night was one thing; suiting up and playing in actual NBA regular-season competition is a whole other level.

A tough loss to Golden State ended Boston's championship hopes last season. The lessons from that series are already showing.

In their pregame huddle, the Celtics reminded one another to “honor the man” with their work that evening. [the business](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/17/sports/basketball/stephen-curry-nba-finals-golden-state.html) — in Game 6 of the N.B.A. Tuesday’s game was preceded by a ceremony to honor him that included [remarks from Brown](https://twitter.com/celtics/status/1582518825966182400?s=20&t=-1v69_U5sLJJvI1MyxKtvg) — “Our gratitude is endless,” he said — and [a new work by Porsha Olayiwola](https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1582516123609681920?s=20&t=-1v69_U5sLJJvI1MyxKtvg), Boston’s poet laureate. The Celtics wore special jerseys embroidered with 11 diamond patches, a nod to the 11 championships that the team won with Russell. Curry left Boston with [another championship](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/16/sports/basketball/golden-state-wins-nba-championship.html), and Tatum and Brown were left to contemplate how they could take the next step. The Celtics appear determined to play hard and play fast. “And I think playing with pace was one of the things they wanted to improve.” Brown shot 14 of 24 from the field, while Tatum shot 13 of 20 and grabbed 12 rebounds. Instead, the Celtics seemed to rededicate themselves to their singular goal of winning a championship. His [sudden absence](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/26/sports/basketball/jayson-tatum-ime-udoka-suspension-celtics.html) could have been disruptive. And if Joe Mazzulla, the team’s 34-year-old interim coach, is daunted by the task ahead of him, he hardly showed it Tuesday night as the Celtics opened their season with a 126-117 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. BOSTON — The Celtics talked an awful lot in training camp about the value of experience.

RotoWire gives insight on key players and values for Yahoo NBA DFS ahead of tonight's 12-game slate.

[Domantas Sabonis](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/domantas-sabonis-3865). [Keldon Johnson](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/keldon-johnson-4782), SAS vs. [Rudy Gobert](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/rudy-gobert-3440) ($28) into Minnesota’s starting lineup. Memphis will rely on [Brandon Clarke](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/brandon-clarke-4819) ($15) to out-maneuver the dominating duo, and it just doesn’t look like a favorable spot for Adams, who stacks up much better against teams with only one standout frontcourt player. NY ($10) [Markelle Fultz](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/markelle-fultz-4100) (toe) is once again sidelined, so the job is Anthony’s to lose, but he’ll need to shoot much better to keep it. WAS ($23) [Terry Rozier](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/terry-rozier-3736), CHA @ SAS ($25) [LaMelo Ball](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/lamelo-ball-5151) (ankle) begins the season sidelined, making Rozier a great streaming option for Charlotte’s offense against a Spurs team in rebuild mode. OKC ($32) [Paolo Banchero](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/paolo-banchero-5700) ($25), and he is likely to start and have an immediate impact on the offense. [Dejounte Murray](https://www.rotowire.com/basketball/player/dejounte-murray-3856) ($32) into the Atlanta backcourt should only help Young, who has had to carry enormous weight for the Hawks over his four-year tenure with the team. HOU ($37)

Oh, yeah, and we have another excuse to talk NBA trades again—not that we needed it. While teams have spent the past several months fine-tuning their roster, ...

Since the 7'4" center has this hoops world in a frenzy, San Antonio has no reason to roster Poeltl and risk him raising the floor just enough to spoil its 14 percent chance at the No. He has been a part of this rotation for three seasons, but every year, his role gets reduced in the postseason. Lewis tore his ACL last December, and the backcourt changes made since—namely, trading for CJ McCollum and making Jose Alvarado a rotation regular—could block Lewis' path to the hardwood. The temptation to put D'Angelo Russell in this spot is real, since he's unsigned beyond this season and arguably overpaid as it is ($31.4 million). If he isn't moving the needle much by then—his shooting regressed in a bad way last season—maybe the team would poke around to see what he could fetch. The Pacers pivoted toward a rebuild with last season's trade of Domantas Sabonis, but they still have some veterans to ship out for rebuilding tools. Martin is, obviously, still on the roster, and it surely isn't for a lack of trade interest. Maybe the Warriors can get away with using his roster spot for developmental purposes, but if cracks form in their rotation, they might have to part with his ceiling to find someone with a much higher floor. Teams who envision even more elements of his game surfacing sooner than later could be willing to part with quite a lot to get their hands on him ahead of his trek to the open market. Sharpe saw limited action as a rookie (391 minutes over 32 games), and if he's fighting for floor time again, the championship-focused Nets could decide they aren't willing to wait for him to realize his potential. The Celtics owe a top-12 protected pick to the Pacers in 2023 and only have top-one protection on a 2028 swap with the San Antonio Spurs, but otherwise, all of their first-round picks are in their possession. If Murray makes a smooth transition to Atlanta, and this roster looks ready for anything close to championship contention, the front office might be willing to sacrifice another draft pick in pursuit of a title.

From NBA League Pass to streaming discounts, here are ways to watch NBA games without cable.

Meanwhile, Sling TV’s streaming packages are half off (regularly $35/month) and Hulu + Live TV is $69.99 a month for 75+ channels, plus you’ll get access to [ESPN+](https://go.web.plus.espn.com/9WWGEQ) and [Hulu](https://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=JRLLPXArni8&offerid=852731.18&type=3&subid=0). [NBA League Pass](https://amzn.to/3MM6i37?asc_source=web&asc_campaign=web&asc_refurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.billboard.com%2Fculture%2Fproduct-recommendations%2Fnba-schedule-how-to-watch-games-without-cable-1235158064%2F)? Some of the NBA League Pass games scheduled for Wednesday include the Orlando Magic vs. It’s $14.99 a month after a free trail, but Direct TV Stream and Sling TV subscribers can enjoy a free preview of NBA League Pass until Oct. For example, Direct TV Stream is $69.99 a month for its cheapest streaming package (75+ channels, unlimited DVR storage, etc.). Right now, Direct TV Stream’s more expensive packages are discounted $10 for the first five months, which means that you can upgrade to the Choice package (105+ channels, unlimited DVR, regional sports networks included) for just $79.99 a month. To make things easier, we’ve collected a short list of some of the more affordable streaming options and what they offer. The NBA season is held from Oct. See the full schedule of NBA games What’s on the NBA scheduled this week? 18) with the Golden State Warriors beating the Los Angeles Lakers 123-109, and the Boston Celtics beating the Philadelphia 76ers 126-117. The New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies game will air on Wednesday (Oct.

Ben Simmons is back, Zion Williamson is ready to be unleashed and first-round draft pick Dyson Daniels is ready to make his NBA debut.

He has earned some minutes during the preseason.” “He is competing, he’s mature for 19. He works extremely hard. “That’s the message,” Nash said on encouraging Simmons to be aggressive with the ball. “The goal and the vision is for him to be the engine of this team [on] both sides of the ball,” Nash said. If Simmons is good to go though, Nash said the Nets have a clear idea on what sort of role the two-time All-Star will play in Brooklyn.

Joe Cardosi & Jim Eichenhofer talk with ESPN's Nick Friedell on the Pelicans vs. Nets season opener plus expectations for Brooklyn this NBA season.

Ahead of tonight's 12-game slate, FantasyPros sheds light on key players and values for DraftKings and FanDuel.

He also dropped a triple-double in his final outing, and we could be looking at a Giannis-like rise if the Thunder allow him to run the show. He was a stud when playing in that role last year, averaging 30 fantasy points per game. Washington](https://www.nba.com/player/1629023/pj-washington) (PF/C – CHA): $7,100 DraftKings, $5,900 FanDuel He simply does everything for this team. He’s the leader of this lackluster OKC roster, averaging 24.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in 2021-22. With Ball off the floor last season, Rozier led the team with a 27% usage rate while averaging 1.1 DK points per minute. Sacramento has also been one of the worst defenses over the last five seasons, with Lillard averaging 59 DK points per game in their last four meetings. Lillard flirted with a 40% usage rate with McCollum off the floor, averaging 1.6 DK points per minute in those stretches. He also led the league with 60 DK points per game and will obliterate a tanking Utah team that traded away the best defensive center in the NBA over the summer. That led to Fox’s best stretch of his career, averaging 28.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists across the final 17 games of last season. The 23-year-old had at least 36 DraftKings points in his final 37 games, generating a 49-point average in that span. Murray is one of the NBA’s best stat-stuffers, averaging 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 9.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game last season.

Everything you need to know to place your NBA bets and set your fantasy basketball lineups for Wednesday's 12-game slate.

[Shai Gilgeous-Alexander](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4278073/shai-gilgeous-alexander). [Seth Curry](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2326307/seth-curry) (ankle), [Joe Harris](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2528794/joe-harris) (ankle), [T.J. [Donovan Mitchell](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3908809/donovan-mitchell). Warren](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2982334/tj-warren) (foot), [Kira Lewis Jr](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4395698/kira-lewis-jr). [Otto Porter Jr](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2594922/otto-porter-jr). -Moody [Denver Nuggets](/nba/team/_/name/den/denver-nuggets) at [Utah Jazz](/nba/team/_/name/utah/utah-jazz) [Trae Young](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4277905/trae-young) double-double (+159). [Vernon Carey Jr](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4431669/vernon-carey-jr). [Tyrese Haliburton](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4396993/tyrese-haliburton) over 15.5 points. [Jaren Jackson Jr](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4277961/jaren-jackson-jr). [Jalen Brunson](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3934672/jalen-brunson) over 18.5 points. [Ja Morant](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4279888/ja-morant) has done nothing but seize the moment.

Lean the Pacers, the over in Kings-Trail Blazers and Tre Jones sinking a 3.

[Aleksej Pokusevski](/nba/players/3158639/aleksej-pokusevski/)? [Darius Bazley](/nba/players/3118842/darius-bazley/)? [Jeremiah Robinson-Earl](/nba/players/3141741/jeremiah-robinson-earl/)? The [Warriors](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/GS/golden-state-warriors/) beat the [Lakers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/LAL/los-angeles-lakers/). The pick: Pelicans +3 [Washington Wizards](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/WAS/washington-wizards/) at [Indiana Pacers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/IND/indiana-pacers/) The pick: Pacers +2 [Oklahoma City Thunder](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/OKC/oklahoma-city-thunder/) at [Minnesota Timberwolves](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/MIN/minnesota-timberwolves/) [Celtics](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/BOS/boston-celtics/) beat the [76ers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/PHI/philadelphia-76ers/). [Myles Turner](/nba/players/2152935/myles-turner/) and [Buddy Hield](/nba/players/2019264/buddy-hield/) are still here. The pick: Towns over 22.5 points [Portland Trail Blazers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/POR/portland-trail-blazers/) at [Sacramento Kings](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/SAC/sacramento-kings/) [Tyrese Haliburton](/nba/players/3041074/tyrese-haliburton/) is healthy and awesome. [Zion Williamson](/nba/players/3042398/zion-williamson/) props. Brooklyn has perhaps the worst interior defense in the NBA, and that is going to be amplified with the absence of [Seth Curry](/nba/players/2089523/seth-curry/) and [Joe Harris](/nba/players/2135535/joe-harris/).