Warriors open account, Westbrook posts triple-double
Kevin Durant propelled the Golden State Warriors to their first win of the NBA season, while Russell Westbrook stole the show for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Durant put a double-double as the Warriors bounced back from their opening-day loss with a 122-114 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.
Westbrook, meanwhile, proved there is life after Durant in Oklahoma City with a triple-double in the Thunder’s 113-110 overtime win against the Phoenix Suns.
The five-time NBA All-Star posted 51 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Thunder to consecutive wins.
Reigning champions the Cleveland Cavaliers, meanwhile, held on to beat the Toronto Raptors 94-91.
GOLDEN STATE’S BIG THREE LEAD THE WAY
All eyes were on the Warriors after their 29-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs and they did not disappoint.
Durant scored 30 points and 17 rebounds in his first Warriors triumph.
Klay Thompson contributed 28 points, while two-time defending MVP Stephen Curry added 23 of his own.
Fresh from his 50-point effort, Pelicans forward Anthony Davis tallied 45 points and 17 rebounds.
ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS
Westbrook put up the season’s first triple-double in impressive fashion.
The Thunder star became the first person to record a triple-double while scoring over 50 points since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 41 years ago.
What is more, Westbrook’s fearless effort helped the Thunder come from behind to beat the Suns.
CURRY WEAVES HIS MAGIC
Steph making it look easy on ESPN. #NBARapidReplay https://t.co/WvdbDW4NNr
— NBA (@NBA) October 29, 2016
LeBron finds Thompson in the 4Q for the oop on ESPN! #NBARapidReplay https://t.co/O56EXMbFHH
— NBA (@NBA) October 29, 2016
IRVING AND LEBRON GUIDE CAVS
The Cavaliers proved why they were able to win the NBA Championship last season when they fought off the Raptors at Air Canada Centre.
Irving, who led the team with 26 points, drained a clutch three-pointer with just .44 seconds remaining to give Cleveland a three-point lead. He also added six rebounds and six assists.
Neither team scored another basket after Irving’s 26-footer, which meant the Cavs won yet another close game against their new Eastern Conference rivals. Toronto played them tough in the conference finals last season, and it appears the two teams are destined to partake in further colossal matchups.
IBAKA STRUGGLES IN MAGIC LOSS
The Orlando Magic’s star trio of Serge Ibaka, Evan Fournier and Nikola Vucevic struggled to find any sort of form in Friday’s 108-82 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Ibaka, who was sent to Orlando by the Thunder for Victor Oladipo, scored just four points with three rebounds. Vucevic grabbed 14 rebounds, but he scored just seven points on three of 12 shooting. Fournier completed the woeful night by scoring just eight points on four of 12 shooting from the field and failing to hit all four of his three-point attempts.
Elsewhere, the Brooklyn Nets upstaged the Indians Pacers 103-94, the Houston Rockets downed the Dallas Mavericks 106-98, the Miami Heat lost 97-91 against the Charlotte Hornets, while the Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 96-89.
UNBEATEN SPURS BACK ON HOME COURT
After two consecutive home games to open the season, the Spurs welcome the Pelicans to San Antonio seeking to claim a third successive win on Saturday. Dwyane Wade’s Chicago Bulls face the Indiana Pacers, while the Cavs take on the Magic, while there are five games elsewhere.
