NBA Tip Off
Sean Gordon
Staff Writer
Every team has now played two or three games as the inaugural week of the 2024-25 NBA season is in the books.
The season tipped off with a star-studded Eastern Conference matchup between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics, a contest between the two favorites to finish atop the conference. Unfortunately, this was never a close game, as New York struggled to keep up with Boston’s historic pace. The Celtics scored 74 points in the first half on their way to the 132-109 victory, tying the record for most three-pointers scored by a team in a single game with 29 triples. Jayson Tatum scored 37 points in 30 minutes, shooting 78% from the field and 72% from three.
Also on opening night, the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the new-look Minnesota Timberwolves. Los Angeles struggled from beyond the arc in their first game under new head coach JJ Redick, shooting just under 17%. However, the Lakers dominated the paint on the offensive end, outscoring Minnesota 72-40 close to the bucket. The Timberwolves were unable to contain Anthony Davis, who scored 36 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in the 110 -103 win. The game’s biggest storyline was LeBron James sharing the court with his son Bronny for three minutes, becoming the first father-son duo to do so in NBA history.
After one week, only three teams remain unbeaten. The Cleveland Cavaliers sit atop the East alongside Boston, both at 3-0. The conference leaders have displayed explosive offenses, both putting up over 123 points per game. In the Western Conference, last year’s first seed Oklahoma City Thunder found themselves back in first place with a 3-0 record. OKC is playing stifling defense, allowing a league-low 95 points per game and holding their opponents to 36% shooting from the field. Last season’s MVP runner-up, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be in the race for the award again this year if he continues to lead the Thunder to wins.
The only teams to not have a win so far are the Utah Jazz and the Detroit Pistons.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the young season, the Milwaukee Bucks sit at 1-3. After winning their opener against the Philadelphia 76ers the Bucks have dropped three in a row and are in fourteenth place in the conference. Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo are both averaging 28 points per game, but it is not translating into wins. Antetokounmpo has been efficient, converting at a 62% rate while Lillard has struggled shooting from deep, managing just 30% from beyond the arc.
Last season’s Most Valuable Player, Nikola Jokic has picked up right where he left off, posting 31.5 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 9.2 assists per game. The Joker has scored 40 in back-to-back games and has recorded two triple-doubles in his quest to win a fourth MVP award in five years.
Contact Sean at sean.gordon@student.shu.edu