The new NBA season tipped off on Tuesday with three thrilling match-ups. The opening night featured an Atlantic Division rivalry and a Western Conference Finals rematch.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Lorenzo Gagliotta reviews the action from the opening night of the 2026-27 campaign.
Pistons overturn Celtics in comeback win
The Detroit Pistons faced the Boston Celtics at Little Caesars Arena. Detroit eventually secured a 121-113 victory in an exciting Eastern Conference battle.
Boston handed a debut to new acquisition Paul George. The former Philadelphia 76ers star delivered an impressive 38-point performance.
He also moved past Kyle Korver into eighth place on the NBA’s all-time three-pointers list.
Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum struggled to find his shooting rhythm. He failed to make a single shot from beyond the arc.
Despite Tatum’s struggles, Boston controlled much of the first half. However, Detroit found another gear after the break.
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham led the charge. He linked up effectively with fellow guard Duncan Robinson, as the pair combined for 43 points.
Detroit also received a major boost from the bench. Javonte Green scored 19 points after missing the entire first half.
Coach JB Bickerstaff’s side began to take control during the closing stages. The Pistons capitalised on Boston’s sloppy possessions and built their attacking momentum.
Centre Jalen Duren also made several important defensive plays. His contributions helped swing the contest in Detroit’s favour.
The Pistons completed an impressive comeback to begin their campaign with a home victory.
76ers take down defending champions Knicks
The New York Knicks celebrated their first championship in 53 years by raising their banner in front of their home fans. However, the celebrations ended with a 106-100 defeat against Atlantic Division rivals Philadelphia.
Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey made an immediate impact. He played confidently at both ends of the court.
Meanwhile, coach Mike Brown’s Knicks took time to find their offensive rhythm. Star forward OG Anunoby also made a slow start with his shooting.
Both teams received useful contributions from their second units. New Knicks centre Andre Drummond dominated the paint early on, recording 10 points and 12 rebounds in the first half.
Philadelphia guard Anfernee Simons also made several important shots. His early scoring helped keep the contest close.
Newcomers LeBron James and Jaylen Brown combined effectively. They found each other in promising scoring positions and showed strong on-court chemistry.
Knicks leader Jalen Brunson also played an important role. He scored 15 first-half points to help his team take the lead.
However, Philadelphia came out firing after the break. The Sixers attacked quickly in transition and turned defensive stops into easy scoring opportunities.
Centre Joel Embiid also found his rhythm in the second half. He contributed at both ends and finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
New York tried to rally in front of its home crowd. The Knicks fought hard for possession and gradually reduced the deficit.
However, they failed to convert several good scoring chances. Philadelphia took advantage and pulled away in the closing stages.
The Sixers secured an important opening-night win. Their resilient performance spoiled the Knicks’ championship celebrations.
Spurs fall against Thunder at home
The opening-night triple-header was closed out by what has become a brewing rivalry in the Western Conference between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder, with the latter winning 116-104.
A game that boasted a play-off atmosphere started evenly balanced, but the Thunder found their stride early on through the likes of Jalen Williams and two-time NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Guards Stephon Castle and Julian Champagnie carried the load for the Spurs, who started poor from the trifecta, not making a single shot from the three in the first few possessions of the game.
Off the bench, Alex Caruso and Jared McCain rained down three-pointers in a remarkable shooting display, combining for 14 points and bringing instant impact.
Coach Mark Daigneault introduced rookie Adey Mara into the game early and he promptly made his presence felt on both defence and offence.
The match-up offered a frenetic first half of basketball, with relentless running and a little bit of animosity from both teams.
After an incredible post-season run last year, San Antonio’s Dylan Harper brought his energy and second-chance points to the floor, keeping it a tight encounter.
The Thunder managed 11 different scorers in the first half, with Gilgeous-Alexander doing what he does best – separating from defenders and getting to his spot to score, making it look effortless on his way to ending the game with 32 points.
Defensive player of the year Victor Wembanyama struggled in shooting but found his rhythm towards the end of the first half while showing why he’s monstrous in defence through some brilliant battles with OKC’s Chet Holmgren.
As the second half progressed, the away team managed to break down the Spurs zonal defence more and more.
The hosts looked to surge and cut the deficit, but Oklahoma City took full control in the end, closing the game out in classy fashion and taking down San Antonio in an enticing play-off rematch on opening night.
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