As of now, twenty-four NBA teams have kicked off their 2024-25 campaign, with the last six set to begin on Thursday.

We won’t be jumping to conclusions just yet after a mere 12 games, but it’s important to note both the highlights and the setbacks. This includes the unfortunate news of the New Orleans Pelicans’ newcomer, Dejounte Murray, suffering a fracture in his left hand, according to ESPN.

Boston has smoothly continued from last season, while LeBron James and Bronny James made history, and the Los Angeles Clippers debuted in their new $2 billion Intuit Dome.

Below are the winners and losers from the initial two nights of the 2024-25 NBA season:

Winners

Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Santi Aldama

Memphis Grizzlies’ duo Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, along with forward-center Santi Aldama, scored a total of 73 points leading Memphis to a 126-124 win against Utah. Morant contributed 22 points, 10 assists, and five rebounds, Bane added 24 points, and Aldama topped the score with 27 points.

Onyeka Okongwu, Trae Young

Atlanta Hawks’ Onyeka Okongwu came off the bench to score a personal best of 28 points on 11-of-12 shooting. Meanwhile, Trae Young added 30 points along with 12 assists and five rebounds as the Hawks defeated the Brooklyn Nets.

Paolo Banchero

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, who earned All-Star honors last season and was featured in YSL News’s list of top 30 NBA players for 2024-25, recorded an impressive 33 points and 11 rebounds in a 116-97 win over Miami.

Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard shone with 30 points, nine rebounds, and six assists in a 124-109 win against Philadelphia, proving to be the playmaker the Bucks need. He was supported by Giannis Antetokounmpo with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists.

Charles Lee, Kenny Atkinson, Mike Budenholzer, JJ Redick

New head coaches Charles Lee (Charlotte Hornets), Kenny Atkinson (Cleveland Cavaliers), JJ Redick (Los Angeles Lakers), and Mike Budenholzer (Phoenix Suns) celebrated victories in their debuts with their new teams. The Hornets edged Houston 110-105, Cleveland triumphed over Toronto 136-106, the Lakers bested Minnesota 110-103, and the Suns triumphed 116-113 against the Clippers in overtime.

Jayson Tatum

The Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum scored 37 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, hitting eight of his 11 attempts from beyond the arc against the New York Knicks, setting the stage for his MVP campaign starting with the season opener.

Celtics’ three-pointers

The Celtics made a remarkable 29 three-pointers against the Knicks, tying the NBA record for most in a single game. Alongside Tatum’s eight, Derrick White netted six, Jaylen Brown hit five, Jrue Holiday four, Al Horford contributed three, Sam Hauser added two, and Payton Pritchard made one.

Lonzo Ball

After nearly three years away from the court due to multiple knee surgeries and intense rehabilitation, Chicago Bulls’ guard Lonzo Ball made his long-anticipated return. In a 14-minute stint, he scored five points, dished out four assists, and grabbed two rebounds in a loss to New Orleans.

LaMelo Ball

LaMelo Ball, Lonzo’s brother playing for the Charlotte Hornets, shined with 34 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds during their victory over Houston.

LeBron James, Bronny James

In a historic moment, LeBron James and his son Bronny James became the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA, both on the court and on the same team—a special highlight for the James family and the league.

Losers

New Orleans Pelicans

Although Pelicans’ forward Brandon Ingram scored 33 points, and guard Dejounte Murray, in his debut with the team after being traded from Atlanta, added 14 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds in a 123-111 win over the Chicago Bulls, the news of Murray’s injury raises concerns about his recovery timeline.

Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia’s season opener was lacking star players Paul George and Joel Embiid. Their absence diminished the excitement of the highly anticipated game against the Bucks, as the 76ers prioritize their health for the playoffs.

Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets, eager to build on the momentum from their promising previous season, suffered a defeat in their season opener at home against the Hornets, who outscored them 61-45 in the second half.

Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo

In a disappointing performance against the Magic, Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo combined for just two successful field goals out of thirteen attempts.

J.B. Bickerstaff, Jordi Fernandez

New coaches J.B. Bickerstaff of the Detroit Pistons and Jordi Fernandez of the Brooklyn Nets faced defeats in their initial games with their respective teams, with Indiana defeating Detroit 115-109, and Atlanta edging out Brooklyn 120-116.

Trail Blazers, Pistons, Sixers’ three-point struggles

The Portland Trail Blazers struggled significantly from beyond the arc, managing just 23.5% shooting in a 139-104 blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors.

The Pistons struggled with their three-point shooting, hitting only 27.3% in their defeat against Indiana, while the Sixers managed just 25.8% from beyond the arc in their matchup with Milwaukee.

New York Knicks

The Knicks failed to communicate any significant message to Boston with their 132-109 defeat. They found themselves behind by as much as 35 points, becoming just another team to fall victim to the Celtics on this occasion.