No father-son duo played at the same time in a NBA regular season game until today.
LeBron James and son Bronny wrote their names in the history books as the Los Angeles Lakers picked up their first NBA opening night win in eight years, thanks to a 110-103 dub against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
James, who now tied Hall of Famer Vince Carter for most NBA seasons played at 22, finished with 16 points, four rebounds, and four assists in 34 minutes. Bronny was scoreless in his debut and missed all of his three attempts in three minutes.
The father and son checked in together at the same time with four minutes left in the second frame, with Los Angeles leading 51-35 with the delight of crowd inside the Crypto.com arena.
LeBron James.
— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2024
Bronny James.
The first father-son duo to play together in the NBA! pic.twitter.com/naadFLoPmh
Anthony Davis was at the forefront of the Lakers’ attack with a monster double-double of 36 points and 16 rebounds with Rui Hachimura chipping in 18 markers.
AD (25 PTS) with the fadeaway middy to beat the shot clock buzzer 🔥#KiaTipOff24 on TNT pic.twitter.com/0py9OKU1Kz
— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2024
Austin Reaves did a little bit of everything by dropping 10-9-4 statline.
After leading by as much as 19 points, the Lakers saw their lead cut down to four points at 85-81 after a Naz Reid three pointer with 10:38 seconds left in regulation.
Naz Reid's triple pulls Minnesota within 4!
— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2024
A 12-3 run on TNT 👀 pic.twitter.com/oBhoO6UbVv
But LA responded with six unanswered points capped off by a D’Angelo Russell-Jaxson Hayes alley-oop slam to restore a double digit cushion for the home team, 91-81.
UP TOP 😲
— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2024
Jaxson Hayes goes full extension off the lob from DLo!
LAL lead by 10 on TNT | #KiaTipOff24 pic.twitter.com/2wOYnAh35E
JJ Reddick also racked up his first-ever win as a head coach, as Los Angeles manhandled Minnesota inside the paint with 72-48 paint point advantage.
It was the Lakers’ first win in an NBA opening night game since 2016, when they pulled off a 120-114 win against the Houston Rockets. Entering tonight, the Purple and Gold squad lost their last seven season openers.
Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards took up the scoring cudgels with 27 markers for Minnesota, which are looking to build from its impressive Western Conference Finals run last season.
👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/ixJrgMvIAE
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) October 23, 2024
Their newest additions in Julius Randle and Donte DiVicenzo had a rather quiet night, combining for 27 points in a debut on the road.
Four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert had a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds while reigning Sixth Man of the Year Naz Reid came off the bench to score 12 markers.
Despite making more threes (13) against the Lakers (5), the Timberwolves committed 16 turnovers that led to 19 Lakers points.
LA will next host Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and the Phoenix Suns while Minnesota visits the Kings in Sacramento.
