Day 3 of the 2024-25 NBA season saw the Boston Celtics as the first team to build a winning streak, while the same faces claiming contrasting outcomes with their new teams and a thrilling finish in Northern California.
CHAMPS THAT RUN THE CAMP
- Boston Celtics (2-0) def. Washington Wizards (0-1), 122-102: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 52 points as the reigning champions make it back-to-back wins to start their title defense--this time pummeling the Washington Wizards.
- Tatum’s hot start: The Celtics star had a second-straight double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds after a rousing 37-point, 10-assist, and eight-triple night in their season-opening trashing of the New York Knicks.
He gave the reigning no. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr his “welcome-to-the-NBA’ moment,” showing a variety of moves on an isolation play before draining a step-back triple on his face.
Jayson Tatum welcomes No. 2 pick Alex Sarr to the league 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Y0ffeKhSPY
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 25, 2024
- Winning Birthday: Brown celebrated his 28th birthday with a team-high 27 points, scoring at least 20 points in each of the three games he has played on his birthday in his NBA career.
Jaylen Brown on his 28th birthday:
— 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕮𝖊𝖑𝖙𝖎𝖈𝖘 𝕲𝖑𝖔𝖇𝖊 ?? (@CelticsGlobe) October 25, 2024
27 PTS
8 REB
4 STL
50% FGM
On a mission. pic.twitter.com/SE4PtIaxOi
- Still Smokin’ Hot: Boston now has a league-leading 48 triples made after knocking down 19 more against the Wizards. They drained a record-tying 29 threes against the Knicks, which was also a new franchise record for the reigning champs.
WAIT A MINTUE 🤯 pic.twitter.com/2EhrChgF3w
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 25, 2024
- Rough debut for the Rook: Sarr had a forgettable NBA debut to say the least. Besides his welcome-to-the-league moment, the French big man had just two points, missed six of his seven attempts including all of his five triples.
He was -24 in 22 minutes of play but had a nice sequence early in the game that showed a glimpse of what he can be in the future.
ALEX SARR SWATS JAYLEN BROWN WHICH LEADS TO HIS FIRST NBA POINTSpic.twitter.com/XgUpPwpGIK https://t.co/KvTD2WP1g5
— WizardsMuse (@WizardsMuse1) October 24, 2024
Big, bold presence: Jonas Valanciuanas had a solid debut for the Wizards, coming off the bench to score 18 points alongside five rebounds in just 20 minutes.
WINNING MAVS DEBUT FOR KLAY THOMPSON
- Dallas Mavericks (1-0) def. San Antonio Spurs (0-1), 120-109: Klay Thompson showed what he can bring to the table for the Mavericks, thanks to his solid first game in Dallas against Victor Wembanyama and the new-look Spurs.
[ALSO READ: Luka Doncic dazzles as Mavericks give Klay Thompson a winning debut vs Victor Wembanyama, Spurs]
- Klay Day at the Big D: Thompson had 22 points in 26 minutes in his first game wearing anything other than a Warriors jersey– a team he helped win four titles in seven years.
He hit six triples that set a new franchise record for the most threes in a Mavericks debut. Thompson contributed in the gritty aspects of the game as well, taking seven rebounds and had three steals.
- “Rusty” Luka: Doncic described himself as "rusty" in the post-game press conference after he dropped a casual statline of 28 points, 10 rebounds and eight dimes.
He was only 9-of-25 from the floor and did not play in Mavs preseason games.
- More to come?: Four of Doncic's feeds to Thompson resulted in three-pointers and one of those saw the Slovenian superstar already celebrating as Thompson is still in his shooting motion.
Splash, of course.
Luka Doncic knew this Klay Thompson 3 was gonna go in 😅pic.twitter.com/xPCaV2C7z3
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 25, 2024
- Doncic on playing alongside Thompson: "It makes your life easier. You got to find him."
Luka Doncic on Klay Thompson.
— Joey Mistretta (@JoeyMistretta_) October 25, 2024
He said Klay makes his life easier. #MFFL pic.twitter.com/6iP3u7pMcB
- CP3 in SAS: Chris Paul had a quiet three points in his first game as a Spur but had seven rebounds and eight dimes in 29 minutes as a starter.
He threw a lob to Wembanyama for a strong jam that the league will see more often throughout the season.
THE FIRST OFFICIAL CHRIS PAUL TO WEMBY LOB 🤩pic.twitter.com/8mxJVFrUNy
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 25, 2024
STATEMENT SENT
- OKC Thunder (1-0) def. Denver Nuggets (0-1), 102-87: In a battle between the West’s top two regular season teams last year, Chet Holmgren put on a well-rounded game to give the Thunder their first win of the season against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.
[ALSO READ: Chet Holmgren, OKC Thunder send statement road win against Nikola Jokic-led Nuggets]
- Lighting strikes twice: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 27 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and three blocks while Holmgren finished with 25 markers, 14 boards, five dimes, and four blocks.
With that, the Thunder duo just became the fifth tandem in league history to record 25+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 3+ blocks in the same game.
Opening STATEMENT from Chet and Shai.@ChetHolmgren: 25p, 14r, 5a, 4b@shaiglalex: 28p, 7r, 8a, 3b
— NBA (@NBA) October 25, 2024
The @okcthunder win in Denver 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0GfYISC7Kg
- Rough night for Russ: Russell Westbrook made his regular season debut for the Nuggets and recorded six points, five rebounds, and five assists but missed eight of his 10 shots.
The 2017 MVP came off the bench and played 21 minutes.
The blow-by ?
— NBA (@NBA) October 25, 2024
The block ?
Welcome to Denver, Russell Westbrook! #KiaTipOff24 on TNT pic.twitter.com/Go8FTZihB8
ANT, TIMBERWOLVES PREVAIL OVER KINGS IN CARDIAC FINISH
- Minnesota Timberwolves (1-1) def. Sacramento Kings (0-1), 117-115: In a thrilling finish, the Timberwolves bounced back to hack out a close win against the Kings for their first win of the season.
- Clutch Ant: Anthony Edwards drained the game-tying free throws with two seconds left and tallied 32 points, leading Minnesota to their first win of the season after dropping their season opener against the Lakers.
🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜 pic.twitter.com/kNKBJDYyAA
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) October 25, 2024
- Leading the pack: Julius Randle played his best game yet as Timberwolve thanks to a 33-point night, including 22 in the first half, and hit five of his six three-pointers.
The former Most Improved player looked much more assertive in his second game for the squad after taking only 10 shots in his first game.
- Deebo in Sac-Town: Demar DeRozan poured a team-high 26 points to lead the Kings in his regular season debut for Sacramento.
In the final possession of the game, he threw the inbound pass to Keegan Murray’s potential game-tying triple but rimmed out.
[NEXT: NBA schedule, results of 2024-25 season games airing in the Philippines]
- Star Stat: Julius Randle vs Kings - 33 points, five rebounds, five three-pointers made.
It was Randle's first 30-point game in nine months and first as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He last dropped a 30-piece way back in January 24, 2024 in a 108-103 New York Knicks win against the Brooklyn Nets.
Julius Randle tonight:
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 25, 2024
33 Points
5 Rebounds
4 Assists
76% FG
5/6 3PM pic.twitter.com/7axLG2KGWd
