Russell Westbrook had a triple-double as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New York Knicks 105-84 on Thursday night in their first regular-season game with All-Star additions Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.
Westbrook, the NBA MVP last season when he averaged a triple-double, had with 21 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds.
Paul George, who was acquired in an offseason trade with the Indiana Pacers, led the Thunder with 28 points.
Russell Westbrook shoots in the first quarter in what proved to be a fine night for the guard
Carmelo Anthony wore the Oklahoma City Thunder uniform after leaving the New York Knicks
Anthony hugs New York Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis after the contest against his former side
Anthony, who was traded from the Knicks to the Thunder right before training camp began, had 22 points against his former team.
Kristaps Porzingis had 31 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks. Enes Kanter, who joined the Knicks in the deal that sent Anthony to the Thunder, finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. No other New York players scored in double figures.
CLIPPERS 108, LAKERS 92
Blake Griffin scored 29 points, DeAndre Jordan added 14 points and 24 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Clippers spoiled Lonzo Ball’s quiet NBA debut for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Lou Williams added 12 points in the Clippers’ first game since Chris Paul spurned the perennial playoff team after six years and forced an offseason trade to Houston.
The Clippers will have a new look this season, but they were still miles ahead of their Staples Center co-tenants in both teams’ season openers.
Lonzo Ball (right) had a quiet night on his Los Angeles Lakers debut against the Clippers
Ball had three points, four assists and nine rebounds in 29 minutes during the first game for the the No 2 overall pick from UCLA.
Ball is expected to revitalise his hometown team this season, but the rookie started out with all the nerves and mistakes that might be expected from any 19-year-old point guard with the weight of a 16-time NBA champion franchise on his slender shoulders.
Along with a handful of good-looking passes and a 3-pointer late in the first half, he went one for six from the field and committed two turnovers.
Brook Lopez scored 20 points in his debut for the Lakers, and Jordan Clarkson added 18.
RAPTORS 117, BULLS 101
Jonas Valanciunas had 23 points and 15 rebounds, C.J. Miles scored 22 points in his Toronto debut and the Raptors beat short-handed Chicago in the opener for both teams.
Norman Powell added 15 points, Delon Wright had 13, and Kyle Lowry 12.
The Raptors were 13 of 29 from long range and had 26 assists on 39 baskets. Lowry had nine assists, and DeMar DeRozan and Wright each had five. Miles was six for nine from 3-point range and had five rebounds.
Chicago center Robin Lopez scored 18 points, rookie Lauri Markkanen had 17 in his NBA debut, and Justin Holiday added 15.
Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said forward Nikola Mirotic is doing OK but is still sore two days after suffering facial fractures and a concussion in a practice fight with team-mate Bobby Portis.
Chicago suspended Portis for eight games. Mirotic is expected to be out from four to six weeks.