Russell Westbrook’s base shone especially in the first game of the NBA season for the Oklahoma City Thunder that rolled 105-84 over the devalued Knicks of New York with their new version of the “Big Three” that complete the eaves Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.
In other games of the day, the new Los Angeles Clippers, without base Chris Paul, were far superior to their Lakers neighbors (92-108) and the Toronto Raptors had no problem winning the decimated Bulls with authority of Chicago (117-101).
Russell Westbrook started the new league as he finished the previous one, with a triple triple that allowed the Thunder to beat the Knicks in the debut of both teams.
MVP responded with 21 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds, while his new teammates, forward Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, former player of the Knicks, also had a brilliant debut to score 28 and 22 so many, respectively.
The Thunder star had already achieved double-digit numbers in points and assists by reaching the third quarter, while the tenth rebound caught him with four minutes to go by the end of regulation time.
George, a former Indiana Pacers player who, like Anthony, reached the Thunder through a transfer, became the top scorer by scoring 9 of 23 field shots, including 6 of 13 3-pointers, as well as capturing six rebounds .
The Thunder, who began their tenth season at Oklahoma City, were always in control of the game and the score with George as the leader of the offense. By the end of the first half they had already advantage of 53-42.
Latvian power forward Kristaps Porzingis became the figure of the Knicks with a double-double of 31 points and 12 rebounds, while the Swiss pivot Enes Kanter, former player of the Thunder that entered the transfer of Anthony, achieved 10 so many and seven rebounds. They were the only two players on the New York team to get double-digit numbers.
Power forward Blake Griffin claimed to be the undisputed leader of the renewed Clippers with 29 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 assists and two turnovers in the inaugural season game they won on 92- 108 to its neighbors of the Lakers.
DeAndre Jordan, meanwhile, made a double-double of 14 points and 24 rebounds, which left him as the undisputed leader in the indoor game.
Guard escorts Lou Williams, former Lakers player, also did his job by getting 12 points in the first game the Clippers played without base Chris Paul, who was traded to the Houston Rockets.
Despite the forced renewal of the Clippers, who played the final phase with Paul for the last six years, their level of individual and team play was always far superior to mediocre Lakers, without the debut of the Lonzo Ball base impeding the defeat.
Ball, a 19-year-old second in the college draw, finished just three points after scoring 1 of 6 field goals, including a three-pointer with three assists, four assists and nine rebounds in 29 minutes.
Another newcomer to the game was Patrick Beverley, who did it with the Clippers, having entered the transfer of Paul to the Rockets, and responded with 10 points and a great defense on Ball, which he canceled.
Also Serbian base-guard Milos Teodosic, 30, received the confidence of Clippers coach Doc Rivers to make his NBA debut as a starter and responded with six points and six assists.
Veteran Italian Danilo Gallinari became the third holder of the new Clippers, who made his debut with the Angolan team and added 11 points.
Lithuanian center Jonas Valanciunas contributed double-double of 23 points and 15 rebounds that left him to the front of the balanced attack and winner of the Raptors, who prevailed 117-101 to the Bulls.
Alongside Valanciunas, reserve forward CJ Miles became the sixth player and second-highest scorer by scoring 22 goals after scoring 6 of 9 3-pointers, and captured five rebounds.
Cuban American center Robin Lopez emerged as the top scorer of the Bulls with 18 points and eight rebounds.
Finnish midfielder Lauri Markkanen, 20, made his NBA debut with an outstanding performance of 17 points and eight rebounds.
Markkanen left the starting lineup after the absence of Montenegrin Spaniard Nikola Mirotic, who suffered an injury during training on Tuesday from his teammate Bobby Portis and suffered the upper jaw bill and a concussion.
Portis ‘unsportsmanlike actions cost him an eight-match suspension, starting with the Raptors’ game.
