With the NBA season starting in a few days, the NBA preseason is a great look into what to expect this coming NBA season. On October 3, ten NBA teams hit the hard court and battled it out.
It was the first game for the new Oklahoma City Thunder team and All-Star forwards Carmelo Anthony and Paul George, who played against the Houston Rockets and their newly acquired All-Star point guard Chris Paul. Point guards D'Angelo Russell and Rajon Rondo were also be playing for their new teams.
Brooklyn Nets vs. New York Knicks
The Brooklyn Nets acquired D'Angelo Russell from a recent trade with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Nets also acquired forward DeMarre Carroll and center Timofey Mozgov, who both are very capable defenders. Carmelo Anthony's departure meant that Latvian superstar Kristaps Porzingis will be leading the New York Knicks' rebuilding process.
D'Angelo Russell led all scorers with 19, Brooklyn's Trevor Booker had 13 rebounds to lead all players, and the Knicks' Ramon Sessions had five assists, as the Brooklyn Nets beat the Knicks 115-107.
Chicago Bulls vs. New Orleans Pelicans
With Rajon Rondo's addition to the New Orleans Pelicans, All-Star big men Demarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis will surely have an easier time dominating offensively with a pass-first point guard at the helm.
The Pelicans came up short as the Chicago Bulls defeated them 113-109.
Anthony Davis had 24 points to lead all scorers, Davis and Demarcus Cousins both had 10 rebounds, and Chicago's Jerian Grant led in assists with nine.
Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook did not play in this game. Carmelo Anthony played his usual game with a lot of isolation plays and he also made three out of five three-pointers and shot 53.8 percent from the field.
Anthony had 19 points, four rebounds, and one steal in 19 minutes of action.
Paul George is an excellent two-way player that could help the Thunder on both ends of the floor. He had 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block in 26 minutes.
But even though George and Anthony had their usual games, the Houston Rockets were still able to come out with the win 104-97.
Chris Paul had an excellent game with 11 points, two rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
The Rockets' Eric Gordon led in scoring with 21, James Harden had 10 assists, and PJ Tucker, Luc Mbah a Moute, and the Thunders' Josh Huestis led in rebounds with seven apiece.
Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trailblazers
Devin Booker and the young Phoenix Suns defeated Damian Lillard and the Portland Trailblazers 114-112.
The Suns' TJ Warren had 24 points to lead all scorers, Alex Len had 13 rebounds, and Devin Booker led in assists, with five.
Toronto Raptors vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Even with Chris Paul's departure, the Los Angeles Clippers still managed to beat the Toronto Raptors 98-84.
The Clippers' Blake Griffin led in scoring, Deandre Jordan led in rebounds, and Milos Teodosic led in assists, with 17, eight, and five respectively.
