The Biggest Winners and Losers From NBA’s Opening Day

Key Points:

• The 2026–27 NBA season opened with an exciting triple-header on NBC, featuring a historic 3 p.m. matinee tip-off in Detroit that energized fans and players alike, signaling a potential new tradition for opening day.
• Adam Silver emerged as a big winner for selecting engaging opening games, including a Pistons comeback win over the Celtics, a competitive Knicks-76ers matchup, and a heated Spurs-Thunder rivalry game.
• Jayson Tatum struggled in his first game without Jaylen Brown, shooting poorly and being effectively defended by Pistons' Ausar Thompson, while Thunder players named Williams collectively received technical fouls during a skirmish.
• Paul George had a standout debut with the Clippers, scoring 38 points and making history with his combined scoring and defensive stats, whereas Knicks’ OG Anunoby and Spurs' Victor Wembanyama had disappointing performances.
• LeBron James showed he fits well with the 76ers' system as a facilitator in his 24th season, while the Thunder's young talent, including rookie Aday Mara, impressed, continuing Oklahoma City's trend of strong team building.