AccuScore will be simulating the delayed/cancelled NBA season as it was originally scheduled. Tonight was supposed to be Opening Night with three games including defending champion Dallas taking on Chicago and the Lakers against the Thunder.
Dallas Mavericks 96, Chicago Bulls 93
The Mavs, fresh off their first championship, kick off the season with a win at home over Derrick Rose and the Bulls. Despite a poor shooting night (8-27 FG) Dirk Nowitzki scored a game-high 31 points by making all 13 of his free throws. Jason Kidd scored just 3 points, but contributed in other ways as he always does with 6 rebounds, 11 assists, and 2 steals. Chicago actually outshot Dallas 48.1% to 39.3% and had a 10 rebound advantage. The difference was that the Bulls committed 25 turnovers while the Mavs only turned it over 15 times. Rose led Chicago with 23 poitns.
Utah Jazz 110, Houston Rockets 104
The Jazz used a balanced attack to get their first win of the year. Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson both scored 19 points while Devin Harris had 17. Six other players cored between 8 and 11 points. Rookies Alec Burks and Enes Kanter combined to score 16 in their NBA debuts. Houston got a big night from Kevin Martin who scored 29 points on just 11 FGA. He was also perfect from the free throw line (14-14) and from 3-point range (3-3). The Rockets were outshot, out-assisted, and out-rebounded by the Jazz. Only 14 made threes kept them in the contest.
Los Angeles Lakers 98, Oklahoma City Thunder 89
The win for the Lakers made it a clean sweep by the home teams on opening night. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers in scoring but with only 20 points and adding 8 rebounds. L.A. was actually balanced on this night with Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Metta World Peace (RIP Ron Artest) combining for 60. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were kept relatively in check with 39 points combined. The star for the Thunder was actually Serge Ibaka who had 18 points on 80% FG shooting along with 6 rebounds and 3 blocks. Despite Ibaka’s play, the Lakers dominated inside outrebounding the Thunder 44-34 overall.
