Last year, when the league saw more 50-point games than it had in 5 decades, it took til Nov. 13 for the first 50-spot.

This year, it took 5 days.

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THE TIP ⏰

THE LINEUP

1. Duos Dominate Saturday Night
2. 1st 5️⃣0️⃣Point Game of the Season
3. Sunday: Wemby, Spurs in LA ️
4. 20 Years Ago, The King Debuts
5. Roster Facts and Figures

Today In 2018: Klay Thompson sets an NBA record with 14 3’s

1. SEEING DOUBLE: DUOS DOMINATE SATURDAY NIGHT

Tyrese Maxey & Joel Embiid both scored 34 for Philly’s first win. | NBAE via Getty Images

Outside of Zach LaVine’s big night (more on that in Section 2 ⬇️), Saturday was dominated by duos sharing the scoring load and (mostly) delivering wins.

• Sixers 114, Raptors 107:  Joel Embiid (34 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks) and Tyrese Maxey (34 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 7 3-pointers) combined for 68 points, accounting for 60% of the Sixers points, as Philly defeated Toronto for its 1st win of the season
• ⚜️ Pelicans 96, Knicks 87: Brandon Ingram (26) and Zion Williamson (24, including 2 on a half-court lob from CJ McCollum) combined for 50 points as the Pelicans improved to 2-0. RJ Barrett scored 18 points, but NY scored its fewest points in nearly a calendar year (85 at Brooklyn, Nov. 9, 2022). It was all love afterward for former Duke teammates Zion and RJ
• Wizards 113, Grizzlies 106: Jordan Poole (27 points, 4 3-pointers) and Kyle Kuzma (21 points, 13 rebounds) combined for 48 points as DC’s new dynamic duo get their 1st win of the season in home opener. Check out the ball movement on this fast break: Tyus Jones to Deni Avdija to Poole to Kuzma for the dunk
  

Ant Edwards & Naz Reid led the Wolves to a win over last year’s Eastern Conference champs. | NBAE via Getty Images

• Pacers 125, Cavaliers 113: Tyrese Haliburton (21 points, 13 dimes) and Aaron Nesmith (career-high 26 points, 9 boards) led the Pacers to a 125-113 win over the Cavs and a 2-0 start to the season. Indy was able to withstand a combined 64 points from Evan Mobley (33) and Caris LeVert (31)
• ☀️ Suns 126, Jazz 104: With Devin Booker (foot) and Bradley Beal (back) still sidelined, Eric Gordon (21) stepped up with Kevin Durant (26) on Saturday as the 2 vets combined for 47 points while the Suns cruised to a 22-point win in their home opener. Check out this Yuta Watanabe steal, behind-the-back dribble in transition, and lefty finish … and the reaction from the Suns bench
• Suns Honor Legends: The Suns celebrated the 15 members of their Ring of Honor with permanent banners unveiled during a halftime ceremony that included Charles Barkley, Steve Nash, Kevin Johnson, Dan Majerle and more of the greatest Suns of all time. That list will grow to 17 this season as the duo of Shawn Marion (Dec. 15) and Amar’e Stoudemire (March 2) are set to join
• Timberwolves 106, Heat 90: Trailing 70-68 midway through the 3rd quarter, the Wolves outscored the Heat 38-20 the rest of the way for the 106-90 win. Fan favorite Naz Reid led the way with 25 points, 8 boards and 4 3s, while Anthony Edwards added 19 points and 7 dimes

2. LAVINE DROPS 51, DUREN JOINS LEBRON

Huge night from Jalen Duren, the Pistons’ 2nd-year center. | NBAE via Getty Images

Pistons 118, Bulls 102

Luka almost got there on Friday (49 in win over Nets), then 24 hours later, Chicago’s Zach LaVine posted the 1st 50+ point game of the 2023-24 season with a career-best 51 in a 118-102 loss to Detroit.

• Elite Company: LaVine joined Jimmy Butler (2) and Michael Jordan (30) as the only players in Bulls history to record multiple 50+ point games
• Detroit earned its 2nd win in as many nights behind Cade Cunningham’s 25 points and 10 dimes, while Jalen Duren added 23 points, 15 boards and 5 dimes
• Duren LeBron: Duren joined LeBron James as the only teenagers to ever post 20+ points, 15+ rebounds and 5+ assists in a game (more on LeBron in Section 4 ⬇️)

3. SUNDAY’S GAMES: WEMBY, SPURS, HEAD TO LA ️

Victor-y. | NBAE via Getty Images

Through 2 games, here’s what Victor Wembanyama’s NBA career looks like.

• He drained a 3 for his first NBA bucket in his debut, going for 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting – including 3-for-5 from deep
• He scored 13 of his 21 pts in Game 2 between the 4th Q & OT periods, as the Spurs rallied to beat the Rockets
• Want All His Highlights In One Place? Got you. Tap for Game 1. Tap for Game 2.

He’ll face a test on Sunday, against a Clippers team that GMs picked to finish Top 5 in the West – with one vote to win it all. (9 pm, NBA TV).

Out to a 1-1 record, the Clips have gotten a combined 55.5 ppg from Paul George (31.5) and Kawhi Leonard (24.0).

What else is happening around the league Sunday?

Nuggets at Thunder, (3:30 ET, NBA App): The Champs vs. The Team Everybody Seems To Be Picking To Have A Breakout Year. On a Sunday afternoon

Hawks at Bucks, (7 ET, NBA App): Ice Trae and Co. head to Milwaukee to face another one of the league’s best point guards, in Damian Lillard … who just scored the most points ever in Bucks debut

Warriors at Rockets, (7 ET, NBA App): The league’s 3rd oldest roster (Dubs) vs. a team with some of the most exciting young players in the game. Steph Curry was drafted when Rockets rook Amen Thompson was only 6

Blazers at 76ers, (7:30 ET, NBA App): Keep an eye on Joel Embiid vs. Deandre Ayton in the paint

Lakers at Kings, (9 ET, NBA App): Two of the West’s best meet up, featuring another great battle down low, as Domantas Sabonis and Anthony Davis go head-to-head

4. 20 YEARS AGO, THE KING DEBUTS

LeBron debuted at 18 years old on Oct. 29, 2023, going for 25 in his first game. | NBAE via Getty Images

On Oct. 29, 2003, LeBron James went from high school phenom to NBA star in one of the most hyped and anticipated debuts in NBA history.

LeBron met the moment with 25 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals in 42 minutes.

The Cleveland Cavaliers may have lost to the Sacramento Kings that night, but there was no doubt that we had all witnessed the beginning of something special.

Over the past 2 decades, LeBron has won 4 championships, 4 MVPs, 4 Finals MVPs and last season became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. And he’s still writing the story that began on this day 20 years ago in Sacramento.

How much time do you have for highlights?

• I only got 41 seconds: Here’s a new cut of Bron’s debut — his 1st basket, 1st dime, 1st dunk & more in an electric atmosphere
• I got 5 minutes: Get the best of LeBron and the full game highlights
• I got time today: Watch the full game (86 minutes) to relive LeBron’s debut in its entirety

More notable Oct. 29 NBA debuts

• Oct. 29, 1982: Dominique Wilkins (23 PTS, 12 REB, 3 STL) made his NBA debut for the Atlanta Hawks in a 94-86 loss to Detroit
• Oct. 29, 1982: James Worthy (20 PTS, 6 REB) made his NBA debut for the Los Angeles Lakers in a 132-117 loss to Golden State
• Oct. 29, 2003: Chris Bosh (11 PTS, 4 REB, 2 BLK) made his NBA debut for the Toronto Raptors in a 90-87 win over New Jersey
• Oct. 29, 2003: Carmelo Anthony (12 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST) made his NBA debut for the Denver Nuggets in an 80-72 win over San Antonio
• Oct. 29, 2008: Russell Westbrook (13 PTS, 4 AST) made his NBA debut for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 98-87 loss to Milwaukee
• Oct. 29, 2008: Kevin Love (12 PTS, 9 REB, 2 BLK) made his NBA debut for the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 98-96 win over Sacramento

5. SUNDAY FUN(FACT)DAY: ROSTER STATS

Jersey #0 rises to the top of the list. | NBA PR

Since 2000, no number’s seen more NBA game action than No. 3.

But going into 2023-24, it’s Number 0 – worn by Jayson Tatum, Russell Westbrook and Damian Lillard (‘Letter O‘ in his case), among others – that tops the charts, at 26 players.

What are some other fun facts from this year’s rosters?

Put off Monday & get your trivia game right with the latest from 2023-24 opening night rosters.

Tallest Players

• Victor Wembanyama, 7-4
• Boban Marjanovic, 7-4
• Bol Bol, 7-3
• Moses Brown, 7-2
• Kristaps Porzingis, 7-2

Shortest Players

• Markquis Nowell, 5-7

• Jacob Gilyard, 5-8

• 9 players at 6-0

Oldest Players

• LeBron James, 38 years & 298 days
• P.J. Tucker, 38 & 172
• Chris Paul, 38 & 171
• Kyle Lowry, 37 & 213
• Garrett Template, 37 & 169

Youngest Players

• GG Jackson II, 18 & 311
• Dariq Whitehead, 19 & 084
• Bilal Coulibaly, 19 & 090
• Noah Clowney, 19 & 102
• Cam Whitmore, 19 & 108

Top 10 colleges represented in the NBA

• Kentucky, 26
• Duke, 24
• UCLA, 15
• Kansas, 12
• Michigan, Gonzaga, Texas – 11
• Villanova, Arkansas, Arizona – 10
• 40% of Nova alums play for the Knicks

Oldest Teams (Avg Age)

• Bucks, 28 years & 76 days
• Clippers, 28 & 12
• Warriors, 28 & 10

Youngest Teams (Avg Age)

• Spurs, 23 years & 190 days
• Thunder, 24 & 44
• Hornets, 24 & 103 

* Ages as of opening night on Oct. 24