NBA Opening Night Recap

Story posted October 20, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by CheRanda Hammond

Honoring a legend and giving out championship rings, the 2022-2023 NBA season has officially started.

Joel Embid and the Philadelphia 76ers traveled to TD Garden to take on the 2022 runner-ups in Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics, while LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers traveled to San Fransico to take on Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

The Boston Celtics honored Celtics Legend Bill Russell who passed away this July at the age of 88. Russell was number 6 for the Celtics in the wake of his passing the NBA retired his number permanently across the league.

Head coach Ime Udoka was suspended for the season following an investigation that found he committed multiple violations of team policies. So with interim head coach Joe Mazulla, it seemed that the Celtics might struggle a bit and lose to the 76ers.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had other plans though. Tatum and Brown each scored 35 points while Malcolm Brogdon added 16 points and Grant Willams finished with 15 helping the Celtics beat the 76ers, 126 - 117. With eight minutes left to play in the game, the Celtics had the lead 110-97 and they never trailed again.

James Harden in his second season with the 76ers scored his most points since joining the team with 35 and was 100% from the free throw line. Joel Embild helped on defensive side of things adding 15 rebounds to his 25 points.

The 2022 NBA Champions the Golden State Warriors had their ring ceremony before taking on the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James and Steph Curry have battled each other for the past decade and with Lebron now being in the west, the excitement continues.

The Warriors won against the Lakers, 123 - 109. The splash brothers had a good night and still brought their own “Poole” to the party. Curry contributed seven assists, six rebounds and 33 points. Klay Thompson had 18 points in his 20 minutes of play and Poole had 12 points and seven assists.

The Lakers had a not so great night as they had 22 turnovers that led to 27 points for the Warriors. James played 35 minutes and had 31 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists. Russell Westbrook scored 19 poins with 11 rebounds and three assists. Anthony Davis finished the game with 27 points and 6 rebounds.

With these games to kick off the 2022 season and many more good games ahead, this NBA season will be another one for the books.

Zion Williamson is coming back to the Pelicans after missing 63 games last season and he will join CJ Mcollum and Brandon Ingram. The Brookyln Nets will attempt to have a better year with head Coach Steve Nash and their big 3 in Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons.

Maybe this season we will get some new faces in the playoffs and finals but we will have to wait and see.

CheRanda Hammond is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism to contact her, email clh5932@psu.edu.