Starting 5: Storylines aplenty on 12-game night

Hoops is back tonight with a dozen games, after a night off. Here’s how both conferences look two weeks in.

THE LINEUP 🏀
Nov. 6, 2024 | What’s inside today’s edition?
Hello Again: Tonight’s ESPN doubleheader includes a 2022 Finals rematch and PG’s return to LA
Staying Perfect: Cleveland (8-0) and OKC (7-0) look to keep their unbeaten starts going
League Pass Spotlight: Ten games on League Pass, plus CrunchTime whiparound coverage
Early Impressions: How marquee newcomers have fared in the season’s first two weeks
Countdown: Six days before the Emirates NBA Cup tips, East Group A opens our six group previews
BUT FIRST … ⏰
An ESPN doubleheader highlights a 12-game slate…

The NBA is back with a 12-game night led by an ESPN doubleheader beginning with a 2022 Finals rematch between the Warriors and Celtics in Boston (7:30 ET), followed by Paul George’s first return to LA when the Sixers visit the Clippers (10 ET).
Test your knowledge of tonight’s Warriors-Celtics matchup as well as some NBA Cup questions with Group Play opening in just six days.
1. ESPN DOUBLEHEADER: A REMATCH AND A RETURN

Since meeting in the 2022 NBA Finals (won by Golden State in six games), the Warriors and Celtics traded wins, including a pair of OT games decided by a total of nine points. 
Their last meeting was a different story when Boston defeated Golden State 140-88 on March 3. It was simultaneously the third-largest win in Celtics history and the fourth-largest loss in Warriors history.
Tonight (7:30 ET, ESPN), the Celtics (7-1) and Warriors (6-1) meet for the first time since that blowout last spring.
Two-Way Teams: Both the Celtics (1st in offense, 4th in

After missing most of the first two weeks with a knee injury, Paul George made his Sixers debut on Monday with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes as Philly fell to Phoenix.
Tonight (10 ET, ESPN), George’s second game as a Sixer will be against the team he played for the past five seasons (the Clippers) in their new home (the Intuit Dome).
Back-To-Back? After pulling off a 26-point comeback to earn
2. LEAGUE PASS SPOTLIGHT: CAVS, THUNDER LOOK TO STAY PERFECT

On Monday, the Cavs improved to 8-0 to open the season, matching the 1976-77 squad for the franchise’s best start ever.
Tonight, the 2024-25 Cavs can set a new bar for future Cavs to chase when they visit the Pelicans (8 ET, League Pass).
Winning In All Ways: The Cavs have three wins by 19+ points
Defensive Anchors: Among the 28 players that have defended at

Oklahoma City holds the title of last remaining unbeaten team out West and faces a tough test as they try to make it 8-0 to open the season – a mile-high matchup against Denver on the road (9 ET, League Pass).
Been There, Done That: After winning the season series 3-1
Strength vs. Strength: The Nuggets enter the matchup with the
Steals + Blocks: Through seven games, OKC (20.57) is on pace to
3. LEAGUE PASS PREVIEW: 8 MORE GAMES + CRUNCHTIME

EIGHT more games tip-off on League Pass tonight, plus NBA CrunchTime whiparound coverage (US & Philippines) starting off at 8:30 ET to keep up with all of the action in real time.
Here are four standout games to queue up on League Pass tonight:
by Kevin Durant’s game-winning layup
4. HOW KEY SUMMER ADDITIONS HAVE FARED IN FIRST TWO WEEKS

Each summer, free agency brings player movement and hopes that teams have found the missing piece to solve their championship puzzle.
Some new pieces fit perfectly, while others take more time to fit in. Two weeks into the 2024-25 season, let’s take a look at how some of the marquee players to change teams this past offseason are doing with their new squads.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges (Knicks): Towns missed the early part of training camp, but has opened the season strong – he’s second on the team in scoring (21.3 ppg) and first in rebounds (12.5 rpg, 4th in NBA) and is shooting 57.9% (11-19) on 3-pointers (5th in NBA).
Bridges found quick chemistry with former Villanova

Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo (Timberwolves): The opposite end of the KAT deal saw Randle and DiVincenzo head to Minnesota.
Randle played only one preseason game as he worked his way back from offseason shoulder surgery, but has not missed time in the regular season. In seven games, he’s averaging 21.4 points (2nd to Anthony Edwards) on a career-best 57.4% shooting and a team-high 4.7 assists.
DiVincenzo is averaging 10.4 points (4th on team) and 3.4

Klay Thompson (Mavericks): The most telling visual of how well Klay (14.7 ppg, 3.4 3pg on 38.7% shooting from deep) has fit in with Dallas is watching Luka Doncic swing a pass to a wide open Klay at the 3-point line and start running the other way, knowing the 3 was going to splash before Klay even elevated for the shot.
DeMar DeRozan (Kings): DeRozan (team-high 25.4 ppg on 52.9% shooting) has opened his Kings run with seven straight 20+ point games, matching Chris Webber in 1999 for the longest such streak to start a tenure with the franchise.
Josh Giddey (Bulls): Giddey’s all around game – 14.7 ppg (4th on team), 7.1 rpg (2nd on team) and 6.3 apg (team-high) – has allowed him to fit in rather seamlessly with a Bulls squad also reincorporating Zach LaVine (after missing most of last season) and Lonzo Ball (missing the past two-plus seasons).

Chris Paul (Spurs): The veteran point guard was added to provide leadership and guidance to a roster loaded with young talent, centered around reigning ROY Victor Wembanyama. Paul (12.0 ppg, team-high 8.9 apg) has developed quick chemistry with Wemby as the two have connected on alley-oops in pick-and-rolls and in transition.
Russell Westbrook (Nuggets): Westbrook’s scoring has been hit (two games with 20+ points) or miss (the other five games in single digits), but his energy, playmaking (4.7 apg, 2nd behind Nikola Jokić) and defensive intensity (team-high 1.9 spg) have made him an asset.
Paul George (76ers): PG made his Sixers debut on Monday and there were signs of a bit of rust on his offense (15 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast, 6 turnovers, 4-14 FG, 1-7 3P) in a two-point loss to the red-hot Suns. More time on court with his new teammates – and Joel Embiid once he returns – will offer a true evaluation of this fit down the line.
5. EMIRATES NBA CUP COUNTDOWN: EAST GROUP A PREVIEW

The Emirates NBA Cup 2024 tips off in just six days, with Group Play opening on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
And with six groups in the tournament, that gives one group per day to break down as we countdown to the first Cup Night of the competition.
We begin the series with East Group A, featuring the following teams:
New York Knicks: 12-4 (.750) vs. the other four teams in the
Philadelphia 76ers: 10-5 (.667)
Orlando Magic: 8-7 (.533)
Brooklyn Nets: 5-10 (.333)

The full 10-game Group Play schedule is above. Here are three matchups to circle: