The Boston Celtics defeated the Washington Wizards 126-107 to win their third straight game. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum combined for 69 points.
Following an off-season trade between the two teams, Kristaps Porzingis returned to Washington and scored 15 points in addition to Brown’s 36 and Tatum’s 33.
The Celtics, who made it to the Eastern Conference finals the previous season, have started the new campaign with three straight victories.
Dejounte Murray outperformed them, matching his career-high scoring total of 41 points to help the Atlanta Hawks overcome a 19-point deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-113 at halftime.
Steph Curry led the Golden State Warriors to a 130-102 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, brushing off Klay Thompson’s absence due to a knee injury.
Curry finished with 42 points, starting with two three-pointers from 25 feet and finishing with a three-pointer from 31 feet.
In a 125-110 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, Luka Doncic recorded a triple-double with 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists to help the Dallas Mavericks maintain their unblemished record.
Nikola Jokic also recorded a triple-double – his second of the season – with 27 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets saw off the Utah Jazz 110-102.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 33 points for the Milwaukee Bucks as they avenged being eliminated by the Miami Heat in last year’s play-offs with a 122-114 win, despite 35 points from Tyler Herro.
Cam Thomas scored 33 points as the Brooklyn Nets beat the Charlotte Hornets 133-121 for their first win of the season, while Nikola Vucevic inspired the Chicago Bulls as they came from behind late to inflict a first defeat on the Indiana Pacers, 112-105.
The Portland Trail Blazers also claimed their first win, Jerami Grant scoring 22 points as they beat the Toronto Raptors 99-91, while 32 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lifted the Oklahoma City Thunder past the Detroit Pistons.
The Los Angeles Lakers needed a late 12-5 run to come from behind and beat the Orlando Magic 106-103, leaving the Celtics as the only undefeated team in the Eastern Conference.
