DENVER – After a hard-fought series, the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder will battle it out in a winner-take-all Game 7 this Sunday — a matchup that promises drama, intensity, and everything fans love about playoff basketball.

Oklahoma City entered the postseason as the Western Conference’s top seed, boasting a league-best 68 wins and a remarkable 54 victories by double digits. The Thunder’s youthful energy, deep bench, and strong rotation made them a formidable force all season long.

Denver, on the other hand, faced plenty of challenges. The Nuggets lacked OKC’s depth and health, and their continuity was shaken when their NBA title-winning head coach and general manager were fired just before the playoffs began. Still, Denver proved their mettle, splitting the season series with the Thunder 2-2, including a back-to-back win in Oklahoma City.

Their resilience shone through Thursday night in Denver, where the Nuggets secured a 119-107 victory to even the series at 5-5. Now, everything comes down to Sunday’s Game 7 in Oklahoma City — the winner advances to the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves, while the loser faces a tough offseason of missed opportunities.

“It’s do or die,” Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s what you live for, it’s what you worked your whole life for. Either your team continues or your dream ends. You lay it all out there and live with the results.”

Despite Thursday’s 12-point loss — their largest of the series — the Thunder remained confident. Coach Mark Daigneault praised Denver’s effort but emphasized his team’s readiness to bounce back.

“Denver threw a punch tonight, and both teams have exchanged blows all series,” Daigneault said. “We need to stand back up on Sunday. We’ve earned the right to play this game at home because of our regular season. We’re disappointed tonight, but when the ball goes up, we’ll be excited to compete.”

This marks Oklahoma City’s first Game 7 since 2016, when they fell to Golden State in the Western Conference Finals. For Denver, it’s their sixth Game 7 during the Nikola Jokic era, including a recent nail-biter against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Jokic, who led the Nuggets with 29 points, 14 rebounds, and a series-best eight assists in Game 6, pointed to defense as the key to victory on Sunday.

“Defense will probably be the difference,” Jokic said. “Details and rebounding are crucial, especially with how much they attack the glass. Turnovers will also play a big role.”

He acknowledged the Thunder’s advantage in youth and health, predicting they’ll push the pace against Denver’s more deliberate style.

“It’s going to be interesting to watch,” Jokic added.

Basketball fans everywhere are gearing up for what promises to be a thrilling finale. When the stakes are this high, expect nothing less than maximum effort and unforgettable moments.

Source: AP News – Nuggets and Thunder set for winner-take-all showdown Sunday in Game 7

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Catch up on all the action from tonight’s thrilling Game 6 between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors, plus the top performances around the league.

Final Score: Houston Rockets 115, Golden State Warriors 107
Houston forces a Game 7 with a stunning fourth-quarter performance.

Top Takeaways from Tonight’s Game:

• Rockets Win, Force Game 7: In a do-or-die Game 6, the Houston Rockets showed incredible resilience to push the series to a Game 7. Down by just two entering the final quarter, the Rockets outscored Golden State 29-23, dominating the final minutes to claim a 115-107 victory. They will now head back to Houston for a winner-takes-all showdown on Sunday.
• Game 7 on Sunday in Houston: After battling back from a 3-1 series deficit, the Rockets have home-court advantage for Sunday’s climactic Game 7. With a 8:30 ET tip-off, fans can catch all the action on TNT. The Warriors have already proven they can win on the road, but Game 7 is a whole different animal.
• Around the League: This weekend promises to be packed with high stakes, with two other Game 7 matchups: the Nuggets vs Clippers (Saturday) and Cavaliers vs Pacers (Sunday). The Rockets-Warriors showdown on Sunday will decide one of the most intense first-round series.

Top Performers:

• Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets: 29 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists
• Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors: 29 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals
• Steven Adams, Houston Rockets: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks

Game Recap: Rockets Extend Series with Huge Win

Houston Rockets 115, Golden State Warriors 107

Heading into the fourth quarter with a 2-point lead, the Rockets turned up the heat when it mattered most. Houston clamped down defensively, holding the Warriors to just 33% shooting in the final period. The Rockets expanded their lead from two to 17 points, eventually emptying the bench with a commanding advantage.

Fred VanVleet was the standout, finishing with 29 points and continuing his stellar series. Alperen Şengün contributed a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Steven Adams stepped up with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks in a series-defining performance.

Now, all eyes are on Sunday’s Game 7, where the Rockets will look to complete the comeback.

Fred VanVleet’s Hot Streak:

After a scorching 8-for-13 from beyond the arc in Game 5, VanVleet was on fire again tonight, knocking down 6 of 9 from deep for 27 points with six minutes to go. His shooting fueled Houston’s biggest lead of the night, a 12-point advantage late in the game.

Playoff Drama:

• Third-Quarter Highlights: Both teams brought their A-game in the third quarter. Stephen Curry added 9 points to reach 25 total, while Jabari Smith gave Houston a spark off the bench with 8 points in 13 minutes.
• Jimmy Butler’s Big Shots: In another playoff standout performance, Jimmy Butler continued to deliver clutch shots, finishing with 20 points on 6-for-11 shooting and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. He also contributed 5 rebounds and 5 assists, keeping the Warriors within striking distance.

Rockets Lead at the Half:

Houston Rockets 53, Golden State Warriors 48

It was a fast-paced and intense first half, with 10 lead changes and 3 ties. Despite Curry’s 16 first-half points, the Rockets kept things tight, led by VanVleet, Şengün, and Jalen Green, who combined for 25 points. Surprisingly, Golden State led in fast-break points, with 19 compared to Houston’s 6.

Draymond Green Makes History:

In the first quarter, Draymond Green moved into 15th place on the NBA’s all-time playoff assists leaderboard. If the Warriors continue their deep run, Green could crack the top 10 by the end of the postseason.

Looking Ahead: Game 7 Showdown:

Game 7: Rockets vs Warriors – Sunday at 8:30 ET
It’s all on the line in Houston. The Rockets are hoping to cap off their comeback from a 3-1 deficit, while the Warriors look to reclaim control on the road in a Game 7 that’s bound to be filled with drama.

More NBA Playoff Action:

• Clippers vs Nuggets – Game 7 (Saturday): The Clippers and Nuggets have fought hard all series, with every game being decided by a handful of points. This weekend’s Game 7 promises to be just as thrilling.
• Cavaliers vs Pacers – Game 1 (Sunday): The Cavs and Pacers will face off in the second round, with the series starting on Sunday.

Source: CNN – Nightly Pulse: NBA News & Highlights from May 2

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Anthony Davis’ highly anticipated debut for the Dallas Mavericks ended abruptly due to a lower-body injury, but the team still managed to secure a 116-105 victory over the Houston Rockets.

Dominant Performance Before Injury

Davis, who was the centerpiece of Dallas’ return in the controversial Luka Dončić trade, put on an impressive show before exiting late in the third quarter. In just 31 minutes, he recorded:
26 points
16 rebounds
7 assists
3 blocks

His presence electrified the home crowd from the opening possession, starting with a lob to center Daniel Gafford. Davis continued to dominate, scoring four baskets in the first four minutes, capping it off with a powerful putback dunk that had fans roaring.

As the Rockets called a timeout, Davis hyped up the crowd, waving his arms and shouting: “I’m here.”

Injury Details & Davis’ Reaction

Davis suffered the injury while contesting Alperen Şengün’s driving dunk attempt, collapsing to the floor while clutching his midsection. He was ruled doubtful to return with under five minutes left in the game but never re-entered after heading to the locker room.

Postgame, Davis downplayed concerns, describing the issue as tightness between his groin and quadriceps and not expecting a lengthy absence:

“Just the leg got tight, like a little spasm,” Davis said from his locker—ironically, the same stall previously occupied by Luka Dončić. “Still dealing with the ab strain, but it’s nothing serious. I’m fine.”

Fan Backlash Over Dončić Trade

Davis’ debut came amid a backdrop of outrage over the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Dončić, last season’s leading scorer who also guided Dallas to the NBA Finals.

Before tipoff, nearly 1,000 fans gathered outside American Airlines Center, holding signs and chanting against Mavs GM Nico Harrison. Reports indicate Harrison has received multiple death threats since making the blockbuster deal and did not sit in his usual lower-bowl seat during the game.

Durability Concerns Loom

While Davis, a 10-time All-Star, remains an elite talent, durability has been a concern throughout his career. He managed to play a career-high 76 games last season, but this latest setback raises fresh questions about his availability moving forward.

Despite his premature exit, Davis left a strong first impression in Dallas. Now, Mavs fans will anxiously await updates on his status as the season continues.

Source

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Derrick White’s emergence into one of the league’s best role players helped push the Celtics to a championship last year. Andrew Wiggins finally putting it all together as a rebounder, defender, and slasher helped make the Warriors champions around Stephen Curry’s brilliance in 2022. When Anthony Davis started knocking down jumpers in the bubble in 2020, suddenly the Los Angeles Lakers looked unstoppable.

With the league more wide open than ever entering the 2024-2025 season, here’s a list of six players whose performance this season will help determine the title picture this season behind the league-favorite Boston Celtics.

Jamal Murray, G, Denver Nuggets
Come up with a list of the top-15 NBA players of all-time in your head. All of them have played with future Hall of Famers. Nikola Jokic deserves inclusion, and he’s never even played with an All-Star.

No one can discount Jokic’s genius at his point. He willed the Nuggets to their first championship in franchise history in 2023, and he’s one of nine players in league history to win at least three MVP awards. Jokic remains at the top of his game at age-29, but the roster around him has been crumbling since Denver’s title run. It’s easy to see the departures of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, and Jeff Green as the Nuggets’ biggest issue, but to save their future, it’s Jamal Murray who needs to prove he can still be the No. 2 option on a championship team.

Murray may have never been named an All-Star, but he often plays like an All-NBA player in the playoffs. That changed earlier this year: Murray was extremely underwhelming in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, and looked even worse for Canada in the Paris Olympics. Murray’s play dropped significantly after a knee injury shortly following the All-Star break. He should be able to recover from any physical ailments at 27 years old, but the stakes have never been higher as the rest of Denver’s roster bleeds talent.

If Murray is looking like playoff hero again this postseason, the Nuggets can absolutely win the title, assuming they get some development from the younger players on the roster. If he continues to look bad, the Nuggets are going to have a hard time rescuing the Jokic era with Murray starting a four-year, $208 million extension next season. Murray’s performance has the potential to decide the championship picture as much as any other player in the league.
Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid is a consensus top-5 player in the world at his best. The 76ers looked like an elite team with him in the lineup last season, going 31-8 in games he played. There’s only one problem: Embiid has a long and painful injury history, and without him, Philly is toast. The Sixers went 16-27 in games he missed last year.

Embiid is now 30 years old, and he’s never reached the conference finals despite playing in the much weaker East. The Sixers have spent his entire career dealing with a long list of bullshit, but it finally feels like they have the right pieces around him. Tyrese Maxey has turned into a star guard on the brink of his 24th birthday. This summer, they used cap space to sign Paul George. It feels like a perfectly complementary ‘big three’ on paper, but that’s only true if Embiid can be healthy and dominant in the playoffs like he often is in the regular season.

Listed 7-foot, 280 pounds, Embiid is the type of highly skilled battering ram even great teams don’t have an answer for. He’s shown real growth as a passer and decision-maker in recent years, and no one can doubt his scoring touch or rim protection. Embiid’s 90s-born superstar peers (Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo) have won rings while he’s still trying to make a final four. With his knees slowly getting worn down by injuries and age, there’s no telling how long he’ll remain playing at an MVP level. It might not be now or never for Embiid quite yet, but it’s getting close.

Damian Lillard, G, Milwaukee Bucks
Damian Lillard was coming off arguably the best season of his career at age-32 when the Bucks finally pried him out of Portland. Milwaukee’s bold Lillard trade was supposed to extend the team’s championship window around Giannis Antetokounmpo by giving him the type of offensive supernova guard he had never played with before. Instead, the Bucks just looked older and shakier in his first year with the team.

Now 34 years old, Lillard doesn’t have much time left to regain his status as an elite player. Everyone agrees he’s one of the worst perimeter defenders in the league. His value is completely tied to his offensive production, and last season he posted one of the lowest three-point percentages of his career (35.4 percent) while his efficiency also slipped from inside the arc.

The pairing a deadly pull-up shooter like Lillard with Antetokounmpo’s powerful inside scoring remains intoxicating. They should form the best two-man game in the league, but it wasn’t as deadly as it seemed on paper last season. With Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez getting old and the depth still depleted, it’s on Lillard and Giannis to carry the team. Giannis always holds up his end of the bargain. Can Lillard still do the same?

Karl-Anthony Towns, C, New York Knicks
The Knicks’ completed their daring vision to build a purported championship contender around Jalen Brunson with two major trades this summer. The offseason started by essentially trading six first-round picks for Mikal Bridges, and it ended by swapping out Julius Randle and Donte DeVincenzo for Karl-Anthony Towns.

KAT fills the Knicks’ hole at center after losing Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency while also giving them a five-out look they didn’t have before. Towns is a knockdown three-point shooter as a 7-footer, which should open the floor for Brunson’s tough drives to the rim. It sounds great in theory, but Towns has long been a player who leaves fans wanting more.

The pressure for Towns comes on the defensive end. He has never been anything close to a defensive anchor in the middle. Towns lacks coverage versatility in the pick-and-roll and has often been called soft by fans and peers. For the Knicks to reach their potential, Towns can’t just spot-up and shoot — he needs to be the last line of defense at the rim and a dependable rebounder. KAT isn’t always a sieve on defense: he defended Jokic admirably in the playoffs last season to help the Wolves pull off a massive upset. Feel of the burden of carrying the team offensively every night, Towns needs to play more like a traditional big man if New York’s championship dreams are ever going to come true.

Klay Thompson, G, Dallas Mavericks
Klay Thompson seemed miserable on the Golden State Warriors last season as he gave fans an honest and vulnerable look at what it’s like when a star athlete starts to slip from his peak. As he signed with the Dallas Mavericks this summer, Thompson gets another chance to prove he can still be a dependable player on a great team. The Mavs’ ability to win the Western Conference again might hinge on it.

Thompson can still shoot the rock at a high level, and that should make him a great fit on the Mavs. With Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving commanding so much defensive attention, Thompson should be plenty of open catch-and-shoot looks from three. You can still count on him to knock those down.

The questions come on the other end of the floor: Thompson is no longer the ace defender he was in his youth, and Doncic and Irving aren’t exactly defensive stoppers, either. While Irving’s defense looked better in last year’s playoffs, it’s very possible that Dallas can’t close games with Doncic-Irving-Thompson on the floor together because the defense is too bad. If Thompson can dig deep to survive defensively in high-leverage playoff situations, Dallas just might have the perfect complement to their two stars. The downside risk just feels immense. It’s on Klay to make this trio work.

Evan Mobley, F/C, Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs have been a very good regular season team since trading for Donovan Mitchell two years ago. Cleveland accomplished its goal of winning a playoff series last year, but it still wasn’t enough to save head coach JB Bickerstaff’s job. Now it’s Kenny Atkinson’s turn to maximize a talented group of starters with major positional overlap. If Cleveland has another step in them, it comes from Evan Mobley getting even better.

Mobley is a mobile 7-footer who has already proven to be one of the league’s best defenders during his first three pro seasons. There has always been more offensive upside in his game, and at 23 years old, this could be the time for it to come to fruition. Mobley plays the four next to a non-shooting center in Jarrett Allen in Cleveland’s starting and closing lineups. To avoid a clogged offensive floor, Mobley either needs to improve as a three-point shooter or get better at creating with the ball in his hands. Both are absolutely possible for a player this talented, but these are difficult leaps to make for anyone.

I’ve always been a big believer in Mobley’s talent. He has the potential to be an All-NBA player one day, but it remains to be seen if his best position is the four or the five. As long as Allen is around, it’s on Mobley to make the pairing work offensively to furthering his skill development. If it happens, Cleveland just might be Boston’s biggest competition in the East.

Al Horford, C, Boston Celtics
Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer have been out of the NBA for so long at this point that it’s hard to believe their old college teammate is still playing a critical role on the league’s best team. Al Horford looked as great as ever last season as the Celtics dominated their way to the championship. Now 38 years old, Horford’s game has to fall off eventually … right?

The Celtics need at least one more year of high level production out of Horford. With Kristaps Porzingis out for the first half of the season as he recovers from surgery, Horford is going to have to log important minutes as Boston’s starting big. He continues to move remarkably well for someone his age, and his evolution as a three-point shooter has made him a perfect fit in the Celtics’ three-point heavy attack.

Horford is going to age out of dependability at some point. If he suddenly falls off this year, the Celtics’ bid for back-to-back titles becomes a lot more difficult than it seems right now. If the season opener is any indication, Horford can still be effective, and that helps make Boston look almost unbeatable.

 
Source

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THE LINEUP

Oct. 22, 2024 | What’s inside today’s edition?

The Defense Begins: Boston will celebrate its title before beginning a new banner quest

L.A. Premiere: The Lakers host the Wolves as they play in their sixth straight Opening Night

Raising 18: Before a new championship chase begins, get an inside look at Boston’s title run

Dunk Score: Player tracking and NBA data science analyze every dunk from every game

Power Rankings: How the teams stack up before the season tips off tonight

BUT FIRST…

Opening Night is just hours away…

Knicks Vs Centics 7:30 PM ET Timberwolves Vs Lakers 10:00 ET

It’s been 127 days since the confetti fell to the TD Garden floor as the Boston Celtics celebrated winning the 2024 NBA championship.

Tonight, the Celtics will raise banner 18, collect their championship rings and begin their quest to repeat against the Knicks to open the 2024-25 season (7:30 ET, TNT). That’s followed by a Western Conference clash between the Wolves and Lakers in L.A. (10 ET, TNT).

1. ONE LAST CELEBRATION BEFORE THE PURSUIT OF 19

For years, 17 championship banners hung in the rafters of TD Garden, but 18 hung in the Celtics’ practice facility.

The 18th one was blank, providing a daily reminder of the standard by which the franchise measures success. A reminder of what the practice sessions, workouts and film studies were all about – being the team to fill in banner 18.

After years of disappointment – including four losses in the East Finals and one in the 2022 Finals in the span of eight seasons – the 2023-24 Celtics were able to finish the job.

Tonight, before they try to become the first team to successfully defend the title since the Golden State Warriors (2017, 2018), they will commemorate their 2023-24 title by raising banner 18 to the rafters and collecting their championship rings.

Once the ceremony is complete, it will be time to get back to business, as the Celtics host the Knicks in the opening game of the 2024-25 NBA season (7:30 ET, TNT).

• Two summers ago, a roster shake up was needed to take the Celtics to championship heights with the additions of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis ahead of the 2023-24 season
• This summer was a different story, as the Celtics retained their entire core from the championship team, looking to run it back with visions of banner 19 in their eyes

However, they will be without Porzingis to open the season as he recovers from offseason surgery to repair a rare leg injury

Meanwhile, the Knicks are coming off back-to-back Playoff exits in the East Semifinals and – similar to the Celtics two summers ago – used this offseason to revamp its roster with two significant additions.

• Early in free agency, the Knicks struck a deal with the Nets to send Mikal Bridges over the bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan, reuniting the former Villanova Wildcat with some of his college teammates
• Then just before training camp (in similar timing to when the Celtics added Holiday), the Knicks acquired four-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns from Minnesota

The moves were bold and the Knicks are banking on them paying off as they look to build on last year’s No. 2 seed finish in the East (14 games behind Boston) and a deeper Playoff run. They couldn’t ask for a better first test than the defending champs to open the season.

2. WOLVES, LAKERS OPEN SEASON WITH HIGH HOPES

• Last season, both Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves made enormous leaps – bounding over opponents both on the court (see Section 4 ) and in the standings.
  • Edwards went from All-Star to All-NBA Second Team in 2023-24, combining elite play with an electricity and flair that few can match
  • Minnesota went from 42 to 56 wins – their 14-win improvement the third-largest in the league – and reached the West Finals to match the deepest Playoff run in franchise history

As the Wolves open the 2024-25 season tonight against the Lakers (10 ET, TNT), they look to take their next leap and challenge for the team’s first-ever NBA Finals berth. With Karl-Anthony Towns traded to New York, all eyes will be on Edwards to lead the way

For the first time in four years, the Los Angeles Lakers enter a season with the second-most championships in NBA history – as Boston’s 18th title broke the tie with L.A. after the Lakers had evened the banner race at 17 apiece with their 2020 title.

• Since then, the Lakers have had two first round exits (2021, 2024) and one Western Conference Finals appearance (2023), with their last two postseasons beginning in the SoFi Play-In Tournament
• As he begins his 22nd NBA season – trying Vince Carter for the most in NBA history – can LeBron James lead the Lakers on another deep Playoff run at the back end of his career?
• In a career packed with historic achievements, LeBron and his son Bronny (L.A.’s second-round pick) will become the first father-son duo to share the court in an NBA game this season. Will that moment come during tonight’s opener?

3. RAISING 18: RELIVE BOSTON’S TITLE RUN AHEAD OF RING NIGHT

Every championship story is unique, told through the lens of the players, coaches, organization and city they represent.

For the 2023-24 Boston Celtics, the road to hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy was littered with past disappointments and a determination to use those previous shortcomings as fuel to championship glory.

In ‘Raising 18’ – a nine-part docuseries chronicling Boston’s championship season – fans get a behind-the-scenes look at the ups and downs of the nine-month journey from training camp to champagne.

• Episode 1: Championship or Bust – With the stakes of the new season clear, go inside training camp with new addition Kristaps Porzingis, who dropped 30 points in his Boston debut
• Episode 2: Sacrifice and Reward – Look back at the rise of the cornerstone duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum and how a players only meeting in training camp set the tone that everyone must sacrifice for the betterment of the team
• Episode 3: Clicking – The Celtics are hitting on all cylinders as offseason additions Jrue Holiday and Porzingis fit in seamlessly, including Brown introducing KP to Atlanta’s best wings on a road trip
• Episode 4: Great Expectations – A throwback to Paul Pierce giving rookie Tatum a lesson in Celtics history and the pressure that comes with such a legendary past. And how some tough losses in the regular season added to that pressure
• Episode 5: Mindset – In his second season at the helm, coach Joe Mazzulla’s unique approach, intensity and connection with his players helps the team keep its foot on the gas down the stretch of the regular season
• Episode 6: Skip No Steps – The Playoffs open with a familiar nemesis – the Miami Heat. Adversity hits as a bad Game 2 loss and the loss of Porzingis in Game 3 tests Boston’s mettle and requires morefrom ‘Raising 18’ narrator Al Horford
• Episode 7: Stay Ready – After Boston’s role players rise up to fill the void left by KP against the Cavs, Jaylen Brown’s determination and leadership are on full display in Boston’s sweep of Indiana in the East Finals as Boston punches its ticket to the Finals
• Episode 8: The Return – Facing a Dallas team with two of the NBA’s best closers, Boston was briefly back at full strength with the triumphant return of Porzingis in a Game 1 win. In Game 2, it was Derrick White who showcased his All-Defensive Team status with a clutch chasedown block to put Boston up 2-0
• Episode 9: 18 Banners – A Game 3 win put Boston on the precipice of history only to be followed by a blowout loss on the road. How would the team handle adversity in the Finals? With Tatum and Finals MVP Brown leading the way to the title – finally reaching the goal they had set together years prior

4. INTRODUCING THE ‘DUNK SCORE’

A monster dunk can happen at any moment – sending the crowd into a frenzy and becoming a viral sensation racking up views, likes and shares across social media.

But those numbers don’t necessarily capture the greatness of the slam.

What if there was a way to analyze every dunk in every NBA game and find out which slam rises above the rest based on data rather than just the eye test?

Introducing the ‘Dunk Score’ from the NBA Stats team.

• The Anthony Edwards dunk above – which topped the NBA’s top 100 dunks list from last season – also generated the highest dunk score of the year at 124.4
• Edwards posted three of the top six dunk scores from 2023-24 and gets his first chance to post a Dunk Score in 2024-25 tonight when the Wolves visit the Lakers

Jalen Johnson dunk So, how does this work? How can every in-game dunk be broken down to an unbiased, singular score in real time?

It begins with player tracking data gathered from a computer vision-based system built by Hawkeye inside every NBA arena. The system computes a coordinate (x, y, z) for 29 body parts of every player, as well as the game ball, 60 times per second.

The NBA Stats team combines that data with innovative data science to analyze every dunk based on four subscores:

• Jump is all about the athlete’s verticality & explosiveness in the air
• Power captures the raw force of the dunk
• Style measures dunk flashiness, quantifying how much flair the player adds to their dunk
• Defensive Contest adds context by evaluating how much defensive pressure the dunker faced

Add those subscores together to get the overall Dunk Score for that specific slam. | Dive deeper into the data science behind the Dunk Score

Keep in mind, the Dunk Score is impartial – it does not take into consideration the status of the player performing the dunk, whether it’s a preseason game or Game 7 of the Finals, how much time is left or even the score of the game.

It just measures the dunk in its purest form based on the four subscores.

Like advanced stats helped basketball fans gather a fuller understanding of the game, the Dunk Score adds a scientific data-based evaluation of every slam to bring a better understanding to one of the most jaw-dropping plays in the game.

5. POWER RANKINGS ENTERING WEEK 1

On the eve of Opening Night, NBA.com’s John Schuhmann released his initial Power Rankings for the 2024-25 season.

The rankings will be updated every Monday throughout the season and we’ll keep you updated on the biggest rises and falls in the Starting 5.

Here’s a closer look at the top 10 ahead of the season’s opening tip.

1. Celtics: The 2023-24 champs open the season with a target on their back and the No. 1 spot in the rankings

2. Thunder: After becoming the youngest team to earn a No. 1 seed, OKC added a pair of veterans to help solidify its roster in hopes of a championship run

3. Knicks: New York had a busy offseason in adding Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns to a squad that earned the East’s No. 2 seed a year ago

4. Timberwolves: After trading one former No. 1 pick in Towns, the Wolves will look at another in Anthony Edwards to continue his ascent in season five

5. Nuggets: The 2022-23 champs have lost a few pieces from that title team, but with three-time MVP Nikola Jokić running the show, they remain contenders

On the eve of Opening Night, NBA.com’s John Schuhmann released his initial Power Rankings for the 2024-25 season.

The rankings will be updated every Monday throughout the season and we’ll keep you updated on the biggest rises and falls in the Starting 5.

Here’s a closer look at the top 10 ahead of the season’s opening tip.

1. Celtics: The 2023-24 champs open the season with a target on their back and the No. 1 spot in the rankings

2. Thunder: After becoming the youngest team to earn a No. 1 seed, OKC added a pair of veterans to help solidify its roster in hopes of a championship run

3. Knicks: New York had a busy offseason in adding Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns to a squad that earned the East’s No. 2 seed a year ago

4. Timberwolves: After trading one former No. 1 pick in Towns, the Wolves will look at another in Anthony Edwards to continue his ascent in season five

5. Nuggets: The 2022-23 champs have lost a few pieces from that title team, but with three-time MVP Nikola Jokić running the show, they remain contenders

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Adam Silver, who last January agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in the NBA commissioner’s office through the end of the decade, begins his next term with … nothing to do. “There’s a lot to do,” insists Silver, chuckling. True, running a multibillion-dollar sports league with its tentacles everywhere around the globe is a full-time job. But Silver begins his 11th year as commissioner with the biggest agenda items already taken care of. Last year the league and the players union ratified a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement. In July, the NBA finalized a new broadcast rights deal, an 11-year, $77 billion windfall that will kick in next season. For the time being, it looks like clear sailing ahead.

Silver will happily acknowledge that, structurally, the NBA is in as good a place as it has been in ages. “Not just in my time as commissioner,” Silver says. “But in my [32] years at the league.” Parity, a decades-long dream of the NBA, has been achieved. Over the last six seasons, the league has crowned six different champions, with not so much as a back-to-back finalist. The CBA has choked off the ability of large-market teams to spend their way to success. “It goes more to how the team is built rather than to the outcome,” Silver says. “We want teams to be rewarded for drafting well and developing players well.”

So what are Silver’s priorities now? In a wide-ranging interview, he addresses the key items that remain on his agenda.

Item 1: NBA Expansion

With the CBA and the broadcast deals wrapped up, the possibility of the league adding teams for the first time in 20 years moves to the front burner. While it’s believed that the NBA will add two cities—with Seattle and Las Vegas as the front-runners—Silver cautions that any expansion talks are preliminary. While admitting two new teams could generate up to $10 billion in franchise fees, there are also concerns.

Silver’s take: “It’s one of the reasons why expansion isn’t as obvious as some people might think. There is a point of view that I often encounter that expansion is printing money. It’s not. First of all, you’re in essence selling equity in the league. To the extent you have new national television deals, you now have two new partners, so you’re dividing up the money by two additional ways. There’s also a dilution of talent. It’s one of the reasons we haven’t expanded anytime recently, because we’ve been working towards creating a more competitive league.”

Item 2: WNBA Expansion

The women’s game, Silver says, could expand more quickly. The league recently added a franchise in San Francisco to begin play next season, with Portland and Toronto joining in 2026, bringing the total to 15 teams. Interest in the WNBA, fueled in large part by the arrival of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, has exploded.

Silver’s take: “I know both [WNBA] commissioner [Cathy] Engelbert’s and my phones have been ringing off the hook over the last several months from parties interested in owning or investing in WNBA teams. When we launched the league 28 years ago, our goal was to have a WNBA team affiliated with every NBA franchise. We’ve clearly had some fits and starts along the way, and it may be that there are markets that the NBA is not in which make a lot of sense for the WNBA. At the same time, our goal would be to have a robust league roughly equivalent to the NBA. The fact that there’s all this interest doesn’t mean we should expand that quickly. We should be careful and deliberate in the way we do it.”

Item 3: Enhancing the Fan Experience

This, Silver says, “is at the top of my agenda.” The NBA is satisfied with its in-game experience. Arenas were at 98% capacity last season, and teams continue to innovate in areas such as food, accessibility and entertainment. “There’s not a lot of room to grow there,” Silver says. Where there is room is in the home viewing experience.

Silver’s take: “There’s enormous opportunity to grow, especially on a global basis. What that will require is using new technology that’s largely coming through streaming services to find better ways to engage fans. That comes through the personalization of those telecasts—things you can’t do certainly on broadcast television or on linear cable, but you can through streaming, where if people want to chat as part of a larger community during the game because they’re hard-core fans, they can. Or if they want to have discussions about individual players because they went to the same college, or they are interested in that player’s fashion choices. You name it, you can create communities around it.

“If fans want to buy products around the game, that’s available to them. If they want to play fantasy around what’s happening on the court, depending on the jurisdiction. If they want to bet, and now I’m talking about in-play betting. We’re just barely scratching the surface in terms of that interest.”

Item 4: Harnessing Technology

For years, the NBA has utilized artificial intelligence for everything from generating highlights to translating play-by-play into multiple languages.

Silver’s take: “Using technology, we can get sophisticated fan data to better understand where we gain viewers and where we lose them. For example, we’ve made some changes in the last few years because of concerns around [having] so many stoppages in the last few minutes for replay. One way around that is, and we’re investing a lot here, using technology that can make objective calls.

“There are a hundred fingers on the floor at all times, and creating technology that can instantaneously tell the officials whose finger the ball went off of or who stepped out of bounds will help with the pace of the game. [Look at] Hawk-Eye at the U.S. Open in tennis, It’s just, Ball’s out, hit the line, move on. We can do better in getting the call right, but also in creating a better pace to the game.”

Item 5: Protecting the Integrity of the Sport

Last April, the NBA faced an existential crisis. Jontay Porter, a backup forward with the Raptors, was caught, as the league later revealed, “disclosing confidential information to sports bettors, limiting his own participation in one or more games for betting purposes, and betting on NBA games.” Silver quickly banned Porter for life, and it likely won’t be the last time the commissioner has to hand out a severe punishment to send a message about what will happen to players who manipulate results. The proliferation of legal sports gambling—which Silver, as far back as 2014, strongly advocated for—has created more opportunities for exploitation.

Silver’s take: “We spend a lot of time thinking about that. There’s no question, there are ways that we can improve monitoring, and we’ve talked directly to the betting companies about that. I’d say one of the issues we deal with now is in [the Porter] case, you have Canadian regulations, and then in the U.S. you now have roughly 35 states with legalized sports betting, with, in many cases, very different regulatory framework.

“Even before sports betting became legalized in all these states, I was in favor of federal jurisdiction. I still think that we would be better off with a consistent national framework. I’m realistic. That’s not at the top of anybody’s list in Congress right now, so I’m not holding my breath waiting for that to happen.

“At the same time, I think that as we and the other leagues work together on some of these monitoring issues, AI is going to play a big part in this. I think that these monitoring systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated to [detect] aberrant behavior. In some cases, that isn’t necessarily tied directly to betting activity, but it sets off flags that suggest you may want to look at what’s happening in an individual situation because things are happening either statistically or from an operational standpoint that are not consistent with a data set that you’re seeing for other players.

“And we’re learning about the best ways to protect our players. It hasn’t been a secret. We’ve heard directly from coaches and players who felt harassed, whether it’s over point spreads or over/unders or prop bets. Just like we’ve dealt with other areas in problematic speech not relating to sports betting, it’s on us working with our teams to draw the appropriate lines. We want to do everything we can to make sure there’s a safe environment for them and our officials. We’re learning as we go, and no question there’s room for improvement.”

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