The opening day of the NBA was every bit as exciting as we all hoped it would be. Here is a list of HIGHS & LOWS:
HIGHS:
- From Elias: Carmelo Anthony’s 37 points is the 3rd-most by a Knicks player on Christmas Day. Only Bernard King and Richie Guerin have scored more for the Knicks on December 25th.
- Rajon Rondo had 31 points, 13 assists and 5 steals, joining Larry Bird (on Feb. 18, 1985) as the only Celtics players with 30+ points, 10+ assists and 5+ steals in a single game.
- Brandon Bass had 20 points and 11 rebounds in his Celtics debut
- Only three forwards in the last 25 seasons have recorded at least 37 points and 10 rebounds in a season opener. LeBron James accomplished this in win over the Dallas Mavericks. The other two players to reach this feat are first ballot hall of famers Charles Barkley who did it three times, and Karl Malone who did it once.
- Clippers big DeAndre Jordan had 8 blocks, but he also made the LOWS list as well
LOWS:
Mavs banner covered after getting blown out on XMAS!
- Kobe Bryant really struggled in isolation play types against the Bulls, scoring just 6 points on 13 plays. He shot 3-11 including a combined 1-8 on isolations from the top of the key and the right side of the court. Last year he led the NBA with 643 points in isolation.
- Rip Hamilton and Joakim Noah finished with a combined 12 points on 6 of 20 shooting.
- Chris Bosh scored just 4 points, his fewest in a game that he played at least 20 minutes since December 19, 2004 vs the Nets (as a member of Raptors).
- Lamar Odom had four points four boards in 13 minutes and was ejected in the third quarter.
- Kevin Durant missed five free throws. He is a career 88 percent free throw shooter.
- Stephen Curry who was questionable due to ankle injury was 2 for 12 for four points.
- DeAndre Jordan was 4 of 12 from the free throw line…thus Hack-A-Jordan will continue.
Heres the TNT Intro video from Christmas day via @jose3030
