Atlanta turned a 15-point first-quarter hole into a three-point win, New Orleans got its first result of the season, and Memphis finished a tight game in Portland with a decisive late push. The night also produced a career-high from rookie Darius Acuff Jr. and Cameron Boozer's first NBA triple-double.
Cleveland Cavaliers @ Atlanta Hawks: Okongwu resets the night
Atlanta's 53-45 rebounding edge gave the Hawks a foothold after Cleveland opened with a 35-24 first quarter. A 19-2 second-quarter run flipped the game, and Onyeka Okongwu kept Atlanta in front with a season-high 29 points and 12 rebounds. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 25. The ESPN recap records the swing; the box score shows Atlanta also finished with 34 assists to Cleveland's 26 and made 17 of 43 threes to the Cavaliers' 13 of 42.
Cleveland still had a final chance to extend the game. Donovan Mitchell cut Atlanta's lead to 112-111 with 20.6 seconds left, but Alexander-Walker made two free throws and Mitchell missed two potential tying attempts on the last possession. The Hawks had made only 13 of 18 free throws, compared with Cleveland's 22 of 29, so their control came from the glass and their ability to create better looks together, not from winning the stripe.
Sacramento Kings @ New Orleans Pelicans: Fears makes the possessions count
Sacramento's 25 turnovers were the clearest fault line in New Orleans' 132-120 win. The Pelicans recorded 18 steals to the Kings' 12, while assists were nearly even at 32-31 and New Orleans trailed 38-39 in rebounds. The ESPN box score also shows a 41-8 Pelicans advantage in bench points.
Jeremiah Fears gave New Orleans a steady hand through the decisive stretch, finishing with 22 points, eight rebounds and a career-high 13 assists. The Pelicans took control with a 16-2 run midway through the third quarter after leading by only two at halftime. Acuff supplied the night's biggest scoring line for Sacramento, a career-high 34 points with 12 assists, but the Kings could not protect the ball long enough to make that production decisive. The AP recap on ESPN details the run and both guards' performances.
Memphis Grizzlies @ Portland Trail Blazers: a third-quarter burst breaks the tie
Memphis made 18 of 42 three-pointers to Portland's 12 of 49, the shooting gap behind a 124-103 road win. The Grizzlies also finished ahead in rebounds, 54-45, and assists, 32-23. After the teams were tied 58-58 at halftime, Memphis put together a 10-0 third-quarter run and outscored Portland 33-20 in the fourth.
Cameron Boozer recorded the first triple-double of his NBA career with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists, while Deni Avdija led Portland with 24 points. Memphis moved to 5-0 by creating separation on both sides of the break: the third-quarter run changed the game, and the Grizzlies kept extending the lead rather than letting Portland's home crowd pull the finish back into doubt. The ESPN recap and box score confirm the run, shooting and individual lines.
The individual line and the league's next turn
Acuff's 34 points and 12 assists were the night's largest scoring performance, even in defeat. Boozer's triple-double was the milestone, and Memphis's 5-0 start leaves the Grizzlies among the early unbeaten teams.
The schedule changes shape on Friday, Oct. 30, when Emirates NBA Cup Group Play opens with 10 games. The NBA's Oct. 29 Starting 5 lists Knicks-76ers at 7:30 p.m. ET and Lakers-Warriors at 10 p.m. ET as the day's Prime doubleheader. Thursday's three games offered a compact preview of the league's next stretch: a close finish, a first win and one unbeaten team still moving forward.
