The 2024-25 NBA season began Tuesday with two blockbuster games -- one with the defending NBA champions Boston Celtics tying an NBA record and the other featuring future Hall of Famer LeBron James making NBA history alongside son Bronny James.
The first game saw the Celtics defeat the New York Knicks in a blowout 132-109 win at TD Garden in which the hosts tied an NBA mark for most 3-pointers made (29) in a game. Ahead of the contest, the Celtics also unveiled their record 18th championship banner while also receiving their title rings.
The Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second game of the night, when LeBron and Bronny became the first father-son duo to play in an NBA regular season game together.
Here are the top highlights from the games as well as postgame takeaways from our ESPN insiders.
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Takeaways | Knicks-Celtics updates | Timberwolves-Lakers updates
Takeaways
Celtics 132, Knicks 109
Celtics make the most of their special night
These nights typically see the team that got its championship rings struggle to maintain focus. Instead, this night became one where the only drama was the farcical fourth-quarter attempts to break the record for 3-pointers made in a game, as Boston emphatically proved Joe Mazzulla's belief that this team can attack this season like it didn't win last year. For all of the pressure that was on the Celtics last year, one can credibly argue Boston has less pressure on it this year. The Celtics played that way Tuesday.
New York, meanwhile, spent its postgame pointing to the obvious fact that it has to be far better defensively. Considering the Knicks next play Friday night at Madison Square Garden against the high-powered Indiana Pacers, it won't take long to see how much better their defense can play after some film and practice days. -- Tim Bontemps
New York not there yet after flat showing
The result was emphatic, but the result itself shouldn't have been. The Celtics, the defending champs and a club that can play well regardless of whether it has Kristaps Porzingis, came out and played like the dominant team they are, hitting 29 triples in just over three quarters.
The Knicks may be able to compete down the line, but they're still a group with a couple of key players who are learning to play together. They aren't at Boston's level. (If this is truly what Boston is, perhaps no one is.) But New York badly needs to figure out the defensive end, something that will take time, even with the individual talent it possesses on that side of the ball. -- Chris Herring
Lakers 110, Timberwolves 103
Davis steals spotlight on LeBron-Bronny night
The Lakers' win featured the first father-son duo in NBA history when LeBron James and Bronny James took the court in the second quarter, and it marked the first game -- and, ultimately, win -- for new Lakers coach JJ Redick. But the dominance from Lakers star Anthony Davis shined above all the other storylines, as he finished with 36 points and 16 rebounds.
Davis' scoring effort marked the most in a season opener by a Lakers player since Kobe Bryant scored 45 against the Houston Rockets in 2007, according to ESPN Research. Davis also recorded his 15th career 35-point, 15-rebound game with the Lakers, tying Wilt Chamberlain for fourth most in franchise history. That's good company -- and it came against Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert, a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
LeBron, who will turn 40 in December, was fairly quiet, with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists, but the Lakers got a nice lift from Rui Hachimura, who scored 18. The Lakers were noticeably active on defense and forced 16 turnovers, which they cashed in for 19 points. It wasn't a perfect night for the Lakers, but there was a lot for Redick to like in his first game as the Lakers' head coach. -- Baxter Holmes
Timberwolves turnovers overshadow Edwards' solid game
Anthony Edwards picked up where he left off in last year's playoffs, scoring 27 points and making the Lakers pay when they sent traps his direction in the fourth quarter, but the Timberwolves couldn't find other consistent sources of offense in their first game with Julius Randle in place of Karl-Anthony Towns.
Turnovers were especially problematic for Minnesota in the first half, when the team had 11 that led to 14 points for the Lakers. And the Timberwolves' other starters besides Edwards shot just 1-of-11 from 3-point range, including a combined eight misses in as many attempts for Mike Conley and Jaden McDaniels.
There's positive precedent, however. Minnesota also lost last year's season opener in Toronto, scoring just 94 points, and then won eight of the next nine games en route to the Western Conference finals. -- Kevin Pelton
Here are the top highlights and key insights from the Celtics' win over the Knicks.
Here are the top highlights and key insights from the Lakers' win over the Timberwolves.
