NBA winners and losers: Pistons rally past Celtics, Tatum struggles

The 2026-27 NBA season is officially underway with an unprecedented opening-day tripleheader that began with a rare weekday matinee game between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons rallied from a 22-point deficit to stun Boston in the league’s first game of the season, setting the stage for the New York Knicks’ ring ceremony and championship banner-raising before they face LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers. A Western Conference finals rematch between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder wraps up the NBA opening-day slate on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

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Here’s a live breakdown of the players, moments and storylines that emerged as winners and losers from the NBA’s opening day.

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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

1. Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

(Alonzo Adams, Imagn Images)

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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

1. Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

(Alonzo Adams, Imagn Images)

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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

2. Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets

(Jesse Johnson, Imagn Images)

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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

3. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

(Wendell Cruz, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

4. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers

(Marc Lebryk, Imagn Images)

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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat

(Sam Navarro, Imagn Images)

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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

6. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

(Bill Streicher, Imagn Images)

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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

7. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

(Ronald Martinez, Getty Images)

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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

8. Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

(David Berding, Getty Images)

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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

9. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

(Winslow Townson, Getty Images)

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Jokić, Shai or Wemby? Ranking the NBA’s 50 best players

10. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

(Gregory…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nba-winners-losers-pistons-rally-223444383.html

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Publish date : 2026-10-20 22:34:00

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