The NBA season just kicked off and holy smokes, the Western Conference is already serving up chaos, thrillers, and some flat-out jaw-dropping blowouts. We’re only three days in, but the Portland Trail Blazers have already sent a shockwave through the league, absolutely manhandling the Phoenix Suns in their home opener, leading by a mind-blowing 52 points at one point. That’s not just a win, that’s a declaration.
Early Season Shocks and Stumbles
While Portland made a statement, some other teams are already looking shaky. The Phoenix Suns, who made the playoffs last season, got utterly embarrassed right out of the gate. A 41-point loss to Portland is brutal, and they’ve got to turn it around fast against Golden State in their own home opener. The Sacramento Kings also found themselves on the wrong end of a beatdown, falling to the Clippers by 21 points. And the Utah Jazz? They got thumped by Memphis by 20 points, even with Ty Jerome somehow dropping an unlikely 45-point outburst. That kind of scoring doesn’t happen every night, so you gotta wonder where their offense goes from here, especially with a tough test against New Orleans up next.
Even the Golden State Warriors, showcasing their new-look starting lineup, got blown out by the Lakers, though the back-and-forth between Yaxel Lendeborg and Luka Doncic apparently kept it entertaining. The Dallas Mavericks, a young squad playing on the road, put up a solid effort but still took an 18-point loss to Houston, where Cooper Flagg and Kevin Durant got after it. It’s only week one, but these kinds of early losses are tough to shake off mentally.
Who’s Rising, Who’s Sliding
On the flip side, the Los Angeles Clippers are sitting at 1-0 after taking down Sacramento in their home opener. Honestly, starting the season with a win might be the highlight of the year for their fanbase, which tells you a lot about expectations. The Memphis Grizzlies also snagged a win at home against a rebuilding Utah squad. Yeah, Ty Jerome had that crazy 45 points, but it was in a shaky debut for Cameron Boozer, and as we said, that 45-point miracle isn’t a daily occurrence.
New Orleans came up short against the Pacers in a wire-to-wire game, losing at home even with Tyrese Haliburton making his return. And then there’s Denver. The Nuggets also dropped their season opener. It’s clear the Western Conference is going to be a dogfight, and these early results are just a taste of the wild ride ahead. What’s next for these teams? Redemption, more blowouts, or something in between? We’re on the edge of our seats already.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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