Darius Garland torches Kings for 30 points

Making his first official NBA appearance since December 2020, Hezonja wasted no time getting up shots. He took 13 shots, matching the combined total of Cleveland’s other four reserves, and scored 10 of the team’s 18 bench points. Hezonja missed all five of his three-point attempts, but his offensive aggression was encouraging. He isn’t a must-add after Thursday, but managers in deep leagues should keep an eye on Hezonja, as his role in Cleveland projects to be important.

Allen entered Thursday’s season opener with right knee patellar tendinitis, but the veteran center took on his usual role in Philadelphia. He did most of his damage before halftime, scoring 14 points and grabbing five rebounds. After halftime, Allen didn’t score and recorded just two rebounds and two blocks. Like many of his teammates who also struggled in the second half, Allen has to be more consistent. Given the fantasy track record, managers should not be concerned after Game 1.

The good news for fantasy managers was that Mobley put up solid percentages and point and rebound totals. The bad news is that he offered no defensive production, and managers have increasingly relied on him for it as his career has progressed. Mobley will have better defensive nights, and Saturday’s matchup with the Nets may be more forgiving.

Watson’s official Cavaliers debut did not go as he likely had planned, as the athletic forward struggled with poor shooting and turnovers. Watson finished with five turnovers, four of them after halftime. The good news for fantasy managers is that this was just one game, and Watson is well-positioned to offer greater fantasy value than he did in Denver.

As with many of his teammates, Mitchell’s season-opening game was a tale of two halves. During the first half, he went off for 22 points, shooting 7-of-9 from the field and 6-of-7 from the foul line. After halftime, he shot 4-of-10 from the field, scoring 10 points. The Cavs were outscored 69-37 in the second half, losing a game they led by as much as 29. Mitchell’s overall stat line will please fantasy managers, but it could have been even better.

Harden was limited to six points in the first half of Thursday’s season opener, then scored 10 after halftime. However, ball control was an issue in the second half, as the Cavaliers’ point guard turned the ball over four times. As a team, Cleveland committed 15 turnovers in the second half, which helped them blow a 29-point lead. Harden and the Cavs will look to bounce back on Saturday when they host the Nets.

On most nights, when a player needs 20 shots to score 21 points, the efficiency is an issue. That wasn’t the case for Brown, who shot 50 percent from the field against the Cavaliers. He didn’t attempt any free throws on Thursday and has four total through two games. Given Philadelphia’s offensive firepower, Brown could miss out on some of those “free points” that helped him average a career-best 28.7 points per game last season.

James was responsible for five of the 76ers’ 14 first-half turnovers, and the offensive inefficiency led to Philadelphia falling into a 29-point hole. LeBron was much better in the second half, recording a 12/7/4/1 stat line with no turnovers. While the field-goal percentage and turnovers could be problematic at times, fantasy managers rostering James don’t have much to worry about right now.

After scoring nine points on 3-of-10 shooting in the first half, Embiid shot 5-of-6 after halftime, scoring 15 points. His increased production helped the 76ers erase a 29-point deficit, as Nick Nurse’s team ramped up defensive pressure and played with more pace on offense. Embiid’s ability to keep up with his new teammates is something to watch, especially when considering his injury history. But for the most part, he’s been good through Philadelphia’s first two games.

The 76ers pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history on Thursday, rallying from a 29-point deficit to win 114-106 in their home opener. Maxey was Philadelphia’s most consistent offensive player, and his defense on James Harden also played a role. Harden scored 10 points in the second half but also recorded more turnovers (four) than assists (two). If the first two games indicate what’s to come, Maxey will be the 76ers’ first offensive option. Given his first-round ADP, that’s great news for fantasy managers.