Around the league: Saturday's top highlights, performers and storylines

NBA.com India Staff

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Around the league: Saturday's top highlights, performers and storylines image

We had nine NBA games on tap for Saturday with no shortage of the league's best teams and superstar talent.

If you missed any of the action, don't sweat it because we have you covered on the best performers, closest games, can't-miss highlights and top storylines.

Below, you can access the box scores for each game before you dive into all the must-see events from Saturday's contests.

*All times Eastern.

7:00 p.m.: Charlotte Hornets at Orlando Magic

7:30 p.m.: New York Knicks at Brooklyn Nets

8:00 p.m.: Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors | Atlanta Hawks at Memphis Grizzlies | Cleveland Cavaliers at Minnesota Timberwolves | Sacramento Kings at New Orleans Pelicans

8:30 p.m.: Indiana Pacers at Milwaukee Bucks

10:30 p.m.: Golden State Warriors at Utah Jazz | Oklahoma City Thunder at Los Angeles Clippers

Top storylines

Kemba Walker keeps rolling

After scoring 41 points in a loss in the Hornets' season opener, Walker carried his hot hand into Saturday's game versus the Orlando Magic. Kemba scored 26 points to go with five assists, two rebounds and a steal securing Charlotte's first win of the season in blowout fashion, 120-88. He's knocked down 12 threes through the first two games of the season, tying Ray Allen's NBA record from 17 years ago in 2001.

Caris LeVert's game winner

LeVert was getting it done all game long for the Brooklyn Nets. The third-year guard, whom many believe is poised for a break-out season, dropped 28 points with six rebounds and five assists. No points he scored were bigger than this take though...


LeVert hit a huge three to take the lead with two minutes remaining, followed by two clutch free throws, followed by this game-winning layup to secure the Nets' first victory of the season.

From boos to MVP chants - the Jimmy Butler saga continues

In Butler's first game back in Minnesota, he was greeted with a mixture of boos and cheers from the hometown crowd.


By the end of the night, he had the crowd chanting MVP when he was at the free throw stripe.


After an obscure offseason with the Timberwolves, Butler has started and played well in both games thus far. On Saturday, he led the Timberwolves to their first win of the season defeating the Cavaliers 131-123.

Kawhi Leonard gets it done vs. Boston

After a big season opener in Toronto, Leonard picked up where he left off with a big win over the Boston Celtics. He notched a 31 point-10 rebound double-double to push the Raptors past the Eastern Conference-favorite Celtics, proving the Raptors should be right in that conversation to represent the East in The Finals this season. In a close game down the stretch, he (and Danny Green) came up with this massive block to help secure the win and advance Toronto to 2-0 on the season.


A record-breaking amount of buckets in New Orleans

With a final score like 149-129, offence was coming in bunches in New Orleans tonight. The Pelicans, behind a career-high 36 points from Nikola Mirotic, broke a franchise-record for points scored in a game. They had eight different players in double figures and their 149 points were the most scored in regulation in an NBA contest since the Phoenix Suns scored 152 points back in March of 2010.

A Warriors game-winner by who?

The Jazz controlled the entire game against the Warriors until the final second. Jonas Jerebko, a member of the Jazz a season ago, tipped in Kevin Durant's mid range pull-up leaving only 0.3 seconds on the clock to complete the comeback for Golden State 124-123.

Joe Ingles gave it his all for Utah with a team-high 27 points burying seven three-pointers but Durant's 38 points and Jerebko playing the unlikely hero got the Warriors the road win.


Top performers

Giannis Antetokounmpo - 26 points (12-for-23 FG), 15 rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block

Jimmy Butler - 33 points (10-for-12 FG, 1-for-1 3FG, 12-for-12 FT), seven rebounds, three assists, four steals, two blocks

Kevin Durant - 38 points (14-for-25 FG, 1-for-1 3FG, 9-for-9 FT), nine rebounds, seven assists, one steal, one block

Kawhi Leonard - 31 points (10-for-25 FG, 2-for-5 3FG, 9-for-9 FT), 10 rebounds, three assists, one steal

Nikola Mirotic - 36 points (14-for-21 FG, 5-for-9 3FG), nine rebounds, two assists

Can't-miss highlights

Jrue Holiday's lob looked like it was out of Anthony Davis' reach, but AD reminded us there is nothing he cannot reach.


And Jeff Teague told the media he was done dunking last season... This was a smart business decision, indeed.


Also from this game, Karl-Anthony Towns will take that, thank you very much.


Giannis Antetokunmpo avoided this Domantas Sabonis poster - Brook Lopez, not so much.


Kyrie Irving with some sort of wizardry on this finger-roll finish.


Boban Marjanovic, meet Steven Adams. Steven Adams, meet Boban Marjanovic.


NBA.com India Staff