Jonas Jerebko returned to haunt Utah by tipping in with 0.3 seconds remaining as the Golden State Warriors edged out the Jazz by the thinnest of margins.
The defending NBA champions looked set for a surprise first defeat of the season despite star turns from Kevin Durant and Steph Curry, who contributed 38 and 31 points respectively.
Yet it was left to one of their lesser-known stars to snatch a 124-123 victory, Jerebko, picked up by the Warriors after being waived by the Jazz in the close season, delivering the killer blow.
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 20, 2018
The Jazz had been 15 points ahead midway through the third quarter and that advantage was still in double figures with less than nine minutes left, but their opponents rallied.
Utah hit the front once more inside the final minute but Jerebko would have the final say after Durant was unable to find the target with a jumper to give Golden State back-to-back wins at the start of the campaign.
Last season’s beaten NBA finalists the Cleveland Cavaliers are 0-2 following the departure of LeBron James as they went down to a 131-123 defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
81-1 is still a real possibility!
Full highlights below 🎥 pic.twitter.com/oOBeXUV3Ht
— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) October 20, 2018
Jimmy Butler rose to the fore with 33 points in his 36 minutes on court for the Timberwolves, who never surrendered the lead after initially forging ahead at the end of the first quarter.
Kevin Love’s 25 points and 19 rebounds were in vain for the Cavaliers.
The New York Knicks suffered their first defeat of the season as Caris LeVert’s last-second drive to the net sealed a 107-105 win for the Brooklyn Nets.
LeVert’s layup capped a career-high 28 points, with D’Angelo Russell and Jarrett Allen pouring in 15 apiece to usher the Nets to their first win.
The @PelicansNBA score a franchise record 149 points in their home opener! #DoItBig #KiaTipOff18 pic.twitter.com/zD0vQs1cQ0
— NBA (@NBA) October 20, 2018
Kawhi Leonard produced a standout performance as his 31 points and 10 rebounds lifted the Toronto Raptors to their second-successive victory after they saw off the Boston Celtics 113-101.
Eight New Orleans players hit double figures and the unbeaten Pelicans prevailed 149-129 over the Sacramento Kings.
The Milwaukee Bucks also moved to 2-0 after a 118-101 win over the Indiana Pacers, the Los Angeles Clippers overcame the Oklahoma City Thunder 108-92, the Atlanta Hawks were beaten 131-117 by the Memphis Grizzlies and the Charlotte Hornets routed the Orlando Magic 120-88.
