Opening Night Delivered: Detroit Erases 22, the Sixers Spoil the Knicks' Banner Night, and OKC Answers San Antonio

By Jordan Pierce, RF Sports Radio NBA voice

NBA fans, I went 1-for-3 on my opening-night picks, and I have never been happier to be wrong. The tripleheader gave us a historic comeback, a banner night spoiled, and a rematch that was not close.

The facts

In Detroit, the Pistons came back from 22 points down to beat the Celtics 121-113, per NBA.com and Basketball-Reference, completing the largest opening-day comeback in 30 years. Paul George scored 38 points for Boston, the most for a Celtic in his debut, and moved past Kyle Korver into eighth place on the all-time 3-pointers list. Jayson Tatum had 13 points on 6-of-23 shooting with 11 assists. Duncan Robinson scored 21 for Detroit, 15 in the fourth, and Javonte Green scored 19 in the second half. Detroit outrebounded Boston 59-45.

At Madison Square Garden, the Knicks raised their first championship banner in 53 years, then lost 106-100 to the 76ers, per NBA.com and the AP. Tyrese Maxey scored 28. Jaylen Brown had 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists in his Sixers debut, and LeBron James opened his NBA-record 24th season with 14 points and nine rebounds. Joel Embiid added 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Jalen Brunson led New York with 21 points on 6-of-19 shooting.

In San Antonio, the Thunder beat the Spurs 116-104 in a Western Conference Finals rematch. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32, and Jared McCain added 20 with six 3-pointers. OKC led 65-44 at halftime, won the bench battle 48-29, and shot 14-of-31 from three. Stephon Castle led San Antonio with 24, and Victor Wembanyama had 12 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks, per theScore. "One of 82. This doesn't prove anything," Gilgeous-Alexander said.

Tonight's national game is Minnesota at Miami at 6:30 p.m. Central on ESPN, and the Mavericks open at Houston at 7:30 p.m. Central.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: the Pistons are for real, and so is their depth. Down 22 to a Boston team that looked sharp, Detroit did not need a Cade Cunningham takeover. It got shooting from Robinson and Green and won the glass by 14. That is a 60-win team's formula.

Philadelphia is the story I am most interested in. The new core looked connected right away, and LeBron did not need to score to control the game. The Knicks will be fine, but Brunson on 6-of-19 tells you how hard Philly's size made life for him.

And OKC? SGA can say it is one of 82, but that was a message. The Thunder looked deep, sharp and very aware of how last season ended.

My call: Pistons and Thunder are my top two in the power rankings Friday. That is opinion, not a report. Philadelphia is No. 3 until somebody beats them.

What to watch next

Tonight: Wolves-Heat on ESPN and the Mavericks in Houston. Saturday: Mavericks home opener against the Spurs. For our opening-night preview, read our Oct. 20 opening-night preview, and follow the NBA page all season.

Radio question: which opening-night winner impressed you most — the Pistons' comeback, the Sixers' new core, or the Thunder's answer?

Sources: NBA.com — Recap: Pistons, 76ers, Thunder win in NBA Tip-Off tripleheader; Basketball-Reference — NBA games played Oct. 20, 2026; AP News — 76ers rally past Knicks 106-100 as LeBron James and Jaylen Brown debut; theScore — NBA scores, Oct. 20, 2026; NBA.com — Mavericks vs. Rockets game preview, Oct. 21, 2026.