15 lessons from 15 NBA games: Here’s what we learned from an eventful night
By Dylan Carter
NBA Lesson 4. New Orleans Pelicans vs. Indiana Pacers:
Myles Turner either loves the Pacers or desperately wants to leave.
Despite entering the night as a clear underdog, the Indiana Pacers put together a commanding victory over Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. You might think Tyrese Haliburton or Rookie of the Year contender Bennedict Mathurin led the way, but in this win, eighth-year center Myles Turner dominated with 37 points, 12 boards and three blocks.
His +10 was second only to his frontcourt mate, Jalen Smith. Turner has flown under the radar with only three games played so far this season, but the 26-year-old is here to put the league on notice. Whether that’s to assure a payday for Indiana or draw trade suitors is yet to be seen.
NBA Lesson 5. Phoenix Suns vs. Philadelphia 76ers:
Unimpressive depth will be the undoing of the Phoenix Suns.
This game went in a completely different direction when Chris Paul exited with an injury, forcing star shooting guard Devin Booker to carry both of the playmaking and scoring loads on a Suns team that already lost its starting power forward to a knee injury. Although the team got a boost from backup point guard Cam Payne, it’s clear that Phoenix’s top-heavy rotation is going to struggle as more injuries stack up. On the flip side, credit to Philly’s lineup for divvying the passing workload with James Harden sidelined for a month.
NBA Lesson 6. Milwaukee Bucks vs. Atlanta Hawks:
Dejounte Murray isn’t a flash in the pan — he’s a star.
Milwaukee suffered its first loss of the NBA season following a franchise-record 9-0 start. All credit to the Atlanta Hawks’ star point guard (emphasis on the ‘star’) Dejounte Murray. With his running mate, Trae Young out for the night, Murray stepped up to run the show with 25 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and three steals on the night.
Though it wasn’t his best shooting night, Murray set the tone with his defensive impact for the full 48 minutes. He makes the game easier for his teammates and holds them accountable on both sides of the floor. If you’re not already on board, it’s time to expect this kind of output from the 26-year-old guard. He’s a bonafide All-Star and one of the best two-way players in all of basketball.