NBA Opening Night Game Thread!

BASKETBALL IS BACK!

The 2014-15 NBA campaign tips off without the Phoenix Suns tonight, but that's no reason not to celebrate.   Tonight's games feature a pair of Western Conference duels and a battle between a pair of young up-and-coming franchises.  It's the perfect amuse-bouche to the bacchanalia of Suns and NBA basketball to come over the next several months.

Orlando Magic vs New Orleans Pelicans - 5:00PM AZ Time - League Pass

The NBA's hopes for creating a young new rivalry between Victor Oladipo and Anthony Davis took a hit with the announcement that Oladipo will miss the first month of the season with a broken face.  And Suns fans hoping to see Channing Frye get bit by a shark on national live TV may have to wait as he is questionable with a knee injury.  You'll have to make do with Ryan Anderson, Jrue Holiday and former Phoenix max contract offer signer Eric Gordon taking on Ben Gordon and Evan Fournier.  Maybe skip this one and watch the Unibrow highlights on the sports network of your choosing.

SBNation New Orleans Pelicans Coverage: The Bird Writes

SBNation Orlando Magic Coverage: Orlando Pinstriped Post

Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs - 5:00PM AZ Time - TNT

Gal Mekel's Dallas Mavericks look to get an early leg up on the defending champion San Antonio Spurs.  The Dallas Mavericks will sport lots of new and returning faces with Chandler Parsons, Tyson Chandler, Jameer Nelson, and Richard Jefferson joining Dirk Nowitzki since last season.  The San Antonio Spurs will be short-handed as Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, Tiago Splitter and Patty Mills will all miss the season opener, meaning the Spurs will only have Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili to rely on to lead the team for the 435th consecutive year.

SBNation Dallas Mavericks Coverage: Mavs Moneyball

SBNation San Antonio Spurs Coverage: Pounding the Rock

Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers - 7:30PM AZ Time - TNT

The highly anticipated Jeremy Lin revenge game! Or is it the Dwight Howard revenge game?  Or maybe the Kobe revenge game.  Regardless of which narrative you choose to follow, this game is a treasure trove of players Suns fans love to hate.  Kobe Bryant will essentially be playing his first full-strength game in over a year and it will in fact be the first time he and Dwight Howard square off since Howard spurned the Lakers for the Rockets.  Whatever.  Just make sure to stand up and cheer when Pharoah Head Ish Smith enters the game!

SBNation Houston Rockets Coverage: The Dream Shake

SBNation Los Angeles Lakers Coverage: Silver Screen and Roll