The Detroit Pistons claimed first blood in the opening day of the NBA 2015-2016 season after beating the Atlanta Hawks, 106-94, the Detroit Free Press reports. The game was still close at the end of the first half, with the Pistons leading by five points, 48-43.
The complexion turned worse for the Hawks, a dominant team last season, when it allowed the Pistons to outscore them in the third. The Pistons registered 34 points in the thrid quarter as opposed to Hawks' 23.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope chipped in 21 points to lead the Pistons while Andre Drummond dominated the boards with 19. All of Detroit's starters scored in double figures.
Atlanta hardly looked at the team that won 60 games last season and went on to the Eastern Conference Finals.
"They were very good tonight. We weren't," Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said. "We get to go to work tomorrow."
The Hawks were led by Dennis Schroder with 20 points. Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague contributed 19 and 18, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls prevailed over the Cleveland Cavaliers in a thrilling matchup between the two Eastern Conference rivals, 97-95. President Barack Obama was in the audience, Yahoo Sports reports.
Bulls center Pau Gasol saved the day for Chicago as he blocked LeBron James' potential game-tying layup that could have sent the match to overtime.
Nikola Mirotic scored 19 points and Derrick Rose contributed 18 points for the Bulls. Rose wore a protective mask to shield his fractured left orbital bone.
James provided the firepower for the Cavaliers, leading the team with 25 points. Mo Williams registered 19 points and seven assists, while power forward Kevin Love added 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Obama, who was ringside cheering for the Bulls, is confident with the new system his favorite team is playing.
"I think it's very promising," Obama told TNT. "You've got a new coach, he's opening up the offense a little bit. The question is going to be can they hang on to the defense, with the new offense?"
