A much-anticipated clash between rookies Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren failed to live up to expectations, while the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers both lost again to continue their dismal starts to the season.
We round up all the action from across the NBA on Tuesday night.
The headline fixture of the night saw the Warriors fall to a fourth defeat in a row, as a major brawl in the first quarter led to the ejections of two of their veteran stars.
Klay Thompson and Jaden McDaniels got tangled up in a bizarre incident off the ball before Draymond Green charged in to headlock Rudy Gobert, who had intervened to separate the pair.
Green was assessed a flagrant 2 and is likely to receive a suspension for his actions, while Thompson and McDaniels were both thrown out with double technical fouls.
The Warriors, already missing their talisman Steph Curry through injury, were left severely shorthanded and proved unable to overcome the Wolves despite a valiant effort from rookie Brandin Podziemski (23 points and 7 rebounds).
Karl-Anthony Towns had 33 points with five 3-pointers and Anthony Edwards scored 20 to leave Minnesota (2-0) top of West Group C ahead of their meeting with the Sacramento Kings (1-0) on November 24.
Tuesday’s other game in Group C featured the first match-up between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren as the Oklahoma City Thunder routed the San Antonio Spurs 123-87. But the pair of 7-foot prospects had forgettable nights, with neither passing double figures in points on inefficient shooting.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 28 points for the Thunder, who remain unlikely to reach the quarterfinals despite improving to 1-2 in tournament action.
The Denver Nuggets maintained their undefeated start in West Group B with a narrow 111-108 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers behind a 32-point, 16-rebound night from Nikola Jokic.
Paul George scored 35 for LA (0-2), who are all but out of the in-season tournament and have now lost six in a row since acquiring James Harden (21 points) from the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Nuggets improve to 2-0 and will next take on the New Orleans Pelicans, who hosted Dallas on Tuesday night.
Brandon Ingram and rookie Jordan Hawkins both had 25 points for the Pelicans in a 131-110 victory, with the Mavericks’ Luka Doncic committing 8 turnovers.
In Group A, the Los Angeles Lakers beat Memphis 134-107, tying a franchise record with 22 3-pointers to advance to 2-0 in group action. DeAngelo Russell had 24 points for the Lakers, with Rui Hachimura adding 23 off the bench.
The 0-3 Grizzlies’ dreadful start to the season without the suspended Ja Morant continued as they became the first team to be mathematically eliminated from the tournament.
The Lakers were joined at the top of Group A by the Utah Jazz, who defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 115-99 thanks to Jordan Clarkson’s 30 points.
In the East, the Indiana Pacers upset the Philadelphia 76ers 132-126 to move top of Group A behind a 33-point, 15-assist night from Tyrese Haliburton.
MVP Joel Embiid had 39 points on 17-17 shooting from the free throw line, but Philadelphia mustered only six points from its bench.
The Pacers improve to 2-0 and will next face the Atlanta Hawks, who beat the Detroit Pistons 126-120 on Tuesday night despite the absence of Trae Young.
Dejounte Murray had 32 points and nine assists in the Hawks’ first taste of tournament play, while the Pistons remain winless.
Elsewhere, the Miami Heat won again in Group B, defeating the Charlotte Hornets 111-105. It was another strong night for Jimmy Butler (32 points) and Bam Adebayo (21 points, 11 rebounds), although the Heat still have to play the Milwaukee Bucks (1-0) and New York Knicks (0-1).
LaMelo Ball had 32 points for Charlotte, who fell to 1-1 in group action.
Finally, the Brooklyn Nets moved to 2-1 in Group C with a 124-104 win over the Orlando Magic.
Spencer Dinwiddie scored 29 points with 9 assists for the Nets, who will need the Boston Celtics to drop a game if they are to advance to the quarterfinals.
The next round of in-season tournament fixtures will take place on November 17.
