CNN
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Kevin Durant led the Phoenix Suns to a nail-biting 116-113 overtime victory, spoiling the grand opening of their new arena, the Intuit Dome, by the Los Angeles Clippers.

In the arena’s first NBA game since construction was completed in August, the Clippers looked to start this new era with a victory after building a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter.

But the Suns came back and Durant tied the game with a fadeaway jumper over two Clippers players with just 21 seconds left to force OT.

The Clippers had one last chance in overtime with three seconds left to get off a three-pointer and force double overtime, but James Harden failed to catch the ball on the inbounds pass.

Durant finished with a team-high 25 points to go with seven rebounds, three steals and a block, while Bradley Beal added 24 points.

Devin Booker, the third member of Phoenix’s big three, took a backseat tonight, finishing with just 15 points even though he fouled out with two minutes left.

The trio was formed during the 2023 offseason when Beal came over from the Washington Wizards in a trade, but injuries to Durant and Beal led to a lack of cohesion, the No. 6 seed in the West and a first-round sweep in the play -offs to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Clippers, without injured star Kawhi Leonard, who is out indefinitely to start the season as he continues to battle a knee injury, were led by Harden’s 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.

Damian Lillard arrived with the Milwaukee Bucks to much fanfare prior to last season.

Lillard’s new partnership with Giannis Antetokounmpo was one of the best players in the league for much of his 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers and was designed to fire Milwaukee back to an NBA title.

But it was a tumultuous start to the season. Lillard arrived in Wisconsin late after lengthy trade talks, before head coach Adrian Griffin was fired and replaced by Doc Rivers.

Now that they have had a full pre-season together, the star duo will be confident of improved chemistry this season. The team’s dominant 124-109 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers is a promising start.

Lillard finished with 30 points — the 253rd 30-point game of his career — nine rebounds and six assists, while Antetokounmpo had 25 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists on a night when the duo’s games seemed to fit together easily.

“Things take time,” Lillard said after the win, according to the NBA. ‘You have to feel comfortable. You must understand.

“Our time last year and this summer when we got to Milwaukee a little early for camp and were able to connect was really helpful.”

The Sixers, without injured star duo Joel Embiid and Paul George, were led by last season’s Most Improved Player, Tyrese Maxey, with 25 points.

Ja Morant marked his return to action for the Memphis Grizzlies with 22 points, 10 assists and five rebounds, helping the team to a narrow 126-124 win over the Utah Jazz.

The second overall pick in the 2019 draft served a 25-game suspension last season for “conduct prejudicial to the (NBA)” after an Instagram Live video appeared to show him flashing a gun while in a vehicle sat while others circulated on social media before a shoulder injury cut his season short. Morant ultimately played just nine games in 2023/24.

Morant, one of the NBA’s most exciting players, showed off all his scintillating skills in the win. With 40 seconds left, the Grizzlies guard dribbled the ball behind his back, went to the rim against shot-blocking monster Walker Kessler and somehow made the layup.

Morant’s return will undoubtedly make Memphis a force in the Western Conference again.

Three Grizzlies players finished with more than 20 points, with the impressive Santi Aldama scoring 27 and Desmond Bane adding 24 points.

Lauri Markkanen had 35 points and nine rebounds for the Jazz

Away @ home (winners in bold)

Phoenix suns 116-113 (OT) Los Angeles Clippers

Milwaukee Bucks 124-109 Philadelphia 76ers

Memphis Grizzlies 126-124 Utah Jazz

Indiana Pacers 115-109 Detroit Pistons

Orlando magic 116-97 Miami Heat

Cleveland Cavaliers 136-106 Toronto Raptors

Brooklyn Nets 116-120 Atlanta Hawks

Charlotte Hornets 110-105 Houston Rockets

Chicago Bulls 111-123 New Orleans Pelicans

Warriors of the Golden State 139-104 Portland Trail Blazers