As night fell on the 28th and the clock quietly ticked to 6:45, the roar of the crowd and cheers intertwined, filling the air above the basketball court with an atmosphere both tense and electric.
At that moment, the highly anticipated opening games were already in full swing, while the first three matchups had concluded amid the spectators' frenzied cheers.
The first game that caught everyone's attention was the fierce showdown between the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers.
On the court, the players moved with the speed of cheetahs, every offensive and defensive possession a collision of power and skill.
In the end, the Houston Rockets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 108–90, claiming an overwhelming 18-point victory.
In that win, Dwight Howard was undoubtedly the brightest star.
He moved freely beneath the basket with his agile frame, making 11 of 17 shots and going an incredible 13-for-15 from the free-throw line, an efficiency that left people dumbfounded.
With his astonishing strength, he poured in 35 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, dished out 2 assists, and added 3 blocks, standing guard over the Rockets' interior like an insurmountable mountain.
Meanwhile, the action on the other side was just as thrilling.
The contest between the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks was equally heart-stopping.
The game entered its final, decisive moments with neither side able to pull away.
But at that critical instant, Tony Parker stepped up and hit an incredibly precise three-pointer for the near-buzzer-beater, helping his team escape with a narrow 101–100 victory and claim its first win of the new season.
In another intense battle, New Orleans Pelicans star Anthony Davis displayed overwhelming dominance.
He was like a scoring machine, making 10 of 22 shots while going a flawless 9-for-9 at the free-throw line.
The third-year player