Roundup
Atlanta Hawks
Charlotte Hornets
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons
Indiana Pacers
Miami Heat
Milwaukee Bucks
Orlando Magic
Washington Wizards
Bucks win a thriller as Pacers and Magic roll — Central and Southeast roundup
Bucks, Pacers, Bulls and Magic all picked up wins Thursday, while the Heat kept reshaping its offense around Klay Thompson and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
By the PickALeague Newsroom · Published · Source: PickALeagueSummary written with AI assistance — how we workLire en français →
It was a busy night for Central and Southeast teams, with four clubs from the sector picking up wins and the Miami Heat continuing to reshape its identity around Klay Thompson and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Bucks escape late, Pacers and Bulls open strong
In the Central Division, the Milwaukee Bucks needed every bucket to slip past the Oklahoma City Thunder 128-126. The win evens their record at 1-1 and steadies an up‑and‑down opening to the campaign. Without diving into individual box scores, Milwaukee’s offense found just enough answers in what turned into a high‑scoring shootout.
The Indiana Pacers opened their season with an impressive 123-112 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. At 1-0, Indiana immediately showed it can keep pace with the offensive tempo set by Western Conference opponents. The Chicago Bulls delivered a similar statement, knocking off the Phoenix Suns 124-117 to start their year at a clean 1-0.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were idle and remain at 0-0, while the Detroit Pistons hold onto their perfect 1-0 start as they await their next test.
Magic grind out a win as the Heat shifts its look
In the Southeast, the Orlando Magic outlasted the Memphis Grizzlies 122-118. Orlando moves to 1-0 after closing out a tight fourth quarter, an encouraging sign for a young group still learning how to finish games.
In Miami, the offensive rebuild continues around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Klay Thompson. In his first game with the Heat, Thompson went scoreless, but his three‑point gravity already altered defensive coverage, opening space for Miami’s interior star and helping the team push the pace. Off the court, the Heat claimed Bez Mbeng off waivers, a roster‑building tool rarely used in today’s NBA, highlighted as well by the Portland Trail Blazers’ claim of Micah Potter.
Elsewhere in the division, Miami sits at 1-0 along with Orlando. The Heat had already logged an opening win, while the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets are at 0-1 and the Washington Wizards are still waiting on their first official game at 0-0.