Roundup
Toronto Raptors
Philadelphia 76ers
Brooklyn Nets
Boston Celtics
New York Knicks
Raptors roll, James impresses in Philly debut: Atlantic Division roundup
The Raptors crush Chicago, the Nets stumble in Charlotte, and LeBron James shines in his 76ers debut heading into October 22.
By the PickALeague Newsroom · Published · Source: PickALeagueSummary written with AI assistance — how we workLire en français →
The Toronto Raptors opened their season with a statement win while the Brooklyn Nets stumbled out of the gate. In Philadelphia, LeBron James delivered an eye-catching debut as the 76ers navigate questions at center.
Raptors blow out Bulls and monitor two-way market
In Toronto, the Raptors hammered the Chicago Bulls 135-92, cruising to a lopsided victory that puts them at 1-0 in the Atlantic Division and near the top of the early standings.
Behind the scenes, the front office is also active. According to Hoops Rumors, citing Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the Raptors are among the teams showing interest in wing Dalton Knecht as a potential two-way signing after he cleared waivers. That would be a low-risk depth play on the wing for a team that already started its campaign with a convincing win.
Nets drop opener in Charlotte
The Brooklyn Nets’ season began with a 110-103 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. The defeat drops Brooklyn to 0-1 in the Atlantic, leaving the Nets immediately chasing division rivals who have already put a win on the board.
There were no other major Nets developments in the last 24 hours beyond the on-court setback.
In Philadelphia, James shines amid center-depth concerns
The Philadelphia 76ers are off to a 1-0 start, and CBS Sports notes that LeBron James shined in his first game with the franchise, bolstering a core that already features Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
Hoops Rumors points out that Philadelphia’s depth at center behind the often-injured Embiid was a concern heading into the 2026-27 campaign, particularly after Ariel Hukporti suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in his preseason debut. In that context, having James—who, as Hoops Rumors notes, has long been reluctant to log heavy minutes at center due to the physical toll—on the roster gives the coaching staff another option as they manage the rotation.
As for the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, there were no significant news items over the last 24 hours; both remain at 0-1 in what projects to be a tightly contested Atlantic Division.