It was business as usual for Dyson Daniels, but the heat is on Josh Giddey after Chicago’s miserable season-opening loss to Toronto.
Atlanta guard Daniels logged a steal and assist inside the first 20 seconds to set the tone in the Hawks’ 132-125 defeat of Orlando.
He finished with 20 points, five steals, three assists and four rebounds in the road win, but did most of his damage in a 16-point, four-steal first half.
Beaten by eventual champions New York in last year’s finals, the Hawks shipped star guard Trae Young to Washington and have asked more of Daniels and Jalen Johnson, who had 20 points, 14 rebounds and six assists.
Daniels scored 13 points in a 44-point second quarter for the Hawks, who turned a five-point deficit into a 10-point lead.
Boomers teammate Jock Landale scored 10 points on four-of-five shooting and added three assists and a block despite sporting a bloodied and bruised face from a knock under his eye.
The Magic, behind Paola Banchero (35 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds), rallied to lead again in the final term but the Hawks had the final say.
The Bulls were blown away in Toronto and Giddey couldn’t hide his frustration.
The Boomers guard was scoreless until the third quarter and finished with just two points on one-of-10 shooting.
He added six assists and seven rebounds but made five turnovers in a 135-92 spanking.
Kawhi Leonard, a former title winner and Finals MVP with the Raptors, had 23 points, six rebounds, four steals and two assists in his return to the franchise.
The Bulls have reshaped their roster under new coach Tiago Splitter but they were clunky in their first true test as Giddey struggled to find open men or clear lanes to the rim.
Anthony Davis had 34 points and 12 rebounds in his debut with Washington, and the new-look Wizards - who have Boomers coach Adam Caporn on staff - beat the Milwaukee Bucks 128-116.
Charlotte beat Brooklyn, Memphis beat Utah and Tyrese Haliburton added 23 points and 12 assists in his first regular-season game since rupturing his Achilles 16 months ago as Indiana beat New Orleans 123-120.