Steven Adams and the Oklahoma City Thunder have fallen short on the opening day of the new NBA season, going down 108-100 to the champion Golden State Warriors.
Adams overcame back stiffness to take his place in a Thunder lineup missing All-Star guard Russell Westbrook.
The big Kiwi showed no signs of any discomfort, piling on 17 points and 11 rebounds to record a season opening 'double-double'.
Despite a second-half surge from the Thunder, the Warriors proved too good behind a game-high 32 points from Steph Curry.
Elsewhere, Aussie Ben Simmons put on a show and fell just short of a 'triple-double' for the Philadelphia 76ers, but the Boston Celtics reigned supreme in the NBA's season opener, winning 105-87.
Boston knocked the 76ers out of last season's playoffs and they continued their dominance in the highly anticipated match-up, with Boston's second-year forward Jayson Tatum top-scoring for his team with 23 points.
Simmons was outstanding, with 19 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and two blocks.
The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year's game involved no-look, behind-the-back and off-the-ground passes, slashes to the basket, dunks and jump hook shots.
NZ-born Aussie Aron Baynes came off the bench and had the Boston crowd on its feet with his strong, scrappy and inspirational play, while going head-to-head with 76ers' All-Star centre Joel Embiid.
The Queenslander had eight points, four rebounds, three assists and hit two of his four three-point attempts. Embiid had 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Celtics All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, who missed the playoffs last year through injury, had seven and 10 points respectively.
Newshub.
