Kevin Durant, Dillon Brooks And LeBron James Lead Dramatic NBA Cup Opening Night

Kevin Durant, Dillon Brooks and LeBron James headline a dramatic NBA Cup opening night.© Ndtv Gallery

The 2026 NBA Cup opened with close finishes, heated exchanges and a major comeback on Friday, October 30. LeBron James led Philadelphia past the defending NBA and NBA Cup champion New York Knicks, while Kevin Durant and Tari Eason argued during Houston's loss in Dallas. Phoenix's Dillon Brooks was ejected after kicking Denver's Jamal Murray, and Stephen Curry produced a standout crossover against Luka Doncic as Golden State came back from 25 points down to beat the Lakers. Orlando also beat Toronto, where Desmond Bane and RJ Barrett received double technical fouls after a first-quarter clash. Here are the night's main moments from the tournament's opening group-play games on Friday.

Kevin Durant, Dillon Brooks And Desmond Bane Feature In Heated NBA Cup Moments

Durant scored 26, but Houston lost 116-111 to Dallas. He argued with Tari Eason after the ball went out. Durant shouted, “Come on, man!” Eason replied, “That's not my fault.”

Brooks was ejected in Phoenix's 127-120 loss to Denver after his right leg struck Murray during a third-quarter shot. Officials upgraded an offensive foul to a Flagrant 2. Brooks had 22 points in 21 minutes. Murray scored 39 and doubted it was deliberate.

“No, of course not,” Murray said. “He's shooting the ball. I mean, he might have flopped a little bit, but I don't think he's really trying to kick me in the (groin).”

Bane and Barrett received double technicals after a scuffle. Bane scored 28 in Orlando's 121-114 win.

LeBron James And Stephen Curry Deliver Late-Game Highlights

James had 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as Philadelphia beat New York 98-93. His fadeaway put the 76ers ahead late, and V.J. Edgecombe added a key three. Tyrese Maxey scored 27. “I'm having a great time,” James said.

Mike Brown blamed 13 turnovers, which gave Philadelphia 23 points. “It's been going on all year,” Brown said. “We're trying to hit a home run every time we get the ball and we have to hit singles. We can't hit a home run, we gotta hit singles offensively, and then if our play breaks down, we have to move.”

Curry scored 31 and Doncic had 37 in Golden State's 112-95 comeback win. “I was just trying to get a little bit of space. I didn't expect it to get that nasty, but it was one of those [where] you gotta kind of keep your composure,” Curry said. “And I remember James Harden had to do like the shimmy to get himself going back in the day.”