NBA schedule and results: Bulls roll over Knicks, Hornets rally to beat Bucks

It seemed pretty obvious that Westbrook would get a fluffed up rest from the quarter intermission and perhaps play the entire fourth. He’d only played 27 minutes to that point, and 39 is not unreasonable.

But that was a winnable game, and OKC needs early-season wins. The schedule is brutal, the West is brutal and chances are the fresh, rested and excellent Clippers will beat the Thunder regardless. A biscuit in hand is worth two in the oven. You’ve got to play the odds when the odds are otherwise stacked against you. Brooks didn’t. He did the calm, process-based thing and rested someone who is going to play a lot on Thursday and in every game for the foreseeable future.

Heading into the season, attention was on Westbrook to see how he would play without Durant at his side. After one game, Westbrook appears to be up for the challenge, but his superhuman efforts may not be enough in the early part of the year due to Oklahoma City’s litany of injuries.

Westbrook finished the first half with 26 points and five assists, and he capped off the masterful half with a monster dunk:

Russell Westbrook has been incredible in his season debut, but Oklahoma City finds itself trailing the Portland Trail Blazers late in the fourth quarter. Portland has put it all together in the final period, which included this alley-oop to LaMarcus Aldridge. That’s how you turn defense into offense.

By Amar’e Stoudemire’s old standards, this dunk isn’t anything special. By Amar’e Stoudemire’s new, injury-riddled standards ... not bad.

It’s the Charlotte Hornets’ debut and there’s a -- WAIT FOR IT -- buzz around Charlotte, because a) nostalgia and b) “Bobcats” was never a fun name for anybody. So their first game back is a classy event:

Even Hugo the Hornet, now back in his hometown, got in on the dressy spirit:

Rajon Rondo is returning from a broken hand when the Boston Celtics play the Brooklyn Nets on opening night. You might think this would put Rondo in a good mood after a long and tumultuous offseason, but people who have followed his career closely know Rondo has been never been particularly cherry.

Case in point: A reporter asked Rondo if he had taken the T to the arena after a picture of Rondo doing so circulated a few hours earlier:

The Celtics star didn’t play the entire preseason as he recovered from a broken hand, but opening night apparently has some special healing powers. Welcome back, Rondo.