Nuggets 120, Sonics 103

As expected, the Sonics will at least be damned entertaining this year. Each team scored 30 points in the first quarter, and the action was furious.

I was at a Halloween party at the Kiwi and Kangaroo, and the game was fast enough to distract even from the parade of "sexy devils", "sexy cops" and even a "sexy Rainbow Brite".

Early on, Damien Wilkins was on fire--he scored 19 in the first half, including four three pointers.

Kevin Durant had a tough game, going 7-22. It wasn't that his defender, Yakhouba Diawara, was particularly adept. Durant was getting shots, they just weren't falling. Meanwhile, he didn't do much to stop Carmelo Anthony, who scored 32 points on 21 shots.

Durant's first point came on a free throw with 10:36 left in the first quarter.

Earl Watson's first game as starting point guard was disastrous. His plus/minus was an unconscionable -31 (!) as he shot 1-8 from the field. He did have 7 assists. Delonte West ended up getting more minutes than Watson (24-23) and definitely brought a more aggressive style. West took 13 shots, hitting 8, and ended up with 19 points, and a +14 plus/minus.

Jeff Green was a solid contributor, coming into the game and immediately drawing a foul on Eduardo Najera by pretending that Najera hip-checked him. Veteran move by the young guy.

In the end, of course, the Sonics' lack of defense killed them. They simply aren't good at it, and haven't been since Nate McMillan left. Still, wouldn't you rather watch a team that can't play defense than a team that can't play offense?

NBA.com has the full boxscore, play-by-play, and video highlights here.