EA Sports used its latest hoops game to predict a Cavaliers victory and a bit of a surprise in California.
If video games can do hot takes, NBA LIVE 18 has one for the opening night of the 2017-18 NBA season. According to the game’s official sim, the Golden State Warriors are about to start the new campaign 0-1, while the Boston Celtics are set to show right away just how far they’re going to push the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The sims are complete for both halves of tonight’s NBA doubleheader, and the prediction is for two hard-fought games. In the opener, NBA LIVE 18 thinks the Cavs and Celtics will battle each other hard to settle things, with the Cavs eventually pulling away thanks to 40 points not from LeBron or D-Wade, but from Kevin Love.
Here’s what the game sees from Celtics-Cavs:
Cleveland Cavaliers 122, Boston Celtics 104
Key Cavs stats:
- Kevin Love: 40 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists — Love’s 40 were a game-high
- LeBron James: 24 points, 11 rebounds, 12 assists — No big deal, just an opening night triple double for the King
- Dwayne Wade: 21 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds — Flash found a way to fit in right away on the Cavs
- Derrick Rose: 9 points, 13 assists, 5 steals, 3 rebounds – D.Rose also fit in and helped the Cavs offense hum
Key Celtics stats:
- Gordon Hayward: 11 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists — Probably not what the Celtics were hoping for from Hayward in his debut with the team
- Al Horford: 29 points, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks — Kind of the forgotten man in terms of publicity with two All-Stars coming in, Horford was the main man in keeping the game tight
We still have questions, though. Namely, what about Kyrie Irving? You figure he’d be extra motivated to take it to Cleveland in their first encounter since he left to be the biggest star on his own team.
In the nightcap, NBA LIVE 18 also expects another All-Star to fit right in on his new squad:
Houston Rockets 120, Golden State Warriors 111
Are two superstars better than four? At least for one night, that’s what NBA LIVE 18 expects, with the Rockets going into Golden State’s house and ruining the start of the champs’ title defense thanks to triple-doubles from both James Harden and Chris Paul.
Rockets key stats:
- James Harden: 34 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists, 3 steals — Not a bad way to start another MVP-caliber campaign
- Chris Paul: 23 points, 14 assists, 10 steals — Also not a bad way to start partnering with Harden
- Clint Capela & Eric Gordon: combined for a total 39 points (17 and 22, respectively)
Warriors key stats:
- Steph Curry: 30 points, 3 assists, 3 steals
- Kevin Durant: 24 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists
- Draymond Green: 11 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists
- Klay Thompson: 9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 assists — Kind of an off night for one-half of the Splash Brothers
Next: 30 biggest questions for the 2017-18 NBA season
Will NBA LIVE 18 be on the money with its somewhat controversial calls? Best to tune in to TNT tonight and find out, or join us back here at FanSided.com for extensive NBA coverage tonight and all season long.
NBA LIVE 18 is available now for PS4 and XBOX One.