WESTERN CONFERENCE — After three games of the new NBA season each conference had unlikely unbeaten teams. In the West, Houston Rockets were the better team in a poor first game against the Bobcats. Dwight Howard and Omer Asik benefited from wayward shooting, from both sides to rack up a combined 40 rebounds in a 96-83 win.

Since then, the duo of Harden and Howard has performed, to keep the Rockets unbeaten in 113-105 and 104-93 wins against the Mavericks and winless Utah Jazz respectively.

On opening night the LA Lakers claimed early-season bragging rights with a 116-103 win over the LA Clippers. The Lakers, however, still without Kobe Bryant, lost two games on the trot with a 91-85 loss to the SA Spurs and after a 125-91 clouting at the hands of an impressive Golden State.

Speaking of the Warriors, they have a 2-1 record having only lost to the Clippers, who themselves have a similar record, 126-115. The Twitter-dubbed ‘Splash Brothers’ of Klay Thompson and Steph Curry have continually impressed.

Kevin Love and the Minnesota Timberwolves have also looked good especially after their shocking 100-81 victory of the OKC Thunder. At news time, the Timberwolves were locked in battle with the New York Knicks.

EASTERN CONFERENCE – Pacers, Sixers start strong

THE Philadelphia 76ers were the fast starters in the East, racing out to a 3-0 record, including a marginal 107-104 victory over a dangerous-looking Derrick Rose and Chicago Bulls team. Rookie guard Michael Carter-Williams came up big on both the score sheet and assist sheet in all his performances so far.

Conversely, an underwhelming Miami Heat proved one of the Sixers’ victims in a 114-110 loss on Wednesday. They went on to lose a nailbiting game in Brooklyn against the Nets as Paul Pierce starred for the 101-100 victory. They do, however, have a 107-95 win against the Bulls who have a 1-2 win to loss record.

Paul George wasted no time in putting up impressive numbers after coming back from injury for the already strong Indiana Pacers squad. George had 24 points, six rebounds and five assists in the 97-87 opening win against the Magic.

That was followed by a game-high 32 points in a 16-point comeback against the New Orleans Pelicans as Indiana won 95-90. He then had 21 points and 13 rebounds along with a career-high 22 points from Lance Stephenson in the Pacers’ 89-74 blowout of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

— Yakum Fitz-Henley