The Orlando Magic are firmly in rebuilding mode and will likely go through peaks and valleys during the season, but they'll be fun to watch. The Magic will try to ride their growing collection of young, athletic players to a second consecutive victory to open the season when they host the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.

The New York Knicks are in a holding pattern with star forward Kristaps Porzingis unavailable while recovering from knee surgery and the front office reportedly gearing up for free agency next summer, but the team on the floor might prove to be a lot of fun. The Knicks will try to make it consecutive wins to begin the season when they visit the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.

The Toronto Raptors beat out the Boston Celtics for the best record in the Eastern Conference last season, but neither team got a chance to represent the East in the NBA Finals. Both teams entered 2018-19 with high expectations again, and the Raptors will try to get a leg up in the Atlantic Division battle when they host the Celtics on Friday.

It was only one game and by all measures a subpar performance, but the Memphis Grizzlies look toward Friday’s home opener against the Atlanta Hawks anxious to bounce back from an opening-night defeat at Indiana. The Grizzlies trailed by 10 points early, were down 24 in the second quarter, shot only 29.8 percent from the field and gave up 57 rebounds in a 111-83 loss, an outing that left coach J.B. Bickerstaff vowing a better showing is coming.

Disgruntled guard Jimmy Butler is expected to be greeted with a chorus of boos when the Minnesota Timberwolves host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Friday's home opener. The four-time All-Star requested a trade while expressing he wouldn't re-sign with the team and has been a constant distraction as the Timberwolves prepared for the season.

All-Star Anthony Davis wants to be part of the MVP conversation and one strong outing is in the books as the New Orleans Pelicans prepare to host the Sacramento Kings on Friday. Davis contributed 32 points, 16 rebounds and a career-best eight assists as the Pelicans rolled to a 131-112 road win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

The Indiana Pacers opened the season with a convincing victory and look to add another win when they visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. The Pacers rolled to a 111-83 triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday for the franchise's largest opening-night winning margin since joining the NBA for the 1976-77 season.

The Golden State Warriors began the defense of their latest NBA title by pushing aside the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday and will try to do the same to another playoff contender when they visit the Utah Jazz on Friday. The Jazz figure to be one of several teams vying to knock the Warriors off their perch and are also coming off an opening victory.

The Oklahoma City Thunder ruled out star point guard Russell Westbrook for Friday's road contest but Doc Rivers isn't buying it. The Los Angeles Clippers coach said he has been tipped off that Westbrook will be making his season debut when the teams meet at Staples Center.