Injury-plagued basketball star Ben Simmons has begun his seventh NBA campaign with big minutes and positive numbers, but defeat in Atlanta.

The former top draft pick, one of 14 Australians suiting up for the season, registered six points, five rebounds and eight assists in 24-plus minutes as his Brooklyn Nets lost 120-116 to the Hawks.

The 28-year-old has been restricted to only 58 of a possible 200 games since relocating from Philadelphia in February 2022 as part of a trade that sent former NBA MVP James Harden to the 76ers.

Back issues have been chief among his concerns, keeping him to only 15 games last season and dashing his hopes of playing in the Boomers’ Olympic campaign in Paris.

Compatriot Dyson Daniels had a memorable night in his Atlanta debut after being traded by the New Orleans Pelicans. The Bendigo native had 15 points, five boards and two assists, and was involved in a fiery scuffle with Nets big man Nic Claxton after a hard foul.

Brooklyn’s Cameron Thomas led all scorers with 36, while the Hawks’ Trae Young registered a double-double including 30 points and 12 assists.

Australians Josh Giddey (Chicago Bulls), Patty Mills (Utah Jazz), Matisse Thybulle and Duop Reath (both Portland Trail Blazers) and Jock Landale (Houston Rockets) all tasted defeat in their teams’ season openers.

Giddey was thrust into the Bulls’ starting line-up after his trade from Oklahoma City and had 14 points, five rebounds and three assists in a 123-111 loss to New Orleans.

The 22-year-old was jeered throughout by the New Orleans crowd.

Mills saw 16 minutes for one rebound and one assist as the Jazz rallied late but fell short in a 124-126 loss to Memphis.

Landale had five points, three rebounds and two assists in the Rockets’ 110-105 loss to Charlotte, while Reath (three points, one assist) was barely sighted in the Blazers’ 139-104 loss to Golden State, and Thybulle didn’t see any court time.

In Philadelphia, Milwaukee enjoyed a 124-109 win over the Sixers.

Joel Embiid and off-season acquisition Paul George were both missing for the hosts with knee complaints, while Khris Middleton (ankle) was out for the Bucks, so Damian Lillard (30 points) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (25 points, 14 rebounds) stood up for the visiting team.

Elsewhere, the Cleveland Cavaliers thrashed the Raptors 136-106 in Toronto, the Indiana Pacers stormed home in the fourth to pip the Pistons 115-109 in Detroit, the Orlando Magic beat the Miami Heat 116-97 in the Florida derby, and the Phoenix Suns scored a 116-113 win on the road against the LA Clippers.

AAP