NBA scores, Eric Kay, Tyler Skaggs and Mike Trout: the day’s biggest updates

Opening night drama in the NBA shared headlines with a major courtroom moment in Southern California, where the Tyler Skaggs wrongful-death case drew fresh testimony from Angels star Mike Trout and renewed focus on former team staffer Eric Kay. Here’s what mattered—and why it matters—across both stories.
NBA scores: opening night delivers a statement
The new season tipped off with pace, star power and a familiar third-quarter surge from Golden State. The Warriors beat the Lakers 119–109, flipping the game with a vintage burst out of halftime. Stephen Curry drilled timely threes, Draymond Green jump-started the offense with quick-hitting actions, and Golden State’s wings filled the lanes to turn stops into points.
Headline performances:
-
Luka Dončić (LAL): 43 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists. The shot-making was outrageous even in defeat, including deep step-backs and bully-ball finishes.
-
Jimmy Butler III (GSW): 31 points. Aggressive off the catch, he punished closeouts and got to his pull-up comfortably.
-
Stephen Curry (GSW): clutch threes in the fourth. The gravity still bends defenses, creating late layups and kickouts.
Early takeaways for the NBA scores crowd:
-
Warriors’ identity remains intact. Quick handoff chains, split cuts, and a decisive pace still create that avalanche third quarter.
-
Lakers’ usage of Dončić is heavy. It produced eye-popping numbers, but the on-ball load will be a storyline to monitor on a game-to-game basis.
-
Bench minutes matter. Second-unit spacing and turnover control swung momentum when the starters rested.
The calendar now turns to the first full slate, when rotations stabilize and we learn which opening-night trends were real and which were adrenaline.
Tyler Skaggs case: where Eric Kay fits in
While fans tracked NBA scores, a civil jury in Orange County continued hearing the wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the family of Tyler Skaggs, the Angels pitcher who died in 2019 of fentanyl and oxycodone toxicity. Eric Kay, the team’s former communications director, was criminally convicted in 2022 for distributing the pill that contributed to Skaggs’ death. The civil case now probes whether the organization bears responsibility for supervision and policies around player health and access to opioids.
Key points under the jury’s microscope:
-
Duty of care and supervision. Did internal warnings or red flags about Eric Kay’s conduct go unaddressed?
-
Causation and damages. The family seeks substantial compensation tied to Skaggs’ lost earnings and noneconomic harm.
-
Policy changes since 2019. The case unfolds against a backdrop of league-wide updates to testing and treatment pathways for opioids.
The defense position emphasizes personal responsibility and disputes institutional fault. As with any complex civil action, the outcome will rest on how jurors weigh workplace knowledge, foreseeability, and the standard of care for professional sports organizations.
Mike Trout’s courtroom moment
Mike Trout took the stand this week, offering personal reflections on Tyler Skaggs as a teammate and friend. Trout described the clubhouse environment, what he observed—and did not observe—about drug use, and his interactions around concerns involving Eric Kay. His testimony served two functions: humanizing Skaggs for jurors and addressing what top players knew about the dynamics inside the building.
Why Trout’s appearance matters:
-
Credibility with the jury. As the franchise’s face, Trout’s words carry weight on the questions of culture and oversight.
-
Scope of knowledge. Jurors must parse the difference between rumor, suspicion, and actionable knowledge that triggers organizational duties.
-
Forward-looking implications. However the verdict lands, testimony from high-profile players will shape how teams document trainings, monitor staff access, and escalate wellness concerns.
Expect additional witnesses in the coming days, including former players and club personnel, as both sides attempt to connect individual anecdotes to larger patterns.
What’s next
NBA: The scoreboard fills up as the league’s first full slate arrives. For fans tracking NBA scores, focus on early back-to-backs, travel spots, and bench units—those small edges often decide tight games before teams fully settle into rhythm.
Civil trial: Recent updates indicate the proceeding will continue with more testimony and exhibits before closing arguments. Timelines can shift based on judicial scheduling and witness availability. If the jury reaches a verdict, the decision will reverberate beyond this one case, influencing policy language, training protocols, and medical-staff coordination across pro sports.
On the court, NBA scores returned with fireworks and a statement win for Golden State. In the courtroom, the Tyler Skaggs case—featuring testimony from Mike Trout and scrutiny of Eric Kay’s role—entered a pivotal stretch that could reshape how teams handle opioid risk and internal oversight. Different arenas, same theme: small decisions, whether on a defensive rotation or in a front office, can define outcomes that matter.