The 2015-16 NBA season began with a trio of games last night and the standout performance belonged to the defending champions and reigning MVP.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors scored 40 points and added seven assists and six rebounds in just 35 minutes, also with only two turnovers, as the New Orleans Pelicans were blown away 111-95 at Oracle Arena.

Point guard Curry was hot from the word go, dropping a career-best 24 in the first quarter as the man looking to take the MVP title away from him this year, Pelicans power-forward Anthony Davis, struggled by going 4-20 from the field.

It was a repeat of a first-round matchup from the playoffs earlier this year, which Golden State swept 4-0, and the last of three games on opening night.

Earlier, at United Center, the Chicago Bulls ousted the Cleveland Cavaliers 97-95 in a showdown between the two favourites to top the Eastern Conference.

US President Barack Obama, who is a Bulls fan, was in attendance to watch his team topple LeBron James and last year's beaten NBA finalists.

James was the game's top scorer with 25, but he saw a late attempt to tie the game blocked by Pau Gasol as the Bulls, who were led by Nikola Mirotic's 19 points, landed the first punch of the season.

The other match was another all-Eastern Conference affair as the Detroit Pistons caused an upset by seeing off the Atlanta Hawks 106-94 on the road.

The Hawks finished last season with the best record in the East, but could not open with a win this term as Detroit bullied them on the boards.

Andre Drummond finished with 18 points and 19 rebounds, while shooting-guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 21 points to lead all five Detroit starters in double figures.

Results in full: Detroit Pistons 106-94 Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers 95-97 Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans 95-111 Golden State Warriors