West Ham intent on instant return to Premier League
Nuno took over from Graham Potter in September 2025
West Ham are poised to appoint Scott Parker as their manager after sacking Nuno Espírito Santo. Parker has been out of work since leaving Burnley last season but there is optimism he will be in place when West Ham visit Cardiff City on Wednesday.
The club kept faith with Nuno after their relegation from the Premier League last season but patience has snapped with the side eighth in the Championship after the 3-1 defeat by West Bromwich Albion last Saturday.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 18: Dylan Cease #84 of the Toronto Blue Jays throws a pitch during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on September 18, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday market the beginning of free agency. Keegan Matheson of MLB.com has a roundup of the Jays’ roster moves, most notably declining Myles Straw’s $8m team option. He’ll instead receive a $1.75m buyout, financed by the Guardians as part of the trade that originally brought him to Toronto. Straw fills a useful role as an elite outfield defender and base runner in spite of his aenemic offensive output, and is really well liked in the clubhouse by all accounts. The team may well have interest in a reunion as free agency progresses, but guaranteeing $8 million was too steep. The team was looking at filling several vacancies with only $16m under the old luxury tax, and by the time the expected lockout is over that space may be even more constrained and/or more valuable with increasing penalties.
Yesterday also marked the switch from in-season to off-season roster rules, meaning players on the 60-day IL had to be reinstated to the 40-man roster. For Toronto, that included José Berríos, Jake Bloss, Bowden Francis, and Cody Ponce (no wonder the rotation struggled), as well as Anthony Santander, Addison Barger, and Jonatan Clase. CJ Van Eyk, optioned a few days ago, cleared waivers and was assigned to Buffalo, clearing a roster spot. At the end of all the shuffling, the 40-man roster stands at 37.
Those three spots, and maybe a couple more, will be filled with prospects needing protection from the Rule 5 draft. Teams might wait to make those moves on the expectation that a lockout delays or cancels the Winter Meetings and therefore the draft, but most likely the decisions will have to be made at some point. For the Jays, this year’s breakout pitcher, Nolan Perry, will need protection. So will one of last year’s big risers in Gage Stanifer. Daniel Guerra was another big 2026 riser, although elbow issues and command had him running out of gas a bit late in the year. All three have significant upside and the stuff to succeed in a major league bullpen in 2027, and they would be somewhere between likely and certain to be taken if left unprotected.
Josh Stephan, part of the return for Adam Macko at the deadline, is less of a prospect. He posted solid strikeout and walk numbers in a full AAA season this year, though, and his plus command makes him a potentially usable depth starter. The Jays will be eager to hang onto those after this past season.
On the position player side, Josh Kasevich snuck through last year’s draft unprotected after an injury-marred 2025. He was just average offensively this season in Buffalo, but he stayed healthy and his blend of versatile defence and top tier contact might make him a good candidate to stick as a utility man on someone’s roster. He’s the only bat I think is likely to be protected, but a couple others have a case. Nick Goodwin and Jay Harry also fit that bill, as guys with some offensive tools who can play somewhere on the dirt, but they’re more lightly regarded prospects with shorter upper minors track records and so might be the kind of guys the Jays are willing to allow to sneak through.
On the cutting side, third catcher Shawn Ross and relievers like Chase Lee, John Klein, and Brendan Cellucci could be cut and either signed back or replaced with basically similar guys without much worry. Most of the team’s arbitration eligible players look certain to be kept, although they’ll probably at least have a meeting about whether Josh Smith is worth an estimated $3.9 million with other corner infield bats on the team. I expect they’ll tender Ernie Clement as well, although his second half collapse and sudden defensive woes at age 30 are concerning enough to at least raise the question. All of which is to say, they should be able to protect everyone they really need to and create room for a free agent or two without cutting into the meat of the roster.
In more fun news, Dylan Cease is a Cy Young finalist. 2026 was, inning for inning, the best year of his career. He posted a 2.40 ERA on the strength of a monster 35% strikeout rate. Cease has been here before, finishing second to Justin Verlander in 2o22 and fourth in 2024. He’ll probably find himself the runner up again this year. Cam Schlittler posted nearly identically strong peripheral stats, but an ERA 0.45 runs lower over four more starts and 24.2 more innings. That takes nothing away from a great start to the Jays’ biggest ever free agent signing’s time in Canada, though.
Louis Varland is also a finalist for the AL Reliever of the Year Award. The BBWAA will vote on the award for the first time this year, as they do for other major awards, after MLB had simply selected the winner in past years. He ought to walk away with it, as his 1.27 ERA and 3.1 WAR both lead the league by significant margins (among pitchers with 45 or more innings). The BBWAA is the BBWAA, though, and Cleveland’s Cade Smith might take it on the strength of six more saves and 10 more strikeouts. It’d be nice to have one Jay win a major award in this mostly grim season, and Louis would richly deserve it. Results will be announced at MLB’s awards ceremony on the 11th.
In non-Jays news, MLB has announced that the posting window for Japanese players will not be extended in the event of a lockout, as it was in 2021. That means that the players posted on Sunday, including star third baseman/right fielder and reigning Central League Triple Crown winner Teruaki Sato (who would look excellent in blue and white…) will in all likelihood need to sign deals before midnight on December 1st or be forced to stay in Japan for another year. Agents are understandably angry, as their clients will have a third less time than the usual 45 days to negotiate the best deal. For the owners, it’s yet another sign that they intend to play hardball this winter and aren’t concerned with exacerbating tensions with the union as negotiations head into the final stretch.
The expanded Champions League is often shapeless, but Aston Villa’s manager returning to the scene of his greatest trauma stands out
“One more match. Just one more match.” Sure, Unai. Sure. Just like all the other matches that generated a local tremor measured at 1 on the Richter scale when that seventh and final goal went in at the Camp Nou in March 2017.
It was inevitable that Unai Emery would be asked about the Remontada game on the eve of Aston Villa’s Champions League engagement with Barcelona, his own first trip back to the Camp Nou in this competition since one of the most visceral and traumatic experiences of his managerial career.
The Calgary Flames continued their road trip in San Jose on Monday night, picking up a 2-1 win over the Sharks.
It was a fast-paced, back-and-forth start, with Calgary applying pressure early and eventually opening the scoring off a Sharks turnover at the blueline. Adam Klapka picked up the loose puck, walked in and fired a wrist shot past Yaroslav Askarov's glove to give the Flames a 1-0 lead.
Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images<br />
The second period went without a goal, but Calgary added some insurance early in the third. Klapka drove the puck deep into the Sharks' zone before throwing it out front to William Stromgren, who buried his second attempt for his first career NHL goal and a 2-0 Flames lead.
San Jose answered moments later when Sam Dickinson found a loose puck in front and chipped it past Dustin Wolf to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Flames held on from there, shutting down the Sharks' attack the rest of the way to secure the win. Wolf finished with 26 saves, earning his second consecutive victory.
Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
Three Takeaways
1. Dustin Wolf delivers another solid performance
Wolf was composed throughout the night, playing positionally sound and doing a good job limiting rebounds and second opportunities. He gave Calgary the saves they needed, particularly after the Sharks cut the lead to one.
It was also another opportunity to perform against his hometown team. Wolf entered the game with a 10-2-0 career record against San Jose and added another win to that mark.
2. Flames keep Celebrini in check
Calgary did a good job limiting Macklin Celebrini's time and space throughout the night. The Sharks' young star entered the game with eight points in eight career games against the Flames, but Calgary kept him from taking over offensively.
The Flames have also had San Jose's number for quite some time. With the win, Calgary improved to 15-2-0 in its last 17 games against the Sharks.
3. William Stromgren gets his first NHL goal
It was a memorable night for Stromgren, who scored his first career NHL goal (the game-winner) in his fourth career game and first appearance since being recalled from the Calgary Wranglers.
The 23-year-old has been productive at the AHL level this season, recording 11 points in 11 games with the Wranglers. He has carried that offensive production into his latest NHL opportunity, making an immediate impact with his first goal.
Veteran full-back named on bench for Kangaroos’ clash with Samoa
Kayln Ponga in New Zealand’s extended squad to face Tonga
Reece Walsh and Kayln Ponga are on track to resume their compelling rivalry after two huge coach calls ahead of the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.
Walsh on Tuesday retained the Australian No 1 jumper ahead of James Tedesco for the Kangaroos’ semi-final against Samoa in Sydney on Sunday.
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 2: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers high fives fans before the game against the Miami Heat on November 2, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This is far from a finished product. Head coach JJ Redick has repeatedly mentioned across the first two weeks of the season that patience is needed as a host of new faces get acclimated to the Lakers’ system.
What they’ve already proven, though, is that this is a potent offensive team. Led by Luka Dončić, this team is everything everyone imagined it would be when it comes to scoring the ball. And that comes with, again, kinks still needing to be worked out.
But through their first eight games of the season, the Lakers’ 121.9 offensive rating leads the league. They lead the league in field goal percentage, are third in 3-point percentage and second in points per game.
It’s been a light schedule, yes, but they’ve come sprinting out of the gate as one of the league’s best offenses. And that’s pretty encouraging with work still to be done.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
Thybulle’s ability to be a point-of-attack defender slots so many other players on the team into better-suited roles defensively. He’s proven to be such a valuable asset already, so long as he stays healthy.
How can a team that has both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo be so bad at the rim defensively? Kessler was gifted so many easy baskets on Monday. Wasn’t defense supposed to be Miami’s calling card?
After a couple of poor showings, Austin bounced back. The turnovers were still a bit too high, but if he just simply shoots 66% from the field the rest of the season, we can overlook that.
Yes, it’s November. Yes, the Lakers haven’t even played 10 games yet. Yes, the sample size is small. But Luka is the best player on the planet right now and well on course for an MVP award.
Mamu playing as the five was particularly dangerous against the Heat as his ability to pop out to the 3-point line allowed him to knock down some long-range buckets as well as take advantage of a rotating defense.
If you wonder about the Sandro Mamukelashvili at the 5 minutes, this is the pressure the Lakers want to find offensively. Get two on the ball vs. Luka. Mamu can pop and make shots but also mix in these drives vs. a scrambling defense. pic.twitter.com/a3nxYmBJiH
Welcome back Ziaire. He jumped back in seamlessly even as he came off the bench. The Lakers having so many interchangeable wings is such a great luxury.
Dare I say a much more controlled game from Sexton? That’s still relative as he is still a bit too wild at times. But, still, only one missed shot, no turnovers and five assists? Yes please.
Interestingly, Vando got his normal first half shift but did not see the floor in the second half. With the Heat not really having traditional big men and smaller lineups on the floor, the Lakers could get away with Mamu at the five surrounded by wings and guards.
As for the bench group, that JJ waited until there were 82 seconds left in a game they led by more than 20 to put them in felt like a point being made.
JJ Redick
Keeping LaRavia in the starting lineup was the right call. Redick is also still experimenting a bit with the rotations, including having Kessler on the floor with Reaves and Sexton to start the second quarter. This is all a work in progress to find the right combinations and he’s still doing some experimenting, too.
Using a challenge less than 30 seconds into a game is hilarious. He technically lost the second challenge but I’m not going to dock him for that as Giannis bowling over two defenders while giving them a shove and getting away with it was bonkers.
Grade: A-
Monday’s DNPs: Kevon Looney
Monday’s inactives: Arthur Kaluma, Chris Mañon, Adou Thiero
HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 2: Alperen Sengun #28 and Marcus Smart #36 of the Houston Rockets high five during the game against the Boston Celtics on November 2, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Well, this is pretty fun. The Rockets are not only winning, they’re rolling over most teams. Yes, they lost a winnable game in Dallas, with perhaps the wrong players missing, but they followed that up with a win over a depleted yet still dangerous OKC the next night. Now they’ve taken down Boston, admittedly on a back to back of their own, dropping their record to 5-2. That is to say, Boston had been very good so far, and beating them, even with a schedule advantage is no easy feat.
And yet, the Rockets are making it look pretty easy in most of their wins. Boston wasn’t depleted tonight, and the Rockets were fairly close to full strength as well, with recent absentees Reed Sheppard, Fred VanVleet and Marcus Smart playing tonight. Clint Capela was out, and that proved surprisingly troublesome at points in the game, as Boston is pretty big and physical at center, if generally fairly small elsewhere. Adams or Clint might have helped in that regard, but alas. Boston was without Classic Celtic Paul George, who was sitting on the second night of a back to back.
This game started out disjointed, and it more or less stayed that way. Lots of odd calls, anticipatory calls, and an illegible standard for fouls. Not terrible, but it did kill any hope of free flowing basketball. Until fairly late in the 3rd quarter the Rockets would step out to a small lead, of say 6-8 points, but couldn’t build on it. Boston would close the gap to a few points. The Rockets would build a small lead again. And repeat. In the fourth quarters the Rockets pulled away, and with the lead pushing 20 points, a bad shooting Boston could never catch up.
Boston lives or dies by three point shooting, and tonight, they died by it, going 12-42 from deep. Some of this was surely tired Celtic legs, but some of it has to be credited to the Rockets. It was a dismal shooting night from pretty much all the Boston stalwarts and quondam Rocket killers. Peyton “I cut my own hair.” Pritchard was 0-5 from deep. Jason “MSFT” Tatum was 1-7, Derek “Beardo” White was 1-5, and Sam”Snuggy” Hauser was 0-5. Only Baylor “Nebraksa!” Scheierman and Luka “The Other Luka” Garza had good shooting nights with any volume.
If you’d asked who’d be the high scorer tonight, Jason “Microsoft” Tatum, Kevin Durant or Alperen Sengun, would you have automatically picked Sengun? Possibly not, but Sengun has played not like an All Star, but an All NBA player this season. Tonight he went for 26pts on a very tidy 12-15 shooting, grabbed 7 boards, dished 10 assists to 1 TO, and made 1 of 2 of his 3pt shots, maintaining his great, though low volume, 3pt% percentage.
Tatum only scored 19, went 5-16, with nearly half his output coming from the free throw line. He had 6 boards, and 9 assists to 5 turnovers. Some in TDS land aren’t happy with Amen Thompson lately, but a lot of Amen’s value so far, in my view, has come from shutting down opposing stars fairly well. He’s still posting stats, he still is having trouble scoring inside, and also having any sort of effective mid range game. He seems to be struggling to find his place in a new order where even Kevin Durant isn’t notching high volume attempts.
We saw another great game from Jabari Smith, who is somehow turning into the “go to” guy for the Rockets when they simply have to have 3pt shot. Jabs was 5-10 shooting tonight, and 4-5 from three point range. He added 10 rebounds, and I think played some excellent defense, especially on the perimeter.
We also saw the Rockets Dr. Jeckyll and Mr Hyde player, Marcus Smart, in Mr. Hyde form tonight. He could not shoot it much at all, unlike last game, going 2-10 and 2-8 from three point range (though the makes came late to help seal the win). Smart did however open almost the entire Dark Arts Grimoire that so annoyed me when he played for Boston. I’ve never seen a player pick up not one, but two, fouls in a sequence with the ball not yet inbounded, but Smart did that tonight. I’m fairly sure both of those fouls were on Boston, but whatever the case, he definitely annoyed the hell out of Boston’s players. Even “Cap” himself, Jason Tatum showed human emotions at times. Did playing Boston mean something to Ime Udoka and Marcus Smart? Yes, I’d say it did.
Fred VanVleet continues his good playing, maculate shooting, and immaculate distribution. We also saw another quiet night, at a lowish 33 minutes from Kevin Durant, who took only 6 shots. He did add two blocks and a steal, and seems perfectly content. Opponents now have a tough choice with Sengun, Durant, and Smith. It’s really impossible to do what opponents did last season, and utterly pack the paint and dare the Rockets to make shots. It seems almost impossible to grab and blanket Durant as is the usual scheme against the Rockets and win. That message hasn’t permeated the NBA yet, and it will be interesting to see what the adjustment to the Rockets will be.
We saw a late return to shooting form from Reed Sheppard who played a pretty worthless stint in the first half, but contributed some good passing, defense, and two valuable three pointers as part of a Rockets run that buried Boston for good. Hopefully this will continue in his role off the bench. Tari Eason continues to be a force from the bench, mostly a force for good. Tonight he had 13pts on 5-8 shooting and a very strong 3-6 from three, and added 4 rebounds, 3 assists (2TO) and 2 blocks in his 27 minutes.
It’s all going very well, and I think we should not let the perfect (which the Rockets nearly are) be the enemy of the very good indeed.
If these trends continue? 70+ wins!
Anyway, the Rockets are alone at number one in the West, as Memphis was knocked off in OT by the Pelicans. I will admit that I didn’t think the Rockets would be #1 in the West at any point before the season started.
The Rockets play Antless Minnesota on Wednesday in Houston.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 2: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on November 2, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz are a mess.
At the start of the season, Jazz fans were hyped. With the #2 pick in Darryn Peterson, Keyonte George on a new contract, and Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. healthy and ready to play, the season was extremely promising.
After tonight’s 119-97 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, the Jazz are now 1-6 and are in last place in the Western Conference.
Tonight was easily the worst showing from the Jazz all season, with the Jazz looking disjointed and chaotic on both ends of the floor for most of the game. As a team, Utah shot 35.4% from the field and 35.3% from three. Yes, the Jazz are young, and they’re missing Jaren Jackson Jr. to injury, but nothing looks easy with this offense. Credit goes to the Spurs for their excellent perimeter defense, but Utah never looked like it had an offensive rhythm. There are a lot of actions with the Jazz offense that come from a lot of movement, but those ended up in some pretty odd endings. Jaxson Hayes, for example, had 9 shots in this one but was just 4/9. Svi Mykhailiuk was 1/7 in this one as well. That’s not the worst thing in the world, but it feels like there are too many times when Utah’s offense doesn’t flow through the most important players: Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson, Lauri Markkanen, and Ace Bailey. That’s not to say Utah didn’t get shots for those players. Markkanen led the team with 16 shots, Peterson was next with 13, Keyonte George 12, and Ace Bailey 11, but at times the offense feels like it has no clear order, and a lot of role players hijack possessions that turn into bad plays.
Now, you could argue those shots being spread around were justified, given the bad shooting from those core players on the Jazz. Keyonte George has now had two bad shooting games in a row (3/12), and Ace Bailey is still finding his stroke from three (1/5), for example. But something has to be done to improve shot quality. Are there offensive tweaks that could give them more opportunities for easier shots? Can they simplify things somehow? The reality is something has to improve because Utah is not a very good team right now.
Tonight’s game had some really weird energy. Could it have had something to do with the news that Isaiah Collier had the team option declined on his contract?
The Utah Jazz will decline their team option on Isaiah Collier worth $4.99 million for the 2027-28 season, sources told @hoopshype. Collier has averaged 9.9 points, 6.6 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in three seasons. He’ll be a coveted unrestricted free agent. pic.twitter.com/NDguwgdJVo
Maybe it was that? Or maybe it was a residual effect of Will Hardy’s decision to bench Darryn Peterson for Brice Sensabaugh and Isaiah Collier? Speaking of that, it’s not great that Peterson was benched for a player who won’t even be on the team next year. It’s not a great sign. There’s no way to know as an outside observer, but the team did not look happy. Now, winning cures all, and Utah could really stand to get some wins soon to turn the season around, but if they play like they did tonight, it’ll take some time.
That’s not to say there weren’t some bright spots. Utah apparently made it clear they were not playing Collier and had Darryn Peterson running the show with the second unit. Things weren’t perfect, but Peterson and the second unit clawed their way back into the game. Peterson was just a -4 in a blowout loss, and those minutes with the bench were a big reason why. It’s a great sign for the future and confirmation that Will Hardy force-feeding Isaiah Collier minutes wasn’t the best play.
The takeaway from this game, besides learning to compartmentalize the difficult things in life, is to remember the team is only going to get better. The Jazz are evolving game by game in how they are running, and eventually those moves will lead to winning. It also looks like this season will turn around as soon as Darryn Peterson takes off as a player. That may take time though, so Jazz fans might need to find some patience.
Warriors guard Stephen Curry led the way with 34 points and seven assists, while backcourt running mate Brandin Podziemski dropped 20 points on 50% shooting in the game.
There was no love lost between these two teams, which saw each other on Oct. 24 when the Suns got the upper hand. In the rematch, it was the Warriors who came with energy and fight.
Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected for the first time this season following a foul against Suns center Khaman Maluach when afterward Green committed a takedown on Maluach. Suns guard Dillon Brooks confronted Green about the push and the two began a shoving match before receiving double technical fouls.
Golden State trailed by 11 points at the time of the technical foul and proceeded to go on a run to fight back into the game before taking over, putting up 42 points in the third period to tie the game 93-93.
The Warriors received a major boost from Charles Bassey, who was effective off the bench scoring 17 points and pulling down 8 rebounds in 23 minutes. Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg had 16 points on 3-of-10 shooting, grabbing five rebounds and five assists.
"Bass was great. What a big night for him," Kerr said after the game. "The rebounding, the scoring. You know he and Yaxel have a really good connection. The pick-and-roll game. He gives him a lot of threat. Yaxel sees the floor so well and he's so big that he finds him when he's behind the defense."
Mikal Bridges was 1-for-7 in the third quarter on Monday and the Knicks were struggling. Some NBA head coaches would stick with their veteran in that spot. It’s easier to keep a player like Bridges - one who is signed to a large contract and was obtained for significant trade capital - on the court.
But in this respect, Mike Brown isn’t most coaches. He didn’t hesitate to bench Bridges in the second half of the Knicks’ win over the Nets.
We’re seven games into the season. Brown has pulled Bridges in the third quarter of three of those seven games.
“Yeah, he's just got to keep playing. Everybody goes through those ups and downs throughout the course of the season, and obviously, it's the beginning of the season right now, so he's got to find his way,” Brown said after New York’s win over Brooklyn. “Not just with him but with everybody, when you're in a funk you gotta find one or two things to hold your hat on. Mikal is one of the best runners in the NBA.
"In both directions - offensively and defensively. So he's just got to try to hang his hat on that as well as his cutting and trying to do the other little things - rebounding and driving and touching the paint and spraying it. Then this shot will come eventually.”
Bridges is shooting 30 percent from the floor so far this year. If you’ve watched the Knicks during Bridges’ tenure, you know that he can be up and down over the course of the regular season. And you also know he can deliver in big playoff situations. Brown believes Bridges will ultimately be fine.
“It's a matter of time in my opinion, before Mikal gets going,” Brown said.
But if the Knicks head coach thinks someone else gives the team a better chance to win on a given night, he won’t hesitate to sit Bridges.
SHAMET, CLARKSON SPARK KNICKS
After a sluggish three quarters, Brown turned to Jordan Clarkson and Tyler Kolek to start the fourth quarter. Clarkson, Kolek, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns sparked the Knicks early in the fourth.
It was the second time in the past three games that Clarkson helped turn things around. The veteran had 18 points in New York’s comeback win in Chicago. But he has also basically been out of the rotation in three of New York’s seven games.
“I think it shows his character more than anything else. He's someone that if he was on a different team, he could play 20, 25 minutes every night. He could score double digits. He could be that spark, that microwave off the bench. And he's here,” Hart said. “He was willing to sacrifice and take a smaller role, be a part of something bigger than himself. So it shows its character.
"It shows his professionalism. To be able to go out and do those things. And when he's not doing it, he's out there coaching, not on the court, he's coaching guys up, talking to them, letting them know what he sees. So he's the ultimate professional. He's someone that you want on your team. And whenever he's given an opportunity, he’ll go out and play well.”
Brown also had effusive praise for Clarkson.
“You have a veteran that's been there, done that. and he's willing to accept the role that most guys wouldn't accept - even guys younger that haven't proved as much as he's proven in this league. And he's willing to accept it,” Brown said. “So, in my opinion, if he's willing to accept it, which is what he did last year, and still try to uplift everybody, connect everybody while he's going through what he's going through, then everybody else should. That's that's the ultimate team player, I will say this about JC. I've been around some good teammates. He's got to be the best. He is the definition of ultimate pro.”
Additionally, Landry Shamet led the team in scoring with 22 points off of the bench in 29 minutes. The veteran shot 4-for-6 from three, 6-for-8 from the field, and was a perfect 6-for-6 on free throws.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 02: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half of their game at Chase Center on November 02, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns fall to 1-4 on the season and have lost 3 straight games. There was progress overall, but the ultimate goal is to win games, and the Suns broke down late with key turnovers and missed free throws.
The Suns led by as many as 17 points, survived a Draymond Green ejection and a Stephen Curry heater, and still lost it at the free-throw line.
Golden State won 116-113, dropping Phoenix to 1-4. The Suns won the first half at the stripe 13-of-14 to 8-of-10, then watched the Warriors go 23-of-27 in the second half to their 9-of-16. Devin Booker fouled out with under a minute left and Phoenix down five.
Devin Booker led Phoenix with 26 points on 8-of-18 shooting, 2-of-4 from three and 8-of-8 at the line, with 5 assists in 34:58 before fouling out.
Miles Bridges added 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting, 3-of-5 from three, with 6 rebounds and 4 steals. Dillon Brooks scored 18 on 5-of-8 shooting with 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Oso Ighodaro was perfect at 6-of-6 for 14 points off the bench, and Jalen Green filled it up with 11 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. Luke Kennard finished +15 in 17:42.
Stephen Curry led all scorers with 34 points on 9-of-21 shooting, 5-of-13 from three and 11-of-12 at the line, with 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Brandin Podziemski added 20, Charles Bassey had 19 points and 8 rebounds off the bench, and Yaxel Lendeborg scored 16 with 8-of-9 at the line.
Game Flow
First Half
The Suns opened with Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, Miles Bridges, and Man Man, and the defense set the tone right away. Golden State’s starting five went a combined 3-of-14 from the floor for 8 points.
The Warriors lived behind the arc and paid for it. Golden State went 2-of-15 from three, including Stephen Curry at 1-of-4, while Phoenix hit 2 of its 5 attempts. The Suns shot 60% overall (12-of-20) and turned Warriors mistakes into 9 points off turnovers and 8 fast-break points, compared to 3 and 2 for Golden State.
The bench kept the pressure on. Oso Ighodaro went a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and 2-of-2 at the line for 8 points, the most of anyone on the floor. Phoenix closed the quarter with Bridges, Luke Kennard, Jordan Goodwin, Collin Gillespie and Ighodaro, and Kennard posted a +9 in under four minutes without scoring.
Suns closed quarter with Bridges along with Kennard, Goodwin, Gillespie and Ighodaro.
Suns 31, Warriors 19 after one
Second fewest points allowed in quarter (17 in 4th vs Blazers) this season, but fewest allowed in first quarter by far.
The only area Golden State matched Phoenix was inside, where both teams scored 20 points in the paint. Charles Bassey led the Warriors with 7 points off the bench, and the Warriors won second-chance points 6-5. Booker led the Suns at +10 with 5 points and 2 assists, and Brooks added 5 points on perfect shooting.
After a 2-of-15 first quarter, the Warriors went 5-of-9 from three in the second and shot 50% overall (10-of-20). Yaxel Lendeborg hit both of his threes for 8 points in the quarter, and Brandin Podziemski added 6 on a pair of triples.
The Suns lost their grip on the paint. After winning the paint 16-12 in the first, Phoenix went 2-of-8 inside in the second for 4 points while Golden State scored 10 there. The Warriors also won the quarter on the boards 11-5.
Devin Booker kept Phoenix ahead. He scored 11 in the quarter on 3-of-4 shooting and a perfect 4-of-4 at the line, and the Suns went 8-of-8 at the stripe as a team. Luke Kennard knocked down two threes for 6 points off the bench, and Miles Bridges chipped in 7.
The Suns pushed the lead to 16 at 55-39 with 3:45 left in the half. Then the offense stalled. Golden State ripped off a 12-0 run over the next 2:42, cutting it to 55-51 at the 1:03 mark.
Golden State won the second quarter 32-26.
Phoenix led 57-51 at the break. Booker paced the Suns with 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting and 5-of-5 at the line. Bridges added 11 points and 5 rebounds, and Jalen Green posted a team-best +10 with four boards.
As you’d expect, Dillon Brooks and Draymond Green got into it.
Draymond threw Khaman Maluach to the ground to start the altercation, and Dillon Brooks went to pull him back from heading towards Khaman who was on the ground. Green grabbed Brooks by his neck before the situation de-escalated.
Green was assessed a double technical and ejected, and Brooks received a technical.
Draymond Green was ejected from the game after receiving two technical fouls on this sequence pic.twitter.com/u8IIgeTAGY
Green played just two minutes in the third before his exit. He finished with 4 points on 1-of-2 shooting, 4 rebounds and 2 assists in 16:46.
Losing Green didn’t slow Golden State. Quite the opposite, actually. Phoenix did not have an answer for Charles Bassey, who had 6 points and 4 boards off the bench in the quarter. Stephen Curry took over with 18 points in the quarter on 6-of-9 shooting and 4-of-5 from three. Brandin Podziemski added 10, and the Warriors shot 59.1% in the period.
The free-throw line flipped on Phoenix. After going 13-of-14 in the first half, the Suns went 6-of-12 in the third. Jalen Green missed all four of his attempts.
Brooks kept the Suns afloat with 9 points on 3-of-3 shooting, and Man Man went 2-of-2 for 5 points. Jalen Green dished 5 assists in the quarter. Devin Booker scored 8 but went 2-of-7 and picked up four fouls in the period.
After three, it was tied at 93.
Tied at 93, the fourth turned into a grind. Golden State made just 5 field goals in the quarter on 5-of-17 shooting, and Stephen Curry went 1-of-5. It didn’t matter. The Warriors lived at the line, going 12-of-13 in the period while Phoenix went 3-of-4.
The Suns won the glass 13-8 and grabbed five offensive rebounds, but gave it right back with seven turnovers. Jalen Green battled for 7 points and 4 rebounds, three of them offensive, but had three of those turnovers. Phoenix went 1-of-7 from three in the quarter.
The final minutes came apart in a hurry.
Green missed 2nd FT.
Curry missed 2nd FT.
Gillespie missed deep 3 at buzzer.
Suns fall, 116-113, after leading by as many as 17 points in the first half. #Suns#DubNation
Booker fouled out on a flop from De’Anthony Melton, called for an offensive foul with under a minute left and Phoenix down 113-108. He finished with 26 points on 8-of-18 shooting, 8-of-8 at the line and 5 assists, but managed just 2 points on 1-of-3 shooting in the fourth.
Golden State won the fourth quarter 23-20 and the game 116-113.
Up Next
The Suns will host the Blazers team that destroyed them on Opening Night on Wednesday in Downtown Phoenix.
Lakers star Luka Doncic takes a step back before shooting a three-pointer during a 138-117 win over the Miami Heat at Crypto.com Arena on Monday night. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“Feels good. Like I said, obviously when we win, it feels way better,” Doncic said. “And that’s the only important stuff. But obviously it feels good. You know, when you win by [21] against a team like Miami, it’s really awesome, especially on a back-to-back.”
Antetokounmpo finished with 30 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, but he also had seven turnovers as he battled tight defensive coverage.
“I think we did OK. We did good enough to get the win,” said Ziaire Williams, who played after missing three games because of soreness in his left foot. “Wasn’t perfect. He’s a freak of nature, man. It takes three, four guys loading up to him. One-on-one, he’ll go through anybody in this league, and that’s just the truth.”
Doncic was better, but he had more help. Austin Reaves scored 27 points on 10-for-15 shooting and Walker Kessler finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double.
Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, scores over Lakers center Walker Kessler in the second half. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“Yeah, he’s a big piece for us,” Doncic said about Kessler. “I think when he plays good, he gives us a way better chance to win. So, he just needs to keep going like this. Like we told him, we have his back. ... But what he’s been doing, it’s helping us win.”
The Lakers (6-2) shot 57%, including 44% (19 for 43) from three-point range. They also notched 39 assists on 51 successful shots.
“The 39 assists, that’s the most assists we’ve had since I’ve been the [coach],” JJ Redick said. “So, it’s a really good offense that we’re playing right now. And a lot of that, of course, is Doncic and what he’s able to do and bend the defense. And his shot-making creates a lot of problems, and then he can make every pass.”
Lakers guard Austin Reaves shoots over Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell in the first half. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Doncic has been on a scoring tear for the Lakers.
In the third quarter, Doncic missed a three-pointer, but Jake LaRavia hustled to collect the rebound. He passed the ball to Doncic, who then made a three to give the Lakers a 93-74 lead. The play forced the Heat (2-5) to call a timeout as Doncic pointed at LaRavia in appreciation.
Doncic started strong like usual, with 16 points, five assists and four rebounds in the first quarter as the Lakers took a 37-30 lead. Doncic, who was called for a technical foul late in the first half — his second of the season — had 24 points by halftime.
In his previous four games, Doncic had scored 45, 37, 41 and 52 points.
“Like the defensive mindset in me is always like, ‘Why are they not blitzing him or why are they not doubling? Or why are they just letting him just walk to his spot and just do whatever he wants out there?’ But they’re trying,” Williams said about defensive strategies Doncic faces. “He just is that good and he just makes it look that easy.
“He’s unbelievable, man. Even a better person. And yeah, I’m happy to be on his side for sure.”
DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 2: Walter Clayton Jr. #1 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings on November 2, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (4-3) were riding high after beating two previously undefeated teams, but followed that up with a loss to a winless Kings (1-6) team, 115-100. No Kyrie Irving (rest) didn’t help the cause, but Cooper Flagg had a rough night, and the Mavericks simply could not connect from downtown as a team.
The silver lining? If the Mavs slept on arguably the worst team in the NBA, they’ve learned the lesson that you just can’t do that in this league.
Let’s get to the grades!
Cooper Flagg: C-
17 PTS / 4 REB / 6 AST / 2 STL / 40 MIN
The good news is that hopefully Flagg got his worst game of the season out of the way. He had a dreadful shooting night (3-of-19) from the floor, didn’t have much interest in taking available three-point shots and seemed frustrated to the point it threw his game off entirely. He chipped in little bits elsewhere and bolstered his scoring with excellent free throw shooting, but it wasn’t nearly enough with the overall messiness of the game.
Max Christie: N/A
0 PTS / 2 REB / 0 AST / 8 MIN
You never want to see a player get injured as happened to Christie (hip), but it’s the only thing that spared him from a solid “D” grade. He was 0-of-5 – all from downtown – before the injury and sadly has brought very little to the team this season inclusive of Monday night’s performance.
Caleb Martin: C
5 PTS / 6 REB / 21 MIN
Martin wasn’t on my starter Bingo card as the guy who would take Kyrie Irving’s place in the starting lineup, but keeping the bench unit of Zaccharie Risacher, Morez Johnson and Marcus Sasser made sense. He was fine, but didn’t play starter minutes and didn’t contribute all that much. So, while he didn’t necessarily hurt the team, he didn’t quite help it in any appreciable way either.
P.J. Washington: D
12 PTS / 5 REB / 1 AST / 2 STL / 38 MIN
Washington backslid a little from previous games, appearing a bit disengaged with a stat line to back that up. 2-of-9 shooting (with six misses from deep) and not nearly enough production for the amount of time he spent on the floor made for a bad night. This was a game Washington could have at least locked in on defense, but that is where the disengagement seemed to be apparent. Something was off in Dallas on Monday night, and it definitely got to Washington.
Daniel Gafford: A
20 PTS / 7 REB / 1 STL / 1 BLK / 26 MIN
If not for Gafford, it’s difficult to imagine how bad this game would have been. He was by far the best player on the floor for the Mavs. An offensive juggernaut hitting 9-of-10 shots and both of his free throw attempts. He made the absolute most of limited minutes and it’s a shame it was largely a wasted effort.
Walter Clayton, Jr.: A
20 PTS / 1 REB / 2 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 24 MIN
Alongside Gafford, Clayton, Jr. was another bright spot. He was the only player on the team even remotely locked in from deep, hitting 4-of-5 three point attempts and 6-of-9 overall. In hindsight, he should have taken Irving’s place as a starter, but who could have predicted that from the outset? This was a very nice night for Clayton, Jr. and hopefully something to build off as he will likely have opportunities on night’s Irving rests.
Final Thoughts
This is simply a game you flush. Look around the NBA on any given night, and a team that has no business losing is getting waxed. Tonight it was the Mavs’ turn. Almost to a man, they were completely off their game and plainly could not get anything going outside of a few bright spots. Learn from it and get ready for the next one.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
Dončić, over a 24-hour stretch, dropped a staggering 87 points in consecutive Los Angeles Lakers victories, the latest Monday, Nov. 2 in a 138-117 domination over the Miami Heat. In the process, not only did Dončić outshine Heat star Giannis Antetokounmpo, he’s proving that Los Angeles is close to unbeatable when he’s besieging opponents with buckets.
Case in point: entering the night, NBA teams were averaging 113.7 points per game; the Lakers, by the end of the third quarter, were already at 111. For reference, that was four points off from tying the most allowed by the Heat through three quarters in their history.
One night after he dropped 45 in a win over the Toronto Raptors, Dončić toasted the Heat to the tune of 42 points on 14-of-24 shooting, scooping 7 rebounds and dishing out 13 assists.
It didn’t matter who Miami sent at Dončić. Versatile defensive wing Andrew Wiggins started the game on Dončić, but Pelle Larsson and Davion Mitchell each got their turn. Later in the third, after Dončić was creeping toward 40 points, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra dug deep in the bench and deployed defensive-specialist guard Dru Smith. The Heat threw double-teams at Dončić, but that didn’t matter, either.
Dončić zipped and lofted passes to open teammates who had been left neglected because of those double-teams. By the end of the third, he had already posted double-digit assists.
This is the bewildering thing about defending Dončić: even when you try to rush him, he stubbornly plays at his pace, parries away the additional defensive attention – almost teasing blitzing defenders and daring them to get close – only to pinpoint passes right into his teammates’ shooting pockets.
This was an efficient Dončić. He did not need to strafe the rim with shots. He was under control. He was never flustered. And, at least on Monday night, he made his teammates better.
Antetokounmpo, by comparison, finished with 30 points on 10-of-17 shooting, adding 12 rebounds and 7 assists.
The Lakers improved to 6-2 and Dončić is now averaging 38.3 points per game, which is a full 4 points greater than the next closest player. They wield one of the top 3 offenses in the NBA. And as injuries have plagued some of the top teams in the West, like the Oklahoma City Thunder, there could be an opening for the Lakers to blossom into a legitimate title threat with Dončić as the unquestioned anchor of the team.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 2: Josh Okogie #21 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on November 2, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After pushing the San Antonio Spurs to overtime last Wednesday, the Utah Jazz tried to make a similar stand in Alamo City on Monday night. But the home team, spurred on by a raucous crowd, had other ideas, outmuscling the visitors 119-97. It was Utah’s second blow out loss in a row, leaving fans (and this fan in particular) scrambling to find a silver lining. I won’t say the dark clouds are lifting just yet, but there are a few glints of sun filtering through.
Lauri Markkanen A-: After a disappointing performance against Portland on Halloween, Lauri brushed off some of the cobwebs, finding his range from three and also setting up his teammates, delivering perfect lobs for both Jaxson Hayes and Mo Bamba. He was active around the basket, raking in a team high 8 rebounds, and led Utah’s spirited (but short lived) come back effort in the second quarter.
Josh Okogie A: Josh was excellent tonight, forcing turnovers and pressuring the Spurs’ guards into giving up the ball. He also showed some of his offensive skills, getting to the free throw line, where he was 6 of 6. The Jazz just have a different intensity when Okogie is on the floor, something they desperately needed on a tough shooting night.
Mo Bamba A: Another solid night from Mo, scoring 8 points, grabbing 8 rebounds and blocking two shots in just 18 minutes. He is finding ways to impact opponents’ shots without fouling, not an easy task when facing a physical team like the Spurs.
Ace Bailey C: A difficult night for Ace, who missed his first six shots from the floor. The Jazz could have really used his scoring, especially in the first and third quarters. On a positive note, he did find some other ways to impact the game, picking up 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.
Keyonte George C: I think Keyonte has spoiled us with his consistent play to start the season. Tonight he struggled against the length and aggressiveness of the Spurs’ guards. He was only 25% from the field and 20% from three, and had no assists. He was active on the boards, pulling in 7 rebounds.
Darryn Peterson B: The rookie led the team with 6 assists and also showed some defensive grit with 3 steals and 3 blocks. He took care of the ball, which was in his hands a lot, committing only one turnover. His shooting is still a little streaky—he shot 0-5 in the first half—but once that becomes more consistent, then the sky is the limit.
Josh Green C: There is no denying the effort, but Josh’s impact on the game was minimal, hitting one three and grabbing one rebound in 15 minutes on the court.
Brice Sensabaugh D: Brice’s most notable play was a flagrant foul, pushing Harrison Barnes to the ground after catching an elbow in the nose. It showed some of the fight that I’m sure Coach Hardy would like to see more of. But Brice’s shooting at the Frost Bank Center was mainly ice cold, going 20% from the field and 1-6 from three.
Svi Mykhailiuk D: Svi, normally ready when called on, also had an off night, going 1-7 from the field and 1-4 from three.
Isaiah Collier B: We didn’t see Isaiah until the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach. It would have been nice to see his speed and physicality earlier, as it brought an energy to the Jazz’s offense (albeit against largely bench players).
Kyle Filipowski C: Kyle has largely been the forgotten man this season, pushed further down the bench by the emergence of the two Joshes. He came in tonight for the last 8 minutes, getting 1 point from the free throw line and grabbing 2 rebounds.
Tony Bradley B: Tony also came in for the last few minutes of the game and was active, muscling in a bucket and grabbing 3 rebounds and a steal.
