DALLAS, TX - APRIL 7: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls and Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks talk after the game between the Chicago Bulls anb the Dallas Mavericks on April 7, 2023 at the 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As Luka Dončić sets the league aflame with an unparalleled scoring run to open the season, he’s leaving a trail of awestruck opponents in his wake.
“When you have a guy like Luka, obviously he’s one of the best scorers to ever play this game, if not the best,” Giannis said before a reporter added a “right now” at the end of his statement. “Not right now, not right now. Of all time. I feel like some people are scared to say that but it’s gotta be up there.”
"Luka's one of the most talented players of all time. I don't think people actually give him enough credit for how good he really is. He one of the best scorers of all time" pic.twitter.com/F1J7iRHawh
As a brief aside, LaVine had also had a funny interaction with Austin Reaves during his postgame presser after Reaves accidentally walked into the wrong room.
Austin Reaves accidentally walked into Zach LaVine’s postgame press conference, giving the two a chance to clear the air after an elbow during the game. pic.twitter.com/NZ4hbtK5bC
As for Luka, his performances are hard to properly describe at this point. He’s putting up numbers that we haven’t seen in a long time. The only way to properly qualify what he’s doing is to put it in an all-time context, because no one in the league has done this before.
And that’s how both Giannis and LaVine framed it. Granted, NBA players often aren’t the best at putting things in proper context — look no further than their All-Star voting — but they’re also the only ones with firsthand experience.
If Luka is leaving them repeating a similar sort of sentiment, then it’s hard not to agree.
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 04: Trae Young #3 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball in front of Dyson Daniels #5 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at Capital One Arena on November 04, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards (4-4) have struggled against relentless ball-pressure, most recently succumbing to the Atlanta Hawks’ stout defense two days ago. Crazy enough, as former Hawk Trae Young put it, Washington faces the same opponent again on Friday.
Young, who spent eight seasons in Atlanta before a trade to Washington last January, returns to State Farm Arena for his first game as the opposition. The four-time All-Star is averaging 19.6 points and 9.6 assists through eight games.
The Wizards’ rebounding issues, mainly on the defensive end, have plagued them all season — including a 57-41 rebounding deficit in Wednesday’s 120-105 loss to the Hawks (5-4). Brian Keefe said his group’s rebounding hasn’t been good enough. We’ll see Friday if his team improves on the glass.
Anthony Davis (ankle sprain) is OUT Friday. It’s the first game he’s missed this season.
Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis, who has not been with the team as he addresses long-term health concerns, announced he will step away from basketball.
“This season I was really looking forward to running it with this group, but as I ramped up, my body didn’t respond the way I anticipated,” Porziņģis wrote Friday, Nov. 6 in a statement posted to social media.
“I’m doing good, but I know what it takes, and I’m not where I want to be to perform at the level that I expect from myself. At this point, I’ve made the decision to prioritize my health and step away from the game I love.”
It’s worth noting that Porziņģis didn’t outright mention retirement in the statement, which could potentially leave a return to the sport down the road, should his health improve.
Porziņģis, 31, has been dealing with an undisclosed illness that has prevented him from joining the Warriors. He had missed all of training camp in late September and has been away from the team. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said last month that Porziņģis would be in the team facility for a check-in with Golden State’s sports medicine and performance team.
Previously, stretching back to Porziņģis’ final season with the Celtics in 2024-25, he had expressed frustrations over repeated absences that were caused from an undiagnosed condition that prevented him from having the energy and stamina to play.
Eventually, Porziņģis disclosed that he was dealing with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) autoimmune symptoms, though he has not offered specific updates in recent months.
A one-time All-Star, Porziņģis is known for stretching the floor with his shooting range, while providing a rim-protecting presence on the other end. Across his 10-year career, Porziņģis has averaged 19.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in 533 appearances.
“In this situation, I want to show the utmost respect for the Golden State Warriors and work with them to find a solution that makes sense,” Porziņģis continued in his statement. “I’m thankful to my family and close ones for always being there. Much appreciation to all of you for the support. Onwards and upwards.”
Aug 14, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Robert Stock (89) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It was exactly one week ago that I explained why the Mets might consider keeping Robert Stock around for the 2027 season:
“It takes guts to make it back to the majors after years away. It takes guts to perform under pressure with each outing potentially being the last of your career. And it takes good enough stuff and good enough command to show the glimpses of success that Stock did in August and September.
Injuries will always strike. Severe underperformance is always possible. (The current Mets brass should know those two principles better than anyone). If by May 2027, the Mets are already in emergency need of a spot starter or even a full-on rotation replacement, Stock is certainly a more attractive option than someone with zero command, zero experience, or zero ability to meet the moment.”
Well, on the seventh day, the baseball gods answered my prayers. On Friday afternoon, the Mets announced they had signed Stock to a one-year major league contract.
Once a member of the 2021 Mets, Stock spent three years away from the majors while playing in international leagues. The 36-year-old underwent thoracic outlet surgery last March, but leveraged a summer spot start opportunity into a two-month stint with the Mets, posting a 5.93 in 30.1 innings across eight appearances. His 3.92 FIP suggests poor batted-ball results, and a couple of egregious outings overshadow the fact that he allowed one or zero runs while pitching four or more innings in four of seven starts, including one against the American League champion Rays.
The right-hander offers another veteran presence at the back of a projected pitching staff brimming with young talent. Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, and Zac Thornton all put their potential on display last season, with Jonah Tong waiting in the wings for another shot at the starting rotation. Sean Manaea will look to provide stability in the final year of his three-year contract. The Mets may also look to add outside reinforcements, even if that doesn’t mean signing two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.
Stock also has experience out of the bullpen, including in his breakout 2018 season with the Padres under current Mets manager Andy Green. Should the Mets’ rotation slots become occupied, Stock can slide into a multi-inning relief role, providing flexibility for Green in his first full year at the helm in Queens.
Thierno Barry scored twice as Everton roared back impressively to win, though Coventry were unhappy with three separate VAR calls
Pre-match postbag: Evertonians Telling It As They See It edition. “Greetings from almost liberated California. The thrashing of a certain ‘orange’ gentleman has allowed me to have zero anxiety about today’s Everton tilt. I’m happy no matter what happens” – Mary Waltz
“I admire the optimism of Everton potentially going into fourth with a five-goal margin of victory today. I watch almost every single game and I struggled to recall the last time they scored five in the league; turns out it was the famous 5-1 win at Brighton in May 2023 that helped them stay up that season. At home, we have to go back to September 2020 when they beat West Brom 5-2 behind closed doors at Goodison. The last time in front of home fans? Their 6-3 win over Bournemouth in February 2017 when Romelu Lukaku scored four. Let’s just say Everton aren’t generally banging in goals for fun” – Matt Burtz
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 11: Director of Catching, Tanner Swanson #76 of the New York Yankees looks on before the game against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on August 11, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the second time this week, the Yankees have lost a significant member of their coaching staff. Tanner Swanson, the organization’s director of catching since 2020, has been hired by the Seattle Mariners to join new manager Jason Kanzler as their bench coach according to the New York Post’sJoel Sherman. This comes on the heels of Triple-A manager Shelley Duncan defecting over to the Red Sox on Wednesday to join their staff, and now despite not making any firings of their own on the coaching staff the Yankees will have some holes to fill.
Swanson was revolutionary in the organization for developing the team’s ability to frame pitches. Austin Wells has become the model for his work, becoming one of the best pitch framers in the game, and his development lined up directly with Swanson’s arrival in New York. The Yankees have been providing catchers to several teams over the years though, as they traded from their surplus of catchers sending Carlos Narváez over to Boston for Elmer Rodriguez, flipping Jose Trevino to Cincinnati for Fernando Cruz, and including Kyle Higashioka in the package to San Diego that netted Juan Soto.
The loss of Swanson is a big one for the Yankees to swallow, but they’ve hopefully learned enough from his time here to continue the catching pipeline that has netted them so much value. For Swanson, the chance to coach in the major leagues is an opportunity that he couldn’t pass up on, and he’ll now get to work with a premier catcher in Cal Raleigh coming off what was a disappointing follow-up to his MVP runner-up 2025.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 5: Giannis Antetokounmpo #7 of the Miami Heat looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on November 5, 2026 at Chase Center 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welp, another season, another chance for someone to go 82-0 squandered. Both the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets saw their unblemished records add blemishes over the past week. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings got off the snide to nab their first wins of the season.
The Philadelphia 76ers are 8-1 atop the East. The Portland Trail Blazers are 6-1 atop the West. The Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs have each won six in a row. The New Orleans Pelicans have bounced back from an 0-4 start to sit .500 at 4-4. Luka Dončić and Victor Wembanyama keep making history and leading their teams to victory.
Here are a handful of the best stories from the past week as well as key news you may have missed.
Kristaps Porziņģis has reached a decision about his basketball future.
The 31-year-old released a statement via his social media on Friday that clarified what his future holds after he has been away from the Warriors while navigating health issues.
Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Will Richard #3 after a 3-point basket against the Washington Wizards on March 27, 2026. Getty Images
“This season I was really looking forward to running it with this group, but as I ramped up, my body didn’t respond the way I anticipated,” Porziņģis wrote in a post to his X account on Friday.
“I’m doing good, but I know what it takes, and I’m not where I want to be to perform at the level that I expect from myself. At this point, I’ve made the decision to prioritize my health and step away from the game I love,” his post continued.
Kristaps Porzingis of the Boston Celtics reacts on the floor during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on May 16, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“In this situation, I want to show the utmost respect for the Golden State Warriors and work with them to find a solution that makes sense. I’m thankful to my family and close ones for always being there. Much appreciation to all of you for the support.
“Onwards and upwards. — Kristaps Porzingis,” it concluded.
Porziņģis posted it to his X account with the caption, “”.
Porziņģis was diagnosed as POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) in 2025. He has been absent from the Warriors this entire season, and said several weeks ago that he was considering stepping away from basketball.
Golden State had not been paying him his $20 million contract for this season, as the team ruled that, “he is not rendering services” while being absent.
Golden State Warriors’ Kristaps Porzingis drives against Los Angeles Clippers’ Bennedict Mathurin during an NBA game in Inglewood, Calif., April 12, 2026. Getty Images
It will be interesting to see what the next steps are for Porziņģis as he navigates this crossroads in his life.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 25: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors pauses during a break in play against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Chase Center on March 25, 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 Kelley L Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Kristaps Porziņģis saga has followed the Golden State Warriors around since the very first day of training camp. And while it seems like it will stay in the news cycle for quite a while, on Friday it took another step towards resolution, with the one-time All-Star posting a statement on social media, which seemed to suggest that he is retiring.
The statement, which he signed and labeled “official statement,” reads in full as follows:
This season I was really looking forward to running it with this group, but as I ramped up, my body didn’t respond the way I anticipated.
I’m doing good, but I know what it takes, and I’m not where I want to be to perform at the level that I expect from myself. At this point, I’ve made the decision to prioritize my health and step away from the game I love.
In this situation, I want to show the utmost respect for the Golden State Warriors and work with them to find a solution that makes sense.
I’m thankful to my family and close ones for always being there. Much appreciation to all of you for the support.
Onwards and upwards.
Porziņģis’ statement is in line with all the reporting in recent days. Earlier today, our Marc Delucchi wrote about the reports that Porziņģis had played his last game with the team, and all that was left was to handle a trade for a player who was unlikely to ever play again. That came after news earlier in the week that Golden State was withholding payments towards Porziņģis’ $20 million salary, and that neither Porziņģis nor the Players Association had plans to contest that.
So now what? It appears that Porziņģis is set to retire, but first wants to help out the Warriors. By remaining an active player — even an unpaid one — Porziņģis retains his cap hold which can be used to facilitate a trade. The Warriors can now attempt to trade Porziņģis’ contract to a team in search of an expiring deal, and willing to offer a longer-term contract in exchange, such as the Milwaukee Bucks with Myles Turner, to name one of the many players the Dubs have been linked to.
After Porziņģis’ contract is used to facilitate a trade — likely sooner rather than later — he can formally announce his retirement.
Friday afternoon, Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis announced that he has decided to step away from basketball as he continues to address the autoimmune disorder postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) that has kept him off the court this season.
Traded to the Warriors at the February deadline, Porziņģis appeared in 15 games last season, averaging 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks in 23.7 minutes per appearance. Optimism that the 7-foot-3 center's health would cooperate led the two sides to agree to a two-year, $40 million deal in the summer.
Unfortunately, Porziņģis' case of POTS, which initially became an issue late in the 2024-25 season with the Celtics, flared up and has kept him from returning to the court.
On Wednesday, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Warriors were withholding payment from Porziņģis and considered his absence unexcused. It was also reported that the team was looking to move him via trade, either immediately or after December 15, when most players will be trade-eligible.
Porziņģis said in his statement on Friday that he hopes to "work with (the Warriors) to find a solution that makes sense."
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees hits a three-run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 30, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our bi-weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
Darth_Lazarus asks: If the CBA negotiations go really sideways is there a possibility we see replacement player games next year?
Never say never, but I doubt the owners would want to go this route even if it’s looking like the season is completely lost. Recruiting scab players at this point in the league’s history would be a black eye on ownership and would completely kill any goodwill they could have with the public as these negotiations drag on, as the product on the field will be a clearly inferior copy that wouldn’t draw much interest while also making them look desperate to recoup on the broadcast deals they’ve negotiated. Speaking of those broadcasting rights, while the league is a much more regional product than the NFL or NBA and several teams were having trouble finding an actual partner for their TV audience, it’s my hope that the prospect of future negotiations with broadcasters is one of the pressure points pushing ownership to get to the table sooner rather than later resulting in an actual season being played out in 2027 — perhaps a bit too hopeful, considering the lines in the sand that have been drawn this time around, but a girl can dream.
LocalBlueWhaleRuinsEverything asks:With the Yankees needing some offense, could they consider Arozarena or Suzuki? Theoretically, they could stick one in LF and have Cody move to CF. It’s not something I’d want them to do long term, but for one season I’d be interested. Stanton and Garcia should be gone after next season, so in the future you’d a spare DH spot to rotate them.
Theoretically they could, but that takes a lot of the value that Bellinger provides away by moving his excellent left field defense over to center field, where he has been underwhelming at best since 2021. Arozarena and Suzuki are both quality offensive options that would improve the lineup tremendously, but the defensive setback that adding either would cause problems down the line. That being said, the free agent market for true center fielders is abysmal, so if they’re looking for an upgrade they’re going to have to get creative with trades to find it.
Johnny1944 asks:It seems JD was overhyped for years by Cash. Does he have any real value?
Jasson Domínguez’s career is looking like a relatively unremarkable one, which is what tends to happen to the majority of MLB players — but most players don’t get compared to Mickey Mantle when they were 17 years old. That unfair expectation has felt like a weight on Domínguez’s shoulders the entire time that he’s been in the organization, with every glimpse of a solid run down in the minors being heralded as the turning point where he was going to spark a path straight to the majors. However, Domínguez has now had two full seasons in proximity to the majors, and while he’s still very young entering his age-24 season in 2027 it just doesn’t seem like there’s much to work with in his game.
Our own Andrés tackled the idea of whether the Yankees should move on from Domínguez the other day, and while his conclusion was that there’s no pressure to do so immediately time is running out for the former wonder prospect. He’s got one minor league option remaining meaning he’s likely to start the year in the minors, and while there’s some underlying promise in his peripherals the majority of his Savant page is disappointing. Domínguez’s defense has been atrocious to watch, and he’s alternated from being unable to hit lefties to being unable to hit righties. If there was just some consistency to his game he’d at least be able to stick around as a bench option in the majors, but as is he’s got to get consistent playing time to try and make something of himself and he isn’t going to find that in pinstripes at the moment.
OLDY MOLDY asks:How reliable are Cole, Fried, and Rodón next year considering recent arm problems in the last 3 seasons and age? Any innings projections? Does Schlittler come back to earth in 2027?
I don’t have many concerns about Max Fried at the moment — he’ll probably be good for one short-term IL stint but otherwise give the team 25-30 starts and has been lights out when he has been active. Likewise, while Gerrit Cole has missed significant time over the past couple of seasons the core issue has now been dealt with and he should be fully healthy entering 2027. It’s wild to think that we’re already seven years into the nine-year deal that Cole signed with the team, but there’s just two seasons left of his contract and if you told me back then that he’d have compiled three top five Cy Young finishes with one win up to this point, I’d be pretty content entering the final days of that deal. Carlos Rodón has salvaged his Yankees career quite well following his disastrous first year in pinstripes, but of the three his health still concerns me more going forward — not enough to panic, but enough to keep my eye on how he’s getting through each start even when he’s on. As for Cam Schlittler, the sky is the ceiling for the team’s newfound ace and while it would certainly be unrealistic to expect a 1.95 ERA as the standard going forward I think he’ll remain the team’s best pitcher next year as he comes into his own.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals have promoted 34-year-old Rob Cerfolio to general manager.
The Cardinals announced the move Friday. Cerfolio has been St. Louis’ assistant GM overseeing player development and performance the past three seasons. He’ll report to president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom.
“Since joining the Cardinals two years ago, Cerf has spearheaded tremendous progress in our player development efforts from top to bottom, and in the advancement of our performance group and its integration within our entire organization,” Bloom said. “He is relentless in his desire to move us forward, and is invested in relationships with both new hires and longtime staff alike.”
Cerfolio’s promotion comes after executive Randy Flores left the team Monday. Flores spent 11 years in St. Louis, including the past eight as assistant GM overseeing amateur and pro acquisitions.
Cerfolio joined the Cardinals after spending 10 years working his way up the ranks with the Cleveland Guardians, including his final three seasons as the team’s director of player development.
From Indian Springs, Alabama, he’s staying in St. Louis after reportedly being a candidate to fill several front-office openings this offseason.
The Cardinals are coming off a 77-85 season in which they finished fourth in the NL Central and missed the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.
Cerfolio is a Yale graduate and credited for playing a role in the Cardinals’ burgeoning youth movement, highlighted by standout seasons from outfielder Jordan Walker and second baseman JJ Wetherholt.
HARRISBURG, PA - AUGUST 25: Robert Cranz #46 of the Harrisburg Senators pitches during the game between the Chesapeake Baysox and the Harrisburg Senators at FNB Field on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kyle Mace/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
The San Francisco Giants announced a small deal on Friday, as a trickle down from Monday’s roster-cutting actions. Lefty reliever Reiver Sanmartin has been traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Minor League reliever Robert Cranz.
It’s not news that Sanmartin is gone, as the Giants announced that he had been designated for assignment on Monday, amongst the flurry of moves that got the roster back down to 40 players at the deadline. But most DFA’d players leave with nothing in return, so it’s nice that Sanmartin was an exception, and the Giants were able to get something back to allow the Nationals to jump to the front of the line.
As is always the case with these sorts of deals, it’s not a huge haul they got back, but Cranz is interesting. The 23-year old right-hander was drafted in the seventh round of the 2024 draft (pick No. 200 on the dot) out of Oklahoma State, and received a mildly underslot bonus of $190,000. He performed fairly well in Low-A and High-A in his first full season in 2025, and started to make a name for himself in 2026.
Cranz opened the year in High-A, where he had a 2.25 ERA and a 2.68 FIP, with a whopping 27 strikeouts in just 16 innings. He kept it up in AA, where he posted a 3.42 ERA and a 2.95 FIP, with 40 strikeouts in 26.1 innings.
A native of Keller, Texas, Cranz made it to AAA to end the year, and that’s where his success ended. It was a rude introduction to the top ring of the Minors, and he ended his cup of coffee there with a 13.11 ERA, a 7.17 FIP, and just nine strikeouts in 11.2 innings.
Cranz mostly throws hard stuff, as in AAA he used his four-seam fastball (which averaged 95.2 mph) nearly half of the time, while throwing his cutter and slider more than 20% of the time each. There’s definitely something intriguing there, and he’ll be a big part of AAA Sacramento’s bullpen depth this year, and have a chance to play his way into the Majors.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Naz Reid #0 of the Charlotte Hornets handles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 14, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston Celtics (6-2) at Charlotte Hornets (3-6) Friday, November 6, 2026 7:00 PM ET Regular Season Game #9 Road Game #4 Emirates NBA Cup Game #2 TV: NBCSB, WSOC TV64, NBA-LP Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, Sirius XM Spectrum Center
The Celtics begin a 4 game road trip with a stop in Charlotte to take on the Hornets. This is the first of 4 games between these two teams this season. They will play again in Charlotte on February 4 and they will play twice in Boston on December 3 and January 23. The Celtics won the series 2-1 last season, winning one game in Boston and one in Charlotte and losing one game in Boston. The Celtics are 83-47 overall all time against the Hornets and they are 39-26 all time in Charlotte.
This is the second NBA Emirates Cup game for both teams. They are part of East Group C, which also includes Chicago, Atlanta and Washington. The Celtics beat Chicago in the first Cup game while the Hornets lost to the Wizards in their first game. The Celtics will visit Washington on November 24 and will host Atlanta on November 27 to complete group play. If they win the group, they will advance to the quarterfinals on December 4 and 5. The Semifinals are December 8 and 9. The Championship is December 11. The Celtics have only made it out of the group stage once, back in 2023.
The Celtics are 3rd in the East with just Philadelphia (8-1) and Detroit (6-2) ahead of them. The Hornets are 10th in the East, 5 games behind 1st place Philadelphia. Celtics are 5-0 at home and 1-2 on the road. The Hornets are 2-3 at home and 1-3 on the road. Their 2 wins at home were over Miami and Washington. They have lost their last 5 games.
The Hornets have several new players this season. They signed Coby White as a free agent. They got Naz Reid in a trade from Minnesota. They got Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale in a trade from Phoenix. And, they got Dennis Schroder in a trade from the Wizards. They drafted Hannes Steinbach (14th) and Christian Anderson, Jr (18th). They also lost several players from last season. LaMelo Ball, Josh Green , Miles Bridges and Tre Mann were all traded. Antonio Reeves and Xavier Tillman both left as unsigned free agents.
After this game, the Celtics will continue their road trip through Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Toronto. They play Dallas and Orlando at home before a West coast trip that takes them through Denver, Sacramento, Golden State, and Washington. They then play one game at home against Atlanta before playing at San Antonio and Dallas. Then it’s home against Charlotte before a game at Brooklyn. They play 8 of 12 games on the road in the month of November.
After this game, Charlotte will play Cleveland at home before a 4 game road trip through Phoenix, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, and Atlanta. They they have a 4 game home stand against Memphis, Chicago, Brooklyn and Washington. Then they play at Boston before the NBA Cup tournament. Then they play at Washington before hosting Toronto, Clippers, OKC, Portland and Philadelphia.
The Celtics have been changing their starting lineup with Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Neemias Queta getting starts along with Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum and Mitchell Robinson. The starting lineup is a work in progress for the Celtics and so it’s hard to predict who Joe will go with from game to game. I’m just guessing that White, Gonzalez, George, Tatum and Queta will start. For the Hornets, I’ve listed the starters from their game notes which are Coby White, Brandon Miller, Sion James, Naz Reid and Ryan Kalkbrenner.
The Celtics still have Devin Carter on the injury report due to illness. After missing the final 3 games of the preseason, Carter was diagnosed with mononucleosis and is without a timetable for a return. However, he is practicing with the Maine Celtics and should return soon. Payton Pritchard was originally questionable with a right eye abrasion after getting hit in the face 3 times against the Bucks. He is now listed as available. Chris Cenac, Jr is out due to G-League assignment.
For the Hornets, Kon Knuepppel returned to the court for the first time this season on Wednesday but left after just 6 minutes and will be out for this game. Former Celtic Grant Williams is out with a hamstring injury. Dennis Schroder is out with a thigh injury. Moussa Diabate is out with a quad injury. I’m guessing that Ryan Kalkbrenner will get the start at center in his place.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Coby White
Derrick White | Getty ImagesCoby White | Getty Images
SG: Hugo Gonzalez vs Brandon Miller
Hugo Gonzalez | Getty ImagesBrandon Miller | NBAE via Getty Images
SF: Paul George vs Sion James
Paul George | NBAE via Getty ImagesSion James | Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Mike Conley, Jr Luka Garza Jordan Walsh Ron Harper, Jr Sam Hauser Baylor Scheierman Mitchell Robinson Two Way Players Devin Carter Dillon Mitchell Amari Williams Injuries/Out Devin Carter (illness) out Payton Pritchard (eye) available Chris Cenac, Jr (G-League assignment) out
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Hornets Reserves Royce O’Neale Christian Anderson, Jr Grayson Allen Hannes Steinbach Tidjane Salaun Liam McNeeley 2-Way Players Michael Ajayi PJ Hall Kylan Boswell
Injuries/Out Grant Williams (hamstring) out Kon Knueppel (leg) out Moussa Diabate (quad) out Dennis Schroder (thigh) out
Head Coach Charles Lee
Key Matchups Hugo Gonzalez vs Brandon Miller Miller is averaging 22.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He’s shooting 35.9% from the field and 26.7% from beyond the arc. Although he is struggling from beyond the arc so far this season, he is capable of hitting threes and so the Celtics shouldn’t leave him open or he could make them pay.
Jayson Tatum vs Naz Reid Reid is averaging 16.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. He is shooting 42.3% from the field and 35.0% from beyond the arc. Jayson Tatum should be rested and ready to go in this game and needs to keep Reid out of the paint and off the boards.
Honorable Mention Payton Pritchard vs Grayson Allen Allen is averaging 15.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. He is shooting 47.1% from the field and 49.2% from beyond the arc. He is coming off a game where he shot 54.5% from the field and 71.4% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to stay with him on defense, especially on the perimeter as he is the Hornets best 3 point shooter and can score in bunches.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense is always the key to winning. The Celtics are 7th the league with a defensive rating of 109.2. The Hornets are 18th in the league with a defensive rating of 112.7. The Hornets are 30th with an offensive rating of 101.5 while the Celtics are 8th with an offensive rating of 115.8. The Celtics are capable of playing lock down defense but there are times when they lose focus and allow their opponents to score way too easily, especially after building a big lead. They need to continue to make defense a priority and play lock down defense in this game for all 4 quarters.
Rebound – Rebounding is also a key to winning every game. It is important to give the Celtics extra possessions and to limit possessions for their opponents. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics need to give extra effort to beat the Hornets to rebounds. The Celtics are 14th with 43.9 rebounds per game and the Hornets are 10th with 46.1 rebounds per game. The Hornets are 15th with 15.6 second chance points per game and the Celtics need to limit those for the Hornets by putting more effort into grabbing rebounds.
3 Point Shooting – The Celtics are 8th in the league, averaging 40.4 three pointers per game. The Hornets are 3rd, shooting 43.9 threes per game. The Celtics are shooting 35.3% as a team from beyond the arc (13th) while the Hornets are shooting 29.6% from beyond the arc (28th). The Celtics make 14.3 threes a gamem while the Hornets make 13.0 threes a game. The Celtics need to work to get open and move the ball to find the best shots. If the 3’s aren’t falling, they need to take the ball inside. And they need to defend the perimeter or the Hornets will bury them in threes.
Play Hard 48 Minutes – The Celtics need to start out strong and play hard to build a lead. They need to play hard throughout the game, with no let up. Often teams that hustle and play harder can beat teams that try to coast. The Celtics should not underestimate the Hornets and they need to be aggressive on the boards, on defense, in taking the ball to the hoop, in fighting for loose balls and just play harder overall throughout the game.
X-Factors On The Road – The Celtics are facing the distractions of travel and a hostile crowd and they can’t allow those distractions to take away from their focus on the game. The Hornets are home with the home crowd behind them and their own familiar court. The Celtics are just beginning a 4 game road trip and are playing 8 of 12 games on the road this month. They are just 1-2 so far on the road and so they need to figure out winning on the road.
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus from playing the game. The Celtics also have to be aware of the new points of emphasis for this season and try to avoid flopping, off‑arm push‑offs, reckless closeouts, delays before free throws, and illegal screens. They have been especially calling flops and push offs and so the Celtics need to avoid doing both.
Green was ejected from the Warriors’ 116-113 win over the Suns on Monday night. Brooks said immediately following the game that he was trying to “de-escalate” the situation, which began when Green wrapped both arms around Khaman Maluach and threw him to the floor.
Addressing the situation for the first time with reporters after Golden State’s 120-100 win over the Heat on Thursday night, Green called out Brooks’ point of view on their latest altercation.
“He was talking. He came in talking. Putting his chest on my shoulder. That ain’t how you de-escalate,” Green said. “So I just wish he stood on the type of business he was on, instead of running to y’all. Like, ‘I was trying to de-escalate!’ No you wasn’t, bro.”
Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) and Phoenix Suns’ Jalen Bridges (15) get into an altercation on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO/Bay Area News Group via APGolden State Warriors’ Draymond Green, left, throws down Phoenix Suns’ Khaman Maluach in San Francisco, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO/Bay Area News Group via AP
Both players like to play the villain, with their rivalry going back to Brooks’ time with Memphis. A year after their antics gained national attention during the heated 2022 Western Conference semifinals, Brooks took it to the next level, telling ESPN, “I don’t like Draymond at all.”
Green this week, however, said that he “had started to turn a corner” on his view of Brooks.
“Ah, man, he may be who he say he is,” Green said. “But he not.”
Brooks’ actions and response to the altercation only confirmed Green’s initial belief — that Brooks’ tough-guy persona only exists so long as the cameras and microphones are on.
“The words you said on the side of me and walking up to me like that,” Green said. “When you’re de-escalating you usually go to your teammate. But your teammate’s there [on the ground]. So you’re not de-escalating anything.
“By the way, there’s nothing going on. He’s there, I’m standing there. There’s nothing really to de-escalate.”
It depends on your point of view. The scene underneath the basket was reasonably docile until Brooks ran toward Green and shoved him in the back. Green responded by turning around and grabbing Brooks by the jersey near the neck. But Brooks’ teammate had already been thrown down by Green.
But Green gave an even more telling look into his worldview with his explanation.
“You’ve heard of people having short man complex? What’s it called–Napoleon? I got a little bit of that when I’m playing basketball,” said Green, listed at 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, “because I’m always smaller than the guys I’m going up against.”
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green argues a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. AP Photo/Tony Avelar
Despite his size disadvantage, at age 36, Green has more or less played shutdown defense while primarily playing the five this season, a result of Yaxel Lendeborg’s emergence at the four.
Matched up against Green Thursday night, Giannis Antetokounmpo (6-11, 250) struggled to steamroll into the paint and finished 4-of-9 from the field. When matched up against anyone else, Antetokounmpo converted 3 of 4 attempts from the field and got to the foul line twice.
Green has similarly more than held his own against Rudy Gobert (7-1, 258), Walker Kessler (7-2, 245) and Nikola Jokić (6-11, 284). He’s got to find an edge somehow.
“I’m usually outweighed by anywhere from 20 to 60 pounds. I’m usually outsized from a height perspective, anywhere from 5 to Wemby,” Green said, eliciting laughs. “With that, In order to do what I do, you have to have that certain nastiness to you. …
Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors helps up Stephen Curry during a game against the Miami Heat at Chase Center in San Francisco on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“I have to have that tenacity. There’s certain things you cannot allow to happen because if you allow it to happen the next game you play, it’s gonna happen again. Somebody’s gonna try it again.”
And, so, that’s why Green felt compelled to do more than just prevent Maluach (7-2, 250) from converting the entry pass he received in the paint. He had to send a message.
Brooks, then, had to send one back.
And, like the Warriors’ hopes that night, the rivalry was rekindled, just like that.
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