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Player Grades: Recapping the Mavericks’ embarrassing 115-110 loss to the Sacramento Kings

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.

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Luka Dončić shows how unbeatable Lakers can be in rout of Heat

LOS ANGELES — Luka Dončić has had himself a day.

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.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luka Dončić shows how unbeatable Lakers can be in rout of Heat

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Player Grades: The Spurs Run the Jazz off the River Walk in San Antonio

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.

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Luka Dončić, Lakers stay hot offensively in win over Heat

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 2: Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during 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

The Lakers had a red-hot offensive night against the Heat on Monday to pick up a second straight victory, downing Miami 136-115.

LA shot 56.8% from the field and hit 19 3-pointers at a 44.2% clip. They had 39 assists on 51 made shots and dominated the paint, outscoring Miami 58-38.

LA quickly took a 10-point lead on the shoulders of Luka Dončić, who was already in double figures with 12 points. The Heat cut the deficit to two with Davion Mitchell and Klay Thompson combining for 11 points.

Walker Kessler had six points for Los Angeles. 

Despite hot shooting from the field, the Lakers couldn’t build much of a cushion. Giannis Antetokounmpo now led the Heat with eight points. Sandro Mamukelashvili provided a nice spark off the bench with five points.

The purple and gold were up seven at the end of the first. 

Miami started the second period with the first four points before Austin Reaves drained a triple. The shots from behind the arc started to fall for Los Angeles with Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams each knocking one down.

Miami cut the deficit all the way to one thanks to Giannis continuing to have a dominant first half as he was up to 17 points. As a team, the Heat were shooting 88% from the field. 

LA’s bench put in the work, combining for 27 points. Mamu led the way with nine. Much of the rest of the half remained a back-and-forth affair. The purple and gold went into the locker room up seven after shooting 67% from the field while Miami shot 59%.

Los Angeles also held a 36-24 advantage over the Heat in points in the paint.

Luka and Austin led the second period early, scoring nine points combined and forcing a quick Miami timeout. Out of the break, the Heat turned the ball over, leading to a layup from Kessler on the other end. 

At the 10:18 mark, the Lakers led by 18. 

The star duo of Luka and Reaves continued to lead the way for LA, combining for 11 points, extending Los Angeles’ momentum throughout the quarter. Williams’s first game back from injury was stellar as he had nine points and two assists. 

Bam Adebayo remembered he could play basketball and entered double figures with 11 points, but it didn’t matter much as the Lakers still had all the momentum. They ended the third up 18. Luka had 37 points.

The final frame saw the Lakers start by scoring four in a row, but Tim Hardaway Jr. attempted to help Miami come back by draining two triples. It didn’t matter as LA continued to shoot at an excellent rate from behind the arc, with Luka, LaRavia, Reaves and Mamu all knocking down threes. 

Los Angeles subbed in its bench with 1:22 left, and they kept the lead this time without making it unnecessarily interesting. 

Key Player Stats

Luka finished with 42 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists. Reaves ended with 27 points and five assists while shooting 10-15 from the field. Kessler notched 15 points with 15 rebounds. 

In his return from injury, Williams poured in nine points off the bench. Mamu pitched in with 13 points and four assists.

The rest of the role players all had positive impacts in small ways across the board. Thybulle scored six points with two assists, Grimes had seven points with four assists, Collin Sexton logged six points and LaRavia finished with seven points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks. 

The Lakers’ next game will be against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday at 7:00 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

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Islanders Bring in Former Kings Defenseman With Plenty of NHL Experience

Ben Hutton is still looking for a place in the NHL, and the former Kings defenseman will have a chance to make that happen with the New York Islanders.

The Islanders announced Monday that they've signed the 33-year-old to a professional tryout (PTO). It's another opportunity for a player who's spent the better part of the last decade moving around the league and finding ways to stay in the lineup.

Hutton's time in Los Angeles came during the 2019-20 season. He played 65 games for the Kings, scoring four goals and adding 12 assists. Los Angeles finished that season out of the playoffs, and there wasn't much to celebrate for a team still trying to get back on track. Hutton was one of the regulars on the blue line, though, and chipped in 16 points along the way.

He didn't stay in Los Angeles for long. Hutton moved on to Anaheim and Toronto before finding a home in Vegas in 2021. His five seasons with the Golden Knights turned out to be the longest stop of his career, and he was there when the franchise finally got its hands on the Stanley Cup in 2023.

Hutton had a career year in the goal department last season, scoring six times in 55 games. He added nine assists for 15 points and also appeared in seven playoff games as Vegas reached the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. He picked up an assist during that run.

There's something to be said for a player who's managed to stick around this long without being a big-name defenseman. Hutton has never been known for putting up huge numbers, but teams have continued to find a use for him.

He made his NHL debut with Vancouver in 2015 and has since played 575 games between the Canucks, Kings, Ducks, Maple Leafs and Golden Knights. He's recorded 30 goals and 109 assists in that time. He also won gold with Canada at the 2016 IIHF World Championship.

Getting another NHL contract won't be automatic. A PTO gives Hutton a chance to show the Islanders he can still help them, but he'll have to earn that opportunity during training camp.

It's been quite a career for a defenseman who spent just one season in Los Angeles. Kings fans saw him during a forgettable year for the franchise, while Vegas fans got to watch him lift the Stanley Cup a few years later.

Now Hutton is hoping there's still another chapter left to write.

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Mikel Brown Jr.’s shot eludes him late another rough Nets loss

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) dribbles the ball up the court as New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) defends, Image 2 shows Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) reacts on the court

Mikel Brown Jr. missed out on the Nets’ first win of the season Sunday in Indiana, sitting as part of the team’s plan to manage the back injury that forced him to miss 14 games during his lone season at Louisville. 

His return Monday — and his Madison Square Garden debut — didn’t go as he envisioned. 

Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) reacts during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

After contributing 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting to give the Nets the lead entering the fourth quarter, the No. 6 overall pick fell apart in the final quarter of the 103-90 loss, missing each of the four 3-pointers he took while failing to attack the rim. 

“I think Mikel’s a rock star,” head coach Jordi Fernández said. “He’s gonna keep taking steps. And right now, we always want him to be aggressive, but he has the responsibility to run the team, and that’s a big deal. And you have to communicate. … Every shot that is good, every shot that is not good, it falls a little bit on you, right?” 

Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) brings the ball up court against New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in New York. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Brown, who finished 1-for-8 on 3-pointers, is now shooting 31.6 percent from the field through his first five games with the Nets. 

“I’m still growing and developing and learning,” Brown said. “I’m doing what I love every single night, and to be able to play in this type of environment, I’m just extremely blessed.” 

The Garden didn’t forget. 

Randle received cheers during the pregame introduction in his first game back in Manhattan since joining the Nets. Randle not only revived his career during his five seasons with the Knicks — earning two All-NBA selections and three All-Star Game selections during his tenure — he returned the Knicks to relevance by leading the franchise to its first playoff appearance in eight years, prior to Jalen Brunson’s arrival. 

Randle, who with the Timberwolves had made two trips to the Garden after they acquired him in the deal that sent Karl-Anthony Towns here, finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds on 5-for-16 shooting. 

“[It was] amazing, man,” Randle said. “I got a lot of love for the city, for the fans, had a lot of great memories here with the team, with my family. It was a big part of my life and my career, and [I’m] super appreciative of it.” 

Egor Dëmin missed his third straight game with a right leg bone bruise. 

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Jeff Blashill Provides Tough Patrick Kane Update After Loss To Avalanche

CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks were defeated by the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night at the United Center. It was a 5-2 loss to an Avalanche team that is deeper than the Blackhawks in every way. 

The problem for the Blackhawks is that they lost more than just the hockey game. They also lost Patrick Kane due to injury. At the end of the second period, he left the ice for the locker room and did not return for the third period. 

After the game was over, head coach Jeff Blashill provided a negative update. Kane will not make the team's upcoming road trip, which will include stops against the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Carolina Hurricanes. 

Going up against three teams that have Stanley Cup aspirations without Kane will make it even more difficult to come out with any points. Beyond that stretch of games, only time will tell when Kane is able to return. 

In 15 games so far this season, Kane is second on the team in scoring with 8 points and leads them with 8 assists. He isn't the Patrick Kane who won Hart Trophies and Stanley Cups, but he is still one of their best players. Without him in their top-nine forward group, a dangerous player is missing. 

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Shipping Up to Boston: 3 Observations as Golden Knights’ Comeback Falls Just Short Against Bruins

The NHL regular season is long, and one game isn’t a large enough sample size to draw a reliable conclusion. Even the best teams fall into a rut, so if you want to know what a team is really made of, then it’s better to look at a stretch of games. The Vegas Golden Knights are in one of those ruts right now, but slowly but surely, they’re climbing out of the hole they dug.

After going 8-2-0 in their first 10 games, the Golden Knights have won just one of their last six. Tonight, they fell 3-2 in a shootout; however, despite the loss, their display against the Boston Bruins on Monday was the best they’ve played in weeks.

When you’re going through that kind of a rough patch, taking a step in the right direction doesn’t necessarily translate directly to the win column. But tonight, the Golden Knights finally felt like they got to their game, and that makes all the difference.

“All in all, definitely a step in the right direction for the way we’ve been playing,” Golden Knights captain Mark Stone said following the 3-2 shootout loss. “Two [points] is better than one, but you take the good with the bad.”

“We got a point,” said Golden Knights head coach Ryan Craig. “Now we move on to Pittsburgh, and we build on it. That’s our job— just kind of build on it and get two tomorrow.”

1. Outran the Bear

The Golden Knights got themselves into trouble very early in the second period. They were already down 1-0 when forward Braeden Bowman took an elbowing penalty, which sent the Bruins to a five-minute power play.

A five-minute major penalty means that the power play doesn’t end if the opposing team scores. And when Morgan Geekie scored just 34 seconds in, it didn’t look great for the Golden Knights.

“They scored 30 seconds in,” said Mark Stone. “It was a quick one. But we killed the last four and a half.”

“It was big for us,” said Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin following the 3-2 shootout loss. “They have a good power play over there. After you give up that first one early, sometimes momentum can swing in their favor, and you can get on your heels a little bit. 

“I thought we did a good job, just staying aggressive, staying with it, and not giving up too much after that,” Hanifin finished. “I thought we did a good job [killing the rest of the penalty] after they scored that second one, and we started to take the game over a little more after that.”

The Golden Knights ultimately failed to complete the comeback, but holding the Bruins to just one goal on that power play proved a huge difference maker because they clawed their way back and forced overtime. The Golden Knights stole a point, which was due in no small part to their penalty kill.

“I thought our leaders did a great job of leading us,” said Golden Knights head coach Ryan Craig following the 3-2 shootout loss. “We get down a forward there when we lose Bones, but we stayed with it. Even going down 1-0 and giving up the power play goal, they get through that kill. There were moments of the game where we were able to tilt the ice, and I thought that did a lot for us to get us going.”

2. Out of the Frying Pan, Onto the Scoresheet

The Golden Knights didn’t win tonight, but they did dodge a massive bullet in the first period. Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy hit Trevor Connelly into the boards, and the young forward went down hard. Connelly was slow to get up, went down the tunnel, and didn’t return for the remainder of the period.

Connelly was on the bench to start the second, and he didn’t miss a shift for the remainder of the night. 

“Give him a ton of credit,” said Golden Knights head coach Ryan Craig. “He’s a young kid in this league, and he’s continuing to show why he belongs here.”

Connelly had some real jump to his game after returning, and it ended up paying off in a big way. At 7:23 in the third period, he cut toward the net and banked Noah Hanifin’s pass off Jeremy Swayman and in.

“Trevor took a big hit in the first period, then came back and scored a huge goal for us,” said Golden Knights captain Mark Stone following the 3-2 shootout loss. “He’s a resilient guy, and it was good to see him get rewarded in the third.”

3. A Step in the Right Direction

The Golden Knights have won just one of their last six games, and they’ve only scored 13 goals over that stretch. They’ve had scoring chances, but, much like in tonight’s game, they’ve struggled to finish them off.

The difference between tonight’s game and the five games that came before it is that the Golden Knights looked more like themselves tonight. They played a more complete defensive game and held an offensively talented team to just two goals.

“I think most of it’s just making the next play. I think we had some pretty good chances to score some more goals tonight,” said Mark Stone postgame. “All in all, definitely a step in the right direction for the way we’ve been playing. Two [points] is better than one, but you take the good with the bad.”

“The effort was there, and that’s the important thing in the long run,” Noah Hanifin agreed following the 3-2 shootout loss. “There’s gonna be some good and some bad in every game, but I thought tonight, we competed. The effort was there. We battled, and it’s just about making that next play and putting the puck in the net, and that’ll come for us.”

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Luka Dončić continues to achieve Lakers feats not seen since Kobe Bryant

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reacts on the court, Image 2 shows kobe bryant

Luka Dončić continues to etch his name in the Lakers history books with his start to the 2026-27 season. 

Dončić had 24 points at halftime of the Lakers’ home game against the Heat on Monday night. 

The showing made Dončić the first Lakers player to score at least 20 points in the first half in five straight games since Kobe Bryant in 2007.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reacts after scoring a 3-point basket against the Miami Heat on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea

“I don’t take it for granted,” coach JJ Redick said pregame. “A lot of times you can just be agog at his offensive prowess. Watching some of the tape [Sunday] night, and even during the game, I think our guys were like agog at his defense. And it was just awesome. It was inspiring. I really mean that.”

It’s the second time over the last week the Slovenian superstar had his name alongside the Lakers late icon in the franchise’s history books.

Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers prepares to shoot a free throw against the Miami Heat on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates during a game against the Miami Heat at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

Dončić’s 21 points in the opening quarter of the Lakers’ Friday road game against the Warriors was his 33rd career 20-point quarter and 10th 20-point quarter as a Laker. 

He joined Bryant as the only two Lakers players to record at least 10 20-point quarters since 2000. 

Bryant recorded 36 20-point quarters between 2000 and his retirement in 2016. 

With Doncic entering Monday averaging a league-best 37.7 points per game, the highest scoring average in league history by a non-Wilt Chamberlain player, he’s bound to make more history this season.

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LeBron James’ viral mid-game wine sip takes new twist as 76ers fan shares his side

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows A man wearing a black and blue Philadelphia 76ers jacket, holding a plastic cup, Image 2 shows Basketball player LeBron James wearing a Philadelphia 76ers jersey, smiling on the court, Image 3 shows A basketball player in a blue and white uniform stands near the sidelines, interacting with fans and staff near the court

Anything goes for LeBron James in his 24th NBA season.

Even mid-game alcohol drinking is on the table, after what happened on Monday night.

LeBron James of the Philadelphia 76ers smiles during a game against the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 2, 2026, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. NBAE via Getty Images

LeBron ran past a stanchion and into the stands to decelerate during the Philadelphia 76ers’ home win against the Chicago Bulls.

Before returning to the court, several cameras saw James (who finished with 15 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds in the 126-107 win) take a glass of wine from a 76ers fan (who has been identified as Troy Clemons), take a sip, and the get back to the action.

LeBron James drinking a fan’s glass of wine during a Philadelphia 76ers game. (X/@krisrhim1).

Several video angles of this have gone viral, with ESPN’s Kris Rhim posting a bird’s eye view of King James’ mid-game beer break on X.

“Here’s vid of LeBron taking a sip of a drink from a fan just now during tonight’s game,” the post was captioned.

James spoke with the media after Monday’s win and Rhim asked him about the exchange.

“I spilled some of his wine. I crashed into him, spilled some of his wine. So I wanted to see if it was worth it on my arm and how good it was. It was all right,” LeBron said, per an X post Rhim.

Rhim caught up with Clemons after the game, who explained the exchange.

“LeBron crashed into me, he grabbed me, he said, ‘My bad.’ My drinks spilled everywhere, he took my drink from me, and he basically just took a sip of it,'” Clemons said, per an X post from Rhim.

Philadelphia 76ers fan Tony Clemons talking about LeBron James taking a sip of his wine during a game. (X/@KrisRhim1).

He added that he threw the wine cup in the trash, and that he got a fresh drink afterwards.

Even if Clemons didn’t keep the cup, he now has one of the best cocktail — or wine — party stories in all of Philadelphia.

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Draymond Green lasts just two minutes in second half before getting tossed against Suns

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball during a game against the Phoenix Suns, Image 2 shows Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors draws an offensive foul on Oso Ighodaro of the Phoenix Suns

Seven games, one half and exactly two minutes of basketball is all it took for Draymond Green to earn his first ejection of his 12th NBA season.

The Warriors’ emotionally charged defensive leader was charged with two technicals on one play early in the second half Monday night against the Suns, sending him to the locker room.

After Phoenix center Khaman Maluach corralled an entry pass, the 7-footer went up for an attempt at the rim, and Green wrapped both arms around him, bringing him to the floor.

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors dribbles against the Phoenix Suns in San Francisco, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

Things got heated from there between the two teams, with recurring enemy Dillon Brooks charging into the scrum beneath the basket to defend his teammate. Brooks got into Green’s face and the two players put their arms on each other.

Green was originally assessed a personal foul for his initial contact with Maluach. After a lengthy review, officials assessed him one technical for what they termed his “throwdown.” They also awarded a double technical to Green and Brooks for their scrap that followed.

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors draws an offensive foul on Oso Ighodaro of the Phoenix Suns in San Francisco, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. Getty Images
Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors dribbles against the Phoenix Suns during an NBA game in San Francisco on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images

It resulted in a pair of technical fouls for Green and his first ejection of the season — the 26th of his career. Green, who sat out the first half of the Warriors’ back-to-back the previous night, ended up logging 17 minutes, finishing with four points, four rebounds and two assists.

Golden State trailed Phoenix 68-57 at the time he was tossed from the game.

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Yankees news: No qualifying offer for Jazz Chisholm Jr.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 05: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees looks on during Game Two of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday, October 5, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

FanGraphs | Ben Clemens: It’s going to be a strange winter, with labor uncertainty looming over all conversations about roster upgrades, free agent signings, and the usual business of the offseason. A new CBA could very well completely change how players are compensated, but we’re still going to talk about the guys that are available. Tarik Skubal is at the top of this year’s class, the former two-time Cy Young winner looking to be paid like the best pitcher in baseball. Beyond Skubal, after the disastrous season Jazz Chisholm Jr. had, there’s not a lot of high-ceiling talent available on the market, and it may be a slow winter made even slower by CBA negotiations.

New York Post | Greg Joyce: One of those men on the free agent market got a little more costly to sign yesterday, with the Yankees extending the $23 million qualifying offer to closer David Bednar. The righty has been terrific in a year and a half with the club, and will have until November 17th to decide whether to accept the one-year offer that would make him the highest paid reliever in baseball based on yearly salary. It’s noteworthy that the other big QO question was answered with Chisholm Jr. not being extended the same offer.

NJ.com | Adam Zagoria: Teruaki Sato is the highest-profile NPB player that will be posted this offseason, and he seems to fit the Yankees like a glove. His .990 OPS while playing a capable third base allows for a little bit of regression moving over to MLB while still being a heck of a lot better than what the club got out of Ryan McMahon at the hot corner this year. Ken Rosenthal confirmed that the Yankees will be keeping tabs on Sato’s market, and the org could get back into the business of signing Japanese stars.

MLB Trade Rumors | Darragh McDonald: The Yankees added Marco Luciano to the 40-man roster yesterday, after the former top Giants prospect spent time with the club’s Double-and Triple-A affiliates in 2026. Luciano, 25, can handle either middle infield spot and posted a .933 OPS across 116 MiLB games this past year.

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No. 1 Florida beats No. 14 Miami 77-67 as Thomas Haugh posts 19 and 10

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Thomas Haugh had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead No. 1 Florida to a 77-67 win over No. 14 Miami on Monday night in the season opener for both programs.

Rueben Chinyelu added six points and 14 rebounds for the Gators, who left Benchmark International Arena with a loss the last time they played there to Iowa in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on March 22.

Acaden Lewis, a transfer from Villanova, had 24 in his first game for the Hurricanes.

Haugh, the preseason Southeastern Conference Player of the Year who would have likely been a lottery pick had he left for the NBA, was dominant from start to finish. The 6-foot-9 senior chipped in five offensive boards, four assists, two steals and a block. He didn’t commit a turnover and hit 4 of 8 from 3-point range.

Miami kept within striking distance, scoring the first eight points of the second half. The Hurricanes sliced Florida’s lead to 53-51 when Somto Cyril followed a missed free throw with a dunk.

But the Gators answered with defense, holding the Hurricanes without a field goal over a five-minute stretch. When Urban Klavzar made a 3-pointer, Florida led 66-55.

When Haugh didn’t connect, his teammates picked him up. Late in the first half, Isaiah Brown followed Haugh’s miss with a putback dunk to give Florida a 44-32 advantage.

Stuck in a tight battle over the game’s first eight minutes, Florida used a 9-0 run to take command and didn’t trail again.

NO. 2 DUKE 84, ARMY 50

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Dame Sarr scored 16 points and freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje had 15 points in his collegiate debut as Duke had big scoring runs to begin each half in a season-opening win over Army.

Patrick Ngongba II added 10 points for the Blue Devils, who started their 19th straight season with a top-10 ranking. It was the team’s 27th consecutive season-opening victory and this one came with a flurry of fastbreak points and dominance in the lane.

Kevin McCarthy scored 17 points for Army, which committed 24 turnovers.

Boumtje Boumtje, 17, is the youngest player in Division I, born in May 2009. He tacked on seven rebounds and three blocked shots.

The Blue Devils, who scored with 50 points in the paint, opened the game with a 12-0 lead. Army was without a field goal for nearly the first six minutes.

Duke’s 11-0 spurt to begin the second half pushed the lead to 44-18. That was followed by Army’s 12-0 run on the strength of four 3-point baskets.

NO. 3 ILLINOIS 120, FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 45

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Andrej Stojakovic and Stefan Vaaks each scored 20 points as Illinois opened its season with a win over Fairleigh Dickinson.

The Fighting Illini made a program-record 19 3-pointers, had six players score in double figures and outrebounded Fairleigh Dickinson 65-21.

The 75-point margin of victory was the largest for Illinois (1-0) at the State Farm Center, which opened in 1963. The Illini fell seven points short of tying the school record for points in a game.

Quinton Coleman had 13 points and 10 rebounds, Ethan Brown added 12 points and nine rebounds, and Zavier Zens also finished with 12 points for Illinois — each in his collegiate debut.

Tomislav Ivisic scored 10 in the 7-footer’s 30th game with multiple 3s.

David Jevtic had 13 points for Fairleigh Dickinson (0-1), which shot 28% from the field (17 of 61).

NO. 4 UCONN 86, GARDNER-WEBB 46

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Braylon Mullins scored 11 of his 20 points in the second half and Nik Khamenia finished with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists as UConn beat Gardner-Webb.

Na’jai Hines had 12 points and 12 rebounds, Colben Landrew added 11 points and five boards, and Silas Demary Jr. finished with eight rebounds and eight assists as the Huskies (1-0) won their 10th consecutive season opener. They improved to 9-0 in openers under coach Dan Hurley, who earned his 200th win at UConn.

Jacob Hudson had nine points for Gardner-Webb (0-1), but the starters for the Runnin’ Bulldogs missed 24 of their 31 field-goal attempts. Seth Brown and Jackson Skipper added eight points apiece.

Mullins scored eight of UConn’s 14 points in the first five minutes of the second half to push a 19-point halftime advantage to a 28-point lead.

Gardner-Webb missed eight of its first nine shots and had just two field goals in the opening 13 minutes. The Runnin’ Bulldogs had baskets on consecutive possessions just once in the first half as they shot only 25.5% from the field.

Six of the nine UConn players who played in the first half were making their debut with the Huskies. Five of the six newcomers had at least one basket as the Huskies led 43-24 at halftime.

NO. 22 UCLA 84, NO. 5 ARIZONA 75

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Trent Perry scored 21 points for UCLA, which opened the by overcoming a career-best 38 points from Arizona’s Ivan Kharchenkov to beat the Wildcats in a matchup of former Pac-12 Conference rivals.

Kharchenkov, who also had 10 rebounds, topped his previous best of 20 against Denver last Nov. 24. Derek Dixon added 18 points for the Wildcats.

Jaylen Petty and Eric Dailey Jr. each scored 13 points for the Bruins.

This was the teams’ first meeting at T-Mobile Arena since Arizona beat UCLA in the 2023 Pac-12 tournament final for the second year in a row. They had split the previous 14 meetings, with the Wildcats winning the most recent a year ago at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

Arizona rallied to win that game and nearly pulled off another comeback Monday. Trailing by 16 points, Arizona came within a point when Kharchenkov made two free throws with 3:11 left.

That set up a somewhat tense final stretch, with UCLA doing just enough to hold on.

UCLA took early charge, breaking a tie by going on a 14-point run to go up 27-13 and eventually take a 43-29 lead into halftime.

The deeper Bruins’ bench outscored Arizona’s reserves 17-4 in the first half, the Wildcats’ production largely limited to Kharchenkov, who had 18 points. The Wildcats struggled from outside in making just 1 of 13 3-pointers in the opening 20 minutes.

NO. 6 MICHIGAN STATE 96, QUINNIPIAC 59

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Jeremy Fears Jr. had 13 points and 11 assists and Coen Carr finished with 12 points and eight rebounds as six Spartans scored in double figures in Michigan State’s win over Quinnipiac.

Anton Bonke, Jordan Scott, Kur Teng and Kaleb Glenn scored 11 points apiece for the Spartans. Under coach Tom Izzo, Michigan State is 87-1 at home during November and 24-8 in openers.

Forward Jesse McCulloch, who is expected to play a key role at center for the Spartans, did not play after getting hit in the head during practice and suffering a minor concussion.

Tayeshawn Cunningham-Pemberton scored 11 points and Nate Guerengomba added 10 for the Bobcats, who were picked to finish sixth in the Metro Conference preseason coaches’ poll after having four starters transfer. A fifth is awaiting approval for another year of eligibility. Quinnipiac has eight newcomers this season.

Michigan State led from start to finish. The Spartans took full control with a 15-2 run early in the game for a 20-6 lead and continued to pull away behind defensive pressure and work on the offensive glass.

Quinnipiac struggled offensively and was slowed by 16 turnovers and having eight shots blocked.

NO. 7 TEXAS 109, CHICAGO STATE 59

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Matas Vokietaitis scored 22 points on 9-for-9 shooting from the field and Texas opened its season with a victory over Chicago State.

The 7-foot Vokietaitis also grabbed six rebounds. Point guard Isaiah Johnson scored 18 for the Longhorns, and freshman Joe Sterling added 14, including four of Texas’ 13 3-point baskets.

Texas converted 62.5% from the field, including half of its 3-pointers.

The most highly-touted Longhorns freshman, 6-foot-9 Marcus Spears Jr., had 11 points, five rebounds and four blocks.

Spears was the No. 1 ranked recruit in the high school graduating class of 2027, according to ESPN, until he reclassified to start college this season at age 17 as the No. 4 recruit.

Chicago State was led by Will Lovings-Watts with 13 points and Mike Price with 12.

NO, 10 HOUSTON 94, La SALLE 55

HOUSTON (AP) — Dedan Thomas Jr. scored 16 points, Corey Hadnot II added 14 and Houston opened its season with a win over La Salle.

Delrecco Gillespie had 13 points — 11 in the first half — and Chase McCarty scored all 10 of his points in the opening 20 minutes as the Cougars built a 43-23 halftime lead. Arafan Diane also scored 10 for Houston.

The Cougars shot 54% and outrebounded the Explorers 47-32. Houston also turned 19 turnovers into 25 points and had a 44-10 scoring advantage in the paint.

Kam Burton scored 15 points and Devin Booker added 12 for the Explorers. La Salle shot 25% and went 8 of 39 on 3-pointers.

The teams combined for 46 fouls, three technicals and one flagrant foul. Houston finished 27 of 37 from the free-throw line, while La Salle was 17 of 23.

NO. 11 LOUISVILLE 84, CHATTANOOGA 70

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Flory Bidunga scored 16 points in his debut for Louisville, which jumped out early but struggled late in a victory over Chattanooga.

Adrian Wooley added 15 points for the Cardinals (1-0), who won their fourth straight season opener and third under coach Pat Kelsey. Seth Trimble and Jackson Shelstad finished with 13 each, while Alvaro Folgueiras scored 10 as Louisville shot 44.1% (30 for 68).

Zach Bleshoy and Yonatan Levy led Chattanooga with 14 points apiece.

The Cardinals missed their first shot but then hit 10 of the next 11 to build a 23-11 lead after Bidunga’s dunk with 13:43 remaining in the first half. That lead grew to 55-30 less than two minutes before halftime.

Not only did Louisville shoot well to start, the Cardinals also held the Mocs (0-1) off the glass, owning a 21-11 rebounding edge in the first half, with eight offensive boards.

The second half was a different story as Louisville shot just 29% (9 of 31) and missed its first 12 3-point attempts after halftime en route to a 1-for-16 second half from long range.

Louisville went without a basket in the final 4:13 and made just two of its last 11 shots.

NO. 13 ST. JOHN'S 78, MONMOUTH 63

NEW YORK (AP) — Keyshawn Hall made his first six shots and scored 26 points in an impressive debut, leading St. John’s to a victory over Monmouth in the season opener for both teams.

Among 11 newcomers for Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino in his fourth season with the Red Storm, Hall scored 20 by halftime and shot 9 of 16 from the floor. The transfer from Auburn also finished with nine rebounds and made all seven free throws in 33 minutes.

Ian Jackson, one of five returnees from the Johnnies’ first Sweet 16 team since 1999, added 13 of his 15 points after halftime. Jackson, a preseason first-team All-Big East pick, shot 6 of 12 before fouling out.

Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou had 12 points and new point guard Quinn Ellis from England scored eight. Ellis also had seven assists and five of the Red Storm’s 13 steals.

The Red Storm (1-0) shot 41% and went 6 of 20 from 3-point range at Carnesecca Arena on campus in Queens.

Despite Hall’s solid debut, the Johnnies struggled for much of the second half and led 59-47 with 9:07 remaining before Jackson hit a pair of 3s in 56 seconds for a 19-point cushion a few minutes later.

NO. 15 GONZAGA 78, PURDUE 72

LAS VEGAS (AP) —Davis Fogle scored 22 points and Gonzaga opened the season by defeating Purdue for the first time, winning in the Hall of Fame Series.

The game was a procession to the free-throw line, with Gonzaga making 26 of 34 compared to 15 of 21 for Purdue.

Xaivian Lee, a Florida fifth-year transfer making his Gonzaga debut, added 18 points, Izan Almansa scored 11 and Braden Huff had 10.

Daniel Jacobsen led Purdue with 22 points despite battling foul trouble, C.J. Cox scored 11 and Antione West Jr. finished with 10.

Purdue, with the program’s winningest coach Gene Keady watching from the stands, entered the game having won all five prior meetings between the teams, including three straight from 2022-24.

Beating Gonzaga in the season opener, however, is not easy, the Bulldogs running their streak to 23.

The Boilermakers started a lineup without any players from the state of Indiana for the first time since Feb. 11, 1982, when they played Ohio State.

Gonzaga led for nearly 35 minutes, but Jacobsen kept Purdue within striking distance most of the night. The offense not only ran through the 7-foot-4 center, the Boilermakers didn’t have many answers against the more balanced Bulldogs when he had to sit because of fouls.

NO 16. MICHIGAN 84, OAKLAND 68

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Roddy Gayle and Trey McKenney scored 17 points apiece for Michigan and the defending national champions beat Oakland in Mike Boynton’s coaching debut with the program.

J.P. Estrella, a transfer from Tennessee, had 15 points and 12 rebounds and freshman Quinn Costello scored 13 points in their first game with the Wolverines.

Gayle returned for a fifth season as one of the many college basketball players who joined lawsuits across the country after the NCAA changed its eligibility rules.

After Michigan won its second national championship and first since 1989, coach Dusty May left to lead the Dallas Mavericks and Boynton was promoted from assistant to head coach. The Wolverines also lost a trio of first-round picks to the NBA: Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara and Morez Johnson.

Boynton is getting another chance to lead a team after he was fired two years ago following a seven-season run at Oklahoma State.

Michigan is counting on returning guards McKenney, Gayle and Elliot Cadeau to lead the way with transfers and freshmen filling the roster.

NO. 17 KANSAS 95, FORDHAM 65

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Tre White scored 22 points, top recruit Tyran Stokes added 15 in his Kansas debut, and the Jayhawks overcame early stretches of sloppy offense and porous perimeter defense to beat Fordham.

Leroy Blyden Jr. also had 15 points after transferring from Toledo, Melvin Council Jr. scored 10 in his return to the Jayhawks, and recent Purdue transfer Trey Kaufman-Renn came off the bench to score nine points and pull down five boards.

White, Council and Kaufman-Renn are among the dozens of players across the country who have won injunctions in court against the NCAA for another year of eligibility. The trio combined for 41 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in the opener.

Akira Jacobs had 20 points and Lateef Patrick Jr. scored 13 for the Rams, whose 3-point barrage kept them within 54-48 early in the second half before the Jayhawks embarked on a 19-3 run that finally gave them complete control.

Kaufman-Renn didn’t play for Kansas during its exhibition slate, which included losses to second-ranked Duke and No. 11 Louisville in Allen Fieldhouse, as his eligibility situation was revolved and the former All-Big Ten forward got up to speed with his new team.

MEMPHIS 80, NO. 18 IOWA STATE 76

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Jayden Reid scored 17 of his game-high 26 points in the second half to lead Memphis to a win over Iowa State.

The Tigers had to hang on late to secure the win. Memphis led 69-62 with just over five minutes remaining on a 3-pointer by Rihards Vavers before the Cyclones made a late push.

Iowa State’s 7-0 run tied it at 69 before Reid took over late to secure the win for Memphis. The Northwestern transfer scored 11 points in the final three minutes, including a big 3-pointer with 38 seconds to play to give Memphis a 78-73 lead.

Iowa State’s Dominykas Pleta scored 13 points in the final 10 minutes of the game to keep the Cyclones in it. He finished with 15.

Ryan Prather Jr. led Iowa State with 19 points.

While Reid had the late-game heroics, the Tigers were led for most of the night by Luke Almodovar, who finished with 15 points. He fouled out with just over three minutes to play when Reid used his scoring surge for Memphis down the stretch.

The first half was tight, featuring 11 lead changes and seven ties. Fittingly, a dunk at the buzzer by Almodovar gave Memphis a 40-39 lead at the break.

NO. 19 TEXAS TECH 76, JACKSON STATE 42

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Damarion Dennis scored a career-high 22 points in his Texas Tech debut, and the Red Raiders opened the season with a 47th consecutive nonconference home win, beating Jackson State.

Cruz Davis, another transfer among nine newcomers after two seasons at Hofstra, had 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and a career-high six steals in the Red Raiders’ 27th straight season-opening win.

Dennis, a Wyoming transfer who grew up in Texas, came off the bench and was 8 of 12 from the field, including a career-best four 3-pointers.

Mike Williams scored 11 points for the Tigers, who are playing all 14 nonconference games on the road.

Jackson State shot 29% overall and 21% from 3, with 29 of 48 shots coming beyond the arc in Trey Johnson’s debut as head coach almost 20 years after he led his alma mater to its most recent NCAA Tournament appearance.

Texas Tech started the season without All-America post player JT Toppin. He is still rehabbing after tearing the ACL in his right knee last February, and there isn’t a timeline for his return.

NO. 21 SOUTHERN CAL 95, MILWAUKEE 63

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Adonis Ratliff scored 25 points in his collegiate debut, Alijah Arenas had 21 points and a career-high eight rebounds, and Southern California beat Milwaukee.

Darius Ratliff, Adonis’ twin brother, added 14 points and five blocks in his debut for the Trojans. Rodney Rice had 15 points and nine assists in his first game since a season-ending shoulder injury last year, and KJ Lewis added 10 points.

USC (1-0) shot 56.9% from the field, including 12 of 22 from 3-point range, and never trailed en route to its third straight season-opening win under coach Eric Musselman.

Amare Hereford scored 14 points and Tre Norman had 13 for the Panthers (0-1).

The Ratliff brothers, the twin sons of 16-year NBA veteran Theo Ratliff, are part of a decorated freshman class for the Trojans that includes touted recruit Christian Collins, who did not play.

Adonis Ratliff shot 7 of 10 from the field, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range, and added six rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. Darius Ratliff was 5 of 10 and made his only 3-point attempt.

NO. 24 VANDERBILT 93, BELLARMINE 47

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tyler Tanner scored 20 points to lead Vanderbilt to a dominant win over Bellarmine in the first matchup between the teams.

Tanner, a preseason Associated Press All-American, shot 7 for 10 from the floor and also had six assists and two rebounds.

Berke Büyüktuncel had 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting, Ace Glass had 12, and Chandler Bing scored 11 for the Commodores (1-0).

DeMarcus Surratt led Bellarmine with nine points, while Jacob Wassler had eight points.

Vanderbilt shot 60% from the field, 37% from 3-point range, 80% from the free-throw line, had 48 points in the paint, and scored 35 points off turnovers. They also recorded 12 steals, 19 assists, and outrebounded Bellarmine (0-1) 38-20.

The teams were tied at 14-14 with nine minutes left in the half, then Vanderbilt took command from that point with a 38-5 run that bled into the second half.

The Commodores returned Tanner and Bing, but lost four starters from last season’s 27-win team, including Tyler Nickel, Duke Miles, Devin McGlockton, and AK Okereke.

NO. 25 94, OHIO STATE 83

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Rob Wright III scored 33 points and made four 3-pointers to lead BYU to a victory over Ohio State.

Collin Chandler and Tyler Betsey each had 15 points for the Cougars. Bruce Branch III had 12 points and Jaxon Kohler scored 11. Betsey and Kohler both grabbed six rebounds. BYU (1-0) shot 69% from the field and made seven 3-pointers in the second half.

Amare Bynum led the Buckeyes (0-1) with 18 points. John Mobley Jr. had 14 points and seven assists before fouling out with 4:48 left. Andrija Jelavic had 13 points and nine rebounds.

The Cougars scored baskets on four straight possessions, culminating in a second-chance corner 3 from Wright, to take their first lead of the game. BYU eventually extended the lead to 50-43 on a three-point play from Kohler.

Ohio State briefly regained a 57-55 lead on Mobley’s layup. But the Cougars surged in front for good with a 14-2 run highlighted by Kohler’s reverse backdoor layup and a 3-pointer from Wright for a 73-61 lead with 7:24 left.

BYU struggled from the perimeter out of the gate, missing eight of its first nine 3-point field goal attempts. Ohio State took advantage of the cold outside shooting to surge ahead of the Cougars midway through the first half.

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Warriors' Draymond Green ejected after shove match with Dillon Brooks

SAN FRANCISCO ― There's no love lost between Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green and Phoenix Suns guard Dillon Brooks.

The two have a history of trash-talking and getting into shoving matches with one another. They kept that tension going during the Warriors-Suns matchup on Monday, Nov. 2.

Green committed a foul against Suns center Khaman Maluach, wrapping him up in an intentional foul before throwing him to the ground. Green was initially called for a foul and then an ensuing technical foul for shoving Maluach to the ground.

Things got spicy and Green got a visit from his old friend, or foe, Brooks. Brooks took exception to Green's push on his teammate and ran to the pile, pushing Green.

Green retaliated as teammates, coaches and game officials had to separate the two players. Both Green and Brooks received double-technical fouls for the dust up.

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It was Green's second technical, which resulted in an automatic disqualification. Green left the game at the 10-minute mark of the third quarter. He finished the game with four points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in 17 minutes.

The Warriors went on to win the game, 116-113.

Warriors react to Draymond Green ejection

The Warriors were receptive to Green's ejection. It lit a fire under the team, teammate Stephen Curry said.

"We had to respond so I'm glad we did," Curry said. "It was a combination of that moment. We're going to have out brother's back when he defends us."

Head coach Steve Kerr said he doesn't want actual fights, but rather the team's competitive nature.

"I just want to see the competitive spirit, and I thought we saw that time," Kerr said. "They really punched us in the mouth. You know, that first quarter, they were ready. ... I was thrilled with our competitive spirit. And I know there were a couple dust-ups, but that's just, you know, the greatest NBA basketball players on Earth competing. This is what it is."

Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski said he loved Green's intensity.

"We didn't have the edge to us to start the game," Podziemski said. "Found it a little bit in the second quarter but then they came out in the third quarter pretty well and that kind of changed the game for us. Everybody's locked and came together for Dray. So I think it was needed."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Warriors' Draymond Green ejected after shove match with Dillon Brooks

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Stats Rundown: 3 numbers to know from the Mavericks’ grueling 115-100 loss to the Sacramento Kings

DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 02: Emanuel Sharp #34 of the Sacramento Kings strips the ball from Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first half at American Airlines Center on November 02, 2026 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks dropped an ugly, grueling game to the Sacramento Kings by a score of 115-110. It was the kind of performance that makes you wonder why any of us spend any time watching sports at all. Dallas, fresh off their most emotional win of the season, laid a massive egg on their home floor and made the winless Kings look like the Harlem Globetrotters.

When such a horrific display of hoops takes place, everyone who steps on the floor is culpable. No one gets out unscathed. But Cooper Flagg, the Mavericks’ second-year wunderkind, had the worst game of his career, setting the tone for his supporting cast to follow. Flagg shot just 3-19 from the field and turned the ball over six times. It was an awful showing, the likes of which we won’t often see this season.

Unfortunately, the Mavericks compiled a lot of numbers throughout the box score tonight. None of them were good. Nevertheless, it is the duty of the courageous Mavs Moneyball staff and this beleaguered writer to let you know about some of those numbers and why they matter. Without further ado, here are the stats that tell this story of this Kafkaesque nightmare.

+12: Kings’ advantage in 3-pointers made

Dallas shot 7-of-33 from behind the line while Sacramento went 19—of-43. In the modern NBA, you’re not going to win any games when the other team outscores you by 36 from three. With Kyrie Irving resting, the Mavericks were without their best 3-point shooter and ball handler. As a result, space to operate and good looks from three were hard to come by.

As the game went on, the Mavericks got lazier and lazier on defense, too, letting the Kings swing the ball around and get up great looks from distance. The Dallas roster is already short on good shooting, and tonight was a sum-of-all-fears performance.

7: Mavericks’ fast-break points

The Mavericks came into tonight’s game fifth in the NBA in fast-break points per game at 18.7. Dusty May is known for pushing the pace in transition as often as possible, but that didn’t happen tonight.

Dallas was stuck in halfcourt hell, and things were a slog all night. This team is going to struggle when they can’t generate easy baskets.

33: Combined points for Maverick centers

Let’s end the stats rundown on a positive note. There were strong showings from both Daniel Gafford (20 points) and Morez Johnson Jr. (13) tonight, providing unlikely offense for a floundering squad. Gafford kept the Mavericks afloat in the first half and scored 11 points in the second quarter when nothing else was working.

Johnson had a really nice game on both ends of the floor; the Mavericks rookie posted a career-high in scoring while lifting the team defensively. It was a much-needed performance from the rookie big, who has struggled with playing through shin splints. Both Gafford and Johnson have done an admirable job holding down the center spot while Dereck Lively II and Santi Aldama work their way back from surgeries.