The Knicks were, as Mike Brown said, stuck in the mud on both ends of the floor in a loss to the Sixers.
They allowed too many points in transition (17 in the second half). They had too many costly turnovers (76ers had 22 points off Knick turnovers). And they didn’t get enough easy baskets on offense (New York’s starters combined for just five assists on 35 percent shooting in the first three quarters).
There will be plenty for New York to clean up ahead of Friday’s game at Boston — Jalen Brunson believes that some positives can come from the ugly opening night loss.
“I think it's good for us to, you know, kind of get knocked down off the mountain. Humble ourselves, put our egos in check and see what's gonna happen,” the Knick captain said.
Brunson has said several times already that the Knicks will learn a lot about themselves in the first few weeks of the season. They will be hunted by new teams with fresh legs. Ten of their first 15 games are against playoff teams. And one of the non-playoff teams they face is an Indiana team with Tyrese Haliburton in the backcourt.
“I’ve told you guys since Day One. Whatever happens this first couple weeks of the season, it’s going to show who we truly are. So, let's see.”
MELO BULLISH ON KNICKS
Carmelo Anthony knows more than anyone not to make too much of the first game of the season.
Regardless of what happened on Tuesday, Anthony sees the Knicks as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
“For me, it’s very simple. I think the Knicks are still in the driver’s seat. I think they have an opportunity to really get off to a good start,” Anthony said Monday night at an NBA Tip Off event for American Express. “Especially with the way they played at the end of the season… I think going through what they went through, how they won, will help them [at the start] of the season."
Anthony was at the Garden working Knicks-Sixers for NBC. It was his first time attending a game since New York’s Game 4 win in the Finals.
Anthony, like the rest of us, was in awe of the Knicks’ comeback and the OG Anunoby tip-in to seal it.
“That’s probably the greatest moment, to me, in sports, almost. When you really think about it, that moment, the way that the Knicks were down, the way they were losing. Down 20, the fans still in there, it was still a packed house. The way that they just rallied back. And it came down to that OG tipoff,” Anthony said Monday night. “It’s funny how, in Knicks history, you can go from the dark days of missing the tip in to making the tip-in. That’s how the universe works, 53 years later.”
Anthony spent last weekend at an American Express event near the NBA Store in Manhattan. The event took place in a bus that was transformed into a showroom of vintage NBA collectibles. Anthony was on hand to meet and greet cardholders and fans.
“It was nice to kind of get back to that environment with the fans, up close and personal at the NBA Store,” he said. “Brought me back to my playing days.”
It'll be the first time in eight years that James won't be suiting up at Crypto.com Arena to open the season (not counting the sciatica injury that delayed his 2025 debut). This is now unquestionably Luka Dončić's team. The roster has been re-shaped around him to show for it.
But are they better off?
President of basketball operations Rob Pelinka wasted no time in overhauling the team with the roughly $52 million in cap space created by James' departure in free agency for the Philadelphia 76ers. The first priority was locking in Austin Reaves long-term. They got him on a four-year, $184.8 million contract. The next box to check was acquiring a franchise center; they traded for Walker Kessler.
The third item on the offseason agenda was to sign players who could dribble, pass and shoot. Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Quentin Grimes and Ziaire Williams and Jaden Hardy check all those boxes.
There's a depth to this Lakers squad that previous iterations of this team simply couldn't afford. They seem to be tight knit after the offseason trip to Slovenia helped kickstart their chemistry. There's a level excitement among the players and third-year head coach JJ Redick, who's changing the defensive scheme to feature Kessler in a similar fashion to how the Spurs used Victor Wembanyama in their Finals run a year ago.
"I think this is going to be a team that is really committed to each other," Redick told reporters on Tuesday. "And that can take you a long way."
Walker Kessler lays it in for his first Lakers preseason bucket 👏
The new core of Dončić, Reaves and Kessler played just 13 minutes together in the preseason. The Lakers also aren't entering Wednesday's season opener against the Golden State Warriors at their healthiest: Collin Sexton, who is expected to be their primary ballhandler off the bench and pair nicely with Mamu, is questionable with a right calf strain. Williams impressed in the preseason and could potentially crack the starting five, but he's had limited time on the floor as well with a foot injury that seems to be cleared up by now.
Adou Thiero is out with fluid buildup in his surgically repaired left knee, while rookie Cameron Carr is dealing with a right oblique strain.
USA TODAY Sports projected the Lakers to finish 48-34 this season, particularly because of how hard it is to predict this team with so many new faces. Redick and Dončić have emphasized that there will be a need for patience as this team adjusts to each other.
"I think the biggest unknown to me is how this team deals with adversity," said Redick, who re-inforced that predictions don't mean anything. "And that's different for every team, and that's different maybe how we deal with adversity in November versus how we deal with adversity in March. Hopefully there's growth throughout the season so that we can deal with adversity in the right way, and that ultimately will prepare us for a deep playoff run."
Whether or not they're better off without LeBron is a question that will have to be answered at a later date.
What a difference a summer — and getting healthy — makes. Oklahoma City believes that if it had been healthy in the Western Conference Finals — specifically Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell — it would have had a chance to return to the NBA Finals and defend its title. Instead, they fell in 7 to the Spurs.
Game 1 of the 2026-27 season made the Thunder's point.
Behind an elite defense and 32 points from reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder comfortably beat the Spurs 116-104 in San Antonio.
While SGA looked like an MVP, Victor Wembanyama struggled offensively, missing 12 straight shots, shooting 1-of-13 from the floor, and finishing with 12 points. He grabbed 13 rebounds and had 6 blocks — he was brilliant defensively — but the Spurs needed more offense from him.
It's easy to forget that the Thunder had the best defense in the NBA last season — by a wide margin — and that showed for long stretches of this game. For the night, San Antonio shot just 38.7% from the floor, and were 10-of-37 (27%) from beyond the arc.
OKC took control in the second quarter, outscoring the Spurs 31-16, in part because the Thunder hit 5-of-8 from 3.
Jared McCain knocked down six 3-pointers and finished with 20.
Jared McCain tied his career high with his SIXTH triple in crunch time! NBA Tip-Off on NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/Fr0NsfMNqV
Chet Holmgren was more aggressive on offense — to the point that De'Aaron Fox picked up a technical for throwing him to the ground — and finished with 14 points, while Jalen Williams had 12 points in his return but struggled with 5-of-16 shooting.
Stephon Castle had 24 points and Dylan Harper 18 for the Spurs.
The Texas signal-caller has been thrust under the national microscope since Day 1, and this year's struggles have only intensified the noise around his NFL potential. But for Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice, the conversation around Arch is far from settled — and he remains steadfast in keeping Manning ranked among his top quarterback prospects.
He made his case on an episode of the "Football 301" podcast.
The constant social media barrage calling Arch "overrated" or a "bust" doesn't move Tice. He's seen enough from the process, traits and underlying play to keep faith in Manning's long-term NFL potential:
"There's more to Arch with his tools and even his process right now than I think what the narrative is right now," Tice said. " … It's a difference between him as a player right now and what he projects to be."
While the results aren't perfect and there's plenty to work on, Tice is willing to bet that Manning is still a "good prospect that should go in the first round" of the NFL Draft, even if he's not at the tier of a Drake Maye, Caleb Williams or Trevor Lawrence.
Nuance gets lost amid the yelling about Arch Manning
The narrative around Manning has been overwhelmingly negative. Texas' consecutive losses to Oklahoma and Florida, paired with underwhelming stat lines, have led many observers to label Manning a disappointment.
But Tice urges a look at the tape, suggesting that what shows up on film tells a more positive story than what the box score reveals.
"Some of the film in those games that might have felt lackluster, the end of Oklahoma, the Tennessee game where he finished with one pick, no touchdowns, the film of those games was much better than expected."
Process over outcomes and a look at Texas' ecosystem
What stands out for Tice isn't necessarily the raw production, but Manning's process, particularly his willingness to work from the pocket, push the football downfield and stand tall under pressure. While Manning has had issues finishing critical drives and a few notable mistakes, Tice points out that Manning consistently shows toughness, advanced processing and the ability to step up in tight pockets.
There's a "willingness to push the football, work over the middle" and the traits that translate to the next level: size, athleticism, and a good — not just average — arm.
Manning's struggles, according to Tice, are as much a product of his supporting cast and Texas' coaching as of anything Manning himself can control. The Texas offensive line has struggled with blitzes and stunts, and the receiving corps has been "underwhelming." Even Cam Coleman, a preseason top-five player for Tice, "just doesn't have a real feel for the game" this year.
Manning's tendency to avoid tucking and running — sometimes missing open gains with his impressive athleticism — is viewed by Tice not as a flaw in confidence, but as a trait of a quarterback striving to own the pocket and process defenses like a pro, not just bail out for easy yards.
Tools are still there
Despite the up-and-down execution and a rough game against Florida, Tice still sees the elite tools that made Manning a consensus top recruit:
Athleticism: "Very, very good athlete … this guy's going to run a 4.5 if he does run the 40"
Toughness and poise: Willingness to stand in and take hits, work through progressions, and not rely on just his legs
Arm talent: Not just average but a legitimately good one, able to drive throws at the NFL level
That combination still justifies a spot in the first-round conversation for the 2027 NFL Draft.
After a disappointing loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on banner night at Madison Square Garden, Knicks head coach Mike Brown was clear about his disappointment in his team's poor attention to detail.
"There were some things that we could've done better," Brown began. "Our transition defense was not good with our starting group in the third quarter. All throughout the game, we looked like we were running in mud; whether it was in the front court or it was in transition, we were not good getting to our spots and putting pressure on Philadelphia the right way ... That's where the game was won and lost."
Facing their newly-revamped Eastern Conference rivals, who added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to their already-stacked roster in the offseason, was always going to be a challenge.
It didn't help, Brown said, that New York failed to execute in small ways up and down the court.
"If we're going to play like we did, it don't matter who it is. It's going to be a long night for us," Brown said. "We have to make sure we focus on the little things -- Are we sprinting to the corner? Are we touching the paint and trying to spray it? When we do spray it, are we relocating and spacing the floor the right way so our teammates can now drive the basketball? ... Those are the little things that don't necessarily add up in the stat sheet that I didn't think we were good at tonight offensively, and then just sprinting back defensively and making sure we build a wall."
"All throughout the game, we looked like we were running in mud." Mike Brown's opening statement after the Knicks' loss to the 76ers, which he says was a "tough ballgame to watch for me" https://t.co/4CBo2DPGfV
As a team, the Knicks shot just 37 percent from the field and 33 percent from the arc. They turned the ball over 15 times for 22 points, and they allowed 28 total fast-break points (19 in the second half alone).
No one played particularly well individually either: OG Anunoby went 3-for-12, Mikal Bridges was 2-for-8, Deuce McBride went 1-for-5. After a historic effort in which he became the first Knicks player to record a first-half double-double in the season opener, Andre Drummond finished 5-for-13. Even Jalen Brunson, whose 21 points led the team, went just 6-for-19 (though he did knock down all eight of his free throw attempts).
"We have to finish with authority or some form of aggression, or what we do, which is spray the basketball," Brown said. "We've got to do a better job of those things: hit the paint, play off of two [feet], finish strong, or spray it ... You can't shoot 42 percent for the game in the paint while you're turning the ball over, while you're getting beat in transition."
In the playoffs, the Knicks quickly became known for their dynamic fourth-quarter comebacks, often spearheaded by a series of heroic buckets from Brunson. The Finals MVP attempted to pull from the same bag of tricks in the final five minutes of Tuesday's game, but it wasn't enough to beat a team like Philadelphia. A missed three with 10 seconds to play sealed New York's fate for the evening.
Understandably, Brown said he never wants to rely on being a team that can rally late.
"If we would've played the right way, it wouldn't come down to [Brunson's three]. We put ourselves in the hole not doing the other little things, and sometimes it works at the end of the games, and sometimes it doesn't," he said. "We have to watch the film, regroup, and go see how we can put a stretch of 48 minutes together the right way to try to get a win."
Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished the night second on the team in points (19) and total rebounds (12) but led the team in turnovers (4), admitted that no team is capable of using that strategy this early in the season -- not even one like the Knicks, who retained all but one of their core players from the championship squad.
“I just thought that we put ourselves too much in a deficit,” Towns said. “We're not that Knick team yet from last year. We had that spark, we had that execution, we had that time to figure it out as everyone, and I just think too early in the season we're trying to rely on that playoff Knick team you saw last year."
Despite the messy outcome, Brunson said he isn't taking the loss to heart.
In fact, he said an early loss may even help his team battle through the 81 games still left in the regular season.
"I think it's good for us to kind of get knocked down off the mountain," he said. "Humble ourselves, put our egos in check, and see what's gonna happen. Whatever happens these first couple weeks of the season -- that's gonna show who we truly are."
"I think it's good for us to kind of get knocked down off the mountain, humble ourselves, put our egos in check and see what's going to happen." Jalen Brunson talks about the Knicks losing tonight and how it can help them improve: https://t.co/sDFWPHE4Lh
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 06: Michael King #34 of the San Diego Padres pitches in the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game three of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on October 06, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re open for business here at BCB After Dark: the coolest club for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in out of the fall chill. There’s no cover charge. We always have room for a friendly face. We have a few tables available. The hostess can seat you now. Bring your own beverage.
BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.
Last night, I asked you who you were cheering for in the upcoming World Series. The vote wasn’t as lopsided as I thought it would be, as “only” 63 percent of you said you were cheering for the Rays. For the other 37 percent, I guess you have your reasons.
On Tuesdays, I don’t normally do any movie stuff. But I always have time for jazz and you’re free to join us.
Tonight we’re featuring Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox playing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” as a 1930s Cab Calloway-style jazz tune. And yes, that’s Wayne Brady on lead vocals.
OK, I’m cheating a little bit. The first name that Mooney and Sharma mention is Tarik Skubal, and if I put him in the poll he’d probably get at least 90 percent of the vote. But as Mooney and Sharma mention, signing Skubal would force owner Tom Ricketts to go way outside of his comfort zone as far as it comes to signing free agents. I’m not saying that there is no chance the Cubs sign Skubal. I do think there’s a chance that Ricketts and Hoyer decide to roll the dice on Skubal. But I don’t think it’s a big chance. Small chance. Really small chance. But I am saying there’s a chance. But not enough of a chance to include him here.
The other three starting pitchers mentioned by the pair are much more likely options for the Cubs. The three of them are:
Right-hander Michael King: King isn’t technically a free agent yet, but he has an opt-out clause that everyone is expecting him to exercise. As Mooney and Sharma note, the Cubs were interested in King last year, but didn’t want to match the Padres’ offer. For one, it would have cost the Cubs a draft pick as he had received a qualifying offer. Second, the deal for three years and $75 million with two opt outs meant that the Cubs would have been taking on all the risk and potentially getting only one year out of King.
But King had a good year in 2026, including shutting the Cubs down in the postseason, which you probably remember. The 31-year-old King went 12-10 with a strong 3.21 ERA over 185 innings this past season. He also kept the ball on the ground, which is good with the Cubs infield. The one warning sign is that King’s strikeout rate this past year dropped to a career-low 21 pecent in 2026.
Right-hander Freddy Peralta: The Cubs have been linked to Peralta for a while, mostly because of the long history between him and manager Craig Counsell in Milwaukee. With free agency approaching, the Brewers dealt Peralta to the Mets last winter and until the trade deadline in August, he was pretty freaking bad in Queens with a 4.99 ERA. Some of that was the Mets poor defense. Some of that was just Peralta being bad.
But Peralta was traded to the Rays at the deadline and after a disastrous start in Colorado when he got rocked for seven runs, Perlata was mostly pretty good for the Rays. He seemed to have rediscovered his old form from Milwaukee. In ten regular season starts with the Rays, Peralta had a 3.25 ERA. Then, of course, he dominated in the playoffs and was just named the American League Championship Series MVP last night after two terrific games against Cleveland. As Mooney and Sharma point out, Peralta’s velocity took a big step up during the playoffs, potentially indicating that his problems with the Mets are behind him.
The one potential yellow flag to Peralta’s time with Tampa Bay is that, like King, his strikeout rate dropped, striking out just 19.7 percent of batters. On the other hand, his walk rate dropped too.
Right-hander Sonny Gray: At 36, Gray is easily the oldest of the three pitchers we’re looking at tonight. But he really isn’t slowing down much at all. Gray had one of the best seasons of his career in 2026 and he led the league with 18 wins. Gray also had a 2.72 ERA, which was his lowest since his abbreviated rookie season in 2013.
Gray is also a strong ground ball pitcher, getting 46 percent ground balls last season and 49.4 percent over the course of his career. Gray also doesn’t walk batters, which allowed him to go deeper into games even as he ages. In 22 of his 29 starts last year, Gray went at least six innings. In six starts, he went seven innings or more.
The other advantage with Gray is that with his age, he’d probably be willing to settle for a much shorter contract of one or two years. That would mean a lot less risk if things go bad.
Mooney and Sharma mention the players and coaches on the Cubs with Vanderbilt connections, that might entice the Commodore alum. But I also wanted to mention that the Cubs drafted Gray out of high school in 2008 in the 27th round. Admittedly, Gray was a strong commit to Vandy and that draft pick was a kind of “Hey, if you change your mind. . .” pick, but the point is that the Cubs interest in Gray goes all the way back to the Jim Hendry era.
So which of these three pitchers would be the best fit for the Cubs in 2027?
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 20: LeBron James #23 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers shake hands during the first quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. 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 Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Aside from potentially playing a role in a tiebreaker scenario at the end of the season, Tuesday night’s game was just one of 82 on the schedule. But it felt much bigger than that, what with the New York Knicks raising the banner, and the Philadelphia 76ers both looking to show that last spring’s playoff sweep wasn’t who they are anymore, both figuratively and literally with the number of new faces. Fans were treated to a playoff-like atmosphere in October, and it’s hard to come away with anything but optimism about the Sixers’ prospects after their 106-100 win over New York.
The defense looked much better than anticipated, stifling the Knicks into shooting just 37 percent from the field. Philadelphia’s unselfishness mantra held true offensively, with 28 assists on 37 made field goals. In addition to the big-name acquisitions, two of the new players down the roster contributed in the team-wide effort, with Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope both finishing in double figures. It was a hard-nosed, gutsy performance from a bunch of guys who haven’t played a ton together yet against a Knicks group that has about as much continuity and recent success as anyone in the league. We saw a lot to like from these Sixers, so let’s talk our first Bell Ringer of the season.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 20: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots a layup during the third quarter of the game against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. 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 Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In a game featuring the defending champions and teammates with all the accolades you can accrue in this sport, Tyrese Maxey looked to be the best player on the court to my eyes. He was the most consistent offensive engine for the Sixers all evening long, starting the scoring with a pair of threes, one off a nice read in the open court to pick off a pass. All game, whenever the Sixers needed something, it seemed to be Tyrese in transition, or using his elite acceleration to drive to the rim for a bucket or a foul. And remember when Maxey was a negative on defense? Those days are long gone. He’s learned to hone his speed and athleticism to perfectly time rejections at the rim or intercept passing lanes. His pick-six with around two minutes left in the game firmly put the Sixers in control for the remainder of the contest. In so many ways, this is Tyrese Maxey’s team now.
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 20: LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on October 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LeBron James, Philadelphia 76er, became an actual on-court reality on Tuesday night, and it was beautiful in so many ways. He brings so much connectivity to the team on both ends of the court. James helped shore up the defensive glass and was such a communicative piece on the defensive end; I guess it remains to be seen if he’ll be this locked in defensively on a non-nationally televised game against the Kings or whoever, but this game proved he still has that gear. Offensively, he made all the right reads we’ve come to expect over the years from LeBron James, basketball savant. I’m sure it will only get better as his chemistry with his new teammates increases. He also supercharges the transition game, both as an initiator and a finisher. LeBron James in the open court is still a freight train that can’t be derailed. This was a “quieter” game from LeBron on a night his shot wasn’t really falling, and he still had his fingerprints all over the win.
THE NEW GUYS IN TOWN 💪 Jaylen Brown lobs it to LeBron James for the alley-oop! pic.twitter.com/R7UcKg0vYe
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 20: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the third quarter of the game against Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jaylen’s Sixers debut went how you would have drawn it up to a tee. He played a lot of off ball when the starters were in the game, and then got his turn as a lead initiator when members of the second unit filtered into the game. Through it all, he never forced anything, picking his spots to score and doing a terrific job distributing to his teammates as well. Brown was the catalyst of the Sixers’ 11-0 run to close the third quarter and turn the tide of the game, knocking down a pair of threes and assisting another. His end-of-quarter buzzer beater was a fun first capsule highlight for his Philadelphia 76ers career. Defensively, he was brilliant, stifling Jalen Brunson during his stints guarding the reigning Finals MVP. I hope he enjoyed his debut in a Sixers win combined with Boston blowing a 22-point lead in the same day as much as we did.
JAYLEN BROWN IS A SIXER! Sinks the three as time expires in Q3 and Philadelphia leads by 7! pic.twitter.com/uMmHgdMsfC
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 20: Anfernee Simons #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on October 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We weren’t absolutely sure Simons would play in the opener after missing the preseason with a hamstring injury, but it’s a good thing he did. On a night a lot of folks were having trouble seeing their outside shot fall, Simons came in and knocked down three triples across a three-minute span in the third quarter. It helped ensure the Knicks didn’t start to pull away and the Sixers could remain within striking distance. Simons looks like a super microwave scorer option off the bench, and considering he joined the team with this viewed as a huge weakness, there wasn’t anything I saw defensively that gave me great pause. He’s going to see a ton of open looks this season, and Anfernee looks poised to drain his fair share.
The game, which was on Tuesday, Oct. 20 in San Antonio, featured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continuing to make history as a shooter and Victor Wembanyama struggling on offense, but showcasing his defensive prowess, reminding fans why he was last year's Defensive Player of the Year.
"Obviously, it's the team that eliminated us from achieving our goal, but for us, I think it was more we're just happy to be back," Gilgeous-Alexander said on the NBC broadcast after the game. "... One of 82. This doesn't prove anything. This doesn't mean anything besides the fact that we won tonight. We took a step in the right direction. We gotta do it 81 more times."
Wembanyama started 0-for-12 from the field and finished the night with 12 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and six blocks.
San Antonio ousted the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals in a seven-game battle royale last season. Oklahoma City was riding high off Gilgeous-Alexander's second MVP season and their own NBA championship in 2025.
Both Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander are early favorites for this season's MVP as their young teams play hungry for more glory. In USA TODAY's preseason ranking of the top 100 players in the league, 22-year-old Wembanyama is No. 3 and Gilgeous-Alexander, 28, is No. 1.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stats in NBA season opener
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points, six rebounds and four assists. He also was a strong defensive presence with three steals and three blocks.
It was his 141st straight game with 20-plus points, the longest streak in NBA history, per the NBC broadcast.
"This is the game I love. I work hard in the summertime. I come out here and trust my work," the MVP said after the game. "It's that simple."
Victor Wembanyama stats in NBA season opener
Victor Wembanyama had a lackluster night and started 0-for-12 from the field, the longest drought of his career. The only points off a field goal came via an alley-oop dunk at the end of the third quarter.
The French superstar finished the night with 12 points, 13 rebounds and three assists. He shined on defense on top of the double digit boards with six blocks.
What LeBron James brings to the 76ers was on full display right after halftime of their season opener: Coach Nick Nurse switched up the matchups and had LeBron guarding Karl-Anthony Towns (putting Joel Embiid on Josh Hart).
Versatility. He can defend multiple positions. He can get a bucket, but spent most of the game as a facilitator, making the smart pass to get someone else the easy two.
LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey continue to work well with one another in their first game as teammates!
On a team stacked with talent — and guys used to having the ball in their hands — LeBron's willingness to sacrifice to do whatever it takes to win stood out in his opener — and is part of the reason the 76ers picked up the 106-100 win to spoil ring night in Madison Square Garden.
LeBron had a 14-point, nine-rebound, seven-assist night.
LeBron with an all-around performance in his 76ers debut!
"I can be a lot better. Still getting my rhythm," LeBron said in his walk-off interview with NBC's Zora Stephenson. "Obviously, just a little over two weeks with the new squad. I like the way we played, I thought we played well, especially defensively. Didn't shoot the ball well but we have capable shooters, we know that."
It looked better than LeBron thought. When LeBron and Embiid were on the floor, the 76ers could invert the offense, put them both out high, and have Tyrese Maxey or Jaylen Brown cut and move with space in the paint. It wasn't always smooth, but it worked.
LeBron still has his haters. "We don't want you" chants rang out in Madison Square Garden when LeBron stepped to the free-throw line (a reference to LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, saying that if the Knicks hadn't won a title, he would have gone to New York this summer).
That's not going to bother him. And, it's not going to bother the 76ers. Coach Nick Nurse called other coaches to see what he was in for coaching LeBron.
"There wasn't a whole lot of amazing, laundry list of things they're gonna say. They say you're gonna really like coaching him, and that is the case," Nurse said.
Nurse also talked about what LeBron, and another champion in Jaylen Brown, bring to the 76ers.
"You see both of their work ethics are A-plus, right? So without them even saying anything, who they are and how they go about things, automatically gives you some some pop, right?" Nurse said. "But they're both very serious about winning, both very serious about their preparation, and they both understand the game and do use their voices and help their teammates do things out there."
LeBron did that on opening night, and that is exactly why Philadelphia was excited to welcome him in. They are 1-0 because of it.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 21: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball against Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on October 21, 2025 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. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers open their season by hosting the Golden State Warriors at home on Wednesday.
In the last five years, the Lakers have faced the Warriors three times on opening night. At this point, it feels inevitable that these two Pacific Division teams clash on opening night — with or without LeBron James in the mix.
Speaking of The King, one thing the Lakers didn’t do well during his era was kick off the regular season. During James’ eight-year tenure in Los Angeles, they won only once, that coming in 2024. Will this trend continue now that the Luka Dončić era is in full effect?
In order for the Lakers to do just that, they’re going to have to play sharp and smart basketball right off the bat on Wednesday. As we saw in both preseason losses to the Dubs, they’re a more connected team right now, which makes sense since they barely made noise in free agency, contrary to the Lakers. So look out for them to bank on that with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green leading the way.
What the Lakers should do is capitalize on the Warriors’ injuries. Note that aside from Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody — who have been sidelined since last season — Brandin Podziemski and Kristaps Porziņģis also aren’t suiting up. So while that would probably mean more minutes and touches for Curry and even Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, the Lakers should outperform them on offense. They absolutely can’t get beat by anyone not named Steph from the Warriors.
It would be nice to get a sensational Dončić game right away, because who wouldn’t want that on opening night? Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler can’t afford to be passive or role players. Rebounds will be key for the Lakers because they mean more possessions for a supposedly more offensive-minded team. Ideally, the role players make their shots and their impact is felt in this one. Which one of them will stand out in the season opener?
Remember, a Curry-led team is always worth having appropriate fear for and hopefully that encourages the Lakers to play purposeful basketball from start to finish. There may be 82 games in a season but only one season opener that can help set the tone and begin the year with positive vibes.
Let’s see if the Lakers can secure their first victory on Wednesday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, Cameron Carr (right oblique strain) and Adou Thiero (left knee effusion) will start the season sidelined with injuries.
After missing the whole preseason, Colin Sexton (right soleus strain) is noted as questionable.
As for the Warriors, Jimmy Butler (ACL recovery), Moses Moody (patellar tendon repair). Brandin Podziemski (bilateral low back soreness), Kristaps Porzingis (not with the team) are listed as out.
New York struggled on both ends and looked, as head coach Mike Brown described them as being “stuck in the mud” in an ugly night, but they did receive a positive from one of their newest and eldest members.
Veteran big manAndre Drummond was one of the Knicks’ biggest early contributors off the bench, shining in the first half before seemingly running out of steam down the stretch in the second.
The backup center ended up being called upon much earlier than anyone could've anticipated, but he did a tremendous job sliding in after Karl-Anthony Towns picked up a pair of early fouls.
Chants of ‘Andre Drummond’ quickly came raining down from the fired-up MSG crowd for the first time as he quickly made his presence felt down low on both ends of the floor.
Drummond needed just over 14 minutes to put together 10 points and 11 rebounds, which, according to the team, was the third-fastest double-double by a Knick since 1996-97. He also became the first and only player in franchise history to record a first-half double-double in the season-opener dating back to that same year.
The 33-year-old picked up just one more bucket following halftime, but he still finished with a dozen points and a game-high 14 boards across 24 minutes in his impressive Knicks debut.
Drummond also recorded a pair of blocks, a steal, and a team-high four assists.
“I thought that he played with a lot of bounce and energy,” Brown said. “We probably ran him a little too long there because it looked like in the second half, not just him but all five of our starters too, ran a little bit out of gas.
“I have to keep getting to know him to see where the minutes may lie for him to be effective for us, but I thought that he was really really, really good on both ends of the floor during the first half.”
Even if Brown has to cut his time down slightly on a nightly basis, receiving this type of production from Drummond would go a long way towards the Knicks bolstering their center depth after losing Mitchell Robinson this offseason.
Oct 5, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) pulls down a rebound in front of Detroit Pistons forward Tolu Smith (35) in the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The preseason has come and gone right before our eyes, and the regular season is finally here. Several battles took place on the roster, and while some may be decided, nothing is set in stone this time of year.
But we do have a cut-and-dry 10-man rotation at this point. And the first preseason roster cut casualties went down with Haywood Highsmith, Kennedy Chandler, and Phillip Wheeler being waived. Then, Koby Brea and CJ Huntley joined shortly thereafter.
Jamaree Bouyea kept his spot on the roster, and the Suns elected to enter the season with 14 players on standard contracts. Drew Timme was signed after being cut by the Timberwolves.
The Phoenix Suns are keeping Jamaree Bouyea as the 14th player on the roster. They have officialy cut Haywood Highsmith.
So what about the group that actually plays? Well, it’s a shorter list. And preseason told us most of it.
Ryan Dunn emerged; Rasheer Fleming faltered. The center position is still to be determined, though we all know Jordan Ott has that answer… he is just reluctant to tip his hand.
10-Man Rotation
Below you will find the 10-man unit in two groups, along with who may be next in line, with a quick snippet on each guy. Dunn could be the odd man out if they cut it down to a 9-man rotation, depending on the matchups.
Starters
G: Jalen Green
G: Devin Booker
F: Dillon Brooks
F: Miles Bridges
C: Oso Ighodaro
Bench
G: Collin Gillespie
G: Luke Kennard
F: Jordan Goodwin
F: Ryan Dunn
C: Khaman Maluach
Next man up?
Jamaree Bouyea– If Phoenix needs another guard to step in, they trust him. He appeared in 46 games for the Suns last season, including one start.
Duop Reath – Foul trouble, foul trouble, foul trouble. Or an injury to either center. Duop Reath will be relied on at times this season. It’s better if he’s not, but it’s a long season.
Rasheer Fleming – Still a young, talented defender with massive 3-&-D upside, Fleming had a disappointing preseason and appears to have fallen out of the rotation.
Koa Peat – The rook will have to serve his time most likely, but don’t sleep on him. He has an NBA-ready body and will be ready to go if his number is called. If Ryan Dunn falters and Rasheer isn’t ready… enter Koa Peat.
Pat Spencer – Like Bouyea, if an injury occurs, Spencer could be someone they trust as a reserve to give them 10-15 minutes. Similar to all of their two-way guys, they have options if the injuries pile up.
Drew Timme – Depth signing. They’ll see what he’s got in the G League. Don’t expect to see him much, and if you do, it means things went bad.
Early in the second quarter with the Thunder up 37-28, Ajay Mitchell tossed a pass under the net toward Chet Holmgren. The big man was defended by De'Aaron Fox, who shoved him and flipped him so he landed on the court. A scuffle ensued under the net with Kenrich Williams and Jalen Williams rushing over to defend their Thunder teammate. Victor Wembanyama was caught up in the melee and got into a shoving match with Jaylin Williams.
Both teams were separated as the crowd booed. The referees reviewed the scuffle and Fox was given a Flagrant 1 foul for "an unnecessary act." Technical fouls were given to Wembanyama and the three Williams players.
Things start to get chippy between the Thunder and Spurs 👀
Even three hours before the New York Knicks season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, you could sense the excitement outside of Madison Square Garden. The sun had come out, and the bars across the street were filled with the sound of energetic conversations and laughter hours before the workday was over.
“Opening night’s always exciting for anybody and everybody,” said Knicks head coach Mike Brown before the game. “It's starting something new for everybody. It's fresh. Everybody's energized. You know, you feel the buzz. I don't care where you are, you feel the buzz. Here with our fans, I’ve said this many times before, but Knicks fans are different, and the buzz has been going on for a while. You felt it today.”
Obviously, Tuesday wasn’t just any opening night. The NBA champion New York Knicks were receiving their championship rings and having their banner hung from the rafters at the Garden. It was the main event on the NBA’s opening day, and the ticket to get in, which averaged around $2,000, was more than it cost to get into every other opening game combined. There was some fear that the exorbitant cost of entry would impact the vibes in the arena, similar to Game 3 of the NBA Finals, when the high prices and special guests seemed to price out the raucous Knicks fans.
That wasn’t the case on Tuesday, despite the Garden being filled with attendees like NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, singer Jon Bon Jovi, and fellow New York star athletes Cam Schlittler, Ben Rice, Michael Strahan, and many more.
From the moment fans started streaming into the arena, the energy was high. The walkways of Madison Square Garden were filled with Knicks fans wearing championship memorabilia and chanting “Knicks in 5.” As fans walked to their seats, they snapped photos of the championship graphic on the jumbotron or looked over the championship shirts that were on the back of every seat. Some fans hugged the ushers they’ve come to know over the years, enjoying a moment of shared joy. “We did it! We did it!” they smiled.
Unlike most Knicks home games, there was no edge to the crowd (that would come later after one hard foul by Joel Embiid). However, the pre-game atmosphere felt almost relaxed. The mountaintop had been reached. The monkey had been removed from the back. The fans weren’t anxious about the team earning something or achieving something; they were just here to celebrate what had already been completed.
Even though a basketball game was going to be played, the celebration of last season’s accomplishments would take center stage. Which is exactly the tightrope that Coach Brown knew he would have to walk in getting his team prepared for the night.
“It's tough because…this could be a once in a lifetime thing,” he said before the game. “You never know. It's hard. It's hard to accomplish something like this, and you definitely want guys to embrace it and celebrate it with each other because they went through a lot, with the fans, with the rest of the organization, with their families, so you don't want to take that moment away from them. But, in the same breath, we obviously have a job to do tonight. But I keep telling myself that no matter what happens tonight, if we win by five, if we win by 20, if we lose by five, if we lose by 20, there's a lot of basketball left. Whatever happens tonight is not going to define us, and so I would rather they enjoy the moment than me cut it short or carve into their emotions.”
There was certainly no carving into emotions once the ceremony began. It started with a video narrated by Ben Stiller that highlighted what the Knicks title meant to the team.
Then the jumbotron showed a video close-up of the Knicks’ championship rings, designed by Jason of Beverly Hills. The ring, which was crafted in white gold, has just under 800 diamonds and sapphires totaling 22 carats. The white and blue colors aren't the only reflection of the Knicks since the ring also features a built-in mechanism that raises a miniature version of Madison Square Garden, and the removable top of the ring reveals the distinctive ceiling architecture of the area. The words “WORLD CHAMPIONS” are set with 69 diamonds, to represent the Knicks’ 69 combined wins during their season, and the jersey number of every player on the team wraps around the ring. It’s an extravagant ring to match the flash and prestige of the city and team.
Courtesy of Jason of Beverly Hills
“Courtesy of Jason of Beverly Hills”
During the ring ceremony, each Knicks front office member, coach, and player had a chance to stand before the crowd and receive their ring to thunderous applause. When it was the player’s turn, Knicks legend Walt “Clyde” Frazier strode to the middle of the floor and had his moment shaking hands with, and presenting a ring to, each member of the Knicks’ title team (minus Mitchell Robinson, who was playing for the Celtics earlier today).
Brooklyn native Jose Alvarado received the first arena-shaking roar of the night, but there were plenty more to come, including when former Knick and current 76er Ariel Hukporti wheeled himself out with a knee walker after his recent Achilles surgery. Unsurprisingly, the biggest cheers came for the playoff heroes. Karl-Anthony Towns was the first starter to walk out, and the crowd would have risen to their feet, but they had already been standing for almost 20 minutes. Game 4 hero OG Anunoby was greeted by cheers and the entire stadium melding into chants of “OG! OG! OG”
By the time Jalen Brunson came out to receive his ring, the crowd was in a fervor. Chants of “MVP” meshed with chants of “[Expletive] Wemby,” as Knicks fans simply seemed happy to scream any kind of support for their team. When Brunson took the mic a few minutes later before the championship banner was raised and told the crowd the team wanted to “do it again this year,” the Mecca of Basketball exploded one more time.
The banner hung over the court for the entire game, watching as the Knicks failed to muster the same come-from-behind magic they had during the postseason and fell 106-100 to the 76ers. Yet, just as Mike Brown had expected, the loss didn't seem to deter the fans. As they filed peacefully out of the arena, a fanbase that would usually have been lambasting the poor shooting performances or the lazy third quarter defense was instead uttering things like "It's a long season," or "I forgot that October basketball doesn't matter as much."
Maybe it was self-preservation. Hopefully it wasn't complacency, but, more than likely, it was still the feeling of joy and appreciation for what this team was able to accomplish last season. In a few days, the banner that hung over the court on Tuesday will be moved to the open spot next to the 1970 and 1973 banners, which will be its final home. A few spaces to the right, the Knicks recently raised their banner commemorating the 2025 NBA Cup trophy.
“I think it's just a recognition of what our journey was like last year,” said Coach Brown. “There were a lot of ups and downs throughout the course of the year, and our guys rallied and figured out a way to win the NBA Cup, and then you go ahead and win the end-of-season final. It's just a recognition not just to our guys, but to the fans out there. We’ve got fantastic fans, and to be able to show a little love to them is pretty good.”
It was a pretty good recognition as part of a pretty good ceremony to honor a pretty great year. Yet, even as the team took it in, they had one eye on the next chapter.
“This is a new season,” said Coach Brown. “It's a new team, new challenges in front of us.”
Starting those challenges out with a loss is certainly not going to dampen the mood in New York on Tuesday. After all, this team has come back from far greater deficits.
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 20: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks receives his 2025-26 NBA Championship ring before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 20, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NYC came to party tonight. The Knicks (0-1) received their rings and hung a championship banner before tonight’s inaugural game of the 81st season. As a repeat is not guaranteed, your intrepid blogger tried to appreciate the moment for its rarity.
The visiting Philadelphia 76ers (1-0), with offseason additions LeBron James (14 PTS, 9 RBS, 7 AST) and Jaylen Brown (19 PTS, 8 RBS, 6 AST), came ready to rumble, determined to knock the kings from their throne. The champs, dressed in gold-lettered uniforms for the affair, played with a mix of efficiency and slop, taking and giving the lead throughout. Down the stretch, Karl-Anthony Towns (19 PTS, 12 RBS) drilled a few big shots, Captain Clutch (21 PTS, 6-19 FG) missed a couple, and the first game of the season ended with an L, 106-100.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 53 YEARS, THE KNICKS RAISE AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BANNER! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/mNkMpJva6b
Tyrese Maxey (28 PTS) started the contest with six points, shooting well through the period. Both teams showed opening night jitters, though. New York missed four shots before Mikal Bridges (4 PTS, -15 +/-) put back his own miss, and Brunson got a fortunate bounce for his first trey of the season. Karl-Anthony Towns picked up two fast fouls, and Andre Drummond (12 PTS, 14 RBS, 2 BLK) relieved him.
So far, we were digging the Andre experience. He blocked an Embiid jumper, rebounded over and stuffed Embiid, and intercepted a VJ Edgecombe pass for a dunk. If you picked Dre to lead the team in first-quarter scoring, claim your no-prize at the door. Spoiler alert: he disappeared in the second half and finished 5-of-13 from the field.
James ran the point on a number of possessions and connected with Brown for a cutting layup they’ll run a couple hundred times this season. Landry Shamet took exception to James forcefully shoving him multiple times (no calls) and getting clubbed by Embiid on a drive. ShamWow stood chest-to-chest with the big Cameroonian, and tensions rose when the teams circled around their mates. Things cooled off. To wrap up the quarter, Jose Alvarado slashed to the cup for an athletic layup, Brunson subbed in to float a final shot, and the hometown heroes held a 25-23 lead at the break.
In the preseason, the Drummond-Alvarado two-man game caught our attention. Tonight, they powered the Knicks early in the Q2, helping to give the Knicks a 10-point lead and ignite an 11-2 run. Shamet added his first three-pointer of the season (after a number of misses), and Jordan Clarkson got on the board with a finger-roll.
Also not quite back to game form: the refs whistled 28 fouls in the first half, yet somehow missed contact on a few of Brunson’s drives. The most free throws attempted in a game by the Knicks last season was 38. They had already taken 16 by halftime, and Philly had 21. By the end of the game, the hosts had been whistled 23 times and the visitors, 22.
KAT puts his head down and goes to WORK 💪
Knicks still holding the lead at home as they begin their title defense on NBC and Peacock! pic.twitter.com/UWXDJnQpot
Embiid returned to steady his squad with a pull-up and a triple, plus a few dimes. OG egged his face when he blocked the big fella, but the Pennsylvanians gained momentum as Brunson missed a couple and KAT whiffed at the charity stripe. Fouls bedeviled them, too; Hart and Towns had collected three apiece. After a tight game, Brunson took a Maxey charge, then bucketed off the glass and made three freebies to preserve the intermission lead, 58-54.
With Brunson at the line, LeBron was on the blocks and got into a heated exchange with a fan in the second row. The crowd chanting “We don’t want you” must’ve gotten under his skin.
The Knicks shot worse from the field (42% to 46%), but sat on top due to their 27–19 rebounding advantage. They also outscored Philadelphia 30–20 in the paint, but missed seven freethrows. Through two, Maxey had 16 points, and Brunson had 15. Meanwhile, Drummond had already cooked a 10-point, 12-board double-double (plus two blocks) in 18 minutes. This debut was one to remember.
The third period stunk. Missing eight of their first nine shots, the Knicks’ sloppiness let the Chesesesteaks flirt with the lead before Hart swished a three. We could feel the tide turning, though. With Drummond off the floor, the guests had an easier time penetrating the paint. Anfernee Simons hit three from deep, while Brunson shot 1-of-5 and Bridges, Anunoby, McBride, and Drummond combined to go 0-for-10. With the Knicks throwing the ball away, Brown hit a buzzer-beater to cap an 11-0 run. Philly up 83-76.
Jaylen Brown Hits The Buzzer Beating Three To End The Quarter.
LeBron James Found Him And He Hit The Fadeaway.
The Former Celtic Knocks It Down From Deep As The Superstar Finds Him In Their First Game Together Against The Knicks At Madison Square Garden.
Grand Theft Alvarado didn’t sweat opening night. He poked the ball from Maxey and stepped into a fast-break three. With an OG trey (his first after seven misses), the Knicks rode a 10-5 run to scare Nurse into a timeout. Philly benefited from big shots by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, but the unified unit of Towns, Alvarado, Shamet, Clarkson, and Hart kept the deficit at four with five minutes left and Brunson waiting to clock in.
After a Philly timeout, Brown fielded a backcourt of Brunson and Alvarado, teamed with Shamet, Hart, and Towns. The latter swished from the logo to make it 96-95, but Philly’s center countered with his own bomb.
Towns was ready to prove his value, though. He had 19 points and 10 came in the fourth. While Brunson bricked a few attempts, KAT stroked again from deep. A poorly timed Anunoby giveaway became a running Maxey dunk. New York found themselves trailing 104-98 with a minute left. A coach’s challenge overturned an out-of-bounds call and returned the ball to New York with 50 seconds left. Cap wasted little time running in a tricky layup, cutting it to four with 41 seconds to go. At the other end, Embiid airballed from beyond the arc. The ball reached Brunson, who missed a heavily contested triple on the run; no foul was called, and James corralled the defensive board. Ballgame.
Up Next
Mo has a proper recap in the oven. The Knicks return to the court on Friday in Boston. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
