SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 26: Mo Bamba #44 of the Utah Jazz boxes out during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on October 26, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The final buzzer sounds with a final score of 105-110, as Utah’s comeback effort fell short in the dying moments of this contest.
It’s a minor miracle that the Jazz were within striking distance at all down the stretch, as the Grizzlies took a 16-point lead in the final two minutes of the third quarter and buried the Jazz under a wave of momentum. To make matters worse, Utah was left without their two best players and veteran leaders, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., both of whom left the game in the first half and did not return.
Markkanen doubled over in pain after a collision on a screen, his wrist pinned between the screener and his teammate and bending awkwardly. He did not return and could hardly manage his pain on his walk to the locker room, stopping and leaning over in agony.
Jackson was in the wrong place at the right time, as a tumbling Grizzly landed on his calf and bent his knee awkwardly. He was quickly removed from the game despite an effort to fight through the pain; he didn’t return either.
The Utah Jazz are losing big men like a cloud loses water; when it rains, it pours. Sending both Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. to the locker room in the first half is a nightmare scenario for the winning-minded Jazz, compounded by pre-existing injuries to Utah’s frontcourt depth in Jusuf Nurkic and Jaxson Hayes. That’s the bad news. The good news? Another certified Mo Bamba sighting (TM) has been reported in Salt Lake City.
Bamba was exceptional when Will Hardy called his number, posting an immaculate stat line while locking down Utah’s interior defense. 110 is the lowest point total Utah has allowed all season, and that’s thanks in large part to Bamba’s 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 blocks in 29 minutes of burn. It can be easy to forget that Bamba was once a lottery pick — he reminded the Delta Center tonight.
Hammer slams, airborne denials, and more dish deflections than an ungrateful baby at their own birthday party, Bamba made his presence known and hardly looked like Utah’s fourth option at center. He was critical in bringing the Jazz back within striking distance in the late game.
Darryn Peterson still has a lot of growing to do, but he played well in critical moments of this contest.
Still a rookie determined to make his mark while on the floor, once he decides he wants to shoot the ball, there’s little that can change his mind. He forced the issue regularly down the stretch, but I’m encouraged by his aggression. Unafraid of the moment, he wants the ball in his hands when the game is on the line. Peterson is still finding his rhythm in the NBA (5-for-18 from the field tonight), but he put constant pressure on Memphis’ interior defense and was a friendly bounce or two away from erasing the Grizzlies’ lead late.
And I would be remiss not to acknowledge the contributions of Ace Bailey and Keyonte George, the two youngsters who just keep on rowing, even when the life raft meets a storm.
Ace posted another double-digit rebounding night (4 on the offensive end) and never takes a play off without the ball in his hands. It’s strange how seemingly every pre-draft drawback has been absolutely false about Bailey as a pro. Hard-working, selfless, and gritty, Will Hardy hasn’t been able to keep his second-year wing off the floor because he makes winning plays consistently and reliably.
Ace Bailey has been active on the offense boards since his rookie year
It’s funny how almost every negative narrative about him pre-draft was debunked
And Keyonte plays basketball like a seasoned veteran. He led all scorers with 26 today, finishing through contact and getting to the foul line when his teammates couldn’t find the center of the rim. Adding 6 assists to his season total, George was able to control possession without giving the ball away (only 2 turnovers).
Assuming Markkanen and JJJ miss extended time, the keys to the pickup truck are in Keyonte’s hands. Utah’s success will be dependent on how far he can lift the injured roster. Tonight, the Jazz couldn’t close the gap in time, but Bailey, George, and Mo Bamba kept them within reach.
Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk and a Utah Jazz columnist for the Daily Herald and Standard-Examiner. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently writes from his desk in Japan.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 26: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives against Klay Thompson #11 of the Miami Heat during the second quarter at Kaseya Center on October 26, 2026 in Miami, Florida. 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 Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (2—2) defeated the Miami Heat (0-4), 113-109, on Monday night in Miami, picking up their second win of the season. Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks with a huge double-double — 29 points and 11 assists. That’s not all he did, but we’ll get to that later.
It was an impressive win for this new-look Mavericks team. Flagg dominated the game late, but it truly was a team-effort to get this one over the finish line. Various Mavericks across the board contributed both offensively and defensively.
Let’s get to the numbers:
1: Number of other players to post Flagg’s stat line against the Heat
Cooper Flagg was masterful with 29 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, five steals, and three blocks. Only one other player in NBA history has posted a stat line like Cooper’s, and it was James Harden, according to Mavericks PR.
This means Flagg is the only teenager to ever post a stat line like the one Flagg had tonight. Flagg has had some outstanding games in his young Mavericks career, but this felt like an early career-defining performance. Yes, Flagg has dropped 50- and 40-point games, but Flagg was special tonight with how well-rounded his performance was — the eight combined steals and blocks is insane, to go along with the 11 assists. Flagg was everywhere against the Heat, setting up his teammates early in the first half and then dominating the final minutes to close out the win.
15: Walter Clayton Jr. scoring
The Mavericks new two-way guard had a career-night against the Heat, with 15 points in 17 minutes on 6-of-7 shooting. Clayton was fearless against the Miami defense, not shy to pull to the trigger when the defense sagged to pay more attention to Flagg or other veteran threats.
Clayton also had four assists and quietly has nine assists and only two turnovers in his last two games. The Mavericks staff might have to figure out what to do here, as Clayton only has so much NBA availability this season as a two-way player. He seems like a rotation guy for now.
22: Combined steals, blocks for the Mavericks
Dallas finished with 11 steals and 10 blocks, a huge number of splash defensive plays against a physical Heat roster.
The Mavericks defense is inconsistent, highlighted by the lack of true, ball-stopping, point-of-attack defenders on the roster. But where the team might like high-level individual defensive talent, they’re starting to make up for that with some havoc-causing team defense.
Dallas has a big and long roster, and it feels like coach Dusty May and his staff are taking advantage of that fact. Dallas might have defensive sequences where guys get lost off ball or give up an easy transition opportunity, but then will flip that around and swarm a ball handler in the paint, chipping down with active hands to cause deflections.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 26: Meleek Thomas #15 and James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high five during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 26, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Edwards is a professional scorer. He has the athleticism and explosive first step to wreck defenses anytime he puts the ball on the floor. And now that he can play off-ball more with the addition of LaMelo Ball, defenses aren’t able to load up on his side of the court as easily as they have in previous seasons.
That scoring was on display when the Timberwolves needed it most. Edwards poured in 11 points in the fourth quarter to help send this game to overtime, and then threw in 11 more points in the extra frame. He missed a three that would’ve tied it up at the end of overtime, but this was still a fantastic outing.
Second star: Donovan Mitchell
26 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
Mitchell wasn’t the best shooting guard on the court, but he was good enough to pull the Cavs across the finish line. He made big shots when the team needed it, took care of the ball, and dished out seven helpers, which included two nice lobs to the bigs.
It was a quality performance.
Third star: James Harden
22 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
This has been a difficult start of the season for Harden. He’s mostly gotten to his spots on the floor, but hasn’t been able to consistently convert. That continued through the first half tonight as he went 1-for-6 from the field, which included missing some point-blank looks.
Things might’ve been worse defensively. Minnesota’s guards hunted mismatches against him and took advantage when they got them.
Yet, Harden hung in there.
The Cavs turned the game around when Harden did. He got the ball rolling by pouring in eight points in the third quarter. Then in the fourth, he registered seven points and four assists — which included two helpers on three-pointers — and he recorded the game-tying field goal with 10 seconds left to help send the game to overtime. Harden followed that up with five points in the extra frame and put the game away at the free-throw line.
This was a rough start from Harden. Maybe the Cavs don’t fall behind by 15 if Harden is better in the first half. That said, this team had no chance of completing this impressive comeback if Harden doesn’t step up as he did.
The Cavs offense is built on protecting the ball, putting pressure on the rim, and spraying out to shooters when the defense collapses. They need Harden at his best to do that. This was a nice reminder of how good the offense can be when he’s playing well.
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Dud of the game
LaMelo Ball
11 points, 6 assists, 0 rebounds, 7 turnovers
Turnovers were the difference in this game. Cleveland’s starting backcourt combined for just four giveaways. Minnesota’s combined for 11 — which is one more than the Cavs had as a team. Ball was the main culprit here with seven turnovers. On top of that, Ball provided nothing as a rebounder and wasn’t much of a threat as a scorer.
Edwards just needed one more teammate to help him close out this game, and Ball was missing in action for large stretches. This was a departure from Ball’s first three games with the Timberwolves.
Cavaliers who deserve shoutouts
Meleek Thomas
16 points on 6-of-10 shooting
Getting your first-ever NBA minutes against one of the hottest teams in the league is a tall task, but Thomas handled it well. He came in and made an immediate impact as an off-ball scorer, which is something neither Craig Porter Jr. nor Tyrese Proctor could do in the first two games.
More importantly, Thomas held his own defensively. He did a good job of getting his hands in passing lanes, and he forced Ball into a traveling violation. Thomas’s teammates credit him for getting them going in this one.
“It’s very rare to ride the coattails of a rookie,” Mitchell said. “We didn’t have energy, we’re flat, we’re playing the wrong way, we weren’t doing the right things. For him to be the spark in his first game of the year is not normal.”
This was a solid debut for the second-round pick. Thomas showed he’s worthy of rotation minutes in the short term at the very least. The Cavs don’t complete this comeback without his efforts.
This was the first time we got to see how the ideal version of Watson could really help the Cavs.
Offensively, Cleveland trusted him to initiate more actions, particularly whenever Minnesota showed ball pressure on one of the starting guards. This allowed Watson to attack some off the dribble, and more importantly, alleviated some of the responsibilities on Cleveland’s overburdened backcourt.
Watson was solid defensively. His weak-side rim protection was much needed on a night that Minnesota was able to continually get into the paint. That said, Watson struggled to stay in front of Edwards at times, although I’m not sure anyone in the league could’ve stayed in front of him on a night like this.
“At the end of the day, Ant’s Ant,” Mitchell said. “But making it tough on him, that’s what Peyton did all night. We ended up getting the stops we needed most, and that’s truly all that matters.”
Overall, this was a clear step in the right direction for a player who has struggled to find his place in a new starting lineup in his first two games.
Play of the game
THIS is the effort the Cavs need — Meleek is EVERYWHERE.
He hustles back to recover on defense after steal attempt then grabs rebound and immediately gets it up floor… BUT doesn't stop there and continues to fill the lane and is rewarded. pic.twitter.com/yU8yQb6grA
Plays like this show how impactful Thomas can be. He thwarted one action and eventually ended a defensive possession on one end, then created an easy basket on the other with his speed and hustle. Sequences like this go a long way for someone we know is a skilled scorer when he has the ball.
Quote of the game
“Just stay ready, and your moment will come cause you can’t really keep a star in the closet for too long.”
– Meelek Thomas on how he was able to stay ready despite playing in his first two games.
Turnovers have been the biggest issue plaguing the Cavs in their first two games. It wasn’t a problem tonight as they surrendered possession just 10 times. They won the points-off-turnover battle 21-8.
This game will be remembered for Meleek Thomas’s debut
Thomas had an exceptional start to his NBA career. He made a high impact as a scorer and defender against a title contender in each of his stints off the bench. Debuts like that are rare from second-round picks.
We’ll find out in time what this means for Thomas’s role this season. One good game doesn’t mean he will be a permanent member of the rotation or that he’s going to develop into a high-quality player. That said, it’s difficult not to be encouraged after a night like this.
“I think we definitely got lucky with him being able to come to us,” Mitchell said of Thomas. “I tell him he has set a high precedent for himself, but I’m excited for him. We’re excited, and he was a big part of why we ended up getting this win.”
NEW YORK (AP) — Drew Doughty had a goal and two assists, and Artemi Panarin added a power-play goal and an assist as the Los Angeles Kings beat the New York Rangers 6-3 on Monday night.
The Kings won for the third time in their last four games — all on the road — after going winless over their first six games of the season.
Los Angeles jumped on New York early, chasing goaltender James Reimer after one period. Reimer was pulled in his Rangers debut after allowing three goals on eight shots. Reimer played just one previous game this fall, a 35-save shutout in the American Hockey League on Saturday night, before signing an NHL contract for the rest of the season.
Taylor Ward opened the scoring 1:15 into the game on the Kings’ first shot. Brandt Clarke made it 2-0 at 4:52 of the first, tipping in a rebound off Joel Armia’s slap shot.
J.T. Miller got New York on the board when a Tye Kartye slap shot deflected off his skate and past Darcy Kuemper.
Mikey Anderson and Taylor Ward added second-period goals for the Kings before Adam Fox cut the deficit to 5-2 on the power play with 6:55 to play in the second. Kartye got the Rangers within two at 16:08 of the third period, before Joel Edmundson scored in an empty net for his first goal of the season for Los Angeles.
Kuemper made 23 saves to pick up his third win of the season. After replacing Reimer, Dylan Garand stopped 15 of the 17 shots he faced.
FLAMES 5, MAPLE LEAFS 2
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Matvei Gridin scored twice as surging Calgary made it four straight wins with a victory over Toronto.
Mikael Backlund also scored for Calgary, while Joel Farabee and Martin Pospisil added empty-netters. Farabee, who also had an assist, and Matt Coronato, who had a pair of assists, extended their point streaks to five games.
Easton Cowan and William Nylander scored for the Leafs, whose four-game win streak came to an end. Auston Matthews had an assist on Nylander’s goal for his 800th NHL point. He is the fastest player in Leafs history to reach that milestone and the second-fastest U.S.-born player to reach 800 career points, doing so in 703 games.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 05: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives around OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks during the first half at Little Caesars Arena on January 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
To say it with the words of long-time Pistons PA announcer John Mason: “Deeeeeetroit basketball”!
As annoying as that catchphrase is for everyone outside of Michigan these days, it doesn’t come close to the irritation the Knicks’ 0-3 start has gifted the orange and blue fanbase. And make no mistake about it: Even if their foes from the Motor City come into town shorthanded, they will be quite a handful for the Bockers. And above all, annoying.
Saying that about an opposing team might rub plenty of them the wrong way, but not the Detroit Pistons, who are probably smiling ear to ear when they hear that characterization. They absolutely revere the fact that it’s anything but a cakewalk playing against them and that their vaunted defense can make many a star think twice about that profession he once chose many moons ago. Sure, it’s not fun to be carved up by jumbo-sized combo guard Cade Cunningham in the high pick-and-roll, but it might be even less enjoyable to have the likes of Ron Holland II, “Bball Paul” Reed or Javonte Green slamming into you on the baseline with bad intentions. As our Knickerbockers surely know from quite a few battles in the last couple of years.
Knicks face shorthanded Pistons team
If you think that the good guys catch a bit of a break with the Pistons missing mammoth center Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson, and maybe even newly acquired sharpshooter Isaiah Joe, you might very well be right. But you might also end up like the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night. Yes, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid weren’t in that episode of the soap opera “Bothering Love,” but LeBron and company surely thought that they could hang with a team giving minutes to someone named Tolu Smith. It turned out they couldn’t, as Detroit dominated the game from start to finish with physical, menacing defense, high intensity, and very good spacing on the offensive end.
As great as Ausar Thompson is as a defender, his outside shooting still makes Josh Hart on a bad week look like Louie Dampier out there. What the Pistons lose in defensive intensity gets picked up by the collective, yet on offense they actually gain a lot of punch with more opportunities for Duncan Robinson, Kevin Huerter, or Daniss Jenkins. Robinson has been especially hot to start the year, shooting over 53 percent from downtown on close to ten attempts. That presence makes it that much harder for opponents to guard against Cade Cunningham. As if that wasn’t hard enough already.
The Pistons superstar hasn’t really changed from previous years – lots of points, rebounds, and assists, yet also a lot of turnovers (16 in 3 games). One can have nightmares of him going up against the smaller New York backcourt defenders, and it would be warranted. The obvious solution is to put OG Anunoby on Cunningham, and I’m sure the Knicks coaches have thought of that already, as they have done in the past. The problem? Cunningham is elite in directing the pick-and-roll and works diligently to get premium defenders off his back so that he can attack smaller ones in the midrange area.
Where has all the Knicks magic gone?
In Thompson’s absence, the Knicks will see a lot of Daniss Jenkins next to Cunningham on Tuesday night. The backup guard has a knack for stepping up whenever he is called upon as a starter and did so against Philadelphia as well with 18 points. Other than that, the Pistons have gotten good play so far from John Collins (15.0 points, 7.7 rebounds), who has replaced former Pistons mainstay Tobias Harris at power forward this year. The versatile big is thriving in Detroit’s high-effort system, has a solid finishing touch, and provides decent switchability.
It won’t change the fact that Detroit isn’t a particularly big team without Duren in the middle or Thompson on the wing. They make up for it with physicality; they claw, fight, scrap. It surely seems like the last type of opponent New York would want to see right now, as they are clearly in a funk and would kill for some actual offensive rhythm. The champions might soon start asking every passerby near Madison Square Garden if they have seen the lost magic somewhere between 31st and 33rd Street that made their playoff run last year, well, magical. They themselves sure didn’t look like they could find it right now against Orlando.
But that’s the beauty of the NBA – you usually get a chance to write a different script pretty quickly. How does “Knicks beat last unbeaten team in the East for their first win” sound to you? A little long, but I’d take it. Surely sounds better than that John Mason chant.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (0-3) vs Detroit Pistons (3-0) Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2026 Time: 7 PM ET Place: Madison Square Garden, New York TV: NBC Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
Injury Report
Jalen Duren (hamstring) and Ausar Thompson (ankle) are out; Isaiah Joe (hip) looks to be a game-time decision. Jose Alvarado, with his own ankle issues, isn’t as lucky for the Knicks and will definitely miss the contest.
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Matvei Gridin scored twice as the surging Calgary Flames made it four straight wins with a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night.
Mikael Backlund also scored for Calgary, while Joel Farabee and Martin Pospisil added empty-netters. Farabee, who also had an assist, and Matt Coronato, who had a pair of assists, extended their point streaks to five games.
Easton Cowan and William Nylander scored for the Leafs, whose four-game win streak came to an end. Auston Matthews had an assist on Nylander’s goal for his 800th NHL point. He is the fastest player in Leafs history to reach that milestone and the second-fastest U.S.-born player to reach 800 career points, doing so in 703 games.
Devin Cooley made 26 stops to improve to 4-2-0.
Sergei Bobrovsky had 29 saves for Toronto.
Calgary grabbed control of the game midway through the first period on goals less than two minutes apart by Gridin and Backlund. Backlund returned after missing two games with an upper-body injury.
Gridin’s first goal at 10:05 came from a sharp angle off the left wing when he picked the top corner on Bobrovsky’s short side.
Gridin’s second of the night was scored on the power play 25 seconds into the second period. It was another top corner snipe, this one over Bobrovsky’s other shoulder.
Toronto's Kirill Marchenko (lower body) left the game early in the second period after he went into the boards awkwardly after a hit from Yegor Sharangovich.
Calgary beat Toronto for the first time since Feb. 10, 2022. The Leafs had won the last eight meetings. It was Toronto’s longest active winning streak against any opponent.
Up next
Maple Leafs: Visit the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday night.
Flames: Visit the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - OCTOBER 26: Aday Mara #15 of the Oklahoma City Thunder defends the shot of Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Paycom Center on October 26, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Oklahoma City was missing recently injured star or near-star players in Jaylen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Cason Wallace. Most knowledgeable fans expected an uphill battle for Phoenix, as the Thunder still possess loads of talent, size, and culture. Our preview predicted an 8-point loss, with improvements in our early-season process issues, such as ball movement and boxing out glass-crashers. This was happening, until it wasn’t. The Thunder pulled away for a 125-114 victory.
Sadly, the main storyline is Devin Booker’s milk carton-level disappearance. Your superstar-paid player needs to assert himself in a game like this. Not just another “one of 82”, but a fork-in-the-road type game for a team finding its footing. According to Google Sports Data, his 3 points in 33 minutes is a career low for games over 30 minutes. Anyone could have a rough shooting night, but winning star players force the action, and he never seemed to attempt this. It was a big letdown after the 43-point game Saturday.
The last time Devin Booker played over 30 minutes in a game and scored less than 5 points?
Phoenix moved the ball slightly better, getting up 50 three-point shots and connecting on 36% of them. After a promising start at this, the Suns allowed 29% of the Thunder’s missed shots to be rebounded by them (2% worse than league average). Current lack of center depth with Mark Williams out definitely played a role in this.
Khaman Maluach is going through growing pains, but taking some developmental baby steps. Of the rotation players, he had a team-best -2 plus/minus. Miles Bridges demonstrated his varied offensive skills in the second half, but his overall defensive play and cold first half were an overall negative. Jalen Green actually looked somewhat under control and had 4 assists to one turnover while producing 20 points on an efficient 8-13 shooting.
The Suns had a few spurts in this game, but every time they got some momentum, drives to the basket by the Thunder came about as easy as a Sunday 5 am drive down the 202.
The Suns have four days to use as a “get well retreat” ahead of NBA Cup play.
Game Flow
First Half
Through how many centers have broadcast listeners heard Eddie Johnson say “keep that ball high, young man”. Apparently, none have listened to this advice. The game opens with a Maluach offensive rebound…but then he brought the ball down and was stripped.
Some nice plays on both ends by Jalen Green, and the Suns led by one after the first 5 minutes.
Alex Curoso, another one of those players that seems to elevate versus the Suns, came off the bench to hit consecutive threes. Collin Gillespie hit two of his own, finding his range. A success out of the gate, avoiding another bad start against an emotional team and crowd.
A Jordan Goodwin hustling offensive board and subsequent three limited a bad end to Q1, and Phoenix trailed 27-33. Ajay Mitchell with 13 points after one quarter.
Ryan Dunn once again looked more confident than last year, starting Q2 with a forced turnover, block, and corner three of his own.
Miles Bridges had several first-half blunders, but he added a nasty dunk over Isaiah Hartenstein. Suns still hanging around, but allowing penetration and second chances – things on the radar for process improvement from our preview article.
Man Man was holding his own against rising rookie Aday Mara, but received his third foul with 5 minutes remaining in the half. Phoenix went “small ball” with no true center. This contributed to another strong quarter-end by OKC, up 14 in spite of a Dillon Brooks buzzer-beating three. Looks like I missed Devin Booker highlights. He did play but was largely invisible.
Second Half
Jalen Green looked like someone had moved up his NBA 2K awareness slider, making several well-paced attacks at the basket. Phoenix overall seemed to ratchet up their effort. A Miles Bridges three cut it to nine. OKC responded with another McCain three to put the deficit back to 14.
Free-throw “yips” again raised their head for Phoenix with 7-of-19 misses.
Bridges got it going in Q3 with a traditional 3-point play and another long-range three. More OKC drives that met little resistance and back to a 14-point lead going into Q4.
A watch item was preventing offensive rebounds. While Phoenix had only allowed 23% offensive rebounds through three, this started to become a problem, with Hartenstein alone up to six of them at the 7:56 mark of Q4. A Book airball out of the timeout, and this one’s starting to look like a route.
It had been a frustrating night for Dillon Brooks. After an incidental knee-to-knee with Aday Mara, he shoved him and was assessed a flagrant foul for excessive contact and then a dead-ball technical after the call. Thunder by 20. And in the end, Thunder by 11.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 26: Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 26, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers picked up an inspiring comeback win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Player of the game
Donovan Mitchell
26 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists
Mitchell is quietly off to a great start this season. His three-point shooting helped spur the Cavalanche that put Cleveland back in front after trailing by 10 points at halftime. In the fourth quarter and overtime, it was Mitchell who played closer — dueling with Anthony Edwards and coming up with the last laugh.
Grade: A-
Grades
James Harden
19 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 turnover
Harden looked slow and ineffective in the first half. His usual floater was off the mark, and his three-pointer wasn’t falling.
It wasn’t until the third quarter that Harden finally looked like the player Cleveland traded for last season. A healthy dose of isolation scoring is what dug the Cavaliers out of their hole and back into this game.
Grade: B
Evan Mobley
18 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks
Mobley had trouble establishing himself in the paint against Minnesota’s size, but he unleashed multiple three-pointers in the second half to compensate. His clutch shooting from outside helped save the day.
Watson had his most comfortable and effective game as a Cavalier to date. He was emboldened to handle the ball more throughout this game, and that seemingly helped him settle into a groove. Watson was everywhere defensively and a constant threat to break free in transition and attack the basket.
A special shout-out to his game-saving block on Edwards in crunch time.
This was a subdued performance from Allen. He played his usual role for most, until watching the final battle take place from the bench as Kenny Atkinson opted for a one-big lineup to close.
Grade: B-
Jaylon Tyson
11 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds
Tyson shot 0-of-4 from downtown but a perfect 5-for-5 inside the arc for an impactful night. He’s continued to flash the tertiary playmaking that Cleveland needs from its bench, dishing 5 assists in this game. Tyson finished as a team-high plus-15 despite not having a box score that jumps off the page.
Grade: B
Mario Hezonja
3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
This was the first dud of Hezonja’s career in Cleveland. He wasn’t super effective at anything, and the box score reflects this.
Grade: D+
Sam Merrill
9 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Merrill brough this usual contributions, sprinting around the perimeter and making it so Minnesota’s defense couldn’t form a solid wall. It wasn’t his most electric three-point shooting performance, but it was enough.
Grade: C+
Meleek Thomas
16 points, 2 rebounds
Thomas was fantastic in his debut. He played with a sense of urgency that hasn’t been seen from any of the other Cavs’ guards attempting to win the backup point guard position.
Within just a few minutes, Thomas was nailing three-pointers and forcing turnovers. He was engaged on both ends of the floor and led the team in scoring at halftime.
Thomas carried his momentum into the second half, where a pair of three-pointers sent Cleveland’s crowd into a frenzy. It’s safe to say the rookie has already become a fan favorite. If it wasn’t for Mitchell’s late-game scoring, I would have given Thomas the Player of the Game.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 26: Tyler Herro #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers on October 26, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks won their first game of the season, 110-102, against the Indiana Pacers! Tyler Herro’s near triple-double of 23 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, along with Kel’el Ware’s 16 points and 14 boards, helped the Bucks ride a third-quarter rally to overcome a weary Pacers squad on the second night of a back-to-back. The win ends the Bucks’ three-game losing streak and lets them keep bragging rights after the chippy preseason game. Tyrese Haliburton led Indiana with 22 points and nine assists, while Pascal Siakam and Obi Toppin added 20 and 14, respectively.
Game Recap
The Pacers opened the scoring when Pascal Siakam grabbed an offensive rebound and found Aaron Nesmith in the paint for a layup, but the game saw a back-and-forth start. After Haliburton’s floater tied it at six, the Bucks responded with their own 6-0 run, punctuated by Kyle Kuzma’s and-one dunk over Jay Huff. Contradicting my Prescient prediction, the Pacers started cold from beyond the arc (1/8), but gradually warmed up after the first timeout. Jarace Walker’s triple from the top of the arc cut Milwaukee’s lead to just one point. However, Kasparas Jakucionis found Kel’el Ware on two separate dimes to put the Bucks back up five with 90 seconds left. But of course, the Bucks failed to close the quarter strongly, turning it over in the final moments as Haliburton went end-to-end for a transition layup. Milwaukee up 31-29 after one.
Quenton Jackson tied the game with a pull-up midrange jumper less than 30 seconds into the second quarter, kickstarting a 9-0 run for Indy in the first 90 seconds. The Pacers threatened to stretch their lead to double digits after a pair of threes from Jay Huff and Haliburton, but the Bucks surged back. Ryan Rollins hit a three, Kel’el Ware finished a lob over Huff, and Rollins hit another bomb to give the home side a one-point lead about four minutes in. But, as they are wont to do, the Pacers responded with an 8-0 run as the Bucks went cold; Haliburton splashed a stepback three to push Indiana’s lead to nine, then got in Rollins’ face afterwards, continuing theirpreseason feud. Siakam closed out the half with a nice fadeaway, putting the Pacers up 61-50.
The Bucks started the third quarter well, trimming Indiana’s lead to six points via a pair of Herro threes in semi-transition. The Bucks found success passing around Indiana’s defense and finding open guys on the outside. Another Herro three trimmed Indiana’s lead to two with 6:33 remaining, and a Rollins layup tied it. Indiana slowly worked its way back out to a five-point lead, though, after Haliburton found Toppin in the restricted area for his ninth assist of the game. A nice moment followed with Nate Ament connecting on a wing triple for his first NBA field goal, but Haliburton responded almost immediately with a three from the top of the arc. Indiana ended the quarter up just one, 85-84.
The Bucks began the fourth with a defensive focus; most of all, they did a great job limiting Siakam’s effectiveness in the paint. Milwaukee’s defence was leading to offence, getting them easy transition shots. The Pacers, meanwhile, took quick threes without letting their offence develop. Before long, a smooth Rollins layup put Milwaukee up 101-92 with 5:27 minutes left. But the Bucks would not make it easy on themselves, giving up a 6-0 run in what felt like 30 seconds to cut Milwaukee’s lead to just three. The home team needed a veteran to step up, and after a tough start to the season, Myles Turner rose to the occasion with a steal and two blocks within 45 seconds, allowing Milwaukee to get the game back on their terms—he was huge. Milwaukee also got key second-chance points, including a Turner offensive rebound that eventually led to an open Kuzma three that pushed the Bucks’ lead to eight with less than two minutes left. Indiana couldn’t overcome the deficit, and Milwaukee registered its first regular season win of the Taylor Jenkins era. Yew!
Stat That Stood Out
13 of Milwaukee’s 24 second-chance points came in the fourth quarter, largely thanks to Myles Turner’s hustle on the offensive glass. Those plays gave Milwaukee’s struggling offense another chance at a bucket. Whether Milwaukee’s bigs could handle Siakam and Huff on the glass was a real question entering Monday’s win—Turner answered it decisively.
Obscene Overreaction
Nate Ament might need to be a regular in the rotation. After struggling in Saturday’s loss to Philadelphia, Ament showed real growth tonight, offensively and defensively. He looked willing to initiate contact despite his slender build, especially against Siakam on the block, and his defensive awareness improved, as he got only one foul. Ament posted seven points, going 1/2 from long range and 3/8 from the field. Ament’s shooting struggles are real—three of his missed field goal attempts were long twos—but the rookie showed some great signs today.
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 26: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on October 26, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
What a damn game, y’all. Cooper Flagg willed the Dallas Mavericks (2-2) to a 113-109 win over the Heat (0-4) on Monday at the Kaseya Center, giving Miami its worst start to a season in the Erik Spoelstra era.
Walter Clayton Jr. was super efficient in his minutes off the bench, and PJ Washington continued his stretch of quality play to start the season in an effort that helped offset a huge triple-double from Heat superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who led all scorers with 29 points, pulled down 15 rebounds and dished 11 assists in the loss.
The arrow is pointing emphatically upward at this early juncture in the 2026-27 season. It’s exciting, and it’s fun to watch the Mavericks play basketball at the moment. Savor it.
Cooper Flagg: A+
29 PTS / 6 REB / 11 AST / 5 STL / 3 BLK / 40 MIN
Flagg dropped two early dimes to get Irving going, including an incredible lob find for the star guard’s first bucket of the game. He delivered four assists before the game was four minutes old and five in the first quarter. He connected on a fancy finish of his own on an up-and-under dipsy-do in close after Daniel Gafford’s offensive rebound with 7:10 left in the first.
Flagg took a steal on a drive by Giannis Antetokounmpo with seven minutes left in the first half and delivered his sixth assist to PJ Washington on the ensuing break as Dallas tried to remain within shouting distance of a Heat team playing with more urgency. His first 3-pointer of the game came with just over a minute left in the half and tied the game, 50-50, during a 17-5 Dallas run.
He was quiet in the third quarter, but hit what might have been the biggest shot of the game to that point in the clutch, an and-one turnaround jumper through the foul of Pelle Larson with five minutes left as part of an 18-7 Dallas run that gave Flagg 22 points for the game. He one-upped himself with two minutes left to play though, raising up for his second 3-pointer of the game, which put the Mavs in front 111-105. His defense was sensational throughout, and he took over in the fourth, scoring 12 of his 29 points to will the Mavs to their second win of the season. Just an amazing performance.
Kyrie Irving: B-
18 PTS / 6 REB / 6 AST / 2 STL / 33 MIN
Irving sprinted out of the gates for seven points in the game’s first five minutes, serving as the primary engine for the Mavs’ offense. As it all fell apart late in the first and early in the second for the Mavs’ offense, he steadied the ship with a nifty little leaner in the lane to pull Dallas to within 41-32.
He connected on a slashing bucket through the defense of Andrew Wiggins early in the third. His 3-pointer midway through the third was an important one to keep the Mavs connected, down 74-67 at the time. He found a cutting Zaccharie Risacher along the baseline late in the third for a pretty assist that busted Risacher’s offensive slump and pulled Dallas to within 83-78. Irving then pulled up with just a second left on the third-quarter clock, hung in the air to let the defender pass him by, and cashed in the bucket that made it an 84-83 game headed to the fourth. It was good to see Irving push past the 30-minute mark in the win, but he shot just 2-of-10 from 3-point land in the win.
Max Christie: C+
11 PTS / 5 REB / 3 AST / 26 MIN
Corner Christie drained his first 3-point attempt on Flagg’s third assist of the game, which put the Mavs up 7-4 early on. He hit a second, this time from the top of the key, early in the second to pull Dallas to within 27-26. He does not do much else, though, which sometimes makes Christie a liability.
Risacher sucked the life out of the Mavericks’ offense on his first possession on the floor with five minutes left in the first, suffocating the last 10 seconds of the shot clock before trying to turn around for a desperation heave over Bam Adebayo, which was, predictably, blocked. He then missed a wide open bunny after an offensive rebound, then hustled for a blocked shot and bricked his first 3-point attempt in a helter-skelter exchange late in the first. He turned the ball over when the ancient Bobby Portis knocked the ball out of his hands on a baseline drive with 1:57 left in the first.
He was not a contributor for much of the game, but nailed a wide open 3-pointer at last, early in the fourth, to pull Dallas to within 90-89, before making 1-of-2 at the free-throw line to tie it at 90-90 seconds later. His grade is boosted here due to the number of plays he made on the defensive end, including a huge fourth-quarter block of Antetokounmpo.
P.J. Washington: A-
20 PTS / 9 REB / 2 AST / 2 STL / 1 BLK / 41 MIN
Washington continued his run of form to start the year throughout the first half. he canned a couple of 3-pointers, including one on Flagg’s eighth assist of the half to give the Mavs a 53-52 lead at the half, took away a pair of steals and was part of the defensive effort that at least limited Antetokounmpo’s game-wrecking ability.
Early in the third, though, Antetokounmpo beat Washington on a drive on a play where Washington overcommitted on an inbound play, leaving Gafford to receive a flying knee below the belt as he rose up, but not high enough, in help defense. He would later atone with his fourth 3-ball of the game to pull Dallas to within 83-81 with less than a minute left in the frame. Washington played winning basketball again. This is becoming a welcome trend.
Daniel Gafford: B
8 PTS / 8 REB / 3 AST / 1 STL / 3 BLK / 26 MIN
Gafford made some awkward plays on both ends in the first quarter, but did come up with a nice blocked shot on Portis’ baseline drive in the frame’s final minute. His coach put him in a bad spot with the defensive assignment against Antetokounmpo in the second quarter, and when he hacked Antetokounmpo on the way to the bucket, Portis took exception, and a scrum ensued, resulting in a flagrant-1 for Gafford and double technicals for Gafford and Portis, both former Arkansas Razorbacks. Later in the second, Gafford made good by meeting Antetokounmpo at the rim for his second blocked shot of the first half.
He stepped up in help defense as Antetokounmpo barreled down the lane early in the third and received a knee to the groin for his troubles. He came back in just minutes later, which was good to see, and cleaned up Flagg’s miss to bring Dallas to within 70-64. He fouled out with just over four minutes left to play in the win. It was a solid effort, with a slight bonus for the violence perpetrated against his midsection.
Marcus Sasser: C-
0 PTS / 1 REB / 8 MIN
Sasser was not a factor in his eight minutes on the floor. He was supplanted in the rotation by the red-hot Walter Clayton Jr. He was 0-for-3 from the floor and missed badly on a pair of 3-point attempts.
Sergio De Larrea: INC
0 PTS / 1 REB / 6 MIN
De Larrea played just six minutes in the first half, didn’t have much of an impact on the proceedings, then left the game with what the team called a left knee strain after bumping (getting shoved by?) former Maverick Tim Hardaway Jr.
Morez Johnson Jr.: C
6 PTS / 2 REB / 1 AST / 15 MIN
Johnson picked up his first two fouls in his first 20 seconds on the floor against the Heat, so, yea, that’s about how things are going right now for the rookie. He looks like a rookie. He showed some nice touch, however, early in the second quarter on a short turn-around jumper, but lost Portis on defense on three consecutive possessions, resulting in Portis 3-pointers on three straight possesions, extending the Miami lead to 39-30 early in the second.
He left Sasser out to dry late in the shot clock with 8:45 left in the first half on a possession that ended in a shot clock violation. Johnson just couldn’t get out of his own way, committing his fourth foul after just eight minutes on the floor, barely more than three minutes into the second half. Johnson put back a big bucket off a missed 3-pointer by Washington with 3:40 left to play to give the Mavericks a 108-103 lead. He battled, whether it was against himself or against the Miami bigs.
Walter Clayton Jr.: A
15 PTS / 4 REB / 4 AST / 1 BLK / 17 MIN
Mavs Walter Clayton Jr. 15 PTS (6-7 FG, 2-2 3P), 4 AST, 4 REB, 1 BLK, team-high +22 in 17 minutes vs. Heat
Clayton came in 18 minutes into the game and immediately hit a little leaner in the lane, played the two-man game with a cutting Flagg to perfection for a pretty reverse bucket, then nailed a corner 3-ball with 3:44 left in the first half to pull Dallas to within five, down 50-45. He was one of the engines behind the Mavs’ 17-5 run late in the second.
He hit another big 3-pointer in response to a hot stretch by Miami that kept Dallas within 79-72, putting Clayton at eight points in his first seven minutes on the floor. Talk about efficiency. But he wasn’t done putting his fingerprints all over this game. He drove for a tough score to pull Dallas to within 93-92 with 8:27 left to play, then converted an even tougher drive through a Portis foul on the fast break the next time down. He completed the three-point play to give him 13 points in 13 minutes and put the Mavs ahead 95-93. He shot 6-of-7 from the field in what we may look back on as his breakout game.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 26: CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks drives against Tari Eason #17 of the Houston Rockets during the first half at Toyota Center on October 26, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Hawks looked to rebound from their first loss of the season, this time in the Lone Star State against the Houston Rockets.
Atlanta kept their usual starting lineup whereas the Rockets welcomed back Fred VanVleet to their lineup after a one-game absence, joining Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun.
Neither team took control of the game, and so the lead passed back and forth multiple times in the first quarter alone. The Hawks had trouble protecting the paint with the Rockets backcutting them to death at times.
But the Hawks hit a couple of transition threes off stops, including a big one from Onyeka Okongwu to hopefully break a cold spell:
The second quarter was more of the same, with a couple of extended runs from either side mixed in.
First, the Rockets went on a 14-3 scoring run. But the Hawks later countered with a 14-6 run of their own.
CJ McCollum got hot and provided some buckets when the offense went cold. And Aaron Wiggins continued his solid play off the bench, including coming in to finish the half when Nickeil Alexander-Walker picked up his third foul.
At halftime, the Hawks held a three-point advantage, 66-63. McCollum finished the first half with 15 points which led all scorers.
Early in the third quarter, ‘NAW’ picked up his fourth foul trying to stop Kevin Durant in transition, so it was another extended stretch for Wiggins.
But midway through the quarter, the Rockets went on a 10-0 run as the Hawks’ offense hit the skids. But Lu Dort of all people helped spark a 7-0 run in response to prevent the game from getting away:
After three quarters, the Rockets turned the tables with a 91-85 edge.
The Hawks continued to be plagued by poor three-point shooting, and after taking care of the ball for the majority of the night, they coughed the ball up after driving into the teeth of Houston’s aggressive defense over and over.
Atlanta fell without much of a late fight, 120-110. Alperen Sengun was the star with 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
Wednesday, the Hawks return home to take on the reeling Miami Heat.
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 26: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Miami Heat on October 26, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (2-2) picked up their second win of the season Monday night, closing strong to beat the Miami Heat (0-4) 113-109 in a game that turned into a late showcase for Cooper Flagg. Flagg was the best player on the floor for Dallas, finishing with 29 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, four steals, and two blocks on 12-of-23 shooting while completely taking over in crunch time. P.J. Washington added 20 points and nine rebounds, Kyrie Irving finished with 18 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Walter Clayton Jr. gave Dallas a huge lift off the bench with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Giannis Antetokounmpo led Miami with a monster triple-double, finishing with 29 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists, while Davion Mitchell added 21 points. Dallas trailed 84-83 entering the fourth, but Flagg and Clayton powered the Mavericks through the final period as the defense tightened and Dallas made just enough late plays to secure the 113-109 win.
Dallas opened the game playing some of its best basketball when Cooper Flagg was involved. P.J. Washington got the Mavericks on the board at the line, and Flagg quickly took control as a playmaker, finding Kyrie Irving for a layup, Max Christie for a three, Daniel Gafford for a floater, and Morez Johnson Jr. for a jumper. He finished the first quarter with five assists, and Dallas looked fluid whenever the offense ran through him. Washington knocked down a three, Flagg turned a steal into a Kyrie three, and Gafford created extra possessions on the glass. The problem started when the bench came in. Ball movement disappeared, Zaccharie Risacher struggled badly, Marcus Sasser couldn’t get anything going, and Morez picked up two quick fouls. Risacher went 0-of-5 in the quarter, including a block by Bam Adebayo, while Dallas shot just 29.6 percent despite getting decent looks. Miami stayed ahead behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, Andrew Wiggins, and a late Tim Hardaway Jr. three, taking a 27-23 lead after one.
The second quarter started with a Christie three, but Bobby Portis Jr. immediately caught fire for Miami, hitting three threes in the opening minutes and helping push the Heat lead to nine. Morez had a nice stretch, including a strong pivot move and a smart pass to Kyrie on a backdoor cut, but Dallas’ offense stalled after Sergio de Larrea went down and walked off slowly. Kyrie struggled for much of the period before finally getting a shot to fall, while Giannis started taking over by attacking Washington and Morez. Things got heated when Gafford fouled Giannis hard, and Portis got in his face, earning a technical for Gafford. Walter Clayton Jr. then gave Dallas a much-needed spark, hitting a floater and later a three, while Flagg continued attacking and creating. Gafford delivered one of the half’s biggest plays by blocking Giannis at the rim, and Dallas slowly worked its way back into the game. Flagg hit a deep three, Washington knocked down another, and the Mavericks went into halftime trailing just 53-52. Flagg already had 13 points, eight assists and three steals at the break.
Flagg opened the third with a tough turnaround jumper, a shot he’s getting more comfortable with, but the quarter quickly became the Giannis show. Klay Thompson finally found his shot with back-to-back threes, then Giannis threw down an absurd dunk over Gafford before adding a three and an and-one. He had already reached a triple-double before the quarter ended and was doing everything he could to keep Miami in control. Dallas stalled offensively at times, but Kyrie, Flagg and Clayton kept them within striking distance. Clayton hit another three, while Washington continued making important defensive plays, including forcing a jump ball against Giannis. As Giannis slowed down late in the period, Dallas tightened defensively and pushed the pace. Risacher hit a floater, Washington knocked down a three, and Kyrie buried a jumper at the buzzer, turning what had looked like a potential double-digit deficit into an 84-83 game heading into the fourth.
The fourth quarter started unevenly. Dru Smith hit a three, Christie answered with one of his own, but Dallas struggled to find consistent offense. Risacher finally knocked down a three after an extremely rough shooting night, and then Clayton once again gave the Mavericks life. He attacked for a tough layup, stole the ball, and converted an and-one in transition to put Dallas back in front. After another ugly stretch, Flagg took over. He got to the rim for a tough finish, Clayton added another floater, and Dallas started playing some of its best defense of the night. Risacher got a huge block on Giannis, and Flagg turned another stop into a difficult and-one that gave the Mavericks a two-possession lead.
pretty remarkable to watch flagg vs giannis in the fourth quarter and how much easier it was for flagg to get to his spot compared to the former MVP.
Miami answered out of a timeout, but Flagg immediately responded with a floater and never really gave control back. From there, the game was his. He hit tough shots, created offense when Dallas desperately needed it, and was everywhere defensively. Flagg finished with 29 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, four steals, and two blocks on 12-of-23 shooting, completely taking over in crunch time to lead Dallas to a 113-109 win.
Flagg planted
It is hard to overstate how good Cooper Flagg was, considering he was just 72 hours removed from a shoulder strain.
Flagg finished with 29 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, four steals, and two blocks on 12-of-23 shooting, and the numbers still do not fully capture how much he controlled the game. He was impactful from the opening quarter, when Dallas played its best basketball through him as a passer, and that never changed. He consistently made the right read, got downhill, found shooters and cutters, and created transition opportunities with his defense.
Dallas needed someone to take over, and Flagg did. He got to the rim, hit difficult shots, created offense out of nothing, and made plays defensively when the game tightened. Miami kept answering, but Flagg never let the Mavericks lose control. Every time Dallas needed a bucket, a stop, or just something to calm the game down, he seemed to be involved.
That is what stood out most. This was not just a 29-point game. Flagg looked like the best player on the floor down the stretch and dictated how the final few minutes played out.
The Walter Clayton Jr. game
Walter Clayton Jr. finally got a real opportunity, and he absolutely made the most of it.
Clayton finished with 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists on 6-of-7 shooting, going 2-of-2 from three in just 17 minutes. More importantly, his minutes actually mattered. Dallas struggled to generate offense in stretches, especially in the third quarter, and Clayton became the guy who kept the Mavericks within striking distance.
He hit a three when Dallas needed one, got into the lane for floaters, and played with the kind of confidence you usually do not see from someone getting his first meaningful run. His biggest stretch came in the fourth, when he hit a tough driving layup, stole the ball, and then converted an and-one in transition to swing the game back toward Dallas.
MIAMI, FL – OCTOBER 26: Walter Clayton Jr. #1 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Miami Heat on October 26, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It never felt forced, either. Clayton was not hijacking possessions or trying to prove something. He was just making plays within the offense, pushing when the opportunity was there and giving the Mavericks another real creator.
For a team that has spent the early part of the season searching for dependable guard play outside of Kyrie Irving, that performance matters.
This team just plays hard
More than anything, this game felt like a Dusty May win.
Dallas faced a veteran Miami team with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and plenty of experience, but the Mavericks matched their physicality all night. They flew to loose balls, crashed the glass, rotated defensively, and made Miami work for everything.
The rebounding numbers tell part of the story. Dallas finished with 52 rebounds compared to Miami’s 61, but the Mavericks grabbed 13 offensive rebounds and kept creating second and third chances despite giving up plenty of size. Miami controlled the raw rebounding total, but Dallas never looked physically overwhelmed.
The defensive effort down the stretch was even more impressive.
May went to his zone, and it worked because the players executed it with incredible energy. Dallas was constantly rotating, closing gaps, helping at the rim, and recovering back to shooters. P.J. Washington was especially good defensively, Risacher made multiple plays around the basket despite his offensive struggles, and Flagg was everywhere.
The system only works if everyone is willing to move, communicate, and cover for each other, and Dallas did that late. Miami still had Giannis pressuring the defense, but the Mavericks made every possession difficult and forced enough mistakes to give themselves a chance.
There will be nights when the offense looks ugly. Some nights the shooting disappears. But if this team consistently plays with this level of effort, it will be hard to put away.
The most lopsided World Series game in history was Game 2 of the 1936 World Series, an 18-4 New York Yankees win against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds. There have been two 13-run beatdowns through the years, most recently the Arizona Diamondbacks' 15-2 win to force Game 7 in 2001.
Here's a look at the biggest one-sided contests in World Series history:
