Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

In a season that has started with optimism for the future in Salt Lake City, this is a punch to the gut.

Center Walker Kessler will undergo surgery to repair a left shoulder labral tear and is out for the remainder of the season, the Jazz announced Wednesday. He had started the first five games of the season for the Jazz but had been out the last two with what the team had called "left shoulder bursitis."

Kessler was having the best season of his career, averaging 14.4 points a game, shooting 70.3%, while pulling down 10.8 rebounds per game. However, his bigger contributions have been on the defensive end, where he is developing into one of the league's elite rim protectors.

Kessler was putting up those numbers the summer before he becomes a restricted free agent. While there will certainly still be teams interested in the big man, this is not helping him earn the contract he hoped to land. Kessler was the No. 22 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and before he played a minute he had already been traded twice, landing in Utah as part of the deal that sent Rudy Gobert to Minnesota. Those were big shoes to fill, but Kessler has looked like the next high-level center in Utah.

Kessler being out will mean more Jusuf Nurkic and Kyle Filipowski in Utah, and likely more minutes for Kevin Love. Utah was going to lose a lot of games this season with or without Kessler, but he had shown the kind of growth that provides hope for the fan base of a rebuilding team. His loss for the season hurts.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Most of the players in the NBA grew up dreaming of being on this stage. They were the stars of middle school AAU teams with fantasies of being the next Stephen Curry or Paul George.

Growing up in Ans, Belgium, Ajay Mitchell dreamed of the NBA, too, but it there was a bigger question — did he really want to be the next Jalen Brunson or the next Belgium/Manchester City legend Kevin De Bruyne?

"Oh, that's a good question. I think a little bit of both," Mitchell told NBC Sports, adding he played soccer as a youth and is still a huge fan. "I think, until I was probably like 14, it was both. And then when I was 14, I kind of made the decision to just pursue basketball, because, obviously, in Belgium, we didn't have high school sports, so it was hard to play multiple sports because it's all the same season. So when I was 14, I decided to just play basketball."

That decision was the first step of a winding journey that took Mitchel through idyllic Santa Barbara, California and ultimately landed him in Oklahoma City — where fans now see an "overnight" sensation averaging 16.1 points a game, someone who is the current DraftKings betting favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year.

But that journey was anything but overnight.

Belgium to Santa Barbara to OKC

After Mitchell committed to basketball, he soon found himself in Limburg United's youth program in Belgium, where he played as a member of the youth team, eventually transitioning to the senior team during the 2020–21 season.

"I think it really helped me playing professional before college," Mitchell said, in terms of getting used to a level of play.

However, for the kid with an American father, playing college ball in the United States was always the dream. He landed at UC Santa Barbara, a beachside campus that may be the most chill college in America.

"It was a pretty smooth adjustment for me ..." Mitchell said of moving stateside. "I think it really helped just the way it was in Santa Barbara. We had like six incoming freshmen when I got in, so it was really easy to get adjusted. And the guys that were already there just kind of, like, brought us in. So it was, it was really smooth.

"And I think off the court was pretty easy. It's a great school, so I was really happy."

Like he is now in OKC, Mitchell wasn't flashy in Santa Barbara, but he just made the right basketball play and knocked down his shots — you could see he knew how to play the game. He was always doing the little things and had an impact from the start, being named Big West Freshman of the Year in 2022. The following season, he averaged 16.3 points and 5.1 assists a game for the Gauchos and was the Big West Player of the Year.

He also was drawing interest from scouts. By the end of the 2023-24 season, Mitchell declared himself for the NBA Draft.

Adjusting to Oklahoma City

The Knicks drafted Mitchell with the No. 38 pick but instantly traded him to the Thunder, with whom he signed a two-way contract. Even then, Mitchell was overlooked and in the shadows — Nikola Topić was the Thunder's lottery pick in that draft. However, Topic was injured while Mitchell was playing himself into rotation minutes as a rookie, thanks to his efforts in Summer League and training camp. Mitchell was putting in the work, and the Thunder noticed.

"He was playing rotation minutes in the first game of the season last year for what was a very deep team ..." Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. "It allowed him to get some miles underneath him and learn the league a little bit so that when he sat [due to injury], he sat with the contextual awareness of what it was like to be an NBA player and play in NBA games. I think he was still able to learn and evolve even though he was out."

Mitchell missed three months of his rookie season with a toe injury that required surgery, but by that point the Thunder knew what they had and converted his two-way contract to a standard one. From his perspective, Mitchell was still figuring things out and adjusting, but he said the key was that he never stopped looking for ways to improve.

"Speed is definitely one. I think defensively too, being able to guard multiple positions," Mitchell said of the hardest adjustments from going from Santa Barbara to the NBA. "I think everything is such a different game than college …

"It was an adjustment, but I think I understood right away this is the NBA, and for me, my goal is to have a long career. So understanding what I had to do to help a team win was really important early on and I think it was a pretty smooth adjustment. Obviously, I just want to win, so when I'm focused on what I have to do to win to help the team win, that's all I have to do."

Like going from Belgium to Santa Barbara before, the adjustment from a California coastal oasis to Oklahoma City was made much easier because the Thunder are a young roster with a core around his age (23).

"For sure it makes it easier. Obviously, we've got a lot of young guys, and then we all hang out," Mitchell said. "So it's fun to have such a young team and it was really easy for me to just get in the mix of things with those guys, and they made it really easy for me just putting me in everything they do."

Making the leap this season

Mitchell returned from his toe injury late in the season and was on the roster for the Thunder's run to an NBA title last spring.

"Obviously, I think anybody being around a playoff run like that and getting some minutes, spot minutes at times, is good for them," Daigneault said. "Then he was able to take that wisdom into his summer. He got his body really, really strong, he got his game tighter and better, and he came out firing this year."

Again, that "overnight" success came about because of a summer spent in the gym, particularly in the weight room.

"I always wanted to be like a complete player, so I think every summer for me it's like working on a little bit of everything or try to get better at a lot of things," Mitchell said. "I think the main focus [this summer] was my body. When you get in the league as a rookie, you definitely feel a difference in like physicality and how the game is played. So I think for me that was the focus was getting stronger, getting faster, and being ready to play at this level … It's such a long season compared to like a college season, you want to be healthy and you want to be ready to go every night."

This summer, Mitchell signed a three-year, $8.7 million contract (with a team option on the last season) that now looks like an absolute steal for the Thunder. Mitchell has come out playing aggressively, took over secondary playmaking duties off the bench, and on an already deep team he has become a standout sixth man.

Mitchell is just taking it all in stride.

"For me, I just want to help this team win in any way I can," Mitchell said. "I don't really look at any roles. I just go out there and do what it takes to win."

The 8-0 Thunder are winning. Mitchell is winning, too, and he could do a lot more of that this season — and even take home some league hardware.

Just don't call it an "overnight" success.

One might think that signing a two-year, $133.3 million contract extension that could keep him in Phoenix through 2030 would have quieted any trade speculation around Devin Booker. One would be wrong. Phoenix's 3-5 start has had some fans and pundits wondering how much longer before Booker asks out.

Don't hold your breath. Before the Suns fell to the Warriors Tuesday night, Booker talked about how much he admired Stephen Curry spending his entire career with one franchise and lifting them to titles, and how he wants to do that in Phoenix, speaking with Nick Friedell of the Athletic.

"You know it because there's not many," Booker said ... "So I know he holds a special place in everybody's heart here in the Bay. And I feel a similar type of love in Phoenix. It's something special. It's kind of hard to explain, but there's a different type of love that comes with it. I wouldn't want it any other way."

Booker is embracing the legacy of being a one-team player.

"The ones I think of off the top of my head: Tim Duncan, Dirk (Nowitzki), Kobe (Bryant)," Booker said. "I had a chance to play against all three of them guys too, close to their last seasons, or their last season, so seeing their farewell tours and the love that they got. At that point, not only from their cities, but I think every city around the NBA also acknowledged it and showed love to the loyalty and embraced it."

Booker is averaging 31 points and 7 assists a game, looking every bit the All-Star and veteran team leader.

He could have asked out this summer when Phoenix traded Kevin Durant, but that's not what Booker wants. He is where he wants to be. While one should never say never in an unpredictable NBA, Booker leaving Phoenix is about as close to never as it gets. He keeps saying that. Eventually people may listen.

Another week, another list of key players who will miss time due to injury. Atlanta, Charlotte and New Orleans are among the teams forced to navigate the loss of key players, but some are better equipped to offer viable streaming alternatives than others. Let's look at some of the key injuries at the halfway point of Week 3, starting with the Hawks' star point guard.

G Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Injured during the Hawks' October 29 win over Brooklyn, Young will be re-evaluated in four weeks (from November 2) after suffering a sprained right MCL. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (37 percent rostered, Yahoo!) has moved into the starting lineup and is a suitable option for fantasy managers seeking a boost. While his fantasy value has remained low, he's averaged 19.0 points and 32.7 minutes in the three games the Hawks have played since losing Young. Luke Kennard (eight percent) has seen his playing time increase, but only slightly. And in the Hawks' last three games, he's averaged 9.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 three-pointers.

The player whose fantasy value has received the most significant boost with Young sidelined is Dyson Daniels (98 percent), who got off to a slow start. Over the last three, he's averaged 18.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals while shooting 70.6 percent from the field. Daniels and Jalen Johnson have, according to Basketball Monster, provided third-round value over the last three games. Managers who have either of those players rostered are in a good spot going into the back end of Week 3.

G LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

Ball has missed the Hornets' last two games with a right ankle impingement. That's the same ankle that was operated on in the spring, ending the point guard's 2024-25 season in late March. While Ball did go through pregame shootaround ahead of Tuesday's loss to the Pelicans, one would imagine that the Hornets will exercise caution given the injury history.

Rookie Sion James (three percent) has moved into the starting lineup, with Collin Sexton (34 percent) shifting into the point guard role. In his two starts, James totaled 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block and four three-pointers, shooting 58.3 percent from the field. The rookie had his best performance of the season in Charlotte's November 2 win over the Jazz, tallying 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three three-pointers. What works against James and Sexton more than anything is the Hornets' schedule: Week 3 is a two-game week, and the second game (Friday at Miami) is part of an 11-game slate.

G Coby White, Chicago Bulls

Due to a calf injury, White has yet to appear in a game this season, and a status update was expected this week. Before Tuesday's win over the 76ers, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said the hope is that White will be able to play in a couple of weeks. While he has progressed to sprinting and cutting, he still has not played 5-on-5.

Tre Jones (32 percent) has filled in admirably, providing fifth-round value in eight- and nine-cat formats. He's shooting well from the field and the foul line while averaging 11.6 points, 5.7 assists, and 2.3 steals in 29.4 minutes per game. However, the player whose value may have received the most significant boost is Josh Giddey (100 percent), who has been a top-20 player in eight-cat formats. He recorded his second triple-double of the season on Tuesday and is shooting nearly 42 percent from three on 4.4 attempts per game. This version of Giddey is the one many fantasy managers hoped to see earlier in his career. The question: Should managers sell high on Giddey or hold onto him?

G Darius Garland, G Sam Merrill and C Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers

Garland could make his season debut on Wednesday when the Cavaliers host Philadelphia. While it was reported on Tuesday that he would play, the point guard was still listed as questionable on the team injury report at the time of publishing. And Garland isn't the only starter on the mend, as Merrill's hot start was derailed by a hip injury that has sidelined him for the last three games. Last but not least is Allen, who has missed the previous two games with a non-displaced fracture of his left ring finger. Like Garland and Merrill, he is also listed as questionable for Tuesday night.

The most recent replacements in the starting lineup were Jaylon Tyson (five percent), De'Andre Hunter (30 percent) and Larry Nance Jr. (less than one percent). Despite shooting 38.4 percent from the field and offering limited defensive stats, Hunter is ranked just outside the top-100 in eight-cat formats. Tyson is a few rounds behind him, while Nance's 1-of-9 night against the Hawks on Sunday did not inspire anyone to grab him off the waiver wire before the start of Week 3. Hunter may have some staying power if Garland and Merrill play this week, but he shouldn't be considered a "must-hold."

F Tobias Harris, Detroit Pistons

Harris sprained his right ankle during the Pistons' November 1 win over the Mavericks in Mexico City, missing the November 3 win over Memphis as a result. And it was "Beef Stew time" in Detroit, as Isaiah Stewart (22 percent) put up 26 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two three-pointers in 34 minutes. Harris is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Jazz, but it's worth considering whether Stewart should be rostered in more leagues regardless of Harris' availability. Through seven games, he has been a top-100 player despite serving as Jalen Duren's backup on most nights, thanks in part to an average of 2.3 blocks per game.

G Stephen Curry and F Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors

Curry has been playing through an illness recently, and after Tuesday's win over the Suns, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said the guard will not play Wednesday against the Kings. We'll see what Curry's status is for Golden State's final two games of the week, Friday at Denver and Sunday against the Pacers in San Francisco. However, Butler's status is more concerning, as he has been dealing with a lower back injury and played only 14 minutes on Tuesday.

He's officially questionable for Wednesday, but it isn't easy to envision Butler playing the second game of a back-to-back after not returning for the second half of the previous game. Moses Moody (five percent) started the second half and finished with a season-high 24 points. He and Brandin Podziemski (40 percent) are worth streaming for Wednesday's game, and Moody may have added value for the rest of Week 3, depending on Butler's status.

Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Jonathan Kuminga taking a leap to begin fifth season

Kuminga is showing signs of growth to begin the season while Raptors center Jakob Poeltl has struggled out of the gate.

• Cole Huff,

G Quenton Jackson, Indiana Pacers

The Pacers can't buy a break when it comes to injuries. Jackson is the most recent guard to go down, as he strained his right hamstring during Monday's loss to Milwaukee. While the Pacers have not provided a definitive timeline, hamstring injuries are ones that teams generally exercise caution with. There aren't any appealing options among the Pacers who could be moved into the starting lineup, including Ben Sheppard (three percent). But this is a time to go "all-in" on Jarace Walker (17 percent) and Aaron Nesmith (27 percent), even if their current fantasy values aren't all that impressive. Also, center Isaiah Jackson (17 percent) has played well recently and is worth a look, despite the inconsistency concerns.

F Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers

Following Friday's win over the Pelicans, Leonard said he was not restricted in any way and planned on playing both games of the Clippers' Monday/Tuesday back-to-back to begin Week 3. Unfortunately, he sprained his left ankle in the fourth quarter of Monday's loss to the Heat, which led to Leonard not playing in Tuesday's loss to the Thunder. Bradley Beal (74 percent) was also held out of the matchup with the reigning champs, but that was due to knee injury management.

Kris Dunn (four percent) and Nicolas Batum (less than one percent) moved into the starting lineup on Tuesday, but neither offered much in the way of streaming value. Derrick Jones Jr. (seven percent), who has been a fixture in the starting lineup, is worth a look in deep leagues, especially if Leonard's ankle injury limits his availability for the Clippers' final two games of Week 3 (at Phoenix on Thursday, host Phoenix on Saturday).

G Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers

While Luka Dončić was removed from the Lakers' injury report after sitting out Monday's win over the Trail Blazers - the team's second game in as many nights - Reaves was not. He's questionable for Wednesday's matchup with the Spurs due to a sore right groin. His availability impacts Jake LaRavia (31 percent), who logged 36 minutes on Monday and finished with 11 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals. Even if Reaves can play against San Antonio, LaRavia is worth holding onto, at least until LeBron James can return from his case of sciatica.

F Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

On Tuesday, the Pelicans announced that Williamson would be re-evaluated in 7-10 days after suffering a low-grade left hamstring strain. New Orleans was also without starting center Yves Missi for Tuesday's win over the Hornets, leading to Jordan Poole (94 percent) and Kevon Looney (one percent) moving into the starting lineup. Poole isn't available in most leagues, and there isn't much to be gained from rostering Looney. But could this be a time when rookie Derik Queen becomes more valuable?

While he only played 18 minutes against the Hornets, Queen and fellow reserves Jose Alvarado (one percent) and Saddiq Bey (two percent) gave New Orleans a much-needed boost. The Pelicans can't afford to punt on this season, especially after trading their 2026 first-round pick to move up and draft Queen. But, they also can't afford not to play him rotation minutes. There may not be much to gain from rostering Queen in the short term, but keep an eye on him in the Pelicans' final two games of Week 3.

G Jalen Green and F Dillon Brooks, Phoenix Suns

Green may be closing in on a return to the court, as he has played 5-on-5 as recently as Tuesday morning ahead of the Suns' loss to the Warriors. Could Thursday's game against the Clippers be in play for the guard to make his Suns debut? If so, one would imagine that Green's minutes will be restricted due to the amount of time missed. His availability impacts Grayson Allen (34 percent) the most, and managers who have Allen rostered should not drop him immediately.

Phoenix is also waiting on Brooks, who has missed the last five games with a core muscle strain. Royce O'Neale (25 percent) has been effective as his replacement in the starting lineup, providing top-75 value in eight-cat formats (as has Allen). He's another player to hold onto until Brooks is on the court and able to play without restrictions.

G Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs

Harper injured his left calf during Sunday's loss to Phoenix, with the rookie leaving the arena on crutches while wearing a walking boot. He's expected to miss multiple weeks, leaving the Spurs down another rotation guard with De'Aaron Fox still recovering from a hamstring injury. Is there anyone worth targeting behind starters Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell? No. Jordan McLaughlin (less than one percent) played 19 minutes off the bench on Sunday, but that isn't enough time to impact fantasy basketball, and his upside is minimal.

San Antonio's overall depth could be boosted soon, as Jeremy Sochan, Kelly Olynyk and Lindy Waters III are all questionable for Wednesday's game against the Lakers. However, none are likely to get the run needed to impact fantasy basketball immediately.

C Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

Kessler has missed Utah's last two games with left shoulder bursitis and will miss at least two more, as the team sent him home early for further evaluation. Utah ends its four-game road trip with games against Detroit (Wednesday) and Minnesota (Friday), then begins Week 4 with a Monday/Tuesday home back-to-back against the Timberwolves and Pacers. The concern is that Kessler also dealt with left shoulder bursitis during the preseason, missing all but one exhibition.

Jusuf Nurkić (11 percent) has started the last two games, totaling 14 points, 20 rebounds, six assists, two steals and one blocked shot. While the scoring can be inconsistent, the rebounding production is what makes Nurkić an appealing streamer for Utah's final two games of Week 3. Also, Isaiah Collier (hamstring) was available for Monday's win over the Celtics but did not play, possibly a byproduct of how well Keyonte George (63 percent) has played to start the season. Walter Clayton Jr. (two percent) will likely take the more significant hit to his playing time once Collier begins to play in games.

F Khris Middleton, Washington Wizards

Wednesday's game against the Celtics will be Middleton's second missed game, this one due to a sore right knee. Justin Champagnie (less than one percent) started Monday's loss to the Knicks, finishing with four points, one rebound and one assist in 17 minutes. Rookie Tre Johnson (12 percent) played 21 minutes off the bench and was reasonably productive, tallying 10 points, four rebounds, one assist, one block and two three-pointers. He's a better streaming option than Champagnie, especially for fantasy managers who have the room to consider holding onto Johnson for the long haul once Middleton is cleared to return.

Memphis has stumbled out of the gate to a 3-5 record with a bottom-10 offense and defense. Then came the reality-TV level unnecessary drama: Star Ja Morant had a low-effort game against the Lakers (check out the video), new Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo believes in being direct and calling out players letting the team down and did so with Morant in the locker room, Morant responded by throwingthe coaches under the bus, which led to him being suspended for one game for “conduct detrimental to the team.” Things have not looked much better since.

In the NBA, an unhappy star inevitably leads to trade speculation. That has happened here. However, there is not much of a market around the league in trading for Morant, multiple front office sources told NBC Sports. There are concerns about whether he is still an All-Star-level player, and how his personality and ball-dominant style would fit on a lot of rosters. That said, there is always some level of interest in picking up a player — especially a popular one, someone a team's marketing arm can sell and boost ticket sales — on a lowball offer, or a team open to trading a problem star for a problem star. The challenge becomes that if Memphis is ever going to consider parting with the face of the franchise, it will want a massive haul in return, and that market is not out there.

Teams are at least keeping their eye on what is happening in Memphis, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic.

"There is still no shortage of teams that will continue monitoring his situation. The Minnesota Timberwolves, per a team source, are one. Ditto for the Sacramento Kings. The Grizzlies' next opponent, the Houston Rockets, need a point guard after losing Fred Van Vleet to a torn ACL in the preseason but, per a team source, are unlikely to pursue him."

Morant's contract is not the issue. He is making $39.5 million this season and has two years, $87.1 million remaining after this season, reasonable numbers if a team still considers Morant an All-Star. Morant can still put up numbers, averaging 20.4 points and 7.1 assists a game this season.

Memphis would be wise to wait until they get healthy — center Zach Edey is near a return, and this team badly misses Scottie Pippen Jr. and Ty Jerome for spacing — before making any decisions. Give Iisalo a chance as he starts to get back key players who better fit his system. Then, if that doesn't work, there will be hard conversations to have about him, Jaren Jackson Jr. and the rest of the roster.

For right now, Memphis is just trying to get itself right, and the rest of the league is watching this play out. As we get closer to the trade deadline in February, the situation may change, but this is more likely an offseason kind of move. If we see a change at all.

Victor Wembanyama is about to go Coast 2 Coast.

We've seen him do it on the court, now Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs have been flexed into NBC and Peacock’s Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA coverage on Nov. 18, hosting Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. This will be the first game of the nationally broadcast doubleheader at 8 p.m. ET, with the late game featuring Phoenix at Portland (8 Pacific/11 Eastern).

The Detroit at Atlanta game will no longer be televised by NBC/Peacock and will now be available on League Pass, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Wembanyama has had such a hot start to the season that he has inserted himself into the early-season MVP conversation in just his third season in a way nobody has since Derrick Rose won the award in 2011. Wemby is averaging 26.7 points, 13.7 rebounds and a league-leading 4.7 blocked shots a game, sparking the Spurs to a fast 5-1 start. Wemby is getting support from reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle — 20 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists a game — but San Antonio will be without No. 2 pick Dylan Harper, who is out with a strained calf.

This will be the first-ever Grizzlies game on NBC. The last time the Spurs played on NBC was Game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2002, where they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers, 87-85, a game where Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and Tony Parker led the team in scoring.

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

Victor Wembanyama is about to go Coast 2 Coast.

We've seen him do it on the court, now Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs have been flexed into NBC and Peacock’s Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA coverage on Nov. 11, hosting Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. This will be the first game of the nationally broadcast doubleheader at 8 p.m. ET, with the late game featuring Phoenix at Portland (8 Pacific/11 Eastern).

The Detroit at Atlanta game will no longer be televised by NBC/Peacock and will now be available on League Pass, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Wembanyama has had such a hot start to the season that he has inserted himself into the early-season MVP conversation in just his third season in a way nobody has since Derrick Rose won the award in 2011. Wemby is averaging 26.7 points, 13.7 rebounds and a league-leading 4.7 blocked shots a game, sparking the Spurs to a fast 5-1 start. Wemby is getting support from reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle — 20 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists a game — but San Antonio will be without No. 2 pick Dylan Harper, who is out with a strained calf.

This will be the first-ever Grizzlies game on NBC. The last time the Spurs played on NBC was Game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2002, where they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers, 87-85, a game where Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and Tony Parker led the team in scoring.

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

The NBA gave us buzzer-beaters in Week 2, more OT games, and another season where the Oklahoma City Thunder start 7-0. Only one team dropped out of my top 10 and one team entered, but there was a ton of movement! All Championship odds are courtesy of DraftKings.

Vaughn Dalzell’s Week 3 NBA Power Rankings

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (7-0)

NBA Finals odds: +235
Points Leader: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33.6)
Rebound Leader: Isaiah Hartentstein (11.4)
Assist Leader: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (5.9)

Oklahoma City became the third team ever to start a season 7-0 after winning a championship and back-to-back seasons. Without Jalen Williams, the Thunder have not skipped a beat with wins over Houston, Indiana, Atlanta, Dallas, Sacramento, Washington, and New Orleans.

Not to discredit the Thunder's start, but only a few of those teams will be playoff squads, so we will have to see how good Oklahoma City is when opponents begin to find their rhythm. For now and the foreseeable future, the Thunder are the undisputed No. 1 team in the NBA.

2. Los Angeles Lakers (6-2)

NBA Finals odds: +1600
Points Leader: Luka Doncic (41.3)
Rebound Leader: Luka Doncic (11.5)
Assist Leader: Austin Reaves (9.3)

The Lakers have won four consecutive games and have played pretty much nothing but expected playoff teams through eight games. Los Angeles has played Portland and Minnesota each twice (3-1), plus Golden State (0-1), Sacramento (1-0), Memphis (1-0), and Miami (1-0).

If you would have told me that Luka Doncic will miss four games and LeBron James be out for the start of the season and the Lakers would be 6-2, I wouldn't have believed you. Los Angeles ranks seventh in offensive efficiency and second in effective field goal percentage, but 18th in defensive efficiency, so the Lakers will have to clean up that end of the floor to consistently be a top-five team.

3. Milwaukee Bucks (5-2)

NBA Finals odds: +4500
Points Leader: Giannis Antetokounmpo (34.0)
Rebound Leader: Giannis Antetokounmpo (13.3)
Assist Leader: Giannis Antetokounmpo (6.8)

Milwaukee has been one of the hottest teams to start the season after most media members wrote them off this season, including me. The Bucks have shown that Myles Turner can space the floor for Giannis Antetokounmpo then Brook Lopez could with their fourth-rated offensive efficiency through seven games.

Antetokounmpo has been on a tear and leads the team in points, rebounds, and assists. Cole Anthony and Ryan Rollins have both averaged more than five assists per game and Antetokounmpo is posting a career-high in that department, so as long as they keep up this offensive flow, Milwaukee could win the East.

4. Denver Nuggets (4-2)

NBA Finals odds: +550
Points Leader: Jamal Murray (24.2)
Rebound Leader: Nikola Jokic (13.2)
Assist Leader: Nikola Jokic (11.3)

In Denver's four wins, the offense has scored 133, 127, 122, and 130 points and have the sixth-rated offensive efficiency, but in the two losses, they are ranked second behind the Bucks. That is a good sign that the offense is strong. Last season was the same case with the fourth-ranked offense in losses and top-rated offense in wins.

Denver is in the middle of a four-game home stand that was kicked off with a 130-124 win over Sacramento. The Nuggets host the Heat, Warriors, and Pacers this week — all rank in the top-half of the league in defensive efficiency, so Denver will be put to the test.

5. New York Knicks (4-3)

NBA Finals odds: +1300
Points Leader: Jalen Brunson (29.0)
Rebound Leader: Karl-Anthony Towns (13.1)
Assist Leader: Jalen Brunson (5.6)

After suffering a three-game losing streak on the road to the Heat, Bucks, and Bulls — the Knicks bounced back with two dominant home victories versus the Bulls and Wizards by 12 and 17 points. New York has five straight home games on deck as apart of this seven-game home stand.

New York takes on Minnesota, Brooklyn, Memphis, Orlando, and Miami as the final five games of the home stand. That's a schedule that could certainly move the Knicks up. I could see them go 5-2 or better during the seven-game home stand that already started 2-0.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers (4-3)

NBA Finals odds: +700
Points Leader: Donovan Mitchell (29.5)
Rebound Leader: Evan Mobley (8.9)
Assist Leader: Lonzo Ball (5.3)

Cleveland has struggled offensively despite averaging 114.1 points per game (23rd). The Cavs come in at 26th in offensive efficacy, ahead of only the Pelicans, Pacers, Wizards, and Mavericks.

Most of that is due to bench scoring. Cleveland is second-worst in that category as they didn't improve this offseason. The only addition was Lonzo Ball, who leads the team in assists per game (5.3). Defensively though, Cleveland ranks sixth in defensive efficiency to start the season, so that's been the Cavs bread and butter.

7. Golden State Warriors (4-3)

NBA Finals odds: +1300
Points Leader: Steph Curry (26.6)
Rebound Leader: Jonathan Kuminga (7.1)
Assist Leader: Draymond Green (6.1)

Golden State dropped two consecutive games, so they have to drop back on my list. Milwaukee and Indiana slowed the Warriors roll as the Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Pacers riding a five-game losing streak. Not exactly quality losses.

Al Horford has missed two games for Golden State, Jimmy Butler is on the latest injury report, and De'Anthony Melton is still out. The last thing the Warriors can afford is injuries early in the season. Golden State is the second-oldest team in the NBA (27.53).

8. Portland Trail Blazers (4-3)

NBA Finals odds: +40000
Points Leader: Deni Avidja (24.1)
Rebound Leader: Donovan Clingan (9.1)
Assist Leader: Jrue Holiday (8.3)

There is a youth movement going on in Portland and unlike Charlotte, Brooklyn, Washington, or any of those other youthful, lively and vibrant teams — Portland is winning. Eight out of 15 Trail Blazers are 25-years-old or younger, but they come in at 17th for average age. If you take a closer look at the rotation, only Jrue Holiday, Robert Williams, and Jerami Grant are veterans. There will be growing pains, but I see the vision in Portland.

9. San Antonio Spurs (5-1)

NBA Finals odds: +4000
Points Leader: Victor Wembanyama (26.7)
Rebound Leader: Victor Wembanyama (13.7)
Assist Leader: Stephon Castle (5.3)

I might be crazy having San Antonio this high, but the Spurs are hot! The Spurs opened the season at 5-0 for the first time in franchise history, which blew my mind. San Antonio did have that streak snapped against the Suns and while the stretch has been awesome to witness, the competition has been lackluster to say the least.

The five teams that San Antonio beat, Dallas, New Orleans, Brooklyn, Toronto, and Miami are a combined 12-25 to start the season. Half the league could go at least 4-1 to start the season with that schedule, so I will hold the horses at little longer.

10. Philadelphia 76ers (5-1)

NBA Finals odds: +2500
Points Leader: Tyrese Maxey (33.7)
Rebound Leader: Andre Drummond (6.7)
Assist Leader: Tyrese Maxey (9.0)

Philadelphia was one of the biggest surprises to start the season at 5-0 before dropping their first game to Boston in the second meeting between them this year. The 76ers bounced back with a win to move to 5-1, tying the Bulls for the second-best record in the NBA, who are next on the schedule.

If Chicago wins, then I probably should have had the Bulls here, but if the 76ers win, then I guess I got this right. For me, it's simple that a mixture of Tyrese Maxey,Joel Embiid, Paul George and VJ Edgecombe are enough most nights over Chicago and a good amount of teams in the NBA.

Out of the Top 10

Los Angeles Clippers (3-3)

NBA Finals odds: +3000
Points Leader: Kawhi Leonard (23.8)
Rebound Leader: Ivica Zubac (8.6)
Assist Leader: James Harden (9.2)

The start to the Clippers season is not turning out as expected with a 3-3 record through six games and a date versus the Thunder on Peacock next. Kawhi Leonard and Bradley Beal were both ruled out in the second night of a back-to-back for that meeting with Oklahoma City, so it's clear Los Angeles will be managing both players all season long for a playoff run.

The Clippers narrowly escaped New Orleans (0-6) in their last win, and lost to Miami by one point in their previous game, so this squad is trending down.

New to the Top 10:

Portland Trail Blazers (4-3)

NBA Finals odds: +40000
Points Leader: Deni Avidja (24.1)
Rebound Leader: Donovan Clingan (9.1)
Assist Leader: Jrue Holiday (8.3)

The Trail Blazers have beaten the Warriors, Lakers, Jazz, and Nuggets this season and lost to the Clippers, Lakers, and Timberwolves — so that's five potential playoff teams in seven games. Portland has proved they are ready to make a jump and be a sleeper to make the play-in tournament this year in a crowed West.

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.