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Fantasy Basketball Week 4 Injury Report: Joel Embiid sidelined again; updates on LeBron James, Paul George

While the 2025-26 NBA season still isn't officially one month old, it may feel like it is from an injury standpoint. Some stars have yet to appear in a game, while others have spent multiple games on the sideline. In the case of Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, the team's measured approach to his return did not prevent another issue from popping up. Let's look at some injuries that will impact fantasy basketball for the remainder of Week 4 and the first few days of Week 5.

G Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks

Alexander-Walker, who stepped in for the injured Trae Young at point guard, has missed Atlanta's last two games with a back injury and is questionable for the team's November 12 game against Sacramento. Keaton Wallace (one percent rostered, Yahoo!) replaced him in the starting lineup, totaling 19 points, six rebounds, eight assists, one steal and five three-pointers in wins over the Lakers and Clippers.

However, Wallace played 12 fewer minutes against the Clippers than he did against the Lakers, with Jalen Johnson's return after a one-game absence and Vit Krejčí (two percent) going bonkers from beyond the arc impacting Keaton's playing time. Wallace isn't a must-stream player, even if Alexander-Walker cannot return on Wednesday.

G Cam Thomas, Brooklyn Nets

On November 7, the Nets announced that Thomas would be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks after suffering a strained left hamstring. That's the same hamstring he injured back in January and February, with the latter instance ending his 2024-25 campaign. With that in mind, the Nets will likely exercise caution in bringing Thomas back into the fold.

In the three games Brooklyn has played since, rookie Egor Dëmin (seven percent) has moved into the starting lineup, averaging 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 2.7 three-pointers in 25.3 minutes while shooting 48 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from three. According to Basketball Monster, Dëmin has been a top-150 player over the past week. That isn't "great" fantasy value, but with the Nets clearly rebuilding, this may entice some deep-league managers to roll the dice on the rookie guard.

Also, Drake Powell (less than one percent) has entered the rotation in Thomas's absence, averaging 23.7 minutes over the last three games. Dëmin would be the rookie to prioritize if you're mining the Nets roster for value, whether now or for the "silly season," but keep an eye on Powell, especially if the defensive ability results in solid steals numbers.

G Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls

Giddey sprained his right ankle during Chicago's November 8 loss to the Cavaliers, and he missed Monday's loss to the Spurs as a result. He's considered questionable for Wednesday's matchup with the Pistons, and Giddey's availability impacts multiple players. Kevin Huerter (17 percent), who has been a top-75 player in nine-cat formats, moved into the starting lineup on Monday, finishing with 23 points, five rebounds, five assists, one block and four three-pointers in 33 minutes. Ayo Dosunmu (20 percent) played 33 minutes off the bench, accounting for 20 points, two rebounds, five assists, two steals, one block and three three-pointers.

However, Huerter and Dosunmu aren't the only Bulls guards who receive a boost to their fantasy value when Giddey (and Coby White) aren't available. Tre Jones (33 percent), who has filled in admirably for White, is close to a top-50 player in nine-cat formats. Even if Giddey can play on Wednesday, he's worth holding onto until White returns. As for Huerter and Dosunmu, they will both retain value in deeper leagues.

Miami Heat v Denver Nuggets
Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Jaime Jaquez Jr. breaking out
Jaime Jaquez Jr. is making massive strides after a disappointing sophomore campaign.

G Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers

Garland injured his left big toe in Monday's overtime loss to the Heat, returning briefly during the third quarter but exiting for good shortly thereafter. This is the same toe he injured late last season, aggravating it in the first round of the playoffs and ultimately requiring surgery during the offseason. The good news is that Cleveland has cited "left toe injury management" as the reason for Garland's absence on Wednesday, when the Cavaliers face the Heat again. However, while he may be day-to-day, toe injuries can be tricky.

From a minutes standpoint, Sam Merrill (13 percent) and Jaylon Tyson (15 percent) were the biggest beneficiaries on Monday. Unfortunately, Tyson has entered the league's concussion protocol and will miss Wednesday's game at a minimum, leaving it to Merrill to pick up the slack. De'Andre Hunter (32 percent) isn't the best category-league option, but he's healthy and starting.

Also of note for Wednesday is that Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley are out for rest reasons. Due to those absences, Lonzo Ball (nine percent), Dean Wade (one percent) and Craig Porter Jr. (less than one percent) can be thrown into the mix as potential streamers, but the former remains on a minutes restriction.

F/C Anthony Davis and C Dereck Lively II, Dallas Mavericks

Davis (calf) and Lively (knee) have both been out for extended periods, with the former last playing on October 29 and the latter last doing so on October 26. Both players are considered questionable for Wednesday's game against the Suns. However, Davis has been listed as questionable ahead of the last few games, only to be ruled out. Daniel Gafford (17 percent) is the first player to consider, even though his minutes have been limited due to ankle injuries.

Superior options, especially for those desiring streamers who will play more minutes, have been Max Christie (15 percent) and Naji Marshall (12 percent). Both are providing solid value in eight- and nine-cat formats. Of the two, Christie may offer a slightly higher long-term upside, as he's replaced the struggling Klay Thompson in the starting lineup. His place within the rotation should be safe when Davis and Lively return, while Marshall's playing time may take a hit.

G/F Ausar Thompson, F Tobias Harris and C Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons

With Cade Cunningham listed as questionable due to a hip contusion, the Pistons could be without four key contributors for Wednesday's game against Chicago. Of the three listed here, however, Harris may be the furthest from a return. While making progress according to head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, he still does not have a timeline for returning from his sprained right ankle. Thompson (ankle) is out with a sprained ankle, while Stewart is doubtful with a sprained ankle.

Stewart's absence led to Ron Holland (five percent) and Javonte Green (one percent) starting the last two games, with the latter filling the void in Monday's win over the Wizards. The only way either will be worth the risk is if the Pistons are forced to play without Cunningham. Duncan Robinson (eight percent) is more of a specialist than someone who can provide value across multiple categories, while Daniss Jenkins (one percent) will be worth a look if Cunningham sits.

G Bradley Beal and F Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers

Leonard has missed the Clippers' last four games with a sprained ankle and will also not play on Wednesday against the Nuggets. As for Beal, a fracture in his hip will keep him out for the rest of the season. Kris Dunn (four percent) entered the starting lineup at the time of Leonard's injury, but he has only been a top-200 player over the past week.

With Beal out, John Collins (84 percent) started Monday's loss to the Hawks, and he struggled, shooting 3-of-11 from the field and finishing with nine points, seven rebounds, one steal, one block and one three-pointer in 31 minutes. With Collins rostered in most leagues and Dunn not doing enough on offense to merit being streamed, there really isn't anywhere to turn while Leonard sits and Beal is done for the year.

F LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

James (sciatica) may be getting closer to making his first appearance of the season. As of Tuesday, he was on track to practice with the Lakers' G League affiliate while the Lakers are on their current road trip. Wednesday's game against the Thunder is the first of three games they'll play during the rest of Week 4, and all are on the road.

LeBron won't be of any service to fantasy managers this week, but his absence has opened up additional minutes for Marcus Smart (11 percent) and Jake LaRavia (19 percent). The former has been the fifth starter, with the latter heading to the bench after Austin Reaves returned from a groin injury that sidelined him for three games. Smart and LaRavia are worth a look in deep leagues, at least until LeBron is available to play.

G Jordan Poole, New Orleans Pelicans

Poole was diagnosed with a strained left quad on November 7 and is due to be re-evaluated over the weekend, based on the 7-10 day timeline provided by the team. Jeremiah Fears (18 percent) had already replaced Poole in the starting lineup, and the rookie will be worth holding onto, especially for those who can compensate for the efficiency issues that can plague rookie guards.

Saddiq Bey (eight percent) and Jose Alvarado (two percent) have provided decent fantasy value recently, with the former starting for the still-injured Zion Williamson (hamstring). Based on the timeline provided after his injury, Zion should be re-evaluated soon. Is Bey worth a look in deep leagues? That depends on how desperate the fantasy manager may be for frontcourt production, especially with Bey not offering much in the way of defensive stats.

C Joel Embiid and F Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers

Having undergone a procedure on his left knee during the offseason, Embiid's minutes were being managed even before his most recent injury. Unfortunately, he's back on the sideline, but it's due to a sore right knee. However, no structural damage was found in the team's examinations of the knee, and Embiid will be considered day-to-day moving forward. Philadelphia only plays once more this week, which may limit Andre Drummond's (14 percent) streaming appeal in the eyes of some.

As for George, he'll be re-evaluated toward the end of the week as he attempts to return from offseason knee surgery. ESPN's Shams Charania reported late Tuesday that the doctors want George's left quad to get stronger before clearing him to play. Trendon Watford (15 percent) has been the most recent starter at power forward, providing 10th-round per-game value in eight- and nine-cat formats over the past week.

G Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns

Green, who made his season debut on November 6 after suffering a strained right hamstring during the offseason, suffered another strain during the Suns' November 8 win over the Clippers. He will be re-evaluated in 4-6 weeks, so there's no guarantee that Green will be back in games before late December.

Given the amount of time that Green missed due to the first injury, fantasy managers should have a clear understanding of who to target. Royce O'Neale (27 percent) returned to the starting lineup on Monday, playing 23 minutes in a blowout of the Pelicans. That game was also a showcase for Grayson Allen (41 percent), who dropped a career-high 42 points and hit a franchise-record 10 three-pointers. Both players are worth rostering while Green sits, with Allen likely being more valuable to fantasy managers once the Suns return to full strength.

G/F Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards

After missing the first four games due to offseason thumb surgery, Coulibaly played three full games before injuring his calf during a November 5 loss to the Celtics. Wednesday's game against the Rockets will be the fourth he has missed, and the third-year wing could be out even longer than that. Rookie Tre Johnson (nine percent) has moved into the starting lineup, but he hasn't been a top-200 player over the last week. Managers willing to add Johnson will have to bet on him being a factor later in the season, because the short-term value hasn't been there. That can also be said for Cam Whitmore (four percent), whose opportunities have been more consistent with Coulibaly unavailable.

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Draymond Green questions Warriors' commitment to winning as a team

Tuesday night, Oklahoma City reminded Golden State how far it is from the top teams in the West, with the Thunder cruising to a 126-102 win. Golden State is now 6-6 on the season with a bottom-10 offense in the league despite having Stephen Curry on the roster, and it looks more like a play-in team than a threat.

After the game, Draymond Green questioned the Warriors' commitment to winning, in comments reported by Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area.

"Everybody was committed to winning, and doing that any way possible," Draymond Green told reporters at Paycom Center. "And right now, it doesn't feel that way ...

"You've got to fight your way out of it," Green said. "Anytime you're in a little rut in this league, it'll never be easy, never be pretty getting out of it. You've got to claw your way out. And right now, that's not the identity of this team."

Jimmy Butler backed up Green, to a point.

"I think he's partly correct," Butler said of Green's comments. "We've just got to get back to doing whatever it takes to win. Everybody is going to have to sacrifice something. I can't tell you what that sacrifice might be for every individual. It may be different for every individual every single night.

"But we're got to get back to winning is the main thing, the only thing. It's going to be up to the collective, as a group, to figure out what is needed to win."

Green would not discuss which players were not committed to sacrificing and winning for the team. This is a team where Jonathan Kuminga went through a rough restricted free agency and has been mentioned in trade rumors. Additionally, Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, and Moses Moody are all extension-eligible after this season and are playing for their next contract.

Golden State started this season winning four of five, and it looked like the "Butler Bump" that had this team 23-8 at the end of last regular season was real. However, the Warriors are 2-5 since then. With an older core of Stephen Curry, Butler and Green, this is a Warriors team better built for the postseason than the grind of the regular season — but the Warriors have to get to the playoffs before they can be a threat. Right now, that doesn't feel like a sure thing.

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Warriors unveil new-look starting lineup without Jonathan Kuminga vs. Spurs

Warriors unveil new-look starting lineup without Jonathan Kuminga vs. Spurs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors coach Steve Kerr is a man of his word.

During his pregame presser before Golden State’s matchup with the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday at Frost Bank Center, Kerr told reporters it was time for changes to the Warriors’ rotation. Forty-five minutes later, Golden State unveiled its first starting lineup without forward Jonathan Kuminga since the 2025-26 NBA season began.

Kuminga is out and Moses Moody is back in, making his third start of the season after a strong showing over Golden State’s last few games. Warriors rookie Will Richard will make the second start of his young NBA career after earning the role for the first time in Golden State’s short-handed loss to the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 5.

Kerr was asked pregame if the Warriors needed to make “drastic rotational changes” given the team’s recent struggles, and the coach answered simply.

“Yes. It is,” Kerr said.

In the seven games since Golden State’s 4-1 start, the team is 2-5 and searching for answers. Veterans Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler criticized the team’s fight and commitment to winning on Tuesday night after an ugly loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Lineup changes are just a part of the season’s process, Kerr said, though Kuminga’s removal from the starting five is a stark contrast to the coach declaring the 23-year-old was entrenched as a full-time starter on Oct. 28.

“What I was saying earlier about lineup combinations, I think it’s very clear that we’ve been a little clunky recently, and I obviously watch everything and look at all the lineup data, and we have got to make some changes,” Kerr said Wednesday. “… There’s times in the season where it’s obvious you’ve got to make some changes, and it’s never any one individual’s fault. It’s all about the team, and how can we get the best out of everyone individually so that the collective is stronger.”

Kuminga started the season incredibly strong after some offseason contract drama that ended with him signing a new two-year deal worth a reported $48.5 million. The young forward now leads the team with 34 turnovers and is averaging 11.4 points over the Warriors’ last five games, down from 16.2 points per game during Golden State’s strong 4-1 stretch to start the campaign.

But the Warriors’ recent woes aren’t limited to just Kuminga, as Kerr said. The coach will continue toying with his rotations until he finds a method that helps the Warriors click — and the team certainly hopes that happens Wednesday in San Antonio.

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Michael Ray Richardson, four-time All-Star banned from NBA for violating drug policy in the 1980s, dies

Michael Ray Richardson, a versatile guard who was banned from the NBA for violating its drug policy in the 1980s, died Tuesday. He was 70.

Richardson’s attorney and close friend, John Zelbst, confirmed his death to The Associated Press. Richardson, who had prostate cancer, died at his Lawton, Oklahoma, home, with his wife, Kimberly, present. News outlet Andscape first reported the death of Richardson, whose first name was alternately spelled Micheal over the years.

Richardson was a three-time All-Big Sky Conference player at Montana before being selected No. 4 in the 1978 NBA draft, two slots ahead of Larry Bird. He played for the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors and New Jersey Nets. In eight years, he was a four-time All-Star who led the league in steals three times.

He was banned in 1986 after violating the drug policy for cocaine use. He played in the Continental Basketball Association and then finished his career in Europe. He later won five championships as a coach in the Continental Basketball Association and NBL Canada.

“It was a life of redemption and winning,” Zelbst said. “Redemption and winning. It’s incredible.”

In 1979-80, Richardson averaged 15.3 points per game for the Knicks and led the league in assists (10.1 per game) and steals (3.2).

“He was just an incredible player, and no one had seen anybody like him at that time,” Zelbst said. “He was Magic (Johnson) before Magic.”

In 1984, he led the Nets to a stunning playoff upset of the defending champion Philadelphia 76ers and stars Moses Malone and Julius Erving.

In his best NBA season, 1984-85 with New Jersey, Richardson was named the NBA’s comeback player of the year after averaging 20.1 points and 8.2 assists and a league-best 3.0 steals per contest.

He played one more NBA season before his ban.

“He got kicked out of the league, got sober and never went back to it,” Zelbst said.

Richardson coached the Oklahoma/Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry to three championships - in the CBA in 2008 and 2009 and in the Premier Basketball League in 2010. He also led the London Lightning to two NBL Canada championships. He returned to Lawton and spent much of the time in his later years guiding young Black men in the area.

Zelbst, who owned the Cavalry and Lightning, said Richardson was one of the best people he knew.

“Anybody that ever met him would just be fascinated by him,” Zelbst said. “He was such a bright light and I’m going to dearly miss him. He turned out to be my best pal, and it’s just heartbreaking.”

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NBA Revenue Projected to Hit $14.3B During 2025-26 Season

The NBA season is off to a hot start with close games and soaring viewership under its new media deal with Amazon, ESPN/ABC and NBC. The league’s accountants are also expecting a big year with gross projected revenue of $14.3 billion, up 12% from last season’s $12.75 billion, according to someone familiar with the forecast.

This tally includes league and team revenue outside of the money clubs make from non-NBA events, such as concerts, at arenas they operate or own. The figures were shared with league owners in September. The NBA declined to comment on the financial projections.

The growth is fueled by the league’s new 11-year, $76 billion media deal, which bumps each team’s TV revenue from $103 million to $143 million this season. The payouts rise roughly 7% per year on average, putting each team on track for $281 million for the 2034-35 season, based on a 30-team league. Forty years ago, each NBA team received roughly $1.5 million from national TV.

The 30 NBA teams generated $12.25 billion, or $408 million per club, in revenue during the 2024-25 season, including non-NBA events and excluding certain money that stays at the league level for investment and operations. The revenues ranged from $833 million for the Golden State Warriors to $301 million for the Memphis Grizzlies. The tally is net of revenue-sharing that transferred roughly $400 million to low-revenue teams last year, funded by high-revenue teams and 50% of luxury tax proceeds.

By comparison, NFL teams made $22.2 billon, MLB clubs made $12.75 billion, NHL franchises made $7.7 billion and MLS sides made $2.2 billion.

Basketball-related income, which is used to set the salary cap, was $10.25 billion last season, dinged by a choppy local media environment and multiple small-market teams reaching the conference finals, which impacted postseason gate receipts. It meant that more than $480 million went back to teams from the escrow fund set to ensure a 51-49 revenue split between players and owners.

The average NBA franchise is worth $5.51 billion, per Sportico’s NBA team valuations. That figure is up 20% versus last year and 113% from 2022, when the average was $2.58 billion.

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What changes are being made to 2026 NBA All-Star game?

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[BBC]

The NBA has announced a number of changes to the All-Star game for 2026.

The All-Star game is an annual mid-season exhibition match involving the best players in the league.

Traditionally, a team from the Eastern Conference faces a team from the Western Conference, although the format has changed multiple times in recent years.

The first All-Star match was held in 1951 and has taken place yearly since then, with the exception of 1999 due to the NBA league lockout.

But what are the new changes for February 2026's All-Star game?

What's new to the All-Star game?

Steph Curry holding the 2025 NBA All-Star's Most Valuable Player award
Two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors has been selected 11 times for the All-Star game [Getty Images]

In 2026 a three-team tournament will take place consisting of two American teams and one team of international players.

They will all play each other once, with the top two teams facing each other again in the championship game.

Last year a four-team tournament took place, with the two winning semi-finalists facing each other in the final - deemed the championship game.

The starting fives for the two United States teams and the Rest Of World are picked via a combination of fans (50% of the vote), current NBA players (25% of the vote) and a media panel (25% of the vote).

The reserves to make up the three teams of eight are decided by NBA head coaches.

Like previous years, the squads will consist of 12 Eastern Conference players and 12 Western Conference players.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver will add extra players to fulfil the necessary quotas should a scenario arise where the 24 players do not consist of 16 United States players, eight international players and 12 from each conferences. It would mean that at least one team would have more than eight players in their squad.

When is it?

All four of the All-Star games, that last 12 matches each, will all take place on Sunday, 15 February 2026.

No regular season games take place during this period.

The All-Star matches will take place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California - the home of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Who could feature?

LeBron James holds the record for the most All-Star selections, appearing in each of the last 21 games since 2005.

James, 40, missed the 2025 game due to injury and is yet to play this season, also because of injury.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, who have won 10 of the last 12 NBA Most Valuable Player awards between them, were all selected for the 2025 game.

Antetokounmpo missed last year's match due to injury.

San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, who was named Defensive Player of the Year two years ago, made his All-Star debut in the 2025 game and is among those likely to feature again in 2026.

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Four numbers that highlight Jordan Walsh's breakthrough with Celtics

Four numbers that highlight Jordan Walsh's breakthrough with Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics’ late-game execution woes have masked — or at least diminished — some of the more encouraging trends the team has produced through the first 12 games of the season.

Over the past week, perhaps nothing has been as notable as the rather unexpected emergence of third-year wing Jordan Walsh.

Walsh’s defensive potential has been evident ever since the Celtics snagged him with the 38th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. But he played sparingly on two championship-level teams, and it felt fair to suggest that the 2025-26 season was a bit of a make-or-break campaign, even if Walsh is still only 21 years old entering his third NBA season.

After logging three DNPs and playing sparingly through the early part of the new campaign, Walsh got an opportunity to reassert himself starting with last Wednesday’s visit from the Washington Wizards, and has basically made it hard for Joe Mazzulla to take him off the court. 

Something seemed to click against Washington for Walsh. He was relentless on the defensive glass. He brought a controlled chaos to the defensive side of the ball. The Celtics outscored the Wizards by 27 during his 24 minutes of floor time and it set the stage for Walsh to really showcase his defensive talents. 

That culminated Tuesday night in Philadelphia, where Mazzulla dispatched Walsh as the primary defender on 76ers superstar guard Tyrese Maxey, who averaged 33 points per game against Boston in the teams’ first two meetings this season.

With Walsh logging nearly 60 percent of the total matchup time, Maxey finished with his lowest scoring output of the season, generating 21 points on 5-of-17 shooting over 33:39. The Sixers escaped with a 102-100 triumph, but Walsh was an obvious silver lining with his inspired defensive play.

Here are four numbers that detail just how impressive Walsh has been in his recent minutes:

11.1 percent

That was Maxey’s shooting percentage when Walsh was the primary defender in Tuesday’s game. The NBA’s tracking data had Maxey finishing 1-for-9 with four points over 26.9 possessions and nearly six total minutes of matchup time with Walsh defending him.

Walsh was fantastic, including at the end of Tuesday’s game, helping to harass Maxey into a late miss in a tie game. Alas, the Celtics overreacted to helping near Maxey and that allowed Kelly Oubre Jr. to swoop in for a way-too-easy put-back that proved to be the difference in the game.

102.5

That is Boston’s defensive rating in Walsh’s 122 minutes of floor time this season. Not only is it second-best on the team among regulars, trailing only Neemias Queta (101.2), but Boston’s defensive rating is 12.4 points per 100 possessions lower during Walsh’s floor time compared to when he’s on the bench.

For context, the Oklahoma City Thunder top the NBA with a defensive rating of 104.1. The Celtics sit 13th at 113.4 overall.

Drill down to Boston’s last four games and Boston’s defensive rating drops to 97.9 in Walsh’s 98 minutes of floor time. It spiked to a team-worst 123.4 in his 94 minutes on the bench. 

9.1 percent

That’s how far below their expected field goal percentage that Walsh has held his defensive assignments over the last four games. Opponents are shooting a meager 37.5 percent against him on 10 shot attempts per game, per the NBA’s defensive dashboard. That’s the best differential on the team in that span. 

That number especially pops when you consider the recent defensive assignments like Maxey, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. 

Here’s a look at how Walsh has fared against his top defensive assignments this season, per NBA defensive tracking data:

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The Celtics have felt as comfortable letting Walsh joust with bigger, offensive-minded forwards like Banchero and Wagner, as they do in letting him chase around speedy and athletic guards like Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. It’s a defensive luxury to have a player like Walsh who the Celtics can trust against all sorts of opposing scorers.

16.8 percent

That’s the percentage of opponent missed field goal attempts that Walsh has rebounded this season, which ranks in the 98th percentile among all wings, per Cleaning the Glass data. The only players better in that category this season: Josh Hart (20.7) and Brandon Ingram (16.9).

The Celtics are simply a better rebounding team when Walsh is on the floor. The Celtics grab 71.8 percent of all defensive rebounds during his court time, the best individual mark on the team. Their overall rebound rate of 53.5 percent with Walsh on the floor would be a top-five mark in the NBA if maintained, and would slot the team ahead of Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. 

All of Walsh’s defensive metrics are elite for the early portion of the season. He’s blocking 1.6 percent of shots when he’s on the floor, which ranks in the 95th percentile among all wings, per Cleaning the Glass data. He generates steals on 3 percent of plays when he’s on the court, which ranks in the 92nd percentile among wings.

Walsh rebounds 44.4 percent of all missed free throw attempts when he’s on the court, which ranks in the 99th percentile. Only teammate Jaylen Brown has a higher mark in the league among wings. 

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Draymond Green claps back at NBA analyst's take on Warriors' recent struggles

Draymond Green claps back at NBA analyst's take on Warriors' recent struggles originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green isn’t letting outside criticism slide.

After Yahoo Sports NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor made a post on Threads blaming the Warriors’ veteran core — including Green and Jimmy Butler — for the team’s recent struggles, Green fired back, pushing back against O’Connor’s claim that the “old guys” are the problem in Golden State.

O’Connor, in his original post, was referencing a story from ESPN’s Anthony Slater, who reported shortly after the Warriors’ 126-102 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night that that Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski’s preseason comments about wanting to “be better” than Steph Curry elicited some eye rolls within the organization.

Green responded in real time on Threads, reminding O’Connor that he speaks for himself and challenging the analyst’s understanding of winning culture.

The back-and-forth comes as the Warriors continue to search for answers amid injuries, fatigue and a demanding away schedule. Golden State sits at 6-6 and will face the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night in the second half of a back-to-back, with both Curry and Green listed as questionable.

Golden State’s six-game trip continues through San Antonio, New Orleans, Orlando and Miami before returning to Chase Center.

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2025-26 NBA MVP ladder, race: Odds, power rankings, frontrunners including Cunningham, Doncic, Maxey

Entering Week 4 of the NBA, Tyrese Maxey and Cade Cunningham have entered the MVP chat as long shots with Philadelphia and Detroit as two of the hottest teams in the NBA, while Victor Wembanyama's 38 point night versus Chicago kept him in the top five of the MVP rankings. Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo continue to jostle one another for the top spot of who can rival the reigning MVP on the best team in the NBA.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & team props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Vaughn Dalzell’s Week 4 MVP Rankings

Oklahoma City Thunder Primary Logo
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (+180)
Points Per Game: 32.8 (3rd)
Assists Per Game: 6.4 (19th)
Rebounds Per Game: 5.2 RPG (T-83rd)

The Oklahoma City Thunder continue their run for back-to-back champions opening the season at 11-1 over the first 12 games. In that dozen, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) has scored 30-plus points 10 times with 28 and 23 in the two that went under. SGA's dished at least five assists in 9 of those 12 and grabbed five or more rebounds in seven contests to go along with only six games of 35 or more minutes.

Despite the 33.3% usage rate (5th) to start the season without Jalen Williams, SGA hasn't played the minutes that you'd assume with his numbers. If Cade Cunningham needs 45 shots and 18 free-throw attempts to score 46 points, how many does SGA need?

Well, SGA scored 35 points on 22 field goal attempts and 11 free-throw attempts two games ago versus Minnesota. SGA is one of the most efficient and prolific scorers we will see this decade and it's a consistent night to night basis. It's hard to argue he isn't defending his MVP the correct way through 12 games. SGA is a safe bet to go back-to-back from everything I've seen.

Los Angeles Lakers Primary Logo
2. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers (+350)
Points Per Game: 37.1
Assists Per Game: 9.1
Rebounds Per Game: 9.4

SGA is the safe bet, but my favorite pick to win the MVP was the new slim-thick version of Luka Doncic! Through seven games with him on the court, the Lakers have gone 5-2 and he's averaged a near triple-double of 37.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 9.1 assists with the second-highest usage rate (37.8%).

Doncic has only triple-doubled once this season, but double-doubled in five others. His latest outing versus Charlotte, a 38-point performance in 38 minutes, Doncic failed to record his first double-double of the season with seven assists and six rebounds.

The Lakers look great and so does Doncic. I think he will be a top-three contender all year for the award and still put up 30-7-7 at the least with LeBron James back in the mix. For the first time in my life, a team that LeBron is on, doesn't quote feel like it's his team, although he is still the leader and shot-caller, but you get what I'm saying. Luka is the face of the Lakers, but LeBron is the voice. There I got it.

Denver Nuggets Primary Logo
3. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (+300)
Points Per Game: 25.2 (T-15th)
Rebounds Per Game: 13.0 (2nd)
Assists Per Game: 11.9 (1st)

For the fourth time in the last five games, Nikola Jokic topped the 30-point mark as Denver is on a five-game winning streak. The Joker is doing it all, leading Denver in points, rebounds, assists, and minutes per game.

Jokic lead the Nuggets in scoring all five games during this winning streak and in fact, Denver is 6-0 when he is the leading scorer this season. When he triple doubles, Denver is 5-1 this season with the lone loss coming in OT during the season-opener to Golden State (137-131). Denver is tied for the third-best record in the NBA and will need to keep up the pace if Jokic wants to win MVP.

At this impressive rate, Jokic will likely finish third or fourth in MVP voting despite averaging a 30-point triple-double on a top-four team in the West. Unless Denver has a better record than Oklahoma City, or the best in the NBA for better words, I don't know Jokic gets the necessary votes over SGA or Doncic if Jokic didn't last year.

Milwaukee Bucks Primary Logo
4. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (+550)
Points Per Game: 33.4 (1st)
Rebounds Per Game: 11.9 (6th)
Assists Per Game: 6.2 (17th)

Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the NBA in scoring (33.4) and top 10 across the board in so many categories, it would take too much time to list them all. The Greek Freak has had to take his game to a different level, including fadeaway game-winners, but more impressively, becoming Point-Giannis.

Antetokounmpo has the third-highest usage rate (35.3%), or the second-best if you don't include Luka Doncic. He's directed the Bucks offense to the 10th-best offensive efficiency and 11th-ranked assist to turnover ratio to go along with the 10th-quickest pace. At 7-4, Milwaukee has continued to surprise and with the limited help from his role players. Antetokounmpo is playing like an MVP through 11 games.

San Antonio Spurs Primary Logo
5. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (+600)
Points Per Game: 25.7 (12th)
Rebounds Per Game: 12.8 (3rd)
Blocks Per Game: 3.9 (1st)

The Spurs have won three straight games and are tied with the Nuggets for third-best record in the NBA (OKC, DEN) and second-place in the Western Conference behind the Thunder. Not many people expected this start from the Spurs, that included a 5-0 record over the first five games.

Victor Wembanyama averaged 30.2 points, 14.6 rebounds, 4.8 blocks, and 3.4 assists in the first five games of the season. However, in the second five-game sample size, Wemby averaged 21.2 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 3.0 blocks per game. Teams have started playing him differently to limit his impact, but the win-loss column hasn't been impacted, which is what keeps Wembanyama in the race.

When the Spurs start losing, Wembanyama's odds will start dropping, but will they start losing? San Antonio just received a boost when De'Aaron Fox returned and the Spurs are 2-0 so far as he's scored 21 and 24 points and shot 60.7% from the field! Maybe not this year for Wemby MVP, but an entire year of chemistry with this young Spurs team could lead to a MVP trophy for Wemby sometime in the next three seasons.

Stock Up

Philadelphia 76ers Primary Logo
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers (+5000)
Points Per Game: 33.2 (2nd)
Rebounds Per Game: 4.9 (T-92nd)
Assists Per Game: 8.2 (6th)

Tyrese Maxey has continued to take control of the 76ers' high-tempo offense ranking second in the NBA with 33.2 points per game. Maxey turned in a season-low 21 points against the Celtics in his previous game without Joel Embiid, but Philadelphia won, so his odds stayed put at 50-to-1, better than the 70-to-1 last week.

As long as the 7-4 Philadelphia 76ers are winning, Maxey will be in the small second-tier to long shot contenders for MVP. The first tier is made up of SGA, Doncic, Jokic, Giannis, and Wemby. Then the second tier to long shots would be Maxey, Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Kevin Durant, Paolo Banchero, and Jaylen Brown.

Detroit Pistons Primary Logo
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (+3500)
Points Per Game: 27.5 (9th)
Rebounds Per Game: 5.4 (T-76th)

Assists Per Game: 9.9 (2nd)

Cade Cunningham was 150-to-1 before the Pistons seven-game winning streak and now he's 35-to-1. Detroit owns the league's longest winning streak, but only one of those teams have a winning record, so it'd say hold your horses on any Cunningham MVP chatter.

However, his 46 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assist triple-double in an 137-135 OT win over Washington on Peacock certainly gave us a glimpse of what Cunningham can be. Cunningham went 14-of-45 from the field (31.1%), 2-of-11 from three (18.2%), and 16-of-18 (88.9%) from the free-throw line in the win for one of the more inefficient 46-point outings.

Stock Down

San Antonio Spurs Primary Logo
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (+600)
Points Per Game: 25.7 (12th)
Rebounds Per Game: 12.8 (3rd)
Blocks Per Game: 3.9 (1st)

There aren't many players with their stock dropping besides Anthony Edwards (+10000), so I won't write about him again, but Victor Wembanyama has watched his drop.

Over the last five games, teams have started implementing defensive fronting strategies with help to limit his scoring impact. It worked with four straight games of 22 or fewer points, outside of the last game when Chicago allowed him to go off for 38 points. Wemby is averaging fewer points (-9.0), rebounds (-3.6), and blocks (-1.8) per game over the last five opposed to the first five.

Wemby has now put himself into the fifth position for MVP for every sports book, but we can write him in as Defensive Player of the Year as long as he stays healthy.

Follow my plays for the season on X @VmoneySports, Instagram @VmoneySports_ and Action App @vaughndalzell.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & team props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

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.

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Sixers give injury updates on George and Embiid following victory over Boston

Sixers give injury updates on George and Embiid following victory over Boston originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Fifteen or so minutes after beating the Celtics and improving to 7-4, the Sixers released an official injury update on Paul George.

George met with doctors on Tuesday night to assess his progress, a team official said. 

“The final stage of his return-to-play plan involves the continued strengthening of his left quadricep,” per the official, “which will be managed through a strength and conditioning program and on-court basketball activities. He will be re-evaluated later this week.”

George has been cleared to practice for over a month and looked good physically in post-practice periods open to the media. However, he’s been out for the Sixers’ first 11 games. 

The 35-year-old forward underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in July to repair an injury suffered during an offseason workout. He missed 41 games last year in his first season as a Sixer because of lingering injuries to his left knee, left adductor muscle and left pinkie.

Although the Sixers did not formally announce anything on Joel Embiid, head coach Nick Nurse also had an update to share on his star center. Embiid sat against Boston because of right knee soreness and had imaging done on the knee Tuesday.

Nurse’s update was short and sweet.

“Joel has no structural issues,” he said. “He’s day-to-day.”

Embiid played very well in his last appearance, posting 29 points on 10-for-16 shooting, six rebounds and four assists Saturday in the Sixers’ win over the Raptors.

“I think he’s trending upwards,” Nurse said. “I think the minutes and conditioning and everything are going to trend up to playing even better. So I think it’s really important that we’re going to hopefully get him out there soon.”

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Veteran big man Drew Eubanks thriving in thankless Kings backup center role

Veteran big man Drew Eubanks thriving in thankless Kings backup center role originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – Backup center is one of the most thankless jobs in the NBA. Playing time comes in small, generally anonymous bursts while any stats of significance are as rare as a four-leaf clover.

Drew Eubanks is changing that narrative to a certain extent in his first season with the Kings this season.

The season isn’t even a month old and the 28-year-old journeyman has found a way to make his presence felt. He hasn’t done anything spectacular, per se, but Eubanks already has provided far more than Kings brass could have hoped for when they signed him to a one-year contract in July.

Through Sacramento’s first 13 games, Eubanks was putting up decent numbers that were amplified when starting center Domantas Sabonis was dealing with hamstring and rib injuries.

Sabonis has returned to the lineup and played well but fouled out of Tuesday’s game against the Denver Nuggets, which opened the door for Eubanks to really prove his worth.

And he did exactly that while going up against three-time MVP and seven-time All-Star Nikola Jokić.

Jokić did what Jokić always does, no matter the opponent, but what stood out for the Kings was how well Eubanks did against the Joker when the two were matched up.

The Sacramento backup had 19 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes. Sabonis, by comparison, also scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 25 minutes.

“Drew was really good,” Kings coach Doug Christie said. “He’s playing against a monster (Jokić), first of all, but he gave some good minutes. He did some good things.

“In that backup role, we need him to be aggressive, be physical, rebound, (be) up to the level on pick-and-rolls, impact the basketball when he sets screens, roll extremely hard and use your athleticism, sprint the floor, flatten it out. He can do all that. When he has his regular minutes, that is totally something that he can do to take advantage of the opposition.”

Eubanks got the extra playing time against Denver because Sabonis was in foul trouble for most of the night before eventually fouling out.

Even before that, though, the Kings have found ways to keep Eubanks involved.

His average playing time of 15.8 minutes in Sacramento’s first 13 games was more than double the court time he got in 24 games with the Los Angeles Clippers last season.

Eubanks also is shooting at a higher clip than he has since 2022-23. While rebounds and assists are down from his career average, Eubanks is blocking shots at a clip of 1.2 per game, the second-best mark he’s had in the NBA.

“Drew’s a pro,” Zach LaVine said. “Come off the bench, start him, throw him in late … he’s going to figure it out. His energy and just him day to day, his charisma helps us out.”

The Kings actually began benefiting from Eubanks in the offseason.

During training camp he and Sabonis would engage in 1-on-1 battles or oppose each other in full squad scrimmages.

“He had a great training camp, huge training camp,” Sabonis said. “He looked amazing and it’s showing right now in the games. I’ve been hurt a couple games and (against the Nuggets) I fouled out. He stepped up big time.”

Asked how the training camp battles between the two centers went, Sabonis smiled.

“He was kicking my butt. He was really good. I was impressed.”

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Knicks' Mike Brown: OG Anunoby 'is an All-Star,' deserves to be in Defensive Player of the Year consideration

OG Anunoby has never been an All-Star in his nine-year NBA career.

That will likely change this season if the Knicks wing keeps playing like he has through his first nine games, especially if head coach Mike Brown has a say.

But that's not all the recognition he believes Anunoby deserves.

"OG is an All-Star, in my opinion," Brown said after Tuesday's 133-120 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. "Not only is he an All-Star, he's an all-defensive performer. In my opinion, he should have an opportunity, amongst others in our group, to fight for Defensive Player of the Year in the league.

Brown continued, saying the 28-year-old is reaching new heights as a "playmaker" while still adjusting to a different style of offense.

"He's worked his tail off in the summertime, first of all. And then secondly, he's just getting comfortable with what we're trying to do. He knows where guys should be on the floor when he drives. He's making quick decisions with the basketball. When he feels a second defender step up, again based off of what we're trying to do offensively, he knows what spot should be filled. Anybody can make those passes almost blindly because he knows he's done his job and somebody should be there.

"He's just embracing what we're trying to do offensively with his talent, his size, his athleticism, his IQ. It's just showing that he can still go to another level as a playmaker."

In his first season under Brown, Anunoby is averaging career-highs in points (18.2), rebounds (6.2), and steals (2.2) per game. 

He's also shooting a career-high 43.8 percent from three and making a career-high 3.1 three-pointers per game. His true shooting percentage is a best 62.5 percent, while his usage rate is also a high of 21.1.

Defensively, Anunoby currently ranks fifth in the league in defensive win shares at 0.187, trailing only Miami's Jaime Jaquez Jr., OKC's Ajay Mitchell and Chet Holmgren, and San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama. While it may be difficult to steal the DPOY from Wemby, Anunoby could find himself on an All-Defensive team.

Previously, Anunoby finished seventh in DPOY voting in the 2022-23 season after leading the league in steals (1.9) and earned All-Defensive Second Team honors that year. 

What Anunoby has done so far this season is impressive, and, like Brown believes, his efforts should earn him a spot at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game in Inglewood, CA  and other accolades at the end of the year.

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Knicks continue offensive onslaught vs. Grizzlies, but defense still a work in progress: 'We've got to finish games better'

The Knicks continued their dominance at home on Tuesday night, defeating the Grizzlies 133-120, pushing their winning streak to five games and starting the season 7-0 at MSG.

New York showed a lot of what has made them dangerous in the early going. They throttled the Grizzlies' defense for 78 first-half points and forced 11 Memphis turnovers. If you saw the final score, you'd think it was a much closer game, and the Knicks would tell you that it shouldn't have been.

Despite their offensive outburst in the first half, the Grizzlies outplayed them in the second, outscoring the Knicks 66-56. And first-year head coach Mike Brown brought up his team's defensive lapses in his opening statement after Tuesday's win.

"The first half, we did a really good job in a lot of areas...and our transition defense in the first half wasn't great but it was ok against a team like that," Brown said. "According to our measurements, they had 16 fastbreak points against us in the first half. The second half, we let up. We didn't sprint back like we should have...we did not play our rules and they got layup after layup after layup against us in transition, which gave them confidence...29 fastbreak points to a team in a half is going to kill ya. Especially when you have 11 turnovers in that half. We were careless with the ball as well...Hopefully, we'll grow from this and try to put 48 minutes in our next game because those two areas we did not do a good job of."

The Knicks will hope to put together that full 48-minute performance on the second of their back-to-back on Wednesday against the Magic, but they wasted an opportunity for extra rest because they allowed the Grizzlies to stick around. One positive is that New York is expected to have center Mitchell Robinson in the lineup after he sat out Tuesday due to injury management. Brown was asked about the defense and Robinson's role in it, but the coach didn't want that to be an excuse.

"It wasn't about Mitch; they killed us in transition," he said. "Give them credit because they kept fighting, but we could have had anybody on the floor, it would have been bad. We didn't do a good job getting back, we didn't do a good job following our rules while getting back."

While the Knicks let Memphis hang around in the second half, the offensive performance they put on allowed them to hold on. The team scored 130-plus points in their third straight game, which is the first time that's been done in franchise history. 

Jalen Brunson was awesome, scoring 32 points while grabbing five rebounds and dishing 10 assists. He is now tied for third in franchise history with Stephon Marbury and Ray Williams for the most 30/10/5 performances as a Knick (five). 

But even the captain wasn't pleased with how his team finished Tuesday's game.

"Yeah, we're clicking (on offense), most importantly, we've got to finish games better," Brunson said. "Whatever's happening on offense, there's going to be times when we're not making shots and stuff. But we got to better defensively no matter what. It has to be our focus moving forward."

Brunson says the lapses are a product of late communication or simply a lack of communication, but was encouraged by the team's offensive production, especially in the first half.

"Ball's moving, playing off each other, playing ball," Brunson said. "When the ball is going in like that, it's great to see."

The Knicks shot 55 percent (39.3 percent from three) with 19 assists in the first two quarters. That's a product of Brown's offensive system that has ramped up the team's output.

Following New York's win over the Nets on Sunday, the team was the No. 2-ranked offense and had the league lead in made three-pointers per 100 possessions. 

They will look to keep it going on Wednesday against the Magic, where they'll look to go a perfect 8-0 at home this season. 

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Nets drop third straight after 119-109 loss to Raptors

NEW YORK (AP) — Brandon Ingram scored 25 points to help the Toronto Raptors beat the Brooklyn Nets 119-109 on Tuesday night.

Immanuel Quickley had 24 points for Toronto, including 10 in the fourth quarter. Scottie Barnes finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Jakob Poetl had 12 points and 10 boards.

The Raptors won for the fifth time in six games. They shot 49.5 percent (45 for 91) from the field and outrebounded the Nets 50-36.

Nic Claxton and Michael Porter Jr. each had 21 points for Brooklyn, losers of 10 of its first 11 games to start the season. The Nets are winless in six games at home.

Playing its third game of a five-game trip, Toronto led 60-52 at halftime and increased its lead to 14 points early in the third quarter.

Brooklyn closed to 83-81 late in the third, but Toronto responded with three consecutive baskets, including a buzzer-beating floater from Jamal Shead.

Quickley’s three-pointer sparked a 7-0 run for the Raptors that made it 102-89 with 7:41 left.

Toronto has won in its last three visits to Barclays Center.

Up next

Raptors: Continue their trip at Cleveland on Thursday.

Nets: Visit Orlando on Friday.

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Knicks win fifth straight, stay unbeaten at home with 133-120 victory over Grizzlies

The Knicks led by 23 points at halftime, and as much by 28 points in the third quarter, holding on to beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 133-120, on Tuesday night.

New York has now won five straight games as the team improved to 7-0 at home to start the season. It's also the first time in franchise history they've scored 130-plus points in three straight contests.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Coming off a 40-point first quarter on Sunday against the Nets, the Knicks continued their stretch of fast starts against the Grizzlies. Memphis went up 5-0, but New York came storming back in what became a track meet at the Garden. OG Anunoby opened the scoring, and with Mitchell Robinson out, Landry Shamet stepped up with five of the team's first 11 points. Jalen Brunson then hit a three for his first points of the night and Ja Morant came right back with his first bucket on a floater.

Karl-Anthony Towns started to get going midway through the first quarter, blowing by Jock Landale for a two-handed slam to go up 18-15. Memphis continued to keep up, finding ways to score inside and tie the game at 30-30. 

-- Anunoby scored on a layup, Miles McBride came in and hit a three, and Anunoby got the crowd on their feet with a two-handed reverse dunk. The Knicks used that momentum and closed the quarter on a 12-0 run, as Josh Hart scored an and-one layup and Brunson hit a floater with 0.6 seconds left on the clock to put them up 42-30.

It's New York's second straight 40-point first quarter and seventh 40-point quarter of the season already.

-- The 12-0 run became a 19-0 run into the second quarter as Anunoby got another dunk, Towns scored quickly, and McBride made his second three-pointer. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Morant tried to stop the bleeding, but Towns made his first three-pointer to go up 52-35. Jordan Clarkson then heated up, scoring 10 straight of his own to pace the Knicks' second unit and build a 16-point lead, 63-47.

-- Memphis committed four turnovers in the first quarter, with three by Morant, and that trend became a real issue throughout the second. The Grizzlies turned it over eight more times in the second (12 total), allowing the Knicks to score in transition repeatedly (11 fast break points). Mikal Bridges' dunk put New York up 20 points with about a minute left in the first half, and then he connected with Hart for a three-pointer. Brunson hit a pull-up jumper with eight seconds left to make it a 77-54 game at the break.

New York won the second quarter, 35-24, as they shot 54.7 percent (29-for-53) from the field with 11 three-pointers (39.3 percent) in the first half. Brunson led the way for the starters with 14 points, while Towns and Bridges each had 10 points, Anunoby had nine, and Shamet had eight. Sandi Aldama was Memphis' leading scorer with 10 off the bench, with Jackson and Morant each scoring nine points.

-- Bridges scored on another Brunson assist, his ninth of the game already, to push the New York lead to 25 points with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter. Towns and Brunson hit back-to-back three pointers to keep the big lead, up 96-71 at the halfway mark, but the Grizzlies didn't give up. Vince Williams Jr. and Jaylen Wells each made three-pointers before Towns and Clarkson hit threes of their own, making it an 111-83 game.

Morant, Cam Spencer, and Williams made three straight threes to close the quarter for Memphis, but they allowed Bridges to hit a three with 13 seconds left to go up 114-93 at the end of the third quarter. Still, the Grizzlies won the third, 39-37.

-- The Grizzlies wouldn't go away and cut the Knicks' lead to 12 points on a Wells three-pointer, causing Mike Brown to call a timeout with 6:11 left in the game. The turnover problems resurfaced in the fourth as Williams threw the ball out of bounds, leading to a Brunson three on the other end to go up 129-116. It was Memphis' 22nd turnover of the game and New York's 33rd point off turnovers.

-- Towns scored 21 points with 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks in 31 minutes. Bridges had 22-7-4-4, while Anunoby put up 16 points on a tough shooting night (7 of 17, 1-for-10 from three). Morant finished with 16 points, 10 assists, and eight turnovers in the loss. Jackson and Aldama each scored 19 points, plus Wells had 18 points.

New York attempted a team record 55 three-pointers, making 22 of them. The franchise record for three-point makes in a game is 24 (Oct. 22, 2021 vs. Magic).

Game MVP: Jalen Brunson

Brunson finished with 32 points, including 6 of 9 from three, with 10 assists and five rebounds. He was a plus-20 in his 35 minutes.

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks will stay at home for a back-to-back on Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic at 7:00 p.m.