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Warriors receive a glimpse of the harsh truth during powerless loss to Thunder

Warriors receive a glimpse of the harsh truth during powerless loss to Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors on Tuesday night got a microscopic view of the truth, seeing and feeling enough to know they are two levels below the NBA elite and perhaps three levels away from being they team they believe they can be.

Even with the return of Stephen Curry, after a three-game absence, the Warriors were so powerless against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder that a 126-102 loss tells only a fraction of the story of where the Warriors are three weeks into the 2025-26 season.

To see the Warriors now, by turns listless and ineffective, is to wonder if that 23-8 surge – the post-Jimmy Butler III bump – to close last season was a mirage, a short-term elixir rather than a lasting remedy.

“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 that way.”

It doesn’t look that way, either.

“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.”

Eight days into the season, the Warriors were 4-1, with wins over the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies and LA Clippers. There was a growing belief that they would be a force in the Western Conference.

In the 14 days since, the Warriors are 2-5. This is less a slump than a warning to themselves. 

“I could feel we weren’t in a great place coming back from Indiana and Milwaukee,” coach Steve Kerr said, referring to road losses against opponents with greatly diminished rosters. “You just feel that things aren’t quite clicking. We got a couple of wins [Phoenix and Indiana at Chase Center], but we’re not playing well, and we haven’t been playing well since the second week of the season.”

It’s rare that six minutes and 21 seconds in the first half can reveal so much about two teams, but that’s how long it took for the Thunder to prove in mid-November that they are playing in a different league than the Warriors.

And it revealed how much work the Warriors must do to rejoin that league.

After Buddy Hield drove and dropped a bucket off the glass to give Golden State a 23-21 lead with 3:22 left in the first quarter, OKC commenced to grab the Warriors by their heads and shove them onto the Paycom Center floor. Calling upon their top-ranked NBA defense, the Thunder went on a 23-5 run, taking a 16-point lead (44-28, with 9:01 left in the half) that never was threatened.

While the Thunder was forcing four turnovers and holding Golden State to 1-of-8 shooting from the field during that pivotal 6:21 span, they used 7-of-11 shooting to obliterate what little defense the Warriors offered.

By the time the third quarter rolled around, Kerr had seen enough bad basketball to capitulate. Looking ahead to Wednesday, when the Warriors face the Spurs in San Antonio, the coach pulled Curry, Butler and Green for the rest of the evening. The three veterans joined Al Horford, out with a sore toe, as witnesses to the rout.

The Thunder led by as much as 36, and one of the most vociferous crowds in the league enjoyed being spectators to a public spanking.

The Warriors aren’t bringing the kind of voracious energy that served them so well seven months ago. Furthermore, they look small and slow, which has been a lethal combination in any sport since the advent of competition. The front office isn’t panicking, but it is exploring its options before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
For now, it’s about making the most of what they have. It hasn’t been good enough, and it’s valid to wonder if it can be.

“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.”

It surely wasn’t the identity on Tuesday – and not for the first time. If toughness and intellect don’t pull the Warriors from this pit of sub-mediocrity soon, this season could go off the rails in ways that seemed unimaginable only two weeks ago.

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What we learned as Steph Curry, Warriors' offense struggle in loss to Thunder

What we learned as Steph Curry, Warriors' offense struggle in loss to Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

OKLAHOMA CITY – When the Western Conference semifinals began last season, there was a feeling behind the scenes that the Warriors were confident in their prospects against the Oklahoma City Thunder if the two were to meet in the next round with a chance of being in the NBA Finals.

That shot never happened. Steph Curry went down to injury, and the Thunder outlasted the Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers in seven games each to be crowned champions. 

A decade ago, the Warriors were the young team coming up together that got past a Thunder team with similar ages to them on their way to a dynastic run. Now, the Thunder are the ones on that same path, proving so again Tuesday night. 

The Warriors and Thunder were on two different planets of basketball talents in their first matchup of the 2025-26 NBA season, a public spanking in a 126-102 blowout loss for Golden State at Paycom Center.

Curry returned after missing the previous three games because of an illness. Curry started strong but then quickly cooled off and found himself in foul trouble. He played 20 minutes and was a minus-23 with 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting, one rebound and no assists. Curry made his first 3-pointer and then missed his final four attempts.

All three of Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green were on the bench with five minutes and 50 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The Thunder led by 25 points at the time, ending the three veteran stars’ day right there on the first night of a back-to-back. 

Reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (28 points and 12 assists) and Chet Holmgren (23 points and 11 rebounds) dominated as a duo, and they received plenty of help from their Thunder teammates.

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors starting their six-game road trip with a humbling 24-point defeat for their sixth consecutive road loss.

Steph’s Return 

Recovering from an illness didn’t slow Curry’s constant movement. His first three times touching the ball went as so: Cutting for a left-side layup, coming off a screen for a three at the top of the arc, and running around for a layup on the right side. These are sights Thunder fans are used to seeing for many years of torture from Curry in OKC. 

Curry scored seven first-quarter points in seven minutes, but also was called for two fouls, including a surprising Flagrant 1 upon review during an Isaiah Joe 3-point attempt. That marked the first flagrant foul of Curry’s 17-year NBA career after going 1,193 career games without being whistled for one.

But Curry was held scoreless in the second quarter after missing five shots in six minutes. He played 14 minutes in the first half and was a minus-17 with seven points and as many fouls (three) as made shots. 

Foul trouble followed him in the second half, too. Curry was called for two fouls in the first two-plus minutes of the third quarter, bringing him to five at the 9:41 mark. 

During his one game in OKC last season, Curry scored 36 points with five rebounds, seven assists and seven 3-pointers in a Warriors win. That wasn’t the player the Warriors got Tuesday night while the Thunder waxed them up and down the court.

Troubling Trend Continues

Turnovers once again doomed the Warriors. Again, and again, and again.

Trayce Jackson-Davis already had three in the first half, and a bad sequence when he entered in the third quarter gave him five in his first nine minutes. He wasn’t alone. 

Jonathan Kuminga also racked up five turnovers for the third time this season. He now has 17 turnovers and 16 assists in November, struggling with his handles and dribbling into traffic. 

His fellow forward, Green, also now has 17 turnovers in November in one fewer game after a three-turnover night against the Thunder. Green handed out four assists Tuesday night, giving him three more assists than turnovers. It was Green’s fifth straight game with at least three turnovers. 

As a team, the Warriors totaled 21 turnovers, two fewer than their number of assists. Those 21 turnovers became 27 points for the Thunder. The Warriors far too often are getting caught in the air, forcing passes and lack space offensively. 

An Embarrassment Of Riches 

Holmgren, standing one inch taller than Warriors 7-foot center Quinten Post, immediately showed what different skill sets the two young big men have. Over three straight trips down the court, Holmgren spun off Post for a layup, hit an 11-foot jumper on him and then extended his range for a 24-foot three from the left wing. He was in his bag and knew a long list of teammates would join the party. 

Holmgren is the Thunder’s second scoring option, and would be their third if two-way star Jalen Williams were healthy. He and Gilgeous-Alexander combined to score 26 points in the first half as the Thunder led by 19, with Holmgren scoring 11 and SGA leading with 15. They’re far from a two-man show. 

How deep are the Thunder with two-way players who can break you down offensively and defensively? Cason Wallace didn’t score a single point in the first half, missing three shots, yet still was a game-high plus-19 at the time.

They’re long, they’re athletic, they’re deep and they’re connected. This Thunder team can beat opponents to a pulp in every which way. The problems the Thunder present as a team aren’t going away anytime soon, and the Warriors only can hope lessons learned help for a better result when they play them three weeks from now at Chase Center.

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NBA confirms U.S. vs. World 2026 All-Star Game format. What to know

NBA confirms U.S. vs. World 2026 All-Star Game format. What to know originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The wait is over: The NBA on Tuesday announced the reveal of the U.S. vs. World All-Star Game format to be played in 2026.

In the game, two teams of U.S. players and one team of international players (world) will compete in a round-robin tournament featuring four 12-minute games.

NBC and Peacock will broadcast the league’s annual midseason showcase on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET, 2 p.m. PT at the new Intuit Dome, home of the LA Clippers.

As previously done, 24 All-Stars will be selected (12 from each conference). But unlike previous years, players will be selected regardless of position. The process of assigning U.S. players across the two teams will be announced at a later date.

If All-Star voting doesn’t meet the exact quota of 16 U.S. players and eight international players, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will select players to fit where needed. In such case, a team may have more than the eight-player amount.

The round-robin tournament will start with USA A vs. USA B in Game 1. Game 2 will be World vs. USA A followed by World vs. USA B in Game 3.

The two teams with the best record from the three games will face off in the championship match. If there is a 1-1 split between all three teams, the tiebreaker would be point differential.

Each of the four games will feature just one standard 12-minute period. The winner will be whichever team has the most points after 12 minutes.

It’s the latest format in a line of experiments by the NBA, which includes the classic West vs. East, followed by two team captains based on All-Star voting. A target score was also introduced, followed by a mini-tournament last season in which the then-“NBA on TNT” crew of Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith drafted their rosters, along with a Rising Stars team comprised of rookies and sophomores.

But that format wasn’t well received in the end despite being a fresh tweak, leading the NBA to finally land on the U.S. vs. World idea that has proved intriguing in the past but never actually came to fruition — until now.

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LeBron James to work out with Lakers G-League team as he nears return

While the Lakers are on a five-game road trip without him, LeBron James will work out with the Lakers' G League team and is expected to be near a return when the Lakers return home in a week.

LeBron has been out since before the start of training camp due to sciatica on his right side. He was recently cleared for contact with a re-evaluation expected later this week or early next week. Part of the recovery process involves getting him back into playing, though 5-on-5 scrimmages. Before his team's win over Charlotte on Monday, coach J.J. Redick said LeBron was "practicing with South Bay" (Redick stated it was happening on Monday, but the Lakers' staff clarified it would take place at some point this week).

The Lakers' next home game is on Nov. 18 against the Utah Jazz. His taking the court then would fit with the long-planned return for LeBron in mid-November. Lakers players aren't concerned about James fitting in upon his return, whenever that may be.

"The thing about him is he understands the game, as everybody knows," Austin Reaves told the Associated Press. "Knowing him, he's been watching these first, what is that 11 games and, analyzing the game in a sense of where he knows when he comes back, 'This is how I can help the team.'"
The Lakers are off to a fast 8-3 start without LeBron behind a top-10 offense sparked by Luka Doncic playing at an MVP level. Reaves has stepped up as a high-level secondary scoring option, while Deandre Ayton has shown to be solid most games and the kind of two-way big man the Lakers have needed with Doncic. These Lakers will get a measuring stick game on Wednesday against the defending champion Thunder (who remain without their second-best player, Jalen Williams, who is nearing a return from wrist surgery).

Not long after, it appears the Lakers will add LeBron James back into the mix. With his return, LeBron will add another record to his already historic resume, becoming the first player to reach his 23rd NBA season.

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How Steph Curry earned first flagrant foul of NBA career in Warriors vs. Thunder

How Steph Curry earned first flagrant foul of NBA career in Warriors vs. Thunder originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Even in the 17th season of Steph Curry’s NBA career, the superstar Warriors guard still is notching firsts. 

In the first quarter of Golden State’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday at Paycom Center, Curry committed his first career flagrant foul, per SportRadar. He had gone 1,193 career games without committing a flagrant foul. 

Thunder guard Isaiah Joe attempted a deep 3-point shot in the closing seconds of the first quarter, and Curry stepped into Joe’s shooting path while closing out to contest the shot. Joe landed on Curry’s foot on his follow-through. 

The play was called a foul on the floor and subsequently upgraded to a Flagrant 1 foul after review. 

The criteria for a Flagrant 1 foul, as defined by the NBA, is “unnecessary contact committed by a player against an opponent.” 

It is the second flagrant foul committed by a Warriors player this season. Draymond Green committed the first in Golden State’s Oct. 27 game against the Memphis Grizzlies. 

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Mavericks fire GM Nico Harrison, who traded superstar Luka Doncic to Lakers last season

Nico Harrison makes comments during a news conference
The Dallas Mavericks have fired president of basketball operations and general manager Nico Harrison. (Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press)

The chants never let up at American Airlines Arena.

"Fire Nico!"

They started in February after Dallas Mavericks general manager and president of basketball operations Nico Harrison initiated a trade that sent superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers and continued to occur at home games throughout the end of last season and into the 2025-26 campaign.

On Tuesday morning, those vocal fans got their wish, as Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont announced that Harrison had been let go weeks into his fifth season with the team. Dallas went 182-157 under the former Nike executive, including a 3-8 start to this season.

Assistant general managers Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi were named co-interim general managers to oversee basketball operations.

Read more:Luka Doncic underlines his 38-point night with monster dunk in Lakers' win

“This decision reflects our continued commitment to building a championship-caliber organization, one that delivers for our players, our partners, and most importantly, our fans,” Dumont said.

Harrison spent nearly two decades with Nike before being hired by the Mavericks in June 2021. The team made it to the Western Conference finals the following season and to the NBA Finals in 2024, with Doncic as its undisputed star.

Then came Feb. 1, when the Mavericks traded Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick. Harrison reportedly approached Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka about the possibility of the trade, and Dumont is said to have approved the deal before it was finalized.

The move shocked most people involved with the NBA, and Dallas fans felt blindsided. That's when "Fire Nico" started. The words appeared on signs and T-shirts in addition to being yelled during home games, including the Mavericks' 116-114 loss Monday to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Read more:L.A. native upset Luka Doncic is a Laker. He's raising money to protest trade with billboards in Dallas

During that game, Dumont was seen sitting courtside having a lengthy conversation with a fan in a Lakers jersey featuring Doncic's name and number. That person, 18-year-old Mavericks fan Nicholas Dickason, told The Athletic that he had initiated the conversation to apologize to the team governor for yelling curse words at him and giving him the finger at a game earlier this season.

According to Dickason, Dumont accepted his apology and added an admission of his own.

“Basically Patrick was like, he feels horrible for the trade. And wants to make it up to us,” Dickason said. “That’s basically what he said. He accepted my apology for it as well.”

The next day, Dumont explained his decision to fire Harrison in an open letter to Mavericks fans. He did not specifically mention the Doncic trade but acknowledged "the profound impact these difficult last several months have had" on the team's supporters.

"You have every right to demand a commitment to success from us," Dumont wrote. "No one associated with the Mavericks organization is happy with the start of what we all believed would be a promising season. You have high expectations for the Mavericks, and I share them with you. When the results don't meet expectations, it's my responsibility to act."

In April, after the Mavericks finished the 2024-25 season with a 39-43 record and missed the playoffs, Harrison admitted he underestimated the level of outrage the trade would cause.

“I did know that Luka was important to the fan base,” Harrison said. “I didn’t quite know it to what level.”

He added: “When you have 20,000 people in the stadium chanting ‘Fire Nico,’ you really feel it. ... But my job is to make decisions I feel are in the best interest of this organization, and I gotta stand by the decisions, and some of them are going to be unpopular. This was clearly one that’s unpopular.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Nuggets at Kings predictions: odds, recent stats trends and best bets for November 11

The Denver Nuggets (7-2) and Sacramento Kings (3-7) meet for the second time this season, but the first on NBC and Peacock!

Denver enters this game on a four-game winning streak that started with a 130-124 win over Sacramento and off two days of rest. Nikola Jokic has scored at least 26 points in four straight games after failing to score more than 25 points in the first five games. The Nuggets will be playing their fourth road game of the season as they are 1-2 this year with a win at Minnesota, an OT loss to Golden State and two-point loss at Portland.

Sacramento is on a two-game losing streak with blowout losses of 31 and 27 points versus Oklahoma City and Minnesota. The Kings played four games last week and five games in eight days leading up to Monday's rest day, so this could be a fatigued Kings' squad. Luckily, this is the fourth of a five-game home stand, so the Kings haven't had to travel lately.

Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a potential sweat or two! We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff. Odds courtesy of DraftKingsrecent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.

Game Details and How to watch the Nuggets vs. Kings live

  • Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025
  • Time: 11 PM EST
  • Site: Golden 1 Center
  • City: Sacramento, CA
  • Network/Streaming: NBC/Peacock

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game odds for the Nuggets at the Kings

The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Nuggets (-375), Kings (+295)
  • Spread: Nuggets -8.5
  • Total: 241.5

That gives the Nuggets an implied team point total of 125.5 and the Kings 116.5.

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

Expected Starting Lineups for the Nuggets and the Kings

Nuggets (7-2)

PG Jamal Murray

SG Christian Braun

SF Cam Johnson

PF Aaron Gordon

C Nikola Jokic

Kings (3-7)

PG Dennis Schroder

SG Zach LaVine

SF DeMar DeRozan

PF Precious Achiuwa

C Domantas Sabonis

Injuries for the Nuggets and the Kings

Nuggets

G Jamal Murray (calf) is probable for Tuesday's game
F Aaron Gordon (hamstring) is probable for Tuesday's game

Kings

F Domantas Sabonis (ribcage contusion) is day-to-day and questionable for Tuesday's game

Important stats, trends and insights ahead of Nuggets at Kings on Tuesday.

  • Sacramento is 4-6 ATS, ranking 9th-worst
  • Sacramento is 1-4 ATS at home, ranking 3rd-worst and 0-2 ATS as a home underdog
  • Sacramento is 7-3 to the Over, tied 4th-best
  • Sacramento is 3-2 to the Over at home
  • Denver is 6-3 ATS, ranking tied 5th-best
  • Denver is 1-1 ATS, ML as a road favorite
  • Denver is 2-1 to the Over on the road
  • Denver is 5-4 to the Over on the season

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes Nikola Jokic to triple double against the Kings:

"Nikola Jokic has seen an uptick in scoring over the Nuggets four-game winning streak, reaching 26 points or more in all four compared to 25 or fewer in the first five games. Despite the increase in points, I am focusing on the triple-double here as this matchup is better the second time around.

Domantas Sabonis is suffering from a ribcage contusion, so Jokic could really take advantage of that matchup in a lot of ways if Sabonis plays. Sabonis had 17 rebounds and Russell Westbrook recorded 12 in the first meeting against Denver, so when you look at Jokic's state line of 34 points, 14 assists, and 7 rebounds — it makes more sense.

Jokic is coming off a 32-point, 14-rebound, and 14-assist triple-double against the Pacers on Saturday after narrowly missing a triple-double on Friday with nine rebounds and nine assists. I like another triple-double for Jokic as Denver is coming off two days of rest. Jokic was -118 to triple double the first meeting against Sacramento and is -138 at DraftKings for the second meeting. I will take another shot on The Joker."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Nuggets & Kings game:

  • Moneyline: Nuggets ML (low confidence)
  • Spread: Nuggets -8.5 (high confidence)
  • Total: Under 241.5 (low confidence)

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

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Celtics at 76ers predictions: odds, recent stats trends and best bets for November 11

The 76ers (6-4) and Celtics (5-6) meet for the third time this season as the rivals rehash their rivalry on NBC and Peacock! The season series is split one apiece as both squads won by one point. The spread for this game, you guessed it, 1.5.

Joel Embiid is still not 100-percent and Paul George hasn't taken the floor yet, but Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe have shouldered the burden for Philadelphia. After a 4-0 start, the 76ers are 2-4 in the last six games.

Boston has at .500 or below for the entire season and has a chance to earn their second winning streak of the year and climb to 6-6. After winning three straight, Boston has gone 2-3 over the past five games and since beating Philadelphia.

Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a potential sweat or two! We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff. Odds courtesy of DraftKingsrecent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.

Game Details and How to watch the Celtics vs. 76ers live

  • Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025
  • Time: 8 PM EST
  • Site: Xfinity Mobile Arena
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming: NBC/Peacock

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game odds for the Celtics at the 76ers

The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: 76ers (-118), Celtics (-102)
  • Spread: 76ers -1.5
  • Total: 231.5

That gives the 76ers an implied team point total of 115.5, as well as the Celtics (115.5).

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

Expected Starting Lineups for the Celtics and the 76ers

Celtics (5-6)

PG Derrick White

SG Payton Pritchard

SF Jaylen Brown

PF Josh Minott

C Neemias Queta

76ers (6-4)

PG Tyrese Maxey

SG VJ Edgecombe

SF Kelly Oubre

PF Trendon Watford

C Joel Embiid

Injuries for the Celtics and the 76ers

Celtics

F Sam Hauser (wrist) is Probable for tonight's game
F Jayson Tatum (achilles) has not been ruled out for the season and is out for the foreseeable future

76ers

F Paul George (knee) is OUT for today's game
F Johni Broome (ankle) is OUT for today's game
F Dominick Barlow (elbow) is OUT for today's game

Important stats, trends and insights ahead of Celtics at 76ers on Tuesday.

  • The Celtics are 4-7 ATS, ranking tied 6th-worst
  • Boston is 2-4 ATS on the road and 1-3 ATS as a road underdog
  • Boston is 6-5 to the Under
  • Boston is 3-3 to the Under as a underdog
  • The 76ers are 8-2 ATS, tied for best in the NBA
  • The 76ers are 7-3 to the Over, ranking tied for 4th-best
  • Philadelphia is 4-1 ATS this season, ranking 8th-best
  • Philadelphia is 4-0 to the Over as a favorite, ranking tied for first

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Celtics to cover the +1.5 and leans the Over:

“This is the third matchup of the season between the two squads, so we have a baseline of odds and what to expect here, if I am reading the tea leaves correctly.

Boston was a -5.5 point home favorite in the opener and the 76ers won outright by one. The game total was 230.5 and it went over hitting 233. In the second matchup, Boston was a -1.5 point road favorite and won by one, so the 76ers covered. The game total was 234 for the game and it sailed Under at 217.

Now it's -1.5 in favor of Philadelphia with a game total of 232.5. That makes me favor Boston and the Over, if Sam Hauser is able to go.

Boston has the better team in this bitter rivalry and with Joel Embiid not 100-percent, much of the load is thrown on Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe. The 76ers are now 2-0 ATS the Celtics on the season and it's hard for me to imagine Philadelphia going 4-0 ATS in this season series, so I will take Boston here in the third matchup and double back on the C's in the season finale (March 1st) if Philly wins and covers tonight."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Celtics & 76ers game:

  • Moneyline: Celtics ML (low confidence)
  • Spread: Celtics +1.5 (low confidence)
  • Total: Under 231.5 (low confidence)

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
- Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

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Former Knicks, Nets guard Michael Ray Richardson dies at 70

Michael Ray Richardson, who played for both the Knicks and Nets during his eight-year NBA career, has died at the age of 70.

"We are saddened to hear about the passing of former Knick Michael Ray Richardson," the Knicks said in a team statement. "One of the fiercest defensive players of his era, the four-time NBA All-Star made an incredible impact on the Knicks during his four seasons with the franchise. Our deepest condolences go to his family, friends and teammates."

Selected fourth overall in the 1978 NBA Draft, Richardson averaged 14.2 points and 2.6 steals per game in four seasons as a Knick, making three All-Star teams.

He also played in parts of four seasons with the Nets, earning his fourth and final All-Star appearance during the 1984-85 season. 

Richardson was a two-time First Team All-Defensive selection. He led the league in steals three times and led the league in assists in 1979-80.

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Dallas Mavericks fire GM Nico Harrison nine months after Luka Dončić trade

Nico Harrison controversially traded away Dončić, one of the NBA’s best players.Photograph: Rocky Widner/NBAE/Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks have fired general manager Nico Harrison, the team’s governor, Patrick Dumont, has confirmed.

“This decision reflects our continued commitment to building a championship-caliber organization, one that delivers for our players, our partners, and most importantly, our fans,” Dumont said in a statement.

His exit comes nine months after Harrison sent five-time first-team All-NBA selection Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster trade. It also comes one day after Dumont, an owner of the Mavs and the team’s representative on the NBA’s board of governors, was seen talking to a fan who was wearing a Lakers Dončić jersey during Monday’s 116-114 home loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Related: Mark Cuban made the Mavericks relevant. But is his legacy rotten? | Lee Escobedo

“Fire Nico!” chants were audible during the fourth-quarter of the game, in which Dallas squandered a 13-point lead.

Harrison, 52, accepted responsibility for the trade and defended the move by claiming there were concerns over Dončić’s physique and commitment to conditioning.

“I did know that Luka was important to the fanbase. I didn’t quite know it to what level,” Harrison said in explaining the move, comments which themselves drew widespread criticism from fans and NBA commentators alike.

In a letter to fans on Tuesday, Dumont did not directly address the Dončić trade, but did allude to it. “I understand the profound impact these difficult last several months have had,” Dumont’s letter said. “Please know that I’m fully committed to the success of the Mavericks. ... Our goal is to return winning basketball to Dallas and win championships.”

The deal has by and large has not worked out for the Mavericks. Anthony Davis, who was the key cog in return from the Lakers, was sidelined for six weeks after sustaining an adductor strain in his Dallas debut. Davis currently is out with a calf strain for the Mavericks, who have limped out of the blocks to a 3-8 record this season.

Dončić, meanwhile, has continued to be one of the best players in the NBA with the Lakers. He is now averaging just over 37 points and nine assists per game this season, with the Lakers owning an 8-3 record as one of the better teams in the Western Conference through the early part of the season.

Dallas’s drop in form after the Dončić deal did enable them to win the top overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, which they used to select Cooper Flagg. In Monday’s loss to the Bucks, Flagg scored a career-high 26 points and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.

ESPN reports that Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi, both assistant general managers, will be leading the Mavericks’ basketball operations on an interim basis.

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Knicks' offensive makeover under Mike Brown is starting to pay dividends

One of the big drivers of the Knicks' controversial offseason firing of head coach Tom Thibodeau and ensuing hiring of Mike Brown was the push to refresh an offense that, to some, didn’t fully maximize its talents. 

Despite falling just two wins short of the NBA Finals, the Knicks' offense was average through the back half of last season and ranked only seventh in the playoffs.

The diagnosis? More threes, more pace and more movement -- pillars of most modernizing NBA offenses -- to where the Knicks have preached for these very things before. 

The difference? We’ve actually seen a radically different offensive system take hold through nine games, and the early returns are enticing. 

Thus far, the Knicks rank second in the league offensively, scoring 121.6 points per 100 possessions, a rounding error behind the Houston Rockets for first. In terms of raw numbers, they’ve scored above 110 points in every game but two, and haven’t yet scored under 100 after doing so six games into last season.

This alone doesn’t mean much, coming off a nine-game sample of an 82-game season in which the Knicks have played zero top defenses. But we’re seeing the underlying foundations of Brown’s vision being developed in real time, and if this is only the ground layer, fans should start getting excited.

The Knicks aren’t benefitting off some crazy hot streak, hitting a strong but not outsized 41.8 percent of their wide open threes, per NBA.com, and their other numbers are otherwise unimpressive. The improved efficiency has been an organic change, much of which has been in geography.  

Brown has radically cut out mid-range attempts from New York’s shot diet, with shots encompassing the non-restricted area paint to the three-point arc going from 30.4 percent to 22 percent of their attempts from last season to now. These have translated into a lot more threes: 43.3 attempts per 100 possessions, which ranks third in the league, and compares to only 34.5 percent last season, which ranked 26th. 

This has been huge for efficiency, and can be seen at the individual level. Guys like OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are putting up career numbers on fewer shots, an impact the stars should be feeling soon. 

However, it’s not just where the shots are coming from, but how they’re generated. The scripted, often too stagnant offense of years past has been replaced with a freelance engine the Knicks can fall back on when things stall.

Nov 2, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) dunks the ball during the second half against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Nov 2, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) dunks the ball during the second half against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images / © Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

It won’t appear in many of the relevant statistics, but these Knicks are getting into their actions quicker and with real purpose. Spacing principles have been cemented so that inactive players are repositioning and still making defenses work. 

Because of this, the Knicks have been able to generate these threes naturally by way of their system as opposed to brute forcing attempts. Where past teams would default back to a Jalen Brunson isolation or pick-and-roll when met with resistance, this squad rolls right into the next swing pass, the next 45 cut -- and everybody on the roster is taking advantage.

New York is scoring 10 more bench points a night compared to last season, and getting lots of easier opportunities, too. Karl-Anthony Towns is getting more of his patented trailer center three, Anunoby is being targeted with semi-transition post-ups, and Brunson is taking a quarter of his shots off a dribble or less.

Though this is a positive start, fans should be wary before putting in their PTO for June 2026. The Knicks were also second in offense through nine games last season, showing off increased movement and three-point reliance before regressing as the season went on.

Naturally, as the games and injuries pile up, players can fall back into their old habits. The key is building new habits to fall into, so that when these Knicks face exhaustion in a Game 6 against Cleveland in May, they’re defaulting into a pinch post look for Towns with Brunson as an off-ball threat instead of dribbling the shot clock down to 10 before making a move.

There are other things to address before that time as well, like the Knicks' free throw rate failing to improve this season. You’d like to see more rim attempts and charity stripe trips with fewer mid-range tries, but it’s a work in progress.

Still, what Brown and his staff have accomplished thus far has been praiseworthy. They got the buy-in from one of the league’s most gifted rosters to undergo one of the most drastic offensive changes of the offseason in hopes of fully realizing its potential.

We won’t be able to judge its ultimate success for many months, but for now, they appear to be headed in the right direction.

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Nine months after Luka Doncic trade, Mavericks fire general manager Nico Harrison

Nine months after trading away Luka Doncic in a move that stunned and bewildered the sports world — and left Dallas fans livid — Mavericks owner/governor Patrick Dumont has fired general manager Nico Harrison.

"This decision reflects our continued commitment to building a championship-caliber organization, one that delivers for our players, our partners, and most importantly, our fans," Dumont said in announcing the firing.

In the interim, Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi will serve as co-interim general managers. A "comprehensive search" for a permanent replacement will begin.

Dumont wrote this in an open letter to Mavericks fans:

On May 30, 2024, the Mavericks won the Western Conference championship. We came up short in the NBA Finals, but we all agreed our future was bright. As fans of this franchise, you have every right to demand a commitment to success from us.

No one associated with the Mavericks organization is happy with the start of what we all believed would be a promising season. You have high expectations for the Mavericks, and I share them with you. When the results don't meet expectations, it's my responsibility to act. I've made the decision to part ways with General Manager Nico Harrison. Though the majority of the 2025-26 season remains to be played, and I know our players are deeply committed to a winning culture, this decision was critical to moving our franchise forward in a positive direction.

I understand the profound impact these difficult last several months have had. Please know that I'm fully committed to the success of the Mavericks.

Thank you for your support, thank you for holding us accountable, and thank you for your passion and for your patience. You deserve transparency and a team that reflects your spirit. Our goal is to return winning basketball to Dallas and win championships.

Doncic trade led to fan backlash

Momentum toward the decision has been building since the moment the trade was announced and the fan backlash started in Dallas, which included mock funerals for the franchise and "fire Nico" chants at games. It was fueled at the start of this season by the Mavericks stumbling out of the gate to a 3-8 record, while Doncic is in the best shape of his life and has played like an MVP in Los Angeles — averaging 37.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 9.1 assists a night — to lift the Lakers to an 8-3 start. Through all this, the trust between Dumont and Harrison reportedly eroded.

Trading away a player entering his prime who had taken the Mavericks to the Finals just a season before was an unfathomable decision. However, Harrinson — a long-time Nike executive who had a strong relationship with Kobe Bryant — was convinced we had seen peak Doncic, that he wasn't committed enough to conditioning and the game to take the team to the next level.

Dumont signed off on the trade at the time, backing his GM Harrison. (Also, he likely was OK with trading away a player that otherwise would have been up for, and deserved, the largest contract in NBA history.)

However, in a courtside interaction on Monday with a young fan, Dumont reportedly admitted his mistake. Dumont was approached by Nicholas Dickason, whose father forced him to apologize to Dumont for flipping him off after San Antonio blew out Dallas on opening night. Dickason later told Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News that Dumont admitted he made a mistake in approving the trade, saying, "'Sometimes you have good intentions and you make mistakes.' We all do it."

It was the negativity from the fan base about the trade that ultimately did in Harrison more than the record — the NBA is an entertainment business, and angering the people who spend their hard-earned money on tickets and jerseys is bad for business. Harrison and Dumont underestimated how much the fan base was attached to Doncic and saw him as one of their own, a lifelong Maverick in the Dirk Nowitzki mold. (Doncic admitted he saw himself that way, too; it took a while for him to come to grips with being traded.) Dickason had spoken with Dumont on Monday while wearing a Doncic Lakers jersey.

Anger about the trade subsided some after the Mavericks got lucky in last season's NBA Draft Lottery and, with a 1.8% chance, jumped up to the top spot and was able to draft Cooper Flagg at No. 1. There was hope that Flagg, Anthony Davis (the primary player Dallas got back in the trade) and Kyrie Irving (out until midseason while recovering from a torn ACL) could have the team at the top of the West. Instead, without Irving, and with Davis missing more than half the team's games so far because of injury (a very predictable outcome, based on Davis' history), coach Jason Kidd has tried using Flagg as a point forward, and the Mavericks have looked lost. While it's possible that all the puzzle pieces fit together once Irving is healthy (there is no specific timeline), this team will be in such a deep hole in the stacked Western Conference that the Mavericks will struggle to climb out.

Harrison was the GM who assembled key parts of the 2024 Mavericks' Finals team, making key in-season trades for P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford. Dwight Powell is the only Maverick on the current roster who was there before Harrison arrived. He had made other smart moves as a GM, but also made some poor ones, such as trading Quentin Grimes to Philadelphia for Caleb Martin last season, a move that put Dallas so close to its hard cap that it couldn't add players last season when injuries hit. The Mavericks fell out of the playoffs (but then got lucky in the lottery).

Ultimately, Harrison made one massive miscalculation that cost him his job and set the Mavericks back.

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How to watch Denver Nuggets vs Sacramento Kings: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight's game

Head to NBC and Peacock tonight for a thrilling night of NBA Action. Tonight's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA doubleheader begins with a Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers match-up at 8:00 PM ET. Then at 11:00 PM ET, the Denver Nuggets take on the Sacramento Kings.

Tonight's game marks the second meeting between the Nuggets and Kings this season. Denver won the first match- up 130-124 on November 3.

Live coverage of tonight's NBA doubleheader begins at 7:00 PM ET. See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's game and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

RELATED:Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire - Kon Knueppel steps up for Charlotte

Denver Nuggets:

The Denver Nuggets improved to 7-2 with a 117-100 victory over the Indiana Pacers last Saturday. It was the team's fourth straight win. The Nuggets have one of the best offenses in the league this season, scoring at least 122 points in six of nine games.

Three-time MVP Nikola Jokic is the only player in the league averaging a triple-double with 25.2 points, 13 rebounds, and 11.9 assists per game. He finished with a game-high 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 14 assists in Saturday's win.

RELATED:Are we witnessing peak Nikola Jokic? He has six triple-doubles through nine games

Sacramento Kings:

The Kings are coming off back-to-back losses, most recently falling 114-117 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night. Zach LaVine led the way for the Kings with 26 points, while DeMar DeRozan added 22. Domantas Sabonis, who missed the last two games with a rib injury, finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

NBA: San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers
NBA power rankings 2025-26: Thunder still on top, but Lakers, Spurs, Pistons in top five
OKC and Denver are the expected teams at the top, but things get interesting from there.

How to watch Denver Nuggets vs Sacramento Kings:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, November 11
  • Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
  • Time: 11:00 PM ET
  • TV Channel: NBC
  • Live Stream:Peacock

What other NBA games are on NBC and Peacock tonight?

How to watch Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, November 11
  • Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
  • Time: 8:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock
NBA: Detroit Pistons at Philadelphia 76ers
2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Top 200 Rankings: Tyrese Maxey continues to shine in Philadelphia
Many fantasy managers had high hopes for Maxey before the season began, and he’s lived up to the hype thus far.

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.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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How to watch Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight's game

The Boston Celtics take on the Philadelphia 76ers in the first game of tonight's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA doubleheader on Peacock. This is the third meeting between the two teams over a 21-day span. The 76ers won the first match-up, 117-116, in the season opener on October 22. Then the Celtics won the next contest, 109-108, on October 31.

Live coverage of tonight's Celtics vs 76ers game begins at 7:00 PM. See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's game and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

RELATED:Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire - Kon Knueppel steps up for Charlotte

Boston Celtics:

The Boston Celtics are coming off a 111-107 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday. Jaylen Brown scored a team-high 27 points, Anfernee Simons added 25 off the bench, and Derrick White scored 21.

The Celtics' offense has been working to find its rhythm without star forward Jayson Tatum, who is out indefinitely after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during the Eastern Conference Semifinals last season.

The team has relied on Brown in his absence. The four-time All-Star and 2024 Finals MVP leads the team in scoring with 28 points per game.

Philadelphia 76ers:

The 76ers fell 111-108 to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Despite the loss, Tyrese Maxey had another strong performance for the 76ers, finishing with a game-high 33 points.

The sixth-year point guard has started every game for Philadelphia this season and is second in the league in scoring behind Giannis Antetokounmpo with 33.2 points per game.

Joel Embiid, who is working his way back from a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery in April, did not play on Sunday. The seven-time All-Star has played in six of ten games this season — part of the team's planned injury management. He is averaging 19.7 points and 5.5 rebounds in 23.3 minutes.

NBA: San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers
NBA power rankings 2025-26: Thunder still on top, but Lakers, Spurs, Pistons in top five
OKC and Denver are the expected teams at the top, but things get interesting from there.

How to watch Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, November 11
  • Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
  • Time: 8:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock

What other NBA games are on NBC and Peacock tonight?

How to watch Denver Nuggets vs Sacramento Kings:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, November 11
  • Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
  • Time: 11:00 PM ET
  • TV Channel: NBC
  • Live Stream:Peacock
NBA: Detroit Pistons at Philadelphia 76ers
2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Top 200 Rankings: Tyrese Maxey continues to shine in Philadelphia
Many fantasy managers had high hopes for Maxey before the season began, and he’s lived up to the hype thus far.

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.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Jaime Jaquez Jr. breaking out

The NBA season is picking up steam and moving along quickly. Sample sizes are getting bigger, rotations are becoming clearer, and as a result, there’s plenty to read into as it pertains to fantasy basketball.

For our Week 3 Stock Up, Stock Down, we explore the east and west coasts while visiting the south in the process.

NBA: Charlotte Hornets at New Orleans Pelicans
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Kon Knueppel steps up for Charlotte
Rookie Kon Knueppel has made the most of his opportunities early into the 2025-26 season.

→ Watch the NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC and Peacock:The Celtics take on the 76ers at 8pm ET, followed by the Nuggets at the Kings at 11 pm ET. Both games are available on Peacock. Check your local listings for the NBC game in your area.

STOCK UP

Grayson Allen - SG/SF, Suns

Here are some numbers for you to digest: 107 points, 10 steals, 19 assists, and 27 three-pointers — those are the November totals for Grayson Allen through five games. Essentially, for any fantasy managers out there needing a high-volume three-point shooter that can make contributions in other statistically relevant categories for fantasy leagues, Allen’s the guy. He’s kept his starting spot in every one of the Suns’ 11 games this season and maintained his role, regardless of which other players have been in or out of Phoenix’s lineup. What he’s providing seems sustainable — he’s simply doing what he’s done well throughout his career, which is shoot the ball with high accuracy from deep. The playmaking bump this season has been an added bonus. Nonetheless, Allen could be a solid roster addition in fantasy leagues, even if it's just for streaming purposes.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. - SG/SF/PF, Heat

Jaquez Jr.’s third NBA season is going about as well as anyone could have imagined, especially after a somewhat disappointing sophomore season in which he could hardly crack the nightly rotation by its end. Despite not starting in any of Miami’s 11 games thus far, he’s played nearly 30.0 minutes per contest and ranks second on the team in assists per game and third in rebounds per game, all while being one of four Heat players to average more than 17.5 points per contest. These are all career-best marks for the former UCLA Bruin, who’s been on triple-double alert the last three games. The three-point production has dipped, but that may be a non-issue for those looking to add talent to their fantasy rosters.

Karl-Anthony Towns - PF/C, Knicks

I almost included KAT in last week’s “Stock Down” section, but figured I could probably wait. My patience was rewarded, apparently, as the seasoned 11th-year forward has since put up some fantastic numbers. He’s up to 24.0 points and 12.5 rebounds per game across New York’s current four-game winning streak, while also averaging 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks and 4.0 assists over that time. The three-point shooting is one of the last parts of his game yet to arrive this season. If Towns can return to form, or even improve slightly on what’s been career-worst three-point accuracy to this point, his fantasy production would take another bump.

NBA: Toronto Raptors at Philadelphia 76ers
Fantasy Basketball Week 4 Schedule Primer: Avoid the 76ers
Philadelphia has a two-game week, which lowers the fantasy value of its deep-league options.

STOCK DOWN

Desmond Bane - SG/SF, Magic

The early-tenure results for Bane and the Magic likely haven’t gone the way either party had expected. Orlando traded for the sharpshooting wing in hopes that his proven track record as a scorer would help take the Magic to the next level. There have been flashes, but instead, the sixth-year player is having his least productive season on offense since his rookie campaign. His 43.7 field-goal percentage is the lowest of his career, as is the rough 27.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Such struggles have led Bane to a big decrease in points per game, with his assists, rebounds, and minutes per game also taking a hit. Bane did score 22 points and sink a game-winning three-pointer on Monday night to help the Magic beat the Trail Blazers – perhaps that’ll serve as the turning point in what’s been a slow start.

Ja Morant - PG, Grizzlies

The discourse surrounding Ja Morant has been very loud of late for several reasons. Over his last five games, he's averaging 15.0 points, has shot just 3-of-28 from beyond the arc, and hasn’t shot above 35.0% in any of the five games. Add to that the 4.4 turnovers per game, and you get a player who has provided fantasy managers with much value of late. He’s sustained high-level production throughout his career and is obviously talented enough to get back on track here rather quickly. But it’s already been a bumpy ride for Morant and the Grizzlies over the first few weeks of the season. The pathway to a quick turnaround isn’t necessarily straightforward.

Daniel Gafford - C, Mavericks

Maybe it’s unfair to put this lob-threat, play-finishing type of center in the “Stock Down” category, given his late start to the season due to a previous ankle injury, and the Mavericks’ current point guard situation. However, Gafford’s been in the lineup for six games now, with neither Anthony Davis (calf) nor Dereck Lively II (knee) available to take reps away from him, and he’s proceeded to produce the type of scoring and rebounding averages that would mark his lowest since 2020-21 if the season ended today. He probably needs a table-setter out on the floor with him in order to see a noteworthy increase in production, but that seems more like wishful thinking than something that’ll become a reality anytime soon.