As far as NBA altercations go, this certainly wasn’t the most intense. But Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid drew a technical foul for it, either way.
Embiid and Detroit Pistons forward Tolu Smith engaged in a brief dustup late in the first half of a Wednesday, Nov. 4 game between the two teams.
The play happened with 1:25 left to go in the second quarter, when the 76ers had the ball. Sixers forward Jaylen Brown was driving to the basket when Smith was jostling with Embiid for positioning below the basket. Smith shoved Embiid, who took exception to the move after the play was blown dead.
Embiid then gave Smith a little shove with his right elbow. The contact was minor, but it led to a quick back and forth between the two. It escalated with light shoving, and players eventually had to step in to separate Embiid and Smith, who were shouting and trying to square off.
Eventually, officials reviewed the sequence and levied a technical foul against Embiid for being the one to initiate the action with the elbow.
The Pistons crowd at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit immediately booed Embiid. Pistons All-Star guard Cade Cunningham converted the technical free throw. Embiid was seen encouraging the boos.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 4: An overall view of the San Antonio Spurs City Edition Court logo before the game against the Dallas Mavericks on November 4, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (4-3) head south to face an in-state rival in the San Antonio Spurs (5-2) on the late ESPN game on Wednesday night. Dallas is coming off their most pathetic performance of the season, losing to the then-winless Sacramento Kings. After losing their first two, the Spurs are riding a five-game win streak. Here are the main things you need to know:
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs San Antonio Spurs
WHAT: Nationally televised game!
WHERE: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas
WHEN: 8:30 pm CST
HOW: ESPN
It’s a fairly reasonable injury report for the Mavericks. Santi Aldama was ruled out again, but that’s been the case. Max Christie will miss this one with whatever hip injury he developed on Monday. Sergio De Larrea remains out with the knee sprain. Tarik and Lively are out too, but you knew that. On the Spurs side of things, Tobias Harris is out.
This is one of those games that, on paper, Dallas should get waxed. They are 12.5 point underdogs and Dallas lost the last match up by 16. But that matchup didn’t feature Cooper Flagg or Kyrie Irving, so it stands to reason this game could be closer. Of course, Dallas did pretty well through the first half and most of the third quarter before getting blown of the court by the superior Spurs squad. I’m mainly hoping for a good game. An 8:30 (so like 8:50) start time stinks.
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And consider the Lakers’ youngest player just as impressed with how his teammate has opened the 2026-27 season.
Lakers rookie Cameron Carr is in awe of what he’s observed from Luka Dončić. NBAE via Getty Images
Cameron Carr watched Dončić dominate the NBA during his combined three years in college at Tennessee and Baylor.
Now, as teammates, he’s getting a firsthand look at what makes the Slovenian star special, with the 6-foot-5 wing calling the pace Dončić plays at “unique.”
Luka Dončić plays at a “unique” pace in Cameron Carr’s eyes. AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea
“I’ve said it since college, he moves in slow motion, but it just works,” Carr said ahead of the Lakers’ road game against the Kings on Wednesday. “I don’t know how it works, but it works. He plays at his own pace; he doesn’t get sped up. It’s impossible to take the ball from him — I don’t know how it works.”
The last part of what the Lakers rookie said is an understatement.
Dončić entered Wednesday averaging a league-high 38.3 points per game to go with 8.1 assists, eight rebounds and 1.9 steals.
His 1.072 points per minute entering the matchup against the Kings would be an all-time league record, besting Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 1.038 points per minute in 1961-62, if sustained for the season.
“Just to be able to be in his presence and see how his mind works every day and what he’s thinking about … it sharpens his game but also sharpens people around him,” Carr said. “I don’t think he realizes how much impact he has on dudes like me. I’m here every day, just soaking things up. He’s the best scorer in the NBA. That’s big-time.”
The Lakers’ Cameron Carr averaged 18.9 points during his lone season with Baylor. AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea
Carr debated whether he can refer to himself as a scorer considering he just made his NBA debut during Sunday’s home win over the Raptors and has played two minutes in the league.
But when he was in college, that’s exactly what he was, with the former Baylor Bear averaging 18.9 points during his lone season with the program.
So he has a deeper appreciation for Dončić’s scoring outburst early in games.
Dončić entered Wednesday averaging a league-high first-quarter 15 points and 22.9 first-half points.
“When you look up in the first quarter and he has 20, 22 points, you’re like, ‘Wow, how did he get there so fast?’ That’s the only question you can really ask,” Carr said. “Like, he’s about to make something ridiculous. Oh, he banked in a [3-pointer against the Raptors]. I ask him every game like, ‘Did you mean to do that?’ He like, ‘Don’t even ask — you know I did.'”
PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 21: Devin Booker #15 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 21, 2026 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With seven straight games at home, the Suns have an opportunity to get their season back on track.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - FEBRUARY 22: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 22, 2026 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to get back into the win column as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder for the second time this week.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 26: Jayson Tatum #0 high fives Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics during the second half of game four of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on April 26, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Celtics will start Derrick White, Paul George, Hugo Gonzalez, Sam Hauser, and Neemias Queta when they face the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.
That’s in the absence of Jayson Tatum, who will miss his first game of the season due to rest. Payton Pritchard, listed as questionable with a right shoulder contusion, is available.
Tatum has played in all 7 of the Celtics’ games so far, including both back-to-backs. But, against a struggling Milwaukee team, he’ll get the night off. Tatum is averaging 27 points, 7.9 assists, and 6 rebounds per game so far this season.
Sam Hauser gets his first start of the season
It will be Hauser’s first start of the year, though he’s averaged the 6th-most minutes per game on the team so far. Hauser, who started 49 games for the Celtics last year, is averaging 7.1 points and 3 rebounds per game, while shooting 41.2% from three.
Hugo Gonzalez will start his third straight game for the Celtics; Jordan Walsh started the first five games of the season. So far in his second year, Gonzalez is averaging 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game. Walsh is averaging 4.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in 16 minutes per game.
Of note, when Paul George sat on Sunday, it was Baylor Scheierman who got the starting nod. Scheierman tallied 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists, shooting 4-9 from the field. Against the Bucks, it’s Hauser who gets the starting opportunity.
The Bucks will start Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kyle Kuzma, Brayden Burries, and Myles Turner.
The Celtics are 5-2 entering the game; the Bucks are 1-7.
BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 21: Brandon Miller #24 of the Charlotte Hornets dunks the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 21, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Nets finally have a win. Now comes the next step: getting one at home.
Brooklyn returns to Barclays Center on Wednesday night following a loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. They had a chance to steal this game, but they collapsed in the fourth quarter and suffered a 15th consecutive defeat against the Knicks. Ouch.
At 1-6, Brooklyn isn’t exactly where it wants to be in the standings, which is currently last in the Eastern Conference. Still, the Hornets have dropped four straight — including a 33-point loss to Detroit on Monday.
The Nets have lost three straight at Barclays Center, including their first meeting with Charlotte, a 110-103 defeat. They’ll get another crack at the Hornets tonight, this time with the home crowd behind them.
As Chris Milholen wrote in the preview: Baby steps, right?
Game Info
Who: Charlotte Hornets (3-5) at Brooklyn Nets (1-6)
When: 7:30 PM ET
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
TV: YES Network, DAZN
Radio: WFAN
Nets-Hornets Injury Report
Brooklyn Nets
OUT: Egor Dëmin (right leg bone bruise)
OUT: Drake Powell (G League assignment)
OUT: Joshua Jefferson (G League assignment)
OUT: Ben Saraf (G League assignment)
OUT: Tyler Bilodeau (G League assignment, two-way)
OUT: Grant Nelson (G League assignment, two-way)
Charlotte Hornets
OUT: Grant Williams (Right Hamstring Strain)
OUT: Ajayi Michael (Two-Way Contract)
OUT: Kylan Boswell (Two-Way Contract)
OUT: PJ Hall (Two-Way Contract)
Preview
“Remember when Brandon Miller was considered a controversial pick over Scoot Henderson in the 2023 NBA Draft? Yeah, that conversation has aged pretty well for Charlotte. Miller is averaging 23.5 points per game to begin the season. Even though he’s shooting just 37.8% from the field this season, he’s capable of turning it around in the blink of an eye. Brooklyn is a team he might look to get back on track against. Charlotte won the game but Miller finished with 18 points on 7-of-21 shooting and 3-of-14 from three.”
Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversations. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 28: Tyler Kolek #13 of the New York Knicks dribbles down the court against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on October 28, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jessie Alcheh/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Knicks (3–4) host the Chicago Bulls (1–6) tonight at Madison Square Garden. A win would bring New York .500 and give them two wins over Chicago in eight days. As of this writing, Josh Hart (ankle) is ruled out and Bulls center Nic Claxton (hamstring) is questionable. The Knicks are double-digit favorites against a Bulls team that’s dropped five straight and gives up a league-worst 128.9 points per game.
Fun fact: Ten years ago tonight, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah returned to Chicago as Knicks and beat the Bulls 117–104 on the day of the Cubs’ World Series parade. Tip-off is 7:30 pm EST on MSG and NBA League Pass. This is your game thread. This is Blog a Bull. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Mind yo’ manners. Go Knicks!
The second Splash Brother is on his second team since going solo.
Yes, it’s still an odd experience for Steve Kerr seeing Thompson rise and fire in a No. 11 uniform that isn’t blue and gold. But after four previous trips back to the Chase Center and seven matchups total since their breakup, it doesn’t quite shock the eyes as much as it once did.
“It’ll always be a little strange seeing [him] in a different uniform. But it’s getting a little less strange,” Kerr said. “Those first couple times were really bizarre. And then you get used to it.
“It’s a reminder that most of us in the NBA end up on multiple teams.”
Miami Heat forward Klay Thompson (11) celebrates after scoring against the Indiana Pacers in an NBA Cup basketball game in Miami, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
Thompson spent 13 years in the Bay Area, won four championships, rehabbed from two catastrophic leg injuries and drained more than 2,500 3s. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Thompson fell in love with the region — and its fans embraced him just as tightly.
As Kerr alluded to, few things last forever in the NBA. Thompson’s run with Golden State reached its end when he wanted more money and a bigger role than the Warriors were willing to offer, coming off his age 33 season and on the wrong side of the actuarial curve.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, left, talks with Stephen Curry during a game against the Phoenix Suns in Phoenix, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin
But that doesn’t mean Thompson is any less inclined to take it to his former team Thursday night. Seeing Kerr and Curry and Draymond Green only makes him want it more.
“I want to beat them bad,” Thompson told reporters in Miami. “We’re all still very competitive in our mid-30s and I love to go compete against them because they’re some of my best friends.”
It might be a challenge for a Miami team that was handed its fifth loss in seven games to begin this season Monday night in Los Angeles, a more traditional homecoming for Thompson, who grew up watching his dad, Mychal, wear a Lakers uniform for the final five years of his playing career.
Klay Thompson of the Miami Heat arrives before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Thompson poured in 19 points in the loss and seems to be heating up just at the right time to put on a show against his former team. After knocking down only 12 of his first 37 3-point tries to start the season (32.4%), he’s sunk 11 on 19 attempts over his past two games.
After being reduced to a bench role for most of his second season with the Mavericks, Thompson has started all of Miami’s first seven games, averaging 11.9 points in 21.9 minutes.
His name won’t be the only one to receive loud cheer during introductions, and no, Giannis Antetokounmpo, isn’t expecting a warm welcome after spurning the Warriors’ advances.
Klay Thompson of the Miami Heat celebrates during a game against the Indiana Pacers at Kaseya Center in Miami on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. NBAE via Getty ImagesMiami Heat guard Klay Thompson (11) shoots a 3-point basket against Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Miami. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Two-fifths of the Heat’s starting five is composed of players who started for the Warriors when they beat the Celtics in Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Finals to clinch their fourth title.
By signing with Miami, Thompson teamed up again with Andrew Wiggins, who was traded there in the deal that brought Jimmy Butler to Golden State. Unlike Thompson, Wiggins has only made one previous trip back to Chase Center since the trade.
It’s taken some time for Wiggins to fit in around Antetokounmpo, averaging a career-worst 10.3 points per game while shooting 29.4% from 3, almost seven points below his career rate.
He hasn’t scored more than 18 points in any of his previous three rematches with the Warriors. Thompson went off for 22 and 29 in his first two games back against Golden State, but in five matchups since, he’s been held to single digits twice, averaging 11.2 per game.
Andrew Wiggins (22) of the Miami Heat drives to the basket against the Indiana Pacers on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Kaseya Center in Miami. NBAE via Getty Images
“This is a big part of the business. It’s a small circle, a small community. You get to know each other. You end up competing against friends – sometimes even family,” Kerr said. “It’ll be great to see both guys — Klay and Wiggs. Two just incredible contributors to the Warriors championships, to the culture, just the vibe of the team. Both Klay and Wiggs are wonderful human beings and great teammates. It’ll be good to see them.”
The Heat have two free days after Thursday’s game before they head up the I-80 corridor to Sacramento to face the Kings on Sunday. They plan to stay in San Francisco, giving the former Warriors teammates plenty of time to wax nostalgic if they so choose.
Maybe Thompson will even take up the opportunity to reprise his daily commute, navigating the water on the San Francisco Bay from his Tiburon home to the Warriors’ waterfront facility.
“I just can’t wait to go back and see familiar faces,” he said. “Not just the players, but the training staff, the equipment managers, the people who work the stands and the concessions, the custodians. I have friends for life in the Bay and LA, so it’s always special.”
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 30: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks during a 2026 Emirates NBA Cup game on October 30, 2026 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons are looking to keep the good times rolling against the Philadelphia 76ers. Detroit and Philly are the two best teams in the East, and the Pistons have already notched one win against the Sixers this season. In fact, the 106-93 win in October was Detroit’s sixth consecutive victory against Philly. Tonight, they go for lucky No. 7. That loss against the Pistons also happens to be Philadelphia’s lone blemish on the season. In that matchup, the Pistons were without the services of Jalen Duren. It worked out because they were able to rely on the all-around goodness of Paul Reed. It also didn’t hurt that Joel Embiid missed that first matchup to rest.
Tonight, the Pistons will have no such luck. They are still missing All-Star big man Duren, and tonight the Sixers will employ the services of their former MVP in Embiid. While Detroit has been playing amazing basketball, they have been vulnerable down low, and Embiid will be the best interior big man they’ve faced since they lost Duren to a hamstring injury.
One benefit in Detroit’s favor is that this is a nationally televised game on ESPN, and it seems like Cade Cunningham loves to come up big when the lights are brightest for national television. Cunningham is also coming off of perhaps his most dominant performance of the season, scoring 33 points in just 26 minutes of action. If the game against the Hornets was close instead of a 30-point blowout late, if seems like Cunningham could have gone for 45 points.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: ESPN Odds: Pistons -2.5
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (6-1)
Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Paul Reed
Philadelphia 76ers (7-1)
Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid
But a huge reason the Lakers are soaring right now is his passing.
He had 13 assists in Monday’s 138-117 win over the Heat as the team finished with 39 assists, the most they’ve had in any game since Lakers coach JJ Redick took over the helm in June 2024.
When the ball is moving like that, the Lakers are very difficult to defend.
Doncic’s passing is an underrated part of his game, overshadowed by his glitzier scoring deluges that drop jaws. But his passing is just as important. It’s what makes his teams dangerous.
He reads defenses in a fraction of a second as though he were doing advanced calculus through throngs of hands trying to obscure his vision.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic, right, is defended by Miami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins during an NBA game Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea
In many ways, that’s his real super power.
“He can make plays, every play in the book that you need to make as a point-of-attack guy,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the Lakers’ 138-117 win on Monday.
“You have to pick him up 30 feet. He can make every pass in the book. He can read your defense. He understands what we’re trying to do, positions guys in the right spots and he makes the right play over and over and over. That’s what the greats do.”
With Doncic regularly drawing double- and triple-teams, Redick has made decisiveness a major point of emphasis for the Lakers this season.
“It’s the thing we talked about before the game: just shoot, drive, kick it,” Redick said. “Just a lot of 0.5-[second] decision making.”
The Lakers executed against the Heat, making a defense laden with superstars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo look discombobulated and hapless as they scrambled to slow down Doncic while also stopping leaks.
Sure, Doncic scored an eye-popping 42 points, his fourth 40-point performance in his last five games.
But what really made the Lakers unstoppable?
As a team, they shot 57.3% from the field and 44.2% from beyond the arc. From top to bottom, everyone was starring in their roles.
The Heat’s blitzes on Doncic led to him dishing the ball out to Sandro Mamukelashvili and Quentin Grimes for wide open 3s.
Walker Kessler also capitalized on those moments, finishing with his third straight double-double in a 15-point and 15-rebound performance against the Heat.
“You can see the message, after every double team he was telling them, like, ‘Hey, be aggressive, get downhill,'” Antetokounmpo said. “That fills players up with confidence. You see Sando was aggressive, Kessler was aggressive, Thybulle was aggressive, Grimes — all of them.”
Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles during a game against the Miami Heat on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic is leading the league in scoring with 38.3 points per game, but he’s also third in assists (8.1).
When Doncic is taking advantage of the attention he draws and his teammates are starring in their roles, the Lakers are hard to beat. They currently have the best offensive rating in the league (121.9).
For a Lakers team with nine new players, including Kessler, it has been a learning process. Let’s not forget the Lakers blowing a 25-point lead against the Warriors on Oct. 30 when Golden State dialed up its defensive pressure.
Playing with a guy like Doncic requires unique skills.
Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense on Giannis Antetokounmpo #7 of the Miami Heat on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
His teammates must always be ready. They have to react instantaneously. They have to be fearless.
Doncic will make the right reads.
And if his teammates make the right reactions, defenses are stunted.
“I think at the beginning of the season, we didn’t execute well on double teams,” Doncic said. “But I just thought [Monday], I think we improved a lot. Everybody was in the right spots. So it’s not just me, I think it’s everybody, just being in the right spot, being aggressive and shooting with confidence.”
Eight games into the season, it appears guys are adjusting well to Luka Magic.
That makes the Lakers one of the most dangerous teams in the league.
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 26: Tre Johnson #12 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on February 26, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards can match their best start in five seasons with a win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday at Capital One Arena.
Washington has won two straight games behind stout defense, especially in the second half, and impressive offensive showings from Anthony Davis, Trae Young and Kyshawn George.
A bulk of that scoring has come at the rim behind a revamped frontcourt and slashing wings. Look for Washington to attack the rim against Atlanta’s 27th-ranked interior defense that allows 53.8 paint points per game.
HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 2: Amen Thompson #1 and Fred VanVleet #5 of the Houston Rockets talk during the game against the Boston Celtics on November 2, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
November 4, 2026
Location: Toyota Center —Houston, Texas
Time: 7:30 PM CST
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español)
Probable starting lineups
Rockets: Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun
Dec 23, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich speaks with San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
The San Antonio Spurs’ “Pounding the Rock” culture is having a moment.
In the recent 60 Minutes profile, Victor Wembanyama praised Gregg Popovich as “the greatest coach of all-time” and called the Spurs “a winner’s franchise.”
NBA star Victor Wembanyama says he learned a lesson in humility from former San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whom he calls the greatest coach of all time.
“He often said something when we were in film, ‘After a win, you're rarely as good as you thought you were, and after… pic.twitter.com/fQf8IHSjgo
The reasons for Wemby’s celebratory fist pump during the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery are rooted in the Spurs’ culture. And the hits just keep on coming this week …
The latest episode of the Run It Back podcast featured Stan Van Gundy talking about the quiet strength and character of the Spurs’ culture during a conversation about the Miami Heat’s early season struggles.
Former all-star guard Mike Bibby also drew a contrast between the Spurs and his old Sacramento Kings team on a new episode of the Straight Game Podcast. At the tail end of his career, Bibby wasn’t allowed around the Kings team and facility without jumping through hoops and getting approvals.
The Spurs, meanwhile, welcomed Bibby and his friends with open arms – even offering a free ride on the team plane. Co-host Kyle Draper chimed in by describing the inclusive “family” nature of Spurs’ team dinners while Ty Ellis said “that word travels” around the league.
This week also saw a clip of Steve Kerr discussing Popovich’s direct, but compassionate, way of delivering bad news. Kerr said he’s tried to model that example in his successful coaching career.
Steve Kerr says Gregg Popovich was so good at delivering bad news that he could bench you and somehow make you feel good about it
“Gregg Popovich was the best I’ve ever seen at delivering a bad message in a really good way. He took me out of the rotation as a player one time,… pic.twitter.com/MU13nWwtqk
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 23: Head Coach Will Hardy and Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz look on during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on October 23, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz will take on the New Orleans Pelicans in what looks like a must-win game for the Jazz, who are in the midst of a 5-game losing streak. The Jazz started the season with expectations of competitiveness, but more than that, wins. That’s not what happened. Utah sits at 1-6 for the season and looked especially bad in their last game against the Spurs in a blowout loss. The Jazz’s sole victory this season was a close win against the Pelicans and they’re surely hoping to get another win against the Pelicans who now sit at 3-4 on the season.
To get the win, Utah will have to overcome the injury to Jaren Jackson Jr. who is now out for an extended amount of time. Utah needs to get some big games from their core players, but especially Keyonte George who has struggled the last two games after a hot start to the season. If George can get back to the form he was in at the beginning of the season, we likely see the Jazz get a win tonight. If not, the season starts looking really rough.
