Category: Basketball

It was refreshing to see Will Wade back in action Tuesday night, wearing purple and gold, roaming the sidelines, and even getting a technical foul called during the course of the game. As good as it was to see Wade back on the sideline, it was even more refreshing to see a basketball team showing some promise and ability.

The LSU Tigers defeated LSU New Orleans Privateers, winning 100-57. A few players stood out with some really good performances. Saliou Niang had 14 points, 14 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 steals. Donavan Dent finished with a team-high 19 points, 10 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. He also added 4 rebounds. Off the bench, Michael Ruzic, a freshman 7-foot big man, finished with 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block.

This team played pretty well, considering that most of the players had very limited preseason action due to the eligibility issues the team was waiting to resolve. Now that this team gets to play together, the expectation will be for them to continue to grow.

It wasn’t pretty the entire game, as the team still committed 12 turnovers and shot only 25% from behind the three-point line. Abdi Bashir was able to showcase his range Tuesday night, finishing 3-of-9 from three-point range and 4-of-11 from the floor, with 11 points off the bench.

Defensively, the Tigers held the Privateers to 25% shooting from the floor and only 14% from three-point range. However, they did allow 14 offensive rebounds, which will need to be addressed going forward. The Tigers also sent the Privateers to the free-throw line 38 times after committing 25 fouls. Expect this to improve as the season moves along and the team gets a better feel for playing together.

This was a really good start for the Tigers. They got the win but still have plenty of work to do. The talent is there, and so are the coaching and leadership. LSU will be back on the court Friday against Texas Southern at 7 p.m. on SECN+.

Share your thoughts on how you felt the Tigers handled the Privateers. What do you think the team needs to improve on before the next game?

Ok, for full disclosure, the question in the title wasn’t actually asked. But that is the kind of vibe this mailbag has, so I felt it was representative of the overall feel. And as a reminder, I did ask people to provide their hot takes and questions. So don’t be mad that people delivered. Don’t hate the playa, hate the game. Which, would honestly be fair in this case.

Red_Auerbach_Junior

Hot take 1: Big Country looks out of shape. Over the first few games he’s playing well below how he has performed in prior seasons. I will be interested to see if this continues or if this is a product of the team getting used to Big Mitch and him getting used to the team.

The boring/optimistic answer is to preach patience and give him time to acclimate to his new surroundings and role. The concern is that these things don’t always work out as we would hope. He had a specific role in New York and thrived in that system. What if he doesn’t work within the Celtics structure? We haven’t even hit the first time missed due to injury that we all expected.

At the moment I’m not overly worried (once again, small sample size) but it is something to keep an eye on.

Hot take 2: Derrick White should be traded. There are many trade approaches that could be taken, his contract could be used to grab either another center or forward in an effort to lean into Peyton, Baylor, Hugo, and Ron stepping up to fill his role/shift the ball handler role more onto JT and PG13, the other would be to find a way to make a trade exception, have the aforementioned bench players absorb some of those minutes and also create minutes for Chris Cenac. Ultimately Derrick White is close to his athletic downturn. His playstyle, though not nearly as reliant on his athletic ability, does operate on the right side of a thin margin that contributes of his ability to stay in front, react defensively, and generally use what athletic ability he does have to keep up with the more athletic players he usually is tasked with guarding. Losing a half step, which I believe he is in the process of doing, will put him on the WRONG side of that margin and we need to deal him before he is on the wrong side of that margin.

I love, love, love Derrick White. I do not want to trade Derrick White. I will fight for Derrick White.

With all that said, it is hard to argue that he might be a logical option to move. Not necessarily this year, but perhaps by this coming offseason. Smart GM’s tend to move on from players before they lose a step and White’s shooting woes last year indicate that he might be close to that downturn you are talking about.

He has a large (but not max) contract that could be paired with picks or players to bring back another star or an impact long-term piece.

With all that said, I’d be very reluctant to move White until one or two of the younger players has firmly established themselves as consistent performers. Not just “shows us something occasionally” but contributing on both ends on a nightly basis. You need consistent, effective adults on the floor to win games.

Hot take 3: we should flip Garza and give his minutes to Chris Cenac. Right now Garza is the much better player by a decent margin. I agree that the current minute allocation where Garza is the third big in the rotation will lead to the most wins throughout the season. However, Chris and Luka fill very similar niches when they are on the floor. Giving Chris those minutes now will lead to more winning further down the line. The one drawback is that Cenac starts to click early which will increase his value when his rookie contract ends which may cause an unnecessary increase in his first contract negotiations.

I legitimately don’t think either of those last two things will happen, but for the first one I am optimistic that we will see an improvement of Mitch’s fit within the next few games…

I support the idea of finding minutes for Cenac, but I don’t think we necessarily need to bench Garza to get them. First of all, I think he could use the reps in Maine. Secondly, I think there will be plenty of scheduled (or sometimes unscheduled) games off for Mitchell or Queta and there will be opportunities for Cenac to play on the 2nd night of a back-t0-back or in garbage time.

Micah Wilson

I should probably be writing in all caps, cus that’s how people seem to talk on ESPN, but I’ll restrain myself.

Hot take 1: Luka Garza is the Celtics best offensive rebounder.

No disagreement here. At least for now.

Hot take 2: Mitchell Robinson retires mid-season and joins Monster Jam, a place where his truck actually fits in the parking garage.

I wonder if Joe has had any thoughts about “borrowing” the truck to use as a getaway vehicle for his next theoretical ballpark heist.

hurdler17

Queta earned the starting spot last year, and Mitch is did not come in prepared to take over the starting spot. Queta should play the start and ends of the quarters, staggering his rest to be able to play 24-30 mpg. Mitch should play shorter stints in the middle of quarters to about 18-24 mpg; and Luka plays as needed. Refs are morons and they have a quicker whistle for backups. Let Queta’s experience and reputation grow as a starter.

Mitch’s minutes are about the same, points steady, rebounds way down, fouls up, blocks down. He’s a career backup that should be beating up on other backups. Nobody is doing hack-a-mitch at the beginning of quarters. He’s not playing like a starter, and Queta is thrown into a completely different environment from where he was a steady performer last year.

I will admit, I haven’t had a strong take on which big should start. I can see the argument for both of them. Both of them are what I would consider starting quality bigs (based on performance in previous seasons). Both could and should thrive in a bench role. Both should get about the same number of minutes.

The rest is just about fit and chemistry with the units that they play with. I tend to think that the worries about hack-a-Mitch are a bit over-stated. It seems more important to me that he knows where to be on the court and how his teammates are going to be delivering the ball (or how their shots come off the rim). That will take time to develop and the coaching staff is going to need to see what downstream impacts occur in various lineup combinations.

Hmm, that answer seems pretty boring. Is this where I should suggest that he’s washed and the team should trade him as soon as possible (December 15th I believe)? Asking for a friend.

tunaboats

The Celtics will continue to win exactly 3 out of every 4 games and finish the season with 61.5 wins, including the first tie in NBA history.

Now I’m trying to think of the scenario that would result in a tie. Maybe both teams would have to foul out all their players with the score tied. In theory that could happen if the team’s got into a benches clearing brawl right off the tipoff (not that I’m rooting for that).

Oh, what if Tatum and Brown decide to play a full game of 1 on 1, telling all their teammates to clear out (you know, like they typically did in clutch time for years). Each one pounds the ball for 20 seconds, takes a side-step 3 pointer that clangs off the rim, the other one rebounds, and repeats the process. Game ends in a 26-26 tie (on 20% shooting efficiency) and everyone agrees that the game should not continue into overtime for the sake of all our sanities.

Both hug and dap up after the game and go out for a dinner of lamb chops and gravy.

zzanbo1

i would like to see mike conley get some floor time. looked good the only time he played.

Speaking as someone who is, …umm, matured past optimal playing conditions, there are going to be days when he looks as good as his best days in the league (or at least close). But there are also going to be days when he feels like he just got run over by Mitchell Robinson’s truck.

I really love the way that Joe Mazzulla is giving him a chance to play the role of player-coach. Between that and giving his assistant coaches opportunities to shine in preseason and elsewhere, Joe is developing a positive reputation. One that could lead to future players in the waning years signing on to get that kind of coaching internship experience. And when the current assistant coaches move on to greener head coaching pastures, more will be excited about joining the program.

thruthelookingglass

Two ideas: (1) All due respect to Red_Auerbach_Junior, will Luka Garza take us to the promised land on sheer effort? and (2) will this be the year the Maine Celtics take the G League championship?

You laugh about Garza and his piston pumping arms when he runs, but every single banner in the rafters included contributions from unsung, try-hards that gave it their all. Sometimes it just takes that one 50-50 ball going to the Celtics because someone just flat-out wanted it more. Give him a Tommy Point!

The Maine Red Claw Celtics are going to have a stacked roster, no doubt. The one thing that could hurt them is the Celtics load-managing the parent team and calling up the best players. But it should be fun most nights.

EZwind

Here’s one more:

Will some fans stop claiming that the new owners are cheap after they just donated $200 million to Boston Children’s Hospital?

I support the tax write off.

Seriously though, I get the frustration. Celtics fans have had to watch their title winning team get dismantled piece by piece. Most understand the difference between being “cheap” and working within the strict confines of the aprons, but it is still a tough pill to swallow.

At some point, Brad Stevens is going to bring them a deal that cashes in on the “optionality” and asks them to pay well into the tax. He knows that it will have to be the right deal and he can only play that card a few times. So far, he’s proven he’s a lot smarter than most GMs at this. Will the ownership group agree? We’ll see, but I’m hopeful.

Veknironth

The Celtics will defeat the Grizzlies to win the NBA cup with Boston sitting it’s top 9 players to save the from injury. They will not hang the banner.

The Celtics “stay ready” group would absolutely give it their all and make for an entertaining Cup game. Still not sure if I’m ready to be a “cup respecter” or whatever the kids are calling it, but hey, it is something to talk about. So why not try to win it?

Veknironth

Here’s a non-Celtics one. In order to increase the teams’ giddiness, the Timberwolves will trade for Josh Giddey

I see what you did there and I approve.

Morpheus6610

Is Paul George the partner and mentor that Tatum has always needed?

Tatum has had plenty of positive mentors over the years (Al Horford, Marcus Smart, Jrue Holiday, etc.). And having Jaylen Brown on his team had a lot of very real positives (like a ring, for example). But it is no secret that Tatum idolized George growing up and patterns a lot of his game off the vet.

Makes you wonder what might have happened if Tatum was paired with him earlier in his career (preferably during a healthy stretch). but I guess we’ll never know.

I will also point out that replacing Brown would not be an easy gig for most players on the downswing of their careers. Thus far, George has handled himself exceptionally well and deserves the respect he’s getting.

Sportzballer

Is Walsh only Boston’s 4th or 5th best prospect?

First of all, it is worth noting that Walsh at 22 is a year younger than rookie Dillon Mitchell. Which should put some perspective on his development.

Finn McGrath

Is Jayson Tatum going to be able to come off the bench to allow Amari Williams to develop as a starter?

I’m starting to think that Amari is the center version of JD Davison. Too good for G-League, not quite good enough for a regular role in the NBA. But I’ve been wrong before.

Mitchs Dad

What are the chances that PP makes the All Star team?

He needs to be a little more consistent night-in-night-out against the league’s best defenses, but he has that kind of potential. Might also take a few stat-padding games early in the season to boost his numbers and chances.

Move the Ball

Do you think RH, Jr. will see the light of day this year? And something I’ve always wondered about: Why are some carrots oranger than an orange?

Hey man, there will be load management games where the stay ready guys will have to stay readier than ready.

I also think there could be another 2 week stretch where Harper is the soup du jour on Joe’s menu.

Not sure about carrots, but have you ever seen Eminem explain how it is possible to rhyme the word “orange?” Amazing stuff.

Clish

Sorry, Jeff. But I wouldn’t pretend to be Perkins if you paid me!

Fair enough! Thanks for the hot takes and questions everybody!

We currently find ourselves in the trenches, five games into the season, with the Phoenix Suns sitting at 1-4. And when you’re down in the trenches, you typically don’t have the luxury of looking at things from 30,000 feet. There’s too much happening around you, and the moment you start thinking too big or too far into the future, something changes that demands your immediate attention. Such is life. Ultimately, what defines quality strategy is the ability to balance the immediate challenges in front of you with the health and viability of your franchise over the long term.

But there’s a realization slowly creeping into the frontal lobes of our brains, something we’ve been actively trying to avoid thinking about because we know that once we accept it as reality, the outlook becomes increasingly frustrating and dystopian. Last year’s team saved us from these thoughts. This year’s team may not be able to. The Suns don’t own their own draft capital, and no matter what happens, sucking as a basketball team provides them absolutely no benefit.

The reality of professional sports is that teams ebb and flow. The advantage of possessing your own draft assets is that when an inevitable down season arrives, you have an opportunity to turn that adversity into something useful. Down seasons can happen for a multitude of reasons, with injuries often being the primary culprit. You struggle for a year, acquire a valuable asset through the draft, and get back to work. If you’re a perpetually bad team, the draft provides a pathway toward rebuilding your roster.

There’s no perfect formula for constructing a championship roster, or even one that’s consistently competitive. Throughout NBA history, organizations have employed numerous strategies with varying degrees of success. But as we look at the season ahead, we’re staring at a Suns team that appears disjointed and poorly constructed. The roster features expensive players with duplicative skill sets, an abundance of undersized contributors, and injuries that only complicate matters further.

Things can get really bad in Phoenix, really quickly. The most unsettling part? There’s no eject button.

You might believe that trading Devin Booker is ultimately the answer, but it’s not. Perhaps Booker is overvalued as an asset within the Phoenix market because of everything he’s meant to this organization and how long he’s been its centerpiece. His value on the trade market may ultimately produce a return that falls short of what Suns fans envision. If that return includes multiple first-round picks, there’s a very real possibility those selections end up being far less desirable than what Phoenix would need to meaningfully rebuild over the long term.

There was a time in the not too distant past when some team would've thrown the farm at Phoenix for Booker. Now, you see a 30 YO whose 3-point shooting has declined, who rarely gets to the rim, who needs a certain type of PG, that's not a "whole draft" kind of player anymore. https://t.co/d3miUqUsIW

— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) November 3, 2026

Booker is now 30, which isn’t what you would classify as “old”. At least, you wouldn’t have 10 years ago. Kirk Golderberry of The Ringer, however, recently delved into the decline in players over 30 and their impact on the game:

During the 2025-26 regular season, players 30 and older made up just 17.5 percent of the NBA. That’s the lowest share in at least 30 years. Meanwhile, for the seventh straight season, more than half the league (54.6 percent) was 25 or younger. In 1997-98, that number was just 36 percent.

Yeah, that wasn’t exactly my favorite read of the week. Nothing quite like being reminded that the guy who’s supposed to be in his prime and leading this team to victories is rapidly becoming antiquated in a league that increasingly values youth and durability over sustainability and longevity. Great. Fantastic. Love that for us.

I had someone suggest trading Devin Booker to the Detroit Pistons for Ausar Thompson and four first-round picks. As unlikely as that scenario might be, let’s play it out.

The Suns acquire Ausar Thompson, meaning they’re now building around Jalen Green, Thompson, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, and Khaman Maluach. How many games is that team winning? My guess is they’re a .500 team at best. Let’s say, in a best-case scenario, Phoenix somehow ends up with the sixth seed in the Western Conference, although reality probably suggests they’re a Play-In team at best. Regardless, because the Suns don’t control their own draft pick, they’re handing that selection over to Houston. No, the Suns get the worst pick between Cleveland, Minnesota, and Utah. For thought exercise purposes, let’s say Phoenix receives the 25th overall selection.

But wait! You traded Devin Booker to Detroit for four first-round picks! Except now Booker is playing alongside Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, and suddenly the Pistons look fantastic because Booker is operating in a role that better suits him. Detroit hypothetically ends up with the 24th pick.

So Phoenix walks into next year’s draft holding the 24th and 25th overall selections. Cool. No high-end prospects. No obvious game changers. Instead, you’re selecting a pair of developmental projects, hoping they possess enough transferable skills to become viable rotation players three years down the road. You get a couple of Ryan Dunns.

There’s no easy fix for the Suns. When Murray or Sabonis are your trade solutions, you’re fucked.

Tanking is pointless without your picks. Trading Booker for picks from contenders means rebuilding through the late first round.

Welcome to a roster full of Dunn-level talent https://t.co/s43iw1wsDxpic.twitter.com/UIZO7sgGmp

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) November 3, 2026

Then it becomes rinse and repeat. Every year, the Suns are struggling to assemble a competitive roster, attempting to do so with Detroit’s draft capital while their own selections remain outside their control.

Why am I bringing this up five games into the season? Why am I looking at the bigger picture when I should be focusing on Portland tonight? I think it’s because the potential worst-case scenario is beginning to unfold before our eyes. And while the fan base desperately rushes to trade machines, searching for some magical combination of transactions that will fix everything, the reality is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. This is a very hard situation to fix.

Perhaps it’s because I’m seeing the suggestions people are putting out there, and while I understand the strategy behind many of these proposed deals, I ultimately find myself asking one question. How the hell did we get here?

To me, the answer is simple: Bradley Beal.

I know plenty of people will argue that acquiring Kevin Durant was the beginning of the downfall of the Phoenix Suns, and I don’t completely disagree. That move was a step in the wrong direction, one that could ultimately take this organization a decade to recover from. The Suns had what makes teams successful in today’s NBA: youth, connectivity, chemistry, and a veteran presence to stabilize it all. It’s reminiscent of the Seven Seconds or Less Suns, a team that was ahead of its time. By the time the rest of the league caught up to that philosophy, Phoenix had already moved on to something different, never fully capitalizing on the strategy it helped pioneer.

Through that lens, I can accept the argument that Durant’s acquisition was the root cause of where we find ourselves today. As for the extracurricular drama he brought to the organization, and the notion that his presence was ultimately more detrimental than productive, I politely disagree. Sure, there were extracurriculars with Kevin Durant. Nobody knows that better than I do. But he was also an elite scorer, someone you could rely on at virtually any moment to get you a bucket. It was the moves made around him that ultimately sunk this team, and none was more damaging than acquiring Bradley Beal.

The Suns acquired a depreciating asset whose skill set was largely duplicative of Devin Booker’s, sacrificed the remainder of their available draft capital to do so, and inherited a no-trade clause that made an already difficult situation even worse. Ultimately, they had to buy Beal out and stretch the financial consequences across multiple seasons.

BREAKING: The Washington Wizards are trading three-time All-Star Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, a handful of second-round picks, and multiple pick swaps, league sources tell @TheAthletic@Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 18, 2023

Think about this team right now and how differently you might view it with an additional $19.3 million in payroll flexibility. Need a point guard? How about another big man who can actually rebound? That money could help address those issues, but it’s unavailable because the Suns waived Bradley Beal. And the ancillary draft capital that could facilitate additional transactions? That’s gone, too, because they shipped it away to acquire Bradley fucking Beal.

That’s the deal we’re going to continue paying for through 2030. That’s the transaction whose consequences continue to suffocate this franchise, even after the player himself is long gone. And that’s the draft capital we sacrificed, capital that could have been used to facilitate the very transactions this team so desperately needs today.

The reality of what the Phoenix Suns might become if they aren’t a competitive basketball team is something we accepted at the beginning of last season. The thought process at the time was that eventually we’d trade Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, Dillon Brooks was a throw-in from the Kevin Durant trade, and Jalen Green had enough upside to warrant seeing what he could become. Expectations were low as we prepared for this dommsdat scenario to play out. Phoenix surprised us, however, winning 45 games.

The team did eventually trade Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, and in return acquired Miles Bridges, who thus far has probably been the most consistent player on the team. But we also surrendered our 2033 first-round pick to make it happen. Why? Nobody fucking knows. Because the Suns “expect to be good”, right? They operate as though they’ll never need a contingency plan, and when circumstances inevitably demand one, they’re screwed.

Jalen Green has upside. He has athleticism. And he absolutely does not fit on this team. If he were making $16 million a year, perhaps I wouldn’t think much of it. But he’s making $36.3 million this season and another $36 million next year, with a player option he’s almost certainly going to exercise because he’s unlikely to command that kind of money on the open market. So the Suns are left holding the bag. Again.

When was the last time the Suns made a trade and actually won it? When was the last time you looked back three years after a transaction and thought, you know what, “Slam dunk for Phoenix”? The Barkley trade? KJ?

That’s why I’m feeling so much doom and gloom right now. That’s where the frustration comes from. The reality we managed to put off last season because the team overperformed is beginning to show signs of coming to fruition this year. Now another year has passed, Devin Booker’s trade value isn’t getting any higher, and even if it were, it wouldn’t change the fundamental problem. This franchise simply cannot benefit from being a losing basketball team.

I’m writing this because I see all the solutions people are desperately trying to come up with to save the Suns, and every time another proposal surfaces, I find myself asking the same questions: How? Why? Is Dejounte Murray going to be the guy who saves this franchise? Domantas Sabonis? Are those really the answers to the problems we’re facing? No.

The fact that we’ve reached the point of entertaining those possibilities only five games into the season says plenty about the long-term outlook of this organization. And perhaps that’s what I’m really doing here. Trying to mentally prepare myself for a reality we’ve spent the past year hoping we’d never have to confront.

The Suns can improve their execution, find better lineup combinations, and perhaps salvage something from this season. But none of that changes the underlying reality. This organization has sacrificed its flexibility, its financial resources, and its ability to benefit from failure. Five games into the season, we’re already contemplating the consequences of decisions made years ago. The Suns aren’t necessarily doomed to lose. They’re trapped in a situation where losing doesn’t help them win tomorrow.

This season the Spurs unveiled their City Edition jerseys with a throwback video:

The reveal, which featured Spurs 2025 draftees Carter Bryant and Dylan Harper, starts in an animated form while the voice of Spurs legend George “The Iceman” Gervin narrates. The duo, who played in the NBA Finals as rookies, eventually appear in place of the animation.

The spot goes on to show Bryant and harper pulled the iconic red, white, and blue ABA balls from the trunk of a classic lowrider, eventually showcasing this years jersey.

Now you can enter to win the Classic on the Court Giveaway.

Per a Spurs press release:
 
“Straight from the HemisFair Arena days, a Spurs classic could be yours! Enter the Classic on the Court Giveaway pres. by Ledger for your chance to win a Classic Edition jersey inspired by the original home uniforms worn in downtown San Antonio, plus tickets and more.”
 
Prize Includes:
🎟️ (2) tickets to Spurs vs. Pacers on Jan. 6th
👕 Classic Edition jersey
🏀 ABA basketball
🔐 Ledger device

Click HERE to enter.

Sean Elliott has promoted the idea that the Spurs should play with the ABA tri-colored ball when they host games in the City Edition jerseys. Perhaps he will get his wish.

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The ABA lived from 1967 to 1976. It was a short, chaotic, but also exuberant and fantastic era.

The management in the ABA was generally horrible, but there were some brilliant coaches and some unbelievable players.

Julius Erving was, is, and always will be the face of the ABA, but the league had some other immense talents. Guys like David Thompson, Spencer Haywood, Rick Barry (who started in the NBA but spent several years in the upstart league), Connie Hawkins, Dan Issel, Artis Gilmore, George Gervin, and the first great three-point shooter Louie Dampier, come to mind, along with Charlie Scott and Mel Daniels.

This video looks at some of the best players in ABA history.

The league was a race between chaos and brilliance. The merger with the NBA happened in 1976, just in time, because of mismanagement and the lack of a TV contract; the ABA was on borrowed time.

It’s really too bad the league couldn’t sustain itself, but it changed basketball forever, and its legacy should not be forgotten.

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

Nice.

In 2023, Mark Cuban sold what was then his majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks to Miriam Adelson and her son-in-law, Patrick Dumont. At the time, the sale was purported to be to the tune of $3.5 billion. The transaction gave Adelson and Dumont majority ownership of the franchise, with Dumont serving in the role of Governor while Cuban maintained a minority stake in the team.

It is now being reported that another sale took place last month, though this one does not involve any new parties entering the fold. Adelson has instead sold her stake in the Mavericks to Dumont and his wife (and Adelson’s daughter) Sivan Ochshorn. As a result of the deal, Dumont now holds a 69% ownership stake.

Along with Dumont are minority owners Cuban (27%) and Mary Stanton (4%). As part of the terms of the original sale in 2023, Dumont retains the right to purchase as much as 20% of Cuban’s remaining portion as well. “Our plan is to look at that and to do that over time,” Dumont suggests. Should he chose to do so, he would then hold a whopping 89% of the franchise which Forbes values at $5.8 billion.

Since taking over in 2023, Dumont has overhauled much of the front office. He hired Rick Welts as CEO, Ethan Casson as President (and successor CEO come the turn of the calendar to 2027), Masai Ujiri, Mike Schmitz, new head coach Dusty May and a number of other senior-manager level employees. Dumont is also hard at work on a new basketball-only area for the Mavs, with plans to make the former Valley View Mall an all-out entertainment destination.

“The most important thing every day is just trying to work harder to get better.” Dumont clearly has big plans on where he wants to take the Mavericks behind young phenom Cooper Flagg and this purchase demonstrates his long-term commitment to the team    

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

The NBA paused its action to encourage Americans to vote.

So with no games scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, it offered a bit of a reset to take in the lessons learned from the first two weeks of the 2026-27 regular season.

The good news for teams is that the spate of injuries that ravaged rosters across the league have (mostly) calmed. And while it’s still so very early in the season, the early action has led to sweeping changes across the board. Already, there’s a new No. 1 team, and a new No. 2 for that matter.

Here are the Week 2 USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings:

NBA Week 2 power rankings: Nos. 30-21

30. Sacramento Kings, 1-6 (—)

They’re second-to-last on net rating (-13.2) and are prime candidates to sell off their assets before the trading deadline.

29. Chicago Bulls, 1-6 (-2)

No team plays faster than the Bulls, who lead in pace (105.86), but the offense has been wildly inefficient, with Chicago shooting just 41.6%, second-worst in the NBA.

28. Brooklyn Nets, 1-6 (+1)

The addition of Julius Randle hasn’t been enough to stabilize the offense, and 3-point defense (15.0 conversions allowed per game) has been another Achilles heel.

27. Utah Jazz, 1-6 (-3)

The Jazz, who were looking to take a step forward, have been one of the more disappointing teams. Utah doesn’t force enough turnovers and its transition offense is basically nonexistent.

26. Milwaukee Bucks, 1-6 (—)

Tyler Herro has been pretty solid, but too many Bucks players have been far too inconsistent, starting with Kel'el Ware.

25. Los Angeles Clippers, 1-6 (—)

The Clippers still are the only team to average at least 20 turnovers per game.

24. Phoenix Suns, 1-4 (-1)

They’re the only NBA team to have only played five games, but Phoenix has been getting killed on the glass, where they rank 29th in rebounding (39.6 per game).

23. Indiana Pacers, 2-6 (-9)

Indiana is banged up, but without Tyrese Haliburton, this offense lacks a catalyst and identity.

22. New Orleans Pelicans, 3-4 (+6)

Winners of three consecutive, the Pelicans have been a nice story so far and are dominating down low; New Orleans leads the league with 62.6 points in the paint per game … which is 7.5 points more than the next team.

21. Orlando Magic, 2-5 (-1)

Since Paolo Banchero (ankle) and Jalen Suggs (knee) have been out, Orlando has been unable to find consistent offense and turnovers (17.3 per game; tied for 25th) are a massive issue.

NBA Week 2 power rankings: Nos. 20-11

20.  Miami Heat, 2-5 (+1)

No team is allowing more 3-pointers per game (17.3). The defense has been a nightmare, with players even saying they’re not trusting each other on the court.

19. Charlotte Hornets, 3-5 (-2)

They’ve lost four consecutive and the warning sign is an offense that has is drastically underperforming; Charlotte ranks dead last in offensive rating (100.4), which is nearly four full points below the next closest team.

18. Washington Wizards, 4-3 (+1)

Are the Wizards finally a player in the East? The early returns on this group look good, but the schedule hasn’t exactly been a slog.

17. Denver Nuggets, 3-3 (-5)

They look older and slower, but the more curious issue is the sweeping dip across Nikola Jokić’s stats: 22.0 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game.

16. Dallas Mavericks, 4-3 (+2)

They’ve won three of four, but became the first team to lose to the previously winless Kings. The Cooper Flagg-Kyrie Irving partnership, however, has been a fun watch.

15. Atlanta Hawks, 4-4 (—)

They’ve had five different leading scorers through eight games and lead the NBA in assists per game (30.6) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.08). The results have nonetheless been uneven.

14. New York Knicks, 3-4 (-5)

Are we in championship hangover territory? The Knicks are a bit of a rarity, ranking dead last in pace (96.5). They’ve struggled against marquee opponents.

13. Toronto Raptors, 4-3 (—)

No team has been hauling in more offensive boards per game (15.3), but losses in three of their last five have stunted their progress up the standings. And they got good news: Kawhi Leonard (knee swelling) might be back soon.

12. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-3 (-1)

They share the ball well and protect it, but the Cavs have had an uneven start to the season. A loss against an extremely short-handed Thunder team was a missed opportunity.

11. Golden State Warriors, 5-3 (+11)

They’ve won five consecutive, some against top-level teams (Lakers, Timberwolves, Nuggets). And Stephen Curry, at 38 years old, is playing his way into the MVP conversation.

NBA Week 2 power rankings: Top 10

10. Minnesota Timberwolves, 5-3 (-5)

Minnesota’s two victories this week were against the Clippers and the Bucks, which is fine. But the Timberwolves will need to show that they can beat some of the league’s better teams without Anthony Edwards. The saving grace will be the defense.

9. Memphis Grizzlies, 6-1 (+7)

The overtime loss against the Pelicans was a setback, but Memphis remains the biggest surprise in the NBA, and Ty Jerome (28.2 points per game; seventh in the NBA) has been a revelation.

8. Portland Trail Blazers, 5-1 (+2)

Losing Ja Morant (hamstring) is certainly a blow, but Portland has been doing a great job on the glass, limiting teams to an 10.0 second chance points per game.

7. Boston Celtics, 5-2 (+1)

The move to add Mitchell Robinson is paying off so far, as pairing him alongside Neemias Queta has Boston ranking third in the league in opponent points in the paint per game (39.4).

6. San Antonio Spurs, 5-2 (—)

Recent competition hasn’t been as robust, but the Spurs have won five consecutive and are taking care of the ball, ranking second in turnovers per game (13.4).

5. Los Angeles Lakers, 6-2 (+2)

Luka Dončić is flaming opponents, averaging an absurd 38.3 points per game and orchestrating the NBA’s best offense (121.9 points per 100 possessions).

4. Oklahoma City Thunder, 5-2 (-4)

They’ve dropped two of their last three, as the injuries keep piling up. The latest, to Chet Holmgren, means OKC will be without three starters for the foreseeable future.

3. Detroit Pistons, 3-1 (-1)

It’s rather unfair to drop a team one spot even though it won all three games this week. This is more about how good the 76ers have been and the quality of opponents Detroit faced. But can the Pistons sustain this level with Duncan Robinson (a career-high 17.9 points per game) as their second-leading scorer?

2. Philadelphia 76ers, 7-1 (+2)

Interestingly, it’s the defense that has been Philly’s strength. The Sixers have the league’s third-best defensive rating (105.1 points allowed per 100 possessions).

1. Houston Rockets, 7-1 (+3)

They own the NBA’s top net rating (+12.8), Alperen Şengün is anchoring the offense and Jabari Smith Jr. is breaking out.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA power rankings: Rockets and Sixers shoot to top, Knicks drop

In his season-ending press conference immediately after Boston’s first-round playoff exit, Brad Stevens made a comment about the state of the Celtics that reverberated through every offseason decision leading up to the start of the season. 

“I think one of the things that we’ve gotta figure out is how to have more impact at the rim,” Stevens said. “I thought we struggled to get to where we wanted to go on offense.”

He had a point. In the regular season, the Celtics were dead last in volume inside of 5 feet, averaging 22 attempts per game. But on low volume came high efficiency, with the team’s 69% finishing on those attempts being second in the league. On top of that lack of attempts was a league-low in free throw attempts (18.7). 

So, the Celtics made changes. They brought in Mitchell Robinson, one of the game’s best offensive rebounders after the Celtics averaged the lowest amount of putback points among all playoff teams (4.1). Then they swapped Paul George for Jaylen Brown, adding a shot creator that would offer a different kind of off-ball influence to open up Jayson Tatum’s own scoring creation. 

As of Nov. 2, Boston’s 7-game starting sample has shown early returns in this area. As far as just touching the paint, they’re getting inside at an increased rate, jumping from 24.4 touches to 28.3. The Celtics entered their Rockets matchup 13th in field goal attempts inside of 5 feet, making a major leap of 28.3 attempts to last year’s 22. 

There’s work to be done in their finishing on those attempts — they’re currently working at a 63% clip (17th in the league) — but the results are showing a team that’s making an effort to get more looks at close range. 

This back-to-back showed two sides of that progress, with slight variations in personnel and significant variations in Joe Mazzulla’s lineups. 

Orlando Magic 

On the first night of their back-to-back, the Celtics got an Orlando team that’s missing key pieces and is in the process of developing a new identity under coach Sean Sweeney, yet still retains some of that gritty defensive identity with their available personnel. 

For Boston, only Mitchell Robinson was absent from the rotation, and in that absence, we saw more of the freeflowing, fast-reacting movement of last year’s offense with Neemias Queta as the lone big on the floor. 

It’s no surprise that Robinson and Queta lead the team in paint touches, but behind them stand Boston’s two most important players in Tatum (3.5) and George (3). In this matchup, they shined both in their self-creation and in their playmaking inside the paint. 

As a team Boston was 72% inside the restricted area, and Tatum’s gravity as a pick-and-roll ballhandler was a significant factor in creating looks for himself and for the roller. 

Tatum’s high free throw rate has also been a major benefit of his driving aggression. The Celtics are currently averaging 28 attempts from the line, another significant jump from last year’s number. Tatum is currently at 10.2 attempts from the line. 

Like Tatum, George is creating off the dribble, feeding the roll man, and comfortably playing off-ball. 

It’s two players who have figured out how to put the ball into space. But for that to happen, you need good cutting instincts from those around them. That wasn’t an issue last year, and it’s definitely not an issue now. The Celtics are currently scoring 1.35 points per cut possession, nearly identical to last year’s 1.36 PPP.

This game was a good indicator of this team’s ceiling attacking the rim. You’re missing Robinson, who has struggled to adapt to his new role closer to the action on the perimeter, but you’re seeing Boston’s other two bigs look comfortable in their roles, while the team’s two stars acted as high-running motors to an efficient offense. When you can space the floor with shooters around Tatum and George and add in a rolling threat like Queta, the space to attack and the decisions you can make feel more abundant. 

Houston Rockets 

On the second night of their back-to-back, the Celtics were without their other primary offseason addition with Paul George getting a night off. 

On a sluggish shooting night, the primary theme for this story’s subject was as follows: No Tatum=No Paint Pressure. 

Without George’s primary option lineup, when Tatum stepped off the floor, getting inside the arc became a chore for Boston. In a shade under 16 minutes with Tatum resting, they were just 1-for-8 on shots inside the paint, with a single shot generated at the rim. With Tatum, they had 20 shots at the rim and were 70% on those shots, much more in line with what we’ve seen so far this season. 

Along with his ability to create in isolation, Tatum’s gravity as a pick-and-roll threat opened up rim-runs for Mitchell Robinson and Queta, while his vision finding cutters particularly flashed early on. 

The Celtics trailed by five when Tatum checked out with 1:39 left in the third quarter. When he returned with 7:02 left to go in the fourth quarter, it was a deficit of 16. With JT off the floor in general, the Celtics were outscored 35-18. 

When he returned, it didn’t take long for the offense to get back into its previous flow. Tatum quickly assisted on a drive-and-kick three to Derrick White in the corner, hit Queta on a roll, and scored himself on a drive-and-finish within his first six possessions after checking back in. But by then, the Rockets had comfortably separated enough to bury them. 

With a lack of paint pressure coming from the perimeter, Mazzulla experimented heavily with double-big rotations throughout the game, which in spurts gave Boston some more putback and lob options but wasn’t nearly enough to overcome poor shooting from the outside and a tough night on drives. The Queta-Robinson combo was featured most prominently, finishing the night with 4:42 on the floor together. With those two sharing the floor, the Celtics were 3-for-3 at the rim, two of which came from Queta and the other from Robinson.

Even without an interior enforcer like Steven Adams, the Rockets are an exceptionally difficult team to get a step on. They have a collection of lengthy wing defenders like Amen Thompson, Tari Eason and Kevin Durant and feisty point-of-attack guards in Marcus Smart, Fred VanVleet and Reed Sheppard. Add to that disciplined help on the nail, and even if your last line of defense is Alperen Sengun, the defense is designed to make it drudgerous just to get to that weak link. And it just so happens that their weak link still finished with a pair of blocks and steals on Monday night. 

If the Orlando game was a sign of what they could be, Houston was a sign of how far they have to go to get there. Missing George’s ballhandling was a predictable blow, but a lack of influence in the paint from those not named Jayson Tatum against a quality defense does show that they have a lot to work on. 

The road ahead is long to figure out what kind of impact this team can have from close range. They can’t all be against a Chicago, and they won’t all be against a Houston or Detroit, but it’s important that every step of the way, we keep tabs on the progress of this team’s still-developing interior identity.

Over the past few years, the Celtics have seen a lot of guards come and go. Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogdon, Jrue Holiday and Anfernee Simons have all come in and eventually been shipped out.

In that timespan, both Derrick White and Payton Pritchard have remained in green. Pritchard, a 2020 draft pick, and White, acquired at the 2022 trade deadline, have been the guards Boston has chosen to lead them going forward.

However, to start this season, neither of them are playing very well.

Neither White nor Pritchard have gotten off to the starts Boston was looking for. White has averaged 11.1 points and 4.9 assists, shooting 44% from the field and 32% from three while Pritchard has averaged 13.4 points and 3.4 assists, shooting 40% from the field and 31% from three.

Unfortunately, Boston doesn’t have a ton of depth at the point guard spot. Baylor Scheierman is much more of a 2-guard or a wing than a point guard and Mike Conley is 40-years-old.

Devin Carter is another option, but he has yet to play this season due to mononucleosis and could have a role when he returns. With that said, he is a two-way guard who hasn’t had a good start to his NBA career so we shouldn’t be putting too much stock in him.

Boston needs the improved play to come from White and Pritchard. Those are the guys they have invested in.

For Pritchard, he needs to be more aggressive. Joe Mazzulla should be starting him, but that is a different conversation. Regardless, the Celtics need Payton to be a big scorer for them, in whatever role he is in. So far this season, Pritchard is averaging 10.3 shots per game, below both his 2024-25 and 2025-26 averages. If you remove the two games against the Bulls, Pritchard is averaging 7.8 shots per game, along with just 7.2 points.

That cannot happen on this team. In an ideal world, Pritchard is the Celtics number 2 offensive option behind Jayson Tatum, to take pressure off of White and Paul George. He isn’t going to be that without being aggressive.

Derrick White has always been more of a defensive player than offensive player, and so far this season, the Celtics have been a worse defensive team with him out there. According to databallr, Boston is 4.8 points better in 131 minutes with White on the bench than they are in the 210 minutes White has been on the court. It’s a small sample size, but I’m not too concerned.

I am worried about is his three-point shot though. Since the start of last season, D-White’s three-point shot has fallen off of a cliff. In the three seasons prior to last year, he shot 39% from three in the regular season. Since the start of last season, White has shot 33% from beyond the arc. He needs to make more threes than he has over the past year plus.

White and Pritchard are too talented and too good to play this poorly all season. Water typically finds its level with this stuff and I expect it to do the same here. If they don’t start playing better, however, it will be very hard for the Celtics to accomplish anything real in April and May.

After taking care of business at home, the Lakers (6-2) head to Sacramento where they will take on the Kings (1-6) for the first time this season. Both teams enter this matchup coming off wins.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings

When: 7 p.m. PT, Nov. 4

Where: Golden 1 Center

Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet

---

The Lakers responded to their worst loss of the young season by stringing together two straight victories, which wasn’t an easy task considering that it happened in back-to-back games. Led by Luka Dončić, who is just scorching hot right now, Los Angeles stands at 6-2.

Simply put: if the Lakers continue to perform and win at this rate, there’s little doubt they can secure a top-four spot in the Western Conference, health permitting. A big part of their success in finishing among the West’s top four over the last couple of seasons has been their ability to take care of business against teams lower in the standings.

Enter the Kings, who have had a tough start to their season. Sacramento has won only one of their first seven games. They’re 22nd in the league in points per game and are ranked 25th in offensive rating. The team is led by veterans Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, but so far it’s their rookie Darius Acuff Jr. who’s stealing the limelight. Acuff Jr. is averaging 26.1 points per game, so he’ll certainly be high on LA’s scouting report.

That said, there’s really no excuse for the Lakers to lose this game. They should be better in every facet and, while it’s tougher to beat opponents on their home floor, Los Angeles’ firepower should be enough to propel them to a win. Ideally, it’s the type of victory that won’t see Dončić play more than 36 minutes and that sees contributions across the board.

Maybe this is the perfect time for some of the role players to break out. Perhaps it’s an opportunity for Quentin Grimes and Colin Sexton to regain his shooting rhythm or maybe a monster-like game for Walker Kessler, who held up very well against Giannis Antetokounmpo in the win against the Miami Heat.

Jake LaRavia — who has been playing really well to begin the season — should be able to continue making his presence felt while Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jarred Vanderbilt will be given the opportunity to do so. And how about a proper debut for rookie Cameron Carr? It would be nice to see him go up against Acuff Jr.

We’ll see who comes up big for both teams as Pacific Division teams battle it out on Wednesday.

Notes and Updates

• Aside from having the 25th best offensive rating in the league, the Kings also don’t rebound the ball well (27th), just like the Lakers.
• For the Lakers’ injury report, only Adou Thiero (left knee injury management) is listed as out.
• As for the Kings, Keegan Murray (left ankle capsulitis), Maxime Raynaud (right patella subluxation) and Ben Simmons (right achilles tendon repair) are out. Precious Achiuwa (left ankle soreness) is probable.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

One of the most dreaded speeches a head basketball coach has to make is the one where he talks up an obviously overmatched opponent. He knows the other squad will have plenty of trouble hanging with his ball club even on a good night. On a regular night, his troops would trash the opposition worse than the Globetrotters ever did the Washington Generals. Yet he also knows that complacency can ruin the best game plan and that arrogance has led many teams down the road to hell. Luckily for Mike Brown, he has recent history on his side for his pep talk about the Chicago Bulls.

Those very ballers nearly pulled off the upset against your world champions Knicks last week. Although it came on a second night of a back-to-back and in the not-so-friendly confines of the United Center, the warning should still resonate with the Bockers before they host one of the league’s worst teams. Even if you could argue there isn’t anybody worse than Thiago Splitter’s young group so far this year.

Sitting at the bottom of the league at 1–6, the Bulls have already lost games by 19, 35, and 43 points and sport the worst point differential in the NBA. Yes, even the Sacramento Acuffs have Chicago beat in that regard. While the offense at times actually looks serviceable, the defense has been nothing short of abysmal. They allow 128.8 points per contest, and games against them regularly turn into a shootaround for the opposition. Defending downtown has been especially tough, with teams nailing almost 40 percent of their long-range shots against Chicago. Yes, they’ve faced some stiff competition, but come on.

Bulls come to MSG on a 5-game losing streak

People in the Windy City are fairly relaxed, though. With a new coach and a young star in the fold, 2026–27 was always going to be a rebuilding year, one they sorely needed after what felt like a decade of drowning in mediocrity. Caleb Wilson, the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, has been as good as advertised early on and finally gives Chicago fans something to look forward to. The former UNC highflyer is hardly efficient yet, makes plenty of rookie mistakes, and at times doesn’t really know what this basketball thing is that he’s doing out there. But man, does his game look promising.

NBA Finals Game 1 Player Correspondent Caleb Wilson reacts to Jalen Brunson’s clutch jumper in crunch time 🤯

"JB IS NICE!"

Knicks have a 1-0 series lead in the NBA Finals. pic.twitter.com/Iu2dyIG1Pd

— NBA (@NBA) June 4, 2026

Wilson is an ultra-modern combo forward with world-class athleticism and a good, determined head on his shoulders. He plays extremely hard, looks to be enjoying himself a ton out there, and seems to possess a drive you usually find only in the cream of the NBA’s crop. If he adds a few pounds and works on his jumper, it’s easy to see the 20-year-old becoming the centerpiece of whatever the Bulls envision for their future.

The same can’t be said for Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis, also two promising young players who have struggled under new head coach Thiago Splitter. Giddey’s scoring has dropped from 17 points per game last season to just nine this year, and he’s shooting south of 37 percent from the field. Rumor has it a wrist injury is hampering the Australian, and it might be a problem all year.

Plenty of young Bulls are struggling

Buzelis’ excuse is that he’s struggled out of the gate before. But even with a world of athletic talent and plenty of promise, he sometimes looks like one of those players who will never really put it all together. It’s still way too early to give up on a 22-year-old as gifted as the former G League Ignite hooper. At some point, though, those gifts have to show up night in and night out on the NBA hardwood, well after the layup line.

Chicago’s most accomplished veteran, Norman Powell, should help in that regard, but how much he can do is debatable. He probably hasn’t even unpacked his suitcase yet, and he’ll most likely be shipped out to a wannabe contender by the trade deadline. Is someone like that really going to change your culture? Powell has played very good ball for years, but can he be the guy who turns things around in Chicago? Your guess is as good as mine.

Even if Powell is exactly the vet presence Bulls ownership envisions, Splitter is still fighting an uphill battle. The roster is extremely young and short on inside brawn (sorry, Stix Smith, Zach Collins, and Nic “I can’t lose to the Knicks” Claxton), reliable outside shooting, and any sort of cohesiveness. The losses should pile up pretty quickly. The Knicks should help their former rivals along and get back to .500 in this one. Anything else would be unacceptable.

But I’m sure Mike Brown will remind his team of that in his pregame speech.

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (3-4) vs Chicago Bulls (1-6)
Date: Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC
TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

Last season, the three matchups between the Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves ended in a combined score of 350-351. None of the three were blowouts, as the largest margin of victory was Houston’s lone win in the series (by 5 points).

The two losses were different levels of devastating, though. Both came towards the end of the season and basically tanked any chance Houston had of holding home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. It turned out that not having those first two games in Houston really hurt since the Los Angeles Lakers rode the crowd to 326 TS%* over those first two games (*all stats are approximate but seriously the Lakers couldn’t miss in Games 1 and 2).

The first loss was the one where Houston held a 13-point lead in overtime. It was easily one of the most impressive first two minutes of an overtime period I’ve ever seen. Then it was followed by the most devastating three-minute stretch in overtime, as Minny closed on a furious 15-0 run to win. It was yet another in a long list of late-game collapses for that Houston squad.

The T-Wolves come in without Anthony Edwards, who is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, but there was enough success early for proof-of-concept in the Ant-LaMelo Ball pairing. It definitely looks like they can work together, and the further ascension of Jaden McDaniels gives them enough cover for the two months waiting for Ant’s return.

The Wolves also have this generation’s Thaddeus Young in veteran Rockets killer Jonathan Kuminga. He’s playing well this season so I expect another career night out of him against a team he always shows up to play.

Tip-off

7:30pm CT

How To Watch

Space City Home Network

Injury Report

Rockets

Clint Capela: GTD

Steven Adams: OUT

Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards: OUT

Terrence Shannon Jr.: GTD

Donte DiVincenzo: OUT

The Line (as of this post)

HOU -9.5

Check here for updates

Schedule Advantage Counter

Rockets: 1

Opponents: 2

Looking ahead because we can

Saturday night in Phoenix against the Suns

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić has created a lot of attention this past week with his ability to score.

He’s managed to produce a fast start for the Lakers and has positioned himself as an early candidate for MVP.

Dončić produced a double-double in a 138-117 victory over the Miami Heat at Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 2. He finished with 42 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds.

The point guard did receive a technical foul with 1:12 left in the second quarter. He was initially called for the technical foul for clapping in the direction of an official as he was disputing a "no-call."

It would've been his second technical foul of the season, but it was officially rescinded by the NBA on Tuesday. He will not have to pay the $2,000 fine.

“This season,” Dončić told reporters on Oct. 21. “I’m trying to not get techs.”

More: Luka Dončić's offense is carrying Lakers. Is LA too dependent on its 'showman'?

Dončić had received his first technical foul of the season during a game against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 30.

If a player receives their 16th technical foul in a single season, they are automatically suspended for one game and fined $5,000.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers star Luka Dončić has second technical foul rescinded

The numbers are all down. 

Jalen Brunson’s field goal percentage (39.3 percent), 3-point percentage (33.3 percent) and free-throw percentage (73.2 percent) are all significantly down from last year. In fact, the field goal and 3-point percentage would represent the worst of his career, while the free-throw percentage would be second worst. 

The Knicks captain has uncharacteristically been misfiring. 

There isn’t some deep-lying issue or explanation, though. Brunson believes it’s actually quite simple. 

“Missing shots,” Brunson said after practice Tuesday, “I normally make.” 

Brunson’s shooting was always a worry after he underwent surgery to fix a tendon issue in his left wrist during the offseason. He spoke before the season about how it disrupted his normal offseason workouts and caused him to take way fewer shots than he normally does. 

It is certainly understandable that there is early-season rust. But, true to his character, he refused to use that excuse. 

“Not at all,” Brunson said when asked how much the surgery has affected his early-season form. 

The numbers reflect Brunson’s sentiment. 

His shot diet, in terms of the percentage of pullups vs. catch-and-shoot and shot distance, is similar to last season’s. As are the percentages of open shots vs. tightly covered shots. This is not a case of worse shot quality leading to worse results. 

There is one area in which there has been a big drop, though. He is struggling in what is usually his specialty. 

Brunson’s efficiency at the end of the shot clock is way down. He is shooting just 26.7 percent with between 7 and 4 seconds left on the shot clock and 35.7 percent with under four seconds left. Last year, he was at 48.8 percent with between 7 and 4 seconds left on the shot clock and 46.6 percent under four seconds left. Brunson bailing the Knicks out with tough shots late in possessions is usually a staple of their offense and something that demoralizes opposing defenses. 

It’s been part of a larger trend with the Knicks and their sluggish offense to start the year. As a team, they are shooting 30.4 percent from 7-to-4 seconds left in the shot clock and 26.5 percent under four seconds left. Those are the second-worst and worst marks in the NBA, respectively. 

So often, as Brunson goes, the Knicks go. This is a clear example. 

“He’s taking the same shots as in the past,” coach Mike Brown said Tuesday. “In my opinion, he’s just missing shots. He’s taking the right shots. I think all our guys are, for the most part, taking the right shots. Right now, they’re not going in. And that can be for this reason, that reason, I don’t know, and I’m not going to try to overanalyze it. As long as they keep taking the right shots, keep working on the shots, I think eventually they’re gonna fall sooner than later.” 

Brown has coached some of the league’s best-ever scorers, including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Stephen Curry. He has seen this before. 

And he knows that usually, these ruts don’t last too long. 

“It happens,” Brown said. “It happens to the best of them because everybody is definitely human and every human has their ups and their downs when it comes to shooting. That’s why we have to keep embracing the little things, because they’re not gonna always fall.” 

It’s rare to see Brunson struggling the way he has to start this year. 

But if he’s taking the same shots as normal, it should be expected that the results will soon return to normal.