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TORONTO, ON- OCTOBER 21 - Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors share a laugh on the bench as the Toronto Raptors play the Chicago Bulls in their season opener at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. October 21, 2026. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
When you start dating, there’s something to be said for bad dates and breakups serving as lessons for the do’s and don’ts of the world of romance. But, if you keep making the same crummy jokes, not brushing your teeth, over and over again, you’re not learning much from those bad dates. At a certain point, losing becomes unproductive.
It’s kind of like that with basketball, too. And in the last couple of matches, the Toronto Raptors’ losing has been real, real unproductive. Because, it doesn’t tell anyone anything that they don’t already know.
TORONTO, ON- OCTOBER 21 – Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors share a laugh on the bench as the Toronto Raptors play the Chicago Bulls in their season opener at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. October 21, 2026. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
Both times when the Raptors have traded for Kawhi Leonard, there’s been an implicit gamble attached to that. Leonard won’t play a lot of regular season games, but take him to the playoffs okay, and he’ll turn into the ‘84 Terminator, or ‘85 Jordan, whichever set of skills might be needed more that night.
This season, Kawhi went out early. Okay. That just means that the other guys need to start pulling extra weight a little sooner. And you remember the playoff series against the Cavaliers, and say, “okay, Scottie and RJ, maybe they can anchor this offence, even without a scorer like Brandon Ingram or Kawhi Leonard.” And then… Scottie Barnes goes down.
Yikes.
An old teacher of mine told me that “practice doesn’t make perfect — perfect practice makes perfect,” and it concerns me that that Raptors are just practicing really, far, far away from perfect. Now, Scottie seems like he’s going to come back soon; when exactly that will be is unclear, but there has been little indication that the groin strain is something particularly serious.
But, losing the games that the Raptors are losing, without Scottie Barnes, doesn’t really help them understand how their team is going to perform in playoff settings, which, for this roster, should be the ultimate goal. Before the season started, Bobby Webster spoke to the media, and argued that the question that should remain pervasive throughout the season should be “can we win every night?”
Toronto Raptors regular season record without Kawhi Leonard.
2018-‘19: 17-5
2026-‘27: 3-6
The Raptors now have more losses without Kawhi in his 2nd stint than his 1st stint.
It’s still November, and we still don’t know when Kawhi is back from injury this season, and, God… pic.twitter.com/g25BAtaNjZ
Thus far, the answer to that question, without Kawhi Leonard, has be a resounding “no.” Omer Osman illustrates that clearly, in the tweet above. It’s not 2019 anymore. The Raptors are a different beast, younger, less veteran-heavy, and constructed in a less careful manner.
With Scottie missing the last couple of matchups against heavy-hitters like Boston and Philadelphia, the Raptors don’t know how well the team can operate in an optimal sans-Kawhi state, because Toronto was never expecting to, and is not built to, compete without both of its All-Stars.
Barnes was showcasing that he’s taken a leap offensively, and can piggy-back the Raptors — to a degree — but when facing off against diminished rosters of great teams, and the forward isn’t there to help the Raptors take advantage of weakened clubs, the Raptors are effectively leaving both wins or positive reps on the table, and without Barnes, aren’t necessarily getting either.
This isn’t to say that there’s *zero* value from playing without Barnes or Leonard. RJ Barrett just had a season high in points, and is continuing to prove his value. Jakob Poeltl has quietly been looking more like his uninjured self again. And the team’s younger players are getting more time on the court to find their legs and develop themselves further. But, this season was never meant to be about development. It was meant to be about the Raptors bashing teams’ heads in with lockdown defence and gliding to the playoffs.
But, ultimately, the team has to play the cards they’re dealt. The season thus far hasn’t been the triumphant return of Raptors basketball to the big stage anyone expected, but there’s a lot of basketball left in the year.
@BAAILEYYCREATES on Twitter raised an important point; that last year, Leonard’s health management kept him off the court almost entirely until the new year, and when he was back, he was whooping teams left right and centre. It’s not 2019 anymore, and Kawhi is 35 years old now, but that means, simply, that ramping up looks different for Leonard now, not that he’s unable to deliver on-court product. The Raptors need to be able to compete with and without Leonard for this roster to work, but without Scottie Barnes to lead the charge, Toronto will remain in dire straits.
After two-plus seasons, Dejounte Murray's time in New Orleans may be coming to a close.
ESPN's Shams Charania reported Friday that the veteran point guard has requested a trade, with the Pelicans confirming the news shortly thereafter. This comes on the heels of two blowout defeats for the Pelicans: a 51-point thrashing by the Warriors on Monday, followed by a 34-point loss to the Nets on Wednesday.
In their statement, the Pelicans said that they will "evaluate potential trade opportunities that are in the best interest of our organization."
Murray has appeared in nine games this season, averaging 13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals in 31.4 minutes per game. He's started alongside second-year guard Jeremiah Fears, whom many view as the Pelicans' point guard of the future.
Murray missed three games in late October/early November for personal reasons, and the Pelicans won all three, with Fears flourishing and Herb Jones providing quality defensive play as the replacement in the starting lineup. In a since-deleted social media post, Murray responded to a post noting the Pelicans' record in the games he missed, saying, "From what's going on INSIDE, this sounds like someone hit you to say this! THE 'SABOTAGE' IS REAL!"
Acquired from the Hawks during the 2024 offseason, Murray has appeared in 54 games for the Pelicans over two-plus seasons. His 2024-25 campaign was cut short by an Achilles tendon rupture, which also sidelined him for most of the 2025-26 season. He had already been ruled out for Friday's game against the Grizzlies with an ankle injury by the time reports of a trade request surfaced.
Redick stated during his Friday, Nov. 13 media availability that Reaves suffered a bruised heel and is considered day-to-day. The coach added that Reaves and the team's medical staff opted against having imaging done on the injury.
Reaves had landed awkwardly on his left heel after missing a transition dunk attempt in the middle of the third quarter of the Lakers' 123-112 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 11.
After feeling some discomfort, he limped back to the locker room. The initial X-rays taken at the arena were negative, and Redick ruled out any potential Achilles tendon damage.
Reaves was one of several injury scares suffered during the game against the Bucks.
Luka Dončić avoided a severe injury after turning his right ankle in the same game. Collin Sexton also needed stitches above his right eye after bumping heads with Ryan Rollins of the Bucks.
Reaves has played in 12 of 13 game for the Lakers this season, starting in all 12 of those contests. He is averaging 24.7 points, 3.3 rebound, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 51.3% from the field and 40.9% from beyond the arc.
When do Lakers play next?
Reaves and the Lakers will have more time to rest before traveling to Phoenix to take on the Suns at 4 p.m. ET (2 p.m. local) on Sunday, Nov. 15.
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, getting poked in the face by Heat guard Pelle Larsson during a game this month, is considered day-to-day after injuring his left heel during a game in Milwaukee. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
On the day the Lakers hosted their annual Thanksgiving Feast event to kick off their “Season of Giving” at the team’s practice facility, they were able to give some thanks for dodging serious injuries.
Austin Reaves didn’t have to get further imaging on his injured left heel, coach JJ Redick said after practice Friday, and the star guard will be listed as day-to-day for Sunday’s game at Phoenix.
Redick also said that All-Star guard Luka Doncic was “fine” after injuring his ankle in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night, that a concussion was ruled out for guard Collin Sexton after he received stitches to his forehead following a collision with Milwaukee’s Ryan Rollins, and that guard Quentin Grimes worked out in the stay-ready-game against coaches after missing two games because of a finger injury.
Reaves left Wednesday’s win in the third quarter and didn’t return. His X-rays after the game were negative and by Thursday morning, when the team had returned to L.A. after winning the first three of the four-game trip, Reaves felt well enough that he and team personnel opted against getting more imaging.
Redick said Reaves has a bruise on his heel and described it as “minor.”
Doncic, who leads the NBA in scoring (38.6 points) and is ninth in assists (7.6), is doing OK after he injured his right ankle in the fourth quarter Wednesday.
“The expectation would be he’s available,” Redick said.
Sexton had to get stitches above his right eye after the collision with 6:51 left in the fourth quarter Wednesday.
Redick said Sexton also will be day-to-day.
Lakers guard Collin Sexton, preparing to defend Hawks guard Kingston Flemings, is listed as day-to-day after getting stitches above his right eye following a collision during a win over the Bucks. (Mike Stewart / Associated Press)
Grimes, who missed two games because of a sprained finger on his right hand, participated in the live portion of the stay-ready game Wednesday and expects to play Sunday. Grimes wore a wrap on his right pinky finger while speaking with reporters.
“I had a really good day just playing with a little tape over it,” Grimes said. “Just seeing how it felt the first time, but it felt really good. We got a lot of wins out there in them games, at least. But it felt really good out there.”
The Lakers will have three days off before they play again Sunday to Phoenix.
Even though the Lakers have the best record in the NBA (11-2), are the top scoring team (122.2 points) in the league and rank first in offensive rating (121.6), Redick wanted to let his group know there is room for improvement.
During the film session Friday he told his team they “were 17th in defense” rating at 113.6. And the Lakers are 27th in rebounding.
Redick said he and his staff talked about “20 things” that they can clean up.
“We filtered through our offensive stuff based on our identities of who we want to be offensively: organized, unselfish and advantage-based,” Redick said. “Then we went through the stats on that.
“Then we went to our defense and our three identities: organized, physical as hell and relentless. And we went through the stats on those things. So, it’s a very clean thing. We’ve done that for the last 2½ seasons. It’s just everything that we present to the team lines up with who we’re trying to be.”
Redick got his message through to his players.
“Being first in the West, with the stuff that they showed us, you would think we were almost last, you know?” forward Ziaire Williams said. “But it’s gotta keep us honest. But you know, it’s good to know that there’s still room for growth as good as we’re doing. So yeah, it was great, it was great. So yeah, hopefully we’ll clean that up going into the next game against Phoenix.”
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 11: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at United Center on November 11, 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 Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs opened the year 0-2. Victor Wembanyama’s first three games were a little underwhelming for his mammoth standards. Since that 0-2 start, they’ve won 10 in a row. Over his past nine games, Wembanyama has been unbelievably dominant, averaging 33.7 points (67.9% true shooting), 11.9 rebounds, 4.6 blocks, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals.
Wembanyama isn’t the only star spearheading a tidy stretch for his team. Luka Dončić and the Los Angeles Lakers have won seven in a row to sit atop the West. LaMelo Ball, Rudy Gobert and the 9-3 Minnesota Timberwolves are thriving despite Anthony Edwards’ prolonged absence; they own the NBA’s top net rating at plus-14.1. Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics lead the East at 10-2, headlined by their rout of the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday night.
The NBA season is in full swing. Trade requests, injuries, scuffles, winning streaks, losing streaks, distance forming across conference standings, it’s all arrived! Here are a handful of the best stories from the past week as well as key news you may have missed.
TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 11: The sneakers worn by Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 11, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 09: Dejounte Murray #5 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts during a break in play in the third quarter against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on November 09, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Over the first eleven games of the season, it has not all been sunshine and rainbows for this Suns team. They have seen injuries, rebounding issues, and lapses on both ends of the floor. This has brought them to a 5-6 record, which lets them beat the bad teams but struggle against the good ones. As Espo from PHNX said the other night, they are basically in basketball purgatory right now, and some things need to change. Regardless of whether it’s a lineup switch, plugging in Jordan Goodwin or Collin Gillespie for Jalen Green, or potentially a trade on the horizon.
Devin Booker showed up and show d out but the win left something to be desired. pic.twitter.com/YUvk3gYjXM
In last night’s contest against the Charlotte Hornets, we saw Jalen Green benched and not finish the game. This move allowed the Suns to regain their lead and still win a game they should have controlled the whole way. Since Green hasn’t been playing well in the lineup and has been forced into this playmaking role, many are making him the scapegoat for the team’s early-season struggles.
While they are right to put most of the blame on him, it is not entirely his fault, as sometimes the bigs have trouble rebounding or some of the forwards are not locked in defensively.
No Green, no Bridges in the clutch. That’s saying something, isn’t it?
This is where Green has become a devalued asset across the league, as they now know he cannot fit with this starting lineup, and the Suns will likely switch things up as we get closer to the deadline. With Green still 24, some lottery teams will likely be willing to take a chance on him and let him shine with their club. For the Suns, today’s news may have made that landing spot clearer.
Dejounte Murray of the New Orleans Pelicans has requested a trade. I’ve highlighted him multiple times as a good target for the Suns for many reasons, but now that his value is depleted and he’s on the market, this is the perfect trade for both teams. Both teams have an asset with depreciated value that could help the other franchise, and everyone seems to be catching on.
New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray wants a trade from the franchise, and his agent Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul and team officials have started working on a resolution for the one-time All-Star, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/OoozAwcqvN
They’ve also been linked to Murray via Chris Haynes in this tweet. Haynes was the first to address locker-room concerns via the Suns, saying many felt the team needed a true point guard. Well, Murray could come in and fill that role as a better fit for the starters, but also mesh into the defensive identity that Jordan Ott wants to bring to this Phoenix team,
The Phoenix Suns have registered interest in New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray who has let it be known that he seeks a change of scenery, league sources tell me.
Murray, who has a $30.8 million player option next season, would accept it heading into next offseason but at 30, doesn’t seem to want a long-term, expensive deal. On the other hand, Green is young and looking to extend long term. With Booker’s contract coming up, plus the Brooks extension and a potential Bridges extension, and Beal’s dead money, it doesn’t seem feasible to pay all four players, especially when they look this bad on the court together.
Green is also the same player option as Murray, just at $36 million, and is making that same amount this season, so not only would you save $4 million this season and $6 million next year, but you would save yourself from a pain-inducing contract negotiation. It is clear Green can’t be a starter given his recent play, and Murray, who has been a head case in NOLA, may be the same, but it’s an unknown.
I feel Murray, who has been frustrated with the Pelicans this season, will buy into the Suns’ culture once he gets here. As we know, the Pelicans are bad and lack a clear direction for building. They view Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III as high pieces but not the building blocks of their rebuild. It seems like there are three timelines: Jones and Murphy III, Zion Williamson, and Murray as the vets who can help with a playoff push, and then you’ve got Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen as the young building blocks. Getting a young player like Green may not be the best fit, but it would give him a chance to return to his scoring form and try to become their number-one offensive option.
Dejounte Murray called Pelicans head coach Jamahl Mosley a bitch after he hit a three 🍿
For the Suns, this move frees up some money and gives you a player who can hopefully buy into the culture and help alleviate some of the pain for your best player. Murray isn’t coming in as a game-changing secondary option, but if he can buy into the team role and do the little things, he could find some great success in this starting lineup. Murray was an all-caliber defender in San Antonio, and yeah, he’s had many injuries, but I still think some of that player is still in him if he gets to Phoenix.
Ultimately, time will tell whether the Suns make this move or switch their starting lineups first. One good thing to know, though, is that Murray wants out, and the Suns look like one of the only teams that would need a true point guard. With both Green and Murray at their lowest values and on similar contracts, it seems a one-for-one deal could be the easiest thing for both parties. That said, the Pelicans front office doesn’t have the best track record with trades, so maybe the Suns can get something else thrown in for taking on their disgruntled player, since Green hasn’t made his frustrations as obvious as Murray’s. Could the Suns try to get a pick back in exchange for a younger asset? That’s something I’d like to see them try to pull off, alongside bringing in Murray to give them more flexibility in the long term.
Dejounte Murray has "strong interest" in joining the Phoenix Suns, per @sam_amick
His camp has been hopeful for a swap involving Jalen Green, but team sources on both sides recently said no talks had taken place. pic.twitter.com/z5BlT2vPK2
What are your thoughts? Is Dejounte Murray someone you would like the Suns to go after? Is there another piece you think would be a better fit? Ultimately, given what assets the Suns have to trade, this may be the best option they can pursue without hurting their depth too much, and I’d like it to materialize.
If you follow me on TikTok or Twitter you may already know this about me, but for those who don’t: I am a BIG NBA Cup supporter. We #RespectTheCup in this house. I am also a big soccer (or as I call it, footy) fan, so I was already prone to enjoying these in-season tournaments. When it was announced I actually think that I was one of the only ones in my content creation circle, and certainly the only one in my friend group, to be 100% on board with the idea.
While Adam Silver has had more missteps in the last few years than I would prefer, he knocked it out of the park with the NBA Cup. As mentioned above, I think that there are ways to improve the tournament, but even in its short existence, it has brought much needed excitement and punch to the early portion of the NBA season.
The Utah Jazz haven’t had the season that any of us would have envisioned, and while starting 1-11 is quite the hole to put ourselves in, the NBA Cup allows us to strive towards a real goal outside of “development.” Even more important than presenting an opportunity to lift up some hardware, getting all the way to the NBA Cup Final would prove that this team is ready to compete one day.
The NBA Cup’s lineage is relatively short, but in its brief history we’ve been able to see some truly great basketball teams compete for the prize. If we take a trip down memory lane, we will notice something almost immediately — the teams that make it are/were threats to the rest of the league.
These weren’t flukes, they were mistakes; if you made it to the Final, you were a team with the aspirations and the roster to play basketball in June.
2023-2024
The inaugural NBA Cup Final was a success by every single metric there is. The game drew 4.58 million viewers between ABC and ESPN, the arena in Las Vegas hosted over 19,000 fans, and the Final featured one of the most exciting teams in the league at the time in the Indiana Pacers and the one of the most well known brands in all of sports in the Los Angeles Lakers, of course led by LeBron James – one of the most recognizable athletes in the world.
While the Lakers weren’t world beaters at this time, being three years removed from a championship, the year prior this squad lost in the Western Conference Finals to the ever dangerous Denver Nuggets. On the other side of the bracket, Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers were the talk of the town. Haliburton was coming off of an All-Star campaign the year prior and the Pacers were just so fun to watch. The matchup also presented an opportunity for there to be a “passing of the torch” moment, but LeBron had other plans.
LeBron finished the game with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists, Anthony Davis had a game of a lifetime with 41 points and 20 rebounds, and Austin Reaves chipped in 28 points off the bench in route to a 123-109 victory. LeBron won the inaugural NBA Cup MVP award, the most recognizable NBA team in the world won the inaugural NBA Cup, and the win reiterated that the Los Angeles Lakers were still going to compete at the highest level.
While I was personally rooting for the Indiana Pacers in this game, they gave it everything they had. Haliburton had a cool 20 point and 11 assist performance while Bennedict Mathurin scored 20 off the bench. It wasn’t the result that they (or I) wanted, but it wasn’t long before they proved to be worthy opponents themselves. Lest we forget that the Pacers could have been one catastrophic injury away from lifting up the Larry O’Brien Trophy the following year in the 2024-2025 NBA Season.
2024-2025
The second iteration of the NBA Cup had quite the shoes to fill, but the NBA Cup Final did not disappoint. While there wasn’t a widely recognizable brand in the Final like the Lakers or the Celtics, there was a massive amount of star power.
The Milwaukee Bucks were just a few years removed from a NBA Championship themselves, and Giannis Antetokounmpo was out to prove that they could still compete. Giannis was, and still is, one of the the world’s best players and one of the game’s biggest names. With Damian Lillard at his side, Giannis was out to prove that the Bucks were still threats to come out of the East.
Over in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder were taking the league by storm. The year prior the team showed up on everyone’s radar after winning 57 games, and this year turned out to be no different. After it was all said and done, the OKC Thunder won 68 games led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who won his first MVP award, and the crew hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy at the end of the year.
Unfortunately for the Thunder, Giannis and the Bucks weren’t ready to lose this night. Giannis lead the way with a 26 point, 19 rebound, and 10 assist triple-double while Damian Lillard scored 23 points and led the Bucks to a 97-81 victory.
The Power of Friendship didn’t help the Thunder on this night, but they did give it their best effort: SGA scored 21, Jalen Williams scored 18,and Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in 16. While they weren’t victorious this night, they did prove to the world that they could compete with anyone in the league. After making it all the way to the NBA Cup Final, they dominated the regular season and defeated the aforementioned Indiana Pacers in 7 games in the NBA Finals.
2025-2026
The third iteration of the NBA Cup was arguably the best of the three. It also combined the best of both worlds from the previous two matchups: mega star power AND a recognizable brand. The New York Knicks are either the second or third (depending on who you ask) most recognizable brand in all of basketball, and for good reason. They don’t call Madison Square Garden “The Mecca of Basketball” for no reason. To top it all off, the Knicks were coming off of a 51 win season and a Conference Finals appearance the previous year, and Jalen Brunson just made the All-NBA 2nd Team.
Out west the San Antonio Spurs were well ahead of schedule with their roster. Stephon Castle just won the Rookie of the Year award the previous year, they drafted Dylan Harper with the #2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, and Victor Wembanyama had displayed All-World potential despite missing most of the 2024-2025 NBA season with DVT. To a lesser extent compared to the Knicks, the Spurs are also a world wide brand in the basketball realm due to the success of international stars like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
With all of the star power and recognizable brands at play, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Amazon Prime Video broadcast averaged over 3 million viewers. What also wasn’t a surprise is that both teams came to play. The Spurs had 7 players in double figures; Wemby and Dylan Harper combined for 39 points off the bench, while Stephon Castle scored 15 points and dropped 12 dimes as a starter. For the Knicks, their Power of Friendship mantra rang true with 7 players scoring in double digits led by Jalen Brunson’s 25 points and OG Anunoby’s 28 points.
The Knicks came out on top 124-113, but this was just the appetizer for the NBA Finals. In the NBA Cup Final both teams proved that they had what it took to compete at the highest level, and then they both powered their way through the NBA Playoffs to meet in the NBA Finals. Unfortunately for The Baseline Bums, the Knicks prevailed again in a 4-1 series win to secure a championship for the first time in 53 years.
Time and time again, the NBA Cup has proven to be the battleground for future competitors and NBA Championship threats. In all three years of existence, the teams competing in the NBA Cup have either already climbed to the mountain top or they were getting ready to take the league by storm. THAT is what we should be striving for. I think after the 1-11 start it would be very difficult to compete for a Playoff spot (I predicted that we would finish 7th) so we should strive to do something more enticing than another year of developing our young talent.
We had higher expectations for our team, but we’ve had a season from hell when it comes to the injury department: Jaren Jackson Jr. is out until the new year, Jusuf Nurkic will be out for at least another two weeks, and Lauri Markkanen will miss at least a month with his hand fracture. Do I think that it will be difficult to win the games necessary to advance in the NBA Cup tournament without them? Absolutely. Do I think that this is a tremendous chance for our young players to prove what they can do? Without a doubt.
The road will be hard, especially after dropping our first NBA Cup game against the Mavericks 112-100, but I don’t think that our chance to win has been snuffed out. Tonight we play the Houston Rockets, and while they are formidable, they are not unbeatable. After that, the Suns and Nuggets are both very volatile. There is a real scenario where the Jazz go 3-1 in group play and earn a spot in the NBA Cup Quarter Finals. Once we get there, it just takes a hot streak to take us all the way to the Promised Land.
Again, without Lauri or JJJ, the burden will be placed on our younger players and luckily we have the firepower to do it. Keyonte George is good for 20 points a game this year, Darryn Peterson became the first teenager in Utah Jazz history to score 20+ points in four straight games, and Ace Bailey has proven that he is invaluable to this team.
The season has been disappointing so far, but there are reasons to be excited and goals to strive for. There is a lot of basketball left to play this year, and I for one am not satisfied with chalking up this year to another development year. Our goal for the rest of the year should be to win the NBA Cup, because if we can do that with a depleted roster, just imagine what we can do in the 2027-2028 season with a fully heathy squad.
How do you feel about the NBA Cup? How do you think the Jazz will fare the rest of the season? Sound off in the comments below!
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 11: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on November 11, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As the centerpiece of a trade that sent fan favorite Darius Garland to the Clippers, Harden was always going to face an uphill battle.
Now, coming off an Eastern Conference Finals appearance, all eyes are on Harden as he begins his second season with the team. After twelve games, one thing is clear: his performance will determine whether the Cavaliers can improve on last year.
He was at the center of the team’s problems. There were long stretches of minimal effort on defense, and he often looked like he was coasting, barely attempting to bring down rebounds.
Offensively, it was just as bleak: 11 points on 3-9 shooting with four turnovers. Safe to say, the fanbase was ready to drive Harden to the airport and send him to whatever team, or country, would take him.
Then came the Knicks game on November 11.
Suddenly, Harden was energized and putting his mark on the game.
He orchestrated a 115-107 road win at Madison Square Garden and put the offense on his back with 32 points, going 9-for-14 from the field with five threes and 9-11 at the free throw line.
Putting those two games back to back is as stark as it is telling of where the Cavaliers are. The team knew the risks and still entered the James Harden business.
This isn’t MVP Harden, and this isn’t the Houston Rockets of the 2010s, but the sentiment still stands: Cleveland is reliant on Harden to make the pieces on this roster gel. When he is at his worst, the ripples spread throughout the entire lineup.
The numbers show just how much his play matters, if not in the way Cleveland hoped. Through his first 11 games, the Cavaliers had a -5.6 net rating with Harden on the floor and a +15.7 net rating with him off it. Whatever his Knicks performance does to those numbers, it was a long way from enough to erase them.
Is this too much to ask of a 37-year-old? Yes. But the Cavaliers knew this was the route they were taking when they traded for Harden and then extended him on a three-year, $97 million deal. At times this season, it has looked like a grave mistake.
Harden is posting some of the lowest numbers of his career: 16.7 points, 5.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game. That scoring is about seven points below his 23.6 average last season, and about four below the 20.5 he averaged in 26 games after joining Cleveland. His assists are down more than two per game from last season’s 8.0.
Still, the Knicks game suggests the player fans expect isn’t gone. The problem for the Cavaliers is how to keep Harden engaged and empowered enough that performances like that don’t become few and far between.
It will be a balancing act. Cleveland has to meet Harden at a level of comfort that lets him use his best traits, while melding his heliocentric style with an offense that fits the rest of the roster and lets the ball move more freely. That will take time. The Cavaliers knew this came with Harden, and fans need to understand it won’t be pretty until a resolution is found on the court.
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The defending NBA Cup champions are in need of a win.
At 7 p.m. ET, Jalen Brunson’s New York Knicks will play their second NBA Cup game of the 2026 season against Pascal Siakam’s Indiana Pacers at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
After losing the first of four group-stage games 98-93 to the 76ers, a second defeat wouldn’t automatically eliminate the squad but could certainly hurt their chances of advancing.
To add insult to injury, the 2026 NBA champs are also coming off a tough 115-107 loss to the Cavs — they can’t even say they “analytically won” — where James Harden dropped 32 points on them.
Indiana enters tonight 4-8 and flying high following their 114-101 victory over the Wizards on Nov. 11. Siakam led the way with 28 points; Ivica Zubac chipped in 20.
Like New York, they are also 0-1 in NBA Cup play.
This evening’s contest will be the first of the year between the bitter Eastern Conference rivals; star Tyrese Haliburton is sitting for the Pacers due to a mild left hamstring strain. He should be back in approximately 10 days.
Prior to tipoff, the last Knicks vs. Pacers game was on March 17; New York won 136-110.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the Knicks vs. Pacers NBA Cup game live for free tonight.
When do the Knicks play again?
The Knicks are back in action tonight, Nov. 13, against the Indiana Pacers.
Knicks vs. Pacers start time
Knicks vs. Pacers will tip off at 7 p.m. ET with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m.
How to watch the Knicks vs. Pacers NBA Cup game for free
Tonight’s Knicks vs. Pacers NBA Cup game is streaming exclusively on Prime Video nationwide, so you’ll have to be an Amazon Prime subscriber to watch the game.
If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.
TRY PRIME VIDEO FREE
All 18- to 24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership as well, with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you’ll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price of $14.99/month — just $7.49/month — for up to six yearsand get all the perks.
NBA on Prime: 2026-27 Knicks schedule
The Knicks have 10 scheduled NBA on Prime games for the 2026-27 season, not including any potential NBA Cup knockout games. These are the seven remaining:
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
INDIANAPOLIS — Amid a struggling start for the Knicks wings, Josh Hart revealed he’s dealt with injuries since pre-training camp and agreed Friday that the team’s slow pace has negatively impacted himself, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby.
All three entered Friday’s game against the Pacers shooting under 40 percent, while the Knicks were dead last in the league in pace at 95 possessions per game.
“There’s less chances at the rim,” Hart said. “I think it also affects Mikal and OG. … [Coach Mike Brown] says Mikal is the best runner in the league. So if you have the best runner in the league and you’re not running, you’re wasting one of his talents. If we play faster, we’ll be able to do that. Sometimes OG has smaller guards defending him, so if we run he can be able to seal at the rim, be able to get easy points at the rim, which also can help our rim finishing.”
Hart said the solution is to simply push the ball up quicker in possessions, even if that means Jalen Brunson isn’t bringing up the ball. The Knicks were third in the NBA in frequency of field goals in the final four seconds of the shot clock, a stat indicative of a slowly evolving offense. They were also shooting an NBA-worst 57.2 percent in the paint, which is a symptom of few breakaways.
The Knicks were 23rd in the league in fastbreak points.
“We gotta get the ball out and sometimes that might have to be [Brunson] just running and not going to the ball after a make or a defensive rebound,” Hart said. “Just trying to get a better and quicker flow so it’s not so stagnant in the halfcourt.”
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11 runs down court after scoring against the Bulls. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell #45 drives to the basket as New York Knicks guard Josh Hart #3 gives chase. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
But Hart, Anunoby and especially Bridges weren’t producing to their standard. Hart has been hindered by physical ailments. He planted his foot wrong in training camp and suffered an ankle injury, which caused him to miss consecutive games last week.
On Friday, Hart said he was sidelined for three weeks in September because “I tweaked my calf.” It set back his conditioning and led to limitations in training camp, which Hart explained as a contributor to the clunky start.
“This year was a little different. Obviously, a shorter break in terms of the summer [because of the long playoff run] but also I wasn’t physically able to really push my body towards the end of the summer to be prepared for the season,” Hart said. “I had [the calf] injury in September, which kept me out for about three weeks, so I wasn’t able to get in some of that conditioning and some of those legs under me, which is normally the time to do it.
“And then, the ankle injury in training camp. So, the ramp up was a little bit slower than I kinda wanted it to be or kinda liked it to be, so I think that’s the biggest thing is just getting my legs under me.”
Hart entered Friday shooting just 31.7 percent on 3-pointers — which is well below his average of 41.3 percent from last season.
“The shots I’m shooting, I like them. I think that was kinda evident with Cleveland. One of the things: All three of my 3s was just hella short. It was just, those legs, get those legs under me,” Hart said. “Also, on top of that, missing a week in the season, it’s cumulative of six, seven weeks of just not much activity basketball-wise. So, I think that’s just what it is. So, as the season progresses and I’m out there running more, doing all those kinds of things, the performance will follow.”
The Mavericks went 3-1 over the last week and sit at 7-5 overall. They won three in a row at home against Utah (112-100), Brooklyn (130-93), and Indiana (125-122). Minnesota pummeled them to start off their road trip, 133-94. Cooper Flagg led the team in scoring with 25.3 points per game.
Grade: A-
The Mavericks, once again, had a three-game win streak spoiled by an embarrassing loss. The Timberwolves are much better than the Kings, but the effort from Dallas was similar. Minnesota got any shot they wanted, exposed the Mavericks’ size and lack of point-of-attack defenders, and effectively ended the game in the second quarter.
The three games prior, however, were great. The Mavericks took care of business against two bad teams and beat an Indiana team that always gives them problems. Morez Johnson Jr. has been awesome in his minutes; his early-season coup de grace was a 13-point, 17-rebound (10 offensive) performance against Utah, where he truly looked like the ninth pick for the first time. He said after the game that he was “back”, implying that the injury that hindered him to start the year had dissipated.
Caleb Martin has been good in his role as defensive connector. P.J. Washington’s jump shot looks so much better this season, likely because he is using his legs more. Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving’s chemistry continues to develop as Irving gets healthier. Speaking of which, Irving played his first back-to-back of the season against Brooklyn and Indiana. Zaccharie Risacher has had his minutes go up and down, mostly correlated to how he is playing game to game. Naji Marshall is one piece that still has not felt right on this team, and his trade status will need to be monitored going forward.
The Mavericks have to wash the stink of the Timberwolves loss as they head to Cleveland and Boston on a Saturday/Sunday back-to-back, and then back home for Golden State on Wednesday.
Straight A’s: Cooper Flagg
Let’s ignore Flagg’s stinker against Minnesota for a second. In the three-game win streak prior, he averaged 29.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, shot seven-of-15 from three, and had nine stocks (steals plus blocks). This included a 43-point, 10-rebound game, which brings his 40-point game total as a teenager to five, the most all-time. He also sits only behind LeBron James in 25-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist games as a teenager (Flagg 17, James 22), with 13 games scheduled plus the NBA Cup before his 20th birthday,
He is awesome. He is a joy to watch, a fierce competitor, and improves (almost) every game. When his three-point shot is on, as it was over the last four games, he is truly unguardable at age 19. Of course, the preface to this section was ignoring his poor performance in Minnesota. He still has weird off-nights. But he is not even 20 years old, and those should phase out as he grows. One thing has been clear in 12 games so far: a team Cooper Flagg will not be able to lose very often.
Failed the assignment: Daniel Gafford
Gafford has largely been good this year. He has been healthy, which is key, and he certainly is a lob threat on offense. But his weaknesses, particularly on defense, have been exposed recently. He cannot move in space effectively, which forces him to play drop coverage on pick-and-rolls. This means he drops back in the paint to guard the screener, which inherently leaves space for the ball handler to shoot or pass. Teams have been exploiting this, and it even got him benched against the Jazz.
His shot-blocking and big dunks are cool to watch, don’t get me wrong. But Gafford has a bit of the “Boban Syndrome”, where he is really good in short spurts and really bad when he plays extended periods. His minutes in the last four games are already down to just 18.3 a game, eclipsed by Morez Johnson Jr.’s 18.8. With Gafford, less is more. Unfortunately, this means they need their rookie undersized center, who is fresh off shin splints, will need to play more. Dallas may survive, but against bigger teams like the Timberwolves, they’re going to struggle mightily.
Extra Credit: Walter Clayton Jr.
Clayton Jr. has been one of the more underrated signings in the entirety of the NBA this season. His stats do not jump off the page (7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game), but when you watch him play, he looks like he belongs. This Dallas roster was in dire need of guard play, and Clayton Jr., last year’s 18th overall pick, has given them great minutes at the one.
His assists come with just 1.6 turnovers per game, and he is shooting 37.1 percent from three. His hands on defense are active, which really stands out because he gets a lot of deflections. He is under control handling the ball, and already has the trust of the coaching staff to finish games. Normally, individual plus/minus is a flawed stat because there are four other guys on the court. However, Clayton Jr.’s +43 when he is on the floor this season backs up the eye test. He looks like an NBA point guard, and if he can keep this up, this would be Masai Ujiri’s crown jewel early in his tenure.
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 3: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket during the game against the Utah Jazz on April 3, 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
First off, my sincerest apologies for the late preview. The Microsoft outage yesterday did not allow me to sign into our story editor and therefore I was moored without a way back to civilization.
Today, the Houston Rockets continue their NBA Cup journey. Houston is 0-1 in Group A play, but winning out would give Houston a decent chance to advance. That still includes a road game in Denver, so the odds aren’t great. Still, even if you don’t care at all about the Falcon, tonight’s game counts just like any other game in the standings. The Rockets have recovered a bit from their two-game dip, and now they’re trying to get back to the way they were playing earlier in the season.
The Utah Jazz are 1-11 with their sole win coming at home to the New Orleans Pelicans by a single point. They’ve been in plenty of other games, with the common thread being that they’re much tougher to play at home (“Wow AK what a surprise”). Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. are hurt, which should give way to a big night for Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.
This is a scary game for Houston because you can easily see the path to an embarrassing defeat: Houston doesn’t take the Jazz seriously, who get off to a great start, led by Keyonte George, Brice Sensabaugh, Isaiah Collier, all of whom have had great nights against Houston in the last couple of years. Then Darryn Peterson finally has the game that proves he should have been the top pick in the draft and finishes Houston with an array of floaters and jumpers. Will it happen? Probably not. But you can see it.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 12: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 12, 2026 at 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Ted Lasso became an iconic show in short order.
The Jason Sudeikis-led comedy series about an American football coach who becomes a football (soccer) coach became a cultural phenomenon.
One of the most popular characters is Roy Kent, the grizzled old veteran of A.F.C. Richmond. Kent, portrayed by writer and comedian Brett Goldstein, was once a star of the Premier League, but he’s on his last legs when we meet him in the show.
Fans of Kent made up a song at his peak, one they serenaded him with as he gets hurt and leaves the pitch for the final time.
He’s here, he’s there, he’s every-fucking-where, Roy Kent, Roy Kent
Though he’s only in his second year — and is the polar opposite of “grizzled” — VJ Edgecombe has embodied that song in his young NBA career. There was no clearer example of that than his performance in the Sixers’ 123-112 win over the Toronto Raptors Thursday night.
With LeBron James out of the lineup, Edgecombe stepped into a bigger role and looked comfortable in it.
“I’m blessed to have a group of guys around me that’s encouraging,” Edgecombe said postgame. “They help me with confidence.”
Edgecombe scored 15 points with multiple dazzling finishes at the rim, a couple serious dunks (and then teasing the possibility of doing the dunk contest postgame) and a three. He drove to the rim and made the right reads all night, finding his teammates for eight assists. He continued to crash the glass at a high level for a guard, pulling down eight rebounds. He also continued to defend at a high level, recording three steals and a block.
All of this and the general winning plays he makes on a nightly basis have become what’s expected of him.
“I just tell him to go do that VJ stuff,” Tyrese Maxey said. “Literally, that’s exactly what I tell him. I say, ‘Hey, man, go do that VJ stuff that you do,’ and he literally goes out there and does VJ stuff. He had 15, eight and eight tonight. Who knows? Next game it may be 20, four and four. He just does VJ stuff. He gets us loose balls. He makes winning plays. He defends. He scores. He does it all.”
So much of the noise this offseason surrounding the super team of James, Maxey, Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown the Sixers have built was about Edgecombe. How would he handle his role changing? Would a drop in usage affect his development? Would the glut of stars hurt Edgecombe’s chances to put up numbers and earn his eventual rookie max extension?
Nights like Thursday show why those queries were silly.
“When I’m on the floor with those four other guys, it’s kind of in a way where it’s helpful for me,” Edgecombe said, “because I’m in different positions and I’m in a year two — I’m seeing basketball from different standpoints. Some nights two of them might be out. Some nights one might be out. Some nights none might be out. And to be able to just balance the different lineups and just trying to stay consistent throughout it all.
“I just want to shout out my teammates for that. They just helped me a lot, especially ‘Rese and Joel. They always just tell me keep going, keep going.”
Anyone who watched Edgecombe as a rookie and heard him talk knew he’d excel with this star-studded group. Last season, Edgecombe’s usage was unexpectedly high because the Sixers needed it to be. This season, they’ve needed Edgecombe to flash more of his overall game.
And 13 games in, that’s exactly what he’s done.
But when guys are out of the lineup, Edgecombe knows his team needs more.
“I think this is like the second time he’s done this as well when we’re down somebody that he just comes out a little bit more lively and assertive,” Nick Nurse said. “And I thought … he made some really decisive moves in the open floor — not necessarily break situations, but the flow is still going, and he’s punching through.
“And again, I thought he kicked out a few of those, and even on some of the half-court sets, he just attacked aggressively to the paint, and that’s where some of those assists were coming from. So, I just thought he did come with an extra pop, and he’s done that a couple times now this year.“
When Edgecombe was coming out of Baylor, there were comparisons to old friend Jimmy Butler. This writer didn’t see it at the time, but now it makes sense.
Some players simply impact winning. They affect the game in every facet. They stuff the stat sheet, but their imprint on the game goes far beyond it.
“I’m just blessed to be in this position,” Edgecombe said, “and at the end of the day, I just want to keep getting better. Some opportunities might not be there, but I think I’m getting better mentally, and that’s the most important part of the game. Sometimes you got to be mentally strong.”
