BOSTON, MA - 1976: Dave Bing #21 shoots a free throw against the Boston Celtics circa 1976 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 1976 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Dave Bing is sort of a basketball version of Forrest Gump, only smarter.
A native of Washington, D.C., Bing met Marvin Gaye playing basketball. Unable to keep up, Gaye sang on the sidelines. They remained friends for years.
At Syracuse for a time, he roomed with Jim Boeheim and got to know law student Joe Biden.
After his playing career, he founded the NBA Retired Players Association. He started Bing Steel in 1980; in 1984, Ronald Reagan awarded him the National Minority Small Business Person of the Year.
In 2008, he ran for mayor of Detroit and won. Later, he worked on the 2009 bailout of the auto industry with – surprise – President Biden.
In short, the man has a very long list of accomplishments.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 13, 2026 at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On a night dominated by the apparent status of Kristaps Porzingis, the absence of the Latvian big was felt at times during the Golden State Warriors’ 101-89 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Steve Kerr’s intention to spread the floor in a so-called ‘5-out’ alignment banked on players who are able to space to floor — including their center. Porzingis happens to fit that profile, while also being 7-foot-3-inches. Without Porzingis — and also not having Al Horford available tonight — the Warriors were not only small, they were bereft of shooting and spacing personnel.
That was apparent at times during this game, where the Warriors were able to rally back from a significant deficit, albeit during a time when both teams’ main characters’ nights were finished (one of them, Luka Doncic, did not suit up for the Lakers).
Once again, it was rookie Yaxel Lendeborg who stood out. He finished with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists in just under 24 minutes of time on the floor. He once again flashed familiarity and comfort as an offensive player within Steve Kerr’s often-intricate scheme while displaying motor and hustle that gave the Warriors a couple of second-chance points.
Yaxel goodness:
1. Makes the skip to the corner upon seeing the double
2. Hustles to get the ball back, leads to a Podz 3 https://t.co/ReLSLq4pZE
Lendeborg’s touted versatility as an offensive operator was apparent tonight. As an off-ball spacer, he has been showing promise, especially off of Steph Curry’s on-ball adventures through the pick-and-roll. Lendeborg can be a corner spacer taking advantage of ‘tag’ situations, as he does below:
Steph high PnR on the SLOB, Yaxel on the weak side corner. His man tags, pass to Yaxel in the corner and drills the three.
Spacing option. https://t.co/wTE2YtWddN
Interestingly, Lendeborg can also be the main character in a spread pick-and-roll configuration, with Curry playing the role of mostly standstill spacer. Lendeborg has on-ball juice and the handle to be able to keep such possessions stable, while also making use of change-of-pace craft in order to create a window for him to score up close:
Kerr yells "Thumb up Charles" for a spread angle PnR with Bassey as the screener for Yaxel.
Again, the trust in Yaxel in PnR reps has been intriguing, with Steph as a standstill floor spacer. Yaxel comes off the screen, gets in the paint, sees Kessler meeting him to contest but Yaxel uses the Pinoy step to bump Kessler and get him up in the air to create the window.
There is plenty of evidence with regard to Lendeborg’s role versatility on offense. Perhaps his most important role in a Curry offense is as a screener, either on or off the ball. Off the ball screening provides Lendeborg ample opportunity to take advantage of Curry’s gravity through slipped screens and subsequent cuts toward the rim:
Dubs go to their "2" action with Gui playing the Draymond role as the elbow hub. Yaxel slips inside, catches the pass and finishes against contact. https://t.co/29fNMayCmV
There are, however, points of improvement for the young rookie. Lendeborg has work to do on the other end of the floor. He has the length and athleticism to make eye-popping defensive plays, but occasionally the little details escape him.
He has a knack for being out of position when defending the ball. He has a habit of standing straight up in lieu of being in a proper defensive stance. He can be caught with one foot leading out, enabling ball handlers to blow past him and taking advantage of his slow hip swivel.
Yaxel point of improvement: defends the PnR, gets switched onto Reaves, front foot leading out, gets blown by. Hip slow to open up. Positionally needs to be better. https://t.co/FaM6yjHCzy
Overall, Lendeborg has shown much more good than either bad or mediocre, which is a promising indicator of his ability to contribute right away — important, given the dearth of top-flight personnel surrounding Curry. However, Kerr made it a point that the team is far from where they want to be, although stating that they were ‘working on the right things.’
Steve Kerr a week prior to the opener: “We’re not anywhere close to where we want to be, but we’re working on the right things.” https://t.co/6ux63RSDqL
Lakers center Walker Kessler and Warriors center Charles Bassey chase a loose ball in the first half Tuesday. (David Becker / AP)
The plan for the Lakers had been to turn their fourth preseason game into a dress rehearsal for the upcoming season.
But that was not the case.
The Lakers did get the preseason debut of center Walker Kessler on Tuesday night, a good sign for them to see their biggest acquisition of the summer play.
But on the flip side, Luka Doncic didn’t play in the Lakers’ 101-89 loss to the Golden State Warriors at T-Mobile Arena because he was resting.
“He’s not injured, just getting the night off,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
So, it was left up to Kessler, Austin Reaves and the rest of the available Lakers to sort things out. And Reaves and Kessler were on point.
In just his second preseason game, Reaves was doing his thing, scoring 28 points on 10-for-18 shooting, including four for seven on three-pointers, with seven assists and four rebounds. But forced to handle the ball more with Doncic out, Reaves also had seven turnovers.
Kessler started and had 11 points, nine rebounds, one blocked shot and one steal in 16 minutes.
For the Lakers, it was good to see Kessler on the court. They gave up a lot to get him from the Utah Jazz — two unprotected first-round picks and two pick swaps and then signing him to a four-year, $130-million contract.
Kessler played in just five games last season with the Jazz recovering from a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
He missed the first three Lakers preseason games with a left pinky injury.
Kessler yearned to play again.
“Yeah, I mean it was a lot of fun being out there again,” he said. “It’s been so long. Before the game I was actually pretty nervous, to be honest. But, getting out there and just playing with the guys, it was a blast. I can’t really, you know speak to…I think I have a certain presence on the floor, but I think my teammates around me did a great job of playing defense on the perimeter. I think we shared the ball really well tonight. Just how it was, especially in the first half. It was a lot of fun.”
He began his night with a defensive rebound, which allowed the Lakers to set up their offense early in the first quarter.
Kessler then cut to the basket, took a pass from Reaves and scored on a layup, his first points of the preseason.
His second basket was a left-handed layup early in the second quarter. Shortly after, Kessler blocked a shot by Warriors center Charles Bassey from behind, a display of his defensive presence.
Another good sign, less than a minute later, was when Kessler got an offensive rebound and bounded back up for a dunk.
When the Warriors went to their small-ball lineup in the first quarter, it meant the 7-foot-2 Kessler would be tested on defense, because his man was 6-2 Gary Payton II. It meant Kessler was forced to play defense on the perimeter and not down low where the Lakers prefer him.
Still, Kessler held his own.
Lakers forward Arthur Kaluma drives the ball against Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg during the first half Tuesday. (David Becker / AP)
While he was out and unable to play, Kessler learned a few things about himself.
“Yeah, I think what I missed most was competing,” Kessler said. “Quite frankly, competing to win, and I think as far as making me a better basketball player, I just think it has made me long to go try to win every game and win every night. So returning, I think it makes me a little better basketball player.”
The Lakers lost to the Warriors for the second time this preseason. Their other two games were victories over the Sacramento Kings. They play one more preseason game, Friday night against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena, and then open the season against the Warriors at home on Oct. 21.
Before the game, Redick said the plan was for the Lakers to “continue to work on us.”
“We have kind of circled this game, not as a full dress rehearsal, just in terms of our scout presentation, but we gave the guys a sample of that this morning and at shootaround,” Redick said. “Not as much game-planning necessarily, but just kind of the sequencing of how we present prior to a game. We’ll do the same thing pregame with a brief personnel tape. We just want to get better. I mean, that’s the biggest thing. We want to get healthy, we want to get better, we want to continue to build our fitness and cardio level and find a rhythm. And it’s been a little disjointed with having some guys out.”
Redick said rookie Cameron Carr, guard Collin Sexton (lower leg) and forwards Ziaire Williams (right foot contusion) and Adou Thiero (undisclosed) “are still day to day” with their injuries.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 13: Walker Kessler #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on October 13, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A second-half rally by the Warriors saw them pick up a second win of the preseason against the Lakers, 101-89.
In a game highlighted by Walker Kessler’s debut for the purple and gold, LA built up a 20-point lead with the regular rotation players on the floor. However, the drop-off to the bench was drastic and that lead quickly drained away in the second half.
The purple and gold turned the ball over 30 times, leading to 26 Golden State points. They also shot just 33-76 from the field and 9-34 from three.
Quentin Grimes opened up the scoring for LA, knocking down a triple. He led Los Angeles early with five points. Steph Curry had three for the Warriors. Walker Kessler scored his first points as a Laker on a layup. He also made his defensive presence known by altering shots.
Golden State called a timeout after falling behind by seven.
Out of the break, the Warriors went on an 8-0 run to take the lead. Austin Reaves answered with a jumper to stop their run. De’Anthony Melton had nice production off the bench for Golden State with five points. Reaves, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Jake LaRavia all drained triples for Los Angeles.
Reaves was the first Laker in double figures with 11 points. At the end of the first, the game was tied.
Austin Reaves is the first to reach double figures with 11 in Q1!
Kessler erupted early in the second period, scoring four points and blocking a shot. Jaden Hardy also knocked down a three for LA. Los Angeles was up by five at the 8:18 mark. Reaves then began to take over, putting up 10 points. Grimes converted on back-to-back layups, helping keep the Lakers up big.
LA was on a 13-4 run.
They continued to dominate the quarter, shooting 56% from the field. Most of their points came in the paint, winning that battle, 30-20. Kessler ended the half with 11 points and nine rebounds. Reaves had 23 points and six assists.
While Kessler did not play in the second half, Reaves began the third period with a jumper for Los Angeles. He also knocked down a triple to help LA take a 20-point lead, but the Warriors responded with a 14-0 run. Mamu ended that run by scoring on a driving hook shot.
At the 4:17 mark, LA was up by seven.
Los Angeles ended the quarter going 6-20 from the field. They missed seven attempts from behind the arc. They also had 18 turnovers. Nobody really found offensive rhythm, allowing Golden State to make it a closer affair.
Going into the fourth period, the Lakers were up by four.
The final frame began with LA’s bench on the floor. Brandin Podziemski tied the game. The Warriors jumped ahead by six thanks to another triple from Podz and one from Gui Santos.
After a series of turnovers and poor plays, the Warriors went up by eight. Gary Payton II scored four in a row to make it happen.
Newest Laker Rafael Castro scored his first points as a Laker on an alley-oop dunk. With the game winding down quite fast, Golden State had the commanding lead.
Key Player Stats
Reaves finished with 28 points, four rebounds and seven assists in 25 minutes. Kessler ended with 11 points and nine rebounds. Mamu scored 10 points with seven rebounds and two assists.
Grimes pitched in with nine points and six assists. LaRavia logged four points with three rebounds and two assists. Jaden Hardy chipped in 10points, most in garbage time.
The Lakers’ last preseason matchup will be against the Denver Nuggets on Friday at 7:30 PM PT.
Boston, MA - October 10: Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, guard Derrick White and forward Paul George watch from the bench in the fourth quarter. The Boston Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers in a preseason game at TD Garden on October 10, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Celtics fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Before the inaugural Three-Point Shootout at the 1986 All-Star Game, Larry Bird famously walked into the locker room and casually asked, “who’s coming in second?” Two hours later with a raised finger before the winning triple even went down, he backed up the trash talk and won three shootouts in a row.
The modest Jayson Tatum probably wouldn’t even joke about who might come in second in scoring this season for the Celtics — before you say ask, yes, Tatum is leading the team in points — but let’s speculate before the year kicks off on Tuesday in Detroit.
The obvious candidate might be the newly anointed $44 Million Man Payton Pritchard, who signed a two-year extension yesterday. Whether he’s coming off the bench as a former Sixth Man of the Year or starting with Tatum, Pritchard is going to be key offensive weapon after averaging a career-high 17 points per game in 2025-2026.
There’s also Derrick White and Paul George who head coach Joe Mazzulla has said will definitely be part of the opening five on Opening Night. White had a down shooting year last season, but with a little more scoring punch around him, he might settle into a more complementary role with a higher efficiency. After playing just 78 games for the 76ers over two seasons, George looks primed for a comeback year in green. He’s vowed to be JT’s #2 and 20.5 points per game career average would be a welcome sign in Year 17.
However, the most obvious answer to the poll question is that it doesn’t matter. On any given night, any of those players could pop off for 30+ points with everybody else slotting in at #2, #3, and #4 in random order. If the first two preseason games are any indication, Boston will play a very democratic style of Mazzulla Ball with everybody getting their touches and looks. Everybody will eat and the vibes are good.
TORONTO — No, the preseason results don’t actually matter. Knicks coach Mike Brown instead harps on the process.
Whatever this process was, though, it was ugly.
With Knicks starters — as well as veteran bench pieces Landry Shamet, Andre Drummond and Jordan Clarkson — sitting out the team’s preseason game (since it was the second leg of a back-to-back) against the Raptors on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena, it was a chance for those battling for bigger roles and roster spots to help their cases.
Brown went with Jose Alvarado, Miles McBride, Mohamed Diawara, Bruce Brown and James Wiseman as his starters.
Adam Graves looks to put up a shot as James Wiseman (35) and Mohamed Diawara (51) defend during the Knicks’ 148-98 preseason blowout loss to the Raptors on Oct. 13, 2026 in Toronto. John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Raptors, however, used their normal starting lineup — which now includes Kawhi Leonard. And the Knicks reserves got crushed by a staggering 50 points — 148-98 — to continue their winless preseason (0-4).
“It’s not necessarily what’s on the scoreboard at that particular time,” an unconcerned Brown said. “It’s are you doing the right things to be better and/or get better? And in the first half, what I was most disappointed in was we weren’t putting bodies on bodies. Fifteen second-chance points in one half is not good. Thirty fast-break points in one half is not good.
Miles McBride drives to the basket during the Knicks’ preseason blowout loss to the Raptors. NBAE via Getty Images
“And then the way they sped us up, and us not necessarily touching the paint and trying to spray it and/or making quick decisions is not good. So that’s what I was most disappointed in in the first half. I really didn’t care about the score, especially with the group we had on the floor.”
Mikal Bridges made the trip here and went through a workout on the court pregame, though the four other Knicks starters — as well as Shamet, Drummond and Clarkson — stayed home.
Drew Eubanks, Tyler Nickel, Pacôme Dadiet, Tony Bradley, Ochai Agbaji, Kevin McCullar Jr., Tyler Kolek and Jaden Akins were the other Knicks who saw action.
They trailed by 20 after the first quarter.
The deficit ballooned to 28 early in the second quarter, reached 35 just past the midway point of the quarter and was at 38 by halftime.
It didn’t get much better in the second half, as the Knicks backups looked overmatched going against a playoff team that just added a superstar to its ranks.
“You never want to lose in that way,” McBride said. “But at the same time, we just gotta move on. Preseason is for those reasons. Missing eight of our guys, you just want to come out there and have a positive mindset. Go out there and play hard. There were things we could’ve definitely done better, but they’re a playoff team and you add a Hall of Famer with them.”
Leonard had his way with the Knicks with 21 points in 16 minutes, with Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles adding 19 apiece and RJ Barrett chipping in 17. The Raptors as a whole shot 57.3 percent from the field.
This was like those blowouts the Knicks punished opponents with during their championship run — except this time with the roles reversed.
ORLANDO, FL - OCTOBER 13: Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic on October 13, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Magic have skilled pieces, they just don’t fit together. That changes when Wagner is able to create for others as easily as he did on Tuesday.
Orlando’s offense makes sense when Wagner is attacking downhill, getting to the line, and kicking out to shooters. This was the offensive formula new head coach Sean Sweeney wants to see from his team going forward.
Second star: Paolo Banchero
24 points, 3 assists, 8 rebounds
The Cavs didn’t have an answer for Banchero inside. He went 7-for-8 in the restricted area and 8-for-10 in the paint overall.
This was a stark contrast to what we saw Sunday. Then, Cleveland’s defense did a good job of containing Banchero by mostly making him a jump shooter as he went 1-for-10 from the field that game. That formula was lost entirely in this matchup in what was an overall awful defensive outing for the Cavs.
Third star: Meleek Thomas
16 points, 0 assists, 3 rebounds
Thomas was the lone Cavalier standout in this game. He made the most of his opportunity in the fourth quarter by putting up 14 of his 16 points then.
It’s worth pointing out that Thomas’s scoring hasn’t exactly translated to an off-ball role. Whether or not he can show these same skills playing away from the ball could determine the rookie’s impact this season. That said, the flashes you see when you put the ball in his hands are incredibly encouraging.
Dud of the game
Evan Mobley
14 points, 5 rebounds, 0 assists
This wasn’t an objectively bad game, but it was the continuation of an underwhelming preseason for Mobley. The Cavs have talked about wanting to get him comfortable in the offense. He hasn’t looked that way, as this showing was on the heels of a 3-for-10 shooting performance on Sunday.
You don’t want to make too much of preseason, but there hasn’t been much from these three games that would make you believe a drastic leap is coming.
Cavalier who deserves a shoutout
Jaylon Tyson
12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Tyson continues to showcase the well-rounded game he teased at times last season. He seems much more comfortable creating with the ball in his hands. That pairs well with a solid three-point shot and the consistent energy he plays with.
Play of the game
Good look here at a Mario specific set to get him isolated in the post on a smaller guard with a clear floor.
Kenny Atkinson has talked about using Mario Hezonja in the post when he has a mismatch. This shows how doing so can lead to an easy basket.
Here, Hezonja gets a mismatch on him, backs his guy in the post, and then forces Goga Bitadze to step up to help. That help defense gave Jarrett Allen a runway to get into the lane and draw a foul.
Efficient scoring often comes down to whether you can create and exploit mismatches. Plays like this show how Hezonja can do that.
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Quote of the game
“We got to have a first line of attack that’s a little stronger.” – Assistant coach Mike Gerrity
Defense starts at the point of attack. You can’t protect the rim if the guards are consistently getting blown by on the perimeter. That forces you into rotation, opens up driving angles off ball, and leaves you vulnerable to three-pointers.
This was a bad game all around, but the reason this got out of hand was due to a lack of perimeter defense.
This number represents how poorly Cleveland played on that end. You don’t give up that high of a half-court offensive rating without struggling to contain the ball. When you can’t contain the ball, the offense can continually get easy looks just by making one or two passes.
What this game will be remembered for Meleek Thomas’s fourth-quarter breakout
You don’t want to get carried away by a garbage-time preseason performance. Yet, the Cavs have to be pleased with what they’ve seen from Thomas in these three exhibition games.
This strong on-ball scoring outing doesn’t mean that Thomas will have a place in the rotation when the season starts, but at the same time, the other guards in the depth chart haven’t exactly shown that they’re more deserving of those minutes either. If he does get a shot in the opening night rotation, we can point back to the close of this game as to why.
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on October 13, 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
The Toronto Raptors may have been facing the New York Knicks’ C-Team, but that wasn’t why fans packed the Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday.
New York could’ve grabbed randoms off NBA Twitter and the electricity in the building would’ve remained.
Here are a few thoughts and quotes to drop in your group chat after the Raptors defeated the Knicks 148-98.
He return
“I tried to get those guys as much as possible on the court together so they can figure out the chemistry and spacing” – Darko Rajakovic.
It’s been 2,682 days (seven years, four months, and three days) since Kawhi Leonard last donned a Raptors uniform in front of the Toronto faithful. That was when Leonard authored a mesmerizing one-man show against the Warriors before Head Coach Nick Nurse called (a now untimely) timeout.
Leonard seemed intent on knocking down a triple to begin his second stint in Toronto, with the superstar’s first three shots coming from beyond the arc. He eventually hit a three-pointer from the left wing, which sent the crowd into a frenzy.
He followed that by posting up Jose Alvarado on the left baseline, before drilling a turnaround fadeaway. Leonard’s first points as a 35-year-old Raptor technically came at the free-throw line. That’s basically comfort food offence for a team that has previously struggled when things slow down in the playoffs or opposing defences resort to zone.
“I wanted to get after it and get tired,” said Leonard. “I still want to get in better shape but it was fun to play.”
When Leonard returned in the second quarter, he transported us back to 2019 with a right-corner triple that required a friendly bounce courtesy of his favourite rim in the league.
No better pairing than Kawhi Leonard and the right-side corner 🔥
Leonard was everything we remembered him to be. He finished with 21 points and five rebounds on 50 per cent shooting. He also added two steals. This was all accomplished in 17 minutes of play. Have the rest of the pre-season off big guy.
Chalk it up to rookie nerves
“I have huge trust in Allen and his three-point shooting.” – Darko Rajakovic
After missing the first two pre-season games in Quebec City and Vancouver, Allen Graves finally made his debut. If Leonard hadn’t dressed, Graves would have been the apple of everyone’s eye. It’s probably best that wasn’t the case, at least early on, as it seemed Graves had understandable “first-game-as-a-pro” jitters.
In less than four minutes, Graves picked up three fouls, with the third coming after he bowled over Drew Eubanks while trying to grab a defensive rebound.
For the most part, Graves was parked in a corner on offence. He missed his first three attempts from deep but finally knocked down his first bucket as a professional in the second quarter. It should be noted that he was wide open on these attempts, which should be a common occurrence playing alongside Leonard and as opponents dare him to shoot.
I loved how active he was on the court. There was a play where he chased down his own miss and poked the ball loose, subsequently resulting in Ja’Kobe Walter getting two points.
The trio needs a nickname
“Scottie and CMB, they’re very talented…they make things easy.” – Kawhi Leonard
Speaking of Graves, fans were finally treated to the beautiful and blinding chaos that comes with the rookie playing next to Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles. The trio made their debut in the back end of the first quarter. They were flying.
Flanked by Walter and Jamal Shead, the group forced a shot-clock violation, a handful of turnovers and deflections, a dead-ball and the Knicks’ bench into never-ending uncertainty.
Shortly after, Head Coach Rajakovic tried a different combination with Immanuel Quickley and Leonard. It’ll be fun to see what kind of lineups the coaching staff deploys with Toronto’s newest set of triplets.
That’s an interesting development
“When Kawhi is on the floor, he attracts so much gravity…they really complement each other well.” – Darko Rajakovic
It seems that even though Brandon Ingram may be in Los Angeles, his signature baseline fadeaway remained behind in Toronto, specifically in the hands of Barnes. The All-Star normally resembles a running back with the ball in his hands, but he was silky-smooth on the baseline and knocked down numerous jumpers with a high degree of difficulty. Ingram would have been proud.
As for Murray-Boyles, he finished a perfect two-of-two from distance. He averaged less than one three-point attempt a game in his rookie year, while shooting 34 per cent. If he can average around two three-point shots while maintaining a similar average, that would be incredible. Toronto shot 35.4 per cent from three last season.
“Collin worked so hard over the course of the summer on his shooting,” said Rajakovic. “We need more guys that can be willing to take shots.”
Eyes on Darko
“At the end of our conversation, he always tells me to go play basketball.” Kawhi Leonard on Darko
Pre-season reps are valuable, even for the coaches. With 1.2 seconds left in the first half, the Raptors forced a turnover, inspiring Rajakovic to call a timeout. The exhibition was already a blowout at that point, but Rajakovic wasn’t going to let a learning opportunity slip by.
The Raptors drew up a play that involved Leonard screening for CMB on the left elbow, before CMB pivoted into a screen for Leonard. This triggered the inbound, which Leonard caught on a ‘76ers bounce cut’ (what I’m tentatively calling the route). Before Leonard could add to his stat line, he was fouled.
A big part of the 2019 championship run was Nurse’s development. He started the season as an unknown variable type of coach, but later evolved into a mad scientist. Rajakovic’s continued progression will also play a pivotal role in determining the ceiling of the 2026-27 Raptors.
A New York state of mind
“We have good guys that are about the right stuff, are all in, and have embraced our culture.” – Mike Brown
Before the game, Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown was asked how the team plans to stay locked in despite potential distractions (Karl-Anthony Towns). With zero hesitation, Brown highlighted an organization-wide commitment to chasing one very obvious goal, and it’s more than just a verbal promise.
“We have our standard written down that everybody signed, similar to a contract,” said Brown. “This way, it allows all of us, starting from the top down, to hold each other accountable.”
The Knicks fall to 0-4 in pre-season play, once again proving that these are practice reps on public display.
LAS VEGAS — The Lakers marquee free agency acquisition was available to make his long-awaited preseason debut against the Warriors Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena.
He injured his left pinky finger (non-shooting hand) during the first week of training camp.
Walker Kessler of the Los Angeles Lakers arrives to the arena before a game against the Golden State Warriors. NBAE via Getty Images
The 7-foot-2 center progressed to participating during the live action portion of Sunday’s practice after doing everything else but live drills during Saturday’s session.
Kessler has had his left pinky wrapped the last couple of weeks after jamming it on a backboard during practice.
“Just taking precautionary stuff, especially since it’s preseason,” he said earlier in the week. “But it feels good.”
Walker Kessler with his left pinky wrapped. NBAE via Getty ImagesLuka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors. Getty Images
While Kessler made his debut, superstar guard Luka Doncic was held out of Tuesday’s game for rest.
Coach JJ Redick made it clear Doncic wasn’t injured after playing in two of the first three preseason games.
The Lakers’ last exhibition will come against the Nuggets on Friday in Los Angeles.
ORLANDO, FL - OCTOBER 13: Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball during the game against the Orlando Magic on October 13, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents that player performing to our expectations for them.
James Harden
13 points, 2 assists, 0 rebounds
The Cavs struggled to get into any kind of scoring rhythm. The bigs weren’t involved as much as you’d like, and the offense overall wasn’t able to generate many clean looks for outside shooters. Part of that blame falls on the starting point guard.
In addition to that, Harden had a tough time finding his own shot. He went just 6-for-14 from the field in an overall forgettable game.
Grade: D-
Donovan Mitchell
15 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists
Mitchell made a concerted effort to get others involved. That resulted in eight assists in under 25 minutes to go along with 15 points. This was a solid night from someone who looks ready for regular season basketball to start.
Grade: B
Evan Mobley
14 points, 5 rebounds, 0 assists
Mobley missed his first five shots before slowly turning it around as he put up seven points in both the second and third quarters.
This preseason has been rough for Mobley offensively. He’s struggled to get to his spots on the floor and hasn’t been very efficient when he gets there. This 6-for-14 performance is on the heels of going 3-for-10 the game before.
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Peyton Watson
10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Watson struggled to find the range from deep as he went 1-for-5 beyond the arc. The three-point volume in 24 minutes is what you want to see, even though the efficiency wasn’t there.
The energy Watson plays with remains encouraging. He was an active defender as he racked up two blocks and a steal.
Grade: B
Jarrett Allen
9 points, 6 rebounds, 0 assists
Allen was an afterthought on offense and wasn’t able to do enough on the other end to cover up for the poor point-of-attack defense elsewhere.
Grade: D
Jaylon Tyson
12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Tyson’s energy is infectious. He and Watson were two of the regulars who played with the appropriate amount of force.
Grade: B
Meleek Thomas
16 points, 0 assists, 3 rebounds
There are legitimate questions about whether Thomas is ready to fit into an off-ball role. There are fewer questions about how he looks when you put the ball in his hands.
Thomas played five minutes in the first three quarters with the regular rotation and struggled to make an impact. He attempted just one shot and never really felt a part of the offense. That changed in the fourth quarter when the Cavs pulled their regulars and put the ball in his hands.
Thomas scored 14 of his 16 points in the final frame. He relentlessly got where he wanted on the court, and scored efficiently when he got there, as he ended the night going 6-for-9 from the field.
You don’t want to make too much of garbage time in a preseason blowout, but this was another encouraging performance from Thomas.
Grade: A-
Mario Hezonja
12 points, 2 assists, 6 rebounds
This was a solid showing for Hezonja. He once again held up well against a physical Orlando team as he did a little bit of everything.
These last two games have been steps in the right direction for Hezonja after a rough debut against the Boston Celtics.
Grade: B
Craig Porter Jr.
0 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Porter has a shot at earning a spot in the rotation, but he hasn’t done enough to definitively grab that role. He once again struggled to make an impact off-ball, and didn’t attempt a shot in 17 and a half minutes. Porter’s defense has been fine, and it’s good to have another play initiator in the offense, but guards need to be threats to score when they’re on the court.
Grade: D+
Tyrese Proctor
4 points, 0 rebounds, 2 assists
Proctor got some run with the regulars, but didn’t necessarily make the most of it. He didn’t make much of an impact when he was with the other rotation players, which isn’t ideal for someone the team is hoping will take a leap in his second season. It wasn’t until he shared the court with some of the reserves that you started to feel his impact.
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 13: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks arrives to the arena before the game against the Toronto Raptors on October 13, 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 Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Having played last night at home, coach Mike Brown rested his starters tonight in Toronto. His opening lineup included Jose Alvarado, Miles McBride, Bruce Brown, Mohamed Diawara, and James Wiseman. Across the aisle, Kawhi Leonard made his preseason debut as the team returned to Scotiabank Arena following a cross-country tour of showcase scrimmages. The Knicks lost to the Timberwolves yesterday, and they dropped another tonight, 148-98. No, Virginia, these games don’t count.
The starters weren’t required to attend, but Mikal Bridges did. Because he’s a savage!
Both teams came out bricking, but the home team fixed their problems sooner, jumping out to a 13-4 lead that chased New York into a timeout. OAKAAKUYOAK RJ Barrett collected an early eight points in seven minutes to lead his team. For our heroes, James Wiseman blanked across the board in the first quarter, with two turnovers that cancelled a pair of rebounds. He played better (offensively, at least) in the second half, finishing the night with 18 points and 10 boards to lead the team.
Midway through the frame, Wiseman sat for Drew Eubanks, who didn’t wow us either, but at least got on the scoreboard. Pacome Dadiet checked in, too, and promptly suffered at the hands of Scottie Barnes—and then Barrett. Not great. (He also played better after intermission.) Seeing Diawara make his first three-pointer of the preseason made us happy, but ‘twas a mere sip while we thirsted for decent basketball. The two Tylers (Kolek, Nickel) checked in with four minutes left in the quarter, and they did little to help. By the break, Barnes had shot 6-of-7 for 15 points, and the score stood at 42-22. The gulf felt much wider than that.
Twice in the first quarter, Mike Brown and Alvarado had extended conversations. They seemed to not be on the same page. To be fair, few Knicks were on the right page tonight.
Toronto opened the second quarter with a 7–0 run, on a bucket from Quickley, a three from Kawhi Leonard, and a drive by Barrett. Tyler Nickel answered with a layup and a three, and Tony Bradley added two baskets inside, but the Knicks played defense like touch football, allowing the Dinos to continue to pour it on. After Bruce Brown’s cutting layup made it 56–33 with 7:16 left, the Raptors went on a 20–2 run. It’s never fun to be on the wrong side of that.
Ja’Kobe Walter scored all eight of his quarter’s points during that stretch, including a three after stripping Wiseman. Jamal Shead dished four dimes on that run, while Leonard added a free throw and a turnaround three. When Collin Murray-Boyles made a putback dunk, Toronto’s advantage reached 76–35.
Leonard had the biggest scoring impact with 11 points in the quarter and 21 in the half. Wiseman gave the Knicks a brief lift late, finishing an Alvarado-assisted dunk and converting a hook shot. Between those baskets, Miles McBride blocked Leonard’s layup (good!) but turned over the rock twice (less good). Alvarado missed two free throws (even less good). Kevin McCullar Jr., Ochai Agbaji and Pacôme Dadiet went scoreless in the period. When the half finally ended, the score was 85–47.
Through the half, the Knicks’ understudies turned over the ball 12 times compared to Toronto’s two, and were outrebounded 29-17. They’d shot a paltry 22% from deep versus the Raptors’ 40%. McBride and Nickel had eight points apiece for the guests, with no one yet in double digits.
After intermission, the abuse continued with the lead reaching 44 points. New York finally assembled some offense inside: Alvarado hit a pullup, then assisted on buckets by Eubanks and Dadiet. The latter also blocked a Barrett layup, and Eubanks rejected Quickley, but the losses outnumbered the gains. McBride went scoreless during that stretch, missing two threes and having a dunk blocked by Barnes.
Wiseman made the biggest difference for New York after entering at 6:55, scoring nine points on hooks, an alley-oop from Brown, and a putback hook. Jaden Akins (who really does resemble Quinten Grimes from a distance, if you squint) supplied three assists and turned a steal into a layup, while Kolek added a three and two freebies. Together, they powered the Knicks on a 20–9 run that trimmed the score to 109-76. Dadiet contributed seven points, but his fourth foul and Mohamed Diawara’s fifth underscored a general defensive ineptitude. Nickel kept letting shots fly, making just 1-of-9 on the night. After three quarters, the score remained lopsided, 116-70.
In the fourth frame, the differential topped out at 53. New York’s perimeter shooting fell to 17% for the game, a figure that passed the eye test. Your weary blogger fell asleep for a few minutes, but the clang of bricks woke him. Our guys sure left some dents in those Canadian rims. Against Toronto’s third-stringers, Diawara hit another triple (totaled 13 points overall), and Wiseman grabbed five boards. Those were encouraging signs. Less encouraging: Kolek missed four threes down the stretch, McCullar missed two, and Ochai Agbaji and Tony Bradley went scoreless. When it finally was time to go to bed, there was a special satisfaction in turning the TV off on this game.
Up Next
Back to MSG on Thursday to see the Dinos again. Last game of the preseason, too. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 10: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 10, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There are still far more questions than answers surrounding Kristaps Porziņģis’ health and wellness. But, more than two weeks after Golden State Warriors kicked off training camp, we finally have a critical positive update: Porziņģis is in the house.
Recently inked to a two-year, $40 million extension, Porziņģis — whom the Dubs acquired from the Atlanta Hawks in February — did not join Golden State on their opening-week jaunt to Hawaii, with the team announcing at the eleventh hour that the All-Star was out indefinitely. There were no updates when the team returned home from the island either and that certainly led to rumors swirling. No one seems aware as to whether Porziņģis has an injury or an ailment or, if some of the more eyebrow-raising rumors are to be given any credence, something that the team is covering up.
On Monday we got the closest thing possible to an update, with coach Steve Kerr saying he expected Porziņģis to be at the facility on Tuesday. Kerr risked setting himself up for a disastrous own goal if Porziņģis were not present on Tuesday, but thankfully that didn’t happen. Per multiple reports, the 31-year old from Latvia arrived at the Chase Center (the Warriors’ facilities are at their home arena) on Tuesday, where he spent time with head athletic trainer Rick Celebrini and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. While that’s a critical first step, there’s still no word on when Porziņģis might be back on the floor.
Kristaps Porzingis did make it into the Warriors practice facility this afternoon and met with Rick Celebrini and Mike Dunleavy. Nothing more detailed about return timetable, but a first step.
It’s a little funny — and hopefully nothing more than that — that Porziņģis appeared at the arena when the team, conveniently, was not there. The Dubs are currently in Sin City, as they have a Tuesday night game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, which may end up being the home of the next expansion NBA team.
While it’s certainly encouraging that we have a Porziņģis update — however mild and vague — it remains odd, concerning, and fairly unprecedented that this is, it seems, his first time back with the team. Usually players, whether sick or injured, spend a large amount of time at the facilities, working with the trainers and coaches. That Porziņģis has been, for lack of a better word, missing, raises a few eyebrows.
Then again, it’s also clear that the Warriors are being a little secretive here, and who knows how much communication is going on between the team and the player that we’re simply not privy to (per ESPN’s Anthony Slater, there has been “consistent contact” between the two sides).
Either way, Porziņģis is back … sort of. And while we don’t know a timeline, it certainly seems fair to assume he won’t be playing when the Dubs open the season in eight days.
On the second night of a preseason back-to-back, the Knicks lost their fourth-straight game, falling 148-98 to the Toronto Raptors.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Head coach Mike Brown relied solely on his bench in Tuesday's contest, giving the star quintet of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Karl Anthony-Towns a rest after Monday's 122-104 loss to the Timberwolves. Miles McBride, Bruce Brown, Jose Alvarado, Mohamed Diawara, and James Wiseman took their places.
Each member of the Knicks -- with the exception of Tony Bradley, who left the court early in the fourth seemingly nursing a hamstring -- played at least 10 minutes.
Toronto used its starters, re-debuting Raptors legend Kawhi Leonard and giving former Knicks RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley significant minutes against their former team.
-- In keeping with the theme of this year's preseason campaign, the Knicks crew continued to struggle on the offensive end, shooting 40 percent from the field, 17 percent from three-point range (their worst of the preseason), and 70 percent from the free throw line.
-- Wiseman led the way for New York, making a strong case for his value as a backup center. The 25-year-old scored 18 points, shot a perfect 100 percent from the free throw line and 87.5 percent from field goal range, while adding 10 rebounds and three turnovers in 23 minutes of play.
Also battling for the final center spot, Drew Eubanks netted eight points (3-for-5 from the field, 2-for-4 in free throws), andBradleytallied four (2-for-4 from the field, 0-for-1 in free throws).
-- Diawara walked away with 13 points in 28 minutes played. The 21-year-old went 50 percent in field goals (5-for-10) and 43 percent from beyond the arc (3-for-7).
-- Tyler Nickel led the Knicks in steals with two, contributing 11 points to the effort. His 80 percent from the free throw line tied with McBride (eight points) for second-best on the team Tuesday night.
-- In his first game in Raptors threads since leading the team to their first-ever NBA Title in June 2019,Leonarddrove the Toronto effort, netting a team-leading 21 points and two steals. He also collected five rebounds (tied with Jakob Poeltl for third-most on the team) and went 5-for-7 from the free throw line.
-- BarrettandQuickley -- both of whom New York sent to Toronto in exchange for Anunoby in December 2023 -- each played over 21 minutes. Barrett tallied 17 (6-of-12 from the field, 4-for-5 in free throws), and Quickley scored eight with a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
Game MVP: Kawhi Leonard
Despite only playing the first half, the 35-year-old small forward led all players in points (21).
What's next
New York will conclude the preseason with another game against the Raptors, this time on home court at MSG, Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Oct 13, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) drives against Orlando Magic forward Noah Penda (93) during the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Cleveland Cavaliers are fortunate that a performance like this doesn’t count in the record book. This was a bad showing in a game the regulars played a full three quarters.
The Cavs were terrible defensively. They were consistently beaten on dribble drives and backdoor cuts. And when they stepped up to stop offensive players driving to the hoop, they left themselves vulnerable to three-point looks. You couple that with poor offensive execution, and you get a runaway 132-116 loss to the Orlando Magic in your final preseason outing.
Cleveland’s regulars were led in scoring by Donovan Mitchell, who put up 14 points on 7-of-15 shooting with eight helpers. Aside from Mitchell, few of the rotation players could establish much of an offensive flow.
James Harden scored 13 points, but he went an inefficient 3-of-12 from the field to get those. Evan Mobley struggled to get into a rhythm, going 6-for-14 from the field for 14 points and five rebounds.
The Magic had strong outings from all of their starters. Paolo Banchero led the way with 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting with eight rebounds. Franz Wagner added 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting to go along with eight assists.
There weren’t many positives to take away from this game for the Cavs, but the play of Meleek Thomas was one of them. He received just five minutes of run in the first three quarters with the regulars, but more than made up for lost time in the fourth quarter. He put up 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting in the final frame alone. Overall, he led the Cavs with 16 points.
How much you want to take away from garbage time in a preseason game is up to you. What we can confidently say at this point is that Thomas has been comfortable scoring in nearly every environment you put him in when he can be the primary ball handler.
This was a poor showing from the Cavs, but not one that likely means much in the grand scheme of things.
The Cavs don’t take the court again until Thursday, October 22, when they open up their season on the road against LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 05: Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns plays against the Detroit Pistons during a pre season game at Little Caesars Arena on October 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Suns fans and fans across the country.
The battle for the starting center position in Phoenix has been one of the key storylines to follow throughout the preseason. Through three games, we’ve seen Oso Ighodaro start twice and Khaman Maluach get the nod once. We’ve had an opportunity to see how both players operate alongside the starting unit, although when Maluach started, the Suns were without Devin Booker and Miles Bridges.
From a statistical perspective, Ighodaro has combined for 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in his two starts. Meanwhile, Maluach made his lone start count, recording 10 points, 15 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. Who has the edge? Perhaps it’s too close to call.
Both possess distinctly different skill sets, with Ighodaro serving as an offensive connector and Maluach providing a more productive defensive presence and rebounding ability. Oso gets the nod for his perimeter defense and rim running, while Maluach offers greater size and the potential to space the floor. Decisions, decisions!
It’s still too early to cast judgment on who should ultimately occupy the starting center position when the regular season begins. There are compelling arguments for both candidates, and each brings a distinct skill set to the table. But that’s exactly the subject of this week’s Bright Side Reacts survey. We’re asking you to put yourself in head coach Jordan Ott’s shoes and decide who you believe should be the starting center for the Phoenix Suns.
