CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 1: Riley Minix #22 of the Cleveland Charge celebrates during the game against the Capital City Go-Go on April 1, 2026 at Cleveland Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
CLEVELAND — The G League matters more for team building than ever. Look no further than the Cleveland Cavaliers roster for proof.
Seven of the 14 players on standard deals for the Cavs have spent time in the G League. That number should jump to eight, with Khalifa Diop expecting to play with the Cleveland Charge some this year as well. Diop’s inclusion would mean that over half the roster has spent time in the G League.
This is a change from where things were over a decade ago. The reasons for that are layered. Investment in the league, along with changes to the salary cap and the style of play, has all contributed to this.
“In the world of aprons and salary cap and all this, what better way to cultivate the next wave of people that can help fit into [an NBA] environment than this?” Charge head coach Eli Kell-Abrams said.
The Cavs have invested in the Charge over the last several seasons. The move from Canton to Cleveland has allowed them to use the Cavs’ training facility. More recently, switching their home games to Cleveland Public Auditorium, along with refitting the building for basketball, speaks to the organization’s commitment to the G League.
“We want the development to be in-house,” Charge general manager Liron Fanan said. “The type of players that you now take on your G League team, you really take into consideration what Kenny [Atkinson] and his staff are looking for. What kind of player are they on and off the court? How can he fit our culture of the Cavs and what we’re looking for? It’s mainly guys that are willing to accept a role, willing to compete every day, work hard, put their head down, and be ready.”
The Charge are looking to identify and develop role players who can specifically fit alongside the Cavs’ core group. There are two skills that the Charge are looking to cultivate, knowing that they will translate to the next level.
“They’re going to have to be defensively minded, and also able to make shots when you stand in the corner because you’re not going to have the ball in your hands,” Fanan said. “You’re going to be that guy that comes off the bench for five minutes and tries to impact the game in those minutes. So, how ready are you? What’s your mentality? The toughness and the willingness to just take a role. Those are the skills that we look at.”
The Charge are trying to refine those skills with their two-way players. Riley Minix has proven to be a good shooter — Summer League notwithstanding — but shooting alone isn’t going to allow him to become a rotation player. “He needs to get better [defensively],” Fanan said. “Can he really defend and switch at the NBA level? We saw a little bit of that, and we’re seeing improvement. I think there needs to be a big jump this year.”
Rookie two-way center Ernest Udeh Jr. has the potential to develop into a useful backup center. The Cavs like the motor, but there’s a learning curve for bigs transitioning from college to the pros.
“He always plays hard, now for us, it’s to get him better at understanding spacing,” Fanan said. “Understanding guarding outside the perimeter, working with his hands better.”
Success in the G League is different than the NBA. The Charge want to win games, but their goal is to ensure they’re developing talent that can be used by the Cavs and other NBA teams. For them to continue doing that, they want to continue cultivating a culture that makes that possible.
“We’re in a league that is sometimes not about the right stuff,” Kell-Abrams said. “We want to be the group that relies on each other, that is about everybody else’s success. That passed the ball in a league that doesn’t.”
The Charge open their season at home on Tuesday night against the Motor City Cruise.
For the first time since they spent nine prolific seasons together, while rising to the top of the NBA, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will face off as opponents in the regular season.
The Boston Celtics (8-2) head to Philadelphia Tuesday, Nov. 10 to battle the 76ers (9-2), the team that acquired Brown in a July blockbuster trade. And with that comes the next chapter in a relationship that has at times became tense and uncomfortable.
Despite that, as the game approaches, both sides have been sure to down play any drama.
“It’s nothing to talk about,” Brown told reporters Sunday, Nov. 8. “I mean, he’s on his side, I’m on my side. Just playing basketball. Both of us are trying to win, so it’s nothing to talk about. Just check the ball up.”
Yet, now that we’re three weeks into the 2026-27 season, it’s a fair time to pose a couple questions.
One: is there a clear winner in the trade? And, two: will either team come to regret their choice?
At first glance, it’s like a rare case where the move benefitted both sides; entering Monday night, these were the top two teams in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics were leading the NBA in net rating (+11.6), and the Sixers have been seamlessly sharing the ball and rank third in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.01).
It’s necessary, however, to point out a few caveats here. The sample size remains rather small and, entering Monday night, the Celtics had played the NBA’s easiest strength of schedule (.396), according to ESPN; Philadelphia’s, by comparison, ranked 20th (.476).
To be clear, neither of these points are disqualifying, but both teams – Boston in particular – need to demonstrate that they can sustain these levels over time and against the league’s better competition.
The most positive sign for both teams is that the issues that originally forced the divorce in the first place don’t appear to have carried over.
Dating back to their first seasons as stars in Boston, the narrative surrounding Tatum and Brown was that they were not optimal fits. They both excel with the ball in their hands, and both can create their own shot with ease. That often led to a disjointed offense, where they often took turns scoring in isolation.
In Boston, Paul George, whom Philadelphia sent to Boston in the Brown trade, has been nothing but steady. He has acknowledged that his sole role is to be complementary to Tatum, and his 20.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game are more than sufficient.
In Philadelphia, Brown’s numbers are a little better (22.3/6.7/4.0), but he has directly addressed the dynamics of his new team, saying point guard Tyrese Maxey “has been leading the way for sure” and that the Sixers are “his team,” referring to Maxey.
Brown has been more provocative in his public comments about any feud between he and Tatum. He recently posted an emoji of a blue hat – which is another way to say cap, or slang that someone is being dishonest – to a video on social media in which Tatum said he was caught off guard by the July trade. Even in a recent comment that began with praise for Tatum, Brown snuck in a sly jab.
“I think he’s right,” Brown said Oct. 24. “There’s no beef. Jayson comes from a wonderful family. We’ve accomplished some great things, he’s a hell of a basketball player, he got a great (public relations) team. There’s no beef, but it might be a little lamb chops and some gravy, and he should stay ready at all times.”
In their first meeting as opponents, a preseason game Oct. 16 in which Brown did not play, both players warmed up on opposite sides of the floor and did not acknowledge each other, at least not publicly.
“All of y’all kind of saw us grow up and everything that we accomplished,” Tatum said recently. “... Like, how many people play in this league and never went to the Finals? We went twice and won a championship. So it should be more about that. This ain’t no (expletive) Shaq and Kobe. It’s not about that.
“It should be more praise, and I understand that don’t necessarily sell. Drama gets clicks and views, but that’s not my thing.”
This all raises one last question, about whether it’s fair to criticize players on the same team for not being friends off the floor. Just because their work is televised and just because they’re paid handsomely does not mandate that they be forced into any sort of deeper bond we fans and media seemingly expect out of athletes. At the end of the day, they are – at least in professional terms – merely employees just like you and I. And just like you and I may have colleagues with whom we might not necessarily align, these players are entitled just the same.
This trade was not executed because of any perceived fractured friendship. The Celtics clearly prioritized one player’s skill set over another’s, and they made a difficult choice, one that does not come without some risk. They wanted to divest away from having two max contracts.
Tuesday night’s game is just the next logical step, nothing more.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 09: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making a three-point shot in the third quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans 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
Well that was fun. The Golden State Warriors made NBA history on Monday night, by becoming the first team to start 0-3 and follow it up with an eight-game winning streak. And they certainly did it in emphatic style, as they positively crushed the New Orleans Pelicans, ending their home-stand with a 138-87 victory that was every bit as lopsided as the score would suggest.
Needless to say, the grades are going to be good for this one. As always, my grades are based on my personal expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing that player’s average performance.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Entering Monday’s games, league-average TS was 57.1%.
You gotta love Gui. Even in a game where the Warriors were pouring in points faster than a bartender pours shots, Santos was content to just help out doing the little things. He attacked the glass and did a swell job of keeping the ball moving. He repeatedly found the open man and ended up with four dimes and zero turnovers. He was a big part of the strong defensive performance.
He just does all the little things, and even though it doesn’t always come with offense, you can happily live with that on this team.
Yeah. I think we have a star on our hands, friends. I don’t think Lendeborg is good, or even really good, or even has the potential to be a star. I think he is a star, point blank. It’s only been 11 games but that’s abundantly clear.
There was some Steph Curry in Yax’s game on Monday, in that he seemed to relish the opportunity to rip a team’s soul out. So often you see rookies get sloppy when playing in a blowout. At best they hog the ball and put on their own show; at worst, they check out because the outcome is determined.
But stars like Curry lock in. They want the win to be as lopsided as possible. They want to crush the other team’s spirit and make it clear that they’re not in the same league (except, you know … in the literal sense). And they want to make sure that they’re the one who does the damage.
Lendeborg, it seems, has that gene. He didn’t try to do to much, even when the Dubs led by 20, or 30, or 40, or 50. There were no reckless heat checks or audacious dunk attempts. Instead, he just locked in like it was a tied game, and went after the Pelicans in every part of the game.
Shot check! Green is up to 27 field goal attempts in nine games. There was some offseason chatter that Steve Kerr wanted Green to shoot more (specifically threes), and then it turned out the Warriors offense was good enough that Dray could be super selective, and focus on the three things he does brilliantly on that end of the court: passing the ball, setting screens, and making sure that everything runs through Curry.
Green has really been an offensive asset this year, which is a testament to his patience and playmaking, but also to the players around him. Having four shooters on the court at almost all times certainly helps there as well.
Defensively, Dray played well, though we were robbed of getting to see him defend Zion Williamson, as the Pelicans’ star got the night off. Oh well; they’ll meet again in a week.
Grade: A Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in assists.
Lest you get too caught up in the Yaxel hype, Podziemski is here to remind you that there’s more than one early-20s Warrior with a fun European name who just might be a star. This was Podz at his very best. He was all over the court in a blur of chaos, on both ends of the court. He attacked on offense, while also popping out time and time again, and hiding behind screens, to show off his jumper … which looks a lot better this year (he’s 25-for-62 from deep so far this year).
In a fast and frantic game in which Podziemski seemed to have the ball in his hands a lot, he went a whole game with nary a turnover nor a foul.
It really feels like his offense is far more in control this year. He’s always had creativity and unique explosiveness, but this year he’s harnessed it far better than in year’s past. Can you remember a single shot he’s taken this season that has made you scratch your head or yell at the TV (except in a positive way)? I can’t. He’s just unbelievably in control, and fully coming into his own.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in points; best plus/minus on the team.
Here’s a fun question: who’s enjoying the Lendeborg and Podziemski breakouts more, Curry or Kerr? Steph is clearly having the time of his life playing with these invigorating youngsters. And more importantly, you can see the relief in not having to carry the team on his shoulders night in and night out, and possession in and possession out.
The way that Curry is picking his spots is honestly a little reminiscent of when Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant were on the team. Curry knows he can step into his easier roles — playing the distributing point guard, or just using his gravity to space the defense out — and the offense will still function well. And then, when the time comes — if the team’s in trouble, or he wants to put a nail in the coffin, or he just wants to have a little fun — he goes into supersduperduperstar mode.
He’s averaging more than a point per minute with a true-shooting percentage well into the 70s. And it looks sustainable because he’s not having to kill himself out there. I should give him an A+ but i can’t justify a perfect grade for someone I know can — and will — pop off for 50.
Grade: A Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in points.
Melton had a little bit of a slow start to the season, but new he is absolutely picking it up. He’s firing on all cylinders right now, and just making everything work. He has so much veteran savvy and poise … he plays with a little bit of that old man game where everything is slow, but then he displays these little bursts when they’re needed, to turn a rebound into a transition opportunity, or cut to the hoop, or strip a driving opponent. There’s more than a little bit of Andre Iguodala in his game, that’s for sure.
Like Curry, Melton has really been excelling at picking his spots this year, and that goes for both offense and defense. In this one, he came in with the bench unit and helped turn a solid lead into a blowout, and he never took his foot off the gas.
I’m just so happy that Horford is on this team. What a treat he is to watch. He never seems to make a poor play or be out of position, and sometimes he just goes on little flurries, such as what he did at the start of the second quarter to help ensure that this game would stay a blowout. He had five stocks in 15 minutes. He had six assists — as a center — in 15 minutes. It’s just comical how frequently he makes the right play.
I said when the Warriors signed him before last year that he was the perfect player for Kerr, and I think that dramatically undersold it.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in assists.
Just another quietly exceptional day at the office for Niang. He shows up, he stirs things up, he drains some threes, he makes some extra passes, he plays some defense, and he celebrates a win. Good life.
Williams was only on the court for 99 seconds, but he changed the game in that brief time with the quickness with which he got down the court and attacked the basket. Unfortunately, he aggravated his hamstring in the first quarter, and was ruled out for the rest of the game. Hopefully he won’t be sidelined for too long.
Grade: P for Please get healthy soon Post-game bonus: Tied for the worst plus/minus on the team.
With every passing game, Bassey makes it easier and easier to forget that Kristaps Porziņģis was supposed to be a part of this team. He only needed 18 minutes to nab a double-double and have one of the nastiest blocks you’ll see all season. We knew he had skills, but the way he’s able to fully control the paint — in terms of scoring, defending, and rebounding — is shocking.
Cryer was forced into duty early on, after Williams’ injury. And he responded quite well. He scores in a different way than Williams does, but he sure can be a lightning rod as well. His jump shot is so slick, and I love the way he works into the defense, and then retreats … it reminds me a little bit of Jameer Nelson, or honestly, even Chris Paul.
This team is deep enough that Cryer is probably only going to get opportunities in situations like this, but it was great seeing him make the most of it.
Cryer got the most minutes of the two-way players in this game due to Williams’ injury, but Ike remains the two-way contract most capable of helping the team on a nightly basis. There aren’t many minutes for him now — he was limited to extended garbage time in this game — but you can see why Kerr is so excited to get him out there, and believes he can help. He does so many good things on the court.
Grade: A- Post-game bonus: Tied for the worst plus/minus on the team.
Nice to see Leons get some serious run. Like Ike, he played the entire fourth quarter since the Warriors were up by 47 points going into the final frame. He did some nice things out there.
Grade: B Post-game bonus: Tied for the worst plus/minus on the team.
Monday’s inactives: Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody, Gary Payton II, Kristaps Porziņģis, Will Richard
DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 9: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Indiana Pacers on November 9, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (7-4) won a 125-122 thriller over the Indiana Pacers (3-8) on Monday night. Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg were dominant, combining for 78 points, while Caleb Martin made the defensive play of the game to seal the deal. On the second night of a back-to-back, the Mavericks found themselves trailing for much of the first half but worked their way back, determined to not have a letdown after a convincing win over the Brookly Nets just 24 hours prior. With the victory, the Mavericks extend their winning streak to three games.
Let’s get to the grades!
Kyrie Irving: 10/10
35 PTS / 0 REB / 4 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 38 MIN
We try to be discerning with a perfect grade, especially for a Hall of Famer who has plenty of exceptional games on his resume. Tonight Irving gets the bump despite no rebounds, steals or blocks. He was simply too dominant offensively not to. He connected on 11-of-18 from the floor and 7-of-10 from downtown. He hit 6-of-7 free throws while he was at it. Helping get him over the top was a game-high +29 plus/minus. Even with a few goose eggs in the stat line, Irving was playing on another level Monday night and did a lot in the fact of tough on-ball defense to keep the Mavs connected and ultimately able to pull away.
Cooper Flagg: 10/10
43 PTS / 10 REB / 6 AST / 3 STL / 1 BLK – 39 MIN
Little needs to be said when the box score reads as it does. Flagg hit 16-of-25 shots in a 40-point double-double and was absolutely huge down the stretch, hitting big shots in the fourth quarter in a refuse-to-lose performance. Just dominant while leaving a couple rough shooting nights as a distant memory.
Caleb Martin: 6/10
0 PTS / 3 REB / 5 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 19 MIN
The conundrum of Martin persists. A starter with limited minutes and little tangible production makes the defensive play of the night to seal the victory. We’ve yet to determine how best to grade him, but suffice it to say tipping the inbounds pass away from Paskal Siakam to prevent the Pacers from even attempting a shot on the final possession gives his grade a boost.
P.J. Washington: 5/10
13 PTS / 9 REB / 1 AST / 2 STL / 2 BLK – 35 MIN
Washington gets the “5” based on some intangibles. His 4-of-12 shooting left a bit to be desired (though one of his two made three-pointers came at a critical time) and he was only 3-of-6 from the charity stripe. Of the three misses, two of them came in the waning moments where even one make would have effectively ended the game. Worse still, he probably could have gotten the ball to Irving before he was fouled, allowing the better free throw shooter to get the opportunity at the line. He rebounded well and had a few defensive efforts that don’t hit the box score and the fact the outcome was a win finds us giving him a bit of a bump on his grade.
Daniel Gafford: 5/10
8 PTS / 2 REB / 3 AST / 1 STL / 0 BLK – 20 MIN
Gafford was foul-happy, playing himself off the court early on. He showed better control during the latter part of the game, but having him on the floor consistently to match up with Ivica Zubac would have helped along the way. He was solid in the limited minutes and managed to show some passing ability but it was a somewhat mundane night.
Santi Aldama: 7/10
10 PTS / 4 REB / 1 AST / 0 STL / 0 BLK – 19 MIN
Aldama was 4-of-9 from the floor, but only 1-of-5 from downtown. Even with the longball not falling, he did a nice job maximizing his limited minutes. He had a soft touch around the rim and put himself in the right spots – especially impressive given he just returned from injury had had no prior reps with his teammates before just a couple games ago.
Final Thoughts
This was a hard-fought game that came down to the final possession. Dallas was on the second night of a back-to-back, yet got incredible offensive performances from both Flagg and Irving. The team plays together and fights hard on every possession. That isn’t to say every possession is pretty, but Dallas continues to stay disciplined and tied together. On Monday night, that cohesion resulted in a great clutch win.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown directs his team against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026.
At this stage in the season, winning isn’t enough for the Knicks.
The champions care more about how they win.
“Obviously, we want to play well, we want to win, but we also want to continue to grow as a team and try not to plateau,” Jalen Brunson said after practice Monday. “I think the way we do that is to continue to try to see how we can win games differently.”
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown directs his team against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Cleveland, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. AP Photo/Phil Long
That sentiment trickles down from head coach Mike Brown. Constant experimentation is a core staple to his philosophy. It feels like there’s a surprise in the box score every game.
His players believe that brings the best out of them.
“It’s kind of a freeing thing, playing that way, knowing that you don’t have to really be looking over your shoulder or thinking that one thing is gonna ruin whatever,” Landry Shamet said Monday. “And I think that he knows that we have that makeup as a group, too, that we’re all on the same page in wanting the best for each other — the next man up kind of mentality. It’s from top to bottom, and it’s a good environment to have.”
Brown used an 11-man rotation for Saturday’s 109-97 win in Cleveland. That wasn’t the result of garbage-time minutes, as all 11 saw the court in the first half. It was clear Brown wanted to get guys involved who are usually out of the rotation, such as Mohamed Diawara and Dalton Knecht.
It represents the biggest difference between Brown and predecessor Tom Thibodeau, who established a rotation and stuck strictly to it unless forced to change. Thibodeau prioritized maximizing his chances of winning every single night. Brown looks at the regular season more like a canvas to try new lineups, rotations and systems so that, by the end of the year, he has more available in his toolkit.
That process might be ugly at times, but it’s designed to deliver long-term results.
Brown credits it as a big reason for their championship last season. The likes of Shamet and Jordan Clarkson spent time in and out of the rotation all year but stepped up in the postseason when their number was called. The shift to an offense built around Karl-Anthony Towns as a hub was only possible because they toyed with it during the regular season.
Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks dribbles against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. NBAE via Getty Images
“It builds trust,” Brown said Monday, “because it’s like, ‘Hey, they trust me to go out there and play right now, even though I might not have played in two or three games.’ It helps with connectivity because guys feel more part of it, because they’re getting an opportunity. It helps with everybody’s readiness because the reality of it is, if a guy is sitting on the bench and he’s been there game after game after game, which happens sometimes — I’m not saying that will never happen because it’s gonna happen sometimes — then he may lose a little interest and relax a little bit because it’s like, ‘Hey, I’m not going in.’ But then, if you call their number every once in a while, throw them in a game, now they know, ‘Oh, I gotta be ready.’ ”
Even Jaden Akins, signed to a two-way deal like Knecht, has seen a little action beyond garbage time.
“If he can go in the game during some real moments,” Brown said, “anybody can.”
It’s different from Thibodeau’s final season, when he inserted Shamet and Delon Wright into the rotation out of desperation in the Eastern Conference final, having hardly used them previously.
Under Brown, there is a track record on which to fall back for everyone on the team, even if they go long stretches out of the rotation.
“It builds a lot, when you’re talking about building a team,” Brown said. “And then at the end of the day, your guys get used to it, so come playoff time, if you try something new or different when it comes to the lineups, it’s not like, ‘Oh my God, what’s going on? We’ve never done this.’ Nah, we’ve done it.”
There is the flip side, though. Playing time and roles constantly are changing. Jose Alvarado started the year as the backup point guard but now finds himself behind Tyler Kolek in the pecking order after missing time due to an ankle injury. There is constant fluctuation with the bench players in how much time each plays. That could cause problems.
Not with these Knicks.
“That’s just kind of the makeup of our group, and that’s special,” Shamet said. “Typically, you go to a lot of NBA locker rooms, there’s some ulterior motives and personal agendas — which is part of why we’re all here, is some ego, of course. Everybody is a good player at this level and is striving to get to something or be somewhere. But very rarely does that take a backseat to just truly buying into one another, wanting the best because, ultimately, good things come from that for everyone. It’s special. It’s really special.”
HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 09: Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets blocks Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets at the basket during the first half at Toyota Center on November 09, 2026 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. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This won’t be one of those 2,000 word recaps that I do at times. In fact, it will mark the season debut of Bullet Points – The Lazy Man’s Friend(tm)
The Rockets lost the two previous game, which were by no means twins, due to the same issue, essentially. That is to say, bad shooting. Against Phoenix, the Rockets shot it so badly they didn’t break 100 points. Not scoring 100 points in a modern NBA game usually spells defeat, but to the Rockets credit, they did hold the Suns to 102 points. The problem is they shot 36-94 overall, for 39%, and 10-35 from three point range, for 29%. They did make their freethrows at around 90%. The game before that, against the Timberwolves, it was much the same story. 43% overall, 35% from three. When the Rockets can’t shoot it from outside, they will typically lose. Why? Generally because there is one player who can get to the basket and do anything there regularly, Alperen Sengun. If he isn’t doubled, or he’s neutralized, it can be a long night of no one open for the Rockets.
Tonight featured the Rockets against a Denver team that just doesn’t strike the same fear into opponents they did a few years ago. Still, they were 5-3 coming into tonight, which doesn’t sound great, but would, if extrapolated to a full season, come to about 50 wins. 5 of 8 isn’t bad in the NBA. Would the Rockets be able to hold Denver on defense, which they couldn’t do against the TWolves. Could the Rockets score more than the paltry 99 they mustered against the Suns? Could they overcome the new, pinstriped, white jerseys they’d worn for all three losses.
In a word, yes, but it wasn’t easy. It wasn’t easy because the Rockets starting lineup more or less played the Nuggets even. Now, you might think that the Rockets would decide that despite the lack of success, they’d just keep doing the same thing. You’d only be partly right.
One of the Rockets big advantages over Denver seemed to be their depth. Denver just doesn’t have much compared to the Rockets, who are nonetheless down three centers at the moment. The heavier bench lineups seemed to pull away from the Nuggets. This allowed the Rockets to go into halftime with a 14 point lead, which grew to as much as 19 before the Rockets hit one of those dreaded scoring lulls from last season, where what most would think of as their best lineup just can’t score or defend.
So, did the Rockets keep at it, keep doing the things that cost them the lead? They did not. They went small, and pulled Alperen Sengun from the game. It’s not that Alpie was bad, he was 9-17 for 20 points, 12 rebounds, 8assists to 2 turnovers, with a steal and a block. But the mobility edge, especially on defense, and running off misses, was pronounced.
The bench did good work, especially around the beginning of the fourth quarter. Tari Eason, in my opinion, continues to build a good case for 6th man of the year.
The Rockets ended up shooting it well. They shot 41 of 91 overall, for 45%, and 14 of 38 from three point range, for 37%. They didn’t take a ton of freethrows, but made 14 of 17 for 82%. Denver shot 37 of 83 for 45% overall, but a woeful 8-29 from three point range (28%).
The Rockets absolutely crushed Denver on the offensive glass, 15 to 7, and that showed up in the Rockets attempting 8 more shots than the Nuggets. It wasn’t an especially high paced game by modern standards, but Denver plays currently at the slowest pace in the NBA, and if an opponent counters that with extra chances, they can get into trouble, as we say tonight.
It’s great to break the Curse of The New White Jerseys after so short a run. Now that’s been proven, we don’t need to see them again.
The Rockets are 8-3, which currently has them essentially in a tie for 3rd place in the “Why are you looking at the standings in early November?” stakes.
Until next time!
The picture with this article is Alpie rejecting Jokic, which means any comparisons are over. Alpie wins.
DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 6: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz dribbles the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on November 6, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The situation in Utah has become pretty dire. After their 8th consecutive loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Utah Jazz will face the Miami Heat in Salt Lake City.
Utah’s injury report just keeps getting worse with the addition of Keyonte George. That leaves Darryn Peterson as the Jazz’s only hope to end the losing streak.
If we’re being honest, this has a chance to be epic.
If you had told me a year ago that the Jazz would have gotten lucky in the lottery and came away with the player many pegged as the number one pick, I would have lost my mind with excitement. If you had also told me that the price would be the entire starting roster around him would have injury problems, I would have taken that in a heartbeat. What’s exciting about Peterson? He has the talent to overcome those odds because he’s that good. Peterson’s last two games have been eye-opening. They’ve shown he has all the talent Jazz fans were excited about. Can he put it all together when all eyes are on him? The last two performances showed he has the juice to do it. We’ll find out soon.
Start Time and TV Schedule
Who: Utah Jazz vs Miami Heat
When: November 10, 7:00 MT
Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
How to watch: KJZZ, Jazz+
Injury Report
The Utah Jazz added Keyonte George to the injury report and have him as OUT. Lauri Markkanen is QUESTIONABLE.
Luka Dončić didn’t just beat the Hawks on Monday night. He reminded their fans of the biggest mistake in franchise history.
And he made sure to rub it in too.
During the Lakers’ 124-114 victory, Dončić engaged in a hilarious courtside exchange with Hawks fans, reminding them that Atlanta once held the keys to his basketball future before foolishly trading them away.
“You all wish you would have had me. You all wish, huh?” Dončić taunted, according to a video shared on Threads by @RKessler23.
“We had you,” one fan fired back.
“No we don’t, I’ve never wanted you,” another insisted.
Jalen Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers hug after a game on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. NBAE via Getty ImagesDyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers hug after a game on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. NBAE via Getty Images
At least one Atlanta fan was willing to admit the painful truth.
“I wish we did, I do,” the fan responded.
“You know you could have had me,” Dončić reminded them.
“He’s right,” the person recording acknowledged through laughter.
Luka Doncic was trash-talking with Atlanta Hawks fans tonight in the Lakers 124-114 victory.
Here's the transcript:
Luka: "You all wish you would have had me. You all wish, huh?”
Fan: “We had you.”
Another fan: “No we don’t, I’ve never wanted you.”
The exchange reopened a wound from the 2018 NBA Draft, when Atlanta selected Dončić third overall before trading him to the Mavericks in a deal involving Trae Young.
Dončić eventually led Dallas to the NBA Finals, while Young has since landed in Washington alongside former Lakers star Anthony Davis.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a 124-114 win over the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. Getty Images
Monday’s performance only added insult to injury.
Dončić torched the Hawks for 32 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, five steals and two blocks, becoming the first Lakers player to record multiple games with at least 30 points, five assists, five steals and two blocks.
With Dončić leading the NBA in scoring at 40.1 points per game and Los Angeles sitting atop the standings at 10-2, his argument was difficult to dispute.
Atlanta had its chance.
Now, eight years later and wearing a Lakers jersey, Dončić is still making the Hawks pay for their mistake.
Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. NBAE via Getty Images
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SAN FRANCISCO ― The Golden State Warriors have taken a blow to the depth in their backcourt early in the 2026-27 season, despite an eight-game winning streak.
Williams logged 1 minute, 39 seconds for Golden State and scored four points on 2-of-3 shooting, connecting on back-to-back layups before exiting the game with a hamstring injury.
Williams checked out of the game at the 3:18 mark of the first quarter and did not return. The organization said Williams suffered a left hamstring injury and missed the rest of the game against New Orleans. The Warriors guard is scheduled for an MRI.
"He's a huge part of our team, and he's given us such a lift, and it's a hamstring," Kerr told reporters after the game. "He is gonna get an MRI, so we'll see how bad it is.”
Warriors backcourt depth keeps dwindling
Golden State suffered a setback losing Williams. The hope is that his injury is not severe, otherwise the Warriors' backcourt depth is diminishing early.
In addition to Williams' early exit, reserve point guard Will Richard didn't play Monday against the Pelicans. Richard has a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left thumb and is ruled out indefinitely.
"We're trying to wait till the swelling goes down. I'll do a workout, catching and going full speed, and see if it's comfortable …. I want to play," Richard said.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr was bummed about the news because of how well Richard has been playing, at times even starting.
"It’s a shame. He’s playing at a really high level, a lot of confidence, filling an important role," Kerr told reporters before Monday night's game. "At times starting, at times coming off the bench. But able to really play good minutes for us and brings energy, a lot of defensive intensity, shooting the ball well. So we’re hopeful that he’s able to play through it and we’ll know more after a few days when the swelling goes down."
Golden State was also without Gary Payton II, who was out with an illness and left knee inflammation. The Warriors are still going without the likes of Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler III, who is progressing along.
The Warriors are bruised and battered, but unbeaten in the last eight games.
PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 9: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball during the game against the Phoenix Suns on November 9, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Cheers rained down from the Phoenix Suns crowd in the fourth quarter, but not for the home team. No, they were for Victor Wembanyama, who had just scored his 40th point and extended the San Antonio Spurs’ lead to 30+ points. It was the type of performance where you just have to throw your hands up if you’re the opponent.
Nothing the Suns did could stop the big man, who did everything in a 40-point, 11-rebound, 8-block performance that carried the Spurs to a 122-96 win, the team’s ninth straight. Wembanyama shot 15-for-19 from the field and 2-for-3 from the three-point line, making nearly every shot he took. He made game-breaking plays with the ball in his hands, hit turnaround jumpers in the post, and slammed home back-breaking dunks, leaving no chance for the Suns to keep pace. And he did it all in just 25 minutes.
“He’s allowing the game to unfold naturally,” said Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson after the game. “He’s putting himself in position to take advantage of the opportunities that are in front of him.”
Early on, it looked like Wembanyama wouldn’t even have the best performance in the game. Suns guard Devin Booker was on fire early, scoring 15 of Phoenix’s 25 first-quarter points. It didn’t matter how physical Stephon Castle defended him; Booker was able to snake around screens and make jumpers all night. Booker led the Suns in scoring with 32 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field and made 3 of his 5 three-pointers.
It was Booker’s hot shooting that kept the Suns in the game in the first half, despite the rest of the team struggling to create any offense. A lot of that had to do with San Antonio’s smothering defense. The Spurs were on a string, getting into the passing lanes for steals, playing solid help defense, and funneling the Suns into Wembanyama, who erased their shots at the rim. Phoenix shot just 39% from the field, and the Spurs had 10 blocks and 6 steals.
From tip-off, it was clear that the Spurs wanted to get into the paint and score over the Suns’ soft interior defense. San Antonio got to the free-throw line 25 times and outscored Phoenix in the paint 62-48. The Spurs dominated the glass, outrebounding the Suns 55-35. Just about every stat around the paint swung in San Antonio’s favor.
After building a 61-46 lead at halftime, it looked like the Spurs would cruise to an easy victory. Phoenix made it a game in the third quarter thanks to some errant turnovers and shaky defense from the Spurs, allowing the Suns to cut the lead to 10 points. After a well-timed Johnson timeout, the Spurs responded; well, Dylan Harper responded.
The sophomore guard went nuclear in the third quarter, scoring 14 of his 17 points in the period. They were a loud 14 points, as Harper scored nearly every possession from the 8-minute mark to the 4-minute mark. He got his mid-range jumper working and attacked the Suns relentlessly in the half-court. Eventually, the Spurs started to clear out and let Harper work as he elevated their lead to 20 points.
A 25-point third-quarter lead quickly ballooned to 30 early in the fourth quarter, causing those aforementioned cheers from the Suns faithful for Wembanyama. With 9 minutes to go in the game, garbage time began, when Tarris Reed Jr., Carter Bryant, Jordan McLaughlin, and David Jones-Garcia got to shine.
The win was the Spurs’ ninth straight, improving their record to 9-2. It was one of the season’s most dominant performances, and it came without Devin Vassell and Tobias Harris. San Antonio’s 0-2 start is firmly in the rearview mirror at this point. And with how this team is playing, it may be quite a while until the sky falls again.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 9: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on November 9, 2026 at Chase Center 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors dominated the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night, coasting to a 138-87 victory. The Pelicans were playing the second half of a back-to-back and missing several key players, including Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III. Nevertheless, the Warriors took care of business and improved to 8-3 on the season. They have now one eight consecutive games and went undefeated on their five-game homestand.
It truly took no time for the Warriors to get rolling. Steph Curry quickly found plenty of open space against the Pelicans defense. On the other end, New Orleans looked sluggish and simply lacked the firepower to generate any run of their own. Golden State led 35-20 by the end of the first quarter.
While the on-court results were fantastic for the Warriors, they did lose backup guard Brandon Williams who only played a couple of minutes before leaving the game with a left hamstring injury. He will undergo an MRI tomorrow. If Williams has to miss extended time, he would join Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody, and Kristaps Porzingis as Warriors who will be out for awhile. Will Richard could also be on that list soon if he undergoes surgery on his torn UCL in his left thumb. Gary Payton II was also ruled out with knee inflammation for Monday night’s game, although that is not expected to lead to a prolonged absence.
Two-way guard LJ Cryer got plenty of minutes in Williams’ place. Charles Bassey perhaps had the highlight of the night, blocking Derik Queen on a two-handed dunk attempt. Brandin Podziemski got the ball in transition and made a three on the other end. Queen, by the way, led the Pelicans with 16 points in the game.
By halftime, the Warriors led 72-43 with rookie Yaxel Lendeborg leading the team in scoring with 16 points on just 6 field-goal attempts (4-for-4 from three). Podziemski was right behind him with 15 points of his own. By the end of regulation, Lendeborg recorded 23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers while shooting 8-for-10 from the field. Podz finished tied for a game-high 25 points.
Curry carried the offensive load in the third quarter, finishing the game with 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists on 6-for-10 shooting from the field in under 21 minutes of action. De’Anthony Melton (16 points), Bassey (12), and Cryer (10) were the only other Warriors in double figures. However, 12 of the 13 Dubs who appeared in the game made at least one basket.
The Warriors will now head on the team’s first prolonged road trip of the season. While they have done an impressive job climbing the standings after an 0-3 start, Golden State’s schedule is about to get a lot more difficult. They will get the trip started on Wednesday when they face the Houston Rockets. Opening tip is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 9: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on November 9, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s been a while since the Lakers have had a team as fun as this one, even if it is only November.
No Luka Dončić? No problem. No Austin Reaves? No problem. No Luka OR Austin? No problem. No matter the circumstances, this team just keeps chugging away.
Everyone talks about a “next man up” mentality, but this team is showing it. When one guy goes down, everyone picks up the rope together and keeps on fighting. To see this in November while knowing there’s so much more room for this team to grow this season is such an exciting feeling.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
It’s hard to believe the Lakers are paying Ziaire and Matisse less than $5 million combined this season. If it were a serious award, Ziaire would have a great case for Most Improved Player. He went from empty stats in Brooklyn to key role player on a contender.
I will forgive him for that missed dunk late because he’s always flying around the court doing things. Some of it is bad, evidenced by his five fouls, but most of it is good.
Kessler got to show off some of his playmaking chops in the last two games and has had some great passes out of the short roll lately. You can see the chemistry being built in those situations.
Early in the season, we were joking about Matisse only taking no-dip threes. Well, he’s started dipping on them and they aren’t going in. At least he made the most important one in the fourth tonight.
MATISSE THYBULLE HITS THE DAGGER FROM DEEP IN ATLANTA 😈
It never felt like Luka got in a rhythm in this game and then you look at the stat sheet and he nearly has a triple-double. Still, it didn’t feel like he had the same impact on the game that he’s had recently, but if he can still give you this stat line on a night like that, then it’s another feather in the cap of him being the best player in the league.
Without question, this is his best game as a Laker. He was knocking down open threes and, perhaps more importantly, getting baskets when Luka sat. After a string of poor outings, he picked a good time to have his best one.
The sample size of bad Sexton games is still bigger than the one of good games. However, the Lakers don’t win either of these last two games without Sexton. He stepped up with arguably his two best showings of the season when the Lakers needed another ballhandler to come in and be a positive contributor.
This also was the first game you could really see the chemistry between Sexton and Kessler, too.
The last two games, Vando has had a couple of nice finishes around the rim. It’d be really cool if that was a sign of something moving forward, but I’ll just enjoy what we’ve seen instead of getting my hopes up.
Grade: B
Cameron Carr, Adou Thiero
It’s exciting to see the team’s possible future getting playing time this season. Thiero continues to impress in his few minutes while Carr didn’t look out of place in his two cameos, either. Both should continue getting minutes, though Carr is a bit lower on the depth chart right now.
JJ Redick
The Lakers just had arguably their two best wins of the season on a back-to-back while shorthanded in both, so Redick is getting a ton of credit. He’s picking the right lineups, keeping guys ready and helping the team continue to improve along the way.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 28: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball against Kyle Kuzma #18 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on October 28, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Originally, the Milwaukee Bucks weren’t even supposed to be the Milwaukee Bucks. “Robins” was the most popular suggestion in a statewide naming contest in 1968, but somehow the judges weren’t so sure about the less-than-fierce image of the little birds with their distinct orange-red breasts. So they opted for “Bucks,” a name that honored Wisconsin’s antlered-state animal, the white-tailed deer. Contest winner R.D. Trebilcox, who was awarded a brand-new AMC Javelin for his efforts, suggested the name because the animals are “spirited, good jumpers, fast and agile.”
Well, going by this year’s outfit, the front office might want to think about another contest.
You certainly wouldn’t blame any adult male deer for being upset about any sort of connection to Milwaukee’s basketball team these days. The current Bucks are hardly spirited, fast, agile, or, frankly, good at doing many things on a basketball court. At 1–9, they’re tied with Utah and Sacramento for the worst record in the NBA. During their current six-game losing streak, the Bucks have been outscored by 15.7 points per game. Autsch!
Knicks will face rebuilding Bucks team
New head coach Taylor Jenkins might already miss the days of coaching consummate professionals like Ja Morant in Memphis, but he should have expected these kinds of growing pains. Everybody and their grandmother knew that the start of the post-Giannis era would be painful in Milwaukee and that it would take time to rebuild a team bereft of picks, outlandish young talent, and meaningful numbers of serious basketball players.
Yes, the Bucks trot out a few solid names like Tyler Herro (21.4 points per game) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (15.2 points, over 42 percent from three). In theory, they also have some nice young pieces in rookies Brayden Burries (10.5 points) and Nate Ament (over 40 percent from three), along with former Heat hoopers Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakučionis. But that’s already where the Buck stops (no pun intended), unless you want to count what’s left of Kyle Kuzma’s and Myles Turner’s careers as promising. In reality both of them, and probably a few others, have their agent on speed dial these days, hoping for a trade out of Wisconsin sooner rather than later (see the video of an obviously overweight Turner below).
The rebuilding reality is showing itself in some pretty awful numbers for the Bucks early on. Their offensive rating ranks 27th in the league, and their defensive rating ranks even worse at 28th. One thing they do plenty of is jack up triples (second most in the NBA). The only problem is they hit about a third of them. They play fairly fast, too, with the sixth-highest pace in the league. In the end, though, little in their statistical profile suggests that they actually know what they’re doing. Which, of course, is fine for a team this early in a full-blown rebuild.
Knicks looking to win 4th game in a row
What does all that misery mean for the Knicks tonight? It means they’ll have to concentrate on themselves and make sure the focus is on realizing their own potential, both in this contest and going forward. The world champions have looked a lot better lately as Jalen Brunson has rounded into form (32 points per game and 8 of 17 from three in his last two games) and their outside shooting has gotten less streaky (37.5 percent over the last three). Karl-Anthony Towns has been an Everest-sized rock so far this season, and most of the backups have conducted themselves fairly well in their minutes.
How many minutes some of those reserves see against Milwaukee will likely depend on the availability of Josh Hart, who missed Saturday’s game with right ankle soreness. A roster battle is brewing at backup point guard, with Tyler Kolek making the most of his opportunity while Jose Alvarado was briefly out with an injury last week. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out over the next few games and, frankly, over the rest of the season.
Looking over at the Bucks, it’s certainly a good problem to have. Milwaukee enjoyed some really good teams over the last decade and change and even has a mesmerizing championship to show for it. That makes the current state of the franchise at least somewhat bearable for the fans, I hope. We all know what hopelessness feels like in the NBA. But as bad as everything looks right now, better times will come. They’ll get their young stars to cheer for, and they’ll get a system in place that’s fun to watch.
And they might even be “spirited, good jumpers, fast and agile” again, just like Bucks are supposed to be.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (5-4) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (1-9) Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM ET Place: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY TV: MSG Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 9: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates after scoring a three point basket during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Center on November 9, 2026 in Dallas, 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. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (7-4) were on the second night of a back-to-back when they welcomed the Indiana Pacers (3-8) Monday night. They found themselves battling back from a deficit for most of the first half, but in the third quarter they started to find a groove and ultimately pulled away for a 125-122 win in a game that came down to the final possession. Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving led the way, while players like Walter Clayton, Santi Aldama and Caleb Martin did the little things around the edges for what proved to be a total team victory.
78: Flagg and Irving combined point total
The duo of Flagg and Irving is absolutely terrifying when they are “on” and they were on Monday night. The pair dropped 78 points combined on impressive efficiency. Together, they shot 27-of-43, good for a 62.7% connection rate. Irving hit an insane 7-of-10 from downtown, with Flagg an excellent 3-of-6 in his own right. They were also 14-of-15 from the free throw line. Each player individually was a sight to behold, but the combination of what they were doing together was truly next level.
29: Irving’s plus/minus
A single game plus/minus needs to be looked at carefully, as it can be misleading. Having said that, Irving played 38 minutes and was a game-high +29 with no other player on either team being even close (the next best was +15 by Daniel Gafford and Andrew Nembhard). Irving’s presence was apparent from his scoring, but he did so much more than that as a poised floor general that helped the Mavs to victory in other ways as well.
43-27: Mavericks’ rebounding edge
Don’t look now, but Dallas once again dominated on the boards. Being +16 on the glass in a three-point game is unquestionably a big factor in why the Mavs came out on top. The best part of the disparity is that Gafford was in foul trouble most of the night and Morez Johnson, Jr. sat out altogether. Within the overall discrepancy was Dallas’ 10-1 offensive rebound advantage.
1: Caleb Martin steals
On the final possession with the Mavericks up by three points, the Pacers were inbounding from half-court. Dusty May substituted Irving for Martin for his length and defensive prowess and Martin rewarded him and Mavs nation with the defensive stop of the night. On a somewhat errant pass across nearly the entire court sideline-to-sideline, Martin streaked in and tipped the ball away from Pascal Siakam, allowing the clock to run out. Pacers’ coach Rick Carlisle was furious there was no foul call, however it appeared to be the correct no-call by the referees. Martin got his hand on the ball and tipped it well away from Siakam before the two players’ body’s made contact with each other. As a result, the Pacers weren’t able to attempt a final shot and Dallas got the win.
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The second-year star had 43 points in the Dallas Mavericks' 125-122 win against the Indiana Pacers on Monday, Nov. 9 at the American Airlines Center. He added 10 rebounds for a double-double and six assists with three steals for good measure.
According to the NBA, the 19-year-old joins Kevin Durant as the only other player in league history to have at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a game as a teenager. ESPN adds that this is the 14th game in which Flagg has scored at least 30 points before turning 20 years old. Only LeBron James has more with 20 such games before he reached his 20th birthday.
Flagg had back-to-back dunks in the first quarter to cap an 11-0 run by the Mavericks. In one key play with less than 30 seconds left in the game, he dribbled against Andrew Nembhard, then drained a step-back jumper. The bucket extended Dallas' lead to four.
Kyrie Irving contributed 35 points for the Mavericks, while Pascal Siakam had 29 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for Indiana.
This is the first time this season that Flagg has crossed the 40-point mark and the fifth of his young NBA career. In April during his rookie season, the former Duke standout scored a career-high 51 points in a loss to the Orlando Magic. At 19 years old, he was the youngest player in NBA history to reach the 50-point mark.
