Oct 10, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Headshot of Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Isaiah Evans (33) during the first half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Laughlin-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Two former Blue Devils and current NBA rookies had big nights Friday.
Cameron Boozer had 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists to help the Memphis Grizzlies past the Charlotte Hornets.
Meanwhile, Isaiah Evans showed his potential for the Minnesota Timberwolves, finishing with 21 points on 6-13/5-10 from the floor, in a 133-116 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
People have come to expect big things from Boozer already, but Evans still has to prove himself at the NBA level. As Duke fans know, he knows how to shoot, and every team can use a good sniper. He made a solid argument for himself Friday night. Now he needs to build on it.
(Original Caption) 4/18/62 -BOSTON,MA.- : HAPPY CHAMPS...The victorious Boston Celtics, NBA basketball champions for the fourth consecutive year, whoop it up in the dressing room, flanking their coach Red Auerbach {white shirt} Gov. John Volpe of Mass., {rear,L} and Celtics owner Walter Brown {front,L}. The Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 110-107, Boston Garden{4/18}.
There have been a lot of great coaches in basketball. In high school, we saw Bob Hurley Sr. of St. Anthony’s and Morgan Wootten of DeMatha.
In college, we’ve seen Mike Krzyzewski, Dean Smith, and John Wooden.
And in the pros, we’ve seen Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, and perhaps most of all, Red Auerbach.
What he built in Boston is still astonishing. The Celtics were good, and when he saw that he had a chance to get the final piece, Bill Russell, he swung a trade that made it happen.
Russell won the last game of every season he played in the NBA except for two: 1958, when he was injured, and 1967, when the Philadelphia 76ers had a truly great team.
After Russell retired, Auerbach rebuilt around an undersized Dave Cowens and John Havlicek, and then again around Larry Bird.
But it wasn’t just about talent. It was about how he dealt with people. Auerbach had many talents, and was an intense competitor, but his greatest talent may have been his insights into people. He knew how to deal with Russell, which wasn’t easy. He knew just how far he could push Bob Cousy.
He knew how to deal with every player on his team as a coach or under his supervision as GM or team president.
This video gets into a lot of what made Auerbach one of, at a minimum, the two or three best coaches in the history of basketball. He was unbelievably good at what he did.
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It’s not common that I find myself on the edge of my seat and yelling at my TV over a preseason NBA game but I found myself in that exact position tonight watching the Boston Celtics defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 125-120 in overtime. In a game where the 76ers started all of their starters against the Celtics who ran out what could end up being their Maine Celtics lineup at some point this year, Boston overcame the adversity and took down the Goliath. Am I being a bit hyperbolic for a preseason game? Yes. But it was still an entertaining game to watch despite it not being a game that actually counts.
The Boston Celtics beat the Super Team Philadelphia 76ers with this Starting Lineup pic.twitter.com/gSQ1pc1hLf
What did impress me the most out of the group the Celtics played tonight was the fact that no one seemed afraid of the moment. Even in a preseason game, there are a lot of guys in Boston’s starting lineup that are fighting for a roster spot with either the Celtics on a two-way deal or just a G League spot. Philadelphia’s starters had a combined 89,240 Career NBA Points to their name while Boston had a combined 6 points, all by Hayden Gray who played in one NBA game with the Utah Jazz last season.
Everyone on the roster in this game looked to be aggressive and they didn’t care that NBA Champions and MVPs like LeBron James, Joel Embiid or Jaylen Brown were in the way. There was sloppy play at times from the Celtics but it was the hustle stats that told the story. Boston out-rebounded the Philadelphia 63-46, finished 16 more shot attempts, and forced 18 turnovers. There were times where Boston looked to be the better team with the 76ers starters on the floor and I think that is a huge testament to the culture of the Celtics.
2. Head Coach Sam Cassell
Similar to the first game of the preseason when assistant coaches Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay took the reigns from Joe Mazzulla, Sam Cassell made his Celtics head coaching debut for Boston in their matchup against the 76ers. Cassell was an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers from 2020-2023 before joining the Celtics coaching staff in June of 2023. He was tied for 5th in the 2026-27 NBA GM Survey as the best assistant coach in the NBA and has been a hot name in the head coaching candidate circles a lot in the past.
Cassell did a great job when it came to coaching up the players who didn’t have a lot of playing time during the rest of the preseason games this year. He was actively engaged on the sidelines and helped lead Boston back from a 14 point deficit midway through the the third quarter.
When asked postgame about the starting lineup, Cassell said, “We wanted to reward these guys…they pushed our guys in training camp the last three or four weeks and Joe was like let’s reward them…It’s a big thing to be a starter for the Boston Celtics and this something I’m pretty sure none of them will ever forget in their lives.”
It was cool to see Joe Mazzulla give his assistant coaches the chance to shine in this preseason. It feels like Cassell will eventually get a head coaching job in the NBA one day and even though it will be sad to see him leave the Celtics, he is more than deserving of an opportunity.
Sam Cassell on the Celtics starting a group who are mostly on E10s in the preseason finale:
“They pushed our guys in training camp…Joe was like, ‘Let’s reward them.’
Similar to Mazzulla and Cassell giving them the start, I wanted to highlight the contributions of the lesser known names from the starting lineup. Hayden Gray, Milos Uzan, Tucker Devries, and Gabe McGlothan all played a pivotal role in the Celtics win tonight with their play down the stretch of the fourth quarter and overtime.
Starting with Hayden Gray who finished with 7 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals on 3-6 shooting while also being a +11. Gray was impressive early, showing his two-man game with Celtics 2026 first round pick Chris Cenac Jr. We even saw a play similar to Rajon Rondo where after a steal, he made a behind the back pass to Cenac Jr. for an easy dunk. Gray was also a stabilizing force as a ball handler for Boston late in the game as similar lineups struggled when it came to getting the ball up the court. It feels like Gray will end up with a two-way contract at some point this season whether its with Boston or not and I am excited to see how his NBA career will unfold.
Milos Uzan was the leading scorer of the starting lineup, finishing with 14 points on 4-9 shooting. Uzan also had chemistry with his former Houston Cougars teammate Chris Cenac Jr. as Cassell seemed to stagger their minutes together. His biggest moment of the game came at the end of overtime where he hit a dagger shot as the shot clock was expiring to give Boston a 7 point lead, all but sealing the win. Uzan is another guy I can see on a two-way contract at some point this season and I hope we are able to see him play for the Maine Celtics this year because he is a solid player.
Tucker DeVries was another standout when it came to his shooting, finishing with 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals and shot 3-5 from three in the fourth quarter. DeVries gave Boston their first lead after being down by 14 points midway through the third quarter and gave them life for the rest of the game. He will be another fun guy to watch with the Maine Celtics this year just for his ability to get hot from beyond the arc.
Finally, we have Gabe McGlothan who was an absolute monster on boards, finishing with 6 points and 13 rebounds, 5 of which coming on the offensive glass. McGlothan played a lot of small ball center for Boston at the end of the fourth quarter and overtime and did a great job keeping the Celtics alive. He felt like the guy that got the least amount of playing time this preseason but he made a name for himself when given the opportunity in this game. Another guy who will be a fun watch in the G League this year.
4. Gonzalez Shined Again
Hugo Gonzalez saved his best performance in his stellar preseason this year for last as against the 76ers he finished with a team-high 21 points with 4 rebounds and 3 assists on 6-10 shooting from the field and 3-7 from three. Gonzalez finished the preseason shooting an impressive 19-30 (63%) overall while also shooting 11-20 (55%) from beyond the arc. This is a great sign for the Celtics as we could be in store for a big Year 2 from Hugo.
His offense was the biggest standout for me in this game as he looked like a complete offensive player. His drives to the paint for tough buckets over taller defenders was impressive but his three point shooting was also great. Gonzalez was able to catch the ball in the corner and with no hesitation pull the trigger on a wide open three. His most impressive shot to me came in the second quarter when he hit a pull-up three over Tyrese Maxey who was draped all over him.
This is the type of shot creation we didn’t see last year and after not playing much in the Celtics game against the Hornets on Wednesday, Gonzalez was able to put his full skillset on display. I hope this means we get to see more of him in the rotation during the regular season because it feels like good things happen when he is on the court.
5. Harper Jr. First Full Preseason Action
After missing the first two games of the preseason with a shoulder injury, Ron Harper Jr. played in 6 minutes in the fourth quarter of the Celtics third preseason game against the Hornets. That changed a lot in this matchup against the 76ers where he played in 35 minutes, finishing with 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists on 7-20 shooting. Although the three point shot wasn’t there in this game and he finished with 5 turnovers, Harper Jr. was the main offensive option down the stretch, playing almost every minute of the fourth quarter and overtime. Harper Jr. shot 6-12 in the fourth quarter with a lot of great cuts to the basket and nice finishes.
Harper Jr. being the leader at the end of the game felt fitting considering he was in a similar position to a lot of the guys he played with on the court. Starting in the G League with the Celtics before eventually working his way up to a two-way contract and then eventually a long term extension this offseason. In his postgame interview with Abby Chin on NBC Sports Boston, he highlighted this work ethic by saying, “Nobody expected us to win, especially when we roll out that (starting) lineup and they see who’s playing and not playing, but we don’t really care. We just go out there and play Boston Celtics basketball and find a way to get it done.”
Ron Harper Jr. knows what it takes to play for the Celtics and it feels like he is in store for a big season this year. It would not surprise me if we see a handful of games where due to injuries or rest, Harper Jr. puts up some big performances for Boston off the bench.
Ron Harper Jr. to @tvabby: "Nobody expected us to win, especially when we roll out that (starting) lineup and they see who's playing and not playing, but we don't really care. We just go out there and play Boston Celtics basketball and find a way to get it done." pic.twitter.com/dE71pODUHk
Similar to Gonzalez, another guy who has had an impressive preseason for the Celtics has been Luka Garza. In this game he finished with 13 points and 6 rebounds on 3-6 shooting from the field, 2-4 from three, and 5-7 from the free throw line. Garza is once again showing why he deserves some time in Boston’s rotation. Garza finished the preseason averaging 14.3 points and 6.0 rebounds and it felt like every time he was on the floor for Boston he made his presence known.
The first quarter was what impressed me the most about Garza’s performance. In 6 minutes he had 7 points and 4 offensive rebounds, all in quick succession. The best coming off of a fast break for the Celtics where he grabbed the board over three 76ers in the vicinity. He might not be as skilled as Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson, but his ability to crash the offensive glass is special and much like Ron Harper Jr, he will win Boston a few games this year with his effort alone.
7. Cenac Jr. Best Game
After an electric Summer League the Celtics 2026 first round pick Chris Cenac Jr. was a name to watch throughout the preseason. In his first game against the Cavaliers he got a ton of minutes but shot 3-13 and after that got fourth quarter minutes once Boston’s starters started playing. However, against the 76ers in this game, Cenac Jr. was in the starting lineup for the Celtics and played well, finishing with 12 points and 8 rebounds on 6-10 shooting despite fouling out in the fourth quarter.
At 19 years old, Cenac Jr. held his own against the likes of LeBron James and Joel Embiid on defense, even getting a block on Tyrese Maxey. On offense he was a great play finisher, a noteable improvement from his first game. He did a great job rolling to the basket and cutting out of the corners that lead to a ton of easy dunks. It’s a part of his game that has me the most excited because of the Celtics great history of developing big men. I wonder if he starts the season in Boston or ends up with Maine to get more playing time? Either way he will be a fun piece for the future of the Celtics.
8. Sharp Shooter Mitchell
When Dillon Mitchell was at St. John’s this past season for college basketball, he was known as being a crazy athlete but he was not known as a shooter at all. In fact, in his senior season, he only attempted 15 shots from three and making only 1. It was going to be a real test to see if the Celtics could fix his jumper so he could hit it at even an average level. In the Summer League there were good signs as he finished shooting 3-8 from beyond the arc in 3 games played but there were still questions.
In the preseason, Mitchell only attempted 1 three before this game but in this game he attempted 2. One came in the fourth quarter where he missed but the second came in maybe the biggest moment of the game in overtime. With 1:31 left, Mitchell pulled a three that looked to shock everyone and cashed it to put the Celtics up by 5. This is a great example of the hard work paying off for Dillon Mitchell and hopefully we are able to see him shoot the ball with even more comfortability as the season goes on.
9. Brown vs Boston Looked Weird
After playing 10 years for the Boston Celtics, developing into a 5 time All-Star, a 2 time All-NBA player, a 2024 NBA Champion, and 2024 Finals MVP, Jaylen Brown played his game against his former club and I won’t lie to you, it was really weird to see. Brown played in parts of all four quarters in this game, finishing with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks on 8-14 shooting and I hated watching every second of it. Watching him size up his former teammates that he mentored all last season just looked uncanny.
Postgame, all of those same teammates like Baylor Scheierman and Ron Harper Jr. went up to him to say good game and Brown had some words for them as well. “He said we’re still ugly, that just means he misses us” Harper Jr. said in his postgame interview when asked about his conversation with Brown and that just hit me all in the feels.
Abby asked Ron Harper Jr. what Jaylen Brown said to the guys after the game: "He said we're still ugly, that just means he misses us" 😂 pic.twitter.com/rv38zM5Ca9
When asked if the trip to TD Garden and playing against his former team tonight made the emotions of playing the Celtics go away, Jaylen Brown said in his postgame interview, “I played there for 10 years, so it’ll never be out of the way.” Safe to say the feeling is mutual when it comes to both Brown and Boston fan’s as a whole. His time in Boston will never be forgotten even if he’s wearing a 76ers jersey now. It still feels insane that the NBA scheduled Brown’s regular season return to Boston on January 21st.
10. Perfect Preseason
With their win over the 76ers, the Celtics finished with a perfect 4-0 record in the preseason this year. The last time Boston finished with a 4-0 record in the preseason was all the way back in the 2019-20 season. That team went on to make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, so surely there is a direct correlation to an undefeated preseason and postseason success right? Probably not.
Celtics finish 4-0 in the Preseason for the first time since the 2019-20 season pic.twitter.com/oQ94LnqcVu
Either way this was a fun preseason to watch for a new look Boston Celtics squad. We got to see the new guys like Paul George and Mitchell Robinson showcase a little bit of their talents. We saw the young guys like Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh show real improvements. Finally, we got to see what could be the start of some great seasons by guys like Payton Pritchard and Jayson Tatum. Either way, preseason is finally over and that means we finally get some real Boston Celtics basketball once again.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 16: Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 16, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The past three months have been all about preparation for Hugo González.
In July, González joined the Spain national team for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers, logging appearances against Denmark, Georgia, and Greece. In Las Vegas, he joined the Boston Celtics and began to impress, leading the team in scoring (18.3 points) throughout Summer League — putting his offseason strides on full display.
Friday night was no different. The 20-year-old, poised to make a major leap this season, placed his cherry on top against the Philadelphia 76ers with another elite performance. This time, facing a star-studded Philadelphia squad that started LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey, González stole the spotlight at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Fighting from behind a 14-point deficit in the second half, González was Boston’s difference-maker in their 125-120 overtime win over Philadelphia.
González scored a team-leading 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting with four rebounds, three assists, and a steal in 19 minutes off the bench. He went 3-of-7 from beyond the arc and didn’t commit a single turnover, unveiling his polished 3-point shot and improved ball-handling.
Philadelphia countered Boston’s starting lineup of Hayden Gray, Milos Uzan, Gabe McGlothan, Tucker DeVries and Chris Cenac Jr. with four of its top players. With Jayson Tatum, Paul George and Boston’s other regulars sidelined, the Celtics had every reason to struggle against a lineup riddled with future Hall of Famers in a game that counted towards absolutely nothing.
But González didn’t approach the team’s final competitive opportunity before Opening Night with that thought in mind.
Much like the Celtics saw during Summer League, González carries himself with greater confidence. You can see it in his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers and his drives to the basket. He has a different kind of swagger when he attacks the rim, which pairs well with the boldness he enforces defensively.
In the first quarter, González picked Brown’s pocket and flushed a wide-open two-handed dunk on the other end.
While the disengaged, such as James, cruised, González hustled and sparked the Celtics. For the second time this preseason, Boston didn’t need its regulars to take care of the best their opposition had for them. In the opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, as Boston sat its most-rotated veterans, González came through with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting, helping put away Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
The same way González embraced the Celtics’ stay-ready culture as a rookie last season was the same way he approached Friday night’s finale.
Just because stakes are minimal for both teams involved doesn’t mean González needs to take his foot off the gas. That’s his approach. He’s constantly in attack mode, and it’s a part of him he can’t turn off when he’s suited up and on the floor.
After the final buzzer, Brown went straight to González to shake his former teammate’s hand.
“It was good to see some of the young guys,” Brown told reporters postgame. “I spent a lot of time with those guys. To see them develop and get better, it’s good to see.”
If the version of González we’ve seen in FIBA, the Summer League, and preseason shows up this season, the Celtics have a lot to be excited about. González earned president of basketball operations Brad Stevens plenty of brownie points last year for snipping him 28th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, but that was just the start.
Boston now has a better idea of González’s potential, along with a clear role for him to fill.
So far, all signs point toward González taking that next step. He’s returned an upgraded version of his rookie self with the same hard-nosed motor that earned him immediate respect and admiration from Celtics fans last season. Now, all that’s left is to put it all together.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 08: Jayson Tatum #0 and Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics sit on the bench during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on October 08, 2026 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Celtics are deep. Really deep.
Heading into Opening Night, there’s a possibility that Mike Conley who started fifteen games last year in Minnesota may not even see the floor. Ron Harper Jr. signed a three-year contract over the summer and he might be the odd man out. Fifteen points and six rebounds a night over the preseason? That may not be enough for Luka Garza to get off the bench in Detroit next week.
As the poll results suggest, playing time and pecking order don’t really matter because “the vibes are good.” But we asked anyway, “who will be the Celtics’ second leading scorer” presumably behind Jayson Tatum?
Conventional wisdom suggests that veterans Derrick White and Paul George would pick up the mantle of being Robin to JT’s Batman. That might still happen, but our readers resoundingly voted for Payton Pritchard to be the #2.
I clicked on “Doesn’t matter, vibes are good” but I agree it’s likely PP, not only because he’s a talented scorer but also because I expect PG & DW will be more focused on being all-around “contributes to winning” players than on scoring.
So far in the preseason, the former Sixth Man of the Year has returned to the bench with head coach Joe Mazzulla opting to start the more complementary Jordan Walsh. There’s no guarantee that that’s what it will look like on October 21 against the Pistons, but for now, Pritchard becomes the designated scorer of the second unit.
After a 4-0 preseason and Pritchard falling into a familiar role, Our friends at FanDuel remain bullish on Boston and still have the Celtics (+1400) with the fifth highest odds to win a championship behind the Thunder (+240), Spurs (+270), Knicks (+1000), and Sixers (+1000).
LeBron James had completed two NBA seasons by the time VJ Edgecombe was born.
More than two decades later, the two are expected to start alongside each other when the Sixers open their season Tuesday night against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
James and Edgecombe bookend a projected starting five assembled from opposite ends of the NBA timeline. Its members were drafted across 22 years, from James at No. 1 in 2003 to Edgecombe at No. 3 in 2025.
All five were first-round picks. Four were selected within the first three picks of their respective drafts.
James went first overall in 2003. Joel Embiid and Jaylen Brown were each selected third in 2014 and 2016, respectively. Tyrese Maxey went 21st in 2020. Edgecombe became the third overall pick in 2025.
That collection of draft pedigree is exceptionally rare.
An NBC Sports Philadelphia review of the starting lineup each NBA team used in its first regular-season game over the past 30 seasons found only three with at least four players selected within the first three picks of their drafts.
That is three of 892 team-season opening lineups from 1996-97 through 2025-26, or 0.34 percent.
The 2007-08 Denver Nuggets opened with No. 1 picks Allen Iverson and Kenyon Martin, No. 2 pick Marcus Camby and No. 3 pick Carmelo Anthony. Yakhouba Diawara completed the lineup.
A decade later, Boston opened consecutive seasons with the same four top-three picks. Kyrie Irving was selected first overall, while Al Horford, Brown and Jayson Tatum each went third. Gordon Hayward, the ninth pick in 2010, was the fifth starter in both 2017 and 2018.
If and when the Sixers use their projected five Tuesday, they will join those three modern-era examples. Their exact arrangement of one No. 1 pick and three No. 3 picks would match Boston’s.
Brown provides the link between the groups. He appeared in both Boston lineups and would become part of three of the four qualifying opening fives identified in the study.
His place within them has changed dramatically.
Brown was 20 years old and beginning his second season when Boston first opened with four top-three picks in 2017. Nine years later, Edgecombe is the 21-year-old entering Year 2, while Brown is the accomplished veteran expected to help him navigate that position.
The opponent for Brown’s 2017 opener was James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Brown scored a team-high 25 points. James finished with 29 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists in Cleveland’s 102-99 victory.
It was the last time James opened a season as a member of an Eastern Conference team. When he returns to the East for another opener Tuesday, Brown will no longer be the young opponent attempting to stop him. He will be the veteran starting beside him.
The Sixers’ group is decorated beyond its draft positions.
The five players have combined for 36 All-Star selections, five regular-season MVP awards, five NBA championships and five Finals MVP awards.
Edgecombe is the only member without an All-Star appearance. He earned All-Rookie First Team honors and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting last season.
Each player represents a different stage of an NBA career and a different chapter in the Sixers’ history.
James, 41, is preparing to become the first player in NBA history to appear in a 24th season. He made his NBA debut on Oct. 29, 2003, recording 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds and four steals for the Cavaliers.
Embiid was 9 years old at the time and had not started playing basketball. Brown was 7. Maxey was 2, six days shy of his third birthday.
Edgecombe would not be born for another 640 days.
By the time Edgecombe arrived on July 30, 2005, James had completed two NBA seasons and won Rookie of the Year. He was preparing to begin his third.
Edgecombe’s first NBA game would eventually create the most direct connection between them.
He scored 34 points in his debut last October, the third-highest total by a player in his first NBA game. His 14 first-quarter points surpassed James’ record for the most scored in the opening quarter of a debut.
Edgecombe’s career began by erasing a small part of James’ history. His second season will begin alongside him.
That debut also connected nearly the entire projected lineup before it had been assembled.
Oct 22, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard VJ Edgecombe (77) celebrates with guard Tyrese Maxey (0) and forward Dominick Barlow (25) after they defeated the Boston Celtics 117-116 at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Maxey scored 40 points beside Edgecombe. Their 74 combined points tied the second-highest total by a duo in an NBA season opener, one shy of the record set by James Harden and Christian Wood in 2020.
Embiid started at center for the Sixers. Brown scored 25 points for the opposing Celtics.
James was the only member of the new five who was not in the building, though Edgecombe still managed to break one of his records.
Their careers intersected in other ways before converging in Philadelphia. The years in which the other four entered the league also measure the different stages of James’ career.
The Sixers selected Embiid third overall on June 26, 2014. Fifteen days later, James announced that he was leaving Miami and returning to Cleveland.
Brown was drafted third overall on June 23, 2016, four days after James led the Cavaliers past the Golden State Warriors to secure Cleveland’s first major professional sports championship in 52 years.
When the Sixers selected Maxey 21st in November 2020, James was 38 days removed from winning his fourth championship and first with the Los Angeles Lakers. James congratulated Maxey publicly on draft night and declared that Philadelphia had gotten a good player.
Six years later, James identified his relationship with Maxey as one of the central reasons he chose to join the Sixers.
Edgecombe was drafted after James had completed his 22nd NBA season. He then opened his career by breaking James’ first-quarter debut record.
The other relationships within the lineup carry their own history.
Brown and Embiid spent much of the previous decade on opposite sides of one of the NBA’s oldest rivalries. They faced each other in four postseason series.
Boston eliminated Philadelphia in 2018, 2020 and 2023. The Sixers finally broke through last spring, overcoming a 3-1 deficit and beating the Celtics in Game 7 in Boston.
Embiid recorded 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in the deciding game. Brown led Boston with 33 points.
May 2, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) talks with Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) following game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
A little more than two months later, the longtime playoff opponents became teammates.
The projected Sixers lineup has an average age of approximately 30.3 years, calculated using each player’s exact age on opening night.
The range within it is more revealing.
James and Edgecombe will be separated by 20 years and 212 days on opening night. James is entering his 24th season. Edgecombe is entering his second. Embiid, Brown and Maxey fill nearly every stage in between.
It would not be the widest age difference within an NBA starting lineup. Vince Carter and Trae Young started together for Atlanta on Oct. 17, 2018, separated by 21 years and 236 days.
Should James start Tuesday, he would rank as the second-oldest player to start a season opener. At 41 years and 294 days, he would surpass Carter, who was 41 years and 264 days old when he started Atlanta’s 2018 opener. Only Robert Parish, who started an opener at 42 years and 65 days, was older.
The lineup contains three players selected No. 3 in drafts spanning 11 years, but their responsibilities could hardly be more different.
Embiid is the Sixers’ longest-tenured player and final direct connection to the Process. Brown is an established champion beginning a new chapter after 10 seasons in Boston. Edgecombe is a developing second-year guard whom the organization still considers an important part of its future.
Maxey connects Philadelphia’s previous era to its new one. He developed from the 21st pick into a franchise centerpiece, endured several major roster changes and ultimately helped attract James to Philadelphia.
James represents something the league has never seen before. He is not merely occupying a roster spot in his 24th season. The Sixers signed him to help a contender win immediately.
That makes the group difficult to describe with one label.
The Sixers are old enough to carry enormous urgency but young enough to care deeply about internal growth. They must maximize what remains of James’ career without interrupting Edgecombe’s development. They must integrate Brown while continuing to operate around Embiid and Maxey.
They are not choosing between the present and the future. They are attempting to play both at once.
The five arrived in Philadelphia through different drafts, different eras and, in several cases, opposite sides of the same court.
Tuesday night, their careers converge in the same starting lineup.
Bronny James is back with the Los Angeles Lakers for his third season in the NBA.
But it will be the first season James is not playing alongside his father, LeBron. That, though, allows him the opportunity to step out of his father’s shadow and continue to carve out a role in Los Angeles.
The Lakers, including coach JJ Redick, have thought highly of Bronny James and the progress he’s made since being drafted by the franchise in 2024 with the 55th overall pick.
James missed his only shot attempt of the game from the 3-point line in Friday's 121-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets in the teams' preseason finale. He collected one rebound and one assist in 12 minutes of action.
Redick did state earlier in the week that James had not looked particularly good during the first four preseason games.
“I thought he had a really nice September and a good summer with us,” Redick said. “I don't think he's played well in the four preseason games, but he's had good practices.
“Again, some of it's just rhythm and some of it's just who he's playing with, right? He's played a lot of minutes, especially in the second half of games with our two-way guys. ... Some of it is like the group he's with. I think it's not setting him up for success.”
As a rookie, James played just 6.7 minutes per game and averaged 2.3 points in 27 games played. Last season, he averaged 2.9 points and 1.2 assists in 42 games played.
He will likely still have an opportunity to build off his second season in the league. The former USC Trojan saw an increase in games played during both the regular season and postseason, indicating a stronger sense of belief from the coaching staff.
James had his contract fully guaranteed by the Lakers during the offseason. He will make $2.3 million this season, the third year of a four-year deal that he signed in 2024. The fourth year of James' deal is a team option.
How good can Bronny James be?
James has the potential to be a quality defensive player in the NBA. His defensive ability and decision-making could work in his favor as he continues to establish a role with Los Angeles.
Bronny James is back with the Los Angeles Lakers for his third season in the NBA.
But it will be the first season James is not playing alongside his father, LeBron. That, though, allows him the opportunity to step out of his father’s shadow and continue to carve out a role in Los Angeles.
The Lakers, including coach JJ Redick, have thought highly of Bronny James and the progress he’s made since being drafted by the franchise in 2024 with the 55th overall pick.
James missed his only shot attempt of the game from the 3-point line in Friday's 121-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets in the teams' preseason finale. He collected one rebound and one assist in 12 minutes of action.
Redick did state earlier in the week that James had not looked particularly good during the first four preseason games.
“I thought he had a really nice September and a good summer with us,” Redick said. “I don't think he's played well in the four preseason games, but he's had good practices.
“Again, some of it's just rhythm and some of it's just who he's playing with, right? He's played a lot of minutes, especially in the second half of games with our two-way guys. ... Some of it is like the group he's with. I think it's not setting him up for success.”
As a rookie, James played just 6.7 minutes per game and averaged 2.3 points in 27 games played. Last season, he averaged 2.9 points and 1.2 assists in 42 games played.
He will likely still have an opportunity to build off his second season in the league. The former USC Trojan saw an increase in games played during both the regular season and postseason, indicating a stronger sense of belief from the coaching staff.
James had his contract fully guaranteed by the Lakers during the offseason. He will make $2.3 million this season, the third year of a four-year deal that he signed in 2024. The fourth year of James' deal is a team option.
How good can Bronny James be?
James has the potential to be a quality defensive player in the NBA. His defensive ability and decision-making could work in his favor as he continues to establish a role with Los Angeles.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 10: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors high-fives Brandin Podziemski #2 during the first half of the preseason game against the Sacramento Kings at Chase Center on October 10, 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 Godofredo A. Vásquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors capped off a 4-2 preseason on Friday night at the Chase Center, breezing past the Portland Trail Blazers 128-118 in a game that got closer once the rotational players were out of it.
It was the dress rehearsal before the regular season begins on Wednesday, and as a result, the starters played their heaviest minutes of any game thus far, as they prepped for the first meaningful contest of the season. Since it was the final tune-up game, rotations were worth paying attention to, and right away we were offered an interesting nugget: the starting lineup.
Earlier in the week, head coach Steve Kerr had said that he was leaning towards a starting five of Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Yaxel Lendeborg, Gui Santos, and Draymond Green. It seemed likely, then, that Kerr would start those five in the finale, but he instead opted to give Charles Bassey the opening assignment instead of Santos.
It’s unclear if Kerr is leaning towards a new starting five, or simply wanted to see Bassey get some time alongside Green. Either way, both possible lineups got a chance to open a half, as Bassey got banged up in the first half, only played eight minutes as a result, and was replaced by Santos in the opening lineup when the third quarter kicked off.
That wasn’t the only notable thing in the starting lineup: for Warriors fans, it was their first glimpse at the new-look Blazers, who are starting All-Star point guards Damian Lillard and Ja Morant next to each other. It was certainly an interesting look, and one that had mixed results on this night.
Both teams came out of the gates slowly. There was good energy, but the shots weren’t falling. The Dubs were playing good defense, and they were getting solid looks on offense, but couldn’t make a bucket. They missed their first seven shots before Lendeborg dropped in a push shot nearly three minutes into the game for their first points.
Portland eventually overcame their slow start with back-to-back threes by Toumani Camara and Lillard, giving them a 10-2 advantage early and forcing Kerr into a timeout. It took a few minutes for the effects of the timeout to set in, as a burst by Morant pushed Portland’s lead to 15-4.
And then the Warriors took over. Just over five minutes in, Curry scored on a back door cut for his first points of the game, and it was the start of an absurd run by the Dubs. Green was the spark plug for the run, as he was making sensational passes and playing spirited defense, but the star came off the bench in the form of Georges Niang. The veteran, who could sneakily be one of the best offseason acquisitions in the league, scored three points on three consecutive possessions: first on an old-fashioned three-point play, and then on a pair of triples. That, combined with Curry’s shot, gave the Warriors an 11-0 run to tie the game.
Portland called timeout and scored after the break, at which point Niang scored once more, giving him 11 straight points for the Dubs. With the defense tightening up in a big way — Green fittingly being at the center of that — and with Lendeborg playing tremendous minutes on both ends of the court, the Warriors pushed the run to 23-4. When the quarter ended, they led 35-26, and Niang had scored 13 points.
It only took a few possessions of second-quarter action for the Warriors to push the lead to double digits. It was an odd second half, though, as the game devolved into chaos on more than one equation. Yet through it all, the Warriors seemed to hold onto that double-digit lead. It was a little reminiscent of some of their dynastic squads: even when the game got ugly, they were able to keep their opponent at bay.
Led by Lillard, the Blazers made things fairly close in the second half of the second quarter, but the Dubs were able to lock back in on defense, turn that defense to offense, and push the lead back to double digits. The offense did falter int he final minutes, but the defense held strong — Lendeborg was playing such incredible defense — and the led 67-58 at the half.
The vintage Third Quarter Warriors showed up when the halftime break concluded. With Mike Dunleavy Jr. in the broadcaster’s booth talking with Fitz and Buike (dressed in purple blazers to celebrate the Valkyries spot in the WNBA Finals). The Dubs simply dominated in every phase of the game. They put the clamps on Portland’s offense. The moved the ball fervently. They cut relentlessly. They attacked on offense, on defense, and on the glass. And after a mild-mannered first half, Curry started to catch fire. The Warriors quickly pushed the lead to 20 points, and it stayd there for most of the quarter. After Curry stole the show in the early going, Lendeborg started to take over halfway through the frame, as he further cemented his case to be one of the most prominently-featured players on the team. It sure feels like he’s not just going to start, but play heavy minutes and be one of the team’s top players.
Eventually things came back to earth, as the Blazers used a late-quarter surge to start to close the gap. Even so, the Warriors led 105-91 after three.
Curry and Green were still on the court when play resumed, as they got their first taste of fourth-quarter minutes this preseason. Unfortunately, the team had started to slow down, as the offense simply wasn’t able to find much of anything anymore. Two minutes into the fourth, Portland had made it a single-digit game.
And then the Warriors decided it was time to stop fooling around. They ran off quite a run, which was fueled by Green’s defense and passing — in the final tune up, Dray played by far his best game of the preseason. He and Curry wasted no time pushing the lead back to 16 points, and then taking their spot on the bench to watch the game ride out. With the back-of-the-bench and two-way contracts in for both teams, Golden State’s offense was officially placed on life support, as they couldn’t find a way to score. Thankfully the lead was well secured, and they still cruised to a 128-118 win.
Curry led the Dubs with 20 points, though it wasn’t his most efficient night, as he needed 19 shots and three free throws to get there. Lendeborg and Podziemski were right behind with 17 points apiece; Yaxel was particularly efficient, as he shot 6-for-9 from the field, and added four rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block. But the star was Green, who looked incredibly inspired and in control, and also in phenomenal shape. His defense was truly game-changing, and he finished the game with seven points (on just three shots), eight rebounds, 10 assists, and three steals, while having a game-high plus/minus of +18.
A few other notes from the finale:
Brandon Williams was the only rotation player who did not play, as he was a late scratch due to back soreness. Kerr said he expects Williams to be ready for the season opener.
Lendeborg and Al Horford shared the court for plenty of minutes and showed off some tremendous rapport. They worked seamlessly together, and that’s surely a pairing that Kerr will rely on. Horford ended the game with 15 points, all on threes, many assisted by Lendeborg.
Bassey was limited to eight minutes, but played exceptionally well in those minutes. He was a force on the glass.
Santos left the game after hurting his knee in the first quarter, but thankfully returned in the second.
The Warriors did a great job taking care of the ball. They only had 13 turnovers, and a good number of those were on excusable offensive fouls. There were very few careless or sloppy plays with the ball.
Most importantly: opening day is Wednesday. Bring it on, Dub Nation!
A roster overhaul in the aftermath of LeBron James' departure this summer left the Lakers with an almost completely new look − and an extra body. They carried 16 full-time players on their roster into training camp, one above the 15-player maximum allowed by the NBA. Both general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick said they'd evaluate at the end of training camp and, with the preseason now wrapped up with their 121-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night, it's painfully clear who the odd man out is.
It's Dalton Knecht.
Bronny James has had his share of struggles, too. Redick admitted James didn't play well in his first four preseason games, averaging just 2.8 points per game on 26.7% shooting with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.08 entering Friday, but the Lakers' third-year coach added that James has performed better in practices. He didn't mince words, however, when it came to Knecht.
"I think the biggest thing is the team changed. The team changed. Needs changed, the fit changed. I think he’s gotten better as a player the last two years. I think, particularly last year, each guy got plenty of opportunities with the injuries we had. I just think coming into this year, we added a lot of wings," Redick told reporters. "And he’s in a tough spot right now."
He's not wrong.
When the Lakers drafted Knecht 17th overall in the 2024 draft, it looked like they had gotten a steal. They needed a spot-up shooter to help space the floor and complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis; Knecht checked that box. They needed size; the 6-foot-5, 215-pound wing out of Tennessee checked that box, too. His jump shot, while streaky, was seemingly worth more than the questions about his defense and athleticism at the time.
And for the first half season of his career, that all looked to be true. Who could forget his career-high 37-point game against the Utah Jazz in 2024, where his nine made 3s (shooting 75%!) tied the NBA rookie record? That wasn't an isolated instance, either; Knecht put up 27 the night before and 17 the night after.
DALTON KNECHT HAD HIMSELF A NIGHT:
🔥 37 PTS (career high) 🔥 9 3PM (ties rookie record) 🔥 Scored 22 straight for LA@Lakers move 2-0 in #EmiratesNBACup play and are undefeated going back to last season 💯 pic.twitter.com/OjMOeKxY4p
Two years in, those original questions have only gotten louder. Knecht's shooting is still streaky and has even devolved to the point where he could be considered unreliable on offense. On the defensive end of the floor, he's looked lost at times, often finding himself out of position and unable to stay in front of his man. That was a major factor in his minutes being cut almost in half − from 19.2 to 10.2 per night − between his first and second seasons.
The Lakers no longer have a need for shooting with the arrivals of Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Ziaire Williams along the wings. There's simply no room for Knecht. The most telling sign his days in LA are probably numbered? He didn't check into Friday's game until midway through the fourth quarter − the 12th man off the bench − and finished scoreless for the second game in a row. The only other stats he registered in his 7 minutes and 30 seconds were a rebound and assist.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported on Friday morning that the Lakers have had trade discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks centered around Knecht and Jericho Sims, but there was reportedly "some pessimism" that a deal would actually be reached. While getting any value back for Knecht would be a plus for the Lakers at this point, any trade in which they get a player back would need LA to include a second outgoing player in order to meet the league roster limit.
It could also be a plus for Knecht, who would probably benefit from a fresh start elsewhere.
A roster overhaul in the aftermath of LeBron James' departure this summer left the Lakers with an almost completely new look − and an extra body. They carried 16 full-time players on their roster into training camp, one above the 15-player maximum allowed by the NBA. Both general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick said they'd evaluate at the end of training camp and, with the preseason now wrapped up with their 121-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night, it's painfully clear who the odd man out is.
It's Dalton Knecht.
Bronny James has had his share of struggles, too. Redick admitted James didn't play well in his first four preseason games, averaging just 2.8 points per game on 26.7% shooting with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.08 entering Friday, but the Lakers' third-year coach added that James has performed better in practices. He didn't mince words, however, when it came to Knecht.
"I think the biggest thing is the team changed. The team changed. Needs changed, the fit changed. I think he’s gotten better as a player the last two years. I think, particularly last year, each guy got plenty of opportunities with the injuries we had. I just think coming into this year, we added a lot of wings," Redick told reporters. "And he’s in a tough spot right now."
He's not wrong.
When the Lakers drafted Knecht 17th overall in the 2024 draft, it looked like they had gotten a steal. They needed a spot-up shooter to help space the floor and complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis; Knecht checked that box. They needed size; the 6-foot-5, 215-pound wing out of Tennessee checked that box, too. His jump shot, while streaky, was seemingly worth more than the questions about his defense and athleticism at the time.
And for the first half season of his career, that all looked to be true. Who could forget his career-high 37-point game against the Utah Jazz in 2024, where his nine made 3s (shooting 75%!) tied the NBA rookie record? That wasn't an isolated instance, either; Knecht put up 27 the night before and 17 the night after.
DALTON KNECHT HAD HIMSELF A NIGHT:
🔥 37 PTS (career high) 🔥 9 3PM (ties rookie record) 🔥 Scored 22 straight for LA@Lakers move 2-0 in #EmiratesNBACup play and are undefeated going back to last season 💯 pic.twitter.com/OjMOeKxY4p
Two years in, those original questions have only gotten louder. Knecht's shooting is still streaky and has even devolved to the point where he could be considered unreliable on offense. On the defensive end of the floor, he's looked lost at times, often finding himself out of position and unable to stay in front of his man. That was a major factor in his minutes being cut almost in half − from 19.2 to 10.2 per night − between his first and second seasons.
The Lakers no longer have a need for shooting with the arrivals of Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Ziaire Williams along the wings. There's simply no room for Knecht. The most telling sign his days in LA are probably numbered? He didn't check into Friday's game until midway through the fourth quarter − the 12th man off the bench − and finished scoreless for the second game in a row. The only other stats he registered in his 7 minutes and 30 seconds were a rebound and assist.
Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported on Friday morning that the Lakers have had trade discussions with the Milwaukee Bucks centered around Knecht and Jericho Sims, but there was reportedly "some pessimism" that a deal would actually be reached. While getting any value back for Knecht would be a plus for the Lakers at this point, any trade in which they get a player back would need LA to include a second outgoing player in order to meet the league roster limit.
It could also be a plus for Knecht, who would probably benefit from a fresh start elsewhere.
Lakers guard Quentin Grimes, shown here driving on Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski on Oct. 13, finished with 11 points in a 121-106 preseason loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (David Becker / Associated Press)
When coach JJ Redick announced his starters for the Lakers’ final preseason game Friday night, he was asked if those same players would start opening night Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors.
“I know that there’s a chance Quentin is gonna have an opportunity to start,” Redick said. “This was the original plan we were gonna have for the Sacramento game with Collin [Sexton] out. ... We just wanna get a look on that tonight, and we’ll see. But nothing definitive for next week.”
Grimes averaged 12.3 points, 2.5 assists and shot 53.3%, including 41.2% from three-point range, in 24.3 minutes per game in the preseason.
Redick said he was “still open to both” when asked if he could start Grimes and stagger his time with the starters on the bench.
In his first five NBA seasons, Grimes has mostly been a reserve, starting 146 of 318 games.
Grimes started the second half for the Lakers and scored 11 points in a 121-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena.
“I think you’re looking for balance in lineups and you’re looking for players that complement and fit each other,” Redick said. “He’s going to start a lot of games for us. That’s just the reality of it. I don’t know who our base starting group is yet, but we’re going to look at this tonight.
“We wanted to get a look on this first game because Collin was out. That fourth ballhandler for us hasn’t been great. I said that the other night and talked to those guys ... I don’t say anything out here that I don’t tell my players. So Quentin is also going to maybe have some looks as a ballhandler.”
Doncic, who didn’t play in the second half, finished with 15 points.
Reaves scored 19 points, Williams had 14, Kessler had six and Thybulle had seven.
Lakers guard Quentin Grimes, shown here driving on Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski on Oct. 13, finished with 11 points in a 121-106 preseason loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (David Becker / Associated Press)
When coach JJ Redick announced his starters for the Lakers’ final preseason game Friday night, he was asked if those same players would start opening night Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors.
“I know that there’s a chance Quentin is gonna have an opportunity to start,” Redick said. “This was the original plan we were gonna have for the Sacramento game with Collin [Sexton] out. ... We just wanna get a look on that tonight, and we’ll see. But nothing definitive for next week.”
Grimes averaged 12.3 points, 2.5 assists and shot 53.3%, including 41.2% from three-point range, in 24.3 minutes per game in the preseason.
Redick said he was “still open to both” when asked if he could start Grimes and stagger his time with the starters on the bench.
In his first five NBA seasons, Grimes has mostly been a reserve, starting 146 of 318 games.
Grimes started the second half for the Lakers and scored 11 points in a 121-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena.
“I think you’re looking for balance in lineups and you’re looking for players that complement and fit each other,” Redick said. “He’s going to start a lot of games for us. That’s just the reality of it. I don’t know who our base starting group is yet, but we’re going to look at this tonight.
“We wanted to get a look on this first game because Collin was out. That fourth ballhandler for us hasn’t been great. I said that the other night and talked to those guys ... I don’t say anything out here that I don’t tell my players. So Quentin is also going to maybe have some looks as a ballhandler.”
Doncic, who didn’t play in the second half, finished with 15 points.
Reaves scored 19 points, Williams had 14, Kessler had six and Thybulle had seven.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 16: Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Isaiah Collier #8 of the Utah Jazz during the first half of the preseason NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 16, 2026 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In a final tune-up before it counts, the Jazz traveled down to Phoenix to take on Devin Booker and the Suns. Both teams trotted out their probable starting lineups for the regular season and played them for about half the game.
First Quarter
Darryn Petersen and Jaylen Green opened the scoring with a pair of buckets. Lauri Markkanen and Green traded threes, followed by an Al Jefferson-esque back-to-the-basket turnaround shot, and the Jazz held a 9-7 lead at the 8:45 mark. The teams continued to go back and forth, and Phoenix knotted the score at 11. Ace Bailey checked in at the 8-minute mark. Keyonte tried to feed him inside but traveled during the effort, giving the ball back to the Suns. A brick on their end led to a foul and free throws for Lauri Markkanen, and then an errant behind-the-back pass by Jaylen Green led to a DP-Ace alley-oop, giving the Jazz a 4-point lead at the first timeout.
Collin Gillespie fouled Keyonte out of the timeout, but Key missed both free throws. Devin Booker hit two on the other end to cut the Jazz lead in half, answered by a nice floater by Jaxon Hayes. As the score see-sawed, DP checked out with 4:52 left, posting a line of 4/2/2. Devin Booker hit a deep three, bringing the Suns within one and prompting a timeout from Will Hardy. Out of the timeout, Svi Mykhailiuk missed a three, which was put back by Ace Bailey. A Suns turnover led to a Jazz bucket on the other end, stretching the lead to 5. Duop Reath hit a three, Ace hit two free throws, and a scuffling Keyonte George checked out. He had 0/0/2, plus a steal and a turnover.
The Jazz went ice-cold from beyond the arc, leading to three straight empty trips, answered by the Suns laying bricks too. JJJ finally hit a triple at the 1:20 mark, stretching the lead back to 5. Ace Bailey split a pair of free throws, which he earned from a nifty outlet pass by Isaiah Collier. Svi fouled Jordan Goodwin, Ace fouled Collin Gillespie, and their free throws cut the lead to one. Miles Bridges thought he’d given the Suns the lead with 11 seconds left, but his putback was waved off with 11 seconds left due to basket interference. The Jazz failed to convert on offense, and they exited the 1st quarter clinging to a 1-point advantage.
2nd Quarter
JJJ continued the Jazz drought by missing a contested shot at the rim out of the break. Phoenix responded with a three by Goodwin, giving them their first lead of the game. After trading bricks, Brice Sensabaugh regained it for the Jazz, hitting a silky deep ball from the left corner. A Reath miss led to a Collier drive to the rim, on which he was fouled. He hit both free throws. Miles Bridges continued to keep the Suns close, getting into his bag and hitting a tough hook shot inside. After trading a JJJ alley-oop for another Reath three-pointer, Will Hardy took the first timeout of the quarter with the teams tied at 38.
Isaiah Collier quarterbacked the offense out of the timeout, but it was Brice who found Svi for a 3-pointer out of the timeout, which was quickly answered by Bridges. Brice tried a three of his own at the other end, and despite some hard hustle by Svi to grab the rebound, he was tagged with a loose ball foul. Each team posted an empty trip, And JJJ officially got himself into foul trouble, using his third foul on Khaman Maluach. After yet another turnover by the Jazz, Miles Bridges nailed a 3-pointer, giving the Suns a 5-point lead. Josh Okogie hit a vicious dunk, but Jordan Goodwin continued the Phoenix rain of threes. Utah’s shooting woes did not let up, and by the 3:53 Mark the Suns took a 58-49 lead, the largest of the night to that point by either team. But the Jazz kept scrapping, led by a pair of threes by Lauri Markkanen, and found themselves down 7 at the half, 59-65.
Darren Petersen found Keyonte George for three on the first possession of the 3rd, cutting the Suns’ lead in half—briefly. Khaman Maluach threw down a strong dunk to answer. A pair of turnovers by the Jazz and a three by Dillon Brooks stretched the lead to 8, and a bucket by Booker off a deflection put them up 10. The Suns continued to get favorable bounces, the Jazz continued to scuffle, and by the 8:27 mark the Suns increased their lead to 13. Utah bounced back quickly, with JJJ and Ace going on a mini 5-0 run. JJJ committed a reach-in foul with 8:02 remaining, giving him four, and another with 7:50 left. Both were relatively soft, but with 5 fouls he had to exit the game. He was replaced by a tired, discombobulated Jaxon Hayes, who promptly passed the ball out of bounds.
Utah continued to fail to convert after a pair of empty Phoenix trips and found themselves down by double digits yet again after a Jaylen Green jumper. Keyonte drew a foul at the other end, Phoenix called timeout, and Key hit them both. DP and Dillon Brooks exchanged threes, Utah and Phoenix exchanged frenetic turnovers, and DP hit Lauri for a nasty throwdown.
Nice sequence from Darryn Peterson, hitting the off-ball three before finding Markkanen for his 5th assist of the night pic.twitter.com/Aeav90zdDo
Brooks answered by razzle dazzling Lauri on the other end, hitting a contested jumper, Keyonte turned the ball over, and Jaylen Green was fouled by Peterson. He split his free throws, putting Phoenix up 11 at the 4:55 mark. At the 4:02 mark, Isaiah Collier checked in for Keyonte. Dillon Brooks hit yet another tough jumper off an offensive rebound, extending the Suns lead to 13. Lauri responded with two free throws for his 18th and 19th points.
A pair of Jaxon Hayes free throws cut the lead to single digits. Despite another offensive rebound, the Suns failed to answer. A Brice Sensabaugh shot from downtown prompted a Phoenix timeout, and the score stood at 83-89 with 1:58 left in the quarter. Out of the timeout, Ryan Dunn found Miles Bridges for what looked like an easy layup, but Brice blocked it and nailed a triple on the other end. Just like that, the Jazz found themselves on the positive end of a 10-0 run. Jaxon Hayes, fouled on the rebound, extended that to 12-0. Duop Reath, the beneficiary of a soft call underneath the basket, missed two free throws. But the Jazz forgot that you have to box out, so it was Jordan Goodwin who stopped the bleeding with an offensive rebound and layup. Jamaree Bouyea went on a mini 4-0 run by himself to end the quarter, leaving the Jazz down by 5 heading into the 4th.
4th Quarter
The Jazz held the Suns to a long, desperate three out of the break, but they also yielded an offensive rebound. This time, Koby Brea made them pay from deep. Brice Sensabaugh answered with a smooth baseline fadeaway and a tough 3-pointer, bringing the Jazz within 3. By this time, it was bench against bench, and it showed. The Jazz gave up three straight offensive rebounds and the Suns couldn’t capitalize. Ace Bailey drew a foul on a Eurostep, baiting Koby Brea into a foul. He hit both shots from the charity stripe, pulling Utah within one. At the 8:28 mark we got our first Kyle Filipowski sighting of the season, new number (2) and all. He promptly forced a turnover and took it to the other end for two, giving the Jazz their first lead since the 2nd quarter, and Phoenix called timeout.
Koby Brea committed an offensive foul out of the break, and the Jazz took over. Josh Okogie got stuffed on a drive, but the Jazz retained possession and Flip converted again. The Suns, ice-cold, missed on the other end, Koa Peat picked up a foul, but the Jazz turned it over on the other end. After an empty Suns trip, Josh Green made them pay on the other end, extending the Jazz lead to 104-98. The teams traded awkward sequences, but Jamaree Bouyea took it to the Jazz, scoring and assisting his way to a 105-104 Suns lead with around 4 minutes left. DP responded on the other end, the Suns failed to answer, and DP got blocked. Bouyea continued to give the Jazz fits, drawing a foul on Brice Sensabaugh as he scored. He missed the subsequent free throw. Josh Green made Koa Peat look silly on the other end, drawing an and-1 of his own. He hit his free throw and Phoenix called timeout.
Koa Peat scored out of the timeout, and both teams emptied their bench. Harrison Ingram checked in for Brice, and DP was the only starter for either team on the floor. He put the Jazz back up 2 with 2:07 left, and they would not trail the rest of the way.
Josh Green put them up 4 at the 1:38 mark with a free throw line jumper. The teams continued to trade blows, and with under a minute remaining the Jazz clung to a 115-113 lead. Flip caught a mismatch in the paint and bullied Bouyea for a relatively easy bucket. Koby Brea missed his shot, DP lost the ball out of bounds, and the refs ruled it Jazz ball. The Suns challenged, and it turned out that he lost it because Pat Spencer fouled him. He hit both free throws and the Jazz went up 6. Pat Spencer hit a three on the other end, the Jazz turned it over on the inbound, but the Suns couldn’t get another shot off and the Jazz held on, 119-116
Notes:
Darren Peterson continued to impress with 13/6/6 (on 12 shots, but still). We are so used to hearing “He’s pretty raw but the tools are there” or “Watch out for this guy in two years.” He looks like he belongs because he does belong. When everyone else was a bench player he clearly outclassed them.
Brice Sensabaugh scorched the Suns. He put up 16 points on 9 shots in just 17 minutes. He he will be a force off the bench this year.
Josh Green looks like an NBA player. Is he a starter? Not unless things go very, very sideways. But can he give the team 10 decent minutes off the bench? Yes. He finished with 8 points on 3-4 shooting in 8 minutes.
The Jazz gave up 20 offensive rebounds and only grabbed 9 themselves. That probably led to their defeat had the Suns played their starters more.
Keyonte started slow, but he finished with a respectable 13 points on 7 shots.
JJJ and Jaxon Hayes combined for 9 fouls, which also would have proved difficult to overcome in a real game.
The preseason is over. From here on out, the games count. Next up is a tilt with the Grizzlies in Memphis on Wednesday, October 21st!
