PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 7: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on November 7, 2026 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Coming off an opening NBA Cup win against the Sacramento Kings, the Spurs faced a SEGABABA against the Portland Trail Blazers. After a sluggish first quarter, the Spurs, behind by 42 points in the second quarter, built their two-point lead to 15 at halftime. In the third, the Spurs drove the nail in the coffin, outscoring the Blazers 45-27 and ballooning their lead to 33 heading into the fourth. The Blazers simply could not stop the ball movement and three-point barrage by the silver and black, as the Spurs ultimately won 125-103.
Victor Wembanyama continues his early MVP campaign with another efficient high-scoring game of 29 points (9-13 FG, 3-6 3PT, 8-9 FT), seven rebounds, three assists, a block, and a steal. Despite only playing 24 minutes and not being as big a focal point of the offense as he was against Dallas and Sacramento, Wemby once again demonstrated how unguardable he truly is. After starting the season shooting under 30% from three, Wemby is now shooting 7-12 (58%) from three in his last two games.
Since heâs shown he can shoot threes, Donovan Clingan steps out to guard him but immediately gets beat by Wemby on the drive to the basket. All Toumani Camara can do is go straight up, but against a seven-foot-four (heâs definitely taller) alien, itâs almost pointless.
The bulk of Wembyâs scoring comes from inside the paint. He is dunking the ball more than any other player in the league and is even leading other TEAMS in total dunks. Where do most of his dunks come from? Lobs, of course.
The most unguardable lob threat in the league, all his teammates have to do is just throw it up above the rim to where only Wemby can grab it. Sometimes, defenders are in the way. This time, Clingan was unfortunately one of his victims.
Devin Vassell dropped another solid game with 15 points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals. His defense somehow outshone his shooting from three. His agility and lateral movement allow him to stay in front of multiple guards and forwards. He also deflected multiple passes, and one of them turned into a steal and layup all by himself.
Stephon Castle dropped 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and a block. Castle, like Vassell, played like a Swiss Army knife against the Blazers. He crashed the glass, dished out dimes, and had himself some highlight buckets. The hustle play of the game was him somehow tight-roping the sideline and dishing out to an open Vassell for the corner three.
Poor Clingan. DeâAaron Fox and Castle run a beautiful DHO that results in a posterizing alley-oop with Castle dunking on his former college teammate.
Although they didnât shoot 50% from three this game, they still drained 17 compared to Portlandâs nine. For most Spurs fans, that third-quarter explosion showed that when everyone is bought in and focused within the flow of the offense, this team can put teams away early. The communication also reached the defense, as they held the Blazers to 76 points after 36 minutes (before garbage time). Next week, the Spurs face the Suns, Bulls, Warriors, & Jazz.
Finally, here are the full game highlights.
The Spursâ early road trip continues with a visit to the Mortgage Matchup Center, the home of the Phoenix Suns, this Monday at 8:00 P.M. (CST) on DAZN.
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 7: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk after the game on November 7, 2026 at Rocket Arena 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
The Cavaliers beat the Knicks on Saturday, adding another win to their analytical spreadsheet.
Cleveland remains undefeated on that front, while New York keeps stacking dubs on the court.
Hereâs some of the (very little) latest.
Mike Brown on Knicks 109-97 W vs Cavs: "Ugly game but good winâŠbuild some positive equityâŠtaking care ball 1st halfâŠimportant on roadâŠgreat production benchâŠMiles, Mo, Andre, Jordan. Our DPOG was Andre Drummond, heckuva performanceâŠOur guys buying into our ability to crash⊠pic.twitter.com/TBEg7I3HgS
On giving Landry Shamet more leeway than younger reserves and keeping bench minutes competitive:
âObviously, you looking at a guy like Landry, he may have a little bit more leash than Pac [Dadiet]. Landryâs as close to being a starter as you can imagine for us. Everybody else, they have to play and even the starters and Landry, they do, too.â
On Landry Shametâs standing in the Knicksâ rotation:
âAbout as close to being a starter as you can imagine for us.â
On choosing Tyler Kolek over Jose Alvarado as the backup point guard:
âBut you know, Jose had the first opportunity [against the Nets) and then I gave Tyler an opportunity in the second half and Tyler played well. So I go with Tyler and if I feel I need to make a change, Tylerâs not getting it done in my eyes, Iâll go back to Jose.â
On Josh Hartâs ability to contribute without having plays called for him:
âJosh is a connector. I donât think we call a single play for him at any time, he just goes and gets it done.
âHe rebounds. Our pick and roll defense has been bad, and heâs helped clean it up at times by putting him on the ball. So his versatility defensively is a bonus for us. So heâs definitely going to be missed.â
KAT: "It took time to learn how to win at this levelâŠIt's much different than college, HS, CYO, AAUâŠWhen you finally get to that point of stop trying to prove yourself to everyone, just bring best version of yourself to the courtâŠthat's how you proveâŠwhether it's basketball,⊠pic.twitter.com/zRoOg7hwOW
On facing Cleveland again after defeating the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals:
âI mean, theyâre a great team. We saw them in the Eastern Conference finals. Obviously, they have another year under their belt with each other, more experience. And we saw what experience does for teams, especially like us.â
Tyler Kolek
On acknowledging that he underestimated Taylor Swiftâs history as a Knicks fan:
âObviously with everything (going on), people have been going back and sending me all the stuff about her going to the games. And she was actually wearing a 13 jersey (in one picture). Probably Joakim Noah back in the day with Carmelo (Anthony). So, I wasnât up to date on my Taylor Swift Knicks fandom, so thatâs on me.â
On the reaction to his comments about Taylor Swift and admitting he answered the question poorly:
â(The video) was everywhere. Everybody saw it. But it is what it is. For me, itâs just a question that was asked to me that maybe I answered in the wrong way. I take that on the chin. But I love her music. We were just playing it five minutes ago and Iâm singing every word to every song. Nothing against her at all.â
On being a Taylor Swift fan despite questioning her Knicks fandom:
âI love her music. I probably know more songs than anybody else in the locker room. I just misspoke.â
"What Mike Brown did last year with this particular team was one of the best coaching jobs I've ever seen"
On returning to Cleveland and remembering the Knicksâ championship run:
âItâs human nature, youâre gonna revert back and think back to the last time you were in the building. I had a quick little firing of that walking in for shootaround, but I think the general sense was that was last year. That was great. You can have those memories and hang on to that as long as we want, but ultimately this year is a new year and a new endeavor.â
On the benefits of roster continuity and familiarity with Mike Brown:
âThe biggest thing is just being comfortable with the guys on the floor, second year with [head coach] Mike [Brown]. I think that just breeds confidence. Familiarity breeds confidence. Thereâs no denying that. It allows you to get to the point of conversations quicker. It makes for a good formula to find success.â
On comparing his unpredictable Knicks role to that of a baseball relief pitcher:
âEspecially with [my] role, I think I take a lot from my buddy Ashby, bullpen guy, you donât know when youâre gonna get thrown in, what the situationâs gonna be. My job might look a little different from night to night. If Iâm changing my approach every night, thatâs not setting myself up for a good situation.
âI think in the past in my career when I was younger I would try to overcomplicate things and think I have to reinvent the wheel. I try to just keep it as simple as possible, reduce it down to my job, my impact and just play my game.â
âNo excuse. These are games that we feel like we should win. We got another tough stretch coming up so thereâs no reason to sit here and feel bad and nothingâs won in the first 10 games.â
On what went wrong for the Cavaliers:
âI think we just gave them too many second-chance opportunities. Then itâs too late, youâre down 20 trying to fight back, but itâs too late.â
Peyton Watson
On the Cavaliers failing to match the Knicksâ intensity:
âGot to bring your A game and we just didnât do that tonight.â
On Cleveland continuing to compete despite trailing New York by 18 points:
âWe could have folded down 18, could have packed it in on a back-to-back, tough week, but we kept at it.â
On acknowledging that the Knicks dominated the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals and then won the championship:
âThey dominated it, and they did it again against San Antonio [in the Finals]. Analytically ⊠thereâs an âexpected score,â and weâve won two out of the three games.
âI think when you look back on it and take the context of the question, Iâm not sure that was taken into account, which I know was a little bit of a lesson for me â like, you can just take a sound bite (and run with it).
âI would just say there was no coach more complimentary of the Knicks and honest about our performance and how they dominated us. So you live and learn a little bit with those things. But like I said, 99 percent of my comments were how they dominated us. They were by far the better team. I answered the question, as it was taken, (which was) âAnd youâre down 3-0, what hope do you have of even giving to your guys?â
âWe get a lot of information ⊠and I wasnât lying in that sense, but in no sense was it like, âOh, man, we deserve to be winning.â Like zero â zero â thought of that.â
On why analytics could not outweigh the Knicksâ physical and mental dominance:
âWe get information that checks our process. All that being said, we were still dominated. It kind of doesnât matter (what the analytics say) because there is more than that. There is the mental toughness, the physical toughness, the flow to the game, how aggressive you are. There are all these other intangibles that go with that.â
On recognizing that the Knicks earned their championship:
âThey deserved it, and they did it again against San Antonio. Just an incredible, incredible run.â
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 18: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks attempts a shot while being guarded by Isaiah Jackson #22 and Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 18, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Knicks have bobbed over .500 for the first time this season, thanks to yesterdayâs return to form against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Over the upcoming week, our heroes will get a second whack at the Ohio Players, plus two beatable opponents. Letâs take a peek at the schedule, shall we?
Tuesday, November 10 â Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 7:30 PM ET (MSG)
The Bucks are in a funky funk. Sitting last in the east, they pull into town having lost five straight and seven of their eight games this season. This has not been an auspicious start for new coach Taylor Jenkins. Over the summer, they lost Giannis Antetokounmpo and got younger, which has resulted in struggles at both ends of the floor. Tuesdayâs game will be their first meeting with the Knicks this season. The last time they tussled, back on February 27, was a 127-98 New York win in Milwaukee.
Our heroes should have many chances to run against Milwaukee and plenty of mismatches to pick on. The Bucks donât necessarily lack talentâTyler Herro (acquired in the Giannis trade) leads the team at 22.3 points per gameâjust hope.
Wednesday, November 11 â Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:00 PM ET (ESPN)
The Cavs just got a good look at what New York does well, and boy did it make their eyes water. Four nights after beating the Cavs 109-97 in Cleveland, the two rivals square up again at the Garden. Brunson scored 31 in the first tilt, Karl-Anthony Towns added 29 points and 13 rebounds, and New York led by 19 in the third. Donovan Mitchell found his way to 37, fighting to the end; James Harden died of old age; and Evan Mobley melted into a sweaty puddle under the rim.
Cleveland might have been fatigued on Saturday (playing a SEGABABA), and coach Kenny Atkinson will surely try to mix things up in their rematch. Weâre curious to see what adjustments are up his sleeve. Jarrett Allen might return from the injured list, so maybe he can keep up with KAT better than Mopey Mobs?
Friday, November 13 â Knicks at Indiana Pacers, 7:00 PM ET (Prime Video)
The Knicks finish the week in Indiana. The poor Pacers can make a mess of things if you give them the ball and a head start. The 3-7 club has had trouble getting stops and closing games, but you can chalk that up to their leader Tyrese Haliburton being injured again. If he returns for Fridayâs game, this could be a different contest.
The Pacers can still score in a hurry, especially if you help them with turnovers and lost rebounds. Without Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard have carried the load. Rick Carlisleâs club can turn into layups at the other end, and for as inept as theyâve been at times this season, they can still hit the gas. According to my notes, youâll watch this one on Prime Video.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 04: Tyler Herro #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts behind Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden on November 04, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Bucks 109-102. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to halt a five-game slide as they take on Eastern Conference heavyweight Boston Celtics, who beat Milwaukee by seven points without Jayson Tatum on Wednesday. The Bucks and Celtics seem to be moving in entirely different directions. After a slow start to the season, Boston is surging at 7-2 and challenging the Sixers for the No. 1 spot in the conference. Meanwhile, the Bucks are 1-8 and face a daunting schedule that could easily extend their losing streak. On the plus side, Milwaukeeâs youth looks strongâBrayden Burries looks great, and Nate Ament is taking exciting developmental stepsâand despite the horrible record, weâve been treated to some really exciting Tyler Herro performances. What else can we look forward to?
The Task Ahead
The Boston Celtics have been on a tear recently. Theyâve won their last twoâWednesdayâs back-and-forth win over Milwaukee and a blowout Friday win over the Charlotte Hornetsâand have claimed five wins in their last six games. Theyâre second in the East, half a game behind the Sixers, and, with the addition of Paul George, look like an early title contender.
Moreover, aside from some glaring valleysânamely the season opener against the Detroit PistonsâJayson Tatum has performed at an MVP level so far. His highlights include a 36-point near-triple-double against the Knicks, a 40-point outburst against the Nets (that included a game-winning shot), and a recent 34-point near-triple-double against the Hornets in just 29 minutes. But it hasnât been all Tatum; Paul George has averaged just under 20 PPG on solid shooting, Derrick White remains the ultimate glue guy, and Neemias Queta anchors one of the leagueâs best defenses. In three words: Boston is back. In four words: Boston is really back. In five words⊠you get it.
Injury Report
Bucks:
Bogoljub Markovic: Out (G League assignment)
Celtics:
Chris Cenac Jr: Out (G League assignment)
Player to Watch
Derrick White is always fun to watch, especially as he eases into a more offensively significant role in Boston. White is a connective guard with a high basketball IQ and solid playmaking, but he is also an elite defender who can shut down on the perimeter. Against Milwaukee on Wednesday, the veteran guard scored 24 points on 7/18 shooting and added seven assists. White scored 18 points on 6/10 shooting with five assists and four boards in Bostonâs demolition of the Hornets. Heâll be a key point-of-attack defender who could frustrate a Milwaukee backcourt prone to turnovers. Watching Brayden Burries go up against one of his draft comparisons in White will also be interesting.
Projected Starters
Bucks
Position
Celtics
Brayden Burries
PG
Derrick White
Tyler Herro
SG
Hugo Gonzalez
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
SF
Paul George
Kyle Kuzma
PF
Jayson Tatum
Myles Turner
C
Neemias Queta
Game Details
Who: Milwaukee Bucks (1-8) vs. Boston Celtics (7-2).
The Celtics lead by at least 15 points by the end of the first quarter. The Celtics led Milwaukee 28-14 by the end of the first frame in their last meeting, and that was without Tatum. Bostonâs aggressive defense could give the streaky Bucks a tough time, and the Câs have the star power on offense to make this a one-sided affair.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 07: Devin Booker #15 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets during the second half of the game at Mortgage Matchup Center on November 07, 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Rockets hit their first losing streak of the season on Saturday night, as they let the Suns run all over them to start, battled back, but then couldnât close out the game.
For their last loss against Minnesota, it was a ghost of last season â execution â that was a main culprit. This time, it was shooting. The Rockets couldnât hit the broad side of the barn, and you have to credit the Phoenix defense. They looked like the fresher team in the fourth quarter, when they shot 11-for-22 from the field, while the Rockets were only 10-for-27. In fact, for the game, Houston shot just 38 percent from the field, while allowing the Suns to shoot 48 percent. Youâre not gonna win many that way.
In fact, the only Rocket player with a semi-decent game was Jabari Smith Jr., who continues to break out this season offensively. Smith went for 15 points on 7-for-12 shooting, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and a block, though he was just 1-for-4 from deep. Still, Smith was the only Rockets player who could hit some shots outside of Fred VanVleet. FVV went for 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 6-for-12 from the floor and 4-for-9 from deep. VanVleet mostly played a clean game with zero turnovers, however, you want to see greater assist numbers, and with the offense stuck in the mud most of the game, you also want to see a greater impact from a distribution standpoint. But when no one is hitting shotsâŠ
Kevin Durant led the Rockets in scoring with 21 points, and he also had 10 boards and 3 assists, but he shot just 5-for-14 for the game, including 1-for-5 in a decisive fourth quarter that the Rockets lost. Alperen Sengun had 15 points, but he was just 5-for-16 from the field. Houstonâs bench also shot just 6-for-25 for the game, including a combined 3-for-16 from Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard. Reed played just 13 minutes in this one, and it is increasingly appearing he is the odd man out in the rotation, especially if the three isnât falling â and it wasnât on Saturday at just 2-for-6 from deep.
The Suns were led by Devin Bookerâs 24 points, while former Rocket Jalen Green had 16 points and 6 assists, and other former Rocket Dillon Brooks had 11 points and 4 boards while hitting 3 triples.
Houston falls to 7-3 on the season, and after a fast start (just like last year), some warts are starting to appear (just like last year), including late-game execution, overall shooting, and rotation management, again many of the same issues as last season. Nevertheless, the team is currently on a 57-win pace, but with the Western Conference wide open this year, youâd like to see the Rockets looking a little tighter.
The team returns to action Monday night at home against the Denver Nuggets.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 02: AJ Green #20 of the Milwaukee Bucks poses for portraits during media day on October 02, 2023 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last week, despite the losses, Bucks fans were happyâif not moreâwith Taylor Jenkins and his rotations. But something about that equation was worrisome. In fact, I pondered as much to end the weekâsBucks Reacts Results:
With rotation contentment high but wins low, the question thus begs: how long can this relationship coexist? That is, how long will it be until the losing takes its toll? Hereâs hoping that becomes a moot point.
This week, as the losses start to mount and the shine of a new season appears to be rubbing off, that point has not become moot. And, as the saying goes, nice guys finish last.
Chivalry isnât dead (but maybe it should be)
Yes, according to most fansâ66% in factâyouâll find these Milwaukee Bucks helping out at The Leftorium, reading to underprivileged kids, or helping your grandmother cross the street. Theyâre too nice. And their new mantraâs got nothinâ on ye olde one:
Naughty or nice, these Bucks suck
But itâs not really a question of demeanour, at least according to a swathe of commenters. From their perspective, the Bucks are simply not talented enough:
Yikes. Talk about glass all empty.
Contrary to the point
Perhaps, though, itâs not about whether the Bucks are too nice or not talented enough. Perhaps itâs an âintensity and urgencyâ matter.
Sounds awfully familiar to âenergy and effort.â That you, Jason?
Finally, at least one fan hasnât forgotten that time is a key part of the rebuild:
Thankfully, with Nate Ament (19), Kasparas JakuÄionis (20), Brayden Burries (21), Kelâel Ware (22), Ousmane Dieng (23), and Ryan Rollins (24), these Bucks have plenty of time. And at least a few of âem are already ahead of the curve.
There you have it, BH fam. While these Bucks may be too nice, thatâs not a bad position to start from. After all, as Laurell K. Hamilton wrote in her 2005 novel A Stroke of Midnight:
My father had taught me to be nice first, because you can always be mean later, but once youâve been mean to someone, they wonât believe the nice anymore. So be nice, be nice, until itâs time to stop being nice, then destroy them.
Thatâs right, the Bucks might be in the trenches, but a fire brews.
PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 7: Luke Kennard #8 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets on November 7, 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
Saturday nightâs victory over the Houston Rockets was easily the Phoenix Sunsâ best win of the season. Granted, theyâve only won three games through their first eight, but this one felt different. Phoenix continued its recent trend of putting together quality first quarters, something that has become increasingly important given how frequently this team has found itself playing from behind. When the Suns fall into an early deficit, players tend to press, forcing the issue offensively and abandoning the systems and schemes designed to put them in positions to succeed.
But Saturday night presented a different kind of adversity. After building a lead that reached as many as 19 points, the Suns completely unraveled in the second quarter. They managed a miserable 12 points, shot 3-of-11 from beyond the arc, and apparently decided to let amber be the color of their energy as Houston closed the half on a 22-3 run to erase the deficit entirely (thatâs a 311 joke). What had been a commanding Phoenix advantage was suddenly a tie game heading into the locker room.
And thatâs where things got interesting. Throughout the second half, we witnessed a collection of quality performances from different players on both ends of the floor. There were timely offensive contributions, defensive adjustments, and moments when individual effort helped stabilize a team that had every reason to start questioning itself. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Suns had earned a 102-99 victory over one of the NBAâs most potent offenses.
Thatâs right. For the first time this season, Phoenix held an opponent under 100 points. And that opponent happened to be the Houston Rockets.
That accomplishment alone makes this victory impressive, but what stands out even more is how the Suns responded after their complete second-quarter meltdown. When you surrender a 19-point advantage in such a short period of time, itâs easy to fold. Itâs easy to begin doubting yourself, questioning whether you have the personnel, discipline, or defensive capability to stop the opponent standing across from you. Weâve seen that uncertainty creep into this teamâs play far too often through the opening weeks of the season.
Saturday night, however, was the first time we truly witnessed the mental toughness and fortitude that defined this team a season ago. The Suns refused to let one disastrous quarter dictate the outcome of the game. They regrouped, stood tall, and collectively found a way to shut down a Houston offense that had been operating like a well-oiled machine. In doing so, they earned, in every sense of the word, their third victory of the season.
Bright Side Baller Standings
Booker is up to three BSBâs after his 30-point aggressive performance against the Magic.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 8 against the Rockets. Here are your nominees:
FRISCO, TX - NOVEMBER 03: Jeremy Sochan of the Texas Legends poses for a portrait during G League media day on November 3, 2025 at the Comerica Center in Frisco, 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 Sam Hodde/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
What a ride Jeremy Sochan has had, and the new season is just getting underway. After nearly four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, he was waived and signed with the Knicks, picking up a championship ring when New York beat the Spurs in the 2026 Finals.
After New York, it appeared Sochan was spending the 2026-2027 season in Portland, but was waived after four preseason games. The Polish-American power forward declared for the G-League draft and one week later was chosen first overall by the Texas Legends.
Here he is earlier this week in his first press conference as a member of the Legends.
Jeremy Sochan with the most humble and thoughtful response to his last 10 months or so, from NBA Champion (Knicks) to a standard G-League contract (Texas Legends).
â Drafted 9th overall by the Spurs in 2022, Sochan was a focal point of their early rebuild. â 2025â26 season,⊠pic.twitter.com/n1ZUt3fkTI
âI think the way I grew up, my family, my parents; itâs always been like that. I could look at it negatively (the Portland situation). But when I look back at that situation, I think the two months I was there, I grew a lot. I was healthy throughout the whole training camp, preseason and open gym. So I think that was a blessing. When we got into preseason games, the minutes I got I think I used them to the best of my ability. I had good games. So what would be the point of being negative and angry for getting waived? Of course, you can look at it as thatâs the NBA and I have a contract. But at the same time I have good momentum. So, why would I hold weight on something that I canât control? And instead, be in this moment and do what I can do and keep that momentum going.â
According to Marc Spears, Sochan originally found out he was being waived by the Spurs through another player:
Ex-Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan says a teammate of his told him the Spurs wanted to waive him, and it bothered him that he found out that way:
âI thought I was going to be there for the rest of the season at least,â Sochan said of San Antonio. âAnd a few days after the trade⊠pic.twitter.com/z2vTe7T6qD
âI thought I was going to be there for the rest of the season at least. And a few days after the trade deadline, itâs funny. I donât want to be messy or anything, but I found out from one of my teammates that they wanted to waive me, and it definitely hit me in a way. But again, I kind of had the mentality of, âIt is what it is.â I heard it was pretty possible from someone else, and then officially found out through my agent. So, that was definitely new to me.â
Texas Legends season kicks off tonight in Mexico City against the Capitanes.
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Oklahoma City Thunder broadcaster Michael Cage summed up this game perfectly: âIn this game, sometimes youâre the bug, and sometimes youâre the windshield.â In this one, the Wizards were in the role of the bug.
Washington was no match for the Thunder. Oklahoma City took control early and the Wizards had no answer for their athleticism, execution, and swarming defensive presence.
The Wizards converted just 29.6% of their field goal attempts, including 7-43 from three-point range. Thatâs 16.3%. Which is bad. Very bad.
Positives for the Wizards were scarce. Among them â Alex Sarr grabbed 14 rebounds in 28 minutes. Bub Carrington shot 3-3 from deep. Bilal Coulibaly defended Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pretty well in the first quarter â SGA had two points on o-3 shooting when Coulibaly left the game. He immediately started scoring and finished the game with 30 points and 9 assists.
For Washington, itâs a third consecutive loss â their first three-game skid of the season. Before the game, head coach Brian Keefe talked with reporters about the team figuring out their formula for success. The team would be wise not to over-index on this game. It was a bad result, and the team looked awful.
Despite missing Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren (in some order, their second and third best players), OKC is a special case. Itâs a championship-level team with something to prove. The Wizards need to learn to compete at that level, and the lesson of their last three games is that theyâre still not close.
Thatâs not the end of world 10 games into the season. But they need to internalize that lesson and do the work to become competitive against high-level opponents.
From the Notebook
Kudos to the OKC stadium operations team â when the Wizards starters got introduced, they played Harry Potter theme music. Good job.
The Wizards entered the game with the NBAâs second best âin the paintâ field goal percentage (62.2%). The Thunder had the NBAâs second best defensive paint FG% (holding opponents to just 50.2%). Safe to say OKC won that battle.
In the first quarter, the Wizards ran a pick-and-roll option out of a horns set for AJ Dybantsa. He had a choice of going left or right. It didnât go great â he ended up battling his way into a mid-ranger, which he missed. The set was good, though.
Tre Mann got real minutes for the first time this season. He looked pretty good â quick, aggressive, athletic. Iâd like to see more.
Jotted during the second quarter (could have been jotted anytime) â OKC defenders switch HARD.
Another second quarter note â OKC was doubling Trae Young to get the ball out of his hands. The other Wizards werenât able to take make plays, in part because OKC defenders hustled back to their matchups and rotated so perfectly.
I thought maybe the Wizards had a chance of making things respectable â a thought that disappeared when I saw their possession of the second half. It was a pick-and-roll for Kyshawn George, who got caught in no-manâs land. The only teammate who cut was Coulibaly, who didnât get free. That should have triggered a cascade of movement, but the other guys stood around until George was forced to take a difficult shot, which he missed.
The Wizards tried a small-ball lineup in the second half. It got shredded by Aday Mara and the Thunder.
Nov 7, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) throws a pass in front of Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Brunson is a certified Cavs killer. He picked up right where he left off last postseason by torching whatever defender Cleveland put in front of him. He got inside the paint and to his midrange floater with ease. And when he didnât, the outside shot was working as well.
There really isnât much that you can do when Brunson has it going as he did here. The Cavs sent some doubles at him and tried to shade their defense toward him. When they got too far, he made the easy pass to the open teammate, never forcing anything.
The Cavsâ strategy was fine. The defense also wasnât necessarily horrible. Clevelandâs guards competed, but that didnât matter. Brunson is just too good a shot and decision-maker.
Mitchell is putting together an impressive season from a process standpoint. Heâs doing a better job of looking for his teammates, while also finding avenues to score.
âI think the biggest thing is creating an opportunity,â Mitchell said. âI havenât shot as many shots as I have in my career, so trying to balance that and figure out trying to make the right basketball play. Sometimes that is shooting. Sometimes that is passing. Sometimes that is running the blitz, and itâs going to help to make me better.â
Mitchell tried to will the Cavs back into this game, scoring 21 in the final quarter alone. But as impressive as he was, a one-man army wasnât enough to take down a well-oiled machine like the Knicks. Especially when the rest of his co-stars struggled.
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Third star: Karl-Anthony Towns
29 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
Towns is such a difficult player to defend. His outside shot requires him to be guarded out on the perimeter, which opens up the lane for his teammates. If the defensive center leaves, Towns can make them pay with the outside shot. And, if his defender closes out too hard, Towns is quick enough off the dribble to make them pay inside.
This was on display on Saturday. He drew two quick fouls on Mobley in the first quarter by attacking the rim. This changed the complexion of the game. Without Jarrett Allen, the Cavs were forced to turn to third-string center Thomas Bryant for a longer stretch than they wouldâve ideally liked.
Townsâs presence can completely change an offense as dynamic as New Yorkâs. Cleveland found that out again the hard way.
The Cavs offense can look lifeless when Harden isnât able to get downhill. On Saturday, he was a step slow and couldnât create any separation off the dribble. That limited his effectiveness.
On the other end, the Knicks continually hunted him in mismatches. To his credit, Harden competed. But it wasnât enough to keep this from being a winning strategy.
This has been less than an ideal start to the season for Harden.
Evan Mobley
12 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 turnovers
Mobleyâs ability to win the matchup over Joel Embiid was a deciding factor in Clevelandâs runaway win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Likewise, his inability to do so against New York contributed to the loss.
The foul trouble made it difficult for Mobley to establish any kind of offense inside. This left him as mostly a jump shooter at the start of the game. And since the three-ball wasnât falling (1-for-5 on the evening), there wasnât much he was capable of offensively to help jumpstart an offense that needed it.
Cavalier who deserves a shoutout
Peyton Watson
12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
Watson was useful in this game. He provided some much-needed offense and was helpful as a defender. Thatâs what you want to see from Watson in this matchup.
âNot really. In Jauary we went 2-9. Iâm not really into measuring stick games). ⊠Letâs say we win by 15. Well, we might get hammered next week by whoeverâs in last place by 20. Does that mean we suck? No. You just take it one game at a time and try to get a little bit better.â
â Knicks head coach Mike Brown before the game when asked if this was a measuring stick game
Itâs tempting to use this difficult stretch of games as a test for where the Cavs are. And if you were going to use it as one, they wouldnât necessarily pass.
The more concerning thing is the lack of discernible identity. When theyâre playing well, the Cavs can beat anyone, as we saw against Philadelphia. But what does this group hang their hat on? What does better look like for them? And are they taking steps to get there? Those are the questions that matter, and we donât have clear answers for any of them.
Stat of the game
The Knicks outscored the Cavs 26-8 in second-chance points.
New York retrieved 41.8% of their missed shots (94th percentile). And then they made the most of those opportunities by scoring a quarterâs worth of points on that alone.
âWe have to rebound better collectively,â head coach Kenny Atkinson said. âThereâs no one pointing the finger. The guys got to do it collectively. We just got to be better.â
Main takeaway from this game: The Knicks have the Cavs number
I donât necessarily think the Knicks present stylistic problems that the Cavs canât solve. An offense that hunts out mismatches with their smaller, but electric, scoring guard isnât something the Cavs should, on paper, be incapable of countering. Yet, the Cavs are consistently ending up on the wrong side of this matchup. The Knicks have their number, and thereâs no way around that.
Atkinson and Mitchell were asked what makes this matchup so difficult afterward. Both pointed to the offensive rebounding as an obvious issue, and one that we all can see. They also both mentioned that the Knicks just understand how to play with each other and use that to seize the openings teams give them.
âThey really have solutions,â Atkinson said. âI think their continuityâŠthey just have great chemistry. Theyâre on a string on both ends.â
âTheyâve been through stuff together as a group,â Mitchell said. âThey do a good job os seizing mistakes.â
Brunson and Towns were tremendous once again tonight. Their shotmaking carried them in this matchup. But they also did a great job of accepting what the Cavs threw at them, and then having a plan of action for that. If you doubled Brunson, he moved the ball to the open teammate and made the Cavsâ defense scramble out.
Conversely, when they threw doubles at Mitchell, the Cavs werenât quick to respond. Watson admitted afterward that he doesnât know to help Mitchell in that situation and that there are âsome questionsâ about their strategy that he would like to ask about. That isnât the sign of a team thatâs on a string and understands what they need to do to be the best version of themselves.
Little things like that are why the Knicks have been better. They understand what they need to do, and the pieces fit together perfectly to make that happen. The Cavs donât have that right now. And until they do, they wonât be able to get through the roadblock the Knicks have become throughout this era of Cavs basketball.
ATLANTA â The Nets are going to be short-handed in the backcourt for Sundayâs game in Dallas, missing both Egor DĂ«min and Mikel Brown Jr.
DĂ«min will miss a sixth straight game, and after that, the young guard and his leg injury will be reevaluated by the Nets.
âYeah, heâs progressing well,â coach Jordi FernĂĄndez said of DĂ«min. âHeâs on the court. Heâs not going to play [Saturday] or [Sunday], and then weâll go from there.â
Egor DĂ«min, who is out with a right leg injury, arrives to the arena before the Netsâ 124-121 loss to the Hawks on Nov. 21, 2026 in Atlanta. NBAE via Getty Images
The Russian missed a fifth straight tilt in Saturdayâs loss at Atlanta. But with the Nets slated to practice Tuesday in Dallas, the team at least left open the possibility of DĂ«min returning at some point on this four-game road trip.
Meanwhile, Brown is still not cleared for back-to-backs.
âItâs a plan that we have with professionals that know exactly about how your body is, how you feel after,â FernĂĄndez said. âThen we assess the player, and then once we assess the player, then we keep building him up. So right now heâs not gonna play back-to-backs.â
Center DayâRon Sharpe had his first career triple-double with 12 points, a career-high 13 assists and 10 boards.
âA lot of great players Iâm playing with, Michael [Porter Jr.] has got a lot of gravity towards him. So theyâre trying to stop him from playing for 3s, and then it leads to backdoor cuts. Then it also opens up for my other teammates as well, driving in, kicking or whatever. Theyâre trying to over help on Mike, so just making the right read every time,â Sharpe said.
âYeah, I mean 13 assists, four turnovers, thatâs elite numbers. And proud of him,â FernĂĄndez said. âWe just gotta make sure that we keep rebounding as a group. Itâs not just on him, but thatâs probably a big reason why the game was lost right there.â
Noah Clowney was available after being listed as questionable with an illness and after being forced out of the win over the Hornets in the third quarter with a sore knee.
Drake Powell was available after having been questionable on a G-League assignment, recalled from Long Island. Joshua Jefferson, Ben Saraf, Tyler Bilodeau and Grant Nelson were all out on assignment.
CLEVELAND â Kenny Atkinson has been getting mocked for months. The jokes at the Cavaliers coachâs expense â courtesy of Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns and countless others â could continue for years to come.
After losing the first three games of the Eastern Conference finals, Atkinson infamously said that the Cavaliers had âanalyticallyâ won two of the first three games against the Knicks, but the Long Island native wishes the question that prompted his comment â regarding what hope the Cavaliers had of becoming the first NBA team to overcome a 3-0 series deficit â had as long a lifespan.
âWhen you take the context of the question, Iâm not sure that was taken into account, thatâs a little bit of a lesson for me, you can just take a sound bite,â Atkinson said.
âThere was no coach more complimentary of the Knicks and honest about our performance and how they dominated us ⊠99 percent of my comments were how they dominated us. They were by far the better team.â
Even if some of the numbers were on Clevelandâs side, Atkinson acknowledges that so much of the difference in the lopsided series couldnât be measured.
Kenny Atkinson reacts during the Knicksâ 109-97 win over the Cavaliers on Nov. 7, 2026 in Cleveland. Getty Images
âThereâs the mental toughness, the physical toughness, how aggressive you are, all these other intangibles that go into that,â Atkinson said. âIn no sense was it like, âOh man, we deserve to be winning.â There was zero thought of that.â
The Knicks traveled without Hart, who missed his second consecutive game due to right ankle soreness despite practicing with the team the previous day in New York.
The Knicks have not set a timetable for Hartâs return, but coach Mike Brown expressed no long-term concern, noting that the teamâs schedule â featuring one game in a five-day span â played a role in giving Hart additional time to recover.
âItâs nothing major,â Brown said. âHe did go through some of practice [Friday]. I set him out of some contact, so we just want to take advantage where we are schedule-wise.â
Hart, who missed eight games last season with a right ankle injury, also missed the teamâs preseason finale Oct. 15 due to the same issue. The 31-year-old started each of the teamâs first seven games of the season, most recently suiting up in Mondayâs win against the Nets. He is averaging 8.6 points â his fewest in eight years â while shooting a career-worst 38.6 percent from the field.
Brown named Andre Drummond the Knicksâ best defensive player in the 109-97 win.
The backup big man had eight rebounds, two steals and one block in 14 minutes
Jose Alvarado recorded a DNP-CD, while Tyler Kolek backed up Jalen Brunson, finishing with five assists, four rebounds and one steal in 14 minutes
Jordan Clarkson shot 4-for-5, finishing with nine points and two offensive rebounds. ⊠Mikal Bridgesâ shooting struggles continued, as he shot just 1-for-7 on 3-pointers, finishing with nine points. ⊠The Knicks held a 26-8 edge in second-chance points.
SAN FRANCISCO â It wasn't long ago that the Golden State Warriors were being written off, calling the 2026-27 season a throwaway after an 0-3 start.
They've since won seven consecutive games and have slowly become one of the hottest teams in the league. If you were sleeping on Golden State, then it's time to wake up. The boys are balling.
The Magic came into the with just two wins and were desperate for a spark. It was an easy situation for the Warriors to overlook. Golden State came out the gates with a 16 point lead but Orlando battled back and made it a game throughout.
Golden State was led by their veteran superstar Stephen Curry, who scored 12 unanswered points himself in the final 2:21 of regulation en route to a 41-point performance. It was his 16th 40-point game since turning 35 years old. He has the most 40-point games in NBA history by a player age 35 or older.
Curry had a vintage performance in which he gets hot in a flash and becomes unstoppable. He went 13-of-19 from the field, 5-of-10 on 3-point shots and a perfect 10-of-10 at the free throw line. He was the engine for the Warriors, as he's been time and time again throughout his career. It doesn't get old to someone like Draymond Green who's played alongside Curry since 2012.
Green caught himself in awe of Curry on one particular shot when he was being guarded by Magic forward Jamal Cain as the shot clock was winding down with 6:46 left in the third quarter. Cain was all over Curry and still, Curry found space to hoist up a 3-point try and it found the bottom of the net.
Curry is going to get his but the battle was won through their depth. Every player who logged minutes for Golden State score. The Warriors bench outscored Orlando's second unit, 42-31.
After Curry, Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg had the next high with 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field. Brandin Podziemski added 15 points and 7 rebounds.
The Warriors look to continue their hot streak as they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, Nov. 9 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. Tip-off begins at 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET).
ATLANTA â Understand that âbackâ is the worst four-letter word for Nets fans.
They read about back woes, minutes limits and injury management, but Ben Simmons is what they see. And what they fear.
But with Mikel Brown Jr., they donât have to be afraid.
Despite the kid gloves the Nets have treated their rookie with, Brownâs ankle is fine. And more importantly, so is his back.
Mikel Brown Jr., who scored 18 points, drives to the basket during the Netsâ 124-121 loss to the Hawks on Nov. 7, 2026 in Atlanta. NBAE via Getty Images
While Brown was limited to 21 games for Louisville last season, sources told The Post that his back was structurally fine. That injury had just been a soft tissue one and is long since in the past. His current minutes limit is about the future and building strength for that â for who the Nets see as an eventual All-Star.
âItâs all about getting stronger,â Brown told The Post before scoring 18 points in the Netsâ 124-121 loss to the Hawks on Saturday night. âThis is my first year playing against this type of high level of athletes. Youâve got to be at an elite performance level body-wise. But thatâs just the everyday process when it comes to that stuff.
âIâm constantly in the weight room every day just strengthening the parts of my body I need to strengthen. But yeah, thatâs us going along with the plan. Iâm all aboard with it. As long as weâre winning games, thatâs all I care about.â
With Brown being the reward for a long tanking season, fans are not only invested in his progress but still scarred from the Simmons experience â trading James Harden for what turned out to be just 90 ineffective games in three seasons.
This isnât that.
âNah, man, that was never the case,â said Brown, who will not play Sunday in Dallas because heâs not cleared for back-to-backs. âIâve just been leaning on my performance staff. My body feels great. Just take it slow. Itâs an 82-game season. We want to be in a position to make the playoffs, so every game matters, but theyâre just like, âthe long run, the long run.â So taking it a game at a time, a day at a time, and attacking it. Everythingâs fine. I donât look at (social) media like that, but yes, everythingâs fine. My bodyâs great, just continuing to build.â
Brown has yet to play both legs of a back to back, with the Nets to play Sunday in Dallas.
Mikel Brown Jr. looks to shoot over Zuby Ejiofor during the Netsâ road loss to the Hawks. AP
He entered Saturday averaging 12 points and four assists. And the game is visibly slowing down for the rookie, mustering 14.5 points in his last four tilts.
âIâm very happy with Mikel. Him in pick-and-roll, how fast he is, how shifty, he can shoot the 3, get to the rim. Very happy with his performance,â coach Jordi FernĂĄndez said.
âItâs always about playing hard, but itâs also about playing smarter as well. So, just really having the game slow down,â Brown told The Post. âI watched a lot of film with my coaches, a whole lot of film for myself, just slowing down and letting the game come to me and just letting the game flow.
âAnd just staying aggressive, living with the consequences if I turn the ball over, miss an assignment on defense, just knowing I have to get it back the next play. Just always having that next-play mentality. Thatâs the mindset thatâs been in my head these past couple games.â
Brown has particularly excelled in the pick-and-roll, capped by an 18 point, four-assist outing in their win over Charlotte. He shot 6 of 11, 3 of 5 from deep and had a highlight no-look pass to Moritz Wagner off a baseline drive.
âYeah, really the willingness to just be myself and create plays within that pick-and-roll situation, whether thatâs hitting the pocket, reading the tag man. Just allowing the game to come to me. Itâs nothing I havenât worked on for freaking years before this. So I adapt and put it on show,â Brown said.
âGreat player. Big-time offensive spark,â said Terance Mann. âHeâs gonna be good when he gets older, stronger, understands the game, understands the pick-and-roll situations. I could see him being an All-Star easily. He has a great basketball mind. So, itâs fun to play with him.â
The Nets are strengthening Brownâs body, especially his core, searching for that All-Star outcome.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 07: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets attempts a layup against Ryan Dunn #0 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of the game at Mortgage Matchup Center on November 07, 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rick Flair drip go âWoo!â on a(n)⊠all- time great.
The Suns dig deep to pull out a 102-98 victory over the Houston Rockets to win the KD trade for the first time this year.
What a wonderful game. One that gives us a blueprint for how the Suns are going to make noise in the perennially competitive Western Conference. This was a statement win and the best the Suns have tallied far, early in the season.
After tonight, I see a real path forward for the Suns to meet Ishbiaâs lofty goals of a second-round playoff appearance. In a game that could have been derailed by social media distractions, the Suns dug deep after a horrific 22-3 run to close the half to pull out a clutch-time victory against, possibly, the best team in the Western Conference. How did the Suns right the ship and pull out a competitive win against a team that swept the season series last year? Energy. The Phoenix Suns season is officially a question of energy.
So much has been made about fit but after tonight, it becomes irrelevant. Itâs not about the points, or the rebounds, or even the minutes a player delivers for the Phoenix Suns that will determine the wins and losses. Itâs the energy they can provide. Energy that leads to turnovers under the basket after a miss. Energy that leads to locking down defensive rebounds that lead to transition opportunities for the plethora of scorers on the Suns roster. Energy from blocks that lead to points, or drawing offensive fouls that take points away. The Suns rode the energy in the first quarter only to be hit by a brown out in the second, and in the end they found a way to generate enough power to match the Rocketsâ energy plays blow for blow through a contested third and outlasting a desperate Sengun (who doesnât want it with KhOso) looking to salvage a forgettable night with a fourth-quarter push that was too little too late.
I donât know if there is any player I can target as standing out in game that needed a whole team to secure a win. The Suns had 5 players finish the night in double figures, including a surgical Luke Kennard who proved to be the a fusion of Royce and Grayson Allen in a flurry of points in limited minutes. Booker put up 24 points on 24 shots, and Jalen Green went 50% from the field on 7-of-14 shooting, with 8 assists. The decision-making is coming along. The Villain, under the spotlight after his online spat with KD, held the former Sun to limited shots in the first half, but couldnât keep him off the line, where he grabbed 10 points on 11 attempts and ended the night with a hollow 21 points.
KhOso tag-teamed Sengun all night, who remained quiet for 3 and 1/2 quarters before making a push in the final six minutes. He finished the night with 15 points on 5/16 shooting with a modest 6 rebounds and a -16 plus-minus. If youâre looking for a reason the Suns won the game, look no further than Sengunâs 1-7 shooting with 4 minutes left in the third quarter. While there were plenty of mistakes from the young center duo, KhOso took advantage of some key injuries to Capella and Adams, and did enough inside to give the Suns the opportunity to win the game tonight.
Game Flow
First Half
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.
The Suns got Jalen Green going early, starting 4-of-4 in the opening minutes of the game. I believe this needs to be a focus, and I was happy to see Jalen experience some success early against his former team. I no longer want to hear that Jalen Green canât play next to Devin Booker, as he consistently made the right decision and his paint touches became a real difference-maker for stretches in this game.
The Suns continued their stretch of hot starts, finding the energy early in a run sparked by Oso pulling the chair on Sengun, leading to a turnover and lay-up for Jalen Green. An offensive goal-tend led to an Oso âjumperâ, then Dillon bodied Durant into a bad pass, leading to a scramble with Dunn causing and then creating a turnover, which led to a Dillon three-pointer and a Houston timeout with the Suns leading 17-11.
The Suns continue to press, and Brooks draws an offensive foul, then hits an iso turnaround. Green makes a steal that leads to a corner three from Ryan Dunn, who had himself another night, and Kennard opens up the last three minutes, by splitting the black see opening up an assist to Ryan Dunn. Brooks hits a bucket, and Khaman shows promising hands as he collects a pass off a cut to the basket for a dunk. Kennard hits a jumper and a three to end the first quarter with the Suns up 35-23.
In the Second quarter, the Suns continued to cook, scoring an early six points before the system glitched and a scoring brownout, which lasted the length of the second quarter, led to a 41-23 lead for the Suns, turning into a tied score of 47-47 going into halftime. Is what happened.
A string of negative energy plays compounded into outright disaster, sparked off by four straight turnovers from the Suns team and caused by a series of quick shots, poor decisions, and offensive rebounds that snowballed into a 22-3 run going into halftime. For so many teams, this could have been the end, the beginning of the end, but the Suns managed to secure some extra juice in a game that was clearly important to the two former Houston Rockets who are looking to prove their value against the team that recently cast them aside.
Second Half
The third quarter opens up with a previously quiet Durant hitting a three-point bucket that is immediately answered by the Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker with a three-point bucket of his own. This is what I loved about this third quarter, where every Houston push was answered in kind by the Phoenix Suns.
The Sunsâ path to victory is their ability to bring more energy than the opposing team. It was clear as day in the first quarter when the Suns made all the plays and shots they needed to push to an early double-digit lead, and unfortunately even more clear in a starkly different second half where the Houston Rockets woke up and matched the Sunsâ energy, systematically dismantling the gains the Suns had made. Too often this has led to a power outage from the Phoenix Suns, but not tonight.
A miscommunication on a switch between Booker and Bridges gives up an open three. Open three-point shots lead to the Rockets taking a 57-53 lead with 8 minutes left in the third.
Then Brooks contests a KD drive, which leads to Miles Bridges getting to the free-throw line for two shots. Positive energy. Then Brooks fouls KD on a three-point shot, bad energy, which pushes the Rocketsâ lead to 61-55.
Brooks and Dunn force a steal after a missed foul shot. Energy. Khaman knocks a ball free, and Booker dives to the floor, leading to a jump ball where the Rockets are called for a foul. Energy. The Suns collect the rebound on a Sengun miss, which turns into a Jalen Green dunk. Energy.
A Dillon Brooks hits a three, and a Durant miss leads to Booker heading to the foul line to regain the lead at 66-65. Energy. Kevin Durant hits a three, which is answered with a three from Devin Booker, with 2:25 left in the quarter. Energy. Dunn grabs an offensive rebound that led to a Collin Gillespie three-pointer. Energy. Durant gets an offensive rebound, and the Rockets are up 73-72. Negative energy.
Booker answers with a back door cut that leads to an easy bucket and the Suns regaining the lead 74-73.
Booker gets out in transition and earns a trip to the free-throw line. The Rockets win a challenge, and the Suns give up a straight drive to the basket to Fred, but Collin immediately answers with his own drive to the hoop. Energy. The Suns finish the third quarter up 76-75.
The fourth quarter opens up with Jalen Green attacking the paint. An early drive leads to a ManMan offensive rebound and putback. Khaman takes a trip to the free-throw line, and JG follows up with a jumper to push the Sunsâ lead to 80-75 . The Suns give up an offensive rebound to Smith, and Gillespie takes a bad shot, which leads to a Sheppard three and the Rockets tie the game up at 82-82.
Jalen Green contests a rebound that deflects out of bounds, and the Suns win a challenge to keep the ball on their end. A JG paint touch leads to a Malauch offensive rebound and one opportunity. Another Green paint touch leads to Bridges getting a mismatch and scoring in isolation.
Sengun and Miles Bridges exchange buckets. Sengun hits a three, but Dillon the Villain answers with a three of his own. Energy. Green gets into the paint and finds his way to the free-throw line where he hits 1-2 to give the Suns a 93-91 advantage.
Oso attempts an entry pass to a cutting Green, which gets fumbled out of bounds. Sengun takes it to the hoop to tie it up at 93-93. A Durant miss leads to a Booker middy, but Sengun fights his way to the foul line, hitting two foul shots to tie it back up at 95-95.
After a Durant miss, the Suns find Booker for an open three off an inbound, which he hits to take a 100-95 lead with 3 minutes left in the game. KD misses a shot on a Brooks contest, and Booker gets to the hoop for a lay-up to push the lead to 102-95. (Headband Book 4 L)
The Rockets bring it back to 102-97 when they turn it over on an attempted entry pass to a Sengun with 1:32 seconds left. Booker misses two straight shots, and Durant hits a jumper with 45 seconds left to bring the score to 102-99. Booker and Green work the two-man game, which leads to an out-of-bounds play and an in-and-out three from Booker with 3.2 seconds on the shot clock.
The Rockets have the ball within one score of tying it up, but the shot misses, and Oso collects the Rebound to secure a Sunsâ win in a season-altering momentum game.
Up Next
The Phoenix Suns take on the San Antonio Spurs and their otherworldly seven-footer coming off a 50-point performance. Definitely an outsized task for a Suns team just starting to find their rhythm. Can the Suns continue to stack energy plays that lead to runs and secure a second straight win over a Western Conference contender? I hope so. Now that theyâve finally found their footing, they canât afford to slide back.
