Category: Basketball

It was an unforgettable moment on Tuesday night in New York when the Knicks raised a championship banner to the rafters at Madison Square Garden for the first time in over half a century, and the members of last year’s title-winning team received their championship rings.

It was unforgettable for everyone involved in the franchise's first championship since 1973. Well, except for Mitchell Robinson.

The former Knick, who signed with the Boston Celtics this offseason, admitted on Thursday that he wasn’t watching.

“I didn’t watch it,” he said, adding that he was “still stuck” in his head from the Celtics game earlier in the day as Boston began its season by letting a 22-point second-half lead slip away in a 121-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

“I am proud of those guys; obviously, I was a part of it,” Robinson said of his former comrades. “I just didn’t really wanna watch it.”

New York, of course, went on to experience a similar fate, starting off the title defense with a 106-100 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers.

A few days later, Robinson indicated that his focus remains on his new team as he shrugged off any talk about facing his former teammates this Friday in Boston. 

"It doesn't matter that I'm playing my former team; it’s more so just trying to bounce back from what happened two nights ago,” he said, referencing the season-opening defeat.

“It's basketball; it's a business,” Robinson continued. “Got to play the team just like you play any other team."

Karl-Anthony Towns said it was "bittersweet" to see Robinson join the Celtics.

"You love Mitch, we've done so many historical things together here. To not see him in a Knicks jersey anymore... for all of us. We're a family unit," Towns said.

"It's gonna be amazing to see our brother, to be able to hug him, to be able to show him some love, and to, obviously, compete," he continued.

Earlier in the day, Josh Hart said he was "looking forward" to seeing Robinson.

"They cross match a lot, so I'm sure he'll be guarding me, so can't wait to shoot in that..." he said before stopping himself. "When I make a couple, I'm gonna let him know."

Asked specifically about facing Jalen Brunson coming down the lane, Robinson shrugged and said he is “just here to play basketball.”

“Same thing I’ll do with any other team, same thing I’ll do with them. It’s just all about basketball,” he said. 

Robinson started and played 18 minutes in the Celtics' first game, scoring four points (2-for-2 from the floor, 0-for-2 from the line) with just three rebounds (one offensive), two blocks, a steal, an assist, and two turnovers to finish a minus-8.

“I use it as fuel, kinda have to,” Robinson said about getting past a rough night. “Last game we got demolished. As a big, can’t let that happen. I gotta take that on the chin and learn from it, watch the film, and get better, and just focus on the next one.”

"It's bittersweet. You love Mitch - we've done so many historical things together here. To not see him in a Knicks jersey anymore...we're a family unit. To not be able to have him with us on this journey after that amazing journey we went through is bittersweet. But it's going to be amazing to be able to see our brother, hug him, show him some love and compete playing basketball like we love to do. We made each other better. He brought the best out of me, and I feel that I was able to bring the best out of him. Mitch was a big part of this team winning a championship and probably has the most important offensive rebound in Knicks history." Karl-Anthony Towns on facing Mitchell Robinson and the Celtics tomorrow night:

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 22, 2026

The National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA), the official union of NBA officials, responded to the controversial traveling no-call by Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball, indicating that it should have been ruled as an infraction.

“For everyone asking, ‘how is this legal?’ It’s not!” the NBRA posted Thursday, Oct. 22 from its social media account. “He gathers with his right foot on the floor and would be permitted two steps by rule (left-right). He takes four steps after gathering the ball and travels.”

The play occurred with 8:19 left in the second quarter of Minnesota’s game against the Miami Heat. With the game tied at 39, Ball slipped past a screen toward the right side of the floor. Ball picked up his dribble and then took a gather step by shuffling to his right. The issue is that Ball then took four lateral steps before beginning his shooting motion. He would go on to lace the 3-pointer, one of his five successful conversions on the night.

For everyone asking, “how is this legal?” It’s not! He gathers with his right foot on the floor and would be permitted two steps by rule (left-right). He takes four steps after gathering the ball and travels. https://t.co/dSitGeRNSD

— NBA Referees (@OfficialNBARefs) October 22, 2026

The Timberwolves won the game, 131-106, spoiling the Heat debut of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

When reached for comment on the no-call, the NBA referred USA TODAY Sports to the statement issued by the NBRA.

This was the latest controversial traveling no-call early in the 2026-27 season. On opening night Tuesday, Oct. 20, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shuffled his pivot foot on a converted field goal, drawing a number of critical comments from fans and viewers on social media.

During the preseason, Boston Celtics guard Hugo González was on his way to an uncontested layup on a fast break when he collected the ball at the 3-point line and then took five steps before laying it in. That play was also not called for a travel.

The NBA and its officiating staff review every play during the season and assess the enforcement of its rules, so they may opt to take a closer look should they deem it a larger issue. At this point, however, the gather step and travels have not risen to that level.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Referees Association weighs in on LaMelo Ball's traveling no-call

The Dallas Mavericks got blown out 128-110 against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in their season opener. The game was actually quite competitive for three of the four quarters, but an abysmal second quarter saw the Mavs largely get dismantled. Only able to muster a paltry 12 points while yielding 38, Dallas couldn’t overcome the second quarter swoon despite outscoring Houston by 14 points in the second half.

Cooper Flagg looked amazing in a 32-point effort and his pairing with Kyrie Irving – who dropped 15 points of his own on 6-of-9 shooting – made for some enjoyable basketball. Aside from Flagg and Irving, Naji Marshall put together a solid game off the bench (16 points, 6 assists and 2 rebounds), but the performances largely fell off from there. Then there was Marcus Sasser.

Sasser was acquired in the large six-team deal that also netted Dallas Santi Aldama and Tarik Biberovic back in July. He was well-regarded when he entered the league during the 2023-2024 season with the Detroit Pistons, but saw his role progressively dwindle as his tenure in Detroit went on. His minutes per game dropped year-over-year, and along with that, his points, assists and rebounds per game decreased year-over-year as well. The emergence of Cade Cunningham certainly didn’t help Sasser’s cause, but what he would bring to the Mavericks remained a question mark.

A Red Oak, TX native, Sasser played college ball at the University of Houston, so even though the season opener was a road game, Sasser surely felt right at home. It’s reasonable to believe the venue contributed to his comfort level, but after missing the first three preseason games, his performance on Wednesday night was more than impressive.

First Quarter

With 6:50 remaining in the first quarter, Sasser checked in for Max Christie. Just over a minute later, he dished his first assist to P.J. Washington. 30 seconds after that, he canned his first shot; a three-pointer. He then checked out at the 3:37 mark.

Second Quarter

Sasser got about five minutes of burn and managed to get a steal in what proved to be a nightmare quarter for the Mavs. Even with little statistical output, he looked poised on the floor and showed he could orchestrate a bit.

Third Quarter

Sasser checked in, again for Christie, with 6:48 remaining in the frame and played out the quarter. He committed a foul, then drilled a three and showed off his midrange game with a made floater from 14 feet out.

Fourth Quarter

Coach May must have liked what he was seeing as the Mavs chipped away, because Sasser opened the fourth quarter. He missed his first shot from 19 feet, then canned another three. He then hit another floater from 12 feet, got fouled and hit the free throw for a personal six-point run. He had a heat check with a missed three on the next possession, but that was the last time he would miss a shot. He checked out, then returned with four minutes left in the game. From there, he committed a turnover, then grabbed a rebound which he turned into another three-pointer five seconds later.

On the night, Sasser dropped in 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting (4-of-5 from deep), and had a single rebound, assist and steal. All this in just under 24 minutes of play. Is it reasonable to expect this type of performance every night, or was this a byproduct of playing back in his old college town? We have 81 games left to find out, but what we saw Wednesday night was very promising. The Mavericks are somewhat guard-light and we should expect Irving to have his fair share of rest games throughout the season. They are going to need a true guard who can both fill that gap and otherwise come off the bench as a viable sixth man. After the small sample size of Wednesday, it’s not difficult to imagine Sasser bringing the heat in the second unit, and it’s especially intriguing to think of what he may be able to do alongside Marshall if the latter continues to come off the bench.

The cherry on top? Sasser had this to say about his highly efficient performance: “I feel like I could have played better defensively, especially impacting the ball a little more.”

Sasser has an insane 6’7” wingspan relative to his 6’1” height. The physical tools are there for a rangy defender, and the fact that his focus was on what he could have done better, as opposed to what he did well, also bodes well. Dallas may have unearthed a hidden gem from the team’s own backyard in Sasser.

 I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

The Spurs are tied for last place with a bunch of bad teams.  Other winless teams the Spurs are tied with include the Bulls, Bucks, Nets, Pelicans, Suns and Kings.  Not a group to be associated with.  The Spurs are also tied with the “world champion New York Knicks”.  Feels odd to write those words after 53 years.  And because of Tuesday’s night’s game, the Spurs main rival is undefeated on the season. 

And yes, the Spurs’ best player had a dreadful offensive game against the Thunder.  Near the end of the second quarter, I asked my friend who was watching the game with me, “Does Victor have a basket yet?” The answer was “no”.  And he didn’t actually make a “shot” all night – his one basket came in the second half on a dunk off a lob pass.

And yes, the Spurs second-longest tenured player, Devin Vassell, scored only 7 points in 31 minutes, on 25% shooting.  Perhaps being forced to defend OKC bigs like Holmgren on the other end was a bit draining?   

And yes, the Thunder’s best player had a great offensive game.  I was surprised to see that the box score had SGA at only 13 for 27 from the floor.  It felt like he didn’t miss any. It also felt like a bunch of shots were punctuated with “and one!”  Which always sucks.

And yes, the Thunder’s bigs looked pretty good.  Punching bag Chet Holmgren outscored Victor Wembanyama 14-12 and blocked his shot at least once, looking not at all like the cowering Chet from last season’s WC Finals.  And the Thunder new kid, Aday Mara, played a very effective 12 minutes, making three times as many shots as Victor, and doing something never before seen: blocking a lob-dunk by our Frenchman.  The Spanish dude might be a problem going forward.

And the Thunder defense looked very strong, not missing Lu Dort at all.  Alex Caruso was his usual pesky self on D and also nailed both of this three-pointers.  SGA was also great on D, getting three steals and three blocks – he is clearly ahead in the MVP race thus far in the season. (Though Anthony Edwards may want a word.)

Based on all of that, the consensus among the media, and presumably everyone who watched the game, is that the Thunder dominated the Spurs, “They just wanted it more”.  An understandable conclusion, especially because of how the Thunder ended last season, having to watch the young Spurs emotionally celebrate after Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals on their own floor.  And then hearing about it all summer.

I agreed with the consensus until I calmed down and looked at the box score, as coaches (and former coaches) like to do. 

When I look at the box score, I first look at extra possessions by each team – turnovers and offensive rebounds.  The Spurs had two more turnovers (13-11) and the same number of offensive rebounds (10). OKC took two more shots from the field, but the Spurs shot five more free throws.  The Spurs also shot a bit better on those free throws – 88% t0 80%.  On two-point shots, the Spurs shot better – 26-56 as opposed the Thunder’s 27-64.  The Spurs also took more threes, 37-31.  You can see where this is going.  OKC won the game by 12 points because they shot significantly better on threes.  They made four more threes than the Spurs on six less attempts.  I checked my math with AI, and confirmed that four more three pointers equals 12 more points – the margin of victory in the game.

OKC outshot the Spurs from three largely because Jared McCain came off the bench to go 6-8 from three, with Caruso chipping in his two.  If McCain shoots his career average, he only makes three three-pointers, not six.  If Caruso misses one of his two, he is still at 50%.  And if both of those things happen, OKC has 12 less points, the margin of victory in Game One of Eighty-Two.  Not coincidentally, McCain was a game-high plus 20 in his 22 minutes, Caruso plus 16 in his 25 minutes. 

All in all, despite the final score, with everything that went wrong for the Spurs and everything that went right for the Thunder, the game was actually quite even. So after carefully analyzing the box score, I felt a bit better about Tuesday night.

And then I looked at the Knicks-76ers box score, and felt worse again.  Jalen Brunson shot 6-19 from the floor after seemingly making all his shots against the Spurs in the Finals.  OG Anunoby went 1-10 from three, after shooting a bazillion percent from three (actually 50%) in the Finals.  Now I am unhappy again. Stupid box scores.

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The official debut of Devin Booker wearing number 15 is a game I’m sure he’d rather forget. His team lost by 41 points in the season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers, trailing by as many as 52. Hopefully I forget it too.

You can understand why Portland came out and blitzed the Suns. It was an emotional night for the fan base, one they’d been waiting more than a season to experience. After being bought out by Milwaukee in Bradley Beal fashion (the ‘ole 5-year waive and streeeeeetch), Damian Lillard returned to the Trail Blazers in the summer of 2025. But an Achilles injury kept him sidelined for the entirety of last season, leaving all that pent-up excitement surrounding the return of one of the franchise’s most beloved players waiting to be unleashed.

And unleashed it was. The Moda Center was in a frenzy. Add newly acquired Ja Morant making his Portland debut, and the recipe was ripe for an emotional tidal wave that the Suns would have to overcome. Overcome it, they did not.

“Incredibly emotional to start the game before the jump ball was even tipped,” head coach Jordan Ott said after the game. “They did the better job of using that to their advantage.”

Phoenix managed only 12 points in the opening quarter and posted its lowest point total in a season opener since 2017. Coincidentally, that team also lost to the Portland Trail Blazers, surrendering 124 points while scoring only 76. In that game, a third-year Devin Booker managed 12 points on 6-of-17 shooting, including 0-of-3 from beyond the arc.

And I know it probably doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, but at least in that game, Booker attempted three-pointers. In this game? Not one. Zip. Zero. Not a single three-point attempt.

Does anybody else find that strange? Odd? Your team is getting its teeth kicked in, desperate for points, and…nothing? You’re supposed to be the tip of the offensive spear. You’re the $57 million man. And in a game where your team needs the hemorrhaging to be stopped, you don’t attempt a single shot from beyond the arc?

It was only the 17th time in Booker’s 738 career games that he failed to attempt a three-pointer, and the first time he’d done so since November 15, 2024. And wouldn’t you know it? That was another loss in which the Suns scored only 83 points. Fun Fact: That was the night that, following an abysmal performance and the fact that I watched it whilst waiting for the Mariah Carey Christmas Special to start, we introduced Mariah Carey as a Bright Side Baller option.

Perhaps the opportunities never presented themselves. Perhaps the smothering defense of former Suns draft pick Toumani Camara (palm, meet face) was too overwhelming for Booker to get a shot off. Perhaps he’s become trigger-shy after posting the second-worst three-point shooting percentage of his career last season (33.0%), compounded by the fact that he went 2-of-16 from deep during the preseason (12.5%). But when you juxtapose that against what we saw from Damian Lillard, who went 6-of-10 from beyond the arc on his way to 25 points, it only added to the embarrassment and frustration of the night.

I’m not asking Devin Booker to become Damian Lillard. I’m asking him to recognize what the team needs from him, especially when everything around him is falling apart. We know Booker is an elite midrange scorer. We know he’s never been a high-volume three-point shooter. But at what point does that become a limitation rather than an explanation? The NBA has evolved, and the best offensive players have evolved with it. Booker is entering his 12th season, and we’re still discussing his reluctance to consistently threaten defenses from beyond the arc.

“You can always do everything better in a loss like that,” Booker told Duane Rankin of AZ Central in the locker room post-massacre. “Trying to find the flow. We have some work to do and we have some things to learn from.”

There’s a significant difference between going 0-of-8 and never attempting one. One represents a willingness to take shots the offense needs, even if they aren’t falling. The other raises questions about why those shots aren’t being taken in the first place. I’m not advocating for contested 30-footers. I’m asking why a player of his caliber can’t generate or recognize opportunities from three over the course of 29 minutes.

My concern extends beyond a single game or a single statistical category. It’s about whether the version of Devin Booker we’re watching today is capable of being the offensive engine this team needs him to be. And after last night, I think that’s a perfectly reasonable question to ask.

Ultimately, this may have been the result of a bad matchup against a big, long, physical Portland team fueled by the emotional return of one of the franchise’s greatest and most beloved players. But it also brings to the surface some familiar concerns about who Devin Booker is and what he can provide from beyond the arc at this stage of his career.

Perhaps these are merely the ramblings and musings of a frustrated fanalyst who went to open his Christmas present, only to discover that instead of the gift he’d been hoping for, he received the proverbial lump of coal. All that excitement, all that anticipation surrounding the start of a new season, and it was immediately ripped away from the fan base.

Will Devin Booker have great scoring nights this season? Absolutely. Was this a one-game aberration? We certainly hope so. Maybe Wednesday was an aberration. But if the Suns are going to have any chance of making this season meaningful, they need Booker to be more than an elite midrange scorer. They need him to be a complete offensive threat, and that starts with being willing to take the shots the modern NBA demands.

Devin Booker’s debut wearing No. 15 was one to forget.

A 41-point loss. Down by as many as 52. And in a game desperate for offense, the $57 million man didn’t attempt a single three-pointer, just the 17th time in 738 career games he hasn't.#D15APPOINTINGpic.twitter.com/KtJvtCvtYK

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) October 22, 2026

Luka Dončić won a lot of money or any fan who bet on him or the Los Angeles Lakers last night.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick, on other hand, is often on the losing end when betting with his star guard.

The Lakers superstar dropped 28 points along with eight rebounds and and seven assists in Los Angeles’ 127-105 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.

One of the seven shots Dončić made was a half-court heave that banked into the basket right before halftime.

THIS LUKA SHOT LAST NIGHT

Just 3 of his 28 as the @Lakers open their season with a home W! pic.twitter.com/sxiUe1TLwh

— NBA (@NBA) October 22, 2026

Lakers head coach JJ Redick was asked about Dončić draining that shot postgame and shared a hilarious story.

“We have a silly fine system. [If] you’re a minute late to film, you’re two minutes late to the bus, $500, your personal cash goes in that pot, and we shoot for it every shoot around. And I think by far Luka has won it the most,” Redick said.

“He’s yet to win it this year, but when he shoots a half-court shot —especially when he’s set like that and there’s no defender in front of him — you almost expect it to go in,” Redick added. 

“Even when I was his teammate with the Mavs, I lost a lot of money to him. So I expected it to go in.”

Given that Redick was one of the league’s best sharpshooters, one would imagine that he held his own in these shooting competitions when he and Dončić were Dallas Mavericks teammates during the 2020-21 season.

Instead, it sounds like Luka’s half-court make last night was the byproduct of him making lucrative shots in practice.

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Making his Los Angeles Lakers debut Wednesday night, Walker Kessler put on absolute show inside Crypto.com Arena for his new team and fanbase with 26 points on 12-of-12 shooting, nine rebounds, two blocks and one assist in 30 minutes. His sparkling effort helped Los Angeles rout the Golden State Warriors, 127-105, to kick off their season with a win.

Kessler’s perfect shooting night placed him alongside a couple of historic Lakers big men. His 12-of-12 outing was the second-best shooting performance in franchise history behind a 14-of-14 game from Wilt Chamberlain…

Walker Kessler checks out 12/12 from the field, the second-best shooting game in Lakers history behind a 14/14 performance from Wilt Chamberlain.

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) October 22, 2026

…while his staggering 10 dunks joined the company of Shaquille O’Neal:

Walker Kessler's 10 dunks are the most by a Laker since Shaq in 2003, per ESPN.

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) October 22, 2026

Despite the excellent debut, Kessler admitted to some pre-game jitters but thoroughly enjoyed his first regular-season appearance in a Lakers uniform and was glad to emerge victorious.

““Yeah, I would say it [lived up to expectations]. It was awesome,” he told reporters postgame. “Got the win, which was the most important thing. I definitely was a little nervous going to the game, but just so thankful and so grateful for how it went.”

Among Kessler’s 12 made field goals, five came courtesy of Luka Dončić, who’s been involved in the NBA’s last two double-digit dunk games, a testament to his wondrous playmaking aptitude.

10 dunks made in a game since 2022-23 season:

Walker Kessler, LAL vs GSW 10/21/2026
Daniel Gafford, DAL vs UTA 03/21/2024 https://t.co/jis3gEpBmzpic.twitter.com/pFxsAoHrJw

— Iztok Franko (@iztok_franko) October 22, 2026

With Dončić and Kessler on the floor together, the Lakers scored 56 points in 18 minutes, good for a hilariously stellar 151.4 offensive rating (small-sample theater is fun!), according to NBA.com.

“Very impressive game for him. I think he was 12-12, which is very impressive,” Dončić said. “But just the way he saw, when I was driving, he stepped up. When I was doubled, he played in the pocket. So a very impressive game for him.”

Head coach JJ Redick has previously talked about the expectations any notable Lakers big man may experience, especially ahead of their franchise debut. He’s made clear the support system around Kessler to guide him through any worries and was pleased with his center’s first performance of 2026-27.

“Whether he had played for the last year and a half or not, I think it’s a big deal when it’s your first game as a Laker,” Redick said. “We’ve had conversations. He understands what this is and the pressures that come with it. I think it was a good opening statement for him.”

You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.

Yeah, that was a stinker.

Despite Paul George turning back the clock for 38 points, the Celtics were out-rebounded and lost the margin battle in the trenches, Jayson Tatum looked off, and Jaylen Brown looked great in a Sixers win over the Knicks on their Ring Night. After building a 22-point lead in their season opener in Detroit, the Celtics were outscored 72-41 in the final 20 minutes that included a Pistons’ 23-0 run.

But as bad as Tuesday’s loss was, it’s just the start.

“There are bigger adversities in life than losing a game. I’m excited for the challenges and the opportunity,” Joe Mazzulla said at practice on Thursday.

“It was a challenge losing that [game], but it’s how you respond to that. It may or may not happen again, but it’s who you become. You have to learn. As I told the team, I don’t want us to feel a certain type of way after a win or after a loss — it’s all the same. You have to be able to process possessions in a game, so it’s really more about the consistency of the approach, not the feeling of the result. We just have to maintain the consistency of the approach and the process and continue to go through that.”

With a chance to knock off the defending champion Knicks tomorrow night in their home opener, it’s a quick turnaround for a team looking to turn the page quickly. After a 4-0 successful preseason that seemed to legitimize Mazzulla’s approach, the trade for George, the free agent signings of Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley Jr., and the development of the Celtics’ growing young core, the team will now have a four-game homestand to settle into the regular season and they don’t seem bothered by the hiccup.

“I don’t think it’s concerning. It’s the first game of 82,” Sam Hauser said. “There’s definitely going to be kinks that we have to work out. Obviously we ran into a few things in the last game, but I don’t think we’re concerned. We showed flashes of being really really good and showed flashes of where we need to improve. That’s the battle you go through each and every season.”

During training camp, Mazzulla stressed that it’s going to take 10-20 games to see what the team can lean on in terms of their strengths, what needs to be improved, and what the trend lines of the league are going to be. The Pistons, the East’s #1 seed last season, provided a good early test that Mazzulla liked “38 of 48 minutes” of. The key — as it is every year around this time — is being able to do for all 48, night in, night out.

“Last game was a perfect game because it was the epitome of momentum and opportunities and turning points and ebbs and flows,” Mazzulla said.

He noted that the team generated good shots during their worst stretches against the Pistons, but poor transition defense, fouling three-point shooters, and giving up and-1s off offensive rebounds ultimately allowed Detroit to steamroll them down the stretch. It’s all a learning process in the road to consistency.

Mazzulla on Pierce's presence around the Celtics: "The door is open for any Celtic."

"It's great to have him around." @CLNSMediahttps://t.co/2QZv0mHnx0pic.twitter.com/lToi7B4RBC

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) October 22, 2026

“The way we want to play, the freedom, the ability to just read the game — it just takes time understanding what each guy likes. We had some really good moments of that, and throughout that process, there will be some janky moments, but we just continue to grow through it, We’re further along than I anticipated from that standpoint,” Mazzulla reiterated.

And how’s this for consistency: 26,864 points over 15 regular seasons and a decade’s worth of playoffs. That’s second all-time for the franchise. That’s The Truth. That’s Paul Pierce.

The Finals MVP and second all-time leading scorer visited today’s practice at the Auerbach Center.

“It makes you want to carry on the Celtics tradition, the legacy when you’ve got them around,” Hauser said of having The Captain back in the building.

Whenever there are star-laden rosters rolled out in the NBA, skeptics of said rosters often have the same critiques.

“There’s only one ball.”

“Too many egos.”

“Good luck getting that guy to take a back seat to anyone.”

The NBA has long been powered by its stars and while it seems as if the narrative in recent years has changed, particularly with a team like New York winning an NBA championship last season primarily due to its stellar depth, top-end talent will always garner a lot of conversation in the NBA. The Sixers have a ton of it. It was fair to question how quickly all of the talent would mesh and come together, but if the season opener at Madison Square Garden was an indication, chemistry isn’t going to be a problem for this season’s Philadelphia 76ers.

Every Sixer in the starting lineup, besides VJ Edgecombe who attempted the fewest number of field goals amongst the five, had at least five assists in the 106-100 victory over New York. The Sixers committed fewer turnovers than a Knicks team that was returning the bulk of its roster that won last season’s title. Philadelphia also had 24 fastbreak points to 16 for the Knicks. These are all statistical categories that indicate a strong degree of togetherness and selflessness on the court.

On Tuesday night, the Sixers did not look like a team that was still trying to figure out how to put the puzzle pieces together. They also did not beat the Knicks due to a hot shooting night that could just be chalked up to randomness. Philly shot just 28% from the three-point line in the win. They did so with two high-profile new starters in the lineup in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. They closed out a close game on the road against an opponent that’s owned them in recent seasons including two of the last three postseasons. So if they can do all of that in their first game together against the reigning champions, maybe it’s easy to see why there was so much hype around this team.

Inevitably, there are going to be overtures, if they haven’t started already, from fans about coach Nick Nurse’s overreliance on the starting five. Every starter played at least 33 minutes in the opener. There are another 81 regular season games to go plus what the franchise hopes is a deep playoff run. Managing minutes is not a novel concept for Nurse, but how good will he be at it this season? It’s a fair question.

Will Mike Gansey be able to find a backup center to Joel Embiid after losing Ariel Hukporti for the year before the season started? Finding some consistent outside shooting from the wing also figures to be the easiest way to get James some rest throughout the marathon that is the regular season.

Surely, there are still things the Sixers will have to figure out during the season as they’re not going to waltz to an NBA championship. But playing into June was on everyone’s minds before this season started and the victory on Tuesday night in New York showed us why. Chemistry and cohesion are usually things that only get better as the season goes on and if that’s the case for this group, we might be in for a very special next 6-8 months, Sixers fans.

The Dallas Mavericks’ 2026-27 season got off to a rocky start on Wednesday night, as they got blown out by Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets, 128-110. After only trailing 32-26 when the first quarter ended, the Mavs proceeded to get outscored 38-12 in the second quarter, which ended up being the deciding factor in the game. Dallas outscored Houston 72-58 in the second half, but it was already too late.

It was a little bit of a mixed bag when it came to the performances of the Mavs’ two stars, 19-year-old Cooper Flagg and 34-year-old Kyrie Irving, who was playing his first real NBA game in nearly 600 days following an ACL injury. Flagg finished with a game-high 32 points (10-17 FG, 11-13 FT), five rebounds, two assists, three steals and one block in 33 minutes of action. He poured in 23 of his 32 points in the second half alone. Irving finished with 15 points (6-9 FG), four rebounds, two assists and one steal. Both Flagg and Irving had four turnovers each.

Following the loss, Mavs head coach Dusty May gave his thoughts on how his two stars played in their first real game together.

“I thought he was setting us up,” May said of Flagg’s second-half scoring. “In the first half I thought he was being very intentional with getting his teammates shots, and then, in the second half, we did a better job of getting some off-ball movement. We played a little bit faster, and then obviously if you’re not taking the ball out of the net, you can get it up and attack quickly. I thought that was the biggest difference. We just — our pace got a lot better in the second half.”

Getting to the free-throw line was something Dallas struggled with in the preseason, so Flagg’s ability to get to the stripe 13 times and convert 11 of them was a welcome sight for May.

“That’s been a point of emphasis, and that’s one thing, when we evaluated ourselves after four [preseason] games, getting to the line wasn’t something we did well,” May said. “We thought [Flagg] was the best way to capitalize in the paint. I thought he was strong. I thought he made good decisions. When we start knocking down some open shots, his assist numbers will increase.”

Irving was efficient on Wednesday night, but the problem was that his shots were limited. That obviously wasn’t by May’s design, but it’s what the Rockets’ defense forced the Mavs into.

“He’s obviously the focal point,” May said of Irving being limited to nine field-goal attempts by Houston’s defense. “They put two on the ball. I thought he made the right plays, the right decisions. There [are] going to be puzzles we’re going to have to figure out. Playing four-on-three with our other guys — we’ve got to do a better job and find some solutions.

“But I thought there in the second half, he showed a real — his true character — in being a leader when things weren’t going well, I thought he set a great example. Our bench was phenomenal. They were cheering for each other. We’re worried about getting better, especially starting with a couple games on the road like we are. We’re focused on getting better, and I was proud of the way the guys stayed connected and stayed fighting until the end. That showed some character.”

The Mavs now shift their attention to another road test against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night before opening up at home against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. The Pacers started their season off 1-0 with a 123-120 win over the New Orleans Pelicans after star point guard Tyrese Haliburton made his return from an achilles injury he suffered in the 2025 NBA Finals.

“[We have to] learn from what we did well,” May said. “I thought we made some strides in areas we’ve struggled in. But just look at the film. The lowest-hanging fruit — what can we fix in a 48-hour period, so we’re not out here chasing every rabbit, but focus on a couple of things so we can just trust it a little bit more. From everybody, we’ll fix that area. … These extra possessions, they steamroll on you, so if we just clean up a few things, I think we’ll make a significant jump.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers took a risk when they traded for Donovan Mitchell in 2022. They made a gamble that the assets they unloaded, which included multiple first-round picks that spanned seven years, would ultimately never be missed.

It looks like they’re winning that bet.

“I don’t ever want to wear another uniform,” Mitchell said in a Cleveland.com exclusive with Chris Fedor. “I dream of myself being here forever and hopefully having 45 in the rafters one day.”

Mitchell has not only led the franchise to some of their most successful seasons, but he’s signed an extension that keeps him in Cleveland through the 2029-30 NBA season — past the date of the final draft pick that is owed to the Utah Jazz.

There was a time when it was unclear if the Cavs would retain Mitchell for more than a single season. Or if they’d reach an agreement on even one contract extension. But now we are two extensions deep with a franchise star who has fully committed to the city he’s in.

Mitchell has averaged 26.7 points and 5.3 assists in four seasons with the Cavaliers. He’s been an All-Star in each season and was named to an All-NBA team in three of the four.

Entering his fifth year in Cleveland, Mitchell has made it clear that this is where he wants to be. The franchise has doubled and tripled down on their own commitment to him. Trading for James Harden last season and shuffling the starting lineup to add a 3-and-D wing in Peyton Watson. It’s all built around competing now while Mitchell’s window is open.

The Cavs haven’t had many players of Mitchell’s caliber represent the city, let alone retire in Cleveland. There’s something to be said for a star embracing his new home — even if this is all easier said than done. A lot can change between now and the end of Mitchell’s career, but a verbal commitment like this shouldn’t be taken for granted.

BOSTON — Mitchell Robinson didn’t mince words at Celtics practice Thursday morning, less than 48 hours after his lackluster Celtics debut.

In the Celtics’ 121-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons, Robinson tallied 4 points, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 turnovers in 18 minutes. The normally prolific rebounder couldn’t make his impact on the glass, grabbing just 3 boards, only 1 of which came on the offensive end.

“It’s obviously just my fault,” Robinson said. “I got to accept that, and obviously be better from here on out. It’s straightforward — my fault.”

Robinson pointed to his lack of defensive impact as one of the main issues with his performance.

“We didn’t keep our foot on the gas, and it starts with me,” he said. “I’m one of the best defensive bigs in this league, and I didn’t show it that night. I got to take ownership of that; I gotta be better.”

The 28-year-old did go down with a twisted ankle in the second quarter of Tuesday’s game, but returned shortly after. On Thursday, he said the ankle injury didn’t factor into his performance.

Looks like Mitchell Robinson hurt his ankle – he’s hobbling off the floor in pain pic.twitter.com/gOHLh1XKka

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) October 20, 2026

“You tweak an ankle, you’re going to feel it a little bit here and there, but shit happens,” Robinson said. “I just felt like I was playing like trash the whole time anyways. I mean, shit.”

Robinson isn’t worried about putting points on the board. But his interior presence and rebounding got him a 3-year, $47 million contract, and he prioritizes those on any given night.

“Once I feel good about that after the game, for me, that’s when I know I did pretty good,” he said. “I really don’t care about stat lines, scoring; we got that over here already. It’s like — what can I do to help my team?”

Joe Mazzulla spoke with Robinson after the game

Mitchell Robinson said last week that Joe Mazzulla has been hard on him since he arrived in Boston.

“He’s getting on my ass a lot,” he said. “Which, you know, I need that. But he gets on my ass.”

But after Robinson’s frustrating game, Mazzula reached out in an encouraging fashion.

“Joe’s a great guy,” Robinson said. “He talked me through a lot of things, especially that night. He sent me text messages and stuff like that, and I appreciate it, but I didn’t even respond to the last text. But I was still stuck in my head about it. Like, I played like ass.”

Mazzulla said he recognizes Robinson’s importance and expects him to keep acclimating over time.

“It’s game one, obviously, and again, for us, he’s a very important piece to what we do, and so the standard is a little bit higher, and the expectation is a little bit higher,” Mazzulla said. “So I think it just comes with time, understanding that every play, you’re at the nucleus of what we’re trying to accomplish on both ends of the floor, and it’s a great compliment that all three of those bigs share. And some of that just comes with time — just the offensive reads, the offensive chemistry, the offensive execution, but also the defensive reads and the defensive reactions that we have to have. I appreciate that he’s in that space, and I think he’s taking on the responsibility and knowing how important that position is.”

Robinson said last week he’s enjoying his more involved role, even though there’s been an acclimation period.

“I’m in a lot of actions on the offensive side,” Robinson said. “Over there, I was just like, set one screen, roll, and they’ll be going on the other side, and then maybe come back. But like, this one, I’m in like every action. I’m setting the flare, pin down, ball screen, whatever. Like I’m just always actively moving.”

Mitchell Robinson will face his old Knicks teammates on Friday

On Friday, Robinson will face the New York Knicks, the team he spent his first 8 years with. The Knicks also come off an opening-day loss, a 106-100 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers.

But though Robinson is excited to put Tuesday behind him, he said he doesn’t have extra emotion or motivation specifically because of the Knicks match-up.

“It doesn’t really matter that I’m playing my former team,” he said. “It’s more so just trying to bounce back from what happened two nights ago. At the end of the day, it’s basketball; it’s a business. And, you got to play the team just like you play any other team.”