"Best game all around. He's been good, but that was his best game for sure."
That was how coach Nick Nurse described LeBron's performance Friday night, via Noah Levick at NBC Sports Philadelphia. LeBron finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, leading Philadelphia past New York — again! — on Friday night, but the numbers don't tell the story. He was the glue that made the entire 76ers project fit together, and when it mattered most he had the dagger putback.
It's just six games, but LeBron said he couldn't be happier with his offseason decision to come to Philadelphia, via the Associated Press.
"I'm having a great time," James said. "I love what we're bringing to the table every night. I love our competitive spirit. Guys show up to work. Guys are ready to work hard. It's a fun group, too. I'm like a big-ass kid, to be completely honest. These guys are great to be around and I'm more than happy I made the decision to come here."
LeBron got plenty of help as his friend Tyrese Maxey dropped 27 points, and Anfernee Simons came off the bench and hit five 3-pointers on his way to 21 points. That covered for a rough night from Joel Embiid on the offensive end, where he shot 3-for-12, but he still had seven assists and seven rebounds.
Jalen Brunson started making plays in the fourth quarter, as he so often does, and the Knicks walked down an 11-point 76ers lead in the fourth to make it a game late, and he finished with 24 points. Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and 12 rebounds.
However, when it mattered most, LeBron settled the 76ers down. That's what he brings most to the table, Maxey told NBC Sports Philadelphia.
"Leadership. Calming presence. He helped get a lot of rebounds. He'd help get the ball and calm it down. He was great. At the end of the day, it's LeBron James. At the end of the day, he can do stuff like he did tonight, getting a couple of big buckets."
His leadership has Philadelphia off to a 5-1 start — and LeBron is healthy and happy. That's all the 76ers can hope for this early in the season.
There is never any rest for the weary in the NBA. After a thrilling 98-93 win over New York, their second over the defending champions on this young season, the Sixers are back in action less than 24 hours later on the road against the Charlotte Hornets.
It’s reasonable to expect a much different looking Sixers team for this game. After missing last night’s Knicks win with patellar tendinopathy in his left knee, it’s hard to imagine Jaylen Brown will be available to play. Joel Embiid and LeBron James both played in the front end against the Knicks, so it feels likely neither of them will be available either.
Charlotte is still waiting on Kon Knueppel, Coby White and Grant Williams to make their season debuts. They could also have more guys out of the lineup having also played Friday. They lost to the Wizards in Washington, falling to 3-3 on the season.
The Sixers went 2-1 against the Hornets last season but with the Sixers adding Brown and James and the Hornets trading Lamelo Ball, these teams are way too different to take anything from that. In a very small sample size and without one of their best players, the Hornets are currently profiling as a drastically different team.
At the time of writing, they are 30th in points scored per 100 possessions, a number skewed by their 79-point performance in Washington. They’re 10th in points allowed, according to Cleaning the Glass. They’ve won all three of their games by seven points or less. Two of their three losses have been by 15 points or more.
Fresh off a contract extension, Brandon Miller is averaging 25.6 points per game this season but is just shooting 39% from the field. Even potentially without LeBron and Brown, the Sixers seem as equipped to handle talented scoring wings as ever. Dean Wade is coming off a phenomenal night guarding OG Anunoby.
Assuming Embiid doesn’t play, Adem Bona and whoever else fills the center minutes could have their hands full with Naz Reid. As the starting center on his new team, Reid has averaged 17 points per game shooting 43% from the field and a scalding 42% from three on seven attempts so far this season. Ryan Kalkbrenner, their backup, could also give them problems just by being a long seven-foot-one.
This should be a fast paced one, with the Sixers also wanting to fly up and down the floor with their guards running the show. VJ Edgecombe should be in line for his first real high usage game of the season. He’s been great as a glue guy but has only scored over 15 points once this season. The only thing he hasn’t done well so far is shoot the ball. He’s shooting just 29% from three this season, but hit a massive triple from the top of the key to help seal that win against the Knicks.
Even against a team like Charlotte, the Sixers will need big games from both members of VJ Maxx, or potentially another heater from Anfernee Simons to sweep this back-to-back. It will take a village to fill center minutes for the time being, assuming Embiid isn’t available.
Game Details
When: Saturday, October 31, 6:00 pm ET Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC Watch: NBCSP/PCK-PHI Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 30: Adem Bona #30 of the Philadelphia 76ers falls on top of Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup game at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 30, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Sixers beat the Knicks on Friday…
…meaning they are 2-0 in the head-to-head matchup. That’s it, that’s all it means. No parade down Broad Street.
Here’s what we heard coming out of Cheesesteak Arena.
"We're competitive when we need to be & that's why all the games that we're in we have a chance down the stretch. Trying to make sure we continue to do the little things throughout the course of the game is going to be huge because we're not doing that right now"
“I don’t look it as a statement game. It’s the next game in front of us. Obviously, it’s a [NBA] Cup game and you always want to push yourself to have an opportunity to try and win something. This means taking a step toward that goal.
“But I just want to get a little better every time we play. These guys really hurt us in transition last game. Our transition defense right now stinks. But it’s gotten a little better. Tonight, it will be tested. Obviously Jaylen is not playing and he’s one of the best in transition. You look at little things and you hope to get better at the little things while getting a win.”
On the Knicks allowing Philadelphia to attack the paint too easily:
“They were getting in our paint left and right, right and left, and it was really, really easy doing it.”
On the Knicks forcing difficult plays instead of executing simple offense:
“It’s been going on all year. Like, we’re trying to hit a home run every time we get the ball. And we have to hit singles. We can’t hit a home run. We gotta hit singles offensively and then if our play breaks down, we have to move. There’s too many times where we have too many guys trying to iso and the other four guys sitting there and staring at the ball a whole possession.”
On the Knicks improving their turnover management in the second half:
“We did a better job with our turnovers (in the second half). But more importantly, we reacted better when we turned the ball over and we had five turnovers for six points (against).”
On the Knicks failing to maintain their focus throughout an entire game:
“Against a good team on the road, if you let go of those things in a half, you’re in trouble. And so somehow some way we have to be cognizant of doing this stuff for 48 minutes, which we’re not doing right now.
“Tonight it was the first half and it was almost like [we thought] we’re just gonna show up and go hoop and not do the little things that we need to do to go get a win.”
On the importance of executing the fundamentals consistently:
“It’s a little thing here, a little thing there, a little thing there. … We’re competitive when we need to be and that’s why all of our games that we’re in we have a chance down the stretch, but trying to make sure we continue to do the little things throughout the course of the game is gonna be huge for us because we’re not doing it right now.”
On LeBron James making decisive plays against the Knicks:
“[LeBron’s] a great player, and when you have a great player out there, with his ability, he’s gonna make plays, and he made big plays down the stretch. It’s the NBA, and it’s not surprising when a guy like Maxey or LeBron or Jalen makes a big play. You just hope that it doesn’t come down to that all the time.”
On Ernie Johnson’s retirement announcement and his impact on NBA coverage:
“I’d like to give a quick shoutout to Ernie Johnson. I don’t know him well. Obviously I know him from the TV. I try not to watch a lot of basketball shows because it gets me too high or gets me too low. But their show is one that I always get good laughs at.
“Just from afar, Ernie seems like he’s a big time human being. And the little bit I know about his story, it’s fascinating. He will be sorely missed, not only from the fans out there and other media members, but I know from a coaching standpoint too in keeping everything light and enjoyable and all that other stuff.
“So I hope you have a heck of a year, Ernie. We’re gonna all miss you, but thanks for doing what you do to make people smile everyday.”
"There's been plenty of times we learned from being down what we can do. In that same game we made adjustments. I think we played decent in the second half. Took care of the ball better, played better defense. You've got to put a full 48 minutes together"
On the Knicks’ careless turnovers and hesitant decision-making:
“Just a little careless. And sometimes it can be us being hesitant as well, wanting to make the right play, but they’re also not trying to turn over, and then it’s just a little late to our decision-making. It could be a lot of things, but obviously, we got to clean it up.”
On Josh Hart’s fatigue excuse six games into the season:
“Josh said he feels the fatigue? Well, Josh is old as s–t, so.”
On the Knicks needing to learn from their losses and stop relying on comebacks:
“I’ve said in the past that it’s always important to learn from wins. Obviously, you learn from losses, as well. There have been plenty of times that we’ve learned from being down. In those same games, we’ve made adjustments to where we weren’t down anymore and came back and won the game. Obviously, we have to understand what we need to do. It’s starting the game that way. I think that has to be our biggest point of emphasis going forward.
“I thought we played decent in the second half, took care of the ball better, played better defense, but we have to put a full 48 minutes together.”
"All I can think about is we're now six games in. We haven't shown our best. We haven't played our best. We've got to find a way to be that magical team we were last year at a more consistent pace. Lightning don't strike twice. We've got to be that team now"
On the Knicks lacking energy against Philadelphia:
“Today we played like a team that was on the end of a road trip. We gotta find that gear. We gotta find that energy.
“We picked up the pace in the second half, but what makes this team special is doing it for 48 minutes. We didn’t do that tonight. We put ourselves in a bad spot, and give credit to the team over there. They hit the shots when they needed to. We just got to execute at a higher level.”
On escaping the Knicks’ offensive struggles too late against the 76ers:
“I thought we did a great job in that fourth quarter of finding that gear, like you said, just kind of getting out of the quicksand. To do that puts us in a position where you gotta make some magic happen, and we just didn’t have enough magic tonight.”
On the challenge of facing LeBron James and the 76ers:
“They’re a great team. Obviously, you have arguably the greatest player of all time. We’ve got to bring our best. We’ve got to execute at a high level. And we’ve got to continue to use these games as a learning experience.”
"We all feel the fatigue. We've got to fight through it. 6 games in, but we have to find a way to make sure we get our bodies ready to play every day"
On the Knicks’ stagnant offense and lack of movement:
“It’s a new year. I think we’re trying to work our way into the season. But I think the flow’s tougher. Sometimes the ball is stagnant, I think that’s a little bit from fatigue and not a mental thing. You know what the other team is doing, and physically you’re trying to get your body to get to that point. So I think that that’s part of it. We got to be more deliberate with cuts and movements. And taking care of the ball.”
On the Knicks feeling fatigued after playing three games in four nights:
“We all feel the fatigue. So we got to fight through it. Six games in. So we got to find a way to make sure we get our bodies ready to play every day. I think mentally we’re there. We just gotta find it physically.”
On the Knicks needing to execute more consistently:
“We gotta find a way to execute better. And do that continuously.”
On why the Knicks keep falling behind by double digits before attempting comebacks:
“I wish I could tell you that one. If I could tell you that one, and the reason why, then maybe it would stop happening. I think we all have a great will to win. I think sometimes it takes us a little longer to find a game, whether that’s the flow, fatigue, whatever it is.
“We have to do a better job of finding the game early, making it easy and then not relying on double-digit comebacks because it’s taxing.”
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse says LeBron James has been good so far all season, but tonight was his best game. pic.twitter.com/0YWemLAudP
“He’s been good, but tonight, I thought that was his best game for sure. I thought he was good all the way through tonight. I thought he got some downhill stuff. He used his size and knocked them around a little bit for some layups. I thought he obviously pushed the ball and got us organized. I thought he was a little quicker to make some decisions to shoot the 3-ball as well. And then, he obviously made those couple of big plays down the stretch.”
Amar'e Stoudemire on why #Knicks have gotten off to a slow start after championship season:
"I think what we most have to look at is that when you win a championship, especially in New York, you have all these different opportunities off the court that take place. You're filming…
On how New York’s off-court opportunities can distract players after winning a championship:
“When you win a championship, especially in New York, you have all these different opportunities off the court that take place. You’re filming commercials, you’re having these different shows, you’re doing these different things. All these events are happening.
“You’ve got to try to narrow it back down and lock in on basketball because playing in New York, you can get a little bit taken away from the sport with all the activities that go along with being in New York City. But you have to now try to narrow it down back to basketball. Key in, lock in on basketball. Make it the main priority and build out from there.”
On why the Knicks deserved to celebrate their championship throughout the offseason:
“That’s normal. That’s a part of human nature, man. You win a championship for the New York Knicks. You kidding me? After 53 years, you gotta enjoy that. You will never be the first one to win it after 53 years ever again.
“So that energy, you have to capitalize on it. It’s just a matter of now being able to kind of channel that and now focus on basketball and lock in a little bit more.”
On whether the Knicks’ slow start is concerning:
“I’m not concerned. When you are the champions, man, every target is at your back. Every team’s gunning for you, so it’s tough to kind of get off to a great start the following year. I’m not concerned. I think it’s a matter of just kind of locking in and focusing a little bit more, and they’ll be okay.”
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 30: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game during the Emirates NBA Cup on October 30, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving wrecked the Rockets in the fourth quarter, scoring 25 of their combined 68 points down the stretch as the Mavericks completed the comeback.
Here is what head coach Dusty May, as well as the dynamic duo had to say in their postgame press conference.
Dusty May
Opening statement
I don’t know the rest of the league well enough other than film, but I can’t imagine that there’s too many teams tougher than the Rockets. I thought, especially in the second half, when the shots are going in, and you’re in a rhythm, and things are going well, you can match the other team’s physicality and intensity. When they aren’t going in, some teams just can’t do it. I thought late, some guys that weren’t having their best game stepped up and grabbed big rebounds.
Obviously, our two guys, they just made play after play, but so many other possessions jump out. Gafford’s blocks at the rim were huge. P.J.’s rebounds in traffic late. I think he got three in the last three minutes, and we needed all of them. Obviously, Zacc in the second half. Caleb Martin, back the last couple games from injury, has shown what he is — a winning player. On to the next.
What has clicked since for the team since the season-opening blowout loss to the Rockets?
I thought our effort was good. There didn’t seem to be any leak-outs — guys that weren’t in the fight. I thought we were in the fight. We took care of the ball better. We had 17 [turnovers], and that’s still better than game one. But it seemed like most of our turnovers, other than a couple of just, we had numbers and we just kind of threw it to the wrong guy. A lot of them seem to be dead-ball turnovers, which is an improvement. This is Houston. They’re tough to play against.
On Kyrie Irving’s build-up back into form:
If you just saw how much he puts into this game, and that factors into being on a young team, and bringing it every day and helping the group find solutions to problems and doing it in the manner in which he does it, I mean, it’s incredible. That’s why his stat line, 35 [points], 9 [assists], and four [rebounds], that looks great. It’s obviously impressive, but his leadership and his grace with his teammates is even more impressive to me.
How rare is it for a 19-year-old to do the things that Cooper Flagg is doing, especially at the end of games?
What a problem, where you’re in a pickle where two guys like that just have it going, and you just got to kind of rotate between putting the ball in each other’s hands, and knowing that they’re going to make the plays. So obviously, what a luxury for us. And once again, they both trust their teammates. When Houston put two on the ball, and they were determined to take it out of their hands, they continued to trust and trust and trust. And then those reps and that experience, those guys handled it better. I think we hit more, Gaff more in the short roll than we have every, all the including preseason, the games we played Houston combined. And that’s a sign of finding, you know, having some answers, but also the trust factor that Coop and Kyrie have with their teammates.
What are you most proud of with this team?
We look like a team that, you know, obviously, when things weren’t going well, you know, when I watch these games just to see how our bench is about each other. And I want to shout out Dereck Lively. He’s a big part of that. His energy is contagious, and he’s got such a positive spirit to him. But yeah, just the fact that we look like a group trying to find a way to win together, no matter what it looks like. They’re playing the game in front of them, and they’re doing it as a unit.
How did Daniel Gafford rebound after getting hurt late?
I thought he was — early on — he was having his worst game of the year. And he’s been really good for us. And the second half was just another level. I mean, when you’re able to block those attempts at the rim, usually it starts a break going the other way, but those are energizing, momentum-changing plays. And off the top of my head, I can remember several. And then to step up and knock down the free throws at the biggest moment. Just made winning play after winning play.
On Irving’s big second half:
I mean, don’t overcomplicate it. Just get the right matchup on him and let him go to work. And like I said, when he’s playing that efficiently, shooting the ball, and he’s finding his teammates, and those are leading to hockey assists or regular assists, it’s just, you know, don’t overcomplicate it.
How much does Flagg factor into how to get Irving the space he needs to operate?
When you go back and look at it, one of them would screen the other one. One of them would cut to get some attention off the other one. And also, it’s just tough to go when you’re in a tight game with probably six minutes left of a one-possession game, for one guy to do it over and over and over and over and over. It’s taxing. And then the defense that they have to play and exert the energy they have to exert on the other end — for those guys to be able to share that load and have two guys who just are closers like they are — there’s several layers to it. But, you know, that makes you feel good, very confident going into close games.
On the moment team president Masai Ujiri and May shared in the tunnel after the game:
Masai Ujiri and Dusty May share a moment after the Mavericks’ big win over the Rockets. pic.twitter.com/xOiKjwyWZy
You know, obviously I have a ton of respect for Masai, and he’s been a great sounding board, and I’ve probably asked him too many questions just as I learned — as myself and staff were trying to learn this organization and whatnot. And so it was just a little joke that I made, but just very, very appreciative of the team that front office has put together. We’re deep, we’re young, we have great character more than anything else. I haven’t been around very many teams, but this group feels like a very, very special group of human beings first, and they’re working like crazy to get better at basketball.
What makes character so important, and how doe sit align with winning teams?
You know, I don’t want to go into all that, but the teams that, whether things are going well or whether they’re going poorly, simply get to the next thing, the next practice, the next game, the next possession, those are usually the teams that are standing longer than they probably should have otherwise.
What went into the decision of not activating Naji Marshall?
He hasn’t practiced. … It looks like he’s dropped weight, he hasn’t practiced yet and we thought if we can get through this one without Naji, then he’s got two days to get his body back right, get his conditioning and then be ready to play well Monday. We needed him tonight. I mean, it was a tough decision not to throw him out there, but we just thought for our team and for him, just give it until Monday. He was down with the illness.
Cooper Flagg
How much has your confidence grown in the 75 games you’ve now played in your NBA career?
It’s grown a ton. Just being confident, getting to my spots and living with the result. That’s something I talked about last year, and it’s going to continue to be a thing. All the great players are able to just get to their spots and raise up and knock them down. So that’s all I’m trying to do — just get to my spots, and we’ll live with outcome.
Have you talked to Irving about those moments where you just know the ball is going in when it leaves your hand?
I talked to him a lot about it last year. Trying to learn from him — the mental side, but I think more and more, as we’ve gone to this year, just being able to see it in person and on the court from him and being able to learn from the experience has been really cool, too.
How would you describe what you and Irving were able to accomplish on the floor together?
I thought, like I said, just playing off each other really well. He was able to go on runs and be a very vocal leader with the ball in his hands. I was able to come in, be able to contribute in a very similar way, and it kind of just made the game easier for each other, and I thought that was really, really good.
How comforting is it to have another co-star on the roster?
That was great. We have a lot of stars. Guys are being stars in their roles, and I think that’s what we’re seeing. We’ve started to get a couple wins here early. It’s just guys really just sacrificing and being a star in their role. Guys like Zacc, P.J., Gaff, those guys are all stars in their roles, and they’re vital to our success, but it’s felt great to have [Irving] out there, someone that puts the ball in the basket better than the best of them.
On teammates’ performances in the win:
Gaff … never backed down from the challenge. He’s always there protecting the paint, getting the rebounds. I mean, that’s a big team. So I think just down the stretch, him blocking out and helping us grab some rebounds was huge. PJ, same thing, just a physical defender. He’ll knock down his open shots, but I think just the work he did, rebounding the ball down the stretch for us was huge. Caleb, I thought, was really big tonight, and what he did defensively and just rebounding. Zacc has been really good all year — just getting into [passing] lanes, getting deflections, steals, blocks, being all over the place. So yeah, those guys, they’re vital to our success, for sure.
Where have you grown the most as a player since last season?
I just think the confidence is continuing to grow and grow, and I feel like I’m just more comfortable at this point. Having a year of learning all my peers, earning their respect is a big thing for me. And I feel like at this point, it feels comfortable. And I know where I want to get to and what I want to do get there.
What were you able to take from playing in so many clutch games a year ago?
Just being comfortable. You need those game experiences. There’s nothing like it. You know, the crowd loud, everybody excited, coming down. There’s a lot of mental things that you can do to affect a game like that down the stretch. So just learn from that last year, and try to put it to use.
What has Dereck Lively’s energy been like on the bench as he continues to recuperate?
It’s been great. Live has been one of the loudest people on the bench every single night. And you can tell he’s really just itching to get back out there. But just what he’s done from the sidelines and the energy and the positivity that he’s brought to our team has been incredible. And he’s definitely been a big part.
What about [Lively’s] game makes you excited for him to join the active roster?
I think in just the small time that I was able to play with Live last year — his defensive versatility. I mean, a lot like Gaff, just holding down the paint. Being a really big presence, shot blocker, and a lob threat. So that’s a really good screen. So he sees the game at a high level too. So I think a lot of people underrate that about Live. And I’m excited to get back out there with him eventually. And people will be able to see how he sees the game and can affect it.
What’s the key to you and [Irving] divvying things up? Is it based on the opposing defense?
I mean, it’s not a perfect formula. And obviously, I think we’re still working out a lot of the kinks and figuring out how we can help each other best. And there’s been a lot of moments where we realize that we can help each other more out there on the court together. So there’s been a lot of learning experiences. And it’s been a pleasure to be able to play alongside him and learn from him out there. But yeah, I think there’s still more and more that we can do to help each other, alleviate some pressure, and continue to just learn how to play together. And make it easier for one another.
Kyrie Irving
First question muffled:
Kyrie: 35 PTS (26 in 2H) 9 AST Coop: 33 PTS (18 in 2H) 6 AST
Which part? The good stuff, or stuff at halftime where it looks like we probably didn’t give our best effort because of who was in the lineup? And it’s just art of war kind of thing. Just psychologically when Alperen Sengun’s out and then Reed’s out, we have a whole game plan for them. And then we kind of take our foot off the gas pedal a little bit. So we just had to readjust. It’s a human element of it. But when you’re in competition, you can’t do that. And I feel like we picked it up after halftime and just had a few conversations with some guys. And we all agreed. We weren’t playing our best basketball. And in order to be considered the best in this league, you got to bring the energy every single night. You got to bring the physicality. And you’re going against an undefeated team that’s very confident, playing well. They’ve had a few games down the stretch where they’ve been able to pull out some tough wins. And I think tonight was our time to prove that against them. Preseason went how it went. We’ve been talking about how we’re playing them eight times in the first 20 games. But I think it’s just a great learning experience for us. To be able to go down the stretch and just win.
What was the difference for you in scoring 26 of your 35 points in the second half?
I think my communication and also my aggression and just starting the third quarter off at a very high level. Especially pushing in transition and getting the ball above half court, over half court before 21 seconds or 20 seconds, whether it was a miss or a make. And just paying attention to the details on the defensive end. They’re always looking to catch you sleeping. Amen’s always looking to catch you sleeping on the offensive glass while he’s crashing. KD’s always looking to be around the basketball when they’re kind of going through their possessions where they haven’t scored in a minute. And Ime does a great job of letting Fred just free flow into the offense as well as Marcus Smart. And just learning throughout the minutes and possessions through the games. Just some of their cues that they’re mentioning to each other. Some of their nonverbal communication — their eyes, their eye fakes. They continue to press you and press you and press you and wear you down. I felt like we had to kind of take that energy and reverse it on them. And just make sure they played on their heels and they were trying to get up quick shots. And we were just playing with the offensive verve that we needed to.
What does tonight mean after the long injury absence?
It was incredibly special. I’m obviously, you know, it’s the in-season tournament. You know, depending on which team you play against, some teams are taking it serious, some teams aren’t. But I think there’s a good kind of pressure environment to have early in the season where it wasn’t just about me playing well or Cooper playing well. We really needed to have possessions where they mattered. And guys were, you know, making the right plays or weren’t making the right plays, and we just had to learn from it. So we’re going to be in a lot of games like this, you know, down the stretch throughout the year. I don’t know when, but hopefully we can get some 20-point wins where we don’t have to go into it. But when we’re going into some, you know, end-of-game things, we got to be able to be sharp, be focused. And I felt like we were able to do that. And the guys were really leaning on me for some emotional support, some verbal communication. And I feel like I offered that. And I also just was confident within the game. Like, we just had to break over that hump. We were within seven points, and it was five points, and it was 10, and it was nine. It’s just — we had to break that seal off. And I felt like we did it with our defense and also just having smart possessions on the offensive end.
On the chemistry between Flagg and himself down the stretch:
It’s beautiful to watch, you know, whether the ball’s in my hands or the ball’s in his hands. You know, it’s just in terms of our selection of shots. He’s going to get into the paint. I’m going to be an outside perimeter threat. He can be an outside perimeter threat. I can get in the paint. But I think overall, our teammates trusting us to be able to make the right plays. And then, you know, honestly, just in reality, since just having a teenager out there, you know, making these tough shots and getting and-ones and being as clutch as anyone I’ve seen, it’s just amazing to be a part of. And it does take some pressure off of me to be able to make plays down the stretch. And I think that’s what makes it beautiful to watch and experience. And we’re still growing. I think he said it best. You know, we still have a level that we want to get to, a higher level. And we’re going to continue to push each other to do so. And we obviously know the external chatter as well about the 15-year age gap and what we can accomplish and how we’re going to mesh. And I think we kind of throw that out the window and just really focus on what we can control, which is our effort and how we treat each other. You know, he’s a very diverse threat. I’m a very diverse threat. And we just play off each other well.
Evaluating Flagg’s development 75 games into his NBA career:
Yeah, I always speak on his competitive nature. It’s very rare. I mean, you obviously have guys that are very talented, do a lot of great things athletically. But that competitive nature and that drive to want to be the best, to want to win ball games, to want to do the little things — that has to come from and within. And I think he exudes it. Sometimes you look at him, he looks tired, and he makes an outstanding play, a block, or he hits a tough layup or he throws a lob. It just helps settle us win. And whenever we’re out there on the offensive perimeter, we’re able to identify what our match-ups are and be smart about it. So I think his IQ and his competitive nature has put him in this spot today. And I think the pressure really bothers him. He has a great supporting cast around him, including myself, a veteran, where he could look to me, and there hasn’t been too many concepts or too many things in games I haven’t seen. So I know he’s relatively new to us. He’s no longer a rookie, so we don’t have to treat him like that. But we give him his respect as he continues to earn it. And that’s what the NBA is about.
At what point in your career did the clutch shot become kind of an unconscious thing?
I mean, it probably for me started in fifth grade, to be honest with you. I think that my dad put the ball in my hands very young, and I had to earn my teammates’ trust. And I think on every team, obviously I play different roles, but when everybody’s looking at you to shoot the shots or looking to another teammate to shoot the shots, and you’ve earned it. And you got to earn it in practice. You got to earn it in the way you work on your game, and then you got to show it in the big-time moments. And you got to deal with the emotional up and down of making missing. That’s it. So the clutch gene can be developed, or it’s innate, or both.
On Risacher’s impact on the team:
Yeah. I mean, I think the practices that we’ve had, the preseason that we had, I can’t necessarily use the word surprised like everyone else in terms of his effort and what he’s been able to do. He’s right on track in terms of being a young player in this league and establishing himself and really proving himself. And it’s tough being a number one pick and having the franchise pressure on you, and then now being in a new environment and having to develop or accept a new role. And I think he’s done it fabulously. And when you’re around other talented players and high-level players, you’re going to have to adjust and you’re going to have to adapt. He started in the starting lineup in preseason, and he’s adjusted to coming off the bench, first guy off the bench at times, which helps us. So I think the selfless approach that he’s taken has been very mature of him. But we’re going to need him to do other things. And depending on health, God willing, we all stay healthy. But if we don’t, then there’s going to be times where he’s going to be in the starting lineup, and he’s going to be asked to do more. And I think he’ll be able to step up to the plate. But right now in his role, he’s superstar in it, just being able to get the stocks, be able to push and transition. He’s the fastest player on the court during every single game. It’s beautiful to watch somebody like that, just like a gazelle going up and down the court and beating bigs, beating wings. And it helps us a lot when we’re trying to make a push. And those little plays that don’t slip on the stats sheet is what he’s become great at.
On hitting shots over bigger defenders like Jabari Smith Jr.:
I mean, it’s a great feeling when you know the work translates into the games. It was the first four games, five games. I really felt like my body has been in a good place. But there’s more that I can get out of my instincts. There’s more that I can unlock in my game. There’s more of an attack mindset. There’ll be times I’m out in the perimeter. I’m not really cutting, or I’m not really active. And I just don’t want to be stagnant on those possessions. And even when the possessions change from offense to defense, I really want to be able to push myself. And that just comes with reps and comes with rhythm and also making the choice to get out and run despite just maybe some of the mental fatigue or physical fatigue. And just not thinking about like, hey, how do I feel right now? It just should be about playing tonight. And just playing the possessions out. And that’s probably the first game out of the last four where I felt like I was just playing out the basketball game by possessions, IQ, without thinking about like, all right, how does my leg feel, or how do I feel physically?
How do you feel after playing 35 minutes?
I feel great. It was great to build up to this moment. I think thinking about how we were talking about the minutes restriction in the first game versus Houston and how it was kind of controlling my internal frustration. But I trust our coaching staff. I trust our medical staff in being able to develop a great dialogue and getting to this point and just takes patience. And I’m going to enjoy it, but also give myself a lot of grace as I’m continuing to get better throughout the season.
On May’s coaching style:
Well, I’ll keep it short because I don’t want any of these other coaches around the league to get jealous. But he’s a great guy, in terms of, I’m not trying to give away all his sauce and stuff like that. He’s a great guy in terms of being able to identify what skill sets he has on his team. He’s done that very early. He’s very confrontational in terms of what he wants out of you. And I think it helps in terms of just establishing our concepts and what we need to do game-to-game and preparation-wise. He’s a big preparation guy, which I appreciate as well.
What does the NBA Cup mean to the team?
I mean, we have a chance to bring, or have an opportunity to bring home a trophy in the first part of the season. And we know who’s in our group. And we know what’s in front of us. And we just got taken one game at a time. But I think when I first answered this question a few years ago about the in-season tournament. I wasn’t that excited about it, just like other veterans or other guys in the league. But I think I understand the concept now in terms of what it means for a fandom of basketball and also for the franchise. And just getting your legs up underneath you. I think we saw the Knicks last year going against the San Antonio Spurs. And we saw that in the finals. So there is some correlation to playing well early in the season and picking it up and then being able to have some early success, and that lead to [big things] later down the line.
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 17, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks host the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight in the final game of the Bucks’ three-game home stand, which saw them notch their first victory of the season against the Pacers before getting blown out by the Rockets. Tonight, Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs roll into town fresh off a road loss in Atlanta, so they’ll be extra hungry. The Cavaliers are 3-2 so far this season, having gone unbeaten at home and winless on the road, a streak they hope ends tonight.
The Task Ahead
Despite being undefeated at home, the Cavaliers’ season has been mixed so far. Their offense is posting 114.1 points per 100 possessions, ranking 10th in the NBA. The defense, however, allows 113.4 points per 100 possessions, ranking 16th. This inability to gel on both ends is partly due to the offseason roster shake-up and, most notably, the need to integrate Peyton Watson. While Watson obviously isn’t solely responsible for the entire team’s misgivings, the Cavs still haven’t got what they paid for. Against Minnesota on Monday, Watson recorded four blocks and three steals in a close OT win over the Timberwolves. Great! He also went 0/5 from three and is shooting just 14.3% from deep this season. In Cleveland’s loss to Atlanta, Watson recorded just four points. This underscores how crucial Watson’s success will be for Cleveland’s success this season.
Therefore, a key matchup in this game will rest on the wings. If Watson can impose his will on Jaime Jaquez Jr. and use his athleticism to close out effectively and defend, the Bucks may find themselves on the wrong end of another blowout. Jaquez, though, has shown some considerable skill this year putting the ball on the ground to create when he needs to—and at his best, can even get elite defenders to bite on his fake-outs—so it will be a battle between IQ and athleticism on the wings. Another factor to watch is how well both teams move the ball. The Cavaliers and Bucks both rank in the bottom-10 in assist percentage this year, so whoever finds their rhythm first can take control early.
Injury Report
Bucks:
Clean injury report.
Rockets:
Nae’Qwan Tomlin: out (low back pain)
Jaylon Tyson: out (ankle sprain)
Meleek Thomas: questionable (ankle inflammation)
Player to Watch
Jarrett Allen is off to yet another highly efficient and effective start to the season. His usage rate is down, but his true shooting and rim protection numbers are up. Allen’s scoring opportunities, however, have decreased this year due to Cleveland’s lack of wing creation. If the Cavs can get more perimeter production from their wings, it would draw defenders out and allow Allen to feast in the paint. Myles Turner, for all of his flaws, has been solid defensively, so if anyone can pressure Allen at the rim, it is him. However, if the Bucks’ bigs are pulled out of the paint to guard on the perimeter, it could spell a big night for Allen down low.
Ryan Rollins has a bounce-back game. I predict Rollins will score above 20 points and shoot above 50% from the field. Plus, I expect at least six assists and a strong defensive performance.
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 30: Miles Bridges #22 of the Phoenix Suns shoots the ball during the game against the Denver Nuggets during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on October 30, 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
Basketball. Finally, we got some basketball on Friday night, and although the Suns walked away with a loss and their NBA Cup hopes are ultimately dashed (oh man!), we can appreciate some functional team progress and a little fight down the stretch.
This wasn’t a game I entered expecting Phoenix to win, despite Denver experiencing its fair share of bumps in the road to begin the season. You could see it on the court, too. This is a Nuggets team that looks a little older, with some wear and tear beginning to show. Ultimately, it turned into a variance game for Denver, as Jamal Murray and Christian Braun went 7-of-9 from beyond the arc.
For the first time this season, it felt like the Suns were functioning and flowing on both ends of the floor. No, it was far from perfect basketball. You don’t surrender 127 points playing perfect basketball. But what we’re looking for early in the season are signs of progress and connectivity, and we finally started to see aspects of both on Friday night.
I’ll get into what I saw in greater depth in another article, as I don’t want to sway any votes in the Bright Side Baller based on how I absorbed the game and my personal observations. But it was nice to experience a night in which the Suns showed some fight, some functionality, and a little intestinal fortitude, even if it ultimately came in a loss.
Bright Side Baller Standings
With all of the talk about point guards and lineups, Jalen Green is the guy who currently leads the BSB standings after his efficient 20-point performance against OKC back on Monday. He beat out Mariah by 10 votes!
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 4 against the Nuggets. Here are your nominees:
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 28: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on October 28, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves find themselves with a 3-2 record through the first five games of the NBA season, including wins over Eastern Conference playoff teams in the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Toronto Raptors, while suffering an overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers and falling short against the Golden State Warriors in their last contest due to a 44-point outburst from Stephen Curry. The Timberwolves are featuring a different look with a new roster featuring LaMelo Ball at point guard after shipping out Julius Randle in the off-season. With the early returns of the new roster still uncertain, the big question is: “Who are the Minnesota Timberwolves?”
It’s been a battle-tested season for the Wolves early. Facing the new-look Heat with Giannis Antetokounmpo to open the season was a performance for the ages, filled with optimism to see how Ball would impact an already dynamic offense. The Wolves did not disappoint as superstar guard Anthony Edwards dropped in a whopping 45 points on 55.2 percent shooting from the floor and a scorching 52.9 percent from beyond the arc on 17 attempts. He complemented that with 10 rebounds and two steals with the team’s second-best plus-minus at +25.
LaMelo Ball helped play spoiler against the Heat as well in his 28 minutes, pouring in an efficient 21 points while hitting five of his 13 attempts from deep alongside six assists to take down the Heat 131-106.
The next two games followed a similar path as the Wolves dominated the Magic on the road in Orlando, defeating them by 22 points, and then crushed the Raptors at home in Minneapolis (albeit without Kawhi) by 23 and handcuffed Scottie Barnes to an abysmal 0-12 shooting night.
They followed those performances with a disappointing overtime loss to the Cavs, largely in part due to a lackluster performance from Rudy Gobert, and a loss to the Golden State Warriors due to a slow start and Curry doing Curry things and Edwards being out due to a lingering right knee injury. The Timberwolves have shown they are capable of high-level offensive outbursts and stifling defensive performances. How have they gotten there?
According to NBA.com, the Wolves have the fourth-best offense in the league on a points-per-game basis, averaging 120.4 over the five contests. This places them behind the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Houston Rockets, who are first, second, and third in the league, respectively. They are also posting an offensive rating of 114.8 for the eighth-best mark in the league while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor and 38.4 percent from distance.
A large reason for this top-10 offense has been the dominance from Anthony Edwards, notching 33 points per game on 48.1 percent shooting overall and 40 percent from three on 11.3 attempts per game. TJ Shannon Jr. has also been a positive mark this season as he’s gotten a longer leash, averaging 14.2 points per game on 40 percent from deep, while other staples such as Ayo Dosunmu and Jaden McDaniels have continued to play well and keep building on impressive playoff runs from last season. Newcomer Jonathan Kuminga has also been a bright spot, shooting a blistering 47.6 percent from three on 4.2 attempts per game. They’re all doing this collectively without marksman Donte DiVincenzo as he continues to rehab an Achilles tear he suffered against the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs last year.
The defense, which is anchored by four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, is second best in the NBA according to defensive rating, posting a 102.5 mark, right behind the Raptors with a league-best 97.9. This puts together an impressive 12.4 net rating, which is the fourth-best mark in the league. They’re also limiting opponents to 45.3 percent overall and 33.6 percent from three-point range, which positions them in the upper half of the league.
Putting it all together, both through the eye test and the objective numbers, everyone should know who the Timberwolves are: a team that can dominate on both ends of the floor while maintaining both a very high floor and a championship-level ceiling, all while figuring out another roster that was shuffled yet again.
In a small sample size, the Wolves have shown they have what it takes. However, they will need to continue to tread water in a loaded Western Conference as Edwards will be out for at least the next two months after it was announced he underwent a successful right knee arthroscopic surgery to clear out some debris. It will be an interesting stretch without Ant for an extended period of time, and the Wolves will need to cement their identity and playstyle a lot quicker than imagined.
We know who the Wolves are through the first five games, but who will they be without Ant for now, and will they have the same dominance that’s been displayed when he returns?
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 16: Taylor Jenkins the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks gives instructions to Ryan Rollins #13 against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on October 16, 2026 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 (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Roughly two weeks into the NBA season, Milwaukee Bucks fans are liking what they’re seeing, despite the team’s losing record. In fact, fans are more than just happy.
Jenkins jubilation
Overall, 72% of fans are full of praise for Jenkins, citing his boldness, his ability to assign roles, and his ad-lib cooking (that is, his ability to make the best out of what he’s got) as key qualities:
Punitive concerns
Despite the overall positivity, not all Bucks fans are smelling the roses, with 21% only somewhat happy with Jenkins’ rotations, 6% not happy, and 1% thinking they stink. Within these subsections, a prominent concern lingers regarding a certain Gary Trent Jr. and how not playing him might look to Adam Silver and the powers that be amidst the ongoing cap circumvention probe:
Showcasing “talent”
Finally, some sections of the fanbase feel Jenkins must be showcasing Myles Turner. After all, his play hasn’t warranted the starting gig—or all those “empty-calorie” minutes that have come with it:
Yes, after saying and doing all the right things off the court during the offseason, Turner has been bad on it to start the season—and not in the 1987 top-of-the-charts kind of way. For more on that, be sure to catch this week’s Winners & Sinners, coming soon.
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? Here’s hoping that becomes a moot point.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 30: Isaac Okoro #35 of the Chicago Bulls handles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on October 30, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Celtics’ defense is off to a very strong start this season, and they’re finding success from an unfamiliar place.
Against the Bulls, Boston forced 16 turnovers, 10 of which came directly from steals. They currently rank third in both opponent turnovers and deflections per game.
This is something that has hardly been in the team’s DNA in previous seasons. Last year, even with the fourth-best defensive rating in the league, they forced the second-fewest turnovers.
The bulk of their defensive identity revolved around dictating who shot and where the looks came from. It’s a fine strategy, but it has limits. It’s more predictable, and offenses can adjust to a defense that sits back in ways they can’t against a frenetic one.
Against Chicago, they were swarming, scrambling and recovering. Moving on a string, they looked like one connected entity. Six different players registered a steal, with Payton Pritchard, Derrick White and Paul George each recording multiple.
The biggest crowd pop of the night came after back-to-back interceptions turned into scores.
Aggressive nail help has been among the most noticeable playstyle shifts driving this. White, George, and Jayson Tatum were eating up space to lock down driving lanes. They made the Bulls uncomfortable getting downhill, and they weren’t successful capitalizing when the Celtics were in rotation.
The Bulls felt the squeeze from the start. When asked about Josh Giddey’s slow start, Tiago Splitter pointed right at Boston’s pressure.
“They do this trap when you go by the half court and they trap you,” Splitter said. “You just got to be ready. We talked about it before the game.”
Caleb Wilson was a bit more blunt about the first quarter. “I feel like we laid down,” he said. “I don’t know what else to say.”
It’s hard to argue against that. Boston had them in a 19-point hole heading into the second quarter. It was fueled by a deflection or steal on what felt like every other possession.
Pritchard helped set that tone. He came into the night unhappy with his defense through four games, and Joe Mazzulla had challenged him on it.
“I’ve been through some struggles early on this season, and honestly the defensive effort and rebounding has been poor,” Pritchard said. When asked what he had gotten away from, he said it was “being active and being back to being a pest, and creating opportunities for steals and ball pressure.”
He got back to it Friday. Neemias Queta noted that Pritchard “gets up full court defensively,” and Mazzulla said the Bulls game showed “the absolute best version of him.”
Boston has compiled a group of rangy athletes who can cover more ground and shrink the floor as a result. George is a big part of that. Mazzulla listed “his ball pressure, his activity, his deflections” among what George has brought, and Pritchard said George’s defense surprised him.
“I didn’t know how good it was until I’ve seen it up close,” Pritchard said. “He gets his hands on a lot of balls, is in passing lanes, and he wins at the margins.”
George’s ability to zone up between multiple players on the perimeter is giving Boston more variety in the types of coverages they can deploy. He’s helping them become a more versatile and forceful defensive team. One that causes offenses to adjust, settle, or break.
Mazzulla doesn’t view turnovers as something the defense can just take, considering them more as the result of executing the game plan.
“I think forcing a turnover is the same as making a shot,” Mazzulla said. “You can put yourself in a position to force one, but you can’t force the team into doing it if they handle it properly. So we just have to continue to impose our will, executing our defensive scheme, ball pressure.”
That’s also where Friday’s small warning sign came from. Boston forced just three turnovers in the second half, and Chicago chipped away at a big lead. The Bulls fired 53 threes and grabbed 20 offensive rebounds.
“We only forced three turnovers in the second half,” Mazzulla said. “So we’ve got to maintain that ball pressure.”
He also didn’t hide from the rebounding trouble. “We can’t give up 20 offensive rebounds,” he said.
Those two things are connected. With the way they’re pressuring the ball and often getting themselves in rotation, they can be susceptible to rebounding breakdowns if they’re not boxing out. That’s a cost worth paying when it’s producing turnovers. In the second half, Boston was still scrambling but no longer getting rewarded for it.
That’s the trade-off worth watching. The pressure has to be maintained. When it is, Boston can bury a team the way it did in the first quarter.
Five games in, the Celtics have found a new way to win on defense. Continuing to impose their will, as Mazzulla described it, will allow them to really dictate the terms of their matchups. The early signs are very promising.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 23: Cooper Flagg #32 & Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks look on during the game against the Indiana Pacers on October 23, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (4-2) put on a great show and got a 116-111 win over the Houston Rockets (5-1) on Friday night. The victory is the second time in as many games that the Mavericks handed a previously undefeated team their first loss of the season. Led by Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving, the Mavs demonstrated a degree of fun that was difficult to come by last season. This team is proving to be a fun, competitive bunch that is buying into Dusty May’s system and playing for each other.
Let’s get to the grades!
Kyrie Irving: A+
35 PTS / 4 REB / 9 AST / 35 MIN
Irving, in only his fourth played game back from a lengthy injury, looked utterly elite. He drained 12-of-19 shots, including a smoking 5-of-8 from downtown. He led all players in assists (no one on either team closer than three assists of his total) and drained two free throws to ice the game. This is easily his best game since returning and it was coupled with an amazing performance from Cooper Flagg. Those two playing at this level is a scary proposition for the rest of the league.
Max Christie: D
2 PTS / 1 REB / 2 STL / 18 MIN
Irving and Flagg didn’t leave a lot on the table and Christie didn’t get an abundance of minutes, but there was almost nothing positive about his game Friday night. He was the only starter with a negative plus/minus and only hit 1-of-4 shots, missing both of his three-point attempts.
Cooper Flagg: A+
33 PTS / 9 REB / 6 AST / 2 STL / 1 BLK / 39 MIN
Let’s get the negatives out of the way first: Flagg had three turnovers and three fouls. Done. He shot 13-of-19 despite missing all four of his three-point attempts, hit 7-of-10 from the charity stripe and simply could not be denied all night. Particularly in the closing moments, Flagg showed he is a player well beyond his years. He put Dallas up three points after connecting on a free throw earned from an away from the ball foul, setting Irving up to hit two free throws of his own on the next possession to ice the game.
P.J. Washington: B-
3 PTS / 10 REB / 1 AST / 34 MIN
Washington is looking every bit the player he was when he was first traded to Dallas. That means he sometimes has a bad shooting night (1-of-8), yet rather than being a total negative, he remained locked in in other ways. He led the Mavs’ in rebounds as the only player with a double-digit total and affected the game in enough ways that don’t show up in the numbers, that Dusty May gave him a lot of playing time. This wasn’t Washington at his best, but this was him engaged in a way that we didn’t always consistently see last season.
Daniel Gafford: A+
18 PTS / 7 REB / 2 AST / 2 BLK / 29 MIN
Gafford was close to top marks purely from his box score and his 6-of-7 shooting. If there was any doubt, he put it to rest in the final minutes of the game. After contesting a shot and landing on Kevin Durant’s foot and twisting his ankle, Gafford hobbled off the court and into the back. Minutes later, he was impossibly back on the court. Minutes after that, he calmly drilled two free throws to extend the Mavs’ lead to three points. Gafford may have been the last guy on the court Dallas wanted shooting those clutch free throws, but he was the one we got and he delivered in a big way.
Zaccharie Risacher: B+
12 PTS / 6 REB / 3 AST / 3 STL / 1 BLK / 28 MIN
Risacher showed that his hot shooting from last game wasn’t a fluke, connecting on 4-of-9 shots overall. Better still, he hit 3-of-6 from deep. His newfound offense is not coming at the expense of his defensive effort. The “Cyborg” displayed his endless motor yet again, and his long reach netted him a team-high three steals.
Caleb Martin: Gold Star
8 PTS / 25 MIN
We’re giving Martin an honorable mention for Friday night’s performance. He did nothing but score and foul (five) according to the box score, but his 3-of-5 shooting (2-of-3 from beyond the arc) kept the offense flowing when he was in the game. This also gives us the opportunity to recognize how much better he is than last season. Whether that is due to health, Dusty May’s influence, or a combination of both, Martin is proving to be serviceable in a way he wasn’t in recent history, and it’s a welcome sight (and helpful addition) to what the Mavs are trying to accomplish.
Final Thoughts
Flagg and Irving were an insane duo. Combined, they shot 25-of-38 and score 68 points. They also combined for 13 rebounds and 15 assists. It was an unbelievable display – two players dominating within the flow of the game while still getting teammates involved. Gafford was so locked in that he returned to the court mere moments after being helped off it due to an ankle injury, then knocked down two absolutely clutch free throws. This is a fun team that is playing for each other and buying into a selfless team-first approach.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 30: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the game against the Chicago Bulls during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on October 30, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Is this the year the Celtics take the Cup seriously?
Boston certainly looked interested Friday night, opening their first group-stage game with a 44-point first quarter, a 29-point halftime lead and Payton Pritchard briefly transforming into that cyborg version of himself who keeps showing up in NBC Sports Boston broadcasts.
Then the Bulls started making things interesting. Chicago won the second half 62-47, whittling what had once been a 32-point Celtics lead down to 14 by the final buzzer.
Boston still walked away with a 125-111 win and a 1-0 record in East Group C, though Washington holds the early advantage in point differential. The Celtics gave us plenty to get excited about in the first half, and Joe Mazzulla plenty to get annoyed about in the second.
1. The Celtics want the Cup
Earlier this week inside TD Garden, my Australian brethren Jake and Ben from First to the Floor asked whether the Celtics would take the NBA Cup seriously this year. The first half looked like a defiant “you betcha.”
Boston’s first five baskets came in the paint. The Celtics scored 44 in the first quarter, shot 63 percent in the first half and went into the break up 78-49. Pritchard already had 20 points.
Payton Pritchard in the first half: 20 points on 70% shooting in 15 minutes. Celtics scored 78 as a team. Hoping we see a 150 point outing. pic.twitter.com/nVcNaSbB8S
The Bulls made the game, and the Cup standings, less comfortable after halftime. They won the second half by 15 and cut Boston’s final margin to 14. Washington also won its opener, leaving both teams 1-0 in East Group C, with the Wizards two points ahead on point differential.
Boston led by as many as 32 and won by 14. That’s a heck of a way to start the Cup, but those 18 points that disappeared along the way could come back to haunt them.
2. Paul George was meant to be a Celtic
I keep trying to find a less obvious way to say this, but Paul George looks like he was meant to be a Celtic.
His connection with Tatum looks instant and incredible. Whether Tatum or George starts the action, they seem to know how to turn it into a good look for the other. George can run the offense himself, but he’s just as happy to make the extra pass, cut behind a defender or do the work that makes somebody else’s life easier. You know, Celtic stuff.
Joe Mazzulla on Paul George:
“His impact goes beyond what’s happening on the offensive end. I think his impact in the locker room, his coachability, his open-mindedness, his humility, his willingness to do whatever it takes, taking care of his body to be on the floor for us, his… pic.twitter.com/IDAkB3knDZ
George got his hands on everything and finished with 18 points, six rebounds, eight assists and three steals. That stat line still doesn’t capture how often he seemed to be in the right place. He had a great steal and dunk in the first quarter, and spent the rest of the night making the Bulls think twice about where they pass the ball.
He’s been the biggest pleasant surprise of Boston’s start. I didn’t expect his fit to look this natural this quickly, but I’m thrilled to have been wrong.
3. Tatum is playing like an MVP, and his three is still catching up
Tatum finished with 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. He shot 9-for-20 overall and 2-for-7 from three.
A quiet 26 from Jayson Tatum is still a statement 😤☘️
His vision was every bit as impressive as his scoring. He kept finding teammates on cuts, drawing defenders toward him before slipping passes into openings that barely seemed to exist. His three-point shot is still finding its rhythm (only shooting 25% from three on the season), but he’s already getting downhill with ease, and the way he’s seeing the floor makes him that much harder to defend.
One of my favorite Tatum moments came after Mitchell Robinson made a free throw. Tatum went over to give him a fist bump, looking every bit as pleased with Mitch’s one point as he did with any of his own 26. You love to see it.
4. The Celtics made room for something bigger than basketball
More than 100 Boston Children’s Hospital patients and their families were at the game versus the Bulls. The day before, the Celtics announced a gift of more than $200 million to the hospital, the largest in its history. Patients lined the court during the national anthem, and the team wore special shooting shirts signed by four former patients who had visited practice the day before.
The Celtics are hosting a few patients from Boston Children’s Hospital today at practice.
A young fan held up a sign that read, “Boston’s children saved my life.” I don’t know that fan’s story, and the sign can’t tell it. But seeing that sign during the broadcast stuck with me long after it disappeared from the screen.
I spent much of the night watching Boston dominate, calculating Cup math and getting frustrated as the Bulls chipped away at the lead. But that sign was a good reminder to keep some perspective. I’m lucky to spend my evenings watching the Celtics play basketball and writing about something I love, and even luckier for all the things in life that make those evenings possible. Sometimes it’s nice to be reminded of that.
5. Mitch hasn’t looked like the Knicks version yet
If Paul George has been the biggest pleasant surprise of Boston’s start, Mitchell Robinson might be the biggest disappointment. He opened the third quarter with a block and went 4-for-4 from the field, finishing with 11 points. But he had just four rebounds in 19 minutes, and he still looks slower than the Robinson who made life miserable for opponents in New York.
Queta played 20 minutes and finished with 13 points, six rebounds, a steal and a block. The Celtics were plus-16 with him on the floor and minus-3 with Robinson. That’s one game’s plus-minus, not a final ruling, but it matched what I saw: Queta brought more pace and seemed more in sync with the rest of the group.
Robinson has the size Boston will inevitably need at points throughout the season. So far, though, he hasn’t looked comfortable in this version of the Celtics. Maybe that changes with time. For now, Queta looks like the center who better fits the team’s rhythm.
Payton Pritchard, jazz pianist. Norman Powell, reluctant dance partner. No analysis needed, simply enjoy the soulful improvisation of Smooth PP.
7. Hugo got the first young-wing look, but Baylor still has Joe’s trust
Hugo González checked in before Baylor Scheierman against Chicago, which caught my attention after Baylor had gotten the nod in Boston’s earlier games. Maybe Joe wanted Hugo’s defensive energy in that first shift, or maybe he’s still figuring out what he has in his young wings. Either way, it was interesting to see Hugo get the call first.
Baylor wasn’t exactly banished to the bench, though. He played 23 minutes and finished with two points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Hugo went scoreless in 15 minutes, adding two rebounds and a steal. Neither lit up the box score, but they can help Boston in different ways. Hugo brings a little chaos defensively, while Baylor has a knack for moving the ball and finding ways to contribute without needing shots.
Baylor Scheierman walked up to Joe Mazzulla, told him to challenge. Looked like Mazzulla asked him something like, 'Are you sure?' and Scheierman just said yes and walked to the bench.
I wouldn’t read too much into one game’s substitution pattern, especially with Joe Mazzulla involved. But it’ll be interesting to see whether Hugo keeps getting that first opportunity or whether the two continue trading places as Joe tinkers with his rotation.
8. Hauser is the kitchen knife you always reach for
Sam Hauser is the knife you grab because you know it works. There might be a newer one in the drawer, maybe with a nicer handle, but when you need to cut something, you reach for Hauser.
He made two threes and finished with six points against Chicago. Neither basket required much fuss. Hauser knows exactly what he’s there to do, and he’s been doing it long enough that the Celtics know what to expect when they put him on the floor.
With Tatum and George drawing so much defensive attention, there’s always going to be a need for someone who can stand in the corner and punish a defense for forgetting about him. Hauser has made a career out of being that guy.
He might not be the flashiest thing in Boston’s kitchen, but there’s a reason Joe keeps reaching for him.
9. The parquet is probably cold and alone in the bowels of TD Garden, and that’s not okay
I kept expecting the Celtics to be in white. They were at home, after all. Instead, Boston was in black, Chicago was in white, and the parquet I associate with the Garden was nowhere to be seen. More than once in the first quarter, I had to remind myself which team I was watching.
I know the Celtics have worn plenty of colors besides white, but this still threw me. The uniforms and the Cup court scrambled my internal compass before I’d even had time to settle in.
Those parquet squares are probably somewhere in the bowels of the Garden right now, cold and scared and wondering what they did wrong. Is that what you want, Adam Silver?
10. The Celtics won while getting crushed on the glass
Chicago grabbed 51 rebounds to Boston’s 41, including 20 offensive rebounds. That is a lot of second chances to hand a team, especially one that was already chipping away at a 32-point lead.
Boston made up ground elsewhere. The Celtics scored 58 points in the paint to Chicago’s 40, had 10 steals to the Bulls’ seven and scored 21 points off turnovers. They shot 51.2 percent from the field; Chicago shot 38 percent.
The win was comfortable by the final score, but the rebounding was anything but. Joe has a pretty clear place to start when he gets to the film.
For all the talk about whether the Celtics would take the NBA Cup seriously, their first 24 minutes offered a pretty convincing answer. There’s plenty to clean up, and those 18 points they let slip away could matter down the road, but Boston has its first Cup win in the books. Now please, someone go check on the parquet and give it a space blanket and a warm glass of milk.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on March 17, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This has been a difficult start to the season for Milwaukee. They’re a roster in flux after trading away Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat this summer. Now, they’re a team that features some useful players, but not enough to really be considered a playoff contender.
The early season has shown this. Milwaukee has dropped four of their first five games, which includes losses to the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls.
We’ll see if Cleveland can take advantage of a reeling opponent on Halloween.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.
Feb 16, 2019; Charlotte, NC, USA; Team Lebron forward Kawhi Leonard of the Toronto Raptors (2) speaks during the NBA All-Star Media Day at Bojangles Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
With a rash of injuries plaguing the league early, many key players are out. Whether temporarily or long term, teams have been effected. One of those teams is the Toronto Raptors.
Now, in the second week of league play, Kawhi Leonard has been sidelined from swelling and fluid buildup in his knee.
While there is a lot of sympathy for those who are suffering maladies, there is one who is not. Stephen A. Smith, known for his bluster, went on a tirade earlier this week regarding the former Spurs Defensive Player of the Year.
🤣🤣🤣 I'm sorry but SAS sounds exactly like any spurs fan when you ask them about Kawhi https://t.co/SlaN7mUNvV
“This is the worst superstar in the history of sports,” stated Smith on First Take earlier this week. Though he defended the legitimacy of Leonard’s injuries, the outspoken pundit got worked up to the point of saying there is “no one better than Kawhi Leonard at getting paid without working.”
Last summer, Kawhi Leonard requested a trade to his former Canadian team. After investigations of alleged salary cap circumvention involving the Los Angeles Clippers, Aspiration, and Leonard were finalized, he packed and left for Toronto.
I originally saw this as a repost from The Spurs Way who stated, “🤣🤣🤣 I’m sorry but SAS sounds exactly like any spurs fan when you ask them about Kawhi.”
While Spurs fans have felt the disappointment of Leonard’s actions, few have had the bully pulpit from which to fume.
It’s not the first time Stephen A. has questioned Leonard’s validity as a superstar. It’s not the first time he’s crossed the line. As Charlie Murphy would say, he is a “habitual line stepper.” On social media, many have responded that Stephen A. went too far this time, but then again, pushing the envolpe is part of Smith’s schtick.
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BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 30: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the game against the Chicago Bulls during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on October 30, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
BOSTON — It took only five minutes for Payton Pritchard to find his rhythm. He needed the next five to answer head coach Joe Mazzulla’s call Friday night against the Bulls to begin Boston’s NBA Cup run.
Pritchard grabbed an offensive rebound by successfully boxing out 6-foot-9 Matas Buzelis before finishing the putback in the second quarter. On the next possession, he knocked down his third 3-pointer of the night, prompting Chicago to call a timeout. Mazzulla was waiting for him on the sideline, greeting Pritchard with a huge hug.
“Joe challenged me,” Pritchard said after Boston’s 125-111 NBA Cup win. “I feel like in the first four games my defensive activity and my rebounding have been poor. Obviously, that’s coming in and out, fluctuating minutes. So challenging me to step up in that area, and I think the hug was for me doing that and him being thankful I’m doing it.”
Mazzulla wanted the scrappy, menacing version of Pritchard to appear on both sides of the floor. He wanted the guard who gives opposing teams headaches offensively and defensively by going the extra mile. In return, Pritchard tapped into his 8-Mile persona.
With legendary rapper 50 Cent seated courtside next to the Tatum family, Pritchard unleashed his inner P-Rabbit against the Bulls, and Mazzulla’s excitement was shared by the rest of the team.
Paul George, Hugo González and Mike Conley were among those who rushed toward Pritchard before Mazzulla could get to him. For the second time this week, Pritchard turned Chicago’s defense into his own personal playground. Only this time, his impact extended well beyond scoring, as he made his presence felt in multiple areas of the floor.
Pritchard is in his seventh season with the Celtics and has already been a vital part of a championship team. He’s brought home a Sixth Man of the Year Award and recently signed a two-year, $44.2 million contract extension before the start of the season. But in Mazzulla’s eyes, there is still plenty of untapped potential within the undersized 6-foot-1 guard.
“I think Payton’s a guy that gets better every year, and I think the sky’s the limit for him,” Mazzulla said. “I think he hasn’t completely tapped into the player that he can become, and that’s just being complete on both ends of the floor and not being defined by one thing. In tonight’s game, you saw the absolute best version of him.”
Usually, Pritchard is perceived as an outside shooting threat — which he is. But to Mazzulla’s point, Friday night was a prime example of what else Pritchard can offer.
Offense is where Pritchard warmed up. He fed Neemias Queta for short-distance floaters, drew contact from Leonard Miller to convert an and-one opportunity, and kept the scoring fluid. On the other side, he recorded two steals and three rebounds, twice forcing the Bulls to take timeouts after crowd-erupting plays.
Pritchard’s versatility is nothing new. He’s proven capable of impacting winning as both a starter and a reserve, finding different ways to contribute regardless of his role. But when playing alongside stars like Jayson Tatum and George, and defensive standouts like Derrick White and González, some of those abilities tend to get overlooked. Other times, Pritchard’s opportunities to showcase his ability to disrupt opposing offenses are limited.
However, that wasn’t the case for the second of two against the Bulls.
Chicago had 99 problems, and Pritchard was the biggest one. He finished with a game-high 30 points on 9-of-17 shooting, and went a perfect 9-for-9 from the charity stripe.
Boston’s brand new bright green, gray, and gold NBA Cup court quickly became Pritchard’s stage. He understood the task Mazzulla bestowed upon him and viewed it as a “privilege” more than anything else.
“Pressure is a privilege,” Pritchard explained. “I’m gonna go through ups and downs, but it’s gonna make me better. And I’m gonna figure out how to be a complete player. I’ll catch my stride in all those areas and just get better and better.
Pritchard added: “I appreciate Joe testing me and challenging me to be better because the team needs me to be better, and that’s what I want. So it’s a good thing.”
With a great degree of responsibility Pritchard is poised to shoulder this season, those opportunities won’t be limited to Boston’s NBA Cup opener. It’s still early in the team’s 2026-27 season, meaning the coaching staff is still figuring out the cast and how to best maximize the group.
“As we continue to grow as a team and he continues to grow as a player, being a complete player on both ends of the floor really helps us take it to a different level,” Mazzulla said. “He’s got more in the tank. He’s a kid that can continue to get better and better. I like pushing him, I like coaching him, and I love him like a brother.”
Oct 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James (23) looks on during the second quarter against the New York Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
LeBron James is 41 years old. He’s in his 24th NBA season. He’s also a Philadelphia 76er.
These are facts that feel worth being reminded about on occasion.
James was spectacular Friday night, guiding the Sixers to a 98-95 win over the defending champion New York Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“I thought he was really good all the way through tonight,” head coach Nick Nurse said of James. “I thought that he got some downhill stuff, used his size and knocked ’em around a little bit for some layups. I thought he obviously kind of pushed and organized. I thought he was a little quicker to make some decisions to shoot the three ball as well, and then obviously make a couple big plays down the stretch.
“That’s really the best game, just kind of all around. I mean, he’s been good, but that was his best game for sure.”
It was James’ finest performance of the young season. He scored 20 points — his first 20-plus-point game as a Sixer — and recorded nine rebounds and eight assists. He also chipped in a steal and a block as the team’s defense continues to be its strong suit.
With Jaylen Brown out because of left knee tendinopathy, the Sixers were going to need more offense from somewhere. While James had often been deferential over the course of his first four games of the season, he was aggressive in looking for his own shot Friday. He continually got downhill, playing bully ball on several possessions against the Knicks’ wing defenders.
His knack for figuring out what his team needs and providing it is uncanny.
“I’m just trying to get more and more comfortable with what we’re running offensively,” James said, “and I think every game and every week that I’m here, my body will continue to ramp up and ramp up, getting better and better, so that played a part.”
Since we’ve seen it for 24 years, LeBron’s greatness is sort of taken for granted at times, but there are plays and moments that remind you why he’s arguably the greatest player of all time.
His physical prowess is still impressive, with his ability to big-boy guys like OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. His passing vision remains elite, like on the play he found Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the opposite corner with an absolute frozen rope, hitting KCP in the shooting pocket.
“Well, I guess the best teacher in life is experience, and I’ve been in really big games,” James said. “So, for me to be able to be a calming factor for our team late game, it’s just the experience that I have.
“If it’s me with the ball, without the ball, being able to put guys in the right position, just trying to talk them through if the other team make a run, come to the sideline, ‘We’re good. Let’s move on to the next play, and let’s figure out how we can be better for this play and the rest of the game.’”
The Sixers are 5-1. They’ve beaten the reigning champs twice already and have been finding ways to win close games.
Are you having fun yet, Philly?
LeBron James sure is.
“I’m having a great time,” he said. “I love what we’re bringing to the table every night. I love our competitive spirit. Guys show up to work. Guys are ready to work hard, and it’s a fun group too. I think I’ve said it before, I’m like a big ass kid, to be completely honest. But these guys are great to be around, and I’m more than happy that I made the decision to come.”
