"Every day, we kind of pursue a standard, and I think to start the season, we were able to look around the locker room and say that we weren't at the standard that we wanted to play at," he told USA TODAY Sports in an interview on behalf of UNICEF. "So I think for us, it's just a matter of can we go out every single night and be happy with the product that we put on the floor?"
Brushing off the fright of the early season, Barnes, 34, wants people to embrace a not-so-spooky Halloween tradition: Trick-or-Treat with UNICEF. He is a spokesman for the organization's 76-year program, which he participated in as a kid. The little orange cardboard box that kids take with them to not only ask for candy, but for cash to help underprivileged children, creates a sense of nostalgia for the veteran forward.
"UNICEF is an organization that I know very well," he said. "This Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is something that I did as a kid, and I truly believe that it's important to give back and to bring awareness to children that are in need."
Barnes has fond memories of trick-or-treating with his younger sister, Jourdan-Ashle Barnes, and comparing whose candy haul was better. He now shares the joy of Halloween with his daughter, who Barnes says enjoys dressing up as characters from "Frozen," "Moana" and "Encanto."
"It was always something that was fun for us," he said. "And you know, as a father, you want to pass on some of those same values to your children."
When he was a member of the Dallas Mavericks back in 2018, Barnes credited his mother, Shirley, for teaching him the importance of helping others. She experienced homelessness when Barnes was a baby and, when her children were older, they assisted in organizing clothes for her charity, Suited For Work Clothing Closet.
"When you look at how all of us got here, it was a healthy foundation. It took a village, right?" he said. "It took a lot of people investing in our futures. And I think that having an equitable start at the beginning of a child's life obviously gives them the most potential to achieve anything that they want to achieve."
Besides being a leader for his family and in the community, Barnes signed a one-year contract extension over the summer to continue his role as a mentor for the Spurs. He won the 2015 NBA championship as a member of the Golden State Warriors and is in his third year with San Antonio, calling the deal "an unbelievable opportunity."
"The biggest thing I can lend is my voice, my experience, just in terms of trying to be a little bit of just emotional stability for the group," he said. "Obviously, we have so much talent on our roster that I think it's always important just to kind of stay level-headed. And hopefully, if we continue to do that, like I said, and stick to the things we know to be true on the floor, I think we'll put ourselves in a good position most nights."
Barnes shared what he thinks makes the French sensation stand out.
"Victor's great. He's one of my closest friends on the team," he said. "I think the thing that makes him an unbelievable basketball player, but also just a great person in general is that he's a constant learner, and he has an extreme curiosity of how to improve himself.
"I think he finds ways on and off the court to just grow, develop, talk to people, get experiences, learn. I think that's what's allowed him to be on the trajectory that he's on right now."
MINNEAPOLIS — In five games, the Warriors have held double-digit leads in the fourth quarter three times. Their winning percentage in such contests? Well, let’s just say it’s not 1.000.
Golden State went up by 24 midway early in the second half Wednesday night against the Timberwolves, still led by 11 with 2:16 to play and still barely hung on to win, 119-114.
And yet, in Steve Kerr’s eyes? It’s all positive.
“We didn’t do a good job closing, but … I kind of liked what happened,” Kerr said. “Because we need to learn from it.”
Steve Kerr reacts toward a referee during the first half of the Warriors’ 119-114 win over the Timberwolves on Oct. 28, 2026 in Minneapolis. AP Photo/Abbie Parr
Golden State also led 106-94 with 3:41 left this past Friday against the Grizzlies. In that one, the Warriors’ offense went comatose and they allowed Memphis to mount a 17-0 run to steal a win.
So, you could say they’re making progress, at least.
The Grizzlies loss dropped them to 0-3, their worst start since 2007-08. They risked returning home 2-4, off a 1-2 road trip, as they watched Minnesota cut their 24-point lead down to four.
“There’s a slight bit of relief,” Steph Curry said of improving to 2-3 on the season after their poor start, “but there’s still an understanding that the Memphis game in the second half, tonight mostly in the fourth quarter, we know we can play better.”
The Timberwolves, missing Anthony Edwards, weren’t able to pull off the same stunner that Memphis did. But they put up enough of a fight to set off alarm bells in the Warriors locker room.
The closest they got came after a sloppy offensive possession that ended in a missed 3 from Curry, allowing Jonathan Kuminga to set up Ayo Dosunmu for a 3 on the other end.
Dosunmu’s triple cut the Warriors’ lead to 116-112 with 45 seconds left.
But the game began to turn long before that.
Steph Curry looks to get possession of the ball during the second half of the Warriors’ road win over the Timberwolves. AP Photo/Abbie Parr
Curry got to the line for two of his eventual 16 free throws to put Golden State up 73-50 a little less than 3 minutes into the third quarter. Then Draymond Green threw the ball away, Yaxel Lendeborg got his pocket picked twice in three possessions and Curry stepped out of bounds.
Four turnovers in a span of barely more than 2 minutes of gametime. Kerr had seen enough after TJ Shannon turned the last one into 3 points on the other end, making it 73-53.
“We smelled blood in the water,” Kerr said. “We thought we needed to make great plays, spectacular plays, in order to extend it to 30, instead of just making solid plays.”
The margin never reached 30. Minnesota scored 64 of the final 110 points.
Steph Curry shoots a free throw during the Warriors’ road win over the Timberwolves. NBAE via Getty Images
“We let them off the hook when we were up 73-50 with all those turnovers. The whole game changed right then at that point,” Kerr said. “That’s when it got wild and crazy.”
The Warriors have traditionally thrived in chaos. That’s not their plan anymore. The game turned into a track meet. Advantage: the younger and more athletic Timberwolves.
It was a different formula than the Memphis game, when Zach Edey and Grizzlies gobbled up offensive rebounds that negated good defensive possessions, and the Warriors couldn’t buy a bucket, despite getting the shots they wanted.
In this case, the Warriors allowed Minnesota to impose its preferred style of play. It didn’t help that the Timberwolves drained 10 second-half 3s to just one by the Warriors.
Yaxel Lendeborg looks to make a moved during the Warriors’ road victory over the Timberwolves. NBAE via Getty Images
“I think a lot of it is just getting organized offensively where you’re using the other team’s desperation and pressure against them,” Curry said. “It seems like we kind of get playing on our heels a little bit. Then you’re just kind of hoping and wishing shots go in.”
There are two ways to look at it: On the one hand, the Warriors are the single-most veteran team in the NBA, and that makeup should have no problem closing out games.
On the other, Golden State is also implementing a new way of doing things offensively and integrating a few players into new roles. Game 82 should look different from Game 5.
“We know we gave that game away to Memphis,” Curry said. “This one was a little more nerve-wracking than it should’ve been. We still have a lot of things to do. You like learning lessons while you’re winning. A 2-1 road trip — that’s a step in the right direction.”
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: Collin Sexton #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after scoring during the second half of a game against the LA Clippers at Intuit Dome on October 28, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — With a minute remaining in the third quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 103-87 win over the crosstown Clippers, Lakers guard Collin Sexton charged through the lane and was fouled while making a layup over veteran center Brook Lopez.
As he lay on the ground, flexing his muscles towards the Clippers bench, Lopez accidentally bumped into him, prompting Sexton to shoot up from the ground and get in the big man’s face. Lopez, who projects the demeanor of a 7-foot-tall teddy bear, put his hands up in defense and pleaded for mercy like Sexton was a mob boss ready to chop off a finger.
Sexton, still-faced and without blinking, gave Lopez the mercy he pleaded for and walked to the free throw line to sink his 21st point of the night.
“I know Brook … He’s one of those guys, he’s chill,” Sexton said of the interaction postgame. “I just didn’t know. We push, fight, foul. That’s how the game is supposed to go. Whenever I’m out there, you’ve got to expect it.
“When I step between these lines, it’s us against them. I’m going to do whatever my team needs from me. I feel like I turn into a different person when it’s time to go … When I step into these lines, it’s wartime.”
Sexton had a game-high plus-minus of +23 in 21 minutes off the bench Wednesday night, but the point total and the 4-of-7 shooting from three wasn’t what stood out.
It was his intensity. The wide eyes, screaming and maniacal smiling when guarding Clippers guard Cam Christie, in a clip that went viral during the game.
Anyone who engages with Sexton off the court knows him to be a quiet and reserved guy who moves with a calm smile. On the court, he plays with what head coach JJ Redick described as “insanity” after his debut in Utah.
“Sometimes it’s hard to get his attention because he gets locked in, he’s in the zone,” Reddick said of Sexton. “I love it. I love his competitive fire. … I like when he’s just in go mode. It puts pressure on the defense.”
On the second night of a back-to-back where the Lakers were without two major sources of their identity early in this season — Luka Dončić, their leading scorer, and Ziaire Williams, their primary point-of-attack defender — they needed it from someone, and Sexton answered the call.
It’s the reason Sexton was brought in in the first place, to provide Los Angeles the intensity it’s been missing from his spot in the lineup. Someone who can inspire competitiveness in even the shortest of stints off the bench.
“I think our team responds to insanity,” Redick said after Sexton’s debut. “It’s a good thing. He comes in the game and you know he’s in the game. I think, defensively, he’s trying to apply ball pressure. He’s trying to make hard closeouts. He’s trying to push the basketball. He’s trying to touch the paint and there’s an intensity to all that stuff and our guys responded.”
Every basketball player has a flow state. Dončić gets into a zone where he can hit any shot or make any pass. The basket becomes ten feet wide when some of the best shooters in the league get going. But for Sexton, he’s constantly in that zone. It’s just different from everyone else’s.
On what he’s thinking of when he gets in that zone, Sexton said, “Just continuing to do what’s needed. Continuing to stay locked in. … If I do something, it’s like, lock back in. Because I say it all the time. If you don’t do it twice, then the first time it didn’t really happen.”
INGLEWOOD, CA — Collin Sexton and the Los Angeles Lakers managed to get back on track with a 103-87 victory against the L.A. Clippers at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
The Lakers improved to 4-1 on the season despite the absence of Luka Doncic.
Coach JJ Redick had said that with Doncic out, the veteran guard's usage and minutes would be distributed across the rest of the roster.
Sexton benefited from the available minutes. He had 21 points in 17 minutes of play through the first three quarters and finished the night with 21 points, four rebounds and two assists.
The former Alabama player has remained confident in his ability to contribute on offense but said he looks to “be a pest and change the game on the defensive side.”
Redick credited Sexton’s mentality for helping provide a spark in the team’s bounce-back win after the Lakers struggled in the first game of a back-to-back.
“Whenever I step between those lines, it’s wartime,” Sexton said.
The guard remained aggressive throughout the game, shouting at Clippers guard Cam Christie and nearly getting into a confrontation with center Brook Lopez.
“I was yelling, smiling," Sexton said about his facial reactions while guarding Christie. "I knew he didn’t want the ball; he didn’t want the pressure."
Quentin Grimes added 23 points, five assists and four steals in 38 minutes. Austin Reaves finished with 16 points and six rebounds in 31 minutes of play.
The Lakers had both Doncic and forward Ziaire Williams as surprise additions to the injury report ahead of the team’s game. Redick said both Doncic and Williams woke up sore after the Trail Blazers game Tuesday night.
The Lakers wanted to be “cautious” with both players and made the decision to hold them out Wednesday.
The Lakers are in the midst of a five-game stretch over a seven-day span.
Doncic did not show any signs of back soreness or injury on Tuesday night following the 136-129 loss to Portland. He nearly produced a double-double with 41 points, nine assists and five rebounds in 39 minutes.
The point guard had a 52-point game against the Utah Jazz on Sunday, Oct. 25. The performance tied Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 10 career 50-point games, which is the 11th most in NBA history.
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 28: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 28, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Mavericks (3-2) hosted the undefeated, but depleted, Oklahoma City Thunder (4-1) Wednesday night. OKC lost both Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace to injury and will be without them for months, and the Mavs took full advantage of the situation, almost like a good team would. Scary thought there, but pinch yourselves, Mavs fans, because Dallas handed OKC its first loss of the season behind a 120-96 final score.
Let’s get to the grades!
Kyrie Irving: B
15 PTS / 2 REB / 4 AST / 2 STL / 2 BLK / 27 MIN
Irving came out of the gate red hot, hitting three three-pointers and all four of his shots in the first quarter. Relative to a minutes restriction, he was effective overall, despite his shooting cooling down (6-of-14). He uncharacteristically committed four fouls, but otherwise did a nice job running the show in his somewhat limited minutes. His team-high plus/minus of +25 shows his impact beyond the basic stat line.
Max Christie: C+
11 PTS / 5 REB / 2 AST / 22 MIN
Christie still hasn’t quite found his shot, but his game looked better than it did in the first four games of the season. He drained 3-of-7 from downtown (42.9%) but once again shot too few withing the arc for my liking, missing his only two-point attempt.
Cooper Flagg: A-
26 PTS / 5 REB / 8 AST / 33 MIN
Flagg continues to amaze. Suddenly an assist machine, Flagg was finding teammates all night and they made the most of it. He led all players with eight assists and had zero turnovers to boot. He was short on a few close-range shots, finishing 10-of-23 and only 2-of-8 from deep, but he is simply a star in the making. You don’t have to squint too hard to see how he has improved over a stellar rookie season
P.J. Washington: A-
18 PTS / 9 REB / 1 BLK / 25 MIN
Washington looked as though he pulled the 2024 version of himself out of the timestream Wednesday night. He played somewhat spotty minutes with long stretches on the bench, but nonetheless made a positive impact. Dusty May spoke about needing Washington locked in each and every play and it’s looking like he is receiving that message and delivering accordingly. His 2-of-7 from beyond the arc left a bit to be desired, but one of those longballs was timely and he maximized his minutes beyond what appears in the box score.
Daniel Gafford: A-
7 PTS / 11 REB / 2 AST / 2 BLK / 27 MIN
Gafford nailed 3-of-4 shots including his only three-point attempt on a night where he joined Washington in turning back the clock to what we remember from 2024. He had a thunderous alley-oop dunk and made a nice move in the paint to finish strong and cap the play with the primal scream fans love to see. Best of all, he was a monster on the boards despite the Thunder being able to roll out a big at will. He was locked in on offense as well, with two blocks.
Zaccharie Risacher: A
13 PTS / 6 REB / 1 AST / 1 STL / 1 BLK / 29 MIN
Risacher had his best offensive game of the season, shooting 5-of-6 overall and 2-of-3 from deep. Better still, it didn’t come at the expense of his defensive effort. I’ve indicated that a few players contributed more than the box score demonstrates, but it is truer for Risacher than probably anyone else Wednesday night. Hounding Shai Gilgeous-Alexander into an airball in the first quarter was a nice display of defense, as was his tag-team effort with Caleb Martin to end the half with a steal. The guy is locked into the highest gear at all times, yet plays under control. Gilgeous-Alexander was 7-of-19 on the night and Risacher deserves a lot of credit for that sub-40% shooting.
Final Thoughts
This team is fun again. Even without a few key rotation players, the Thunder have the back-to-back league MVP but the Mavs had a gameplan and executed it well on both ends of the floor. The Mavs ended up connecting on 35.6% of their 3-point attempts, but were hot to start the game, allowing them to get a lead. They also held the Thunder to only 15.6% on three-point attempts, showing an effort on defense.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 28: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz drives past Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first half of a game at Delta Center on October 28, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Without Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jusuf Nurkic, I sat down to watch this game out of necessity rather than anticipation. Victor Wembanyama has mastered the art of beating up on teams that cannot match up physically, and I don’t think a center rotation of Jaxson Hayes and Mo Bamba was striking much fear into his heart. Let’s get this one over it, and be one day closer to the return of our all-stars.
I am happy to report that my pessimism was, more or less, unfounded. Until the very end of overtime, the score fluctuated between a solid Jazz lead and a tie. What really made this an enjoying watch, however, was not the competitiveness itself but rather the means that led us to that outcome. The Jazz were carried by their three young pillars, and each was very consistently showing flashes throughout the game. Ace Bailey demonstrated strong mid-range scoring ability, with many sets run for him similar to what you’d expect to see run for a healthy Lauri Markkanen. Keyonte George was effective as the clear leader and offensive #1, scoring from all three levels. And Darryn Peterson, in my opinion, flashed the most ball-handling, shot-making juice that we have seen out of him thus far. Below you can find the clear highlight of the game:
However, this underdog victory was not meant to be, for two primary reasons. The first, and most obvious, was the immense talent differential between the two squads. The Spurs essentially rolled out the team that nearly won them an NBA championship the year prior, and the Jazz put out a team that is arguably worse on paper than its 22 win 2025-2026 squad. Victor Wembanyama was the clear best player on the game, and he played like it. He seemed to sleepwalk his way to 36 points and 14 rebounds; this was not close to the intensity that he was displaying during the playoffs last season. They were missing their threes and Dylan Harper was struggling with efficiency, but San Antonio won the firepower game tonight, and it became clear once we hit overtime; the Jazz were struggling to find good shots (Brice made two threes, but they were tough ones), and the Spurs seemed to collectively “lock in” and take control.
However, even with this talent difference, this loss was far from guaranteed, up until the bitter end. Instead, it felt like odd coaching decisions that put the final nail in the coffin. Will Hardy is taking his lumps adjusting to winning basketball just as much as any of the players, and it showed tonight. Injuries are surely a factor, but one consistent mistake he’s been making is playing entirely bench lineups for extended periods of time. Tonight, around the third quarter, the Jazz gave up a mini-run because Isaiah Collier was left as the lone ball handler with Ace, Keyonte, and Darryn riding the bench, Even less defensible was his overtime lineup choices. He began overtime with Isaiah Collier and Brice Sensabaugh as the backcourt with Keyonte and Darryn on the bench (we’ve been fined for less!), and even though Keyonte eventually came back in after a couple minutes of rest, Darryn Peterson did not find his way onto to the court for the remainder of the game. He explained (or at least attempted to explain) his rationale below:
Hardy on why DP didn't play the last 7 mins of the game:
"We gotta clean up execution, you know in those moments of the game you have to be able to execute the gameplan… in that moment I felt like it was better to go with Brice"
This is rather incomprehensible to me. What better developmental reps can Darryn Peterson be given than those in overtime against the defending Western Conference champions? It’s not as if he was struggling tonight – he dropped an efficient-enough 18 points, and continued to provide impact on the margins. I understand the desire to get Sensabaugh in the game; he is, at this point, the superior isolation scorer to Darryn Peterson, and he had a bit of a hot hand. However, if Darryn is ever going to learn how to consistently score in isolation against strong defenses, he has to be given the opportunity to try his hand. Perhaps, on the bench, he was beginning to display some of the symptoms of a concussion that he may have sustained on a hard fit to the face from Victor Wembanyama. However, this is the only understandable excuse that I can conceive to explain why, on an injury riddled team in a game that went to overtime, our prestigious prospect played only 26 minutes.
A few quick notes:
I was a big fan of Josh Okogie’s activity tonight (but not a big enough fan to agree with him playing more minutes than Darryn Peterson). 9 rebounds in 28 minutes as a 6’4 guard is game altering.
Mo Bamba was less eye-catchingly good, but he still provided perfectly respectable backup center minutes. He may be one of the better third string centers in the league when Nurkic returns.
Ace’s touch is nice, but sometimes he does seem to rely on it rather than getting all the way to the rim. 0 free throws is quite unfortunate.
What stood out to you from the Jazz’s game against the Spurs? Sound off below!
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 28: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs moves around Jaxson Hayes #11 of the Utah Jazz during the second half of a game at Delta Center on October 28, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Following an easy win over the lowly Kings, the Spurs faced a tougher foe in Utah Wednesday night, narrowly escaping with a 117-111 victory to extend their winning streak to three.
With both Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. out with injuries, the Jazz’ frontcourt was severely undermanned. The offensive burden was thus placed on Keytone George, who came out swinging. The shifty guard scored 10 quick points, helping the home team build a double-digit lead early in the game. San Antonio’s defense left much to be desired, often slow on closeouts and switches, giving Utah good looks at the basket.
On the other end, the Jazz prevented Wemby from getting easy buckets by packing the paint. Still, it was only a matter of time before the big fella got loose, as the Spurs generated easy dunks for Wemby on the fast break and through pick-and-roll actions. San Antonio also ran successful inverted sets that used Wemby as the ball handler, taking advantage of his vision and the slashing ability of their guards.
Even so, the Jazz answered every time the Spurs went on a run. San Antonio was only able to either tie the game or build a small two-possession lead, and the perimeter defense was not good enough to contain Utah’s explosive backcourt. Even after scoring on three consecutive possessions in crunch time, the Spurs allowed the Jazz to tie the game. With four seconds remaining in regulation, San Antonio had a chance at a buzzer-beater, but some slight confusion resulted in a desperate heave that gave me PTSD from the ending of game 2 of the finals.
Overtime wasn’t much prettier from either side. Both teams had several disjointed possessions that somehow still ended up in the basket, and the Spurs pulled away by slowing down and getting Wemby some easy finishes at the rim. San Antonio built a multi-possession lead but still gave Utah life by conceding a wide-open three with less than a minute left, and it was a relief to finally hear the buzzer go off at the end.
Game notes
This was the Spurs’ third straight win, but the game still left me wanting more. San Antonio was disorganized for most of the night on both ends of the court, with the one silver lining being some of the offensive actions that they used involving Wemby as the hub. Other than that, there were a lot of rushed shots and possessions, and the point-of-attack defense also gave Utah too many great looks. Jeje reminded me that this was the second night of a back-to-back, so the team deserves some leeway, but there’s no denying that the team’s miles from their best at the moment.
A big reason why the game was such a slog was due to Harper’s struggles. The young guard played his worst game of the season, shooting just 4-17 and finishing with 13 points. He did have 8 assists, but it seemed like he was forcing things on offense, and lost his assignment multiple times on defense too. Perhaps he was a bit too jazzed to go up against college teammate Ace Bailey, as Harper tried to iso and make a tough contested fadeaway against him once in the fourth.
On the bright side, Wemby seems to be rounding into form. The Alien finished with 36 points on 14-25 shooting and 4-10 from deep, while also grabbing 14 rebounds and dishing out 5 assists. He was undoubtedly the difference Wednesday night.
In a game that went to OT, Mitch Johnson elected to only play nine guys, including a short 5-minute stint from Carter Bryant. It was the first time this season that the Spurs played fewer than 10 guys, and it’s surprising considering that the match went long.
Play of the game
I loved how the Spurs used Wemby as a playmaking hub. It opens up so many different looks that can be exploited, and this is just one example of that.
Inglewood, CA - October 28: Guard Darius Garland #10 of the LA Clippers shoots over guard Matisse Thybulle #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
When the Lakers built out their team with more depth this offseason, a game like this was likely what they had in mind.
At the start of five games in seven nights and on the second night of the back-to-back, the Lakers rested Luka Dončić along with Ziaire Williams, Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr all being out. But they still had plenty of quality players — and a really, really bad opponent — to rely on.
It wasn’t a pretty game by any means, but the Lakers’ defense and talent won out. Guys like Quentin Grimes and Collin Sexton showed out exactly how you’d hope with Luka sidelined. These are the types of games you hope to sprinkle in through an 82-game season where you give your stars some rest and turn to your depth.
In the first test, the Lakers passed with flying colors.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
Prior to Sexton’s third-quarter explosion, it looked like Thybulle was going to be the role player of the night. He was perfect in the first half and this felt like safely his best game of the season so far.
After a pretty lackluster game on Tuesday, LaRavia had a great bounce back game. Five offensive rebounds and five stocks showed how hard he was playing. You can more easily forgive misteps if someone is playing hard.
Kessler had a much quieter game against the Clippers this time around. Still, it was impactful when it needed to be with some big blocks or steals. He’s still finding his rhythm and timing on offense and it was apparent at times on Wednesday. But still a solid game.
Another player who responded after poor showings against the Blazers with big games on Wednesday. Grimes looked much more like himself by attacking the basket and getting to the line. Hopefully he can translate this to games with Luka as well.
Chip Engelland is basically considered the shot doctor in the modern NBA. Whatever the equivalent of that is for dribbling, Austin needs to work with him.
The Clippers were sending multiple guys at him basically any time he had the ball with under 10 seconds in the shot clock and he did not handle it well.
It’s hard to imagine a more perfect showcase of what the Lakers wanted when they signed Sexton. He got to the rim relentlessly, mixed in some catch-and-shoot 3-pointers and took over in the third quarter to really put this game to bed.
Welcome back, Vando. He may not be the long-term answer at backup center but he’s the answer for right now and that’s more than adequate. Playing him alongside Mamu in the frontcourt gives the backup unit a lot of pace and speed and intensity.
Grade: B+
Jaden Hardy
In nine minutes, Hardy took six shots, five of them threes, and missed them all. There’s guys like Vando who make the most of their opportunities and play their way into the rotation and then there’s this.
JJ Redick
Redick finally pulled the chute on Kevon Looney at backup center and turned to Vando with great aplomb. I also liked how long he kept Sexton and Grimes out there with Reaves on the bench. Austin ends up only playing 30, a lot of those low-intensity minutes in the fourth.
Grade: A-
Friday’s DNPs: Bronny James, Kevon Looney, Chris Mañon
Friday’s inactives: Lawson Lovering, Cameron Carr, Adou Thiero, Luka Doncic, Ziaire Williams, Arthur Kaluma
MINNEAPOLIS — At 38 years old, Steph Curry is still doing things on the basketball court nobody else can. The umpteenth example: A 17-point flurry in the span of six minutes, the highlight being a heat-check 31-footer that, of course, found the bottom of the net.
Curry finished with 44, and the Warriors needed every last one of them to hold off the Timberwolves, despite Golden State pulling ahead by 24 after halftime and Minnesota playing its first game since Anthony Edwards learned he would require knee surgery.
With his first 40-piece of the season, Curry joined LeBron James in exclusive company. It was his 15th 40-point game since turning 35, tying James for the most in NBA history.
Stephen Curry, who scored 44 points, is all smiles as he walks off the floor after the Warriors’ 119-114 win over the Timberwolves on Oct. 28, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis. Getty Images
“I just see him doing what Steph Curry does,” coach Steve Kerr said after the 119-114 win. “I’ve been watching him for so long that it never surprises me when he gets hot. What makes him special is it can happen at any time.”
After starting 2-of-8 from the field Wednesday, Curry pulled up and connected on his first 3-pointer about three minutes into the second quarter. He drained another on Golden State’s next possession and shouted at the Warriors’ bench, who loved it.
Curry went on to connect on six of his next eight shots, pouring in 19 as the Warriors built a 64-48 halftime lead.
Despite building a lead that widened as far as 78-54 midway through the third quarter, the Warriors needed even more from Curry to close out a Minnesota team without its best player.
He delivered — in a different fashion.
Sixteen of Curry’s points came from the foul line, including an even dozen as he helped keep Minnesota at bay in the second half. It was Curry’s second-highest total ever on foul shots.
He had gotten to the line 16 times three other times in his career, but the win over Minnesota — in career game No. 1,073 — was the first time he converted every single one of them.
Stephen Curry handles the ball during the Warriors’ road win over the Timberwolves. NBAE via Getty Images
“They were pressuring pretty much all the way out to half court, so you’re gonna have those driving lanes,” Curry said. “Thankfully it helped us in a couple lulls that we had, getting to the line, getting easy buckets, which we needed all of them.”
Notably, Curry is also still doing things on the basketball court that would never be expected of a star of his caliber playing only the fifth game of his 18th season, especially not one coming off a season where injuries limited him to the third-fewest games of his career.
But that’s exactly what Curry did, diving after a loose ball early in the second half. LaMello Ball went diving across the floor as Curry came away with possession — and narrowly avoided Ball barrelling into his lower half. Curry said he wasn’t even thinking about his gimpy knee.
“I think that’s just more indicative of how good I feel, considering the age and miles and how last year went that I even tried it, I had a confidence that I could get down there,” Curry said. “There’s situations where you find yourself in where you’re just playing basketball and reacting, and that’s one of those.”
Stephen Curry goes up for a layup during the Warriors’ road win over the Timberwolves. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Curry had already secured his 40-point night when he checked out with the Warriors leading 100-87 with a little more than 9 minutes left to play. He was still at 26 minutes, and Kerr surely would have loved to allow him to rest for the remainder of the game.
Curry has been strictly capped at 32 minutes as the Warriors attempt to manage his ramp-up and keep the knee that cost him 27 games last season as healthy as possible.
He ended up coming 25 seconds shy of the limit imposed by the Warriors training staff but reached another milestone in the process — his first 30-minute night of the season.
“I honestly didn’t know until after the game, which was nice that we were just kind of in the moment, playing,” Curry said. “A little different flow to it when I got hot in the second, had to play a little bit of a longer stretch. So it’s nice to keep building and feel good coming out of it.”
Knicks star Jalen Brunson didn’t shoot well in the first four games of the season. He also didn’t shoot well in the first four minutes of Wednesday’s game in Chicago.
He missed three of his first four shots against the Bulls. At that moment, he was shooting 36 percent (31-for-86) on the season and 19 percent (4-for-21) from beyond the arc.
If you were getting a little antsy in the opening minutes on Wednesday, Brunson probably put you at ease over the course of the night.
The 2026 NBA Finals MVP hit six of his next nine three-pointers (12-for-21 overall) to help New York rebound from a 19-point third quarter deficit and take the second game of a back-to-back.
He finished with a season-high 38 points, seven assists, and two steals in New York’s first road win of the year.
The Knicks shot a season-high 46 percent from three and 45 percent overall in the comeback win.
They looked like the potent offense that emerged late last regular season and then again in Game 4 of their first-round series win over the Hawks.
For what it’s worth, Mike Brown was not panicked at all about his team’s shooting.
"The biggest thing is: are we getting good shots from the right people? Watching the film and watching the game, I think we are," Brown said before the Knicks’ win over Detroit on Tuesday. "We’ve had some pretty good looks from the right people at the right time that normally go in so I want them to keep shooting."
After a slow start, Brunson and his teammates certainly kept shooting - and shooting well - on Wednesday night.
The difference for New York in the past two games has been taking care of the minor details on both ends of the floor.
"(We’ve got to) focus on the little things until we get our rhythm. Once we get a rhythm, continue to do the little things. It' a big point of emphasis right no, our attention to detail."
They executed enough of the little things and big things to leave Chicago with a win. Next up? Friday night in Philadelphia.
Oct 28, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives to the basket against Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) during the second half at United Center. / Matt Marton-Imagn Images
BROWN EXPERIMENTING
If you see a lineup this season that you haven’t seen the last two years, don’t get alarmed. That’s Mike Brown’s way of stress-testing some ideas.
"There’s some things that I’m looking at or messing with that may or may not stay the same," Brown said. "That’s part of what you’re trying to do to figure out what’s best for your team long term."
One example? Brown played lineups with Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns on the bench in the first two games. Brown abandoned that idea. But don’t be surprised if you see a few non-traditional lineups over the next couple of weeks as Brown gets a feel for this year’s version of the team.
TYLER TIME
Tyler Kolekhas move the ball well during Jose Alvarado’s absence.
Alvarado missed his third straight game due to an ankle injury. Kolek played well, finishing with nine assists and zero turnovers. He has 21 assists and zero turnovers over the last three games. If you’re wondering what Brown expects of Kolek, the coach laid it all out on Tuesday:
"He’s gotta run the team. What I mean by that is, when you watch our games, when he goes on the floor, people get up into his chest when he’s trying to run our offense. He can’t get off the ball too early, if it’s just one guy," Brown explained. "He’s gotta be able to go by that guy and get the guy off-balance and bring it back out and set our offense up and/or get by and make a play in the paint. He can’t let pressure bother him or disrupt our offense at all.
"And then defensively, he’s gotta be a pest. He’s gotta be nasty, not anything illegal or anything like that, just a guy that people wanna say ‘get off me, get off me,’ because he’s more than capable of doing that. He’s gotta play with some sort of force, particularly for his size."
Whether or not Kolek checked those boxes is open to interpretation. But, objectively speaking, Kolek has made some great reads with the ball - and protected it.
Kolek wasn't the only Knick to thrive off the bench Wednesday. Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson combined for 32 points on 12-for-21 shooting. New York outscored Chicago by 13 with either Shamet or Clarkson on the floor Wednesday.
Despite being without their best player and one of their starting wings, the Lakers got back on track after their first loss of the season, beating the Clippers 103-87.
Collin Sexton defends Cam Christie during the first half of the Lakers’ 103-85 win over the Clippers on Oct. 28, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
With Doncic sidelined, a significant amount of attention turned to Austin Reaves, the Laker’s second-best player who has gotten off to a career-best start to the season.
The sixth-year guard has shown several times what he’s capable of doing when he’s the lone star in the lineup, recording box score numbers that rival All-NBA guards.
Clippers coach Ty Lue acknowledged the threat Reaves poses.
“He can beat you by himself. … He’s elite,” Lue said.
And the Clippers treated Reaves as such, using aggressive defensive coverages to disrupt a rhythm that’s been challenging for opponents to slow down since the start of the season.
Reaves finished with 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting to go with eight turnovers, ending his streak of 23-plus-point games while shooting at least 54% from the field in four games.
But the Lakers didn’t need a nuclear performance from Reaves.
They got Collin Sexton showing off why he’s nicknamed the “Young Bull”, with the veteran guard providing the “insanity”, as Redick put it, on both ends of the floor that the team has come to celebrate.
Brook Lopez tries to make a pass around Jarred Vanderbilt during the first half of the Lakers’ win over the Clippers. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
They got Quentin Grimes, who stepped into the starting lineup for the first time, having his best two-way performance.
And they got a near perfect shooting night from Matisse Thybulle.
Sexton finished with 21 points, scoring nine straight points late in the third quarter that pushed the Lakers’ lead from 13 to 20 points.
Sandro Mamukelashvili (left) celebrates with Walker Kessler after scoring during the first half of the Lakers’ win over the Clippers. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Grimes had a season-high 23 points to go along with five assists and four steals.
Thybulle scored 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting (4 of 6 on 3-pointers).
Veteran forward Jarred Vanderbilt made his season debut in light of the team’s injuries, finishing with an individual plus/minus of plus-22 in 21 minutes.
The Clippers were short-handed, as they have been for most of the season, without Rui Hachimura, Brandon Ingram and Bradley Beal.
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 28: Head coach Dusty May of the Dallas Mavericks shakes hands with Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at American Airlines Center on October 28, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was a dominant showing for this rising Mavericks team. OKC entered the night undefeated but seriously undermanned — Jalen Williams is out for the season, Cason Wallace is out indefinitely, while Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso were out with minor injuries. This wasn’t a game the Mavericks had to win, but it was as good an opportunity as ever to take down a championship favorite.
Dallas did so by jumping on OKC from tipoff and never letting up. The Mavericks outscored the Thunder in all four quarters and led for 81 percent of this game. Outstanding win.
Here are the numbers we noticed.
16-5: Mavericks advantage in made 3s
The Thunder are a dangerous shooting team with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander running the show, but missing three of their better 3-point shooters, the Mavericks took advantage. Dallas made 16-of-45 from distance, while the Thunder were just 5-of-32.
That massive shooting disparity basically decided the game. Dallas wasn’t on fire so to speak from deep, but took a ton of threes and made just enough. It was a team effort, as no Maverick made more than three 3s, while six Mavericks made at least two 3s. Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg made three apiece in the win.
Just as important as the lack of makes for OKC were the attempts — Dallas took 13 more threes than OKC, and the Mavericks did a decent job of running the shooters OKC had left off the line. Some of this is luck, for sure — OKC’s Jared McCain went an uncharacteristic 0-for-6 — but credit the Dallas defense for digging in and doing the work on rotations and closeouts.
30: Mavericks assists
It was a rocky start for Dusty May’s offensive system in the season opener against the Rockets, but since then the Mavericks offense has been mostly humming, and Dallas was at it again with another outstanding passing night. Dallas had 30 assists on 46 made buckets, with only nine turnovers.
May encourages ball movement and player movement, and at first it almost felt like the Mavericks were oversharing to start the season, getting a bit too far away from their best players. That balance has come back, led by Flagg’s brilliance as a decision-maker. He had eight assists and zero turnovers against the Thunder as he continues to grow as a playmaker.
10: Caleb Martin points
Caleb Martin hasn’t had a good run in Dallas since being traded to the Mavericks in February of 2025, plagued by injuries and anemic shooting. Martin had a history of being a solid vet before coming to Dallas, so it was unfortunate just how much the wheels fell off once he landed in Dallas. That’s why we’re taking note of Martin’s stellar first game of the season — 10 points 14 minutes off the bench, going 2-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Martin only scored in double-figures seven times last season, so for him to return from injury and immediately score 10 feels notable. If Martin can give this Mavericks team anything, it’ll be a tremendous boost to what is suddenly looking like a very deep rotation.
Collin Sexton reacts after making a basket against the Clippers in the second half Wednesday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Lakers scoring phenom Luka Doncic missed his first game of the young season with back tightness, leaving a giant hole in their offense with the NBA’s leading scorer (36 points per game) sitting out.
Lakers defensive star Ziaire Williams also missed his first game with left foot soreness, leaving them even more depleted with two starters unable to play.
The Lakers added a lot of depth over the summer in case of injury situations and now it was going to be tested against the Clippers at Intuit Dome.
Collin Sexton is one of the players the Lakers acquired for a moment like Wednesday, and he delivered in a big way, coming off the bench to provide energy and effort in helping the Lakers take a 103-87 victory over the Clippers.
Sexton was at his best in the third quarter, scoring 11 of his 21 points, flexing and pounding his chest after a made basket. His play helped the Lakers open a 22-point lead they never lost.
He was four for five from the field in the third, six for 11 for the game. He was two for three from three-point range in the third, four for seven for the game. He also had four rebounds and two assists.
Quentin Grimes (23 points), Matisse Thybulle (15) and Austin Reaves (16 points) did their part to help the Lakers improve to 4-1.
Doncic and Williams played against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, but they couldn’t go in the back-to-back game.
“Both those guys woke up with some soreness and tightness today — tightness for Luka, soreness for Ziaire,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “We have a tough stretch of games. Not a lot of time between [games so] just being overly cautious.”
The Lakers next play at the Golden State Warriors on Friday, their fourth game in six days.
Redick was asked if Doncic and Williams would be available for that game.
Redick turned to Jarred Vanderbilt, who didn’t play in the first four games, and Jaden Hardy, who played in the first game of the season, to help the shorthanded Lakers in their time of need. Vanderbilt played 21 minutes and had seven rebounds. Hardy played nine minutes and had two points.
“Yeah, I go back to something I said a couple of times already is that every guy’s going to get an opportunity throughout the season,” Redick said. “...Guys that haven’t played are going to get opportunities tonight.”
The Clippers, however, have their own injuries to worry about.
Clippers forward Rui Hachimura (left quad soreness) missed his first game of the season, joining Bradley Beal (right knee injury management), Brandon Ingram (right heel surgery), Jordan Miller (left rotator cuff surgery), Yanic Konan Niederhauser (right lisfranc surgery) and Max Strus (right plantar fascia partial tear) on the injury report.
The Lakers signed center Lawson Lovering to a two-way contract Wednesday and waived two-way forward AK Okereke.
INGLEWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 28: Quentin Grimes #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense during the game against the LA Clippers on October 28, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Even without Luka Dončić, the Lakers easily handled the Clippers in the Intuit Dome on Wednesday, picking up a 103-87 win.
The Lakers struggled with turnovers themselves, finishing with 21. But their 15 steals and 17 offensive rebounds helped overcome that.
Matisse Thybulle put the Lakers up by four early, as he was the only one to score. Derrick Jones Jr. was the only Clipper to score, draining a triple. The Clippers called a timeout after the purple and gold extended their lead.
Out of the break, Darius Garland converted on a layup.
The Clippers scored seven in a row, led by Jones Jr., to put them in the lead by two. They extended their scoring run to 12-2, as the Lakers continued to struggle offensively. It was a low scoring affair throughout the quarter, as neither team was able to create a lasting lead.
The purple and gold ended the first on a 9-2 scoring run to retake the lead by three.
First quarter: Lakers 25, Clippers 22
Back-to-back steals and transition finishes from Quentin Grimes gave LAL the lead after one. Austin Reaves has 7 points on 2-7 FG. Matisse Thybulle has 6 points. LA already has 5 stocks — half as many as they had all of last night.
Quentin Grimes scored for the Lakers early in the second period. Both teams were having a rough time controlling the ball. The Clippers had eight turnovers and the Lakers had six. Jarred Vanderbilt finally saw playing time and was spearheading a lot of great defense for the Lakers.
The Lakers were now up by three. Reaves was leading the charge with 12 points.
Led by their impressive defensive showing, the purple and gold built a lead of nine. Collin Sexton and Sandro Mamukelashvili combined for 13 off the bench. Thybulle ignited for six points, draining two triples, pushing his point total to 12.
The Lakers ended the half on a 27-7 scoring run to lead by 18 heading into the half. The purple and gold had three players in double figures, led by Reaves’ 16 points.
The Clippers scored a quick five points to start the third period. The Lakers, meanwhile, started the quarter with multiple turnovers. Grimes fouled Garland while he was shooting from behind the arc and he converted on all three free throws, further extending the Clippers’ early run.
Walker Kessler stopped some of the bleeding for the Lakers with a dunk.
The purple and gold saw their lead shrink to single digits as they struggled to replicate the suffocating defense they showed in the first half. The Lakers were also 1-5 from the field.
Spearheaded by LaRavia, Thybulle and Grimes, the Lakers went on a 10-0 scoring run to go back up by double figures. Sexton went on an insane individual run, scoring 11 straight points to help the Lakers lead by 19 at the end of the third.
The final frame began with a dunk by Baba Miller for the Clippers. Grimes scored on a layup on the other end for the purple and gold. He added another three points, keeping the Lakers up by 19.
It was a continued Laker takeover with the Clippers trying to shave points off the lead, scoring five in a row, but they were still down big with 6:25 left. The Lakers did go on a four-minute scoring drought, but they put the final dagger with back-to-back shot from Grimes and Mamu.
Key Player Stats
Reaves finished with 16 points and five rebounds as he struggled on the night, shooting 6-16 from the field and turning the ball over eight times. Kessler notched 11 points with nine rebounds.
The big scoring nights came from Sexton with 21 points off the bench and Grimes with 23 points as a starter due to the injuries.
Thybulle pitched in with 15 points, shooting 5-6 from the field. Mamu had 13 points with eight rebounds. Jake LaRavia and Vanderbilt did the dirty work, combining for 17 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
The Lakers’ next game will be against the Golden State Warriors on Friday at 7:00 PM PT.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 28: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors reacts to his three-point basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second quarter at Target Center on October 28, 2026 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. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After Saturday’s loss, which moved them to 0-3, I sure didn’t expect the Golden State Warriors to have a decent-looking record anytime soon. They had a brutal schedule facing them, and it seemed likely that they’d return to San Francisco still winless.
Instead, they won the road trip, and head home with a chance to get to .500 on Friday night. Wednesday’s 119-114 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves was far from perfect, but it was, most importantly, a win. So let’s grade the players who got it done. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Last year, league-average TS was 58.1%.
As I reminder, I grade each player based on my expectations for them. And because of that, Lendeborg is easily the hardest Warrior to grade at the moment. Why? Because I’m simply not sure what my expectations are, or should be!
In just his fifth career game, he had an efficient 26 points and nine rebounds, while playing strong defense on Jonathan Kuminga. If you had told me that before the season started, I would have said it was an easy A at the very least … and probably an A+.
But Lendeborg played so well over the first week of his professional career that the expectations are already beginning to change. On the one hand, it’s unfair to judge him more harshly in just his fifth contest. On the other hand, he’s doing stuff like this, and it’s absolutely altering the equation:
So seen through that lens, we need to address the bad: Lendeborg turned the ball over seven times, and plenty of those turnovers were the type that could — and should — be avoided. He had some breakdowns late in the game, where he got the ball in critical moments and was unable to get off a good shot or make a quick pass. All of his free throws came when the Warriors were trying to ice a small lead, and he only shot 2-for-4 on them.
I don’t say that to criticize Lendeborg. Those are natural learning curves for a rookie who, again, made his professional debut just a week ago. But he’s played so well that the rubric is starting to change, and the grades will reflect that.
Grade: B- Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in rebounds.
With Gui Santos a late scratch due to knee tendinitis, Niang got a very rare start. How rare, you ask? It was his 549th career game, and just his 33rd start.
He played well. He defended larger than his frame, and had a nice sequence early in the game where he hit a three on one end, and then quickly stole the ball from Minny. I’m surprised at how much energy and effort he plays with, considering he’s a 33-year old coming off a major injury. Nice to be able to slide him into the starting five, even though I’m sure he’ll be back on the bench soon.
A really excellent defensive game for Green. Two days after having to start at center against Nikola Jokić, he did the same against Rudy Gobert, who finished with just one point, four rebounds, and a game-worst -11. So I’d say mission accomplished for Draymond.
Green’s defensive ability and versatility are once again powering the Warriors, and this was a good game for him from a playmaking standpoint, too. He made some excellent passes, directed the offense all through the game, and took fairly good care of the ball.
He’s not the player he once was, but he’s still damn good, and can be the catalyst on both ends of the court.
Grade: B Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in rebounds and assists.
Tasked with spending a decent amount of time on LaMelo Ball, Podziemski had a hard time finding a rhythm with foul trouble. But props to him for not pressing; he was more than comfortable playing a different role in this game, and not being one of the primary scorers. And he did everything else quite well: he was strong on the glass, set up his teammates, kept the ball moving, and made some big defensive plays. Not a great game for Podziemski, but a solid enough one.
Grade: C+ Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in assists.
If anyone had any questions as to whether Steph Curry was still Steph Curry, well … this week has been a pretty firm answer. On Monday, he had 24 points without missing a single shot. And on Wednesday, he casually dropped in 44 points (not to mention eight rebounds and six dimes), and looked completely unstoppable.
Curry took over in the second quarter, when he scored 19 points and helped Golden State take control of the game. From there, he masterfully bounced between shouldering the offensive load, setting up teammates, and serving as gravity to open up the floor for everyone else.
The aggression was a joy to see. Curry wasn’t foul-baiting so much as just being aggressive at all times, and especially when the Warriors were in the bonus.
The chef’s still got it. And between Curry and Lendeborg, you can rest assured that this team will be extremely entertaining this year.
Grade: A+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in points, tied for the team lead in assists, best plus/minus on the team.
It’s still very early in the season and, as a result, Steve Kerr is still trying to figure out his rotations. And so it’s a little bit unclear what Richard’s role is right now. It seemed on Monday that he was out of the rotation, but in this game he was in the opening set of substitutions, just a few minutes into the game, and ended up playing nearly half the contest.
I thought it was a very good defensive game for last year’s second-round pick, and the stat sheet doesn’t accurately reflect how impressive his rebounding was. There were a few occasions in this game where was outnumbered by multiple taller players, and somehow either came down with the board, kicked it to a teammate, or kept the ball alive.
Whatever his role ends up being, the Warriors are better with him on the team.
Grade: B Post-game bonus: Worst plus/minus on the team.
Melton had some huge plays down the stretch in this game, particularly on the defensive end. It seems like he was always in the right place to bother the Wolves, deflect a ball, or keep a play alive. He even blocked a shot with 18 seconds left in the game, when Minny just needed one bucket to get back into the game … ultimately the Timberwolves retained possession of the ball, but that huge defensive play not only kept points off the board, but used up critical time.
It wasn’t the most noteworthy game on offense, but defense and veteran play are what he’s there for. On Wednesday, he delivered.
Just a super solid game for Big Al. He played awesome defense, including on Gobert, a three-time All-Star. He was seemingly always in the right place at the right times, and his hands are so gifted for someone of his size and age. He doesn’t even need to shoot threes to be effective!
And up-and-down game for Williams. Ultimately, the Warriors simply need him to be more efficient than he was in this game. But his ability to attack and make things happen is huge, and the Warriors already rely on it with regularity when they need a bucket. No one else can get to the rim with as much ease as the ultra-speedy Williams. There were times in this game where it really felt like he was saving the entire offense and shifting the momentum. But ultimately, it simply needs to be more efficient, especially since he’s not contributing much elsewhere in most games (though I thought he did in this one).
Payton was jumped in the rotation by Richard for this game, though it may or may not be a long-term thing. He played his usual excellent defense, including a little bit on Ball, and his athleticism was, as always, on display.
Grade: B
Charles Bassey
2 minutes, 0 points, +3
Despite the Warriors being shy on frontcourt bodies right now, it looks as though Bassey is temporarily out of the rotation. Part of that is due to the rebounding and defensive flexibility of Lendeborg, which allows the Warriors to play Green at the five.
Grade: Incomplete
Wednesday’s DNP-CDs:LJ Cryer, Graham Ike, Malevy Leons
Wednesday’s inactives: Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody, Kristaps Porziņģis, Gui Santos
