San Francisco Warriors playoff game vs the Boston Celtics 4/22/1964; John Havlicek(Photo by Bob Campbell/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
John Havlicek is one of the greatest and most unusual players in NBA history, and also one of the most underrated.
That sounds like a contradiction, but it’s not. People truly don’t understand who great he was, and that includes a lot of the people who saw him play.
We don’t know if anyone ever really studied Havlicek’s physiology, but it was crazy. In this video, former teammate Sam Jones said that not only did Havlicek never get tired, he didn’t even start sweating for 10 minutes. This is in the NBA, against teams filled with great athletes, and of course, Boston was a fast-breaking team. Add guts and brilliant instincts to the mix, and you have Havlicek.
His energy level and endurance probably played a role in his most memorable play. At the end of Game 7 of the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals, Bill Russell tried to inbounds the ball, but it hit a guy wire connected to the backboard.
Philadelphia called a timeout, and Russell pleaded with his teammates to bail him out.
Havlicek obliged, making one of the three most iconic steals in Celtics history, and preserving the win for the Celtics.
The other two: Gerald Henderson’s against Los Angeles in the 1984 Finals, and Larry Bird’s against Detroit in 1987.
This is the best video/explanation we’ve seen about Havlicek’s enduring moment of glory.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 30: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks to pass the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 30, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It feels as though the Chicago Bulls will never escape the cycle of mediocrity that has largely affected the franchise since Michael Jordan’s retirement all the way back in 1998. After the latest handful of meandering seasons, Chicago made the decision last February at the trade deadline to trade or move on from a handful of their better players and go all-in on yet another rebuilding expedition. Between the struggles that are expected to come with any rebuilding roster and a brutal schedule to kick off this year that has seen them play the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers two times each already, first year head coach and former championship player with the Spurs Tiago Splitter’s group has limped out to a putrid 1-8 start, with very little relief in sight.
They’re welcoming in a San Antonio Spurs team tonight that’s been firing on all cylinders and is looking for their 10th straight win. While some of the competition has been nothing worth bragging about, San Antonio has been taking care of their business and more or less smashing the opposition. With Victor Wembanyama looking like the apex predator on both ends of the floor that he was destined to become and a supporting group that’s growing along with him, the Spurs are right where they want to be.
San Antonio Spurs (9-2) at Chicago Bulls (1-8) November 11 2026 | 7:00 PM CT Watch: DAZN | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM) Line: Spurs -14.5
Bulls Injuries: Norman Powell, shoulder (questionable), Tobe Awaka, back (questionable), Zach Collins, illness (questionable)
What to watch for
It’s no secret that Victor Wembanyama has been on a tear since his 1/13 clinker to kick off the season. That performance feels like a lifetime ago, especially in light of two of his most recent games, performances that put him in the same category with two of the greatest big men to ever play the game including San Antonio’s own, the Admiral David Robinson. With Chicago boasting arguably the league’s worst interior defense, there should be no reason at all not to expect Wembanyama to impose his will on Chicago the way he’s done to everyone else this season. Pay attention to how comfortable Wembanyama has become as the roll man out of the pick and roll.
The Bulls’ offense is going to have their hands full trying to score against this San Antonio defense. The Spurs have been among the elite in terms of defense this year, ranking 4th in defensive rating with a mark of 107.4 points per 100 possessions thanks to Wembanyama and the intensity and activity of wing players like Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell. The Bulls do push the ball early and often, as is explemplified by their first place ranking in pace, but without any consistent play finishers it hasn’t really mattered. Barring a San Antonio no-show, the Silver and Black’s defense should be able to hold Chicago down once again.
Games like this always bring to mind Gregg Popovich’s, “appropriate fear,” mantra. As rough as Chicago has looked this season, there’s always the fear of the dreaded trap game. A potential 10-game win streak and 6-0 road record to start the season coming to a halt by a league bottom-dweller feels like the sort of sick irony that die-hard sports fans lose sleep over, but this is still the NBA and anything could happen. Mitch Johnson’s group has looked and played pretty determined though during this current streak and have taken care of business against more than one bad team, so it’s easy to see them coming into the Windy City and holding up their end of the bargain.
If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 10: Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the Miami Heat on November 10, 2026 at Delta Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Alex Goodlett/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I know as well as anyone that the Jazz are currently on a 9 game losing streak. I also know quite well that moral victories do not make their way onto the win column. However, I do not think it is necessarily wrong to adjust our expectations as the season makes known the true quality of the team and players that we are working with. So, in a game with 4 injured starters against a full strength Miami Heat, finding miniature successes beyond the tracked win or loss is likely our best bet to both (a) prevent a full collapse into despair and (b) track where our players currently are, even if they are not where we wish they would be. It was ugly at points, but most of the Jazzmen showed some flash that could theoretically be translated into winning basketball when the stars are aligned and the injury-bug is vanquished.
Note: These grades are more-or-less relative to the player. An A grade for Darryn Peterson is different than an A grade for Tony Bradley.
Ace Bailey: A-
Scientists are still working out the fine details, but the current consensus is clear; Ace Bailey is physically incapable of missing his signature stop-on-a-dime short midrange jump shot. For the first time in what feels like forever, his range extended beyond his sweet spot – despite a poor three point shooting season overall, Ace went 3 for 5 from downtown tonight. His defense left a little bit to be desired, as he was guarding up the lineup and was sometimes physically outmatched in the paint. Additionally, even though his short midrange is near automatic at this point, his lack of free throw attempts become more and more distressing with each passing game – his 0.7 free throw attempts per game average will not be boosted by his game tonight. He was active and efficient, but the areas of improvement for Ace remain clear.
Mo Bamba: C+
Mo stuffed the stat sheet in his 17 minutes – 7 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks is nothing to scoff at. However, it was obvious that Giannis was licking his chops whenever he saw Bamba attempting to guard him out on the perimeter – Mo gave Giannis all the space in the world, which isn’t necessarily a bad idea, but when Giannis hits 3 jump shots in a row, the time to adjust has arrived. However, it seemed that he simply didn’t have the athletic capabilities to throw any other look at the Greek Freak, which sparked the Heat’s run in the third quarter. He still brought value by being a large human located in the paint, but Giannis was clearly not an ideal matchup for him.
Tony Bradley: B
Worse counting stats than Bamba, but the eye test tells me that his impact was a little bit greater. His one block from this game was shocking to someone who remembers how out of shape Bradley was when he first entered the league – he rotated from the other side of the paint to swat Bam Adebayo with a mobility that a Jazz fan from 2018 would relish. Consistently, he seemed to be in the right place at the right time, which matters a lot when he is also consistently the player with the most mass on the court. The other Jazz center options are long and springy but without the size to really hold up in certain matchups, so Bradley operated as a nice change of pace against the burliness of the Heat frontcourt. This isn’t advocating for Bradley to be given more consistent minutes, but he certainly made the most of them tonight.
Isaiah Collier: B+
I originally wrote that this was a tale of two halves for Isaiah Collier, but that doesn’t accurately reflect how rapidly his grade rose as the game progressed – really, a better description would be that this was a tale of 3.5 quarters and 1 miraculous end-of-game revival. Throughout most of the game, Collier was actively and obviously detrimental; the Heat weren’t respecting his three pointer, he wasn’t able to get to the paint consistently to aid the offense through kickouts, and the decision making was jarringly off. However, one of the only moments of real electricity in the Delta Center occurred when Collier drained 4 threes in the 4th quarter and single-handedly dragged the Jazz back into the ball game. He didn’t impact the game in a very sustainable way, to be sure; I’m not sure if he’ll ever again have a three point shooting game this good in his career, and his bread-and-butter value adds (passing, paint pressure) just weren’t clicking. However, sustainable or not, going 4/4 from three in the fourth quarter made this contest competitive and ignited an otherwise stagnant Jazz offense.
Kyle Filipowski: B
Filipowski snags a solid grade simply for not making very many mistakes. His presence was not always actively felt, to be sure, but if you watched him with any intentionality you could tell that the team functioned just a bit better with him on the court. He makes quick decisions, he has the ability (or at least the semblance of it) to dribble+pass+shoot, and he brings one of the better combinations of strength and mobility on the roster. I’m not sure what the tracking data says, but it appeared to me that Filipowski was the Jazz’s best matchup against Giannis, where his size and speed clearly didn’t rival Miami’s star but was enough to at least act as a roadblock on his path to 30 points and 11 rebounds.
Josh Green: C+
The shooting was rough (I recall both an airball and a backboard hit from his corner three attempts) and you still don’t ever want him to dribble the ball, but Green consistently brings positive value in just about every other area of the game. His passing was solid (the bounce pass to the cutting Ace Bailey before his reverse jam in the fourth quarter was a highlight) and the rebounding always seemed to come in a timely manner, putting a stop to seemingly never-ending Miami offensive possessions. On top of all this, you can always count on the defense. However, there’s only so much value you’re actually bringing when you shoot an ugly 1-5 on a team that needed an offensive spark, and that puts a ceiling on Green’s grade.
Jaxson Hayes: D
By my eyes, Hayes was clearly the worst of the three Jazz big men who got any run against the Heat. He was physically overmatched going against Giannis and Bam, which created a snowball effect of fouls to frustration to more fouls. Hayes is the big man who I believe is most benefitted by playing with capable offensive players – he doesn’t have the strength or ball skills to make anything happen on his own, but his athleticism becomes exponentially more valuable when he has stars to take some of the gravity off of him. Tonight, with 3 key scorers out of commission, you could tell that Hayes was floundering in his search for what he was supposed to provide. On the plus side – I’ve been relatively impressed with his top-of-the-key playmaking recently: he had a few nice passes to Darryn throughout.
Svi Mykhailiuk: D
One of the benefits that Svi had last year over his shooting guard peers was that he was one of the few who seemed to try at all defensively. He was never good, mind you, but he was big enough and had enough experience around the NBA to barely surpass some of the guys he was competing against for minutes. This year, however, that is no longer the case. Josh Green and Josh Okogie have made a living off of the defensive end, and Darryn Peterson is also a natural two with higher highs on defense than Svi could ever reach. So, when Svi isn’t making his shots, he no longer has the safety net of yesteryear that says “well, he’s better than the alternative”. I understand that shooters have a short memory, but maybe Svi’s could be broadened just a bit, because some of these attempts are really only permissible in the context of a heat check. For Svi’s sake, something has got to change, because I currently see him on the fast track to being an international league star, as opposed to someone with a legitimate future in the NBA.
Josh Okogie: C-
Much of what I wrote for Josh Green could be copy-and-pasted over to fellow Josh, Okogie…except this time the shooting was slightly worse and his decision-making was a bit less snappy. I liked Okogie’s defensive effort a bit more in this game than Green’s (his tie-up on Antetokounmpo in transition should’ve been a jump ball), but it wasn’t enough to either (a) prevent Giannis, one of his main matchups, from getting to his spots or (b) prevent his +/- from being by far the worst on the team, with a -22. We all know, at this point, what we’re getting from Okogie, and his game-to-game value is mostly determined by the dice roll that is his shooting variance. Today, with poor shooting and no star combo guard for him to pester defensively, Okogie was not particularly valuable.
Darryn Peterson: A-
In terms of how much excitement Peterson drummed up within me, this grade would be an easy A+. His poise in the pick-and-roll was immaculate, his touch was impressive from all over the court, and his passing looks slightly ahead of the schedule implied by the Kansas tape. For large swaths of his game, he was the offense: he brought the ball up the court, and the remainder of the shot clock was spent trying to free him up with screens and handoffs. Most impressively to me, he functioned with comfort against the hounding, disruptive nature of Davion Mitchell – on paper, this was an easy matchup to predict giving Peterson loads of trouble, but he still always felt like he had control over his offensive attack, even in spite of the 5 turnovers. However, purely in terms of his output on the court tonight, he was still a few steps away from perfect. He fouled out in the 4th quarter on a pretty ticky-tack call, but a good percentage of his penalties were legitimate and foolishly committed. Additionally, his defense is still very much the defense of a rookie guard; he has the tools to make big plays, but often falls asleep or misses key rotations. I give him plenty of grace due to the context of this being his first game as the true #1 offensive option on an NBA team, but his missteps tonight prevent him from getting the grade that matches our excitement.
Brice Sensabaugh: C
You know what, I haven’t given up on Brice Sensabaugh. The prevailing opinion seems to be that he cannot positively impact winning, but I just can’t agree with that quite yet. Tonight, his scoring isn’t what you would have hoped. Only 5 shots for a team clearly in need of a scoring punch was odd and out of character, and does hurt his grade. However, I think he did provide marginal value in a few other areas. For example, there were a few plays where I was quite impressed with his defense against Miami’s wings – he met them near the half court line and used his mass to make life a little difficult. In general, he filled the stat sheet, outside of the points column: 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and a steal in 14 minutes isn’t too shabby for the microwave scorer archetype. Of course, I can’t give too high of a grade – he isn’t quite good enough at anything besides scoring for a non-scoring night to be immensely valuable – but I do think that we need to give Brice a bit more grace and a bit more priority minutes-wise as the season progresses.
Who stood out for you? Which grades would you change? Sound off below!
Karl-Anthony Towns will match a legend’s franchise record with another double-double.
The Knicks center scored 21 points with 16 boards during Tuesday’s blowout victory over the Bucks, notching his 10th straight double-double — which is one off Willis Reed’s mark to start the 1970-71 season.
And just like that campaign for Reed, Towns is racking up the rebounds while defending an NBA championship.
The Knicks face the Cavaliers on Wednesday at MSG, where Towns can tie Reed.
Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored 21 points and grabbed 16 boards, rises up for a rebound during the Knicks’ 117-85 blowout win over the Bucks on Nov. 10, 2026 at the Garden. NBAE via Getty Images
“I didn’t know that. I just know that this team right now, we’re on a good winning streak, we’re playing good basketball, and that’s the most important thing,” Towns said. “That’s what the fans really want to hear about.”
It’s a much better start than last season, when KAT’s efficiency dipped as he struggled to adjust to Mike Brown’s system.
“It’s just another year with this team and just experience and just another year with a better understanding of what Mike wants and what I can do to help his system,” Towns said.
Taylor Jenkins said coaching the Knicks “just wasn’t meant to be” as he reflected on interviewing for New York’s open gig last year.
“It was a great experience. I obviously spent a lot of time with the front office — Leon [Rose] and his group. Not sure how close it was in the end. It just wasn’t the opportunity at that time,” said Jenkins, who lost to the Knicks on Tuesday as the Bucks head coach.
“Very blessed to be where I am right now. But excited to go through the process of interviewing with the Knicks. Learned a lot. Obviously it was a special year last year for the Knicks. Mike [Brown] did a great job. Learned a lot about this organization, the high standards they had. And obviously the great work that they had done even leading up to last season. So it was a fun process to be a part of. Hopefully I performed well and it just wasn’t meant to be.”
Jenkins and Brown were considered the front-runners for the Knicks job as Rose’s search hit the homestretch.
Jenkins had recently been fired by the Memphis Grizzlies, who played well under his watch but failed to get out of the second round of the playoffs.
The Knicks tried to interview several head coaches under contract, but their requests were rejected by the involved teams.
Jenkins was interviewed once, along with former Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori and South Carolina women’s coach Dawn Staley.
Brown was the only candidate called back for a second interview — which, according to sources, happened after he was already picked for the job.
Jenkins was unemployed for a year before accepting the Bucks job.
It became a total rebuild project in Milwaukee after Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded to the Heat, leaving Jenkins with a bottom-tier roster and a pitiful 1-10 record.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 10: Isaiah Collier #8 of the Utah Jazz celebrates during the game against the Miami Heat on November 10, 2026 at Delta Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I’m really running out of ways to voice my disgust with the current state of Utah Jazz basketball. Despite a furious comeback effort in the fourth quarter that shrank Miami’s lead from 23 to 5, it was too little, too late for Utah in their homecoming.
They fell to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Heat squad 115-109, inflating the Jazz’s total in the loss column to double digits, still tied for last place in the entire NBA at 1-10. The Greek Freak elevated an uneven roster despite battling through a wrist injury, dropping a game-high 30 points. A shocking number of those were delivered via pull-ups from the deep mid-range.
It’s hard to blame a team as injury-riddled as Utah’s — especially at this point in the season. Losing four starters is nearly unbelievable luck now that the Jazz are earnestly committed to making a playoff push. Losing that many starters in the first 10 games is unthinkable. The season is still incredibly young, and rosters are fresh. Fresh legs and minimal fatigue make for healthy rosters, which means the hobbled Jazz are limping on to battle against full-strength foes.
Without Jackson Jr., Markkanen, Nurkic, or even Keyonte George, this team has been a charity, giving out free victories to those in need. Or want. Or are simply in the general vicinity.
The only remaining member of Will Hardy’s starting lineup is rookie Darryn Peterson, who has managed to get his feet beneath him with three straight performances of 20-plus points. Peterson’s rookie year got off to a slow start in terms of scoring consistency, but he hasn’t looked back since notching a then-career-high 21 points two games ago, with follow-up acts of 26 and 25.
He has scored 50% of his field goals or better in each of those games, seasoning the dish with 44% three-point shooting and 4 assists. Peterson has also posted at least one steal in eight of his last nine appearances.
But DP isn’t the only young Jazzman bringing defensive effort back to the forefront in SLC; Ace Bailey has been heartless on the defensive end, a constant disruptor whose Plastic Man arms can constantly be seen swinging at shot attempts and deflecting passes.
Better yet, Bailey already has a signature move in just his sophomore season: the 10-foot dribble pull-up.
He picked Miami’s defense apart from that sweet spot, but also found comfort behind the three-point line. He had been ice cold in his last six outings. After going 5-for-34 (14.7%) in that stretch, he quenched his three-point thirst with a 3-for-5 outing, 10-for-15 from the field overall.
But Utah’s late fourth-quarter burst was jump-started by the most unlikely source: Isaiah Collier’s long-range heat checks. Collier went a perfect 4-for-4 from distance and delivered the scoring punch his team needed in a critical moment.
“You saw Zay’s reaction,” Coach Hardy shared during the post-game presser. “You can see the emotion that Zay plays with and shows, and how much it means to him. Zay has had some things not go his way personally lately, [but] he’s been an incredible teammate, he’s worked really hard, he’s not had one moment of complaining.”
In a stretch like this, the Utah Jazz are forced to measure progress in ways that go deeper than the final score, and Collier’s timely step-up was massive in igniting that final spark of hope for his teammates.
The Jazz will look to double their win total tomorrow against the Orlando Magic.
Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk and a Utah Jazz columnist for the Standard-Examiner. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently writes from his desk in Japan.
DALLAS — Nets guard Egor Dëmin is expected to make his return from a right leg injury Wednesday in New Orleans.
Dëmin practiced Tuesday in Dallas and is listed as probable against the Pelicans.
“Yeah, Egor practiced with the rest of the team,” Jordi Fernández said. “Now we’re doing a little extra session just to push him and see how he feels, and then we’ll make a decision that he has a chance to play.”
Egor Dëmin, who has been out with a right leg injury the last couple of weeks, is expected to return to the Nets’ lineup on Wednesday against the Pelicans. NBAE via Getty Images
Brooklyn has missed the 6-foot-8 Dëmin’s secondary playmaking and plus size in the backcourt.
“Yeah, yeah, it’s good to see him back,” Michael Porter Jr. said. “He looks good.”
Even before the injury, Dëmin was off to a slow start. He was averaging just 7.8 points, 2.8 assists and 2.3 rebounds on 31 percent shooting and 28.6 percent from deep. All of those stats are down from his rookie campaign.
After making strides with his downhill juice and touching the paint in summer league, Dëmin’s 2-point shooting has backslid.
Wednesday will be Noah Clowney’s first opportunity to get back on the floor since losing his poise and fouling out in just 7:47 during Sunday’s loss in Dallas.
Noah Clowney (right) and Morez Johnson (left) are separated by Kyrie Irving during the second half of the Nets’ blowout loss to the Mavericks on Nov. 8, 2026 in Dallas. AP
Fernández acknowledged Clowney’s need to curtail his emotions. Porter alluded to the impact coming off the bench has had on the young forward’s headspace after he started 60 games last season.
“Noah’s a great player. He’s one of my favorite players I’ve played with,” Porter said. “Obviously, his role changed this year. But Noah, when he’s at his best, he helps. He can help any unit he’s out there with. He could help any team, and he can obviously help us.
“We just have to have him in the right headspace. And I know it looks different for him than this year. But we need Noah to win games for sure.”
The Nets monitor ground covered during games, who is running and who is not.
“Atlanta was very simple — a team that was on the second night of a back-to-back outworked us … so that’s not good,” Fernández said. “We had the highest-intensity running in the first quarter of the whole season, which was a pretty good first quarter. And we had the lowest intensity of the season in the fourth quarter. So, it’s pretty self-explanatory.
“It also goes to us on how we rotate. Are they too tired because I’m running them too long? It’s all those things … why and how we can fix it.”
Nolan Traore is questionable with right calf soreness. Joshua Jefferson, Ben Saraf, Tyler Bilodeau and Grant Nelson are all out on G League assignments.
New Orleans’ Yves Missi (left knee contusion/bone bruise) is out, along with Trendon Watford (right ankle sprain).
Trey Murphy III is probable with bilateral patellar tendinopathy.
Boston Celtics' Paul George gestures toward fans during a game in Philadelphia.
Paul George had a message for one 76ers fan.
George put up 36 points in the Celtics’ 123-101 win over the Sixers on Tuesday night in Philadelphia in a highly anticipated matchup that pitted star players against their former teams.
But George caught the attention of many fans who saw a video of him giving the middle finger to someone at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Looks like Paul George may have also flipped out a fan (or someone) after that three pic.twitter.com/LecXldKldE
The ex-Sixer and current Celtics star crouched down and then lifted his middle finger in the direction of a fan after he hit a 3-pointer.
George said the fan was “being an a–hole,” according to the Boston Herald’s Zack Cox.
“He looked me dead in my eyes, dropped the ball on the ground as if I’m a dog to go fetch or go get it, instead of passing the ball to me like a normal fan would do. So then I rolled him a middle finger in return,” George explained.
The decision to allegedly antagonize George seemed like a questionable decision by the fan, considering the dominant game he had against his former team.
George brought his A-game on Tuesday night, shooting 14-for-28 from the field and 6-for-11 from 3-point range, while putting up 14 straight points in the fourth quarter.
Paul George gives a middle finger to a fan after scoring during the Celtics’ 123-101 blowout win over the 76ers on Nov. 10, 2026 in Philadelphia. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“He’s been incredible all season. The joy he’s playing with, what he’s brought to our team so far has been great,” Jayson Tatum told NBC after the game. “We’re lucky to have him and keep it going.”
The showdown in the City of Brotherly Love pitted George, who played in Philadelphia last season, against the 76ers, who now have ex-Celtics star Jaylen Brown.
George was part of the 76ers’ return in order for them to acquire Brown in the blockbuster trade in July.
Though George had a big night, Brown underperformed, putting up just 13 points on 4-for-9 from the floor.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 5: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets on April 5, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
They say “It’s not who you play; it’s when you play them.” Well, this isn’t when you want to play the Golden State Warriors. Much like how Steph Curry returned from an absence of over two months last season just to play the Rockets, it seems like it’s never a good time to see the San Francisco squad.
In case you haven’t been following the NBA at large, the Warriors dropped their first three games. Since then, they’ve reeled off eight straight wins, including wins over the Nuggets in Denver (yes, Nikola Jokic played), the Timberwolves in Minnesota (no, Anthony Edwards did not), and at home against the Los Angeles Lakers (yes, all the white guys played). They’ve also handily beaten the Clippers, Heat, and Pelicans.
The Warriors basically found out that Kristaps Porzingis was done with basketball around the same time they realized that Yaxel Lendeborg might finally fulfill the “two timelines” prophecy. Lendeborg has emerged as a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate (and you could easily argue he should be leading the race at the moment) and has made plenty of people forget that the Warriors are still missing Jimmy Butler. If Yaxel continues on this trajectory, the Warriors suddenly become quite terrifying at the deadline armed with Butler and Porzingis as trade chips.
Look, the Warriors are going to play extra well against the Rockets. They always do. There is something in their franchise’s DNA that tells them that no matter what, they will play their best basketball against Houston. But the Warriors are playing well right now no matter what, and with the game being on national television, it’s another chance for Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and the new kid on the block to torment my favorite basketball squad. Do I have PTSD? You’re damn right I do. Honestly, I have no idea why Houston is favored in this one.
The Warriors are starting a five-game road trip against the Southwest Division. If Houston doesn’t get them tonight, they will have to get through the streaking Spurs on Friday, a New Orleans team that exists, and then a Dallas-Memphis back-to-back next week. Three of those games are on television (the ones against the Texas teams), so expect Steve Kerr to rest his guys against New Orleans and Memphis. Houston has an extended road trip of their own starting next week. We’re officially getting into the grind.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 10: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Boston Celtics on November 10, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Bell Ringer Standings: Tyrese Maxey – 3.5 Jaylen Brown – 2.5 VJ Edgecombe – 2 Joel Embiid – 1 LeBron James – 1 Anfernee Simons – 1
Well, that could have gone better. The Philadelphia 76ers were absolutely buried by a barrage of three-pointers from the Boston Celtics and fell 123-101 on Tuesday night.
It was a highlight anticipated matchup of Eastern Conference teams, with Jaylen Brown facing his former squad for the first time as a member of the Sixers. This also meant the return of Paul George, who now sports Celtics green… and he made himself known in this one, to say the least.
It was a rough first half for the Sixers, who looked completely flat offensively and lacked any foundation on defense. They’d manage a bucket, then immediately allow the Celtics to knock down another three. Looking back, Philadelphia were fortunate to only be down 11 points going into halftime. A minor miracle.
The Sixers came out a much better team in the third, finally knocking down some shots and chipping away at the Celtics lead to bring things back even… for a moment.
Boston stayed red hot from beyond the arc, and rebuilt their lead to nine going into the final frame. And they just didn’t stop. Three after three after three. They hit nine threes on a run spanning from late in the third into the fourth. It was relentless. Meanwhile, the Sixers didn’t score for nearly five whole minutes to start the fourth. Hard to keep a game close with that kind of math going against you!
The Sixers are off Wednesday night and will return on Thursday evening hosting the Toronto Raptors.
Until then, let’s get to the Bell Ringer, if we must.
Tyrese Maxey: 24 points, 1 rebound, 4 assists
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Tyrese Maxey got his night going quickly with a 3-for-3 start from the floor for eight quick points in the first. He ended up leading the Sixers after their lackluster first half with 12 points on 4-for-6 field goal, 1-for-1 three-point shooting. It was a rough first half for really every Sixer, but his contributions were part of why they were only down a dozen at the break. And he wasn’t done. In the third, things really started to heat up for Maxey, who put up another dozen points in the frame with some silky smooth 4-for-5 field goal shooting to help give the Sixers their only real taste of momentum all game, including knocking down two big threes.
It wasn’t nearly enough to survive the Celtics absolutely onslaught from long range, but Maxey was the only Sixer to shoot well throughout the night and was critical to the brief, fleeting moment the Sixers looked like they might turn this one around.
Maxey finished leading the Sixers with 24 points on 8-for-12 field goal, 3-for-4 three-point shooting with a rebound and four assists.
<p> (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Honestly, Dean Wade was one of the only players I thought put in good minutes throughout the entire first half, rather than just a moment here or there. Wade put up some incredible defense on Jayson Tatum at times in the first frame, was grabbing boards left and right and even knocked down a few buckets. At the half, he actually led the Sixers in +/- as a 0. Not bad for a game they trailed by 11 at the time. He got right back to work in the third, putting up more some extremely-respectable defense and adding a triple that briefly tied the game up.
Wade has done this a few games now where he really just does all the little fundamental things right. Even if it’s just going up for every defensive board he can get his hands on, or just putting up solid defense that never really shows on basic stat sheet, to simply knocking in a few points when the opportunity presents itself. Wade has been an absolute asset for the Sixers off the bench and he deserves some recognition for it.
Wade finished with eight points and nine rebounds (two offensive). And that’s part of what I mean, it hardly sounds like a crazy stat line, but he was truly one of the more consistently productive players for Philadelphia all night.
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Of the rough first half performances from the Sixers, VJ Edgecombe put up one the of the least-rough. Thinking positive, people! The sophomore filled the stat sheet with six points, three rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block by the break. Edgecombe came out to start the second half and hit a truly insane finish through contact from Neemias Queta. It was part of the only little run the Sixers could really string together tonight in the third frame.
The bar was pretty low tonight, so I honestly was giving a nomination to VJ regardless just to show off this play. It was one of the very few exciting moments of the night for Philadelphia. Edgecombe finished with eight points, four rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block.
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 9: Jake LaRavia #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on November 9, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The streaking Lakers (10-2) continue their current four-game road trip in Milwaukee where they will take on the Bucks (1-10). This is the first matchup between the teams this season.
Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Milwaukee Bucks
When: 5 p.m. PT, Nov. 11
Where: Fiserv Forum
Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet
The Lakers have been playing a lot of basketball lately.
Although the Lakers have been playing like a very good team, their schedule hasn’t made it easy. They’ve played four games in the last seven nights and this East Coast road trip has only added to the challenge. They have a well-deserved three-day break coming up. But first, they’re going to face arguably the worst team in the league.
This certainly has all the makings of a trap game.
They should be able to win given how serious they’ve approached every game ahead of them thus far this season. The theme of this road trip has been their next-man mentality, which has kept their winning streak to six straight games. On Wednesday, it’s another chance to keep building.
Los Angeles will take on a Milwaukee team led by Tyler Herro (who is currently listed as day-to-day with an injury), Kyle Kuzma and Jaime Jaquez Jr. Basically, it’s a rebuilding Bucks team that moved on to its next chapter without franchise legend Giannis Antetokounmpo. They’ve been experiencing some growing pains on both ends of the floor, where they rank in the bottom five in the league. While they’re a very good rebounding team, the Bucks don’t have the firepower to keep up with the Lakers — at least they shouldn’t.
The only way this match becomes a threat for the Lakers is if one of their streaky players — like Kuzma, Jaquez Jr. or Ryan Rollins — turns out to be the best player on the floor. That’s going to be extremely hard to do with Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves set to play.
Hopefully, it won’t take much from Dončić and Reaves to get the Lakers through. It would be nice to see the role players and bench continue to build on the momentum they’ve gained.
Remember, it’s games like this that end up being huge in the standings down the line. These are must-win games for the purple and gold, especially in the competitive Western Conference where they’re currently sitting on top of the standings.
Let’s see if the Lakers can take care of business and avoid a trap-game stumble on Wednesday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, only Quentin Grimes (right finger sprain) is listed as questionable.
As for the Bucks, no injury report has been released since they’ll be playing on the second night of a back-to-back. They’re coming off a 32-point loss against the New York Knicks.
It’s also worth noting that Tyler Herro (right knee contusion) didn’t play on Tuesday.
Nov 10, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jordan Goodwin (23) celebrates a three pointer against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Do you see what happens when you go from Victor Wembanyama to *checks notes* Brook Lopez? (with all due respect to the vet)
The Suns’ second unit took this one over early and never gave it back. Phoenix beat the Clippers 133-110 Tuesday night, improving to 4-6. The bench poured in 81 points, Phoenix hit 22 threes to LA’s 15, and the Suns led for 44 of the 48 minutes. Seven Suns finished in double figures.
It was a much-needed bounceback win for the Suns. We are now 10 games deep into the NBA season, and Phoenix sits at 4-6 after a brutal schedule to open up. All things considered, it could be worse.
Suns Leaders:
Jordan Goodwin led Phoenix with 18 points in under 14 minutes, going 6-of-7 from the field with all six makes from three. Devin Booker added 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting with 5 assists. Luke Kennard scored 14 on 5-of-7 shooting, and Jalen Green had 13 on 5-of-7, including 3-of-4 from deep, with 5 rebounds. Collin Gillespie scored 12 points, all on threes (4-of-9), and dished out a game-high 8 assists. Man Man finished with 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists. Ryan Dunn added 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting and 8 rebounds, and Oso Ighodaro grabbed 8 rebounds and finished +18.
Clippers Leaders:
Darius Garland and Rui Hachimura each scored 13 for Los Angeles. Garland shot 5-of-12 with 6 assists, and Hachimura went 4-of-10 with 3 threes and 5 rebounds. Baba Miller also had 13, all in the fourth quarter, on 4-of-4 shooting. Max Strus added 12 points, and Derrick Jones Jr. and Keaton Wagler each scored 11.
Game Flow
First Half
The Suns jumped out to an early 6-2 lead, led by 4 points from Devin Booker.
This quarter was tight for most of the first quarter. Los Angeles took an 18-16 lead behind 8 points from Rui Hachimura, who hit two of his three attempts from deep. Then the Phoenix bench took over.
The Suns closed the period on a 13-0 run. Collin Gillespie went 2-for-2 from three, Ryan Dunn was perfect at the rim, and Jordan Goodwin added a triple.
The Phoenix bench outscored LA’s reserves 13-0, and the Clippers’ second unit went 0-for-4 from the field.
Man Man didn’t attempt a shot, but he still had 3 rebounds and 3 assists in under five minutes. Phoenix won the glass 17-8 and the paint 12-4. Devin Booker led all scorers with 8, though he turned it over three times.
Phoenix led after the first quarter, 29-18.
Jordan Goodwin turned the second quarter into his own shootaround. He went 4-for-4 from three for 12 points in just over six minutes, and Luke Kennard added two more triples off the bench. Phoenix shot 8-of-14 from deep in the quarter.
The Clippers found more offense this time, shooting 50 percent with eight different players scoring. Isaiah Jackson and Max Strus gave LA’s second unit some life after it went scoreless in the first. Phoenix still stretched the lead to 17 at 48-31, its biggest of the half.
Devin Booker went 0-for-4 from the field in the quarter, and his only point came at the line. Ryan Dunn did not play in the second half after his strong first quarter. Collin Gillespie drilled a deep three at the buzzer to close out the half.
Miles Bridges finally got going after a scoreless first half. He scored 8 points in the third on 3-of-4 shooting, including 2-of-3 from deep.
Devin Booker played all 12 minutes and found his rhythm with 8 points on 2-of-4 from three. Phoenix hit 7 threes in the quarter, while LA went 4-for-15 from deep.
The Suns did damage on the offensive glass. They scored 16 second-chance points in the quarter, compared to 7 for the Clippers, and the lead hit 32 at 91-59.
Man Man added 7 points on 2-of-2 shooting and a perfect 3-of-3 at the line.
After three, Phoenix led 99-72.
With a 27-point cushion, both benches took over. No Phoenix starter played in the fourth, and the Suns closed with an all-reserve group.
Luke Kennard led the way with 8 points. Jamaree Bouyea made all five of his shots, going 2-of-2 from the field and 3-of-3 at the line for 7 points, and added 3 assists. Koa Peat chipped in 5 points, and Rasheer Fleming knocked down his only three. Phoenix shot 12-of-16 in the quarter.
Baba Miller made the most of his minutes for Los Angeles, scoring 13 points in the fourth on 4-of-4 shooting and 4-of-6 at the line. The Clippers took the quarter 38-34, helped by six Phoenix turnovers.
Up Next
The Suns’ never-ending homestand continues as they take on the Hornets on Thursday night.
PHILADELPHIA — Jayson Tatum scored 21 points and outplayed former Boston teammate Jaylen Brown, and Paul George hit six 3-pointers and scored 36 points in his return to Philadelphia, leading the Celtics past the 76ers 123-101 on Tuesday night.
Brown ran into early foul trouble and scored only 13 points in his first game against Boston since the 2024 NBA Finals MVP was traded over the summer to the Sixers. His head-to-head showdown with Tatum was one of the more anticipated early-season matchups with both players refusing to say much about their frosty relationship.
Tatum tried to dap up Brown before the opening tip with a tap on the shoulder and thump on the chest that his former teammate ignored. Tatum shook hands and exchanged a big hug with LeBron James.
Brown picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter and was whistled for his fourth early in the second half.
George, traded for Brown after two seasons with the 76ers, enjoyed the homecoming. He appeared to give the finger in a bowling motion near the visitor’s bench after he sank his fourth 3 of the game for a 100-82 lead that pushed the Celtics to their ninth win in 10 games.
The Sixers survived a scare late in the second half when Joel Embiid landed awkwardly and hit the court on a missed layup attempt. The oft-injured big man curled up on the court while VJ Edgecombe dunked over him.
Embiid gingerly ran down the court and hunched over as the halftime horn sounded with the Celtics up 62-51.
Embiid’s health has been a career-long issue for him, and the Sixers have declined to play him in back-to-back games. A two-time NBA scoring champion, Embiid has slumped with his shot this season, with no game worse than last Friday in Cleveland when missed all nine shots from the floor and scored only two points.
He had missed 27 of 30 (and 20 consecutive) 3-pointers entering the game. Embiid missed two 3-point attempts in the first half but opened the second with his first 3 since the second game of the season.
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 10: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 10, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks just experienced arguably their ugliest loss of the season, losing to the New York Knicks 117-85 after awful second and fourth quarters. Jaime Jaquez Jr. led all Bucks starters with 16 points, while Kasparas Jakucionis led the bench scoring with 11 points and four assists. Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 23 points, while Marquette’s own (and newest enemy of the Swifties) Tyler Kolek led New York’s bench with 12.
With Tyler Herro sitting out, Ryan Rollins got his first start since Halloween against Cleveland. The Bucks hit the first field goal of the game—a Turner triple from the top of the key—and hung tough in the first half of the quarter, tying it at 13 on the heels of five quick points and two assists from Rollins. The Knicks defense, though, proved stout, with Mikal Bridges rejecting Nate Ament’s first attempt on the fast break. After a quick five points put the home side ahead, Jenkins called a timeout. Some positives for the Bucks followed out of the break, with Ament spinning through double coverage for the fancy and-one finish for his first points of the night, ending an 8-0 Knicks run. Kasparas Jakucionis kept the scoreboard ticking over as the Bucks exited the first quarter down 26-21.
The Bucks got off to a slow start in the second quarter, with Kel’el Ware scoring the lone field goal nearly four minutes in. Notably, AJ Green and Ousmane Dieng started alongside Ware and Jaquez Jr., and while it was an interesting experiment, the Bucks simply didn’t have the speed to keep up with the Knicks on either end. Unfortunately, the Bucks went on another cold stretch, with a Dieng three being the only made bucket in a long stretch. Finally, Ament finally broke the seal after subbing back in and immediately picking off an Andre Drummond pass to finish in transition with balance and poise, looking more like a seasoned veteran than a rookie. Ament proved to be the lone silver lining during their regularly scheduled dumpster-fire quarter, finishing the half with a team-high seven points and two steals. Bucks enter halftime down 58-34.
Thankfully, Milwaukee got out to a faster start in the third, scoring nine quick points, a run capped off by a Jaquez steal and layup plus the harm. After turning it over on the next few possessions, the Bucks got back on track and went on an electric 15-3 run, forcing a New York timeout with the deficit down to 14. For the rest of the quarter, it seemed like almost everyone chipped in: Rollins, Jaquez, Ament, and Jakucionis all finished in double figures as the Bucks outscored the Knicks 38-27 and cut the deficit to 13, 85-72. This was largely because Milwaukee shot 64% from deep in the third and played a more physical brand of defense.
The visitors kept applying pressure to open the final frame with a quick bucket from Ware off a lob from Jaquez. Unfortunately, that was as close as they got, as the home side kept wearing them down, especially on the glass. Milwaukee scored just five points over four minutes, with the Knicks dominating the Bucks’ frontcourt. On the night, Kuzma and Turner combined for eight points, eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and three turnovers on 2/11 shooting. At least there was the rare Bogoljub Markovic sighting, and Bogo made a smooth pass to Dieng in transition for an easy lay-up. That was about the only real garbage-time highlight, though, as the Knicks kept pouring it in. After mounting a comeback of sorts, the Bucks went out with a whimper.
Stat That Stood Out
59: The number of rebounds the Knicks got, and yes, of course, they won the rebound battle 59-32.
Obscene Overreaction
Three Bucks starters combined for just 11 points. One of those starters was Burries, a rookie who will likely take steps forward and backward all season. The other two are Kuzma and Turner, and if the first 10 games were not enough evidence that they need to be benched, then this game should be. The Bucks are starting to lose the identity they built over the first eight games, when they ranked top five in rebounding and second-chance points. Ware played more effectively and put in better effort, so start him and Ament. If the Bucks are going to lose, they may as well do it while developing young players.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics look on during the game on November 10, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The battle of the Jays made the headlines, but Paul George seized the spotlight in his return to Philly.
The Boston Celtics handily beat the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101 behind George’s 36 points, as he rattled off shot after shot against his former team. Boston’s depth also put on a show against the Sixers, as 8 players hit at least 1 three-pointer and 3 players (George, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser) hit at least 4.
It was the first of four regular season games between Boston and Philly this year and, other than the 2023 NBA All-Star Game, the first time the Jays have faced each other as opponents. The teams’ next matchup won’t be until Jan. 21, when they will square off in TD Garden.
Boston’s starting squad included Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, and Neemias Queta. The team’s injury report was clear.
Philly’s starters included Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid. Adem Bona and Dominick Barlow were out with injuries.
George opened up the action for Boston with the team’s first 4 points, as he capitalized early on his advantageous matchup against Edgecombe. Less than 3 minutes into the game, we got our first glimpse of the head-to-head matchup between the Jays. Tatum was guarding Brown and forced a turnover with some fast hands, then got an easy dunk and a cutting layup on back-to-back plays.
Brown got his first points of the game on a pair of free throws about 4 minutes in, but Maxey led the way early for the Sixers, with 8 of the team’s first 12 points. Nevertheless, the Celtics had an 18-12 lead after 5 minutes and started off shooting a scalding 8-10 from the floor.
White had a nice redemption play about halfway through the quarter, where he got back in position after losing a turnover and drew a charge on Brown, who took the ball hard to the paint. The Jays starred on the next two plays, as Tatum hit a slick step back three-pointer that was followed up with a ferocious dunk by Brown.
Mitchell Robinson also put in some good work early on, battling with Embiid down low and grabbing 3 rebounds (one of which resulted in a scrappy putback) in less than 5 minutes of play time. However, he fouled Embiid on a three-pointer with less than 3 minutes to go in the quarter, which led Head Coach Joe Mazzulla to sub him out for Queta.
Luckily, Embiid hit only 1-3 free throws, and Boston rattled off a pair of layups to go up 30-21 with 26 seconds to go in the quarter, which ended with a missed Payton Pritchard three-pointer at the buzzer. The frame ended with the C’s up 30-23.
Both teams came out firing in the second quarter. Almost five minutes into the frame, the Celtics had scored 15 points and the Sixers tallied 11 of their own. Other than a lone Luka Garza bucket, all of Boston’s offense came from Pritchard and George, who were red hot to open the quarter. With 7:21 to go, the C’s had taken a 45-34 lead.
Both sides cooled off a bit about halfway through the quarter. Maxey kept Philly’s offense chugging along, but the Celtics took a 54-40 lead with the help of a few three-pointers (2 from Sam Hauser and 1 from Hugo Gonzalez). George’s hot streak continued, as he came out of a timeout, rebounded his own miss for a bucket, then knocked down a free throw to complete the and-1 play. He also hit a three-pointer about a minute later to put the C’s up 62-47.
The Sixers scored the last 4 points of the half, leaving the Celtics with a 62-51 lead after two quarters.
At the half, George led the C’s in scoring with 17 points on 63.6% shooting from the field. He also had 4 rebounds and 1 assist.
Tatum was Boston’s second leading scorer, with 13 points, 4 rebounds and a block.
For the Sixers, Maxey led the way with 12 points, while Embiid had 9 points (entirely from free throws, as he was 0-6 from the field).
Brown had 8 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 turnovers at the half.
Embiid hit his fourth three-pointer of the season (and his first in 7 games) to open the second half, but Tatum came back and hit a three-pointer of his own soon after. Brown also tallied his fourth foul of the game early in the quarter, putting him in foul trouble early. However, it was the Sixers who came out of the half with more of a spark. With the help of a LeBron three-pointer, a ridiculous circus shot by Edgecombe to score over Queta, and a Maxey layup, Philly went on a 7-0 run to cut Boston’s lead to 69-63.
Following a Celtics timeout, Queta cut to the rim for an easy bucket on a dime from Tatum. It was Tatum’s first assist of the game. Tatum also had what might have been the play of the game soon after, as he blocked an Edgecombe layup and flew down the court for a thunderous poster dunk on LeBron. Nevertheless, the Sixers kept chipping away, and underrated Celtics killer Dean Wade hit a 26-footer to tie the game up at 76 apiece with about 4 minutes left in the quarter.
Following a timeout, the momentum changed hands again. Pritchard and Maxey went back-to-back-to-back in a three-point shooting exchange that Boston got the best of. Hauser hit another from behind the arc soon after to put the C’s up 85-79. That wasn’t the end of the three-point shooting display, though. After the Celtics forced a shot clock violation, Tatum, Maxey, and Scheierman hit 3 three-pointers in a row.
By the end of the third, the C’s had taken a 91-82 lead.
The Celtics’ shooting stayed hot as the final frame began. Pritchard started the quarter with a deep step-back three-pointer, then hit on another a couple minutes later to increase Boston’s lead to 15 points while both Maxey and Embiid were resting. George joined in on the fun and hit a pullup three-pointer of his own to give the C’s a 100-82 lead, the largest of the night.
Philly called a timeout and subbed Maxey and Embiid back into the game, but they still had a hard time breaking through the Celtics’ stifling defense. On the other hand, nothing could stop Paul George. He knocked down a sweet turnaround mid-ranger, then cooked his defender for an easy layup to put Boston up 105-82 with about 8 minutes left to go.
Brown hit his first three-pointer of the night following a Boston timeout, but George hit another 2 three-pointers soon after to give the C’s a dominant 111-87 lead with less than 6 minutes to go in the game. The Sixers subsequently emptied the bench, all but conceding the loss to Boston. The Celtics depth then finished the job and never let Philly even whiff a potential comeback.
George racked up 36 points on 63.6% shooting, including 6-11 from beyond the arc, 5 rebounds, and 1 assist.
Tatum finished the game with 21 points on 47.1% shooting, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks.
Pritchard, Hauser, and Hugo Gonzalez each finished in the double-digits scoring-wise, with 18, 12, and 10 points, respectively.
The team finished the game shooting 22-49 from three-point range.
Brown had only 13 points on 44.4% shooting, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 stocks. He also had 4 turnovers and finished with a +/- of -27 for the night.
Maxey, James, and Embiid had 24, 11, and 16 points, respectively.
The Celtics will play the Toronto Raptors tomorrow at 7 p.m. in Scotiabank Arena. It will be the last game of Boston’s four-game road trip.
Julius Randle #30 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket against Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks in Atlanta, Georgia, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026.
DALLAS — When Benjamin Franklin said, “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately,” the sentiment was about building a country.
It also applies to building a team.
The Nets are finding that out the hard way.
They enter Wednesday’s tilt in New Orleans a disheartening 2-8. And with a rare road practice the day before in Dallas, the Nets went in intent on keeping the morale up, the energy positive and — most importantly — the team together.
Julius Randle drives on Jalen Johnson on during the Nets’ loss to the Hawks on Nov. 7, 2026 in Atlanta. Getty Images
“That was one of my points after the [Dallas] game; it’s what we need to not only get better, but also come together,” Jordi Fernández said. “Our practice, the energy was outstanding and we got better. So right now we want to go out there and play a good brand of basketball.”
Getting on the same page was a main point of emphasis in their practice, as was getting in a good headspace.
“There’s a lot of things to be down about. But it’s a long season, and if we get down already, then it’s going to be a longer season,” admitted Michael Porter Jr. “So coming here with good energy and get better was what we needed to do.”
The proof will be in the pudding, or against the Pelicans.
Brooklyn was disorganized offensively against the Mavericks, with 21 turnovers resulting in 25 points.
It’s a recurring theme after coughing up 22 giveaways for 28 points the night before in a heartbreaking 124-121 loss in Atlanta.
“Yeah, it’s pretty simple, right? I know the guys are not trying to turn it over, so put less pressure on yourself when you make those decisions,” said Fernández. “It’s more about our spacing and then how we do from there because we’re pretty unorganized early and then that doesn’t help. So I don’t want them to play tentative; I want them to play aggressive, and making their decisions and playing very hard.
“And then defensively it’s going back to what is going to make us be a very good defensive team is ball pressure first. Build our trust through communication, our coverages, and then finish with multiple efforts. We’ve shown it at times, and now in this next set of five games we want to see improvement.”
The turnover issue has been death by a thousand cuts. And worst of all, those slices are self-inflicted wounds.
Shoddy spacing, bad reads and similar gaffes lead to giveaways.
Brooklyn began Tuesday third worst in the league in turnovers and turnover percentage, and fourth worst in points off those giveaways.
Michael Porter Jr. handles the ball during the Nets’ blowout loss to the Mavericks on Nov. 8, 2026 in Dallas. Getty Images
That was a huge focus in practice.
“That’s what we’re going over, so that’s all I know,” said Day’Ron Sharpe. “Especially transition, just get into our spots of transition and just being aggressive and making the right play. We’re all basketball players, we all know what to do, so just having faith in what we work on and hopefully that transitions to win.”
Knowing what to do hasn’t always translated on the fly.
“(It’s) reading how the defense is guarding us. Sometimes they’re switching and we’re not having the right reads off of that,” said Porter. “So we slowed down some parts of practice and walked through the different ways we can attack different coverages when teams are staying with their own vs. switching vs. top locking. All those things will help.
“I mean, we’ve got no choice. Any trial or tribulation can be viewed as a lesson, and that’s what we’re choosing to do. We’re just trying to grow as a team because we’re stuck with each other. And we’re right where we wanna be: here. So we have no choice but to get better.”
(@NoaDalzell) 
