Category: NBA

The Golden State Warriors will host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night. The game will be played at 5:30 PM PT in San Francisco and can be watched on NBC Sports Bay Area.

The Bay vs. L.A.

🏀 GSW vs. LAC
🕠 5:30p PT
📺 @NBCSAuthentic
📻 @957thegame
📱 https://t.co/6fWWQpq2o1
🎟️ https://t.co/CHS4EdsrDbpic.twitter.com/dCOnWMPvpo

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) November 1, 2026

Previously with the Warriors:

After opening the season with three consecutive losses, the Warriors have turned things around with three straight wins, most recently defeating the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, 112-95.

Golden State found themselves in an early hole trailing by 23 points after the first quarter. However, a furious comeback led by superstar Steph Curry completely shifted the momentum, as the Warriors outscored Los Angeles 97-57 over the final three quarters to secure the victory. Curry led the team with 31 points while providing the home crowd with multiple highlights along the way, including this ankle-breaking move against Lakers star Luka Dončić.

STEPH CURRY, ARE YOU SERIOUS??? 😱 pic.twitter.com/0XSBhsnHpy

— NBA (@NBA) October 31, 2026

What to watch for tonight:

The Warriors will have to keep their winning streak alive without two of their biggest stars on Sunday. Curry and Draymond Green have both been ruled out against the Clippers, with Golden State opting to rest their veteran duo on the first night of a back-to-back.

Steph Curry and Draymond Green will both rest tomorrow night on the front side of a back-to-back against the Clippers. Injury management. That should clear them to face the Suns on Monday night.

Al Horford will play vs Clippers, meaning he would rest vs Suns.

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 31, 2026

Look for rookie Yaxel Lendeborg to have a bounce back game tonight. Lendeborg struggled to find his rhythm against the Lakers, finishing with a season-low six points Friday night. The rookie was critical of his performance afterward, acknowledging that he needed to be better.

Yaxel Lendeborg’s lesson from his sixth NBA game: “Try not to wet the bed as bad as I did.”

“I’m a big dweller on bad games.”

“Them boys had my back today. Steph Curry did his thing.”

Full Yaxel postgame sound pic.twitter.com/q57EJCNM4M

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 31, 2026

Now, with two of Golden State’s stars unavailable, Lendeborg will have a chance to respond. The Warriors have already seen flashes of his versatility and offensive potential early this season, but Sunday’s matchup could provide an interesting opportunity to see how he responds to a poor performance.

Enjoy the game Dub Nation. GO WARRIORS!!!

Projected Starters

Warriors: De’Anthony Melton, Brandin Podziemski, Yaxel Lendeborg, Gui Santos, Graham Ike

Clippers: Darius Garland, Kris Dunn, Rui Hachimura, Derrick Jones Jr., Isaiah Jackson

How to watch Regular Season Game 7

Who: Golden State Warriors (3 – 3) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (1 – 4)

When: Saturday, November 1st, at 5:30 p.m. PT

Where: Chase Center — San Francisco, California

TV and Streaming: NBC Sports Bay Area

Halloween might be over, but that doesn’t rid the scare from Nets fans.

Brooklyn dropped to 0-5 on Friday night after letting another promising start slip away in a 110-94 loss to the Detroit Pistons. The Nets came out with another solid start, but couldn’t sustain it over four quarters.

The road doesn’t get any easier tonight. The Nets won’t have Egor Dëmin and Mikel Brown Jr., leaving Nolan Traoré with an opportunity to take on a larger role at point guard. They’re back on the road at Indiana, who are also trying to find their footing after a 145-125 loss to the Miami Heat on Friday.

The Pacers enter at 2-4, but remain a dangerous opponent even without its franchise point guard, Tyrese Haliburton. The two-time All-Star will miss some time with a strained hamstring.

Indiana won the first meeting between these teams, 136-109, on Oct. 25.

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Game Info & How to Watch

• Matchup: Brooklyn Nets (0-5) at Indiana Pacers (2-4)
• Time: 5:00 PM ET (4:00 PM CT)
• Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
• TV/Streaming: YES Network/DAZN

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Nets-Pacers Injury Report

Brooklyn Nets

• OUT: Egor Dëmin (right bone bruise)
• OUT: Mikel Brown Jr. (back injury management)
• OUT: Joshua Jefferson (G League assignment)
• OUT: Ben Saraf (G League assignment)
• OUT: Tyler Bilodeau (G League assignment, two-way)
• OUT: Grant Nelson (G League assignment, two-way)

Indiana Pacers

• QUESTIONABLE: Obi Toppin (low back soreness)
• OUT: Tyrese Haliburton (left hamstring strain)
• OUT: Ben Sheppard (left meniscus surgery)
• OUT: Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain)
• OUT: Johnny Furphy (right ACL surgery)
• OUT: T.J. McConnell (right hamstring strain)
• PROBABLE: Aaron Nesmith (left hamstring strain)

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Game Preview

“The Nets are off to their worst possible start, and Friday’s loss to Detroit didn’t do much to inspire confidence. People can accept losing, but they can’t accept poor effort. Brooklyn’s latest defeat left plenty of questions about the team’s effort and execution. This year was supposed to be different for the Nets, but it looks all too familiar.

Nolan Traore will get all the minutes he can handle tonight. With Demin and Brown Jr out, it’s on him to man the point. That’s a lot on his shoulders. He’ll need to dictate the offense and generate downhill pressure. If he does get to the rim, the Nets need him to turn those opportunities into points.” – Brian Fleurantin

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💬 Discussion

Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversations. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

Calendars have moved from pumpkins to turkeys. Retail stores already have trees and lots of red and green. Your friends and family will start, if they haven’t already, asking what you’d like to have this year. If you have kids or grandkids, they’re probably telling you all on their own. 

Your local NBA team is off to a rough start. But even if they lose Monday against the Warriors, at 1-4 they would match the “out of the gate” record last year from…eventual champion New York. Things had to happen to transform the Knicks’ start into the ultimate success. Which brings me back to the topic of wish lists. What do I want to see by December 25th from the Phoenix Suns to get the team back on a more positive trajectory?

For starters, how about starters? I’d like to see two changes in the starting five. One that has gained traction in recent days is a move to Collin Gillespie at point guard.

Start.
Collin.
Gillespie.

…and end games with him too

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) October 31, 2026

He plays smart, provides a shooting threat, and sets a tone from the effort perspective.

The second change would be to get Oso Ighodaro into the starting lineup. That one may not fully count as he was already there pre-injury. We are a much more cohesive unit with Oso and Collin joining Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Miles Bridges. Khaman Maluach is still developing, with some nice moments. His confidence can grow at a nice pace by getting significant minutes off the bench. He has done well in spurts, but has some breakdowns. Oso struggles at the line, and this would get him fewer minutes late in quarters when teams are often over the foul limit. Oso and/or Collin were in each of our top-6 best net rating duos last season, as shown in my article on the offseason.

This one might be a more difficult wish, like asking Santa for a new sports car. I’d like Jalen Green to accept, make that embrace, a move to Sixth Man. Think Leandro Barbosa, Jamal Crawford, or Lou Williams. He could play freely, with less competition for shots, playing more minutes with Jordan Goodwin, Ryan Dunn, and Maluach. Having more success this way could also showcase him, increasing stock value from its current state should the Suns want to trade him.

That brings me to my next wish. I hope the team identifies multiple target players for a deal ahead of the February 5 trade deadline. One target results in less leverage. Ideally, these players are a proven commodity with some length. Someone you could see being part of a contending team over the next couple of years. That could be a tricky one. Feel free to fire up the trade machine in the chat. My goal is that Phoenix is in a position by Christmas to start creating buzz through NBA sources and agents. Probably Jalen Green, possibly grouped with Rasher Fleming. Here’s a sample return that works after December 15, and would also clear $6 of cap space:

I ask for Devin Booker to turn it around. There are 24 games from now until then. He’s seemed out of sorts, frustrated, possibly less athletic, and we all see those gray hairs starting to pop. But he’s just 30, skilled, and I think in his own head right now. Most are still rooting hard for him to succeed, and perhaps the lineup change mentioned above will get him on the right track over that stretch of games.

Lastly, I want to see Jordan Ott take additional steps toward being a solid NBA coach. The lineup moves above would be a step in that direction.

What are the top criticisms in the Bright Side comments? Rotation rigidity, a disconnected defense, and too much small ball. I think of other great coaches and how they will ride a hot hand, pull players lacking effort or missing assignments, and match up with size when needed. He has the opportunity to adapt here. On a more connected defense, with the Suns giving up more than 120 points in every game so far, this may mean ratcheting up the pressure on assistant coaches and getting in the face of a few players. That style doesn’t work anymore when applied all the time, but could be effective in well-placed spurts. With Oso back, there is no reason we shouldn’t have him or Khaman on the court at all times. 

Much like the holidays, now we wait and see. Did we get what we asked for? Will it be that sweater you’ll never wear? Maybe, just maybe, these wishes come true, and it will be a season to remember.

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Things got intense between veteran guards Jaylen Brown and Grayson Allen as a battle for a loose ball got scrappy during a Halloween clash.

Midway through the fourth quarter, the 76ers star drove to the basket but was swarmed by Hornets near the baseline.

He and Allen both ended up on the hardwood grabbing for the ball.

JAYLEN BROWN AND GRAYSON ALLEN pic.twitter.com/HDUinsD5l7

— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) November 1, 2026

A scuffle then followed as the ball went out of bounds. Allen pushed away Brown’s arm as the Hornets offseason addition tried to get up. Brown took exception to the push and shoved Allen back down.

Players from each team got in between Brown and Allen before the incident escalated further. Both players were assessed technical fouls by the referees.

Grayson Allen is no stranger to conflict.

The 31-year-old sharpshooter from Duke has built a reputation for getting under opposing players’ skin since his college days. 

Allen always brings a competitive fire to each game that can appear to be excessive in certain moments, and has been behind a ton of instances where a ball handler was undercut while attempting a basket.

The nine-year pro previously got into a hectic situation with now-Thunder player Alex Caruso back in 2022 with the Chicago Bulls when Allen was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. 

Allen got ejected after being assessed a Flagrant 2 foul for dragging down a mid-air Caruso while defending a Bulls fast break.

When Caruso was up in the air, Allen flew in and swatted at Caruso, sending the Bulls guard into a hard collision with the hardwood floor.

The Hornets led for most of Saturday’s game, but Brown and the 76ers rallied late to earn a 109-104 comeback win. Brown finished with a decent stat line of 16 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Allen led the Hornets with 27 points, including seven 3-pointers off the bench.

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It has been a long 19 months since Luka Doncic was traded. It has been an even longer 29 months since Mavericks fans were riding the high of making the NBA Finals and looking forward to the next 10 years of competition. At the time of the trade, it was hard to see how Dallas would ever recover from it.

I, personally, could not see a world in which I would feel joy watching the Mavericks for the foreseeable future. Then, Dallas lucked into Cooper Flagg. His rookie year was enjoyable, but so many remnants of the previous year remained. They had to fire the man who made the trade. Then, they had to trade the guy they received in the Doncic deal. Eventually, they made the decision to move on from the coach who oversaw all of these things when a new regime was put in place. And then Dusty May was hired, and he gave the city of Dallas something that was long overdue: a hope for joy again. 

If you live in Dallas, you know how the city felt in the spring of 2025: sad, lifeless, and hurting. Yes, it’s true that the DFW metroplex is a football town, but the Cowboys play in Arlington (and are perpetually disappointing), which is 30-45 minutes away. So does the baseball team, the Rangers, which means Dallas proper feels most alive when the Mavericks are good.

For over a year and a half, things felt off. Conversations that used to be had about the Mavericks were silent, buzz downtown on game days was non-existent, and the anticipation of playoff basketball was years down the road. There was still a long way to go to get back to where it felt the fan base was two years ago. Even with Flagg as the future, there was still some skepticism regarding how the team would rebound. But when basketball started less than two weeks ago, those worries started to melt away.

The Mavs are finally making us feel basketball feelings again. When I went to the Mavericks’ game on Friday night versus the Rockets, the arena felt like it did once upon a time. The city and people around me felt alive again, and Mavericks’ forward Naji Marshall seemed to notice the same thing:

AAC back to blowing the roof off wowwwww top 5 feeling 😭…

— Naji Marshall (@marshall_naji8) October 31, 2026

But what changed? This team is, in large part, the same as last season. Well, like I said before, the final step to moving on was getting a new coach. May has been a breath of fresh air. He is always smiling; he emits joy whenever he talks. He is personable in a way that Jason Kidd simply was not. He is constantly talking up his guys and praising them when they play well. He is, for all intents and purposes, the antithesis of everything that happened before he was hired.

The team even plays like an extension of him. They root for each other, they gang rebound, they have fun playing passing the ball, and, most of all, they play for the city of Dallas. May even said it himself when talking about the synergy between the coaches and front office:

“We’re all working together.”, May said. “We’re trying to represent this city the best way possible. And we’re all trying to achieve the same thing – to improve on and off the court because ultimately the way we play on the floor brings enjoyment to people’s lives.” 

And that last point, about bringing enjoyment to people’s lives, is the key element that previous decision-makers in the organization failed to realize. Dallas is full of hardworking people. Thousands of Mavericks fans clock in at 9:00 AM with the hope that after a beer or two and a Mavericks tipoff at 7:00 PM, the stresses of daily life will become a little easier. Sometimes that two-and-a-half-hour basketball game is all you need to decompress after a long day.

That’s why Dallas rooted so hard for Doncic. He played with a joy that you could see reflected in the city. He was a release valve for the everyday fan. When he was dealt away, that joy he created faded quickly. But May understands that. He knows what Dallas has been through. And not only does he want his team to win, but he wants to bring the whole city with them. And he makes that clear with everything he does.

Sometimes it is hard to see the effect that a coach has on a team. But with May, that effect not only is evident in the basketball product, but it reverberates throughout the entire Dallas area. Flagg gave Mavericks fans hope again; May brought back our joy.

Despite playing the fewest games in the NBA during the inaugural month of the season, concern is high among the Phoenix Suns fanbase due to their offensive struggles and lack of a point guard in the starting lineup amid their 1-3 start. Fans will remain concerned about their season outlook until they start to string a win streak together and play more cohesively. They’ll have a few opportunities to do so throughout the first whole month of the NBA season.

Here’s a peek at the Suns’ schedule for November.

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The longest homestand since COVID

• Monday, November 2nd @ Golden State Warriors
• Wednesday, November 4th vs Portland Trail Blazers
• Thursday, November 5th vs Orlando Magic
• Saturday, November 7th vs Houston Rockets
• Monday, November 9th vs San Antonio Spurs
• Tuesday, November 10th vs Los Angeles Clippers
• Thursday, November 12th vs Charlotte Hornets
• Sunday, November 15th vs Los Angeles Lakers

After their Monday matchup in San Francisco against the Warriors, Phoenix will have their longest homestand since February of the 2020-2021 season, when the schedule was made to limit travel during the pandemic. A mix of games against the Eastern and Western Conferences, the Suns were .500 or better against all of their upcoming home opponents except for the Rockets last season.

With multiple back-to-backs in the homestand, the Suns will need to make sure they play a balanced and deep lineup, but the lack of travel will give the team more time to rest between games.

A homestand ends and a road trip begins

• Monday, November 16th @ Denver Nuggets
• Wednesday, November 18th @ Sacramento Kings
• Friday, November 20th @ Utah Jazz*
• Monday, November 23rd @ New Orleans Pelicans
• Wednesday, November 25th @ Houston Rockets*

(*=NBA Cup Games)

The five-game road trip is tied for the longest road trip the Suns will have all year, and the start of it will provide Phoenix with an opportunity for revenge against the Nuggets, who handed them their most recent loss. One of the two winless teams left, the Kings project to provide Phoenix with one of their easiest games of the year, before they play in two of three NBA Cup Games to finish out their travels, with the game against Houston being Jalen Green’s first game at the Toyota Center since being traded for Kevin Durant in 2025. He missed both games in Houston last year because of hamstring issues.

Post-Thanksgiving clashes with rising stars

• Friday, November 27th vs Dallas Mavericks*
• Sunday, November 29th @ Utah Jazz

(*=NBA Cup Games)

After a break for Thanksgiving, Phoenix will face off against Cooper Flagg and Darryn Peterson, the first and second picks in the 2025 and 2026 drafts. While Peterson has struggled mightily with efficiency to start his career, Flagg has been an offensive and defensive force, leading the Mavericks to a surprising 4-2 start and handing the Rockets their first loss of the season after their 5-0 start behind his 33-point performance.

The games against the young talent will give the Suns a glimpse at what life could have been like if they opted to rebuild and accumulate assets after their 2022 and 2023 playoff shortcomings rather than go all-in on acquiring Bradley Beal, which stripped them of all their remaining draft capital after trading for Kevin Durant months prior.

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How do you think the Suns will fare in November?

The Celtics will be without Mitchell Robinson when they face the Orlando Magic. Robinson will rest on the front end of a back-to-back, the Celtics’ second of the season. So far this season, Robinson has averaged 6.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 20 minutes per game.

The rest of the roster, except two-way player Devin Carter, is fully available. Carter continues to deal with an illness, though he is now around the team after being away to start the season.

Robinson typically did not play in both nights of back-to-backs as a member of the New York Knicks, but in an interview with Knicks Fan TV earlier this month, he made clear that would not be the case in Boston.

”It ain’t going to be the same in Boston [as it was with the Knicks]. I’ll be able to play back-to-backs,” Robinson said. “I’m very excited for that; it’s been a long time coming. Now I can go out there and play basketball, just go out there with a free mind and just hoop.”

The Celtics are 4-1 entering Sunday’s game, while the Magic are 2-3, with wins over the New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors and losses to the Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Raptors.

Boston has won four straight since losing the season opener, beating the Knicks, Chicago Bulls (twice), and Brooklyn Nets.

The Magic will be without several key players

Paolo Banchero suffered a high ankle sprain in the second game of the season, while Jalen Suggs suffered a right knee contusion in the third. Jonathan Isaac is out with left knee injury management.

Franz Wagner has led the Magic, averaging 20.8 points, 7 assists, and 6.8 rebounds per game. Desmond Bane, acquired last offseason, averages 17.2 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. Wendell Carter Jr. is having a career season so far, averaging 14.8 points and 8.6 rebounds.

And in the wake of injuries, Anthony Black and Jase Richardson have slotted into the starting lineup, with Jamal Cain and Tristan da Silva playing key minutes off the bench.

Neemias Queta is likely to get the start for Boston

The Celtics have started Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Paul George, Jayson Tatum, and Robinson every game so far this season. With Robinson out, Neemias Queta will likely slot into the starting lineup, and Luka Garza will see more minutes off the bench.

Queta is averaging 9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game for the Celtics so far. Garza is averaging 4.6 points and 2.2 rebounds in 8.8 minutes per game.

The Celtics may rest players for Monday’s game against the Houston Rockets, but the entire rotation played in both games when the team last had a back-to-back.

Celtics-Magic tips off at 3:30pm ET at the Kia Center in Orlando.

Oof.

The Brooklyn Nets opened NBA Cup play with a Friday night matchup against the Detroit Pistons. Brooklyn got off to a great start and looked like they were going to give last year’s top seed in the Eastern Conference a good fight. Unfortunately for the home fans, they watched the Nets suffer another blowout. Brooklyn let things slip in the middle of the game and lost 110-94.

They’re now sitting at 0-5 to begin the season — one of two remaining winless teams (Kings).

The opponent tonight projects to be a contender for the NBA Championship. That is, if everyone is healthy. The Indiana Pacers are hoping to get back to the NBA Finals after missing out last season. It’s early, but the road back to the postseason has been a rocky one. They were on the road Friday night against the new look Miami Heat and lost 144-125.

Game Info and Broadcast Details

• Matchup: Brooklyn Nets (0-5) vs. Indiana Pacers (2-4)
• Time: 5 PM EST (4 PM CST)
• Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana)
• TV/Streaming: YES Network, WFAN Radio, DAZN

Nets-Pacers Injury Report: Who’s Out?

Brooklyn Nets

• OUT – Egor Demin (right bone bruise)
• OUT – Mikel Brown Jr (back injury management)
• OUT – Joshua Jefferson (G League assignment)
• OUT – Ben Saraf (G League assignment)
• OUT – Tyler Bilodeau (G League tw0-way)
• OUT – Grant Nelson (G League two-way)

Indiana Pacers

• OUT – Tyrese Haliburton (left hamstring strain)
• OUT – Ben Sheppard (left meniscus surgery)
• OUT – Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain)
• OUT – Johnny Furphy (right ACL surgery)
• OUT – T.J. McConnell (right hamstring strain)
• Probable – Aaron Nesmith (left hamstring strain)
• Questionable – Obi Toppin (low back soreness)

The Game

Indiana won the first meeting 136-109 on October 25.

This is the first leg of a back-to-back for the Nets. They return to the city for a matchup against the New York Knicks on Monday night at the Garden.

The Nets are off to their worst possible start, and Friday’s loss to Detroit didn’t do much to inspire confidence. People can accept losing, but they can’t accept poor effort. Brooklyn’s latest defeat left plenty of questions about the team’s effort and execution. This year was supposed to be different for the Nets, but it looks all too familiar.

Nolan Traore will get all the minutes he can handle tonight. With Demin and Brown Jr out, it’s on him to man the point. That’s a lot on his shoulders. He’ll need to dictate the offense and generate downhill pressure. If he does get to the rim, the Nets need him to turn those opportunities into points.

In October, the Nets were dead last in the NBA in field goal percentage inside the restricted area at 55.2 percent. That’s a troubling number against a Pacers team that has allowed opponents to shoot just 60.2 percent inside the restricted area, the third-best mark in the league. The home team need something to break their way, and if they want to finally break into the win column, it’ll take a total team effort.

Maybe the new month is what the doctor ordered?

Andrew Nembhard is probably never going to make an All-Star Game, but he’s someone I’d love to have on my side. He’s someone you can trust to make something happen with the game on the line. He’s also become more efficient while taking on a bigger offensive role.

Brooklyn will have its hands full with the speedy guard, who’s averaging 17.6 points and eight assists per game.

Player to Watch: Pascal Siakam

Siakam has been one of the better forwards in the NBA in the 2020s. He’s done well in his various roles and can scale his scoring up when the moment calls for it. He’s been turning the ball over at a career-high clip to start the year, but that is something to monitor as Indiana navigates the early part of its schedule. Without Haliburton, the four-time All-Star will have to up his game and take on more of the scoring load to offset the absence of their franchise player.

Brooklyn also needs more from Julius Randle. He discussed the process on offense after Friday’s game, and he shared some interesting insights about what the Nets need to improve:

Asked Julius Randle about the Nets' offensive struggles:

“There’s no flow and rhythm after this after the first action… It's like sometimes we get bogged down or stuck, and we're just sitting there watching each other, and it's not putting us in the best position to succeed.… pic.twitter.com/qKmLd2kFqx

— Erik Slater (@ErikSlater_) October 31, 2026

Brooklyn has to find their purpose, and fast. If the team can’t play with more pace and with more success at the rim, a long season is guaranteed to get even longer.

From the Vault

Ones in the air for Sir Patrick Stewart

And with WWE hosting two shows at Barclays Center tomorrow night, let’s take a look back at one of the greatest matches of all time

More reading: Circle City Spin, Fieldhouse Files, Sports Illustrated, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Nets Insider, SNY, Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, Steve’s Newsletter

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Indiana Pacers Game Notes – Indiana Pacers
• Giannis has triple-double, Heat open NBA Cup play with 145-125 win over Pacers – Tim Reynolds – AP
• It’s time for Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. to be the leaders the Nets need – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets rule out Mikel Brown Jr. vs. Pacers during front end of back-to-back – Erik Slater – Clutch Points
• Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle discuss what Nets need to change – Shareef Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY
• How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Brooklyn Nets – Cam Ward – GQ.com

The San Antonio Spurs still have lessons to be learned.

Last season, the Spurs made it pretty far on talent. They would make silly mistakes after silly mistakes and still recover thanks to one of the most talented young rosters in the NBA. After a crushing NBA Finals loss, a lot of fans expected the team to grow up a bit. To learn the lessons that come with such a defeat. Six games into the 2026-27 NBA season, that doesn’t appear to be the case.

The Spurs looked almost identical to last year’s team in a 121-111 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Halloween night. There were stretches of brilliance when the team guarded like their lives depended on it, moved the ball on a string, and got to the cup with ease. Then there were times when the offense went completely cold, reliant on isolation ball, and the defense allowed second-chance points and easy transition looks. But ultimately, the Spurs had enough talent to take down a Minnesota team that was missing two key players in Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert.

It took an MVP performance to get the win. Victor Wembanyama took over the game, crushing his fellow countryman, Joan Beringer, with 43 points and 6 blocks. When San Antonio was in a slog, Wembanyama would pull them out with a well-timed dunk or a block that led to a transition runout. Those are the types of games you’re looking for from the face of the franchise and potentially the best player in the league.

As they say, a win is a win. But likely, Mitch Johnson and the rest of the Spurs’ coaching staff will identify plenty of areas where the team can clean up their game, just as they could last season.

Takeaways:

• Was there some sort of Halloween slime, or perhaps LaMelo Ball’s spit, on the basketball on Saturday? Both teams combined for 29 turnovers, with the ball generally bouncing all over the place. Both teams were trying to play with such a chaotic pace in both transition and half-court offense that it led to a lot of mistakes, or the ball slipping off players’ hands and bodies.
• We at Pounding the Rock are formally accepting De’Aaron Fox apology slips. We will forward them to Mr. Fox at our earliest convenience. The veteran point guard has been nothing short of the Spurs’ second-best player to begin the season. He had 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists in the win, and was a team-high +23. Whatever he did in the offseason worked, because he looks completely rejuvenated. His jump shot is falling, particularly in the mid-range, which is opening up a lot of offense for the Spurs.
• San Antonio has figured out how to constantly get the ball to Wembanyama on lobs. Those short pick-and-rolls near the sideline make it hard for opposing bigs to drop back and protect the rim, as it gives the Spurs’ guards good angles at the rim. That forced Beringer to switch often on Saturday night, making it easy for Wembanyama to finish lobs over smaller defenders. It’s one of the best new wrinkles to San Antonio’s playbook, and they spammed it often against Minnesota.
• Luke Kornet has gotten a lot of grief for his play this season, and a lot of it has been deserved. He should get some praise when he has a solid game, too. Kornet grabbed 8 rebounds, 4 of them offensive, including a big put-back slam in the first half. His defensive positioning was largely good, and he didn’t kill San Antonio when he was in the game. That is about all you can ask from a backup center in this league.
• Julian Champagnie remains red hot from three-point range to start the season. He shot 3-of-7 from deep on his way to 12 points against the Wolves and is now shooting 47.6% from three to start the season. It’s about time that Champagnie gets the recognition for what he is: one of the best shooters in the NBA.

All good streaks are supposed to come to an end. In Friday's 98-93 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Knicks guard Tyler Kolek's stretch of perfection ended.

In the game's early stages, he turned the ball over for the first time this season. Kolek coughed up the rock one more time, finishing with four assists and two points in 13 minutes.

It was a departure from Kolek's first three appearances this season, in which he recorded 21 assists and zero turnovers over 44 minutes.

The reserve is playing some of his best basketball right now, steadying the offense when Knicks star Jalen Brunson rests.

Kolek is taking advantage of an opportunity given to him because of an ankle injury to guard Jose Alvarado.

Kolek entered this season on the outside of New York's regular rotation. But his play has been impressive and could make Knicks coach Mike Brown think twice about taking him out of the rotation when Alvarado returns.

In Kolek's 57 minutes this season, the Knicks are assisting on 76.5 percent of their baskets, according to NBA Stats, a team high and one that would rank first in the entire league. The club's assist rate drops to 66.3 percent in the minutes he sits.

Kolek's careful playmaking comes at a time when the Knicks are in need of good decision making.

As of Saturday night, New York ranked 15th in turnovers per 100 possessions.

Over the past few years, the Knicks have regularly been one of the better teams at taking care of the ball, ranking 11th in the category last season.

The turnover problems have been a factor in New York’s slow offensive start and 2-4 record through the first six games.

Kolek has created scoring opportunities for his teammates with ease. Many of Kolek's minutes have been shared with starters Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby.

Towns is averaging 5.81 more points per 100 possessions when he shares the floor with Kolek, according to PBP Stats.

Anunoby's scoring increases by 9.85 points per 100 possessions in the same scenarios.

Since being drafted in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, Kolek's role has been inconsistent with New York.

Last season, due to a Miles McBride injury, Kolek emerged around the NBA Cup and played a significant role in the Knicks' Cup championship win.

He saw regular rotation minutes until the middle of January.

The Knicks acquired Alvarado in a trade deadline deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, pushing Kolek further down the depth chart.

Crowded backcourt

Though it is unclear when Alvarado will return from his injury, he will be back eventually. It creates a competition at the backup point guard slot.

With Brunson averaging 35 minutes a night through the last four seasons, there's very limited space to find time for both guards.

Add in a small-ish backcourt contributors like McBride, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson, and it seems like a crowded backcourt.

Kolek and Alvarado are very different players. Kolek is a floor general with crafty passes and creative finishes around the basket to make up for his lack of athleticism. Alvarado is more of a defensive playmaker, creating havoc with steals.

Despite his diminutive stature, Alvarado can situationally guard players larger than him. Both players are inconsistent as three-point shooters but have proven to be capable enough to garner some respect from defenses.

It's a good problem to have. The Knicks have relied on the bench to step up in key situations. Last year's run to the championship saw several reserves have individual moments in specific games or series.

Brown said in training camp that outside of the starting five, players would be fighting for minutes. Kolek and Alvarado will see some time on the floor this season. Who plays the best will likely earn more time.

Welcome to Winners & Sinners, where we reflect on the week that was for the Milwaukee Bucks. Week 2 saw the Bucks go 1-2, with the team getting its first win of the season by defeating the arch-rival Indiana Pacers, before being forced into concussion protocols by the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers. But who’s deserving of the hardware?

MVB

Tyler Herro collects his first MVB of the week on the back of efficient shooting in two out of three games and a best-on-court performance against the Pacers: 23 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. The shooting was expected, the poise has stood out, and, more importantly, he was Milwaukee’s best when they were at their best, leading the team to its only win of the season thus far.

Defensive Belt

Defending Champion: Kyle Kuzma.

The Contenders: N/A.

The Decision: Outside of the win against the Pacers, the Bucks haven’t exactly stopped anyone this week. Myles Turner had some moments in that game, then got mauled by Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley against the Cavaliers, who combined for 52 points on 23/32 shooting (72%) in just 48 minutes. Consider the belt vacated until someone shows enough to earn it.

The People’s Champ

retired janitor’s wisdom is always appreciated, but this comment—in a quality back-and-forth with naveed2000s—is too good to overlook:

Please do go deeper into the early-second-round versus late-first-round draft returns, rj! In the meantime, who’s up for marshmallows?

Run That Back

This one was simple, or so I thought. Kasparas Jakučionis gets the ball off the swing from Kel’el Ware and thinks like any good point guard does: Return the favour. First, he jabs sideline; buys some space and forces the switch. Then he curls middle, casts the line: one dribble, two dribbles—just enough line to hook Larry Nance, reel him closer. A third follows, a beat to let the water settle. Then it comes, the left-handed spear between rocks. Right to the chest. And before you know it, the catch is in the net.

Then, in the week’s waning moments, Brayden Burries does this:

INSANE BRAYDEN BURRIES POSTER! 🚨 https://t.co/ftmnY0eBWG

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 1, 2026

Gravity-defying stuff—and enough vertical to lift our collective spirits!

Sinner(s)

Myles Turner: You hate to kick a bloke when he’s down, but Myles Turner has just not been good enough. Not close to it. He was better to start this week against the Pacers, but that game actually proves the point. Turner has been so bad for the Bucks that a six-point, nine-rebound, four-assist, four-block performance, which also came with 29% shooting, three turnovers, and some “efforts” that would lead to a benching for Kel’el Ware, was lauded as a standout night. Following that, he put up just four points and two rebounds against the Rockets before being abused by Allen, Mobley, and whoever else cared to venture into the Bucks’ defensive paint against the Cavaliers.

Second Quarters: Against the Pacers, the Bucks hit just 8/24 shots in the second quarter as a two-point quarter-time lead became an 11-point halftime deficit. Against the Rockets, the Bucks hit just 6/24 shots in the second quarter as they let a two-point quarter-time deficit explode to 22 by halftime. Against the Cavaliers, the Bucks hit just 7/28 shots as they let a one-point quarter-time lead transform into a 26-point deficit. This. Is. Not. Going. To. Get. The. Job. Done.

For more on the Bucks second-quarter woes, check out their shot charts, courtesy of NBA.com:

If… Then…

If Nate Ament has already overtaken Ousmane Dieng in the forward rotation, then the 2026 trade-deadline darling has some serious work to do. Dieng’s offseason deal—three years, $17.5m—seemed surprisingly good for the Bucks, but maybe they knew his play down the stretch was more mirage than oasis.

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That’s all for Week 2. Share your winners and sinners in the comments!

The Dallas Mavericks (4-2) picked up a huge 116-111 win over the Houston Rockets (5-1) on Friday night in their first NBA Cup game of the season. The road to victory was paved with a slew of clutch plays, with Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving and Daniel Gafford leading the way when it mattered most. The NBA defines the “clutch” as the final five minutes of a game when the score is within five or fewer points. Here we break down that exact scenario from the huge win Friday.

4:21: Tie score, 96-96

The Mavericks entered the clutch with a three-point lead. They forced two stops around a Rockets’ offensive rebound but could not convert on the other end. Again they forced a stop, but yielded another offensive rebound to the Rockets, setting up Fred Van Vleet for a game tying three-point shot.

3:28: Mavs up four, 100-96

Flagg began asserting his clutch-time dominance with an immediate answer to Van Vleet’s three-pointer. At the 4:07 mark, Flagg hit a floater for his 25^th point of the night. After a stop and a rebound, Flagg was at it again with a finger roll that was counted as a score after being goaltended.

2:26 Tie score, 100-100

Zaccharie Risacher committed a shooting foul on the following possessing, giving Kevin Durant a chance to drain two free throws. After an Irving missed three-pointer, Van Vleet connected on a bucket to once again tie the score.

1:40 Mavs up 105-100

With the score tied, it was Irving’s turn to respond. Off a Flagg assist, Irving broke the 30-point threshold with a nice 16-foot shot to put the Mavericks up by two points. Caleb Martin committed a shooting foul on Durant, but the 82.7% free throw shooter missed both attempts. Then it was Flagg’s turn to join Irving as a 30-point scorer as he hit a floater, was fouled and connected on the free throw to extend the lead to five points.

COOP AND-1 TO EXTEND THE LEAD 😤

HE'S GOT 30 PTS!

MAVS LEAD BY 5 LATE IN Q4. pic.twitter.com/2fhyfDsFYh

— NBA (@NBA) October 31, 2026

1:18 Mavs up five, 107-102

Durant hit a shot to quiet the excitement for a moment, but Irving was not deterred. Dribbling up the court, Irving surprising launched a three-point attempt only seven seconds later. The shot was errant, setting up Gafford for an offensive rebound and put-back. Above the rim, his mini hook shot was on a downward trajectory as soon as it left his hand, warranting a goal tending call on Clint Capela to sustain the five-point lead.

1:00 Mavs up two, 107-105

The next sequence of events may find you shining up your tinfoil hat. On a Rockets’ inbounds pass, Durant cut to the rim, then thrust himself backwards onto Caleb Martin who grabbed a handful of Durant’s jersey. The play was reviewed by officials to determine if it was an away-from-the-play foul (a foul committed on court prior to the ball being inbounded, which gives the offended team a free throw and the ball). Replay seemed to clearly show the contact was initiated and followed-through on by Durant, with Martin grabbing him to brace his fall after absorbing contact, but somehow this was not a factor in the review. Instead, Durant hit the free throw and then immediately connected on a jump shot after the inbound. This turn of events could have been foreboding; just a season ago it may have been. The Mavericks were flying high with a five-point lead, but a questionable call made it a one-possession game in a matter of seconds.

0:24 Mavs up four, 109-105

Following the strange away-from-the-ball foul, things got more tenuous. P.J. Washington got sped up, prompting him to pass the ball toward Irving at half court. The pass was off the mark and Amen Thompson collected in stride heading for what would have been a game-tying layup. Irving stepped in for a charge! What again seemed an obvious call, especially due to Thompson’s unquestionable arm extension push-off, was challenged by the Rockets who had nothing to lose in doing so. Improbably, the charge was overturned on the basis Irving did not have legal guarding position prior to Thompson’s slightly lowered shoulder and arm extension. If karma is your thing, the Mavs were beneficiaries of a “ball don’t lie” moment, as Thompson missed both free throws he received by way of the overturned charge. Flagg had enough at this point, extending the game to a two-possession affair with a slick turnaround jumper for a four-point lead.

FLAGG SCORES AGAIN IN THE CLUTCH.

MAVS UP 3.

7.9 TO PLAY. https://t.co/uHKnPjyaGrpic.twitter.com/3kMsZWaF0U

— NBA (@NBA) October 31, 2026

0:11 Mavs up three, 111-108

Following Flagg’s heroics, the Mavs were a stop away from all but ending the game, but Jabari Smith nailed a three from the top of the arc to bring the Rockets within one point. With an obvious free throw shooting contest ready to ensue, the Mavericks got the ball to Gafford who was fouled by Durant for a trip to the foul line. Surely, the Mavs did not want to put Gafford in this position, but the Rockets’ on-ball defense after the Mavs inbounded left them no choice. Gafford was unfazed. He calmly stroked both free throws to give Dallas a three-point lead.

0:06 Mavs up three, 113-110

We learned that Dusty May is inclined to foul the opponent when the Mavs are up by three points with mere second remaining, rather than give the opposition a chance to attempt a three-point shot for the tie. Flagg fouled Durant who hit both free throws to cut the Mavericks’ lead to one point. The Rockets had to return the favor, fouling Irving on the other end. Irving hit both of his free throws to maintain the three-point advantage after the exchange.

0:04 Mavs up three, 114-111

With the three-point advantage, Dallas once again fouled to prevent a Rockets’ three-point attempt. This time, Thompson split his pair, hitting the first and intentionally missing the second. Thompson got the rebound off his own miss, but it was because he entered the lane well before the ball hit the rim, resulting in a lane violation and turnover. On the next possession, the Mavs got a measure of away-from-the-ball revenge. Marcus Smart mauled Flagg before the ball was inbounded, giving Flagg the chance to increase the lead to three points, which he calmly did by hitting his free throw.

0:00 Mavs win 116-111

Irving was fouled once again, giving him a trip to the line. The veteran leader put the game out of reach and ended the free throw shooting train by once again hitting both of his attempts to extend the lead to five, leaving the Rockets with no further options. As he iced the game, Irving was serenaded with chants of “MVP” from the home crowd.

MVP CHANTS FOR KYRIE 👏

35 PTS (game-high)
4 REB
9 AST (game-high)
5 3PM (game-high)

The Mavs win their opening game in @emirates NBA Cup Group Play! pic.twitter.com/HdiN2rAHa4

— NBA (@NBA) October 31, 2026

In the clutch, Flagg scored 10 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting and 2-of-2 from the line. Irving had six points despite missing two three-point attempts. He hit one shot from inside the arc and drained all four of his free throws. This was a dynamic performance by the pair, showing just how poised beyond his years Flagg is and how important Irving is to the success of the team. Flagg was perfect, answering the bell every time with big plays. Irving, while slightly less than perfect, had it where it counted. Giving himself up for what likely should have been a charge and hitting free throws that effectively ended the game demonstrated how lethal the duo can be. Not to be forgotten, Gafford got in on the fun with an offensive rebound off one of Irving’s missed three-pointers and a putback for two points. He then hit two free throws that were absolutely critical in the win.

Kyrie: 35 PTS (26 in 2H) 9 AST
Coop: 33 PTS (18 in 2H) 6 AST

The dynamic duo leads the @dallasmavs to 1-0 in West Group A! pic.twitter.com/6GfHzLBDu7

— NBA (@NBA) October 31, 2026

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

The Atlanta Hawks were unable to follow their impressive victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, falling to a one-sided defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night at Smoothie King Center; 121-99. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 14 points as seven Hawks scored in double-digits but could not crack 100 points for the first time this season. For the Pelicans, Saddiq Bey scored 25 points while Jeremiah Fears added 20 points.

The Hawks were dealt a bonus (on paper, at least) as Dejounte Murray and Jordan Poole were ruled out prior to the game, while the Hawks were riding high after a narrow victory against the Cavaliers. Naturally, the Pelicans ran out to a double-digit lead and then threatened to run away the latter stages of the first quarter to extend their lead to 15 points by the end of the opening frame.

From there, the Hawks would never get the lead below 10 points, while the Pelicans lead stretched as high as 19 points in the second quarter, 20 points in the third quarter, and a game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter. That’s it, that is essentially this game in passing. The Hawks never made a run to get this game into single digits, never cracked the code offensively, and no Hawk scored more than 15 points as they shot 38.5% from the field as a team.

To put a finer lens on this game, the first quarter was definitive not just for the Pelicans to create their separation, but the themes that would carry on for the entire game. The Pelicans played with physicality last night, displacing the Hawks often, led initially by Zion Williamson (guarded by Dyson Daniels to begin this game before Lu Dort took this assignment) and then Bey, who was able to carve space for himself and hit his runners inside. This physical edge carried the Pelicans, who shot 7-of-17 from three, and had no need to rely on the three when they excelled as they did inside the paint:

The Pelicans scored 66 points in the paint, and the Hawks were unable to slow the Pelicans down inside the arc as the game continued.

The Hawks shot 2-of-11 from three in the first quarter, and this lack of shooting touch would stay with the Hawks for the remainder of the game, shooting 8-of-46 from three for 17%. The Hawks got some good looks from three but failed to convert with consistency.

A couple of examples, as Onyeka Okongwu misses an above the break three, a shot that is more than in Okongwu’s wheelhouse:

The Hawks move the ball around the perimeter and Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses the three-pointer:

Alexander-Walker in particular struggled, shooting 3-of-12 from the field and 0-of-7 from three.

The Hawks also settled at times in above the break threes, such as this shot from Jalen Johnson, settling for the three on Williamson:

The Pelicans didn’t make life easy for Johnson, and threw bodies when he got the ball on the block, such as this possession where three Pelicans are in place to converge on Johnson, whose pass is intercepted for a turnover:

Again, the Pelicans show Johnson an extra body on the block, but this time the pass out is successful, and Okongwu is able to score at the rim:

Johnson was able to get down the lane and finish at the rim a couple of times but was unable to make a big impact scoring, finishing with 13 points. This is possibly more disappointing in context as the Pelicans committed 23 turnovers on the game, with Johnson scoring just two points off of those turnovers — an area of the game Johnson can have a commanding presence.

While the Hawks scored 32 points off of those New Orleans turnovers, the Hawks committed 19 turnovers leading to 34 Pelicans points. To credit New Orleans, their hands were active all game long and they did really well to disrupt drives and send bodies in the right directions to come up with steals:

The Pelicans were just better in almost every way last night: they found a successful avenue inside the paint and kept going to it, they were active defensively, they were moving the ball and making the extra pass, they shot efficiently from the field on the 15 fewer shots they attempted than the Hawks, they attempted 35 free throws (making 28), four Pelicans outscored the highest scoring Hawk (McCollum), and despite committing more turnovers than Atlanta, New Orleans scored more points off of turnovers. They were just the significantly sharper team last night and the winning margin was most definitely a fair reflection of how the two sides respectively played.

Postgame, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder acknowledged the Hawks did not execute to begin the game, citing Atlanta turnovers which made life difficult defensively and communication issues which led to breakdowns.

“We haven’t started the game well from an execution standpoint,” said Snyder postgame. “I think we’re putting ourselves in tough positions offensively, and tonight that resulted in turnovers which were really tough to defend against. I thought we picked it up on the defensive end and were able to generate some things, but I think our collective focus on the ball changing sides of the floor, making better decisions offensively, and then defensively our communication when we were coming back, we had some breakdowns that I think we can clean up if we’re more connected and talk.”

In addition to getting hammered, the Hawks were dealt injury blows to Jock Landale (who played one minute before being ruled out with a left hip injury) and Jalen Johnson (left ankle) which impacted the rotation. Snyder’s focus was less so on who was on the floor and how the Hawks were connecting on it.

“Hopefully both those guys are going to be okay and not be out for too long, we’ll know more about that tomorrow and beyond,” said Snyder of Landale and Johnson. “No matter who’s on the floor, us being more connected as a group, that’s been something we’ve talked about as a strength. Tonight, it was not only not a strength, it was something that we didn’t do well. Again, this team, as I’ve said, I think we want to be the best version of ourselves. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes games like this for you to really focus on the things you need to do to be successful.”

In Landale’s place, Asa Newell finally got to see some rotation minutes. Newell’s stint in the first half was a disaster; his first three shots were bricks, and that’s not an exaggeration — they were bad misses. The second half stint was considerably better, and Newell finished with 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting and 1-of-6 from three in 18 minutes. Depending on Landale’s injury and if he’s to miss time, Newell seems set to see some more minutes coming up, important minutes to try break into the rotation.

All in all, a poor game all around not just from a team perspective but from a player perspective too. You won’t win many NBA games shooting 8-of-46 from three while also committing 19 turnovers.

“I’d like to get in the gym and practice, our schedule hasn’t really allowed for that,” said Snyder postgame. “But we’ve got to just keep working. The good thing about the NBA is you get a chance to play again pretty quickly, so we’ve got a good night for the end of the day.”

The Hawks (3-4) are back in action on Monday night as their three-game road trip continues in Indiana (2-4).

Until next time!