Collin Sexton reacts after making a basket against the Clippers in the second half Wednesday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Lakers scoring phenom Luka Doncic missed his first game of the young season with back tightness, leaving a giant hole in their offense with the NBA’s leading scorer (36 points per game) sitting out.
Lakers defensive star Ziaire Williams also missed his first game with left foot soreness, leaving them even more depleted with two starters unable to play.
The Lakers added a lot of depth over the summer in case of injury situations and now it was going to be tested against the Clippers at Intuit Dome.
Collin Sexton is one of the players the Lakers acquired for a moment like Wednesday, and he delivered in a big way, coming off the bench to provide energy and effort in helping the Lakers take a 103-87 victory over the Clippers.
Sexton was at his best in the third quarter, scoring 11 of his 21 points, flexing and pounding his chest after a made basket. His play helped the Lakers open a 22-point lead they never lost.
He was four for five from the field in the third, six for 11 for the game. He was two for three from three-point range in the third, four for seven for the game. He also had four rebounds and two assists.
Quentin Grimes (23 points), Matisse Thybulle (15) and Austin Reaves (16 points) did their part to help the Lakers improve to 4-1.
Doncic and Williams played against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, but they couldn’t go in the back-to-back game.
“Both those guys woke up with some soreness and tightness today — tightness for Luka, soreness for Ziaire,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “We have a tough stretch of games. Not a lot of time between [games so] just being overly cautious.”
The Lakers next play at the Golden State Warriors on Friday, their fourth game in six days.
Redick was asked if Doncic and Williams would be available for that game.
Redick turned to Jarred Vanderbilt, who didn’t play in the first four games, and Jaden Hardy, who played in the first game of the season, to help the shorthanded Lakers in their time of need. Vanderbilt played 21 minutes and had seven rebounds. Hardy played nine minutes and had two points.
“Yeah, I go back to something I said a couple of times already is that every guy’s going to get an opportunity throughout the season,” Redick said. “...Guys that haven’t played are going to get opportunities tonight.”
The Clippers, however, have their own injuries to worry about.
Clippers forward Rui Hachimura (left quad soreness) missed his first game of the season, joining Bradley Beal (right knee injury management), Brandon Ingram (right heel surgery), Jordan Miller (left rotator cuff surgery), Yanic Konan Niederhauser (right lisfranc surgery) and Max Strus (right plantar fascia partial tear) on the injury report.
The Lakers signed center Lawson Lovering to a two-way contract Wednesday and waived two-way forward AK Okereke.
Oct 28, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) celebrates his three-point basket in the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers coasted through the first half, fell down by double digits, and then turned it on down the stretch to grab their 17th straight win against the Washington Wizards with a final score of 121-111.
Three stars of the game
First star: Evan Mobley
24 points on 8-of-12 shooting, 12 rebounds, 2 assists
The Cavs ceiling changes if Mobley becomes a consistent and lethal three-point shooter. We saw that in Wednesday’s game as he went 5-for-6 from beyond the arc. This wasn’t just a one-off performance. Through four games, Mobley is 12-for-18 (66.7%) from three.
“There’s a shift in his demeanor,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “There’s a confidence to him now. … The jumper looks quicker to me. It’s not just that he’s making them. I think last year he kind of made threes [when he had] time and space. I feel like this year he’s getting it off quicker. He’s making them with harder contests.”
The Wizards had to change their defense to account for this. They didn’t give him the same time and space in the second half, which allowed the rest of the offense to flourish.
On top of that, Mobley, along with Jarrett Allen, made it difficult for the Wizards to finish inside in the second half. Washington attempted just 13 shots in the paint in the second half after taking 31 there in the first.
This was a solid and complete game from Mobley
Second star: Peyton Watson
22 points on 9-of-17 shooting, 6 rebounds, 2 assists
This was the first time we got a real taste of how helpful Watson can be for Cleveland. He was impactful attacking off the dribble, and more importantly, in creating out of the short roll when running pick-and-rolls with the starting backcourt. That was incredibly useful considering how the Wizards — and most of the other teams before them — were trapping Cleveland’s guards on high pick-and-rolls.
“I loved the offensive part,” Atkinson said. “Getting in the pocket, making plays, driving [against] mismatches. He goes hard to the rim.
Watson also made a difference as an offensive rebounder by creating five extra chances. Three of those opportunities directly led to points. Atkinson has consistently talked about wanting his team to do a better job on the offensive glass. Watson may be the answer here with his height and athleticism.
Watson has a well-rounded and intriguing skill set that the Cavs are still figuring out how to best use. The early results are interesting. Watson provides a different dimension to how this team can play. It’ll be interesting to see how the Cavs fine-tune his role as the season progresses.
Sarr was helpful for Washington on both ends. Offensively, he picked his spots well and finished looks that Trae Young and Kyshawn George created for him. Defensively, he had active hands in passing lanes and deterred shots at the rim. It was a solid game for a young player that is steadily coming into his own.
Harden had a tough time finding a scoring rhythm. He led the Cavs in shots (18) but completed just 27.8% of them. This included missing a couple of point-blank floaters he normally converts.
It’s unfair to blame Cleveland’s poor defensive start on one person, but Harden left a lot to be desired on that end in the first half. He lost his assignment repeatedly off-ball in the first half, which led to easy baskets.
To his credit, Harden was good down the stretch. He got the Cavs into their offense and protected the ball in the second half. It wasn’t an outright awful game — just one where he could’ve been better.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. The above shirt can be bought at the link HERE. Homage’s entire Ohio State collection can be found HERE.
Wednesday’s performance wasn’t as noteworthy as his debut earlier this week, but it was a strong showing nonetheless.
Thomas has found a nice balance on the defensive end. He’s not afraid to jump passing lanes and force the action, but this hasn’t come at the expense of losing his man or being out of position. It’s not uncommon for a rookie to be an active defender; it is uncommon for them to consistently be in the right place when they’re away from the play. So far, Thomas’s defensive positioning has been impressive.
Offensively, he did a good job of slotting into more of an off-ball role. He was helpful attacking in transition and provided some scoring punch in the half-court.
At this point, there isn’t a strong case for either Craig Porter Jr. or Tyrese Proctor getting minutes over Thomas. The rookie just adds too much as an offensive threat and active defender.
“We found a guy that can really help us,” Atkinson said.
The Cavs are at their best when they’re regularly turning defense into easy opportunities the other end. That was a hallmark of the 2024-25 regular-season team that turned in 64 wins.
We haven’t consistently seen that version of this team through four games, but little moments like this serve as a reminder that they may still get there.
Quote of the day
“The first few went in, so I just kept shooting them.”
– Evan Mobley on going 5-for-6 from three
Stat of the game
The Cavs won the offensive rebounding battle 15-5, which led to them outscoring Washington 19-8 in second-chance points.
The Cavs thoroughly controlled the glass and the overall possession battle. They outrebounded Washington 58-33. Cleveland won’t lose many games when they rebound like this.
What this game will be remembered for Mobley’s breakout three-point performance
A hot shooting week doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. The high variance of the shot can lead to drastic results in small sample sizes. This, however, tends to even out over time. From that perspective, Mobley hitting 11 of his last 14 threes might now mean much.
At the same time, everything about the Cavs changes if he can develop a more consistent outside shot. Only time will tell whether this start is real.
“We’re going to be really hard to stop,” Atkinson said when asked about how Mobley’s shooting can transform the offense. “If he can do that, hit threes and still be the great defender that he is and should be, then that could be our next jump.”
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 28: Jonathan Kuminga #24 of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors embrace after the game at Target Center on October 28, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Warriors defeated the Timberwolves 119-114. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For most of Wednesday night’s game in Minneapolis, the Golden State Warriors looked like the team that trounced the Denver Nuggets Monday. In the last four minutes, they looked like the team that choked away the second game of the season to the Memphis Grizzlies.
In the end, a series of turnovers, dropped passes, missed free throws, and inattentive three-point defense didn’t quite doom the Warriors, who held on for a 119-114 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves behind Steph Curry’s 44 points, He scored the last of these on a pair of meaningless free throws with 0.1 seconds on the clock, which closed out a perfect 16-for-6 night from the free throw line. He’s made all 39 of his freebies to start the season.
The Warriors led for the final 38 minutes of the game, maintaining a double-digit lead for mot of the second half and going up 11 points after a Curry picked off a LaMelo Ball pass and turned it into a Yaxel Lendeborg dunk with 2:16 to play.
Jonathan Kuminga made a three-point play, the Warriors missed some shots, then Ayo Dosunmu followed up a layup and a three-pointer by picking Curry’s pocket down four points. It took a heroic block by De’Anthony Melton on Dosunmu at the rim and two bricked threes from Jaden McDaniels before the Warriors could finally relax.
Lendeborg scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while former Warrior Kuminga led the Wolves with 20 points on 7-for-15 shooting, a 3-for-5 effort from deep, along with five assists and zero turnovers. McDaniels had 19 points and eight rebounds and Terrence Shannon, Jr. put up 19 off the bench, shooting 8-for-10 on free throws.
The Timberwolves were playing without Anthony Edwards, who had knee surgery that should keep him out until at least December. They struggled to find offense, particularly from Ball, who shot 3-for-11 and had almost as many turnovers (6) as points (8). Rudy Gobert was a total non-factor, perhaps because the Warriors devoted only 20 minutes to traditional centers. The Stifle Tower finished with a single point, four rebounds, and zero blocks and clearly did not appreciate having to defend against Curry.
The Warriors started to pull away in the second quarter after a signature Curry Flurry. From an 184-second stretch between 9:11 and 6:07 of the second quarter, Curry made five three-pointers, scored 17 points, and delivered an assist, a run that took Golden State from a one-point advantage to a 13-point lead. He also demonstrated a curling-style follow-through after the fourth triple, perhaps paying tribute to Canadian Curry fans while playing up north in Minneapolis.
Curry finished the first half with 23 points and Lendeborg had 14, already drawing double teams in his 5th NBA game. Draymond Green had five assists before the break, the Warriors outrebounded the Timberwolves by three, and Will Richard was the top reserve, playing 11 first-half minutes and logging a +13, grabbing two offensive rebounds on pure hustle. The Warriors took a 64-48 lead into the locker room.
This happened late in the third, but we would be remiss not to highlight Richard’s acrobatic layup here.
The strong second quarter, which the Warriors won, 34-25, came despite a lot of fouling from the road team. The Timberwolves got in the bonus with 7:21 left in the quarter but it didn’t hurt the Dubs that much. Minnesota went 4-for-6 from the foul line while in the bonus, with two trips to the line on shooting fouls. The Warriors reserves managed to extend the lead by a point while Curry rested for three minutes.
They kept up their furious pace to start the second half. Curry hit another three and got to the line for four free throws as the Warriors began a 9-2 run. He also slid out of bounds in a vain attempt to chase down a rebound, missing a highlight play by roughly 15% of an ass cheek.
Green blocked his arch-nemesis, Rudy Gobert, then took over mopping duties during a stoppage in play. Perhaps that was a response to the sloppy play on both sides, full of wild early shots and overly frenetic play, which induced Steve Kerr to call timeout simply because Golden State’s lead dropped to 21 points.
Things tightened up at the end of the third quarter as the Timberwolves got hot from three-point range. The Warriors got a bunch of layups thanks to slick passing from Brandin Podziemski, but the Wolves answered with threes, including some difficult running threes from Bones Hyland. The quarter ended 93-81, after Curry sank two more foul shots, racking up what felt like a stunning nine free throws in three quarters. Do the refs know who he is???
For the fourth quarter, the Warriors gassed up the Minivan. Georges Niang missed a layup, hustled 94 feet for a steal, saved the ball, and created an uncontested fast break for Curry, who unselfishly left it for an easy Gary Payton II jam.
Niang started in place of Gui Santos, who sat with a sore knee. The veteran had seven points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals, an absolutely adequate performance that left him +5 on the game.
What went badly? Lendeborg had seven turnovers. Green had eight rebounds and six assists, but made some bad fouls late and couldn’t handle a Curry dumpoff that would have been an easy game-icing layup in the final seconds. The team’s three-point shooting went missing in the second half, with Curry going 1-for-6 and the rest of the team going 0-for-4, while committing 11 of their 16 turnovers after halftime. Podz only took five shots.
Still, the Warriors won two games in a row, and two road games at that! The 18-year veteran and the rookie are both playing great, Melton and his bad thumbs are shooting well again, and this team just might have a decent bench after all.
And perhaps best off all with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves coming to down, the NBA has actually started calling fouls for flopping. No B.S. Association action! It’s fan-tastic!
Chris Finch on flop calls: “All these flops they’re calling on the defense…(Fans) want the flops on the offensive players out of the game
Steve Kerr: “You know my take on the NBA. We should be the No Bullshit Association.” pic.twitter.com/VPbNeB29UI
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 28: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on October 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Regular Season Bell Ringer Standings: Tyrese Maxey – 2.5 Joel Embiid – 1 Jaylen Brown – 0.5
The Sixers made it interesting for awhile, but came back around to take down a shorthanded Indiana Pacers squad on Wednesday night.
The Pacers were banged up for this one, with multiple players sidelined including Tyrese Haliburton and starting center Ivica Zubac. The Sixers, on the other hand, had all five starters on the floor Wednesday.
The Sixers looked sloppy and shot poorly to start the night, allowing the Pacers to keep things tied after one. Fortunately the second quarter was a bit tighter from Philadelphia — far from perfect, but better — with the team shooting 56.0% from the floor in the frame to amass a 10-point lead at the break (special thanks to VJ Edgecombe for hitting a buzzer-beating 50-foot triple to end the half).
It was a lead they quickly squandered, allowing Indiana a quick 17-0 run to start the second half. It was as bad a third as you could get from Philadelphia, who entered the final frame down 10 points to the shorthanded Pacers. Fortunately, things finally started clicking for the Sixers, helped by the leadership of LeBron James and some hot shooting from Tyrese Maxey, with the visitors battling back within a few points and finally retaking a narrow lead toward the end of the game.
It was way harder than it should have been, but the Sixers held on. A win’s a win. The Sixers move to 4-1.
Let’s get to the Bell Ringer. With different players stepping up at different times throughout this one, we have quite a few options.
Joel Embiid: 21 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
<p>(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)</p><br> | Getty Images
Joel Embiid looked sharp to start the evening, leading the Sixers after one with six points on 3-for-3 field goal shooting. With the Pacers down their starting center, it was the perfect excuse to get the ball to Embiid in the post, which the big fella was quick to take advantage of. Even if he was double-teamed, Embiid was able to simply spin away and create a ton of space for himself to pull right up or hit the fadeaway. And the best part: the shot was silky smooth and falling tonight. If anything, the Sixers weren’t going to him quite enough to start the night, but they started to rectify that in the second frame. By halftime, Embiid had 14 points on 6-for-10 field goal shooting, with five buckets coming off the midrange jumper.
The puzzling thing is that the Sixers seemed to stop running the offense through Embiid in the second half. I personally think it’s no coincidence that, once they stopped getting the ball to Embiid, the offense grinded to a halt. Was it the only reason? No, absolutely not. But it certainly didn’t help.
Nevertheless, Embiid got involved again late and hit a few big buckets toward the end of this one to help secure the Philadelphia win. He finished the game with 21 points on 9-for-17 field goal shooting with 11 rebounds, two assists and one block.
<p>(Photo by Luther Schlaifer/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Apparently all it took to get Anfernee Simons into a groove was a reverse jinx from yours truly. Not even kidding. After missing his first triple attempt of the night, I tweeted about Simons’ struggles thus far, and how he came into the night shooting just 23.8% from long range to start the season.
He immediately sank two back-to-back triples. Like clockwork. In the second frame, he tacked on two more quick threes off the bench. At that point, the team was 4-for-11 from three-point range for the night, with Simons responsible for all four successes — a huge boost for a Sixers team that was letting the Pacers hang right in there with them at that point in the game.
Simons ended up sinking 6-of-10 three-pointers on Wednesday night. Again, after coming into this game having shot just 23.8% from behind the arc to start the season, that’s one hell of warm-up. We’ll take it.
Simons finished with 20 points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal off the bench.
First, hats off to Anfernee Simons, who immediately shut me up after I posted about his 3PT struggles so far in this young Sixers season…
<p>(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)</p><br> | Getty Images
LeBron James had a far from perfect game. His shooting could have been better. He could have been a bit better rebounding at times. But he is able to turn it on when the team needs it. In the fourth, with the Sixers trailing after a miserable third, James locked in. First, two back-to-back assists to Anfernee Simons both resulting in triples. Then, he hits a triple of his own. Next, right back to facilitator, working the two-man game with Embiid that resulted in an and-1 for the big fella. Suddenly, the Sixers were back within two points. It feels strange to have to say “that’s why you want to have a player like LeBron James,” but, well… that’s why you want a player like LeBron James! He has all the capabilities to turn a game around through both his own scoring and especially his playmaking, and he was responsible for a huge momentum swing for the Sixers late in this one.
He finished the game with 13 points, five rebounds, 10 assists, one steal, two blocks and ZERO turnovers. But, again, with LeBron, even the stats don’t always fully reflect his impact.
Kudos to LeBron James for a 13-point, 10-assist double-double as the king continues to be an incredible facilitator for the Sixers offense. Was especially key in the momentum shift toward Philly in Q4. And all with ZERO turnovers.
<p>(Photo by Luther Schlaifer/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s not always flashy. In fact, with Jaylen Brown, it seems to happen in ways you don’t even notice. It just slowly adds up. A few buckets here, some foul shots there… but Brown is constantly contributing offensively for the Sixers. There really wasn’t a specific big run from Brown in this one. There was nothing super flashy or anything that will pop up on a big highlight reel, but he was present throughout, chipping in points when the Sixers are hot and even when the rest of the team seems to be ice cold.
Even if you aren’t watching the games to see the impact he quietly makes on both ends of the floor, the stats speak for themselves: 20 points on 7-for-13 field goal shooting, 10 rebounds (4 offensive), two assists, one steal and one block. You take that every single day of the week.
<p>(Photo by Luther Schlaifer/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
This wasn’t Tyrese Maxey’s best game by any means… but man, did he turn it on when it really counted. It had been a bit of an up-and-down night, with some inconsistent shooting and some sloppy turnovers. Maxey also seemed to let his frustration on calls — or lack thereof — get the better of him.
But late in the fourth, he did what he does best. He turned on the jets to get out ahead for some transition buckets. He used his fancy footwork and impressive body control to stop on a dime and sink pull-up and step-back threes. He helped put the Sixers ahead when it matters the most: the end of the game. I actually didn’t have him as a Bell Ringer contender until late in this one, but you can’t deny the importance of having a reliable late-game scorer. It’s the difference between a close loss and a close win… and the difference this time was, in no small part, Tyrese Maxey.
Maxey finished the game with 27 points, five rebounds, four assists and one steal.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 28: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball against Nate Ament #15 of the Milwaukee Bucks in the second quarter at Fiserv Forum on October 28, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks tried to build on their win over Indiana, but the Houston Rockets proved too much, winning 132-100 in a blowout. Tyler Herro led the Bucks with 23 points in 27 minutes, while Fred VanVleet led a balanced Houston attack with 24 points.
The Bucks started off looking solid, matching the Rockets shot for shot and keeping them from putting together a run; still, the game was choppy. Late in the first quarter, though, the Milwaukee finally found a rhythm, piecing together a neat little 7-0 run to take its first lead; Tyler Herro hit a finger roll lay-up and a sweet mid-range floater, then AJ Green nailed a three to give the home side a 19-16 edge. The play of the first quarter, though, belonged to Nate Ament, who rose and blocked Jabari Smith Jr. on a baseline jumper. This kind of defensive effort kept the Bucks in the game after they went cold to close out the quarter, finding themselves down 23-21 to end the first.
Unfortunately, that defense would fade a little as the second quarter began, as the Rockets opened on an 8-0 run, extending their lead to double digits. However, as Milwaukee’s starters cycled back in, the defense began to shore up… the only issue was that the offense did not! AJ Green hit a three around the 10-minute mark, and then the Bucks went four minutes without scoring, with Tyler Herro breaking the seal at the six-minute mark. Oof. With two minutes to go, the Bucks had shot just 4/21 in the quarter as the Rockets built a 22-point lead. Offensively, it was very unremarkable: the Bucks couldn’t get comfortable or find their stroke all quarter as the Rockets’ defence tightened. The lone silver lining was the strong team defence the Bucks played, which (somewhat) matched Houston’s pressure and energy.
The third quarter saw the Bucks get out to a faster start as they whittled away the deficit ever so slightly. Ryan Rollins logged four quick assists and a bucket as he pushed the pace and found the open man. Look, Milwaukee actually scored the ball decently in this perioid; the issue was they couldn’t get any stops, which allowed Houston to still win the quarter 38-34. In any event, the home side’s energy was paying off. Amen Thompson would end the quarter leading the Rockets in scoring with an impressive 23 points, showing off his versatility as scorer and looking much more comfortable with VanVleet back from injury. H-Town led bigly after three: 95-69.
Down 26, the Bucks would start the fourth with Brayden Burries, AJ Green, Ousmane Dieng, Nate Ament, and Jericho Sims. The Rockets, meanwhile, kept many of their starters in. For what it’s worth, Milwaukee actually held their own and out-shot Houston 15-10 in the first half of the final perioid. At the 6:55 mark, down 21, Gary Trent Jr. checked in for his first minutes of the season, and boy, was he spectacular, proceeding to score three points on 1/3 shooting. On a real dud of an offensive night, it felt like a fitting end to a clunker of a game.
Stat That Stood Out
18, 19: That is the current NBA season of Kevin Durant and Nate Ament’s age, respectively. KD was Ament’s assignment when he checked in, and it was a trip down Feel Old Lane, realising Ament was 10 months old when Durant made his debut in Seattle.
Obscene Overreaction
Jenkins has been quite effective at instilling culture. No, there are no moral victories, but even in an ugly loss, the Bucks kept their motor high all game and showed they believe in the process. Jenkins was also very encouraging even as players struggled, which will be necessary as the young Bucks continue to grow. They may be 1-4, but they also seem to be taking the right steps under Jenkins’ guidance.
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 28: Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Chicago Bulls on October 28, 2026 at United Center in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The league has done the world champion Knicks (2-3) no favors to start the new campaign. Their first four games were matches against playoff teams, and when they finally faced an easier opponent, it was a road game on the second night of a back-to-back.
Tonight’s opponent, the Chicago Bulls (1-4), came into the game as the NBA’s worst perimeter shooting team, but you wouldn’t believe it as they hit 43% from deep and took the Knicks to the wire. If New York was fatigued after beating Detroit last night, they benefited from huge minutes by reserves Tyler Kolek (9 PTS, 9 AST, 0 TO, 18 MIN), Jordan Clarkson (18 PTS, +15, 17 MIN), and Landry Shamet (14 PTS, 5 AST, 32 MIN).
With the second unit cooking, and double-digit points from three starters—Jalen Brunson (38 PTS, 7 AST), Karl-Anthony Towns (19 PTS, 13 REB), and OG Anunoby (23 PTS, 6 REB)—the Knicks overcame a 19-point deficit in the third quarter to win in the fourth, 133-127.
This summer’s fourth draft pick, Caleb Wilson (20 PTS, 6 RBS, 2 STL, 1 BLK), is a fixture of the rebuilding Bulls. He showed his pop when dunking over OG Anunoby in the first quarter and thefting two steals. Should he add any muscle, the kid might live up to his confidence.
Last night, Mikal Bridges got back on track against Detroit. He continued it tonight with an early corner bomb, but got a quick hook and played just nine first-half minutes.
The eleventh pick two years ago, Matas Buzelis (17 PTS), mixed in a three-pointer and a couple of free throws. Chicago came into the night ranked 30th in the league for long-range shooting. Their play supported that rotten rating, as they converted just 2-of-10 from deep in the first 12 minutes, while the visitors shot 5-of-9 from the yard.
Midway through the period, Chicago’s Noa Essengue was knocked into Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT appeared to injure his wrist when he fell to the floor and went to the locker room for treatment. With two minutes remaining in the quarter, Towns returned with a taped left wrist and was accompanied by Anunoby, Bridges, and Tyler Kolek. The latter made his first trey of the season with a minute to go in the period. After six lead changes, New York sat on top at the break, 34-33.
The second quarter saw five more lead changes, as the teams took turns leaping ahead. Kolek continued to dish, hitting Anunoby for an alley-oop and a three. Chicago had an answer for every score, with New York playing less enthusiastic defense than they did 24 hours earlier against Detroit. Blame fatigue. Jordan Clarkson gave them six points in support, and the team was generating second looks (10 offensive rebounds in the half), but they failed to give themselves breathing room. Miles McBride went scoreless on six shots, and Bridges missed his only attempt of the quarter and committed a turnover before being yanked again.
Chicago closed the half on a 13–3 run, thanks to timely baskets from Buzelis and Normal Norman Powell (30 PTS, 10-15 FG), and Tre Jones’ last-second buzzer-beater gave the hosts a 62-56 lead, their largest of the night.
Through the half, the Knicks were outshot 45% to 37%, and their 10 turnovers gifted the Bulls 12 points. The home team had a 28-20 advantage in the paint, despite the guests winning the boards 31-26. New York had shot better from deep (33% to 26%), but the Chi-Guys were capitalizing on easier baskets. Brunson led all scorers with 16 points, while Buzelis had nine.
KAT scored five quick points and dished to Anunoby for a dunk, but then the big fella’s fourth foul banished him to the pine at 9:03. While he sat, Chicago hit the gas. Powell drove to the cup, while Josh Giddey (10 PTS, 11 RBS) doled out three dimes and added a jumper. In a blink, the halftime lead had jumped from six to 13. Our heroes continued to squander their chances: Bridges missed twice before Shamet replaced him, and Anunoby blanked on two threes and was blocked by Buzelis at the rim. The Bulls scored nine unanswered to push their lead to 19 halfway through the frame.
From there, Captain Brunson ignited a 22-7 run. Jalen scored six of those, Kolek added his second and third triples of the night, and Drummond had some nifty cleanups at the rim. In the final second, Anunoby fouled Powell, who made two freebies. Chicago’s once-formidable lead was just 96-90.
Onto the fourth we went. Towns and Clarkson hit threes, as did Isaac Okoro for the villains, and Kolek added a steal. The third-year man has had at least one steal in each game he’s played this season. With a sprained ankle keeping Jose Alvarado out, Kolek is certainly making the most of his minutes. He distributed five assists while Brunson rested, and New York’s 14-8 run tied the score at 104 with just over eight minutes left.
Clarkson gave New York its biggest lift off the bench, scoring 12 fourth-quarter points and stealing consecutive Chicago passes to set up a Shamet three and his own layup.
That steady vet Powell kept answering for Chicago, but the Knicks were getting contributions throughout the lineup. Brunson scored 13 points after checking in at 7:04, hitting three triples as New York’s lead reached 11. His last three, following Hart’s offensive rebound, made it 130–122 with 1:39 remaining.
Jalen Smith (17 PTS, 11 RBS, 5 AST) buried a corner three to pull Chicago within three with 46 seconds left. Powell missed a potential tying triple, leaving New York ahead 130–127 with nine seconds on the clock. Cap and OG made their free throws. Ballgame.
Up Next
My notes say that Mo has a recap coming your way. The Knicks host Philly at home on Friday for a Cup game. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 24: Jordan Goodwin #23 of the Phoenix Suns and LJ Cryer #18 of the Golden State Warriors battle for a loose ball during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 24, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 131-122. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Unfortunately for the Suns, the season has not panned out as much as anticipated. With a 1-2 start and their next game not until Friday, the team’s pulse has been off, and everyone has expressed frustration. Whether it’s the early injuries that have hurt the roster or the starting lineup not meshing well, the discussion surrounding the Suns hasn’t been positive in the first few games. Even with all that negativity, though, the Suns have shown some positives, including a major offseason re-signing.
This has been Jordan Goodwin, someone who blossomed on the team last year and is still finding ways to make an impact this year. In just these three games, he has made himself feel present with the squad and has made his presence felt in all three contests. His hustle and ambition to become a better player show in his relentlessness on the court.
Because of the injuries the Suns have already dealt with early on, Goodwin’s role has grown. With no Oso Ighodaro for the Suns, Khaman Maluach has started, but with Mark Williams also out, the center room is thin. The Suns have used two-way player Duop Reath for some of those minutes, but a lot of them have been put into small-ball lineups. This was one of the Suns’ strong suits last season, and again, it can be said to be led by the same player both years: Goodwin.
To start the season, the Suns have struggled in two main areas: rebounding and three-point shooting. For the Suns, though, Goodwin has at least shone by not letting them get completely obliterated in those categories any more than they already have. The 6’3” guard, even though he is undersized, proves that it is heart over height in any scenario, as he makes his impact known within the roster. He’s made that impact known, and the fans have noticed it, too.
The Suns are currently shooting 31.9% from three, ranking 20th in the NBA.
Despite this, they rank 10th in three-point attempts per game. 🤨
That is why, to me, he’s truly been one of the bright spots on this Suns team and deserves recognition for his hard work, even if the results haven’t always been what everyone wants. That said, the Suns should look at what Goodwin has accomplished over the last few games and incorporate his skill set into the roster build. As we know, the starting lineup has not panned out at all. With Ighodaro out with an injury, we haven’t been able to switch him and Maluach, but even without that, others haven’t performed.
Finally watching last night's win and wow does Jordan Goodwin need to be playing 30 MPG expeditiously
He's attacking gaps in the defense to create 3-point assists, hitting reverse up-and-unders, all while rebounding like a PF and pressuring 94 feet. IMPACT.
— Sam Cooper #GetOffMyMeaterson (@scooperhoops) October 25, 2026
Jalen Green has been inconsistent; Devin Booker had one dominant performance but then went silent; Dillon Brooks just hasn’t looked like the same player, and Miles Bridges, well, what is there positive to say about him? Truly, the cohesion has been terrible, and the roster build, with no one to make those Goodwin-like plays, has set them back. Everyone is looking for their own bucket and a way to win for the team, rather than playing as a unit. That is why the bench looks so much better: everyone has their role, and they try to execute it.
Among 326 players averaging 30+ minutes this season, here’s where three Suns starters rank in defensive rating:
Even early in the season, the starters’ lineup issues are glaring, and with the squad’s build, this could persist as the season goes on. With no clear playmaker, true rebounder, or even a solid three-point scorer, the solution seems to be working through this together for now, but if it sticks, bigger issues could arise near the trade deadline. This is where I think the Suns, in this scenario, would still need to reevaluate all avenues to build around their star.
Sadly, three points isn’t something anyone can support, but fans can still cling to the 43-point game from before. That is the Booker fans all know and grew up supporting, the one they saw on Saturday night, and even if it was against a depleted Warriors team, that star is still there. He needs the right pieces around him to get back to his true self, and that is where the front office needs to look. They need to find guys who can replicate what Goodwin brings to the starting lineup: connectivity. Someone willing to do the dirty work and be the glue guy for the starters. As many liked to taunt Royce O’Neale last year for being in the lineup, that is what his role was, and he did it perfectly.
Sometimes it is not about the biggest names on the roster; it is about how they work, and that is how last season’s Suns thrived. This year, the opposite is true, and the outcomes aren’t looking great. It’s still early in the season, and things can change once Ighodaro gets back or their team gels more, but if the issues persist, the only way out may be to sell some of these starters, especially ones looking for a long-term extension.
TORONTO, ON- OCTOBER 28 - RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors worked around Tristan da Silva #23 of the Orlando Magic as the Toronto Raptors play the Orlando Magic at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. October 28, 2026. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors defeated the Orlando Magic 129-99 on Wednesday.
With the victory, the team improved to 3-1 on the season and 1-1 in games without Kawhi Leonard.
Here are four takeaways and quotes after the win:
Where would the Raptors be without RJ?
“We can do an even better job of providing him those angles…but he’s very crafty and he plays in tight spaces…I thought he did a really good job tonight.” – Darko Rajakovic on RJ Barrett
There’s something about RJ Barrett’s game that can’t escape the relentless criticism from a specific portion of the Raptors fanbase. Even after hitting a Kawhi-like bounce that foreshadowed the return of his newest teammate, Barrett’s name is often included in hypothetical trades.
Contract and financials aside, no one on the team can replicate what Barrett does best: provide relentless pressure and pursuit that even Michael Myers would be jealous of.
When Toronto’s offence was stuck in molasses, it was Barrett who supercharged his play. After hitting a triple to cut the Magic lead to 19-13, he followed that up with an offensive putback on the next possession.
Barrett led all scorers with 21 points at halftime, matching his second-highest output through two quarters in his eight seasons in the league. Barrett’s career-high for points at the half remains at 30, which was recorded while playing for the New York Knicks on Feb. 25 in 2022.
Barrett proved himself as a playoff riser against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It makes sense that he elevates his game while Leonard is out of action. Barrett finished with 25 points on 50 per cent shooting.
No trick, all treat
“Today was the first day I was looking for my shot more…Offensively, I’m a liability when I don’t look for my shot.” – Jamal Shead on whether he needs to be more aggressive on offence
With the Raptors trailing 21-15 with just over four minutes left in the opening quarter, head coach Darko Rajakovic looked to his bench for answers, or at the very least, for a group capable of keeping them in the game until their offence recovered.
What emerged was the unique combination of Immanuel Quickley, Jamal Shead, Jamison Battle, Scottie Barnes and Trayce Jackson-Davis. The group was the jump scare Toronto needed to wake up from its slumber. An 11-2 run pushed the home team to a two-point lead and invigorated the Scotiabank Arena.
The most encouraging part was that production came from all five players and not just the known quantities. Jackson-Davis was an excellent screener and capitalized on his scoop shot after Shead dropped it off to him in the paint. The veteran was also a stabilizing force on the glass. Battle bounced back after his performance in Minnesota, finishing with seven points, while knocking down a left-corner three during this particular stretch. Defensively, Battle was playing with an infectious effort and hit the floor for loose balls. Shead had his best game of the young season and was a force on both ends. The backup point guard scored a season-high 13 points.
Orlando ultimately went 1-for-4 from the field and committed three turnovers before Rajakovic brought Jakob Poeltl and RJ Barrett back into the game.
Scottie returns to form
“I thought we just played our brand of basketball…we’re trying to play to our standards.” – Scottie Barnes on whether the team played a different way due to Leonard’s absence
After Barnes faced criticism for finishing with zero points for the second time in his career, there was understandably increased curiosity surrounding how the All-Star would approach this game, especially with Leonard out of action.
Whether it was by design or a product of what was available on the court, Barnes and the Raptors had an obsession with getting into the paint to begin the game. Barnes generated five consecutive paint touches, with one of them leading to a Quickley three-pointer. He didn’t take his first jump shot until the 7:23 mark. In total, the Raptors as a team attacked the paint on seven straight possessions.
Barnes was an absolute force once again, finishing with 28 points, six rebounds, four assists and five stocks (steals and blocks). For the Raptors to author a sequel to 2019, Barnes needs to be an automatic 20-point scorer while doing enough to cement his reputation as an All-Defensive mainstay.
Part of the sophomore experience
“For all of our guys, they come off the bench and are ready to go… they have something to prove and do well for the team, and they’re very much ready to do that.” – Rajakovic on the team’s depth
We’ve seen the Photoshop gems on X and the addictive edits on TikTok. Along with Leonard and Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles is often viewed as an integral part of the three-headed defensive monster. While it’s a compliment to be typecast as the “Dennis Rodman” of the group, Toronto can renovate its ceiling to impressive heights should Murray-Boyles grow as an offensive weapon.
Unfortunately, Murray-Boyles couldn’t get into a rhythm, particularly due to foul trouble. The defensive demon picked up two fouls in his first three minutes of action. He also committed three turnovers during this stretch. Early in the fourth quarter, Murray-Boyles picked up his fifth foul. At this point, he had seven points, two rebounds and three turnovers.
Thankfully, the Magic didn’t pose a permanent threat and Jackson-Davis was solid as a fill-in at the centre position.
Offensively, Murray-Boyles’ highlight of the night came in the form of a three-pointer from the top of the arc. Moments later, he attempted a second triple from nearly the same spot. The ball touched every part of the rim before bouncing out. During Raptors Media Day, Rajakovic expressed his preference for players to be more willing to take shots. Murray-Boyles finished 2-for-3 from the perimeter. It was the first time Murray-Boyles had attempted more than two three-pointers since Dec. 31 in 2025.
The Knicks looked lost at sea in the third quarter on Wednesday night in Chicago, but overturned a 19-point deficit to grab a 133-127 win over the Bulls.
Sequences looked incredibly familiar for those fans who labored through watching the first few games of New York’s title defense: stagnant offense, turnovers, missed shots, and periods when the other side just looks fresher.
And in the middle quarters, it was the young Bulls who rampaged past the older Knicks with a 33-13 run to take an 87-68 lead with under five left in the third. That is when a Jalen Brunson-led charge saw the Knicks use a 22-7 run to enter the fourth down by just six.
Three minutes into the fourth, the Knicks had a lead, as the three-point shooting, which had been rather poor earlier, arrived. It was Karl-Anthony Towns, who poured in another double-double, and a trio of bench players who shined as Tyler Kolek, Landry Shamet, and Jordan Clarkson
And after the Knicks got the lead in the fourth, Brunson regained his familiar role as the closer, taking over with 13 points down the stretch, stretching the Knicks’ lead to 10 points with a big crossover and three. The game tightened to just a three-point lead, but Josh Hart’s defensive rebound with under 10 seconds to play kept the game secure.
Here are the takeaways...
- Brunson was quiet for much of the game, but then took over midway through the second, knocking in seven straight for the Knicks to give him 11 points on 5-for-10 from the floor in the first. He added another five points in the second. The fourth quarter was all his as he put in his best performance of the season so far.
The best closer in basketball put on a show to finish with 38 points on 13-for-25 shooting (6-for-10 from three) with seven assists and a plus-3 in 35 minutes.
- Towns was in an awkward collision with Bulls forward Noa Essengue and stayed down in pain early in the first quarter. Towns got up holding his left wrist and was soon seen walking into the locker room. KAT would return just under four minutes later with tape around his left hand. The injury didn’t appear to hamper him as he added an old-fashioned three-point play to finish the opening quarter with six points and five rebounds.
But then the foul trouble happened and limited his contribution for some time. In a span of just a few minutes late in the first and early in the second, he picked up his third personal just over four minutes into the quarter, and he had nine points and 11 rebounds at the half. After five fast points and an assist early in the third, he picked up his fourth and had to spend some more time on the bench.
But the fourth quarter was fine as he finished with 19 points (7-for-14 shooting, 3-for-6 from deep) with 13 rebounds and five assists and was a plus-5 in 28 minutes.
- Shamet sustained an unfortunate turn of the ankle early in the second, and that saw him head to the Knicks' locker room. He finished a dunk, started backing up the court, but got the back of his foot caught on a Bulls player's shoe and turned his right ankle. But, like Towns before him, he was back in the game a few minutes later.
When the Knicks needed him, he was there, turning it on in the second half as he poured in 14 points (4-for-7 from deep) with five assists to finish a plus-13 in 32 minutes.
- Clarkson, who did not play Tuesday against the Pistons, had six points in five first-half minutes. He added another big three early in the fourth and then added a pair of steals, setting up a Shamet three and a layup of his own to give the Knicks a five-point edge midway through the fourth.
- Kolek, getting minutes with Jose Alvarado sidelined with an ankle injury, took full advantage, leading several charges down the floor to score nine points (3-for-4 from deep) with nine assists, two rebounds, and was a plus-13 in 18 minutes.
- OG Anunoby started making his imprint early, with five fast points to start the second to give him 11. He finished with 23 points (7-for-16 shooting) and six rebounds, but was a minus-10 in 31 minutes.
- Offense isn't coming to Hart much again, and he had just two points in 17 first-half minutes with three rebounds, two assists, but was a minus-10. And he finished with just the two points on 1-for-6 shooting, but had eight rebounds (three offensive) and three assists and was a minus-2 in 36 minutes.
- Mikal Bridges picked up two fouls early and played just nine first-half minutes with three points on two shots. He was a minus-5 and played just 13 minutes in the game.
- Miles McBride had a terrible time in the first half with just three points on 1-for-9 shooting (1-for-7 from deep) with three personal fouls and a turnover. He did have five rebounds, a steal, and a block, but was a minus-5 in 14 minutes. He did not feature after the half.
Game MVP: Jordan Clarkson
Yes, this probably should go to Brunson. But the shine should go to a guy who played sparingly in the first four games of the season and was ready to light it up when his name was called. Clarkson finished with 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting (2-for-3 from deep) with three rebounds, two steals, an assist, and was a team-high plus-15 in 17 minutes, which was the same number of minutes he had played on the year entering the game.
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 28: Cade Cunningham #2 and Daniss Jenkins #24 of the Detroit Pistons look on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 28, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Pistons recovered after a slow first half to defeat the Charlotte Hornets 97-89. Detroit’s defense was Steady Eddy all night. Their offense came alive with 32 points in the third quarter.
Daniss Jenkins’ 3-point bomb to end the second quarter ignited their offensive run. He came through in crunch time with timely baskets and heads-up defense to offense possessions. Jenkins (14 pts, 60 FG%) keeps the confidence at all times.
Cade Cunningham led the way with 30 points, five boards, seven assists, and one turnover. He shot 4-9 from triple range. While Jalen Duren remains out with a hamstring injury, Paul Reed continues to be dependable. Reed was all over the floor, scoring 16 points and displaying his Barry Allen hands with three steals.
Duncan Robinson will be in the sniper of the year race. He buried three triples and was a +6 for the game. Robinson and Ausar’s dribble handoff game is chef’s kiss.
Teams sag so far off Ausar and are haunted-house scared of Robinson when he’s on the move. Ausar’s man has to come up and cover so much ground when they run a DHO, and Robinson is such a willing passer.
Those two connected on a killer Robinson-to-Ausar sequence leading to a big slam in the fourth. Ausar stuffed the stat sheet with seven points, nine boards, and eight assists. His last dime to Cade for a triple sealed the deal. We all want him to be more aggressive and take certain shots when he’s near the basket, but passes like that are why he plays his brand of basketball.
Brandon Miller attacked Robinson relentlessly on the other end. Whenever the Pistons gave up a switch, Miller looked to put his shoulder in 55’s chest to get a floater off. It’s really not fair to single out Robinson. It got to the point where Miller was getting boogie on whoever. 3s, push shots, tomahawk slams, Miller got off tonight.
Miller was a one-man army, dropping 31 points and snagging 12 boards. He and Dennis Schröder (14) were the Hornets’ only double-digit scorers. Moussa Diabaté, Grayson Allen, and Royce O’Neale chipped in with nine apiece.
Detroit doubled Charlotte with four double-digit scorers. The Hornets kept it close down the stretch, but Detroit pulled away with an uptick in defensive tenacity and big-time shot-making from their creators, Cade and Jenkins.
That was a gutsy win with the way Detroit came out flat offensively. Hopefully Detroit gets off to a better start Friday versus the Brooklyn Nets. That will be the Pistons’ first in-season tournament group stage game. Get busy and set the point differential right.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 21: Graham Ike #45 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 21, 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
Dwight D. Eisenhower famously had a slogan in his 1952 presidential campaign called “I Like Ike” (pronounced EYEK). While I wasn’t alive in that era, I can say I like a different Ike (pronounced EE-KAY).
Beloved Gonzaga Bulldog and now professional rookie Graham Ike made his first NBA career start on October 23rd for the Golden State Warriors against the Memphis Grizzlies. In 12 minutes, he tallied 10 points on 4-for-6 field goals and a perfect 2-for-2 beyond the three-point line, while grabbing two offensive rebounds.
Ike got the nod to start the next day against the Phoenix Suns. He played 26 minutes, going 5-for-13 and totaling 12 points, which included a sick putback dunk. Not to mention, the Zag grabbed 10 rebounds in what lead to his first double-double in the NBA.
Ike only played less than three minutes in the next matchup on the road against the Denver Nuggets, his home state team.
It’s extraordinary watching Ike, who went undrafted and signed an Exhibit-10 deal with Golden State back on June 26th, get minutes in the big leagues. To not only play, but shine for a Warriors squad that does not have much to look forward to this season.
Let’s not forget the connection between Gonzaga coach Mark Few and Golden State coach Steve Kerr, as they coach together for Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics. With the Warriors being the oldest team in the current NBA (their average is 29.39 years), Kerr could give Ike much more playing time than anticipated.
Ike wasn’t the only Gonzaga alum who had some attention through the NBA’s first week.
Jalen Suggs, entering his sixth campaign with the Orlando Magic, dropped 14 points, six rebounds and six assists against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 23rd. However, on October 25th against the defending champion New York Knicks, Suggs suffered a non-contact injury late in the fourth quarter.
Jalen Suggs is down in serious pain after this play
Anytime a player goes down holding their knee, especially when it’s non-contact, a basketball fan is quick to assume the worst. Luckily, ESPN’s NBA Insider Shams Charania reported that Suggs was diagnosed with a mild bone bruise in his right knee and will be out for at least two weeks.
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs has been diagnosed with a mild bone bruise in his right knee and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, sources tell ESPN. Suggs avoided any other major structural damage. pic.twitter.com/C3DqyUcuAW
Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, in his first two games of his fifth NBA season, has averaged 16.0 points on a 55.2 field goal percentage, 1.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists. The older Nembhard did not play on October 26th against the Milwaukee Bucks, dealing with neck/back issues.
His younger brother, Ryan, had some minutes in his first chance to suit up for his new team, the Denver Nuggets, going 2-for-3 from the field and hitting a three-pointer. Nembhard had a busy offseason, being traded from the Dallas Mavericks, where he spent his rookie season, to the Atlanta Hawks. On September 22nd, he was traded once again to the Charlotte Hornets, and then waived on September 26th.
It’s only been a week into the 2026-2027 NBA season, and it’s already been fantastic seeing these former Zags get some minutes, especially Ike.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 28: Tyrese Maxey #0 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrate a basket by Maxey during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on October 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
At least they’re piling up wins while figuring out the offense.
The Sixers slugged out a 114-109 win over the banged-up Indiana Pacers Wednesday night.
Tyrese Maxey came alive in the fourth quarter to lead the Sixers with 27 points, adding five rebounds and four assists shooting 8-of-18 from the floor. Joel Embiid put up 21 points and 11 rebounds going 9-of-17 from the field.
LeBron James also dramatically improved in the final period — he finished with 13 points, five rebounds and 10 assists on 5-of-12 shooting. Jaylen Brown shot 7-of-13 for 20 points and 10 rebounds. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 26.
Jabari Walker remained out with knee soreness, along with Dominick Barlow and Tacko Fall. The Pacers were without Tyrese Haliburton, Ivica Zubac and T.J. McConnell.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
Not a pretty start for either team. The Sixers turned the ball over twice within 30 seconds then blew a switch on an inbounds to concede their first points of the game. Their offense opened the game looking stagnant. Brown, Embiid, and LeBron slowly got them on the board in the midrange.
On their first possession coming out of the game’s first timeout, they had some movement going and got Embiid an easy basket running a pick-and-roll with James. Aside from some disinterest in Larry Nance, the Sixers opened the game fine defensively and benefitted from the Pacers starting cold as well. Indy started the game 3-of-11 from three.
Anfernee Simons checked into the game and knocked down two three-pointers after only hitting two in his last three games. He ended up being the only Sixer to make a three in the quarter, and the only Sixer to take more than one three in the quarter.
Despite a ticky-tacky quarter from the officials that ended with two fouls on both Embiid and Adem Bona, the Sixers closed out another lackluster offensive quarter with a 47.6% effective field goal percentage and were knotted up with this banged-up Pacers team at 25.
Second Quarter
Despite the best efforts of those officials, there was no denying that Pacers’ two-way swingman Jalen Slawson had a LeBron-esque chase down block on James himself in transition. Indiana used an early challenge to overturn the foul originally called. Slawson might have been robbed of a block shortly after, but Brown got the points from the goaltend and drove right to the basket on the following possession.
Kelly Oubre Jr. started the second for Indy with a three, then beat most the Sixers back for a transition layup off an inbound. The Sixers kept feeding their hot hand, Simons, for two more. His fourth three of the night banked off the backboard and rim before falling in. Maxey hit LeBron off a pick-and-roll for another jumper off the glass that capped off an 8-0 Sixers run.
Sometimes when the Sixers have moved the ball this season, they might go one or two passes too many, but that’s a much more welcomed struggle than stagnation. Embiid might passed up a good look at a layup, but the ball eventually was kicked back to Maxey who drew a foul on his layup attempt.
VJ Edgecombe started the game with an open three that rimmed out and just missed a big slam earlier in the second. He finally got on the board crashing the glass and putting back a missed Embiid midrange. The Sixers only missed four times from inside the arc in the second and the Sixers scored on second-chance points on two of them. A missed Embiid layup fell right to Brown for an easy 12-footer.
The Sixers began to surrender all that momentum as the Pacers ripped off an 8-0 run, but for the third time this season they nailed an end-of-quarter heave. Edgecombe drilled a pull-up from half court to beat the buzzer, pushing them back up to a 10-point lead at the half.
After the exciting end to the first half, the Sixers opened the second very flat. They went one unsuccessful isolation attempt after another while the Pacers ripped off a 10-0 run. Nick Nurse called a timeout to stop it, but the Pacers hit a three after another missed contested midrange before the Sixers threw it away on the ensuing inbounds.
Indiana ended up scoring 17 before the Sixers scored their first points of the half. While they didn’t just get down and go to the basket, LeBron finally got an open three to go off a drive-and-kick. Maxey, who had five points to this point, nailed another triple off a give-and-go to finally halt Indiana’s momentum.
The first “hold your breath” moment was when LeBron bumped knees with Slawson. Those will hurt a lot more at LeBron’s age than Slawson’s. That didn’t help how much the Pacers were outrunning the Sixers. It’s their bread and butter, and the Sixers gave them plenty of ugly possessions to get out and do it.
Brown got to the basket and drew a foul in another attempt to stop the bleeding, but took a shot to the head that bothered him in the process. It would be their final points of the third. KCP missed an open kickout, Maxey couldn’t get a clean layup off, Dean Wade picked up his fifth foul unable to stop Siakam, and Brown’s pull-up at the buzzer was long. After being outscored 32-13, they trailed by 13.
Fourth Quarter
Oubre tried to sell a foul coming off a Maxey screen and left Simons wide open as a result. LeBron stripped him, allowing Maxey to scream down the court for a fastbreak layup. After finding Simons again in the corner, LeBron was left all alone and drilled the three he took his time for, cutting the lead to five and prompting a Pacers timeout. Simons finished with 20 points on the night.
The Sixers were lucky to have not given up any points despite giving up three offensive rebounds on the first possession coming out of the timeout. As Tim Legler was saying on ESPN’s broadcast that Embiid hadn’t gotten the ball in his sweetspot enough in the half, James hit him at the nail for a layup and the foul. Embiid then threw a great swing pass to Simons who missed the three, but after just checking back in Brown was right there to put back the miss.
Playing off two-man actions with Embiid, Maxey got to the basket then the line to put the Sixers back in front. As the two again got Embiid on the empty side of the floor, Edgecombe cut to the middle of the floor and was fouled on a made floater. He hit Embiid’s celebration as the big fella tried to help him up.
Maxey found Embiid with a pocket pass to answer a pair of free throws, but once Siakam got another post hook to go to cut the Sixers’ lead to three, Nurse decided for another timeout to get LeBron out of the game. After Embiid traveled trying to secure an offensive rebound, Indy got it down to one thanks to Andrew Nembhard. Embiid was able to hit a fadeaway from the nail to quiet the crowd.
After going three-of-four at the line, Maxey finally started to look like himself around the perimeter. He hit a stepback three, taking his time after getting free of Aaron Nesmith. The Pacers got two back at the line, but in the process of trying to get the ball out of LeBron’s hands they left Maxey open for another three.
The Sixers looked to have this one in hand after those threes and Obi Toppin split his pair of free throws. On a scrambled inbounds play Edgecombe threw a poor pass out of bounds with 31 seconds left, plenty of time for Indy down five. They grabbed the offensive rebound off of Nesmith’s first three, but he got it back and airballed his second attempt. It was fitting that it wasn’t pretty, but the Sixers finally handled business.
The versatile forward from Brigham Young led the Wizards with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting (1-for-3 on 3-pointers) and added two assists and two rebounds in 27 minutes. Dybansta missed the Wizards' first four games after suffering a left ankle sprain in an awkward landing during the Wizards' preseason finale.
The 19-year-old Dybantsa averaged 12.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 43.9% from the field in four preseason games with the Wizards.
Dybantsa is expected to make his home debut in Washington, D.C., against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, Oct. 30.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 28: AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards plays defense during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 28, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Kolin/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards suffered a sour loss Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena, 121-111. It was a game that felt like the Wizards had every opportunity to win, but they never put the Cavs away until their opponents came roaring back late.
Washington’s first quarter was one of the most fun periods the team has had as far as I can remember. AJ Dybantsa came out guns blazing, scoring 9 first-quarter points in his first taste of NBA action. His first basket was an instant highlight.
Alex Sarr also took the court with some added aggression. He accounted for 7 of the Wizards’ first 9 points and scored more points in the period (13) than he has in any full game this season.
The three-ball kept the Cavaliers within striking distance early. Cleveland shot 7-of-8 from deep in the first 12 minutes, as Washington led 42-34 after one.
The Wizards continued their aerial assault in the second quarter, scoring six dunks. Washington scored 40 of their first 56 points in the paint to take a 69-59 lead into the break. Bilal Coulibaly led the way with 14 points at the half, while Dybantsa added 11.
Washington took its largest lead of 13 two minutes into the third quarter on a Dybantsa alley-oop dunk. But the Wiz kids just could not pull away completely as the Cavs crashed the offensive glass repeatedly for second-chance points. The good guys got outscored 25-14 to close the period as the teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 92.
The Wizards’ inexperience showed down the stretch. The formerly free-flowing offense featured in the first half was nowhere to be found, as the team devolved into hero ball against a team much better equipped to score in isolation. The Cavs came away with the 10-point victory.
Dybantsa led Washington in scoring with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting in 27 action-packed minutes. Trae Young scored an inefficient 14 points with 8 assists. Sarr and Anthony Davis each had 18, while Kyshawn George tallied 8 points and 11 assists.
The Wizards begin their NBA Cup campaign on Friday in a rematch against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 28: Peyton Watson #8 celebrates with Mario Hezonja #33 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena on October 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers completed another comeback to notch their third straight win.
Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Player of the game
Evan Mobley
24 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists
Mobley kicked open the game by nailing his first three three-point attempts. He’d go on to hit 5-of-6 in one of the best three-point shooting games of his career.
The outside shot has always been a question mark for Mobley, but it’s been more consistent than ever to start the season.
You’d still like to see him establish himself in the paint. This has been two games in a row where Mobley was forced to rely on the perimeter shot more than his bread-and-butter in the restricted area. That’s partly because he’s matched up against generational defenders in Rudy Gobert and Anthony Davis in consecutive games.
I don’t love the idea of Mobley relying too much on three-pointers. But if he shoots it like this, then I don’t have much to complain about.
Grade: A
Grades
Donovan Mitchell
19 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds
Mitchell’s shot wasn’t falling tonight as he started 4-for-11 from the floor. He converted back-to-back shots in the fourth to help close the door.
Credit to Washington, who set the tone early and made it so Mitchell had to work hard on both ends of the floor. His defense left much to be desired tonight.
Grade: C-
James Harden
16 points, 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers
It was one of Harden’s poorest defensive efforts to date as the Wizards left him trailing more often than not. In fact, Harden spent most of his time stuck in concrete defensively. An ounce of effort in transition, or simply in the halfcourt, would have saved the Cavs some trouble throughout this one.
Grade: D+
Peyton Watson
22 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block
Watson is getting more comfortable as he has had the best offensive half of his career in Cleveland so far. He scored 16 points in the first two quarters, shooting 7-for-11 from the floor and scoring from all three levels throughout.
The ball went away from him in the second half as the Cavaliers’ offense funneled more through their backcourt. But his energy kept him on the board, with Watson finishing a putback layup during Cleveland’s rally in the fourth quarter.
Grade: A-
Jarrett Allen
8 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks
Allen was one of the only Cavaliers who seemed interested in playing defense tonight. He had three fantastic blocks, each of which saved a bucket at the rim. Allen’s energy doesn’t always get appreciated, but we won’t be overlooking him tonight.
Grade: B
Jaylon Tyson
7 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Tyson was a bit helter-skelter tonight. His frantic dribbling slowed down some of Cleveland’s momentum in the fourth quarter before a timeout was needed to steady the ship.
Grade: D+
Mario Hezonja
5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Hezonja hasn’t been as involved recently, but he’s nailed clutch three-pointers in each of his last two games. That speaks to his professionalism and his ability to stay ready at all times.
Grade: C+
Sam Merrill
8 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist
Merrill finally found his touch after a lackluster start to the season. It was only two three-pointers, but there’s nothing quite like watching Merrill hit difficult three-pointers, and Rocket Arena went into a frenzy after his second make.
Grade: C+
Meleek Thomas
16 points, 2 rebounds
I can’t overstate how impressed I’ve been with Meleek’s defensive energy through two games. His attention to detail has been superb, and his active hands have led to numerous forced turnovers.
I especially liked when he jumped an entry pass to the post after helping off the opposite corner.
On offense, Thomas went 0-for-1 from deep, but finished 4-of-5 attempts inside the arc by being a threat to sprint in transition and get downhill.
If he keeps playing like this, we’ll have to adjust our expectations and start grading him on a different curve.
