Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht (3) reacts after hitting a three-point shot during an NCAA college basketball game between Tennessee and Kentucky in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, March 9, 2024. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Dalton Knecht’s frustrating time with the Los Angeles Lakers has come to an end. The team waived Knecht earlier this week, finally freeing the former Tennessee Volunteer to explore better opportunities. On Friday, he found one with the defending NBA champions.
Knecht signed a two-way contract with the New York Knicks, according to multiple reports. The two-way deal will allow Knecht to go back and forth from the Knicks to the team’s G-League affiliate.
Former Lakers forward Dalton Knecht has agreed to sign with the New York Knicks on a two-way NBA contract, his agents at Excel Sports Management tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/1gePugMy3Z
Knecht averaged 7.1 points per game during his time with the Lakers, appearing in 132 games. He made 16 starts during his rookie season, where he averaged over nine points per game. Knecht shot 36.8 percent from three point range during his two seasons. Somewhere along the way, Knecht fell out of favor with the Lakers and struggled to find the floor.
The Lakers had a trade in place to move Knecht to Charlotte, but the deal fell through after center Mark Williams failed his physical. Los Angeles ended up waiving Knecht 20 months later.
At Tennessee, Knecht put up one of the most prolific offensive seasons we’ve ever seen. The fifth-year senior transferred in from Northern Colorado and averaged 21.7 points per game while shooting over 39 percent from three-point range. Knecht took over several games for Tennessee down the stretch, helping push the Volunteers to another Elite Eight appearance.
Knecht now lands in New York, where he’ll wear No. 99 for the Knicks. We’ll see if he can find new life, now finally with a fresh start.
The Rockets knocked the Spurs down to 0-2 to start this season, this one in a home game for San Antonio played in Austin (the same weekend an F1 race fills the city).
It's been that kind of a start to the season for the Spurs — Wembanyama banked in a 3-pointer five seconds before that was waived off because coach Mitch Johnson called a timeout (to set up that last play). San Antonio is now 0-2 to open the season, having lost to Oklahoma City and Houston, two teams at the top of the West that will be roadblocks in the Spurs' plans to return to the NBA Finals.
Alperen Sengun was key to the Rockets' win, scoring 14 of his game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter.
Kevin Durant scored 20 points and added seven rebounds and six assists in what felt like a homecoming game for the former University of Texas star. Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Wembanyama led the Spurs with 25 points on 9-of-21 shooting, plus 13 rebounds. Dylan Harper scored 20 points, including a poster dunk that put the Spurs down by just two with 46 seconds left. San Antonio just couldn't pull off the win.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Cameron Boozer (27) drives to the basket as he is defended by Golden State Warriors forward-center Draymond Green (23) and guard De'Anthony Melton (8) during the second half of their NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. The Grizzlies defeated the Warriors 111-108. (Photo by Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Do you think the Washington Wizards and the Utah Jazz are having second thoughts about their respective 2026 NBA Draft decisions? They might.
In his first regular-season NBA game, Boozer didn’t shoot well – just 2-15 -but look what his coach, Tuomas Iisalo, said about him after that:
“Typical Cam Boozer night, shot 2-for-15 and plus-32, I know it’s like the plus-minus for one game and without adjusting it in any way is very much a non-stat. But I thought he did a great job with the rebounding. He had 11 rebounds. He had 5 assists…The kid is 19. The kid is 19, and he’s making big-time plays offensively and defensively that takes other guys 10 years in the league to figure those out…And he is a player that epitomizes that because he doesn’t need to make shots in order to help the team win.”
He did a lot more against Golden State on Friday night.
Boozer finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. He shot 6-13/4-7, and hit 9-9 from the line.
And he also led a 17-0 run at the end of the game, and hit the game winner. All in all that’s a hell of a second game for a rookie.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 14: Pat Spencer #61 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on October 14, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There’s a saying I use quite often, and that is, “Champions adjust.” You don’t become a champion by doing the same thing over and over. You become a champion by adjusting to the opposition, rethinking your approach, and executing a new game plan.
It’s a saying I turned into a poster years ago, one that still hangs in my office. Someday, I’ll edit it, adding a member of the Phoenix Suns to it when the team finally raises Larry.
Being a champion doesn’t necessarily mean winning a league championship. There are moments in life, challenges you face, and decisions you have to make, where you can become a champion simply by being willing to adjust.
I’m not going to sit here and suggest that the Phoenix Suns’ change in two-way contract strategy suddenly makes them champions. But I do think their willingness to adjust is something worth recognizing and keeping in mind.
The Suns adjusted their strategy earlier this week when they waived both Koby Brea and CJ Huntley, two players who spent the majority of last season on two-way contracts. Brea was a mid-second-round pick, while Huntley went undrafted. But it was clear that Phoenix’s strategy last season was to use those two-way contracts on young prospects, hoping to develop them into players who could eventually earn guaranteed NBA deals.
That’s the goal of the G League, isn’t it? It’s a proving ground for players, an opportunity for prospects to showcase their development and growth while working toward a permanent place on an NBA roster. But that strategy began to change when the Suns acquired Jamaree Bouyea.
Bouyea was 26 years old when Phoenix brought him in. He wasn’t some young prospect fresh off his collegiate career. He was more seasoned, with professional experience already under his belt. And when the opportunity presented itself, he shined. He appeared in two games with the Valley Suns, averaging 24 points per contest. The organization brought him up, gave him opportunities to prove himself, and eventually converted him to a two-way contract player.
We should’ve recognized this as a sign that the Suns were adjusting their strategy in real time, and that they ultimately liked what they saw and how it worked out for them. Because that’s exactly what we’ve witnessed this offseason.
They signed Pat Spencer to a two-way contract. Then, after Mark Williams suffered an injury and the team found itself needing additional depth at the center position, Phoenix brought in Duop Reath on a training camp invitation. Rather than retain a younger developmental prospect in CJ Huntley, the Suns converted Reath’s deal to a two-way contract, despite him being 30 years old.
The moment Drew Timme became available following the Minnesota Timberwolves waiving his Exhibit 10 contract, Phoenix claimed him off waivers, adding another experienced player who recently turned 26.
Again, nobody is suggesting these transactions are going to result in a championship. We’re talking about two-way contract players, guys who should primarily serve as break glass in case of emergency options. But at least you’re bringing in players who can fulfill specific needs, placing less emphasis on their long-term development and more on refining the skill sets they already possess so they can contribute when called upon.
And I think that says something about this organization’s mindset. There’s a willingness to remain nimble, to stay agile, and to adjust when circumstances call for it. Rather than remaining committed to a particular philosophy simply because that’s how things have always been done, the Suns are demonstrating that they’re willing to reevaluate their approach. Ultimately, that mindset could bring a championship to the Valley one day.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 23: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks plays defense during the game against the Chicago Bulls on October 23, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
In a game they should have won, the Milwaukee Bucks fell to the Chicago Bulls, 132-125. Turnovers and missed free throws doomed the Bucks against one of the few teams they entered the season with a legit chance to beat. A major blow, for sure, and now the team hits a long stretch of opponents with realistic playoff aspirations. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Well, Rollins did at least have a better floor game than against Washington, but he just couldn’t get the offence going like we know he can. Rollins started slow, going 1/5 in the first half, and never got the engine started. Crucially, three of his four turnovers came in the final frame. Not to put it all on him, but if Rollins plays like Rollins, the Bucks probably have two wins right now.
The lone bright spot throughout both games, Herro continues to fill it up. Sure, this was another team with plenty of bad defenders to pick at, but you can only play who’s in front of you. What I’ve liked most about Herro is the methodical pace he’s playing at; many of the Bucks’ sets are run for him, but he treats each possession with purpose and precision, using great cadence to catch the ball in the right spots, change pace off screens, etc. Of course, the confidence to step up and lead the fourth-quarter charge was awesome to watch on a bunch of levels. Herro’s efficent scoring, solid floor game, and lack of turnovers put him in the A-band for me. Great game.
I mean, if you excuse the turnovers, Jaquez had another really solid game. He definitely tried to do too much at times, though; one no-pass possession in the fourth really got on my nerves. That said, Jaquez made some really nifty passes in traffic, including a nice slip pass to Kuzma and a nifty lob to Ware. The man also shot efficiently from deep, which obviously meant he would go 50% from the charity stripe. Ugh.
Kuzma was absolutely better in this one (low bar, I know). I liked the shots he took from the perimeter; they were the right shots to take within the offence. However, Kuz still had a few transition attempts where once he’d decided he was attacking, there was no talking him out of it. He’s going to lower that shoulder and euro-step every time; whatever happens from there, happens, LOL.
Have not been impressed with Turner through two games. At seven feet tall, his inability to wall up and deter shots at the rim has been even more jarring without Giannis; Turner started with a nice transition block on Josh Giddey, but as the contest wore on, he became less and less effective. Heck, there was a possession where the 6’10”, 220-pound Leonard Miller pushed Turner out of the way under the basket to lay it in easily. This is to say nothing about his ability, or lack thereof, to defend in space nowadays. Oh, and Myles, when you catch it in the paint with a bunch of smaller guys nipping at your ankles, hold the ball high and put it in! Man, he’s just played so small to start the year.
I did think Ware played with more vigour in this one, so kudos to him. Needed more urgency closing out to shooting bigs like Jalen Smith, though; a hand up isn’t enough; you need to make them put the ball on the floor.
Another very solid game from Jakucionis. I love the rhythm and pace he played with, taking what the defence gave him once he created an advantage, whether that was a layup, a lob, or a kickout. Crucially, as a big guard, he’s using his size to get downhill way more than he did last year in Miami. I also thought he was solid on defence yet again.
Tough night for Burries, as will happen a lot this season—he is a rookie, after all. I do think the rook needs to be more aware of his closeouts on three-point shooters; that’s been a theme through the first two games, and he picked up a flagrant on Norman Powell in this one. All the little things add up.
Grade: D+
Ousmane Dieng
16 minutes, 3 points, 1 assist, 5 PF, 1/3 FG, -10
As I keep saying, Ous needs to take and make shots for this to work, and he didn’t. I also thought he went up soft on some crucial rebounding possessions in the fourth, not pursuing the ball as hard as the player below. Too many fouls as well.
Grade: D-
AJ Green
16 minutes, 11 points, 4/7 FG, 3/6 3P, -17
Green felt more involved in the offence. He hunted his shot—though I could have done without the near-half-court bomb in the fourth—and even ventured inside the line for a pull-up two off the roll-replace action. Most importantly, Green felt like one of the few players willing to get scrappy and fight for loose balls.
Grade: B-
Taylor Jenkins
Like the Washington game, if the Bucks did just one or two things at an average level, they probably would have won. Jenkins can’t do anything about guys turning the ball over and missing free throws. I will say, however, that rolling with Dieng for a fair stretch in the fourth quarter, given how he’d played up to that point, was puzzling. There was also a jarring possession where a Buck shot the ball, two guys competed for the offensive rebound, and two guys kinda just stood meandering around the basket, leading to a leak-out and dunk down the other end. We know Jenkins wants to send guys to the O-boards, but there needs to be a balance where, if you’re not in the play, you need to get back. I’m sure Jenkins relays a similar message, but if it’s not getting through, that’s ultimately on him.
The Bucks are banging on the door of a victory and doing a lot right. However, this is a game of inches, and the little mistakes are adding up by the end of games.
Bonus Bucks Bits
Herro said his first official home game felt great. “Obviously we wanted to get a win… but my first time being back, playing in this uniform, on that court, in front of those fans—it was just a great moment. I was able to soak it in. I had a lot of family and friends here, so I was excited to be able to get that opportunity.”
Despite the Bulls’ smaller front line, the Bucks got killed in the paint yet again, and handily so (62-44). Also, Chicago’s bench got the better of Milwaukee’s by a mile (59-35).
Some more jarring stats from friend-of-the-site Camille Davis:
Final box score updated this to an 11-0 fastbreak advantage in the second quarter for the Bulls and the Bucks DID do a better job of defending that outside of that quarter.
Turnovers and free throws ended up dooming the Bucks down the stretch tho.
In the second game of the season, the Washington Wizards’ offense staggered, wheezed, and stalled, and they lost to the Toronto Raptors, 112-102.
This was Washington’s first real test of the season. The Raptors were good last season, and added Kawhi Leonard. That should be enough to elevate them into Eastern Conference contention, at least if Leonard can stay healthy.
The difference in quality was evident early and often, despite Toronto shooting just 20.6% from three-point range. Despite making five fewer threes than the Wizards, the Raptors had the higher effective field goal percentage. They also won the battle on the glass and committed fewer turnovers. What kept Washington as close as they were was 35 free throw attempts to Toronto’s 21.
Credit Trae Young and some wordclass grifting for that free throw differential. He drew three fouls pulling up for jumpers when being closely followed by a chase defender. He got another by intentionally bumping into a defender and falling down.
Washington’s offensive struggles were pervasive. More than a little credit goes to the Raptors, which is well stocked with long, athletic players who play hard, smart, and tough. Washington had multiple possessions in which they could not even get their primary action initiated because of strong ball pressure by guys like Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead, and Scottie Barnes, as well as effective denial one pass away.
In a potentially worrisome development, a few of those stalled, stagnant possessions involved Young and Anthony Davis trying to get into a pick-and-roll set. They’re supposed to be the veteran duo that knows how to attack a stout defense. Last night, they missed shots and committed turnovers.
Kyshawn George had a very bad game — 2-9 from the floor plus 8 turnovers and 5 fouls. One word kept showing up in my notes about George’s miscues: “sloppy.” In a particularly destructive two-minute stretch of the third quarter, George had three turnovers. He needs a crash course in post entry passes — at least two of his turnovers were attempts to feed Davis inside. In both cases in my notes, Davis was being fronted and George made terrible passes directly to Raptors.
Notes & Observations
Barnes is really, really good. He shot well from the midrange, and despite eight turnovers, made what felt like every important play throughout the game.
Young is a bad defender. He’s short, slender, and…not strong. This season, he pledged to work on that end, and at least in the early going, he was true to his word. I liked one possession where Toronto ran a pick-and-roll. Young switched onto Barrett aggressively and forced him to pick up his dribble. It hobbled the possession. On another, Young got screened, and Immanuel Quickley popped free for what looked like a wide open three-point attempt. Young sprinted back into the play and contested from the side. Quickley missed.
Young’s defense was far from perfect. Later in the first quarter, his attention drifted, and Quickley backcut him for a layup. The play was eerily similar to one from Washington’s opening night win against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Wizards opened the second half with a well-designed set play. Young started in the left corner and came up for a dribble hand off from Davis. He then turned the corner and drew the attention of both his defender and Davis’ — forcing the defense to make decisions on the move. Davis rolled, and Young threw a perfect lob for a slam.
One nice offensive sequence from the kids. Bilal Coulibaly made a perfect post feed to Alex Sarr, who then made a strong move into the middle. That move drew weakside help, and Sarr recognized it and passed to the open man: George on the wing. George missed the shot, but it was good basketball that resulted in a wide open look.
Young grifted two fouls by RJ Barrett in just six seconds on the game clock.
Four Factors
Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).
The four factors are measured by:
eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)
FOUR FACTORS
RAPTORS
WIZARDS
LGAVG
eFG%
47.0%
45.6%
51.6%
OREB%
35.8%
15.0%
27.4%
TOV%
15.1%
18.9%
14.4%
FTM/FGA
0.168
0.380
0.245
PACE
106
102.1
ORTG
106
96
110.2
Stats & Metrics
PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).
PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.
POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.
ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.
USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%. Median so far this season is 17.7%.
ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.
+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.
Players are sorted by total production in the game.
Clippers forward Rui Hachimura controls the ball on a fastbreak in front of Lakers guard Matisse Thybulle during the Lakers' 125-117 win Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Two former teammates sized each other up. Luka Doncic waved off the screen. He wanted the matchup with Rui Hachimura. The crowd at Crypto.com Arena buzzed in anticipation.
Doncic smiled wide.
After four years in which he became a staple in the Lakers’ lineup, Hachimura returned to face his former team for the first time as a Clipper on Friday at Crypto.com Arena. The forward got a warm greeting from the fans, who welcomed him in the starting lineup with a loud roar. The Lakers played a video tribute during the first timeout to honor Hachimura’s four years with the franchise.
But as he started piling up his 16 points in the Lakers’ 125-117 win over their crosstown rival, the crowd started to turn on the sharp-shooting Hachimura.
“Traitor!” one fan yelled when he hit a shot during a tight first half before the Lakers pulled away by outscoring the Clippers 39-26 in the third quarter.
Hachimura, who left the Lakers in free agency, made his love for the team clear. He signed a relatively conservative two-year, $28-million deal with the Clippers, turning down other offers in part because he wanted to stay in L.A.
“It was amazing,” Hachimura said of his time with the Lakers. “I had a great time with them. The organization, yeah, of course I miss them, but it was time to move on. It was special, my four years, four seasons with them. I’m happy with the Clippers right now, and I gotta keep growing my career.”
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said playing the first game back in an old arena can be disorienting. He experienced it after leaving the Lakers, who drafted him in 1998, and returning with the Washington Wizards in 2002. He had never seen the other locker room in his former home arena.
“Just being on the other side, the other bench, in the other locker room, it was just really weird,” Lue said. “And then playing against guys that kind of taught you the game, kind of molded you as a player, and just sitting across from it, it was really weird for me.”
Hachimura jokingly walked toward the Lakers locker room before the game. Before beginning his pregame shooting routine, Hachimura hugged Lakers assistant Beau Levesque, who was Hachimura’s player development coach, and Lakers guard Austin Reaves, one of his closest friends.
Clippers forward Rui Hachimura, right, guards Lakers guard Luka Doncic in the first half Friday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
When Hachimura was traded to the Lakers in January 2023, Reaves was in his second season with the Lakers. While they became close, Reaves initially spent weeks thinking Hachimura didn’t speak English.
“I’d sit by him on the plane and he didn’t speak to me,” Reaves said this week. “After that, I couldn’t get him to shut up. Great guy, great player and I miss him.”
Hachimura developed into one of the Lakers’ most dependable shooters. A 35.6% three-point shooter while with Washington, where he was drafted ninth overall in 2019, Hachimura shot 44.3% from three during his last season with the Lakers. Lakers coach JJ Redick marveled at Hachimura’s reliable mid-range game that he once compared to “prime Michael Jordan.”
During the playoffs, when the injury-riddled Lakers stunned the Houston Rockets in the first round before losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals, Hachimura shot a sizzling 56.9% (15 for 31) from three. His career 51.6% postseason three-point shooting percentage is the highest in NBA history.
Hachimura filled a supporting role with the Lakers, where he was overshadowed by Reaves, Doncic and LeBron James. But with the Clippers, he has a leading opportunity. Hachimura had the second-most shot attempts among Clippers players Friday, going five for 14 from the field and three for six from three.
Facing different defenses than he saw while being the Lakers’ fourth offensive option, Hachimura’s efficiency has dipped. He is shooting 29.6% from the field and 38.5% from three while averaging 13 points and seven rebounds for the Clippers (0-2).
“I think understanding some of the actions we’re trying to run from him, like being quicker, being faster, not allowing guys to get back to his body so he can come off open, and just timing things,” Lue said of how Hachimura can adjust to being a focal point of an opposing team’s scouting report. “Little timing things here and there. We know when it’s post up, teams are doubling. So he has to find a way in transition, playing faster, attacking early, attacking faster in transition, but we’ll get him shots.”
During pregame warmups, Doncic sprinted out of the Lakers tunnel and straight to Hachimura, who was warming up in the corner. Doncic wrapped his former teammate in a hug. They laughed and joked all the way to midcourt before Hachimura resumed his shooting.
When the game started, Hachimura hit his first three over Doncic, who was late to close out. The Lakers star waved his hand in mock disgust toward Hachimura.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 22: Tyrese Maxey #0 and LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers react during the fourth quarter of a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What a way to start the season. With so much hype and expectation building for the 2026-27 Sixers, a strong opening to the year was needed to meet it. After beating the Knicks in the season opener and pulling off a 29-point comeback to defeat the Cavaliers (the biggest comeback of LeBron James’s career), the Sixers have done just that.
To turn the tide in Thursday’s home opener, the Sixers dialled everything up in the second half. After a sloppy first half with weaker defense, cool shooting and only seven assists to 15 turnovers, the second half was a different story entirely. In the final two quarters, they locked in with far more cohesive and intense defense, tallied 17 assists to a mere two turnovers, and put together a highly balanced attack led by their big four to secure the win. And to pull that off in today’s NBA while shooting just 7-of-28 from three for the game? That’s almost even more impressive.
It was an early look at what this team can be capable of. Let alone in a few months once they’ve really started strengthening their chemistry.
And finally… relive the first half lows and second half highs of the Sixers comeback victory tonight vs. Cavs.
From down 29 to a 8-point victory, it took a little something from everyone — LeBron, Maxey, Embiid, Brown and VJ — to get the W tonight. Full highlights here! 📽️ pic.twitter.com/XTKqu7vD6K
Next up, on Saturday night, the Sixers are going against a team further down the Eastern Conference picture as they take on the Bucks.
Dominick Barlow (back) and Tacko Fall (quad) are both still out, and Dean Wade remains questionable with an ankle sprain. LeBron, however, has been added to the injury report as questionable with back management.
Milwaukee don’t exactly have such an exciting outlook for the new season. Giannis Antetokounmpo is gone. After plenty of rumors and debate over where he may end up if he wanted to leave Milwaukee, the Bucks traded Giannis to the Heat for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nate Ament, Kasparas Jakucionis, Kel’el Ware and a host of picks.
Herro has improved his scoring efficiency by a fair margin over the previous two seasons (recording a true shooting percentage over 60 in each, way above his previous career-high of 56.6) and can be a microwave scorer at his best. He’s also coming off a 34-point outing against the Bulls. Sixth Man of the Year runner-up Jaquez Jr. is a quality do-a-bit-of-everything player, but it’s still not the most exciting return in talent for a player of Giannis’s caliber. They’re two of the main threats for the Sixers to worry about on Saturday, though. It’ll be fun to see if Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe can continue their strong defensive start to the season by covering Herro’s driving and three-point creation effectively. Meanwhile, the Sixers’ forwards main tasks will be to cover Jaquez and Kyle Kuzma. If Wade, a terrific defender when available, does play, it’ll be a big help to have his defensive versatility at the 4 in the likely absence of James.
Myles Turner presents some challenges at center with his size, decent pick-and-pop play and talent as a rim protector. But if Joel Embiid continues the form and mobility he’s shown so far, he should more than be up for the task. Especially as he doesn’t need to come close to carrying the offense now.
Just three HUGE buckets from Joel Embiid here in Q4 for the Sixers to take their first lead of the night pic.twitter.com/wKHptf8o92
As the Bucks opened their season with a loss to the Wizards and followed it up with a 132-125 loss to the Bulls on Friday, it’s felt like a sign of things to come. Giannis anchored the team at both ends of the floor and that obviously can’t be replaced. They already dropped off to a 32-50 record last season as Giannis only played in 36 games, and now they’re in for an even harder time. Watching their former MVP drop 35 points in his debut with the Heats had to rub some salt in the wound, too.
For Saturday night, this should be a win for the Sixers. The massive edge in talent alone should be enough to make this contest manageable and a good opportunity to continue building chemistry, even if LeBron gets some rest. While there have been cooler stretches (mainly the rough first half against Cleveland), the Sixers’ offense has looked brilliant at times.
They’ve utilised the strengths of each player, used the pull of Maxey and Jaylen Brown’s three-point shooting to free up space inside for cutters and rollers, showed fluid ball movement, scary transition potential, and dynamic new pick-and-roll combos already. They’ve been sharing the wealth effectively, too. Maxey is leading the way at an impressive 30.0 points per game, while LeBron (15.5 points), Brown (20.0 points) and Embiid (18.5 points) are all averaging a solid amount as well.
With the Bucks also playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Sixers really have an upper hand. If Embiid is going to take his turn to rest at the end of Philly’s upcoming back-to-back, when they face a much harder test against Detroit on Sunday, the Sixers could do with taking advantage of that upper hand against Milwaukee.
Game Details
When: Saturday, October 24, 7:30 pm ET Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA Watch: NBC, NBA TV Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
Lakers star Luka Doncic, left, controls the ball in front of Clippers forward Rui Hachimura during the Lakers' 125-117 win Friday night at Crypto.com Arena. Doncic finished with 23 points, seven assists and six rebounds. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
You do whatever you want; I’m not offended by any of it.
You are not entertained. You don’t like the demonstrative way he waves off calls. You hate how he’ll belabor a point for possessions at a time — as he did, per usual, in Friday’s not-particularly-pretty 125-117 victory over the Clippers at Crypto.com Arena. The Lakers improved to 2-0 and Doncic had 23 points, six rebounds, seven assists and, if you’re looking to complain, a career high-tying 11 turnovers.
But me? I am entertained — endlessly. As long as Luka’s list of grievances is long.
Because Doncic is a maniac. Not a mad man, a madman. And a reminder that these millionaires are playing a child’s game, because no one relishes it with quite the joy and verve and passion and emotion and occasional tantrum like Doncic does.
He’s someone who arrived onstage, talented beyond his years. He’s also a toddler.
He couldn’t change if he wanted to, but would you really want him to?
There’s no slicing and dicing without a sufficiently sharp edge.
But if you’re a Lakers fan, you have to know you can’t take out the trash talk from Doncic’s game. You can’t ask him nicely to clean up his mess, man. Petty isn’t going to be pretty. And everyone can get it — including, once, the reporters on press row covering Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks. “You can’t guard me!” he screamed at us, ridiculously.
You have to let him cook, your very own basketball anarchist.
Lakers star Luka Doncic reacts during a win over the Clippers on Friday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
“He’s always going to play with an edge,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “As long as he’s not causing the other team to have a five-on-four transition opportunity, it doesn’t bother me.”
And if he’s not toeing the line on a late-season suspension triggered by a 16th technical foul, his antics probably wouldn’t bother Lakers fans, either.
“This season, I’m trying to not get techs,” Doncic said after Wednesday’s season-opening victory against the Warriors, when he and Lendeborg mixed it up. “It was the first time that was not a double tech, ’cause I didn’t say nothing. So I’m working on it.”
It isn’t that Doncic busies himself with the refs because he’s lazy and doesn’t want to get back on defense — do you know how much stamina it takes to keep up a marathon-length running dialogue? How exhausting it has to be to litigate every little thing, to be so constantly aggrieved?
It’s a special part of his special skillset; put him in the top 1% in the world of complainers. If he wasn’t one of the world’s top 1% of hoopers, imagine him in court instead of on the court; he’d be a bulldog: Objection! Objection! Objection!
The man is a rascal, but he’s not a villain. Everything he does is with a wink-wink twinkle in his eye.
He never shuts up on the court, but he’s a man of few words off of it, low-key and community-minded and in the top 1% of patient autograph-givers. A generous teammate to whom good vibes matter much.
But he’s an absolute menace to compete against and, yes, to officiate.
So, kids, don’t try this at home. At least not during a basketball game. Don’t show that energy to the refs, who deserve your respect. As do your teachers and your coaches and your parents or guardians.
But do keep that energy. You’re not going to get what you want in life unless you advocate — agitate — for it. Put pressure on powers that be. Ask for explanations — demand them. Because it’s true, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Being pushy works, even if it won’t win you popularity contests. The GMs left Doncic off their predictive MVP list for a reason. He finished fourth in MVP voting last season and has never been higher than third in his eight NBA seasons.
That’s largely a reflection of where the Lakers placed last season — fourth. And where they’re expected to finish this season; there are 12 teams with better odds to win the title, according to DraftKings.
But it probably has more to do with voters’ appetite for discussion, the type of heated debate that offends the sensibilities of so many — even though that mayhem is a crucial ingredient of Luka’s magic. Just sit back and relax. Enjoy the show.
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 20: CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets on March 20, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
With this being the second night of a back-to-back, you know the drill. This preview is being written before tip-off between the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. It’s also being written before the Atlanta Hawks take on the Charlotte Bobcats in North Carolina. So if anything weird happens in those games and I’m not mentioning it, well you know the reason now.
So as previously stated, both teams will be playing the SEGABABA. Then they will both fly to Houston to play each other again on Monday night at the Toyota Center.
Generally these home-and-away series are split. The team that loses the first game comes out more motivated to win the second one. It’s only when the talent gap is large or it’s late in the season and one team needs both games that you usually see the 2-0 sweep. That’s not the case here. Both the Rockets and Hawks have dreams about making deep playoff runs. Atlanta gave the eventual champion New York Knicks their toughest test last season. They added Aaron Wiggins and Lu Dort from Oklahoma City, and they drafted UH guard Kingston Flemings.
Atlanta is still a nightmare to deal with defensively. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu each had defensive win shares over 2.5. That helps to make up for C.J. McCollum, who is their closer and undisputed alpha dog in the clutch.
The Hawks are sort of the platonic ideal of what Ime Udoka wants: rangy wings, solid rim protection, and an alpha on offense who can create shots for themselves when the nonexistent offense continues…not existing. The Hawks don’t have a true point guard, which is maybe the only thing Ime would demand. Well, that and Magic City Night, potentially.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 23: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on October 23, 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
If Steph Curry being out was a huge blow to the Golden State Warriors’ chances of notching their first win of the season, the announcement of Brandin Podziemski also being out on the second night of a back-to-back slate against the Phoenix Suns may have been the final nail in the proverbial coffin.
Brandin Podziemski said he will not play tomorrow in Phoenix. So it sounds like the already depleted Warriors will also be without Steph Curry and Podziemski against the Suns.
He missed the opener with a tweaked back.
Podziemski missed the season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers due to a lower back strain. This move is most likely precautionary in order to prevent him from re-straining his back.
Podziemski arguably was the best player against the Memphis Grizzlies, scoring 18 points and being at the center of a couple of key plays on offense and defense. However, it wasn’t enough to stave off a furious rally from a 12-point deficit with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 10, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Brandon Todd/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It hasn’t been the easiest start of the season for the Spurs. They opened with a loss against the Thunder and faced the Rockets in their second matchup in Austin, where the atmosphere wasn’t the same as a typical home game against a Texas-based rival. Houston was ahead for most of the night, but it came down to the wire, with Amen Thompson meeting Victor Wembanyama at the rim and erasing the layup that would have sent the game to overtime.
The Silver and Black are now 0-2, but fortunately, the schedule gets a little easier for them over the next few days. On Saturday, they are slated to face a solid but shorthanded Mavericks team that destroyed the Pacers on Friday but will likely be without Cooper Flagg, who suffered a shoulder injury. Coach Dusty May said Flagg would be evaluated “in the next couple of days,” so it’s safe to assume that he will not be able to suit up for the second game of a back-to-back.
Even if Flagg had not gotten hurt, the Spurs would have been considered the favorites, despite their slow start. The losses have not been pretty, for different reasons, but the quality of the opponents has to be taken into account. While Dallas could absolutely make the playoffs in the crowded West if things go right, they are not a contender and have some weak points that San Antonio could take advantage of, with the right game plan.
The Spurs need the win and should come out looking to put the Mavs away quickly on their second game in as many nights. If the urgency and the execution are there, they should get the first W of the year.
Spurs Injuries: (subject to change because of the back-to-back) Tobias Harris, calf (OUT), Jayden Quaintance, (OUT).
Mavericks Injuries: (subject to change because of the back-to-back) Santi Aldama (knee) OUT, Tarik Biberović (foot) OUT, Dereck Lively II (foot) OUT, Caleb Martin (thumb), Cooper Flagg (shoulder) OUT.
What to watch for
Stop Kyrie Irving and the win should be in the bag. With Flagg almost certainly out, the Mavericks will have to rely on Irving to do most of the scoring. The veteran guard was up to the task against Indiana, dropping 24 points in 25 minutes in a blowout win. The Pacers, however, don’t have as many great perimeter defenders to throw at him as San Antonio does, or a 7’4” monster waiting under the rim. On paper, the Silver and Black should be able to keep Irving from going off and forcing others to step up.
The problem is, Irving tends to go big against the Spurs. He averages over 22 points and five assists when facing San Antonio for his career, according to StatMuse, and once dropped 57 points against them, the second-highest mark of his career. Granted, it has been over a decade since that nuclear performance, but no one should doubt Kyrie’s ability to have big nights. It will be on his defenders to keep him in check while not overhelping and leaving role players open.
The table is set for an MVP-level performance from Wembanyama. The Mavericks are not pushovers, as they have the length to be disruptive on defense and a few strong offensive players. They are, however, missing Dereck Lively, which leaves them a little thin at center. Daniel Gafford is a solid starter and Morez Johnson was a great defender in college, but those two should have their hands full trying to stop The Alien. The Mavs will surely send help or might play Naji Marshall or P.J. Washington on Wemby, but he could still shine.
And he needs that. Wembanyama doesn’t have to prove he’s a superstar, but after struggling from the field in the season opener and having the would-be game-tying layup blocked in the matchup against the Rockets, he might want to have one of those completely dominant nights he’s proved able to have to stop any silly narratives before they spread. Expecting a repeat of last season’s opener in Dallas, in which he dropped 40 points and 15 rebounds, might be too optimistic, but he doesn’t have to get those numbers to get his first statement game of the year and lead the Spurs to their first win.
If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) is seen on the bench during the second half of his NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzliesin San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. The Grizzlies defeated the Warriors 111-108. (Photo by Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Well, the Golden State Warriors wasted no time disappointing us all. After getting blown out in their season opener on Wednesday, the Dubs had their home opener on Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies … and blew a 12-point lead with less than four minutes remaining, as they ceded a 17-0 run late in the fourth quarter en route to a 111-108 loss.
Ugly. No other word for it. Except maybe “inexcusable.”
And so, for the second time this year, it’s time to break out the red pen … and with it, a whole lot of negativity. As always, grades are based on my expectations for each player, with a “B” grade representing the average performance for that player.
Note: True-shooting percentage (TS) is a scoring efficiency metric that accounts for threes and free throws. Last year, league-average TS was 58.1%.
At this point in a rookie season, performance is more about providing optimism for the future than judging one’s value provided in the present. Which plays in Lendeborg’s favor, because this was an extremely encouraging game for June’s No. 11 pick … but an up-and-down game in terms of current value.
You can see why Draymond Green anointed Lendeborg the next face of the franchise. It was an extremely Draymondian game: Yaxel played strong defense, dished out assists, violently attacked the glass, played with swagger and attitude, and attacked the hoop when the defense allowed it.
He also picked up another technical foul, giving him two in as many games to start his career. If Dray could design a player in the lab, it just might be Lendeborg.
This game was a sign of what to watch for this year. Are the Warriors going to be good? Unlikely. Are they going to be worth watching? Well, Lendeborg played 38 minutes, and he was a joy to watch. So there’s one reason to turn on the TV.
The turnovers and fouls were, I don’t want to say concerning, but a reminder of the learning curve that Lendeborg has to work with. But the rebounds and the craftiness with which he scored? Reasons to love the rookie already.
Grade: B+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in rebounds, tied for the team lead in assists.
Green played well in the early going. He looked for his shot early and scored a few times, and did a phenomenal job initiating the offense.
But as the game wore on, it got ugly. After such a careful preseason, he was a turnover and foul machine in this game. The two-man game with Steph Curry was shocking ineffective. He picked up a technical foul in the second quarter, and then spent the rest of the game daring the officials to give him a second — and an accompanying ejection — and was beyond lucky that they didn’t follow through with it. And in the final seconds, with the ball in Curry’s hand and a chance to tie or take the lead, Green got called for a moving screen, effectively ending the game. And while Steve Kerr went ballistic over the call — and picked up a tech himself, which really did end any chances of winning the game — it was pretty clearly the right whistle.
Just an undisciplined game from someone who the Warriors rely on to be much better.
Grade: D+ Post-game bonus: Tied for the team lead in assists.
In just his second career game, Ike — an undrafted rookie — got the start. He played pretty impressively, I thought. He wasn’t quick to shoot, as he was looking to set up teammates and run the system, but when he was left open he shot, and more often than not his shots went in. His passing was really impressive for a young center, and while he picked up a lot of fouls, as rookies are inclined to do, I liked what I saw from him on the defensive end.
It sure looks like Ike is going to end up playing a big role this year. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets converted to a standard contract at some point.
After playing all 82 games a year ago, Podziemski had to wait until the second game of the season to see the court. And while it was far from a flawless game, I thought he was a lot better than the box score suggests. It really looks to me like Podziemski is primed for a fourth-year breakout. He looked so balanced and patient on offense, as he waited for plays to develop. It really seems as though the game has slowed down for him.
Extra props to Podz for taking a huge hit to the face, heading to the locker room, and still returning to play the rest of the game.
Well … kind of just a game, for Curry. He’s one of the greatest players in NBA history, so his “just a games” are still pretty good. 24 points on above-average efficiency? Good! Four assists with no turnovers? Good!
But it still didn’t really feel like a true Curry game out there. He had a slow start, and while he exploded in the third quarter, he had nothing to offer in the fourth when the game was on the line. The Dubs did a lot to turn a deficit into a lead while Curry was on the pine, and then they did a lot to throw it all away when he came back in the game.
Was that his fault? No, but it wasn’t something he was able to stop, either. The Warriors were held scoreless for nearly four minutes to end the game — save for a pair of Lendeborg free throws with less than a second remaining, and the game decided — and they simply need more from Curry in those moments.
Grade: C+ Post-game bonus: Led the team in points.
It appears that, for the time being, Richard is out of the rotation. He only played during the brief period where Podziemski had to be removed from the game due to injury. He played well in those minutes, but it was a short stint.
All I’ll say is that Niang deserves a better team than this. He can’t carry a bad team and make them good, but he makes the type of winning plays that show up huge for winning squads. So many little plays that just help the team. I loved what I saw from him out there in all phases of the game, even if the stats are pedestrian.
Pretty solid minutes from GPII. Kind of similar to what I said about Niang: he makes winning plays that don’t necessarily get highlighted on a team struggling to win games, but really show up when on a quality team. He did a good job as the stopper on the red-hot Ty Jerome, which is a … a sentence.
Kerr has been pretty open to the idea of Santos being a starter, but it sure feels like this is the role for him: coming off the bench, giving the team a boost of energy, and helping out all over the court, especially against the opposing team’s second unit. This was just a really good game for Gui: he played strong defense, made hustle plays throughout, kept the offense humming with passes and shots, and attacked the glass. Good stuff.
Grade: A- Post-game bonus: Best plus/minus on the team
Melton played so much better in the second game of the season than he did in the first, but there were still some holes in his performance. His defense looks really rough right now, and he’s not really setting people up the way we’ve come to expect. His offense was a much-needed boost, and the Dubs will have to rely on that all year long, but the rest of his game still looks a little bit like it’s in preseason mode.
Grade: B- Post-game bonus: Worst plus/minus on the team
Williams didn’t play well, but I’m still a little confused as to why he played fewer than 10 minutes. He can be an offensive spark plug, though he’s not a good enough shooter to rely so heavily on his outside shot. He needs to be attacking the rim relentlessly.
A solid, if not particularly noteworthy game for Horford. He protected the paint, with a nice amount of blocks and rebounds for his minutes total, while not making any mistakes, and dropping in a three. Just played solid basketball.
Grade: B-
Friday’s DNP-CDs: LJ Cryer, Malevy Leons
Friday’s inactives: Charles Bassey, Jimmy Butler III, Moses Moody, Kristaps Porziņģis
SAN FRANCISCO — Brandin Podziemski converted a contested layup, Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo called timeout and the Warriors’ fourth-year guard amped up the crowd as he retreated to his bench.
Podziemski’s bucket put Golden State up 11 with 5:19 to play, and De’Anthony Melton drained a 3 96 seconds later to extend the lead to a dozen with less than 4 minutes left in regulation.
Then, in the words of Steph Curry, “pretty much everything went wrong.”
Curry and the rest of the Warriors were still processing their epic fourth-quarter collapse Friday night as they boarded the bus to take them to the airport. Golden State missed its final nine attempts from the field, allowed the Grizzlies to mount a 17-0 run and treated 18,064 fans to a devastating 111-108 loss in its first game inside Chase Center this season.
“There’s losses,” Curry said, “and there’s ways that you lose like tonight that sting a little bit more.”
Stephen Curry stands on the side of the court during the final moments of the Warriors’ 111-108 loss to the Grizzlies at Chase Center on Oct. 23, 2026 in San Francisco. Getty Images
In less than 24 hours, the Warriors will have to do it all again in Phoenix, still in search of their first win.
And will likely have to do so without Curry, who said he will “probably not” suit up against the Suns in the second half of the first back-to-back of the season as the Warriors try to manage his workload.
Podziemski, who missed their season opener after tweaking his back and left briefly after taking a hard fall in the first quarter, also said he will sit out the back end of the back-to-back.
Golden State will have to find a way to beat the Suns without its two leading scorers, lest risk getting off to its worst start since losing the first six games of the 2007-08 season. Curry led the way with 24 points, but it was Podziemski who took the most shots (17) while matching Yaxel Lendeborg with 18.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” Curry said, “considering we played really solid, especially in that second half, to give ourselves a lead and be in control of the game for as long as we did.”
The Warriors fell behind by as many as 13 points in the first half as they struggled to manufacture offense without Curry or to contain Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer, who outclassed Lendeborg in the first NBA clash of the former college rivals and first-round picks.
The last of Boozer’s 25 points came on a spinning shot in the lane over Podziemski with 20 seconds to play that gave the Grizzlies their first lead since late in the third quarter, 108-106. On the Warriors’ ensuing trip down the floor, Draymond Green was called for an illegal screen — his third of the game — and Ty Jerome was able to drive uncontested for a layup to finish off his 28-point night as the Warriors’ collapse.
Kerr was given a technical for arguing Green’s illegal screen on Jerome that gave up the ball on the Warriors’ final possession. Kerr said it was a “shocking” call by the referees.
“We probably had six illegal screens tonight, and those were really tough because the flopping that was happening on every single one,” he said. “[It] looked like guys were going down like they’ve been hit by a car or something. …
“All those illegal screens really hurt us.”
Stephen Curry is fouled by Scotty Pippen Jr. during the second half of the Warriors’ loss to the Grizzlies. Getty Images
A few possessions earlier, Podziemski and Melton collided while going after a loose ball that Podziemski had poked free. It ended up in the hands of a Memphis player.
It was, as Kerr said, one of “like eight different things [that] had to happen.”
“I think if any one of those eight doesn’t happen, we win the game. It was just an avalanche.”
“Everybody says there’s another game tomorrow,” Curry said. “But the idea of how important every game is for us … and the fact that we gave one away like this, you might lose a little sleep over it.”
Ty Jerome celebrates in the final moments of Grizzlies’ comeback win over the Warriors. Getty Images
Kerr, however, took a more measured stance.
“There’s 80 [more] games. We’ve lost a couple. We’ll bounce back,” he said. “You don’t think, ‘Does this sting more than any other game?’ You just move on.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 23: Walker Kessler #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to media after the game against the LA Clippers on October 23, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — As Walker Kessler gazed up and down the box score at the podium in the middle of his postgame presserfollowing the Los Angeles Lakers’ 125-117 win over the crosstown Clippers, something caught his attention and stopped him mid-answer.
“Oh geez,” he said, “we had a lot of steals, man. That’s crazy.”
Kessler has been everything the Lakers hoped so far, including anchoring a defense that nabbed 13 steals on Friday, three of those from him. It’s been two games and Kessler has already made his statistical mark on the storied Los Angeles franchise.
In his debut against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, he became the first Laker since Wilt Chamberlain to shoot 12-for-12 from the field in a game, making it the second-best shooting performance in franchise history. Two days later, he became the eighth Laker to ever record six blocks and three steals in a game, according to Stathead.
Walker Kessler is the 8th Laker in history to record 6 blocks and 3 steals in a game, according to @Stathead.
He joins: Kareem (7 times) Anthony Davis (3) Elmore Smith (3) Shaq (1) Wilt (1) Vlade Divac (1) Elden Campbell (1)
Of course, in his rim-protecting nature, he deflected the opportunity to recognize himself among some of the best players to ever play for the Lakers… by turning the compliment on them.
“I mean, it’s definitely an honor,” Kessler said of the stat. “It’s kind of crazy that there have been seven guys who have done it before. But, I know there’s some absolute legends in the Lakers franchise — definitely an honor.”
The presumed-lowly Clippers scored 64 points in the first half, matching the Lakers and holding onto the lead for much of it. There was potential for the game to get completely out of LAL’s hands if it weren’t for Kessler’s floor-raising defensive ability.
The Clippers were getting whatever they wanted in the non-Kessler minutes. Brook Lopez made eight of his first nine shots in the first half, feasting on the heavy-stepped Kevon Looney and undersized Sandro Mamukelashvili.
But out of the locker room, things changed, in part thanks to Kessler.
“That third quarter, I don’t know what his stats ended up being, it just felt like Walker was everywhere in that third,” JJ Redick said postgame. “[He] really was a huge spark for us getting this win. … There were multiple times [in the game] where it felt like they had a layup and he either came over and blocked the shot or created an altered shot.”
A pivotal moment in the third quarter came with 4:30 left and the Lakers up 86-76, amidst a 9-0 run, where Clippers guard Darius Garland drove by Luka Dončić and drew help from Quentin Grimes before dumping it off to Derrick Jones Jr. in the dunker spot. Jones Jr. elevated above Dončić and Grimes, sure he had an easy bucket, only to get his shot swatted off the glass by Kessler.
The Lakers corralled the rebound and Austin Reaves hit an above-the-break 3-pointer, adding to what was a stellar offensive night, totaling 28 points and nine assists on 10-for-13 shooting.
Kessler was just as dominant on the offensive end, his 22 points on 10-for-14 from the field — yes, he’s capable of missing shots — brings his two-game season total to 48 points on 84.6% shooting. Between the dunks he gets rolling to the basket, rim running in transition or following up a missed shot, the 25-year-old is getting some of the easiest buckets of his life.
And yet, his defense is what is lifting the Lakers in these games.
“He’s a fantastic basketball player,” Redick continued on Kessler, “And I think he’ll continue to get better. That was one of the reasons that we wanted him and he was so appealing to us, it was because of his age and feeling like the fit with our two stars was really good.
“Someone that can continue to grow and become just a fantastic player in the NBA.”
