Patrick and Sivan Dumont have formally become the controlling owners of the Dallas Mavericks after purchasing Miriam Adelson's shares of the franchise last month, a story broken by Tim MacMahon of ESPN. The Dumonts now own 69% of the Mavericks.
While this is a change at the top, it should have little day-to-day impact, as Patrick Dumont has served as team governor and been the acting owner on the ground since the day Mark Cuban sold the team to the Dumonts and Adelsons. Here is what Dumont told ESPN:
"It's really about long-term investment in the city of Dallas," Dumont told ESPN on Tuesday. "The Dumont family is really committed to building what we hope is the best arena in the NBA, a really significant investment in the city that will help create the new 40-year home for the Dallas Mavericks, a great experience for our fans and inspire our team to win championships. That's really what we're focused on. We had the opportunity, and we're really excited about it."
As Cuban said when he sold his majority share of the team, the NBA has become a real estate business, and what Dumont is looking to build is not just a new arena but the anchor of a much larger development. That is the trend with professional sports franchises in general, including the Dallas Cowboys.
Dumont, the Las Vegas Sands Co. CEO, has experience with building and development. He didn't have experience as an NBA owner when he took over the team, and that position comes with a learning curve (a longer one for some than others). Dumont became a villain early in his ownership of the Mavericks when he approved the controversial trade of Luka Doncic to the Lakers, which led to severe backlash from fans in Dallas. Dumont told ESPN’s MacMahon he learned from those experiences.
"The most important thing every day is just trying to work harder to get better," Dumont said. "It's something that really applies in life, but it's something that really applies to here. It's been an experience as a new owner in the league. Dallas is a great sports city. I think we have the best fans in the NBA, very passionate, and it's my job to make sure that we win and that we support our fans. I'm really focused on that. I've learned that there are a lot of things you can do -- sometimes they work, sometimes they don't -- but you've got to keep pushing, got to keep going."
Dumont made changes in the front office, bringing in Masai Ujiri to run the show, then Ujiri fired coach Jason Kidd to bring in Dusty May. Dumont spent millions to upgrade the team's practice facilities. All of this with the idea of trying to maximize the team around Cooper Flagg, who in his second NBA season is looking elite and like an All-NBA player already. The new arena will ultimately be remembered as the one Cooper built.
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 2: Walker Kessler #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers plays defense on Giannis Antetokounmpo #7 of the Miami Heat on November 2, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In his return to Utah on Oct. 25, Walker Kessler struggled, scoring two points (1-of-2 shooting) and committing four fouls. Afterward, he conceded that he let his emotions overwhelm him and never found a rhythm against the Jazz. Since then, he’s recorded three double-doubles in five outings — all of which have come the past three games — and averaged 2.6 blocks each night.
During the Los Angeles Lakers’ win over the Miami Heat on Monday, he tallied 15 points (7-of-13 shooting), 15 rebounds, two assists and two steals. A day prior in a victory against the Toronto Raptors, he posted 16 points (6-of-6 shooting), 15 rebounds, three blocks, one assist and one steal.
The second Laker in franchise HISTORY to record 16 points, 15 boards, & 3 blocks on a perfect shooting night: Walker Kessler 🫡 pic.twitter.com/6e7PHrlEWe
Through eight games, Kessler’s acquisition has been a smash hit for Los Angeles. He’s averaging 14.4 points (69.8% true shooting), 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.1 steals.
“He’s a big key for us. I think when he plays good, it gives us a way better chance to win,” Luka Dončić told reporters postgame on Monday. “He just need to keep going like this. Like we told him, we have his back. Obviously, he’s not going to play every game great, but what he’s been doing, it’s helping us win a lot.”
The Lakers’ success this season will continue being shepherded by Dončić, Kessler and Austin Reaves. Each of them has kicked off 2026-27 in excellent form, so it’s no surprise Los Angeles finds itself 6-2 with the league’s second-ranked offense and seventh-best net rating (plus-8.8). When those three share the floor, the Lakers have outscored their opponents by 104 points in 145 minutes while notching a 138.3 offensive rating and 105.8 defensive rating, per NBA.com.
Reaves, the longest-tenured Laker, seems to enjoy playing alongside his new starting center and understands his importance.
“He’s been great. It’s fun to watch,” Reaves said Monday. “Glad to have him on our team and he’s going to continue to get better every single game. But he’s been massive for us this whole year.”
Kessler and the Lakers will look for a third consecutive win Wednesday night on the road against the Sacramento Kings at 7 p.m.
Oct 21, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (23) celebrates scoring a three point basket during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Who: Phoenix Suns (1-4) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (5-1)
When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Suns are back at it on Wednesday evening as they return to the site of their only victory thus far this season. Home. What lies before them is a seven-game homestand, an opportunity to stabilize the front end of the season before things spiral into an unrecoverable tailspin.
Their opponent? The very team that sent them down this worrisome path in the first place, the Portland Trail Blazers, who led by as many as 52 points before handing Phoenix a 41-point defeat in the season opener.
In some respects, it feels like we’re watching two teams heading in completely different directions. Last season, these teams met in the Play-In Tournament, with the Suns holding home-court advantage as the seventh seed. But the Trail Blazers, led by Deni Avdija, dispatched Phoenix with relative ease, putting the Suns in a position no team wants to find itself in. They were suddenly at risk of becoming the first seventh seed to miss the postseason entirely. Thankfully, Phoenix won its next game, earning a date with the Oklahoma City Thunder. We all know how that went.
But as this season has gotten underway, Portland has continued to build on the momentum it established a season ago, racing out to a 5-1 start. Meanwhile, the Suns find themselves on the opposite end of the spectrum at 1-4.
It’s a small sample size, of course. At any point during an NBA season, a team can go 1-4 over a five-game stretch, and while there might be some concern, you probably don’t think too much of it. But this is the foundation of the season. This is when we’re getting to know what a team looks like, what it’s capable of, what it does well, and where its opportunities for improvement lie.
When you look at the Portland Trail Blazers through that same lens, you see a roster constructed in a manner that makes sense, one capable of absorbing an injury or two without completely compromising its identity. That’s exactly what they’re dealing with. Ja Morant and Shaedon Sharpe are unavailable for this matchup, yet Portland possesses enough quality depth to remain competitive. Their absences don’t necessarily derail what they’re trying to accomplish.
The Suns, meanwhile, are experiencing something entirely different at the center position. Although Mark Williams is the only player listed as out on the injury report, his absence has created a ripple effect throughout the roster, one that becomes especially concerning when facing a team like Portland.
Perhaps Phoenix can use what happened in the season opener as motivation heading into Wednesday night. Nobody enjoys being embarrassed in the manner the Suns were, especially when the team responsible for that embarrassment is coming into your building. The question becomes: What are you going to do about it?
Tale of the Tape
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
Mark Williams — OUT (Left Shoulder Surgery)
Jordan Goodwin — QUESTIONABLE (Right Calf Soreness)
The Suns’ backcourt continues to be a point of evaluation for both the organization and the fan base. Jalen Green had what appeared to be a solid performance in the Suns’ last outing, finishing with 11 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and four turnovers. His playmaking abilities felt much more refined, although he certainly received some help from his friends, who were knocking down the shots he created for them.
The Suns’ backcourt continues to be a point of evaluation for both the organization and the fan base. Jalen Green had what appeared to be a solid performance in the Suns’ last outing, finishing with 11 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, and four turnovers. His playmaking abilities felt much more refined, although he certainly received some help from his friends, who were knocking down the shots he created for them.
Green finished the game with 11 potential assists, meaning his teammates failed to convert only three times when he put them in a position to score. That’s a 73% conversion rate, which is pretty remarkable. Prior to Monday’s game, his assist conversion rate was 48%.
But then you look at the other aspects of Green’s game, and you can’t help but wonder why he can’t seem to put everything together at the same time. He shot 1-of-6 from the free-throw line and 0-of-4 from beyond the arc, posting a true shooting percentage of 33.1%. Make a couple of those shots, and we’re potentially talking about a much different outcome against Golden State.
So once again, I’ll be watching how this backcourt performs, particularly whether Green can combine his improved playmaking with the scoring efficiency this team desperately needs.
I’ll also be paying close attention to how Phoenix defends Portland, because the last time these teams met, the Suns were utterly atrocious on that end of the floor. You can chalk some of that up to it being the season opener, with players still trying to understand their assignments, responsibilities, and positioning within the defensive scheme. But regardless of the circumstances, Phoenix surrendered far too many wide-open three-pointers.
And Damian Lillard was more than happy to oblige, connecting on 6-of-10 attempts from beyond the arc.
Trail Blazers Shot Chart vs. Suns: 10/21/26 | hoopsjunkie.io
Key to a Suns Win
It’s simple. This one comes down to rebounding. The Phoenix Suns are the worst rebounding team in the league by percentage, and they’re going up against the best in the Portland Trail Blazers.
Phoenix has struggled mightily on the glass, both offensively and defensively. This roster doesn’t have many players who can go up and simply snatch the shit out of the basketball. Instead, seemingly every rebound becomes an adventure in which poor positioning forces someone to tip the ball toward a teammate or desperately try to tap it back to themselves.
Meanwhile, Portland has long, rangy defenders who understand how to position themselves and secure rebounds, creating second-chance opportunities that can bury an opponent. It’s something the Trail Blazers did well last season, and they’re picking up right where they left off.
If the Suns want any chance of winning this game, they’re going to have to earn every rebound through focus, positioning, and our good old friend, “give a shit”.
Prediction
There’s nothing I’ve seen thus far this season that gives me confidence the Suns are going to win this game. They’ve been atrocious at defending the three-point line, their rebounding has been equally concerning, and those are two areas in which the Portland Trail Blazers have excelled early this season.
Perhaps this will be like last year, when everything came together in the fifth game. The defensive intensity started to manifest itself in a way that was both replicable and exciting to watch, giving us a glimpse of what this team could become.
I’d love to believe we’re on the verge of witnessing something similar. I simply don’t see it.
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 31: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers smiles against the Charlotte Hornets on October 31, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Happy Birthday to Tyrese Maxey, who turns 26 years old today.
Between the Jaylen Brown trade and LeBron James signing for a minimum deal this offseason, it became easy to overlook just how important Maxey is to the Philadelphia 76ers franchise. The first eight games of the regular season have fixed that issue, with Tyrese exploding for 29.1 points per game on 50.3 percent shooting from the field, while also averaging 4.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.9 blocks. Maxey is even shooting well below career numbers from behind the arc over this small sample, so we could very well be looking at him averaging over 30 points per game this season. With the Sixers currently sitting with a 7-1 record, Tyrese is rightfully getting some early MVP conversation buzz. As Jaylen Brown said yesterday, this is Maxey’s team.
Jaylen Brown: "Maxey's been leading the way, 100 percent. He's been here, this is his team." pic.twitter.com/42uACLCWks
We often neglect to account for how improbable Maxey reaching this point truly is within the bigger picture. He slipped to 21st overall in the 2020 NBA draft; players taken outside the lottery rarely reach All-NBA levels. Shooting was regarded as a weakness in his game and Tyrese has worked to become one of the absolute best shooters in the world. Maxey is a 6-foot-2 guard who was viewed as a defensive liability, and has now progressed to being a genuinely positively impactful player on that end of the court. The one percent better every day mantra could just be cute slogan for 99.9 percent of the population; for Maxey, he actually goes out and achieves it.
Maxey is already the career three-point field goals leader in Sixer franchise history (936 and counting). He currently sits 12th in franchise history on the scoring list, and barring injury, he’ll be at least 10th at the end of the season. At his current trajectory, it would only take about six more seasons of similar play following this one for Tyrese to become the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. We could very well be in the middle of watching the most prolific Sixers career ever.
Looking back, it’s fair to argue Maxey saved this franchise from bottoming out for at least the next half decade. Without him around, the locker room may very well have imploded during the rough patch of recent years. Maybe the front office decides to do the full reset and strip things down to the studs. Mike Gansey likely doesn’t think it’s worth giving up future draft capital to acquire Jaylen Brown. LeBron James certainly doesn’t sign here without Maxey’s presence. It’s a dark sliding doors world where Mike Muscala doesn’t hit that shot and Tyrese Maxey doesn’t end up a Sixer. Happy Birthday, Tyrese! We are very, very glad to have you.
After missing the first two weeks of the season with a hamstring injury, Kon Knueppel has been upgraded to probable ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Nets. Hamstring injuries can be weird, so continue to keep tabs on Knueppel over the next few weeks, but his return should help Charlotte get on track.
So far this season, the Hornets are first in the league in three-point attempts per game (44.4), second to last in three-point percentage (29.6%) and last in points per game (97.4). The Nets are second to last in points per game at 105.4, so 8.2 points more than the Hornets. The Grizzlies are first in scoring at 123.0 points per game.
Basically, the Hornets are shooting a ton of threes, they’re not going in, and they’re not scoring much. Knueppel’s return should help them right the ship. That should push Sion James back to the bench, and it will likely result in Grayson Allen playing a smaller role. Allen has been one of the best reserves in the league early on, so he isn’t worth dropping yet. Keep an eye on how the rotation plays out over the next few games, especially as they get Knueppel up to speed. Coby White made his season debut on Monday and only played 16 minutes, so they may ease Knueppel into the rotation.
Here are 10 more injury updates that could impact your fantasy league:
Chet Holmgren, C, Oklahoma City Thunder
This is the big one. The news has been out for a while, but we still need to talk about it. Holmgren is set to be out until 2027 due to a knee issue. With Jalen Williams (leg) and Cason Wallace (shoulder) both set to be out for a long time, having Holmgren sidelined as well will leave them incredibly shorthanded. Not many teams have enough depth to make up for those absences, but the Thunder do. Not enough to remain high-level contenders, but they should still be competitive.
Isaiah Hartenstein is more important than ever, though Aday Mara and Jaylin Williams should see boosts as well. Williams started in OKC’s last game, though Mara is the better option for fantasy managers and should be seen as the priority pickup. The rookie has been strong on the glass and as a shot blocker as of late.
Dejounte Murray, G, New Orleans Pelicans
Murray missed the Pelicans’ last three games due to personal reasons, which led many to speculate about a possible trade. The first was due to the birth of his son, but he was in the building for the second absence, which was strange. He returned home for the third absence to help care for his son, and he is off the injury report ahead of Wednesday’s matchup with the Jazz.
At least for now, we can put the trade machines down. Jeremiah Fears struggled with his shot on Monday, but the three games without Dejounte were his three best outings of the season. It could be seen as a sort of tryout to see if Fears could run the show, which also fueled trade speculation for Murray. For now, Murray will be back in the lineup, which will likely hinder Fears' value. However, there is a path to strong production in the future for Fears.
The strong drives from Jeremiah Fears continue. Has improved at reading the defense in pick and roll. Brings the ball up slow, sees the high screen. Defense goes under and *then* he changes speeds to turn the corner and finish. pic.twitter.com/v5XTmz3RBq
It was announced last week that Morant would miss four weeks with a hamstring injury, putting his return around the end of November. It’s unfortunate news, given how well Morant had been playing for a Portland team that is now 5-1.
In his absence, Scoot Henderson has slid into the starting lineup, with Jrue Holiday playing a more significant role off the bench. Scoot has struggled despite the larger role, and while it’s still a good opportunity for him to improve his long-term outlook, Holiday is the better option for fantasy managers. He had 17 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists, one steal, one block and three triples in Monday’s win over Denver.
Cameron Johnson, F, Denver Nuggets
We have some good news here. Johnson exited early from Monday’s game against the Trail Blazers, and it looked like it could be a hamstring injury. However, they have him listed as probable to play on Wednesday due to “lower body injury management.” It’s a strange designation that doesn’t tell us much, but the positive part is the probable tag. Keep an eye on this situation, but he isn’t expected to miss any time.
Kawhi Leonard, F, Toronto Raptors
Toronto announced on Tuesday that Leonard underwent treatment to address the swelling in his left knee, and that he would return to Toronto to begin ramping back up. He is set to be re-evaluated next week. That doesn’t provide much clarity, but it is a positive update.
Hopefully, Leonard will return soon, but until then, Ja’Kobe Walter will continue to start. Walter’s tenure as a starter began well, though he has cooled off recently. He should be rostered until Leonard returns, and he still may hold value beyond that. Walter has been effective on both ends of the ball and continues to be one of the team’s best shooters.
Egor Dëmin, G, Brooklyn Nets
The Nets announced last Friday that Dëmin has a bone bruise in his left knee and is set to be re-evaluated later this week. Chaney Johnson has filled in as a starter, and while he has been solid, he hasn’t done much for fantasy managers. Nolan Traore has been the one to step up with Dëmin sidelined, and the second-year guard has taken advantage of the opportunity. Traore is an intriguing add, and he should continue to start even after Dëmin returns.
Watson missed Monday’s game against the Thunder with a hamstring injury and is set to remain out in Wednesday’s rematch. Meleek Thomas got the starting nod in place of Watson, with Mario Hezonja and Sam Merrill joining Thomas in playing 26 minutes. All three should continue to see a boost until Watson or Jaylon Tyson returns. However, Thomas should be the priority waiver wire add, assuming he continues to start. He has been impressive this season, especially for a second-round pick on a playoff team.
Jaylon Tyson, F, Cleveland Cavaliers
Tyson is set to miss a third straight game with an ankle injury on Wednesday. He would have had the opportunity to start with Watson sidelined, but that role has been passed to Thomas. There isn’t much clarity as to when Watson or Tyson will return to the lineup, but they will both remain out against OKC on Wednesday. They play the 76ers on Friday, which would be the next time either Watson or Tyson can play.
Brandon Ingram, F, LA Clippers
The Clippers assigned Ingram (heel), Yanic Konan Niederhäuser (foot) and Max Strus (foot) to the G League on Sunday to continue their recovery processes and recalled all three on Monday. Strus ended up making his season debut on Monday, while BI and YKN remained out. There isn’t a specific timeline as to when Ingram could play again, but this is a positive step for him. Hopefully it won’t be much longer.
Adou Thiero, F, Los Angeles Lakers
On Monday, head coach JJ Redick said Thiero is “ramping up” and could make his season debut before the end of the week. Thiero didn’t play much during his rookie year, but he was productive during summer league and played a decent role during the preseason. Keep an eye on how he fits into the rotation when he’s healthy. He can be a source of steals.
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 2: Luka Doncic #77 and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers high five during the game during the game against the Miami Heat on November 2, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s a fun time to be a Lakers fan, evidenced by Bill Simmons’ anger about the Lakers. Anything to take his focus off Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown feuding, I guess.
We asked again for questions from you guys and, once again, you answered…or asked? Either way, there’s plenty to talk about in this week’s mailbag!
It might feel like the Lakers have an unsustainable offense, but I think some pretty encouraging numbers push back against that. So, let’s dive into this because there is a lot to this.
First, let’s look at the threes. Sure, many of Luka threes don’t seem sustainable except that it’s Luka taking those threes. But outside of that, the team is getting quality looks from beyond the arc.
The team is ninth in 3-point rate with 46% of their shots coming from beyond the arc. That’s a drastic change from last year when they ranked 22nd at 39.4%.
More notably, the team was dead last in catch-and-shoot 3-pointers attempted and made last year and 24th in 3-pointers attempted overall. This season, it hasn’t even been that drastic of an increase in volume, but it has improved. They’re 16th in 3-pointers attempted, 25th in catch-and-shoot 3-pointers attempted and 19th in makes.
The biggest changes are that they rank second in 3-point percentage, first in catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage and eighth in wide-open 3-point percentage. And yet, they still rank just 15th in the percentage of their points coming from threes.
That’s because they’re still getting to the rim, too. Last season, they were basically, across the board, the best team at scoring once they got to the paint. It’s the benefit of having LeBron James with Luka and Austin Reaves, two great finishers at the rim.
LeBron is, obviously, gone now. But for this specific stat, they replaced him with Walker Kessler, who has feasted at the rim as a roll man. Add in Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes, two players north of the 85th percentile in field goal percentage at the rim, and you see why the Lakers rank second in the league in field goal percentage at the rim and first in field goal percentage in the paint.
To perhaps lay this out a little differently, the Lakers opened the season with Walker Kessler flourishing in the pick and roll. Teams rightly decided that wasn’t sustainable, so they started blitzing ballhandlers on ball screens and working to take away Kessler as a roll option.
The result is open 3-point shooters and the Lakers now have a team capable of punishing teams who leave them open. Certainly, they won’t keep shooting this well, but this is also the type of offense head coach JJ Redick wants to run. He wants a modern offense that puts up lots of threes.
So, don’t expect a change, but also don’t be quite so worried about it being unsustainable.
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 1: Walker Kessler #14 of the Los Angeles Lakers blocks the shot of Collin Murray-Boyles #30 of the Toronto Raptors during the game between the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers on November 1, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Let’s jump to the other side of the floor now and look at the defense.
The good news is that when you have an offense as good as the Lakers have had, you don’t need to be great defensively to win. The bad news is, notably, bad defenses don’t typically win at the highest levels.
As commenters pointed out, two areas are at least partly responsible for the poor defensive rating: turnovers and rebounding.
The Lakers currently rank 27th in the league in turnovers and 27th in opponent points off turnovers. Teams are taking advantage of the Lakers being sloppy.
They also rank 26th in offensive rebounds allowed. Not surprisingly, they rank 29th in opponent second chance points.
Defensively, they’re great in lots of areas. They’re fifth in steals, fourth in blocks and second in points off turnovers. They’re mostly middle of the road or slightly below average in opponent field goal percentage (17th) and opponent 3-point percentage (23rd). And that’s not based on shooting luck, as teams are hitting 38.8% of their open threes.
The more this group gains chemistry and familiarity, the better they’ll look defensively as well. It’s not as simple as fixing those two aspects and being a good defense, but those are the two glaring outliers right now.
The rotations have been pretty ironclad with Luka and Ausint since last year. Luka is going to play the entire first and third quarters and half of the second and fourth quarters to come in at around 36 minutes.
Austin will have his minutes broken up a bit more as he’ll leave late in the first quarter, return to open the second, then take another break in the middle of the period before returning to close the frame. Then, he repeats that in the second half.
That has been the rotation for the last two seasons for those two. It ensures that one of them is always on the floor, which is the right approach, and keeps both of them around 36 minutes per game.
When you have two elite on-ball players, you want to give both chances to maximize that skill. Austin is a great off-ball player as well, but giving him his own lineups and time on the floor without Luka, and vice versa, means the Lakers will have a full 48 minutes of an All-Star-level player on the floor.
There will be concerns about both of them after the injuries last season. But the Lakers also need them on the floor as well and 36 minutes per game isn’t an unreasonable expectation for a star.
The more likely route for them to get rest is nights off throughout the year. The team already rested Luka once and I imagine that’ll happen with some regularity this season.
It’s definitely fair to be put off by Quentin Grimes’ slow start. Like many, I thought he would get a starting nod to open the season. But perhaps Redick and his staff saw what fans eventually saw when the season started, which was a fair amount of indecisiveness and uncertainty.
The good news is that we are only three weeks into the season and Grimes looked better in the most recent game. It’s a matter of him eventually playing more on instinct rather than thinking through the game, which you can tell he’s doing right now.
I actually think it’d be better for him, and the team long-term, to be in the starting lineup. It gives that group another creator and dynamic player who can drive or shoot. But it’s hard to make the argument to start him based on how he’s currently playing.
We’re still quite a bit away from being too worried about Grimes. Instead, I’d rather celebrate finding two big wins in Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle so far.
I have two reactions to this.
First, I think in this specific play, their judgement was that Thybulle was in an illegal guarding position and committed a foul before any push off occurred. Because there’s simply no way to argue there wasn’t a push off.
Secondly, as will most things that are a point of emphasis to start the year, I don’t suspect it will carry on into the season much. Stars aren’t changing how they play to accommodate the rule change. It’ll just continue business as usual.
If you are to believe preseason predictions, this game being a showdown between the East’s top two teams could come as a bit of a surprise. Pistons fans knew this team would be good, but many talking heads predicted a falloff this season while everybody was on board with the 76ers being one of the best teams in the league.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the team that was 1st in the East last season is once again competing for the top seed in the East, but talking heads have to make their money somehow. ESPN at least had the foresight to pickup this game and you get what should be a very fun early-season showdown between two teams that have only lost one game each.
The 76ers and Pistons have played once this season and the Pistons won, but it is tough to draw any conclusions since both teams were missing a couple of starters.
Game Vitals
Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI When: Wednesday, November 4 at 7 pm EST Watch: ESPN Odds: Detroit (-2.5)
Analysis
The Pistons will be without Jalen Duren and Isaiah Joe, who was already ruled out for this game last night. The Pistons were missing Jalen Duren in the last matchup between these teams and also Ausar Thompson, who they will have back. But, Isaiah Joe did suffer the hip injury that is still keeping him out during the 1st quarter of the last matchup, so the Pistons are trading one injured player for another.
With this being a National TV game and the 76ers getting a day of rest, I would suspect that everybody plays for them tonight. In the last matchup, the 76ers did not have Joel Embiid or VJ Edgecombe, which really put their lack of depth to the test.
Joel Embiid’s size and ability on the glass could become a problem for the Pistons, who will continue to start the undersized Paul Reed and likely use John Collins to back him up. Without Jalen Duren, rebounding was already going to be a problem, but the Pistons have been able to overcome it during his absence.
In the last matchup, the Pistons were able to contain Tyrese Maxey through 3 quarters before he started hitting shots in the 4th. It was a bit of shocking development since the Pistons were without Ausar Thompson, but without some of the other stars for the 76ers, they could focus their defense more on stopping Maxey. The 76ers have a lot of star power, but their biggest offensive threat is arguably Maxey, who can hit shots from anywhere on the court and can use his quickness with the ball to get to where he wants. I would expect Ausar Thompson to draw the Tyrese Maxey matchup which will allow Cade Cunningham to guard Jaylen Brown since he has the size to keep up with him.
I am not really sure what the Pistons are going to do about the Joel Embiid matchup. Paul Reed is outsized by him and also can have some issues with fouling and Joel Embiid has made a living off of bating fouls throughout his career. Paul Reed is going to have to stay disciplined, as I don’t think the Pistons can afford to have heavy minutes of John Collins at center or Tolu Smith. I have full confidence in the Pistons’ ability to matchup with the rest of the 76ers starting lineup, but the most concern I have is this matchup and it very well could swing the game.
If there is one certainty for the Pistons, it is that Cade Cunningham is difficult to slow down, especially with how he is playing now. He is coming off a 33 points masterclass against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday in only 27 minutes where he absolutely took over the game and turned a single-digit lead into a 20-plus point blowout. Cade Cunningham always starts off the season slow, but he seems to be hitting his stride now. His 3-ball is consistently falling as he is shooting 37% from beyond the arc, which is a significant development for his offensive creation abilities and efficiency.
He is going to have to put together another masterclass if the Pistons want any hope to win this game. During Jalen Duren’s absence, the Pistons have been able to win games through their high-level defense, but their offense has left a lot to be desired. With Isaiah Joe out and Duncan Robinson going through a bit of a cold stretch, the Pistons shooting fell off a bit and they went four games in a row scoring 110 points or less.
However, everything seemed to get back on track on Monday against the Hornets, so hopefully that continues.
One player the Pistons are hoping gets back on track is John Collins. He had his best game as a Piston in the last game against the 76ers and has proceeded to score single-digit points in every game since then. With Jalen Duren out, he has had to play a lot more center than he was probably planning on playing, but he has also had difficulties finding a consistent offensive role. Another big John Collins game would be a huge help in this matchup
The Joel Embiid matchup concerns me with the Pistons lack of frontcourt size, but if they can defend Tyrese Maxey like they did in the last matchup, they have a shot to takedown the 76ers and claim the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Lineups
Detroit Pistons (6-1): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Paul Reed
Philadelphia 76ers (7-1): Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid
Question of the Day
Which of these teams will finish higher in the Eastern Conference at the end of the season?
The strange saga concerning the playing status of veteran forward Kristaps Porzingis continues, as the Golden State Warriors are reportedly not paying his $20 million salary for the 2025-26 season because he is not playing.
ESPN.com reported on Wednesday, Nov. 4 that the non-payment stems from Porzingis not rendering services to the team or fulfilling his contract. Porzingis has not played yet this season because of an undisclosed illness that the team has yet to clarify.
The Warriors can seek to trade Porzingis before the Feb. 11 trade deadline, as Porzingis has reportedly leaned toward retirement. The salary for the 31-year-old still counts against the salary cap and any tax apron that the Warriors could possibly pay.
Porzingis' two-year, $40 million deal expires at season's end, making him a prime trade candidate and allowing any acquiring team to shed salary on its own roster to create a roster spot, possibly for a playoff push. According to the report, Golden State is not currently entertaining voiding the remainder of his contract.
Porzingis' timeline in Golden State
The Hawks traded Porzingis to Golden State for Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield on Feb. 5, 2026. He played only 15 games with the Warriors and 32 games overall in the 2025-26 season.
Golden State saw enough potential to sign him to a two-year, $40 million extension in June, which came with a player option for the 2027-28 season. He was guaranteed $20 million for this season, but only $3 million was guaranteed in the last year of the deal.
Before training camp started, general manager Mike Dunleavy was called by Porzingis, who informed him he was stepping away from the team.
The team then said Porzingis would be around as he recovered from his illness, but he wouldn't play because of that medical condition.
In 12 NBA seasons, Porzingis has averaged 19.5 points and 7.6 rebounds for the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics, along with the Hawks and Warriors.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 02: Giannis Antetokounmpo #7 of the Miami Heat looks to pass against Ziaire Williams #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second quarter of the NBA game at Crypto.com Arena on November 02, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a three-game hiatus because of foot soreness, Ziaire Williams returned to the Los Angeles Lakers’ rotation in Monday night’s 138-117 win over the Miami Heat. Although he didn’t rejoin the starting lineup, he played 15 minutes and continued his highly efficient scoring season with nine points on 3-of-6 shooting from deep while adding two rebounds, two assists and a steal.
“I don’t [have an idea what caused soreness]. Kind of just flared up out of nowhere,” Williams told reporters following Monday’s victory. “But we got some of the best doctors in the world and I’m in good hands. I’m here to stay [in the rotation], hopefully, as long as I can and I feel great right now. I’ll be back out there on Wednesday.”
Williams’ pestering point-of-attack defense and reliable play-finishing alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves have been rather valuable for the Lakers during his five appearances this season. Throughout his career, however, he has struggled with injuries and never eclipsed more than 63 games in a season, averaging 53.8 games played across his first five years.
Los Angeles will hope he’s fully past this brief injury spell and can continue providing worthwhile contributions on both ends. At the very least, he seems to have full confidence in the Lakers’ training staff. That’s always encouraging.
Although the sample is small, the Lakers have fared very well with their preferred starting five of Dončić, Reaves, Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Walker Kessler on the floor; in 51 minutes, they’ve outscored opponents by 23 points. While Williams was sidelined, Jake LaRavia assumed his starting spot and that quintet has also been dynamite in its limited run, outscoring teams by 42 points in 37 minutes.
Entering the year, Los Angeles’ biggest question mark within its starting group was on the wings. Through two weeks, the likes of Williams, Thybulle and LaRavia have all answered the call. With Williams now back and LaRavia also playing pretty well, it’ll be interesting to see how head coach JJ Redick handles their minutes and the lineup configurations. We’ll get another look when the Sacramento Kings host the Lakers Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
NBA insider Shams Charania made an X post on Tuesday that read, “The Warriors are not delivering payments to Kristaps Porzingis on his $20 million salary, ruling that he is not rendering services”.
Kristaps Porzingis of the Boston Celtics reacts on the floor against the New York Knicks during a game at Madison Square Garden on May 16, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Porziņģis has been ruled out indefinitely from the NBA season due to a mystery illness, and he has openly contemplated retirement as he looks to regain his health.
“Golden State is permitted to move his contract at any point before the Feb. 11 deadline even without paying him currently, and will continue exhausting trade avenues as the 31-year-old leans toward ending his NBA career,” Charania added in the X post.
Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Will Richard #3 after a three-point basket against the Washington Wizards on March 27, 2026. Getty Images
“Absorbing Porzingis’ near-expiring deal would allow a rival team to move a salary out and save money and clear a roster spot via a buyout,” he continued.
Kristaps Porzingis (7) of the Golden State Warriors drives against Denis Schroder (8) of the Cleveland Cavaliers at Chase Center in San Francisco, April 2, 2026. Getty Images
The one element that provides some hope to move the big man is that he is on a juicy expiring contract.
It’s unclear whether Porziņģis will challenge the Warriors’ decision to withhold his salary right now. If he decides to do so, what has already become an ugly saga could get even worse.
James’ agent Rich Paul and Max Kellerman discussed this during a recent episode of their “Game Over” podcast.
“When you’re in years 22, 23, 24, and you still have something left in the tank, it is a beautiful situation where you can position yourself alongside other guys that can play roles at a high level that give you a real chance of winning. And you don’t have to try to be someone that you’re no longer capable of being today,” Paul said.
Rich Paul speaking about LeBron James playing on the Philadelphia 76ers during the “Game Over” podcast. (X/@NBA_Courtside).
“What gave rise to that was a change of location. Lakers didn’t have that. They didn’t have that… That’s one of the reasons he picked Philadelphia,” Kellerman said, which Paul agreed with.
Paul did give the Lakers credit at another point in the podcast, saying that they made good moves in free agency to add pieces around Luka Dončić after LeBron’s exit.
Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James wears a vote shirt before a game against the Chicago Bulls at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Nov. 2, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectLuka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers talks with referee Nick Buchert (3) during the first quarter of an NBA game in Los Angeles, Nov. 2, 2026. Getty Images
LeBron certainly looks to be playing with a lot of joy right now. And the Lakers are arguably playing better basketball right now than they did at any point last season, largely because of these new additions to the roster.
LeBron’s decision seems to have been a win-win for both sides right now. Both teams sit in first place of their respective divisions. But there’s still a lot of basketball to be played that could change whether that remains true.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 02: Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers goes to the basket around Ajay Mitchell #25 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Rocket Arena on November 02, 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 won’t have to wait long to avenge the Oklahoma City Thunder for a frustrating loss on Monday night. The Cavs are heading on the road to conclude their two-game season series with them on Wednesday evening.
The Cavs had chances to win on Monday, but they couldn’t come down with a key rebound or hit a clutch shot when they needed it. The margin between winning and losing in the NBA is tight. Right now, the Cavs seem to find themselves on the wrong side of these margins against upper-echelon teams.
Both teams will be without several key players in this rematch. The Cavs are down much of their wing rotation as Peyton Watson, Jaylon Tyson, and Nae’Qwan Tomlin have been ruled out of this game. The Thunder will be getting Alex Caruso back for this matchup, but they will still be without Jaylen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace, and could be without Jaylin Williams as well.
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Cavs injury report: Peyton Watson – OUT (hamstring), Jaylon Tyson – OUT (ankle), Nae’Qwan Tomlin – OUT (back), Khalifa Diop – OUT (G League), Ernest Udeh, Jr. – OUT (G League)
Thunder injury report: Chet Holmgren – OUT (knee), Jalen Williams – OUT (ankle), Cason Wallace – OUT (shoulder), Thomas Sorber – OUT (knee), Nikola Topic – OUT (back), Jalin Williams – QUESTIONABLE (back)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Meleek Thomas, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 1: Head Coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 1, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Although the Miami Heat are off to a rocky, 2-5 start, they sit a respectable 13th in offensive rating and operate at a breakneck pace. It’s a style that could catch any team off-guard — and it often has over the past year or so — especially one playing the second leg of a back-to-back as the Los Angeles Lakers were Monday night. This season, Miami touts the NBA’s fastest time to shoot at 10.4 seconds per possession, according to inpredictable, and is fourth in transition frequency (18.4%), per Cleaning the Glass.
In the first half of Monday’s duel, the Lakers struggled to corral Miami’s uptempo attack. They surrendered 72 points before the break and led by just seven. After intermission, they held the Heat to 45 points and pulled away for a comfortable, 136-118 victory.
“We really challenged the guys at halftime. The biggest thing for us, the first thing on the scouting report was get back and get set,” head coach JJ Redick told reporters after the win. “We had multiple clips and multiple guys, after makes, running towards our hoop instead of getting back. This was not a pick up, full-court game. They want to make it a track meet. They want to play high volume early offense.”
According to NBA.com, the Lakers posted a 95.7 defensive rating in the second half. Redick attributes much of that success to slowing Miami’s early attacks and containing its half-court offense, the former of which featured starkly different performances between halves.
“We gave up 40 points in the first half in the first eight seconds [of a Heat possession]. We gave up, I think, 16 in the second half in the first eight seconds and they were 0.71 [points per possession] in the half court, which is [the 98th percentile], is as good as you can kind of hope for,” Redick said. “I thought the way they responded in the second half, or at halftime and then in the second half defensively, was awesome.”
Despite being 6-2 with the league’s second-ranked offense and fourth-best net rating, the Lakers are just 18th in defensive rating thus far. Moving forward, they’ll hope they can parlay Monday’s impressive second half into a prolonged stretch of feisty defense to complement their abundantly potent offense.
They’re a team of superstars that don’t play superstar basketball.
That’s the beauty of this 76ers team. They play a brand of unselfish team-first basketball you rarely see from a team loaded with stars.
LeBron James is one of the two or three greatest players in NBA history, a four-time MVP, a four-time NBA champion, a 1st-ballot Hall of Famer.
Joel Embiid is a seven-time all-star, a former MVP, an Olympic gold medalist and a likely Hall of Famer.
Jaylen Brown is a five-time all-star, an NBA champion, a career 20 points-per-game scorer.
Tyrese Maxey is a two-time all-star, one of only two NBA guards averaging 27.0 points per game over the last four years.
Four certified megastars on one team. And somehow they’ve figured out how to leave their egos at the front door and play smart, tough, disciplined team basketball, the style of ball you just never see on these superstar-laden teams.
On offense, they patiently work the ball around, always looking for the open man or a positive matchup. You’ve got this bunch of big-name, high-priced All-Stars who are just as happy to pass the ball as shoot it. That never happens.
The 76ers are sixth in the NBA in assists, and they’re one of only four teams with twice as many assists as turnovers. Smart, unselfish, patient, disciplined.
When an all-timer like LeBron averages 7.3 assists per game that speaks volumes. LeBron is fifth in the NBA in assists per game among forwards, which is wild. You can see the joy on his face when one of his passes leads to a basket. When one of the greatest players in history has that mentality, it rubs off on everyone around him.
Embiid hasn’t really got going yet on offense and still takes too many 3’s, but he’s also embraced the team-first mentality, and his 4.8 assists per game are more than one full assist above his career average and 4th-most in the NBA among centers or forward-centers. And still one of the most dominating defensive players in the league.
Brown is averaging 27.0 points, which you expect, but he’s also averaging 4.3 assists per game, significantly above his career average of 3.8 coming into the season. He’s fit in so well so fast you forget its his first season here.
And what can you even say about Maxey? Just a beast. He’s averaging nearly 30 points per game but never wastes a possession, always makes the right decision with the ball in his hands and is still finding time to average 4.3 assists per game.
With James, Embiid, Brown and Maxey, the 76ers are the only NBA team with four guys averaging at least 16 points and 4 assists per game. Only the Pacers, Magic and Raptors have three.
But where we’re really seeing this group playing out of their minds is on the defensive end, where this bunch of all-stars, including two newcomers, has been astounding.
The 76ers have the 2nd-best defensive efficiency rating in the league, behind only the Pistons, who they play Wednesday night, and they’re allowing the 2nd-fewest points in the league, also behind Detroit. Last year, they allowed 123 points per game through eight games. This year they’re at 111.
They’re holding teams to 43 percent shooting from the field, 3rd-best in the league and their lowest since 2011-12. Their 9.3 steals per game are 6th-most.
All five starters are among the top 25 players in the league in defensive rating – James is fourth, Embiid 11th, Edgecombe 15th, Maxey 22nd and Brown 23rd. How is that even possible?
It’s rare to see superstar-caliber guys play as hard on the defensive end as the offensive end. Everybody on this team embraces it. They hustle, they work, they communicate and most importantly they commit to it.
The biggest concern when the 76ers built this dream team was that it would be a team of individuals out for themselves, but the reality has been the opposite.
In a very short period of time, they’ve learned how to play together. How to play for each other.
And we haven’t even mentioned V.J. Edgecomb, who at 21 years old has figured out how to assimilate into this loaded lineup, never force anything, wait for his opportunities and make huge shots when he gets his turn. Edgecombe is at 12.7 points and 3.0 assists per game, and his numbers are understandably down a bit from last year, but if that bothers him it sure doesn’t show.
And the role players – Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jabari Walker – have each adopted the same ego-free style of basketball, supporting the starters however they need to.
Nick Nurse deserves a ton of credit for getting this bunch to play this brand of hoops. It’s not easy to get any NBA player to put team goals ahead of individual goals. But he’s got Hall of Famers and all-stars doing it and having a blast along the way. They all seem to love playing basketball the right way and they seem to love playing together.
The 76ers are 7-1 and looking like a real threat to win the East, and they’re doing it by playing the game the right way.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 25: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 25, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Philadelphia 76ers begin a three-game road trip on Wednesday with a visit to the Detroit Pistons.
It’ll be a battle of two teams enjoying red-hot starts to their 2026-27 seasons, with the Sixers coming into the matchup 7-1 and the Pistons 6-1. It’s worth noting that the Sixers’ lone loss so far this campaign came at the hands of the Pistons back on Oct. 25.
The Sixers’ injury report is as clean as can be expected for this one, with only Dominick Barlow (back) and Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) on the list. For Detroit, they are still without Jalen Duren, who suffered a right hamstring strain in the second game of the season and has not returned since. They will also be without former 76er Isaiah Joe with a right hip contusion.
The loss of Duren as it happened seemed like it could be something that set the Pistons back a bit, but they’ve managed just fine so far. Cade Cunningham continues to be an effective offensive engine for Detroit, posting 23.7 points and 7.1 assists per game this season and is shooting 37.0% from deep on a 6.6 attempts-per-game clip.
In Duren’s absence, former Sixer Paul Reed has stepped up in taking on the starting five position. Reed has started the last five contests for the Pistons and has averaged 13.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists. 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks in that stint. Not only that, but Reed is shooting 65.0% from the floor (5.6-for-8.6) to start the year. The Sixers would love a backup center like that…
Looking at team numbers, the Pistons are currently the best in the association in defensive rating at 102.0, but the Sixers are right there with them in third at 105.1. Detroit is holding opposing offenses to shooting just 41.2% from the floor, the lowest mark in the league. The best way to break through that wall for Philly may be to do exactly what they did against the Bulls (who, yes, are a much worse team than the Pistons) in getting out ahead in transition as often and as quickly as possible. Giving them time to set up defensively will only make things harder for the Sixers, who are still admittedly finding their footing at times in the half court offense — something one would hope only gets better and better with more time together on the floor.
As I mentioned, the Sixers’ only loss this season so far came at the hands of this Detroit squad when they faced off in South Philadelphia over a week ago, but the context surrounding that game is worth noting as well. The Sixers went into that matchup on the second leg of a back-to-back (versus the Pistons after a day off), with both Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe sidelined. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that because they’ve had some rest and are at full strength that it’ll be some cakewalk for Philadelphia tonight… but I think it certainly won’t hurt their cause.
Both teams come into Wednesday on a three-game winning streak, but only one can remain near-perfect on the season after tonight.
The Sixers and Pistons tip off at 7 p.m. ET.
Game Details
When: Wednesday, November 4, 7 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI Watch: ESPN, NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
