TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 21: Jakob Poeltl #19 of the Toronto Raptors high five before the game against the Chicago Bulls on October 21, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When the Toronto Raptors take the court against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, it’ll mark their most challenging test yet.
The issue for the Raptors – and their fans – is that they are neither ready to solve the problem ahead nor will it serve as an accurate reading of where they sit in the self-healing Eastern Conference.
Toronto is stuck in a hellish .500 landscape due to injuries to several key players like Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and Collin Murray-Boyles.
Meanwhile, Boston has won four in a row and five of its last nine contests.
Here are three storylines to consider ahead of the scheduled 7:00 p.m. tip-off on TSN:
This team needs to get healthy fast
According to the team, Leonard will remain out due to the continued reconditioning process following treatment for left knee swelling. The next update is scheduled for a week from now. When it was initially announced that Leonard would be out on Oct. 25, there wasn’t a clear timeline for his potential return. Later that week, NBA Insider Chris Haynes reported on Oct. 29 that Leonard would miss three to four weeks. It appears that report will be the likely outcome.
Toronto is 3-5 without Leonard in the lineup. The team is 5-5 and currently sixth in the Eastern Conference.
The goal seems obvious: stay afloat until reinforcements arrive.
Barnes remains out against the Celtics, but Quickley and Murray-Boyles are listed as questionable.
The Jakob Poeltl situation
On the topic of Quickley, it’s worth investigating how his absence affects the rest of the lineup.
Albeit on a minuscule two-game sample size, the player who has seen the most noticeable uptick in numbers is Jakob Poeltl.
In two games without Quickley, Poeltl is averaging:
Points: 18.5
Rebounds: 9.0
Assists: 2.0
FG%: 69.2 per cent
Steals: 2.0
Blocks: 2.5
In six games with Quickley:
Points: 5.2
Rebounds: 5.7
Assists: 1.0
FG%: 59.1 per cent
Steals: 0.5
Blocks: 0.3
By default, this also puts a spotlight on Jamal Shead, who has done an admirable job of filling in for Quickley in the starting five. This isn’t surprising considering how great Shead was as an emergency starting point guard in the playoffs last year against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Despite Shead’s areas for improvement, he’s grown into an excellent set-up man. The numbers back it up. Since Quickley’s injury, Shead is averaging 13.5 assists, with many of those coming in the pick-and-roll with Poeltl or on dump-offs.
Obvious chemistry aside, Poeltl may also just be finally getting healthy. The Raptors are also better together as a whole. Quickley’s shooting is severely missed (33.3 per cent). If Quickley and Poeltl can find a similar synergy, it’ll help boost Toronto’s firepower ahead of a nightmare set of opponents that lurk around the corner.
An Eastern Conference gauntlet awaits
After their game against the Celtics, the Raptors’ next three games are against the Philadelphia 76ers and a back-to-back set with the New York Knicks. Considering the team’s health, it’s entirely plausible that Toronto could be 5-9 after this stretch.
Finding a way to split the next four contests should be considered a massive success.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on against Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 10, 2026 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Those lamb chops did not come out as well as hoped.
In the most highly anticipated game of this young regular season, Jaylen Brown finally took on Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics after thinly veiled barbs had been tossed by both sides since the summer. It did not go Brown or the Sixers’ way.
Brown played just 25 minutes thanks to a combination of foul trouble and a waving of the white flag, finishing with 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting along with five rebounds, two assists and four turnovers. The Sixers trailed the majority of the night and lost 123-101. After Philly tied the game at 76 late in the third quarter, the Celtics outscored them 47-25 over the final 16 minutes of the game.
To pour salt in the wound, Paul George, the player the Sixers sent to Boston in return for Brown, dropped a game-high 36 points. After the game Brown was asked if he was relieved that this game is behind him now.
“I guess you could say that,” he said. “I’m a bit frustrated, honestly. I wanted to perform better for my team. Foul trouble kind of derailed me a little bit, but it happens. It’s unfortunate, but now we got to just move on to the next [game].”
Brown was ready to take his medicine. He said multiple times that the Celtics outplayed and out-executed the Sixers. On top of the foul trouble, he thought the Celtics did a good job game planning for him, pointing out that he got double teamed on every drive. His coach felt similarly.
“It started really tough for him in the beginning by getting in foul trouble right from the start, and then he gets another early one in the second half, so he really had no chance to get going and [it] made it tough,” said Nick Nurse. “I think they did a pretty good job of swarming him and sending multiple defenders. I really think that, especially in the first half, we were generating really good shots out of their swarming defense.”
The Sixers once again struggled to make open jumpers, finishing the night making 29% of their 37 three-point attempts. Even as the team’s performance turned the nationally televised game into a dud, there were still plenty of eyeballs on Tatum and Brown. Would they interact and if so, how much?
The answer was not very much. Right before tip-off Tatum went over to dap-up Brown as well as a couple other Sixers and Brown completely no-sold it.
“I’m just focused on coming out and doing what’s best for my team. Everything else was just, to be honest, I wasn’t paying attention,” Brown said of the interaction. “Credit to Jayson, he played well tonight. Credit to the Celtics, they executed, they shot the hell out of the ball, and they were the better team tonight.”
Brown also insisted that there weren’t any extra emotions for him coming into this game. He said he was locked in and focused, and had his rhythm derailed by picking up those two early fouls. At the same time, he admitted that this was a game he wanted to play well in.
“I was looking forward to this, I was looking forward to playing well,” he said, “but shit happens, you just get ready for the next one I guess.”
While this game was the most anticipated around the league so far, it won’t be the last game that has, for lack of a better term, external noise. It was even the second game of that nature the Sixers had played in their last five days, with LeBron James making a return to Cleveland just a few days prior.
Tyrese Maxey explained how the team deals with those games as a group. It’s important for the group to do so because he doesn’t think those types of games are going to stop coming for this team.
“I think the biggest thing was just trying to be there for him. It is going to be emotional no matter how the game,” Maxey said. “I think he did a good job of just, hanging in there. I know it was tough, he got into foul trouble early, and it’s a difficult situation, but it’s OK.”
The good news for Brown is that Maxey is right, these games won’t stop coming this season. He’ll have at least three more chances to get his revenge against Boston and after the Sixers performance in this one, the noise will only be getting louder.
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 10: Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 10, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As everybody knew before tip-off, the Knicks ended up beating the Bucks on Tuesday.
Wednesday, however? That’s an entirely different beast, as New York hosts Cleveland.
A different beast, I mean, as they wear red threads instead of green ones. Other than that, this one’s also ending in yet another easy Knicks’ dub.
"I think those types of struggles throughout the course of the year build character if you handle it the right way for when the real season happens, which is in April, May and June."
Mike Brown talks about the Knicks bouncing back from their 0-3 start to the season: pic.twitter.com/vXiHy8ZDQP
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ rebounding instincts, positioning and physical advantages:
“He’s just got a nose or a knack for the ball. You know he doesn’t jump real high, but he’s long, and he understands angles.
“KAT’s in that category when it comes to rebounding. We emphasize it quite a bit, and we tell guys, ‘You gotta put bodies on bodies.’ So if our small is on other people around him or putting bodies on bodies, it’s a one-on-one contest for KAT, and he’s gonna win most times.”
On Towns recording a double-double in each of the Knicks’ first 10 games:
“He continues to be a double-double machine at a high level.”
On the Knicks’ defensive physicality against Milwaukee:
“Our group, they were pretty efficient tonight. I thought our physicality on the defensive end of the floor was at a pretty high level, and they did it the right way. They did it without fouling. Which was a lot of fun to watch. The point-of-attack defense, with Landry [Shamet] and especially Deuce [McBride] on the ball, was unbelievable. Deuce was our defensive player of the game. Could have gone to Landry as well. But just a fantastic job at the point of the screen in pick-and-rolls. [The Bucks] had two 13-point quarters and I’m sure they missed some shots, but I thought we also impacted their shots with our play.”
On Josh Hart’s ankle recovery and whether he could have played against Milwaukee:
“From what they’ve told me, correct me if I’m wrong, if he was not sick, he would (have played).”
On Jose Alvarado’s rotation fallout:
“We’ll go with who we go with until we feel that it’s time to go to the next guy. So again, it’s not anything negative right now on Jose or even Tyler when he’s out. They just got to be ready to play when their number’s called, and both of them are trying to do that.”
On Tyler Kolek earning the edge over Alvarado in the backup point guard competition:
“Right now, Tyler’s played pretty good basketball. You know, we’ve strung some games, and, you know, again, those guys are close.
“The reality is Jose got hurt. Tyler gave us some good minutes, but at the end of the day, I sat them both down and I told them: ‘Jose, you’re our backup because you ended the season as the backup, but both you guys helped us win last year. Jose in the Finals. Tyler in the Cup Finals. So I feel like both you guys can play and contribute at a high level. So both you guys got to be ready because a change can happen at any time.’”
On sticking with Kolek unless his performances warrant another change:
“And so I’m gonna go with Tyler, and if I think I need to make a change because Tyler’s not getting it done in my eyes, then I’ll go back to Jose.”
On Alvarado and Kolek supporting their teammates despite fluctuating playing time:
“So they just have to both stay ready and make sure that they continue to do what they’re doing. They both, when they’re not playing, they both have done a heck of a job cheering for their teammates and trying to uplift everybody.”
On the Knicks’ offensive rebounding on Tuesday:
“Obviously our players, they’re trying to compete most times when it comes to going after a shot attempt. So I give our players a lot of credit.”
On why the Knicks don’t need extraordinary individual performances from their starters:
“With the way our team is built we don’t need anybody to do anything extraordinary. Just go, like Landry said, be yourself, play hard. It’s not necessarily always how you start games. It’s how you finish.”
On allowing the flow of games to determine his rotation:
“The game will dictate it. I go in with a minutes sheet. I don’t know if we’ve followed the minutes sheet once so far this year or let alone even last year. It’s just a cheat sheet of different lineups that you think you can run at the right time based off who’s out there to defend, who’s out there handling the ball, who’s out there setting screens and all that other stuff. We let the flow of the game dictate what’s gonna happen.”
"Shoutout to Willis Reed man. I didn't know that"
–– Karl-Anthony Towns now 1 double-double away from Willis Reed for longest streak to start a Knicks season:
🏀11 – Willis 1970 🏀10 – KAT 2026 🏀9 – Charles Oakley 1989 🏀7 – Zach Randolph 2007 🏀6 – Patrick Ewing 1990 pic.twitter.com/iD2GPG9ORF
On the Knicks returning to their fundamentals and improving defensively:
“I just think that we’re doing a great job of getting back to the basics. We started off slow, and now we’re picking it up. While the shooting isn’t doing great — I could be the first one to tell you about that tonight — but I think we’re doing a great job of executing right now at a high level, and our defense is there. At the end of the day, the offense will catch up. The defense is something you got to establish. We’re doing a great job of that right now.”
On approaching Willis Reed’s franchise record for consecutive double-doubles to start a season:
“I didn’t know that. I just know that this team right now, we’re on a good winning streak, we’re playing good basketball, and that’s the most important thing. That’s what the fans really want to hear about.”
"Just doin what I do. Whenever my number's called. Being ready to play. Doing what I'm best at––which is getting us rebounds"
–– Andre Drummond (singlehandedly outrebounded Bucks bench 14-11 in 16 minutes) to @BillPidto after Knicks win 117-85 pic.twitter.com/Wuvx7SIPKs
On maintaining the same approach whether starting or coming off the bench:
“I try to keep things as consistent as possible. In the past in my career, if it was a spot start or a stretch of them, I think I made the mistake of trying to change too much. Or think I had to change a lot. Or do something differently. Or be something different. Just because I’m starting the reality is it’s the same basketball game. You can create different reasons as to why it’s different. But for me, and I think the whole goal for anybody, is setting yourself up for success and for me that just looks like keeping things as standard and concise as possible.”
On the Knicks’ constantly changing roles and the responsibility to contribute wherever needed:
“Like we’ve always said, with this team, that’s the kind of special benchmark of our group is it could, that could change from night to night. from person to person. There might be something required of me differently, tonight versus tomorrow night, might be making shots, might be guarding this guy. It might be being a great teammate on the bench and picking up somebody who’s struggling, or, whatever the case may be, all these roles are constantly evolving and rotating. And it’s all of our jobs collectively to just fill the voids that need filling when needed.”
"That's just our culture here- no matter if it's one minute, 30 seconds, 30 minutes during the game. That's what we focus on."
Jordan Clarkson talks about focusing on the little things to help the Knicks win: pic.twitter.com/gg1VSjglPK
On embracing the Knicks’ team-first culture regardless of how many minutes he plays:
“That’s just our culture here. No matter if it’s one minute, 30 seconds, 30 minutes during the game. That’s what we focus on. That’s what Mike has preached to us since he’s got here and that’s just a big thing all of us hold our hat on.”
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics in the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 10, 2026 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the weeks leading up to the first Celtics-Sixers matchup of the season, Jaylen Brown had been hyping up the reunion. But just six minutes into Tuesday night’s game, his long-awaited rivalry debut began to unravel.
Brown admitted it himself after Philadelphia’s 123-101 loss to Boston, acknowledging he and his Sixers teammates didn’t do enough to match up to the Celtics during the marquee matchup.
“I’m a bit frustrated, honestly,” Brown told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I wanted to perform better for my team. Foul trouble kind of derailed me a little bit, but it happens. It’s unfortunate. But now we gotta just move on to the next.”
Brown established himself as the aggressor from the jump. He nailed Jordan Walsh’s throat before flushing a two-handed dunk, bulldozed Derrick White and was called for an offensive foul, then intercepted a pass intended for Jayson Tatum. He also missed his first two shot attempts and picked up two fouls before checking out with 5:33 remaining in the first quarter.
In his first attempt to attack Tatum, Brown pump-faked a three, dribbled into a spin move and lost control of the ball, sending it out of bounds. Paul George and Neemias Queta followed Tatum’s lead, pointing toward the other end of the floor in reaction to Brown’s turnover.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics look on during the game on November 10, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Brown was forced to Philadelphia’s bench, where he watched the Sixers struggle to keep pace.
Boston’s bread-and-butter — 3-point shooting — came in handy throughout the night, and it began early. In the first quarter, the Celtics nailed four of their first 11 threes while the Sixers only converted one of their first seven attempts. The disparity carried over into the ensuing quarters, as both teams continued firing.
Brown, usually an above-average, reliable 3-point shooter, went just 1-for-4 himself. He played just over 25 minutes, well below his 35:48 average and his lowest total of the season so far. Brown’s four personal fouls, three of which were accumulated by halftime, forced Sixers head coach Nick Nurse to play him less than four minutes in the third quarter.
Crucial minutes in which Brown could’ve used to turn the tide were wasted as he battled foul trouble.
He turned in an underwhelming performance by his standards, as Brown finished with a season-low 13 points along with five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. On Sunday, he told reporters in Philadelphia he had nothing else to tell Tatum or the Celtics except “check the ball up.” And on Tuesday, Brown was overshadowed by Tatum’s second-career poster dunk over LeBron James and George’s 36-point outburst.
Needless to say, things didn’t go as planned, which left Brown with no choice but to tip his cap to his adversaries.
“Credit to Jayson. He played well tonight,” Brown said. “Credit to the Celtics. They executed. They shot the hell out of the ball, and they were the better team tonight.”
Brown helped stir the pot moments before tipoff. As both teams greeted each other at center court, Tatum approached Brown and gave him a friendly, one-handed pat on the chest. Brown, meanwhile, spun the game ball on his finger without even acknowledging Tatum’s presence — a moment reminiscent of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen’s icy exchange in 2012.
It seemed clear Brown had no interest in dapping up Tatum.
His explanation?
“To be honest, I wasn’t paying attention,” Brown responded.
Once the game ended, Brown continued to keep his distance from Tatum. He shook hands with nearly every Celtics player before heading back to Philadelphia’s locker room, once again leaving his former co-star out of the postgame exchanges.
For those keeping track at home, that’s twice Brown ghosted Tatum on the court (three times if you include their preseason warm-up session at TD Garden on Oct. 10).
And for the Celtics, their trip to the City of Brotherly Love was a success.
They checked all the boxes needed. All the boxes they could’ve hoped to check.
Tatum and George combined for 57 points. Boston responded to Philadelphia’s game-tying 20-7 run with a 12-2 spurt that carried into the fourth quarter. And Payton Pritchard also caught fire, giving the Celtics 18 points off the bench, while knocking down four consecutive 3-pointers in the second half to fuel the team’s runaway victory.
For Brown, even 10 seasons spent with the Celtics, including years alongside many of the team’s current players, couldn’t provide much of an advantage.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on November 10, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Brown dismissed the idea that familiarity with Boston’s personnel made any difference.
“Does it make it easier? No. It’s basketball at the end of the day,” Brown said. “It’s five-on-five. You gotta come out and execute, and they were better than us tonight. They executed better than us tonight, and they outplayed us. So that’s on us. We gotta improve. They’re one of the top teams in the league, and they’ve been together for a while, so we got a lot to work on over here. So we gotta get to work.”
The Celtics leaped over the Sixers as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night.
The high-intensity, playoff-like duel between Brown and Tatum never materialized. Instead, Brown and the Sixers were forced to settle for a classic Boston beatdown, similar to the many Brown experienced plenty of times throughout his decade spent with Tatum by his side.
Philadelphia got outclassed. They allowed George to score more points than any opposing player has scored against them, dropped to 21st in the league in 3-point percentage by shooting 29.7 percent against Boston, and gave Sixers legend Allen Iverson, who sat in attendance, little to celebrate.
When George drained his game-leading sixth 3-pointer of the night to put the Celtics ahead 111-87 and force a Sixers timeout, Joel Embiid hung his head and grabbed his hair in disbelief.
At that moment, everyone in the building knew that was all she wrote.
Brown only needed three words for his blunt, honest assessment.
“Tonight was humbling,” Brown said. “We got outplayed, outexecuted. So we go back to the drawing board and get ready for the next one.”
For the Celtics, Sixers, Brown and Tatum, the next one won’t be until their Jan. 21 rematch at TD Garden.
Milwaukee Bucks' Kyle Kuzma C breaks through against Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic R and Deandre Ayton during the 2025-2026 NBA regular season game between Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks in Los Angeles, the United States, Jan. 9, 2026. (Photo by Ringo Chiu/Xinhua via Getty Images)
After a brutal thrashing by the New York Knicks, the Milwaukee Bucks are back at home tonight to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the second game of a back-to-back. For the Bucks, there is little to build on from last night in New York beyond the games of Nate Ament and Kasparas Jakucionis, who should both see more of the floor after strong performances. The Lakers, meanwhile, are 10-2 and first overall in the Western Conference. This will be the toughest test of the year, and it couldn’t come at a worse time for the Bucks, who are still looking for their second win of the season.
The Task Ahead
There is no gentle way to say this: the Bucks will be outmatched at home unless someone can make a stand in the frontcourt. The Lakers’ offense is relentless and currently the best in the NBA, scoring 122.4 points per 100 possessions. Much of that comes from their two-headed monster in the backcourt: Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Reaves, who inked a big extension this off-season, is averaging 25.3/3.4/4.6, and with those numbers, could only be second fiddle to Doncic, who is off to an absolutely torrid pace of 39.3/7.8/7.9 on nearly 68% true shooting. For years, this is what it felt like to run into Giannis, and now the Bucks find themselves on the other end, hoping to make it a game—a task that proved too big in New York.
As if the dynamic duo in the backcourt wasn’t enough, the Bucks will have their hands full in the paint with Walker Kessler. Kessler is making an early-season push for an All-Defense team as opponents are currently shooting just 47.1% against him at the rim and 41.1% overall. Couple that with 2.5 blocks per game and a double-double average, and you have an elite starting centre (something that feels so distant for Milwaukee). Given how bad the night was in New York, it feels like the only way the Bucks will stand a chance in the frontcourt is with an injection of youth and energy. Kel’el Ware looked more competent on defense and had a couple of close shots roll out, while Nate Ament looks more comfortable by the minute. Despite all this, the Lakers are not exactly running away with games, with five of their wins by single digits. This can be blamed in large part on the defensively challenged Doncic and Reaves; if the Bucks want a chance, they will need to attack that duo early and often.
Injury Report
Bucks:
Milwaukee’s injury report hasn’t been submitted yet because the team is on a back-to-back, but Tyler Herro will be the one to watch.
Lakers:
Quentin Grimes: Questionable (finger)
Player to Watch
Matisse Thybulle has been asked to guard many players on the perimeter all season long, and so far has been incredibly effective. The Bucks will need to be firing on all cylinders if they want a chance to beat the Lakers, but if Thybulle can be a disruptor, the Bucks could be in for another long night.
Projected Starters
Bucks
Position
Lakers
Brayden Burries
PG
Luka Doncic
Ryan Rollins
SG
Austin Reaves
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
SF
Ziaire Williams
Kyle Kuzma
PF
Matisse Thybulle
Myles Turner
C
Walker Kessler
Game Details
Who: Milwaukee Bucks (1-10) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (10-2).
Milwaukee needs a shot in the arm, so let’s look to Big Nate Ament to deliver against the Lakers and bring some life to the team. Ament will get his first double-double of the season and reinvigorate the Bucks as they go for the upset win at home!
It has been three weeks since the 2026-27 NBA regular season opened and there have already been three different teams to top this list.
That has been the state of play thus far, as no team has begun to separate itself as a dominant force – at least not yet.
But if there is one theme that has emerged, it’s that potent offenses are ruling the day, and no player has been leading his team’s scoring more than Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić, who is putting up Wilt Chamberlain-like numbers.
Here are the Week 3 USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings:
As they have most of the season, the Bulls remain dead last in net rating and it’s not even close, with an abysmally poor mark of -16.2. In fact, they’re ranked dead last in several major metrics.
Practically all of their impact veterans are injured, and coach Will Hardy even appeared to mouth to himself on the sidelines during a recent game about how bad Utah has been.
Losers of seven consecutive, the Bucks have faced tough competition recently. Either way, the offense, which ranks 29th in points per game with 106.3, isn’t capable enough to compete with below-average teams, either.
It looks like that four-game win streak in the middle of the second week of the season was a mirage; the Pels have now lost three consecutive and allowed 138.5 points per game over their last two.
No team has a worse shooting percentage in the NBA than Charlotte, which is converting baskets at just 40%, a full 10 points lower than the Lakers (50.7%), the squad leading the category.
There had been some promise – AJ Dybantsa has flashed some nifty moves at times – but a four-game losing skid has zapped any juice from these new-look Wizards.
It has been a wildly inconsistent start of the season for the Suns, who are suffering from the dip in scoring by Dillon Brooks. He’s averaging 14.9 points per game, down from 20.2 last season.
In a recent game, the Hornets were missing three starters, two of whom are their best scorers: Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller and Moussa Diabate. The full-strength Cavs lost by 12.
Things have certainly been better since that horrid start, and they have had some tough defensive luck, but defensive rebounding, consistency with their 3-point shooting and finding a secondary scorer to complement Giannis Antetokounmpo are still issues.
After essentially alternating wins and losses, it appears the Raptors may be getting some good news, as Kawhi Leonard (knee swelling) is due to be reevaluated soon.
They’re continuing to share the ball, leading the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.10) and assists per game (31.7), and they’ve won four of their last five.
After topping this list last week, Houston went just 1-2 and the common thread was a starting five that lacked the scoring pop it had in the first two weeks of the season.
After dropping their first three games of the season, the Warriors have ripped off eight consecutive and Stephen Curry, at 38 years old, has played his way into the (very, very early) MVP conversation.
They had a brutal stretch of games against the Lakers, Spurs and Thunder. They went 1-2 and now have Oklahoma City, the team Portland toppled Tuesday, in a two-day back-to-back.
With all their injuries, there are just going to be nights like Tuesday, when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander simply didn’t have enough to outgun the shot-happy Trail Blazers.
Even with Anthony Edwards (knee) out for an extended period, the Timberwolves have remained competitive and Ayo Dosunmu, who’s averaging 23.8 points per game over his last five, has stepped up nicely.
Perhaps Jaylen Brown allowed emotion to dictate his approach Tuesday against the Celtics. One other key issue in that loss: the Sixers uncharacteristically allowed turnovers to snowball into 21 points off of those giveaways.
They may not be generating a ton of assists relative to their made field goals, but Luka Dončić (39.3 points per game) is on a historic start and overseeing the NBA’s best offense, which is averaging 121.5 points per 100 possessions.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 10: Nate Ament #15 of the Milwaukee Bucks brings the ball up the court during the second quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 10, 2026 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks flashed some nice stretches, but simply weren’t on the same level as the New York Knicks, going down 117-85. Without Tyler Herro, the Bucks struggled to get open looks against a slew of elite Knicks defenders, which let the Knicks play freely and get whatever they wanted. There’s really not much more to it; at times, the teams looked like they were playing a different sport. Shrug. We move. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Rollins played one of his best games of the season, frankly. Shot the ball with confidence when he was open, and I loved his ability to probe off pick-and-rolls and get deeper into the paint. There has been some criticism of Jenkins, saying he should have played Rollins more, and I agree; Rollins should have gotten around 30 minutes, given how well he was playing. Now, garbage time starting early may have impacted that, but still.
Jaquez was solid. He got off the chain in the third, scoring 12 of his 16 points in the period, including an instinctual backcourt steal after he sensed Karl-Anthony Towns was going to casually drop it off to Brunson without looking. Too many turnovers, though, which has been a theme lately.
Just a dud game from Kuzma, who made very little impact on either end and, at times, looked like he wanted to be anywhere else. Namely, there was a play where the shot clock was winding down, and he had multiple chances to at least chuck something at the rim, only for the shot clock to expire while the ball was in his hands. And to be clear, the defender wasn’t smothering him and making it impossible to shoot; he just… chose not to. Very odd.
Unfortunately, it was the same old story with Turner. He nailed the game’s first bucket on a pick-and-pop three, but could not get his jumper to fall from that point forward. When I watch Turner, I see him doing a lot right in terms of positioning, but he seems to have lost a considerable amount of mobility, so guys can jump over and around him. That said, not having Herro there as a reliable pick-and-roll partner (and someone who demands attention) did Turner no favours.
An encouraging performance from Ware. He looked more active and “into the game.” I thought it was notable that he didn’t take a three; it seemed like there was a directive to roll instead of pop, since his jumper hasn’t been going in recently (or at all, really). Needs to build on that now.
Still not shooting the ball terrificly, but there was a lot to like from Jakucionis’ game. He made consecutive great reads in the third quarter getting downhill, drawing multiple defenders and, without getting too deep and risking a turnover, throwing cross-court dimes to Ament and Jaquez for threes. Had a few nice finishes in that same quarter as well. I also thought KJ’s defensive intensity, especially guarding Brunson, was solid.
An off game for Burries, which are going to happen. He really struggled to navigate New York’s long, tough defenders. This grade may seem harsh, but my expectations for Burries have risen considerably.
Grade: D+
AJ Green
8 minutes, 0 points, 0/1 FG, 0/1 3P, -14
Respectfully, I don’t remember one thing Green did.
The rook just keeps building. Ament is clearly trusting his three-ball on offence—and he’s already started using the Pat Connaughton “catch-high, keep-high” shooting form—but the headline from this game was his defence. I mean, they put him on Brunson and, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but he did a really good job! Basically, if Ament could prevent Brunson from getting his shoulders past him—which did happen a few times—he was able to get great contests on the Knicks superstar’s shots. That said, Ament did mess up on two switches in the first half; his off-ball awareness remains a work in progress.
Dieng is starting to trust his jumper, which is good to see. Frankly, he could be a bit more aggressive at the rim. Try to use his size more effectively.
Grade: C+
Taylor Jenkins
I do think Jenkins needs to work on his rotations a little bit, and he said as much postgame. I’ve seen some folks go a bit over the top about this, but yes, there’s merit to the argument that seemingly as soon as guys find a rhythm, they can often end up on the bench. And in general, few units play consistently together for long stretches. For example, the Bucks’ starters played a total of 10:47 together last night and posted a net rating of +18.0 in those minutes, per Hoops Junkie. At the same time, the point of this season isn’t necessarily to max out on veterans playing together; it is to discover which pieces are worth keeping for the future.
Grade: D+
Garbage Time: Bogoljub Markovic, Gary Trent Jr., Jericho Sims
DNP-CD: Caris LeVert
Inactive: Kam Jones, Cormac Ryan, Pete Nance, Tyler Herro
What We Learnt
The Bucks badly, and I mean badly, need Tyler Herro to look like a functioning team.
Bonus Bucks Bits
The Bucks lost the second and fourth quarters 64-26 combined. They also got destroyed on the boards, 59-32, and lost the possession game, 89-79.
Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t shoot well from the field (5/14), but he attempted an absurd 14 free throws. Myles Turner’s inability to provide any resistance was a major reason for that.
Jenkins does seem to have quite a short leash with Ware. He had a stint last night where he came in, made a defensive mistake on Towns, and got taken right back out, with Jenkins deep in conversation with him after he was pulled. I don’t really know what to think of that, quite honestly. You could argue it’s unfair that Turner seemingly gets way more leash despite playing “equally as bad.” That said, I do think Turner does a lot of intangible things that don’t show up on the stat sheet and that, despite his poor form, he is needed for 25-30 minutes per game for the Bucks to look like a functional basketball team. I do not necessarily feel that way about Ware.
Not sure if it’s even worth mentioning, but did anyone else catch Ament stay on the ground a little longer after his and-one in the first quarter? It looked like he might have tweaked his ankle a bit. Clearly, it wasn’t too bad since he played the rest of the game, but I guess there could be some lingering soreness. I’ll be monitoring the injury report over the next week.
A nice dime from Bogi to end the game:
Bogoljub Markovic tips it to himself and throws the no-look pass to Dieng for the dunk pic.twitter.com/I9RL8ApkPV
Taylor Jenkins said "what we're doing right now is not working" and "I got to find something that's going to build consistency for us… starters, off the bench, sub patterns." On rebounding: "we've had this struggle the last couple of games. It's really hurt us."
ATLANTA — As Collin Sexton tries to find his groove with the Lakers, coach JJ Redick has reiterated a sentiment during conversations with the veteran guard.
Patience.
“He can want it so bad,” Redick said of Sexton.
Collin Sexton brings intensity to the Lakers. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
That competitive fire, and sense of urgency, is what drew the Lakers and the 27-year-old guard to each other during the offseason when Sexton signed a two-year, $19 million contract with the franchise.
But Sexton is learning that it’s going to take time for him to get where he wants with the Lakers.
Especially when factoring in the time he missed during the preseason and training camp as he recovered from a strained right calf.
The Lakers are starting to get a better, healthier version of Collin Sexton. NBAE via Getty Images
So after having one of his best games of the season in the Lakers’ win over the Hawks on Monday, the former Alabama guard was once again reminded of the importance of patience.
“That’s one word I’ve been using each and every day,” Sexton said. “I’ve been praying to God every day to give me patience and allow me to continue to work my way into a role that I like but also work my rhythm and get back to where I feel like you know what I’m back. So I would say each and every day is going to have its ups, have its downs but I’m blessed to be able to go out there and healthy enough to go out there.”
Sexton’s been up more than down lately as he gets his rhythm back.
He had 18 points and 6 assists in the win over the Hawks, which marked the first time he scored in double figures and finished with a positive plus/minus in back-to-back games this season after having 17 points in Sunday’s win over the Pistons.
“Maybe another week and a half, two weeks and I’ll be back [to normal],” Sexton said. “Right now, these last two games felt really good. So I’m moving in the right direction.”
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick has emphasized patience with Collin Sexton. Getty Images
It’s notable that Sexton’s best games of the season have come when with either Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves sidelined.
He scored a season-high 21 points in the Oct. 28 win over the Clippers, which Dončić was sidelined for.
“He gets a little sped up, or defensively for us right now he’s kind of just everywhere,” Redick said. “And not like in a good way. So that’s just some stuff going back to being able to practice and show film and just clean some stuff up at the end of the week. But clearly, we won two road games [now three after Monday’s victory] with him having a big role. We we wouldn’t have won those games if he wasn’t part of that. So he’s been great for us.
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Whatever Jaylen Brown and the Sixers dreamed up for their first matchup against the Celtics soon flew out the window on Tuesday night.
Brown was whistled for two early fouls, the Sixers fell behind and their early-season flaws were on full display in a 123-101 loss at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“We’ve just got to get better,” Brown said. “Tonight was humbling. We got outplayed, out-executed. So we go back to the drawing board and get ready for the next one.”
Over 26 minutes, Brown had 13 points on 4-for-9 shooting and five rebounds against the team that traded him away this summer.
As for the endless dissection of his relationship with former co-star Jayson Tatum, Brown didn’t have much to add Tuesday. There was no public reconciliation, no obvious on-court animosity and generally nothing to satisfy fans hoping for some kind of fireworks on that front.
The pregame moment between Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
“I’m just focused on doing what’s best for my team,” Brown said. “Everything else … to be honest, I wasn’t paying attention. But credit to Jayson; he played well tonight. Credit to the Celtics. They executed, they shot the hell out of the ball and they were the better team tonight.”
Tatum scored 21 points, two of which came on a third-quarter slam over LeBron James. Paul George continued his fantastic start as a Celtic by dropping 36 points and draining six three-pointers.
The Celtics dominated from beyond the arc, shooting 22 for 49 (44.9 percent). The Sixers went just 11 for 37 (29.7 percent) on another night of underwhelming offense. The team sits 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating, 24th in three-point makes per game and 21st in three-point percentage.
“I think that we’ve got some guys that are obviously shooting much lower percentages than their last season or their career average — almost a handful of guys,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. “And I don’t think it’s because they’re shooting fallaway, totally contested ones. I think they’re shots we want them to take. So I think they’ll continue to take ‘em and I’m pretty sure those will even out into their career averages.”
Joel Embiid is at 37 percent from the floor and 4 for 33 from three-point range (12.1 percent).
The Sixers’ seven-time All-Star center got through an injury scare when he rolled his ankle late in the second quarter and hit a three early in the third. It was his first long-range make since the Sixers’ home opener back on Oct. 22.
“It’s a work in progress,” Embiid said. “I think the biggest thing is just not thinking. I’m probably overthinking it. The rhythm of the game is different. I’m so used to having to create for myself, so it’s a little bit different.
“But I think I’m slowly getting better. You could see as soon as I made a three, the next shot in the short corner … I didn’t even think about it. I just shot it and let it fly, and I made it. … I think it’s just about taking what’s in front of you. Make or miss, keep working on your game. It’s going to get there at some point.”
Even with the Sixers second in the Eastern Conference standings at 9-3, Embiid believes the team’s defense has “slacked off a little bit” in recent games.
“I don’t really look at the record,” he said. “I just look at the process of, ‘Are we getting better every day?’ We can always do a better job at all phases of the game.”
Boston’s now first in the East at 9-2.
“They’re one of the top teams in the league and they’ve been together for a while,” Brown said. “We’ve got a lot to work on over here, so we’ve got to get to work.”
The Sixers will face the Raptors on Thursday night in Philadelphia.
They’ll have to wait until Jan. 21 in Boston to see the Celtics again.
“I was looking forward to this,” Brown said. “I was looking forward to playing well, but s— happens. Just get ready for the next one.”
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics in the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 10, 2026 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the City of Brotherly Love where Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum last played together as teammates in Game 6 of last year’s first round, all eyes were locked in on each player warming up on opposite ends of the floor.
Not a look back, not a glance, just a focus on the basket in front of them.
Only in the waning moments before the opening tip did we finally see the first interaction between the 9-year teammates. Brown, in the process of his pre-game ritual of spinning the ball on his finger, was approached by Tatum, who gave him a pat on the arm and a sort-of-but-not-really hug from behind. Brown was left unfazed by the gesture.
It was brief, cold, barely an acknowledgment at all, a fitting interaction for the pair whose lack of communication has been a talking point leading up to the primetime event.
And both competitors maintained that mentality. Nothing spilled outside of the game itself, no words were exchanged that were caught on a hot mic. The focus was on the intensity of the game itself, which even Tatum admitted held an atmosphere that felt different than your usual November contest.
“I made a joke when I walked out. I couldn’t tell if it was November 10 or June 10. It felt like a f***ing Finals game,” Tatum said.
For Tatum, this November night ended with 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting, 4 assists, 6 rebounds, a loud dunk on LeBron, and a 123-101 win. For Brown, it was a shorter than expected appearance due to foul trouble and a dominant Celtics fourth quarter, ending his night in just under 26 minutes with 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting with 5 boards and 2 steals.
And for Paul George, who had his own reunion, one where he received the same bitter crowd response as the rest of the Celtics starting five, it was a display of vintage excellence, finishing with 36 points on 64% shooting.
Most notably, the first true head-to-head matchup between the duo formerly known as the Jays favored Jayson, who hounded and stripped Jaylen of the ball 2 minutes and 30 seconds into the game, then got fouled by Brown on the other end.
It was an early sign of an arduous night on Brown’s new home floor.
“I’m a bit frustrated, honestly,” Brown said. “I wanted to perform better for my team. Foul trouble kind of derailed me a little bit, but you know, it happens.”
A minute later, Tatum shook past Brown with a baseline cut, finishing on an easy layup as part of an 11-point opening quarter.
It became less and less about highlighting every interaction between the two, and more about how Tatum steadied the ship with a smooth-operating offense. Joe Mazzulla credited Tatum for the maturity he showed in his preparation and execution in the highly-anticipated matchup.
“He doesn’t get enough credit for his emotional stability, his emotional intelligence, and his maturity,” Mazzulla said. “He just has an ability to stay focused on the things that he can control, and the things that matter most. And I think it’s unfair to him because sometimes his quietness comes off as if he’s aloof, doesn’t pay attention, doesn’t care, but it’s the opposite.
“It’s so easy for him to handle stuff like this because it’s just who he is.”
And when Tatum was off the court, the Celtics crushed the Sixers, outscoring them 41-25 with a strong night from the bench unit, led by Payton Pritchard’s 18-point effort.
A night of quiet command then ended with bang, when Tatum traveled back in time to his 20-year-old self, once again detonating a furious, downright hurtful dunk on LeBron James.
In the strangest and most unpredictable way, this wasn’t quite the night where Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum ignited the spark to this storied rivalry’s next great chapter. It was certainly a big partof it, the part we all wanted and needed to see after a long and strenuous offseason filled with debate and post-trade fallout.
But with the dust settled, it became a night that reminded us once again that Paul George, at 36 years old, can still score at an elite level. It became a night where Boston’s strength in numbers overmatched Philly’s abundance of star power.
It’s those things that Tatum believes should be at the forefront of their 22-point win.
“It’s not about that,” Tatum said when asked about his relationship with Jaylen. “Tonight was a good team win. PG was incredible. That’s all that there is really to talk about.”
On Tuesday night, Tatum slowly and methodically sucked the life out of Xfinity Mobile Arena, as he pieced together a balanced, efficient night while playing against both his former right-hand man, and one of the franchise’s greatest individual rivals.
It’s a performance we’ll remember as a statement, one made not with a whisper, but a loud, chest-pounding dunk over an aging monarch.
PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 10: Jordan Goodwin #23 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the game against the LA Clippers on November 10, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The wounds were still fresh following the Phoenix Suns’ loss to the San Antonio Spurs, but thankfully, we didn’t have to sit around and marinate in that misery for too long. The Los Angeles Clippers came to town the very next night, giving Phoenix a chance to cleanse its palate and remind itself that one disastrous performance doesn’t have to define the next.
At first, however, it seemed the malaise San Antonio inflicted on the Suns had followed them home. Whatever spell the Spurs had cast seemed to remain firmly in place, leaving Phoenix in a trance with an invisible lid covering the basket. As the first quarter unfolded, the Suns couldn’t buy a bucket. By the time the first substitutions arrived, they had managed a grand total of four points.
And then? Everything changed.
The bench entered the game and ignited an offensive firestorm powerful enough to shatter whatever curse had been hanging over the team. Suddenly, shots were falling, the energy was contagious, and an avalanche of points began cascading down upon a Clippers team that had no answer for what was happening. What initially appeared destined to become another frustrating evening transformed into one of the easiest and most enjoyable watches of the young season.
Make it 81 bench points for the Phoenix Suns tonight!!! Suns record is 87 versus Denver in 1990
By the time the fourth quarter arrived and Rasheer Fleming was receiving extensive minutes, you knew the mission had been accomplished. The Suns had taken a game that began with all the familiar warning signs of another offensive disaster and turned it into a comfortable victory.
Phoenix improved to 4-6 on the season, but perhaps more importantly, the team found a way to stabilize itself after being thoroughly dismantled the night before. It was a reminder of what this group is capable of when the energy is there, the execution follows, and everyone contributes to the collective effort.
If only we could play the Clippers a little more often, right?
Bright Side Baller Standings
The BSB winner against the Spurs? Booker. Duh. No other starter had more than 7 points. Booker was smart and tactful in the way he attacked a tough San Antonio team, and slowly and surely, he’s starting to separate himself from the BSB pack.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 10 against the Clippers. Here are your nominees:
San Antonio TX, - SEPTEMBER 15: San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembanyama, Keldon Johnson, David Robinson, and George Gerivin attend the Red McCombs Community Court reveal on September 15, 2025 at Town Park at Hemisfair 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 2025 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA is known for its ties to community service. In each city where a team resides, numerous non-profits, businesses, and youth organizations receive support via the local franchise. When it comes to supporting local entities, the San Antonio Spurs go above and beyond. From the contributions of individual players (talking about you Harrison Barnes) to the Spurs organization as a whole, there is a balance of year round outreach and support.
Per a Spurs press release:
“Spurs Give and Frost Bank (Frost) are inviting local organizations to apply for the 2026–27 Operation Renovation grant program, which supports facility improvements that create safe and inspiring spaces for youth to learn and play. Online applications for the 2026-27 Operation Renovation Grant are now open through Friday, Dec. 18 at 11:59 p.m.”
Julie McCarty, Associate Vice President of Community Investments for Spurs Sports and Entertainment stated,
Spurs Give and Frost have awarded over $1.3 million since 2018-2019. Every year, applicants are eligible to receive up to $100,000 for facility renovations.
Applications can be accessed HERE. Deadline to apply is Friday, December 18th. 2026.
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NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 10: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 10, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Kasparas Jakučionis tried. He really tried to follow Jalen Brunson around a screen. But then something blasted him almost all the way back to his beautiful Lithuanian hometown of Vilnius some 4,300 miles away. Okay, he might have only gotten pushed out to center court by a Karl-Anthony Towns pick but considering the play happened right at the three point line it was still something.
Apparently though, it was not enough for the young Milwaukee Bucks guard. A couple of minutes later he still decided to straighten himself in front of the natural force of a Tyler Kolek drive. It ended just as well for him as the screen navigation had a few moments earlier. Flying underneath the basket the 20-year-old former Fightin’ Illini was afraid he might land on top of James Dolan while Kolek swiftly finished with an easy lay in at the rim.
Just like the youngest heir of the great Šarūnas Marčiulionis, the Milwaukee Bucks tried last night at Madison Square Garden. They tried hard, time and again. When the New York Knicks pushed them into a hole in the second quarter with good, rock solid team basketball Tayler Jenkins’ young men didn’t think of their postgame pizza at John’s, but outrageously climbed out of said hole to start the third quarter. Because it was so much fun to play with their food, the Knicks squashed their uprising, only to see those little fawns stick their heads out once more a few minutes later. Milwaukee even cut the New York lead to 11 in the beginning of the final frame. But at some point the overmatched Bucks just couldn’t respond anymore. And everything went like it was supposed to.
On the surface, and judging by the final score, one could share Allzingers’ impression that he posted in Russell’s Postgame Thread: “Looked like it was a layup line all night.” At times the Knicks really did whatever they wanted with their counterparts and enjoyed unbothered trots down a layup line. But make no mistake: The Bucks played them hard and they tried. The only problem, you ask? Well, the Bucks are just really bad. Like “Superbad” without McLovin. Yet most of them are still professional basketball players (although the verdict on Kyle Kuzma is still pending), so the final result might mean a little more about the current state of the Knicks than one would imagine.
Of course beating up on beaten down opponents won’t make or break a season, but it can surely keep things entertaining through the dog days of late November. It can build confidence in a team. I bet OG Anunoby enjoyed those solid looks from three point land, as the great Mike Breen reminded us about 17 times during the broadcast. Furthermore, the Knicks bench players can all use the extended burn to forge their iron.
Shoutout here goes to Andre Drummond who seems like the perfect backup center for these kind of games. He is so huge that it’s no fun to play against him and he seemingly absorbs rebounds by just being there. Yet his two All Star nods from the middle ages and the fact that he has never really won big in his career make him proud enough to show up against the bottomfeeders of the league. And we can even enjoy his, at times, comical offensive game as a nice icing on a cake—provided the game isn’t close.
Unlike Drummond, many of the Bockers inherently know what it takes to win, and that group of tough, hard nosed veterans seems to have also taken in young Tyler Kolek as one of their own. The cocky confidence was always there and still is—take that, Swifties! But now it seems like the game is catching up to the bravado. Last night TK even shook off a bad start like it was nothing and then meticulously carved up the Bucks defense in his 15 minutes. He set up others, got the ball flying around, and scored with aggression to finish with a whopping +23 for the game.
Sure, we need to see it against better teams, no question about it. But you can only beat the foes you have in front of you on any given night. A large part of being a contender is taking care of business in games where you face glorified Big Ten teams who are either dreaming of Cancun already or in fear of being demoted to the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional. (That’s the first Mexican basketball league, in case you’re wondering.) You won’t see these Knicks play there anytime soon; they are good enough for the NBA, and then some. After a stumble out of the gate, they seem to be kicking into gear these days, which is a beautiful sight. And a mandatory one, as well. There’s plenty of things to do, plenty of stuff to accomplish on the road to repeat.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 10: Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 10, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Going into Tuesday’s Celtics-76ers game, the story was Jayson Tatum vs. Jaylen Brown. Then, Paul George stole the show.
In his return to Philadelphia, George lit up his former team with 36 points and 5 rebounds while shooting 14/22 from the field and 6/11 from three.
George talked to NBC’s NBA Showtime crew after the game about how comfortable he is in Boston.
“I’m a little bit better with more usage and that’s no knock to how my opportunities here with Philly,” George said. “Quite frankly, I wasn’t healthy to take on the workload that I feel I’m at my best at. Here in Boston, they gave me an opportunity to come out here and play and be myself.”
Paul George:
"I’m a little bit better with more usage and that’s no knock to how my opportunities here with Philly…quite frankly I wasn’t healthy to take on the workload that I feel I’m at my best at. Here in Boston they gave me an opportunity to come out here and play and be myself"
George has talked a lot about how much he’s loved Boston and how he feels healthy early in his Celtics tenure.
His play has been better than even the biggest optimists could have expected.
MOST 35-POINT GAMES BY A CELTIC, Age 36+
2 – Paul George, 38 at DET, 36 at PHIL, 2026
1 – John Havlicek, 38 at WASH, 4/11/76
1 – Robert Parish, 38 vs. DEN, 12/8/89
In the marquee matchup, he was getting to his spots and knocking down shots througout the game.
“I thought he was great,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said. “That’s just what we need. We need him to play two-way basketball and be great. And you kind of saw that there, especially at the start of the fourth quarter.”
Joe Mazzulla on Paul George, who finished with a game-high 36 points:
“I thought he was great… That’s just what we need. We need him to play two-way basketball and be great. And you kind of saw that there, especially at the start of the fourth quarter.” https://t.co/neFe7wkzD3
George has proven to be a huge part of what the Celtics want to do this season on both sides of the floor. His shooting, both from inside and outside the arc, and secondary playmaking have been a big part of the offense. While he didn’t have any steals on Tuesday, his deflections and ability to cause turnovers have played a big part of one of the best defenses in the NBA.
He is a huge part of this group and after another monster game in front of a national audience, proved it once again. George has flashed back to his prime in a big way to start off his Celtics tenure and shown he remains a really good player, though C’s fans shouldn’t be too surprised by this after last season’s first round.
San Francisco Warriors playoff game vs the Boston Celtics 4/22/1964; John Havlicek(Photo by Bob Campbell/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
John Havlicek is one of the greatest and most unusual players in NBA history, and also one of the most underrated.
That sounds like a contradiction, but it’s not. People truly don’t understand who great he was, and that includes a lot of the people who saw him play.
We don’t know if anyone ever really studied Havlicek’s physiology, but it was crazy. In this video, former teammate Sam Jones said that not only did Havlicek never get tired, he didn’t even start sweating for 10 minutes. This is in the NBA, against teams filled with great athletes, and of course, Boston was a fast-breaking team. Add guts and brilliant instincts to the mix, and you have Havlicek.
His energy level and endurance probably played a role in his most memorable play. At the end of Game 7 of the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals, Bill Russell tried to inbounds the ball, but it hit a guy wire connected to the backboard.
Philadelphia called a timeout, and Russell pleaded with his teammates to bail him out.
Havlicek obliged, making one of the three most iconic steals in Celtics history, and preserving the win for the Celtics.
The other two: Gerald Henderson’s against Los Angeles in the 1984 Finals, and Larry Bird’s against Detroit in 1987.
This is the best video/explanation we’ve seen about Havlicek’s enduring moment of glory.
