SAN FRANCISCO ― The Golden State Warriors have taken a blow to the depth in their backcourt early in the 2026-27 season, despite an eight-game winning streak.
Williams logged 1 minute, 39 seconds for Golden State and scored four points on 2-of-3 shooting, connecting on back-to-back layups before exiting the game with a hamstring injury.
Williams checked out of the game at the 3:18 mark of the first quarter and did not return. The organization said Williams suffered a left hamstring injury and missed the rest of the game against New Orleans. The Warriors guard is scheduled for an MRI.
"He's a huge part of our team, and he's given us such a lift, and it's a hamstring," Kerr told reporters after the game. "He is gonna get an MRI, so we'll see how bad it is.”
Warriors backcourt depth keeps dwindling
Golden State suffered a setback losing Williams. The hope is that his injury is not severe, otherwise the Warriors' backcourt depth is diminishing early.
In addition to Williams' early exit, reserve point guard Will Richard didn't play Monday against the Pelicans. Richard has a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left thumb and is ruled out indefinitely.
"We're trying to wait till the swelling goes down. I'll do a workout, catching and going full speed, and see if it's comfortable …. I want to play," Richard said.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr was bummed about the news because of how well Richard has been playing, at times even starting.
"It’s a shame. He’s playing at a really high level, a lot of confidence, filling an important role," Kerr told reporters before Monday night's game. "At times starting, at times coming off the bench. But able to really play good minutes for us and brings energy, a lot of defensive intensity, shooting the ball well. So we’re hopeful that he’s able to play through it and we’ll know more after a few days when the swelling goes down."
Golden State was also without Gary Payton II, who was out with an illness and left knee inflammation. The Warriors are still going without the likes of Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler III, who is progressing along.
The Warriors are bruised and battered, but unbeaten in the last eight games.
The second-year star had 43 points in the Dallas Mavericks' 125-122 win against the Indiana Pacers on Monday, Nov. 9 at the American Airlines Center. He added 10 rebounds for a double-double and six assists with three steals for good measure.
According to the NBA, the 19-year-old joins Kevin Durant as the only other player in league history to have at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a game as a teenager. ESPN adds that this is the 14th game in which Flagg has scored at least 30 points before turning 20 years old. Only LeBron James has more with 20 such games before he reached his 20th birthday.
Flagg had back-to-back dunks in the first quarter to cap an 11-0 run by the Mavericks. In one key play with less than 30 seconds left in the game, he dribbled against Andrew Nembhard, then drained a step-back jumper. The bucket extended Dallas' lead to four.
Kyrie Irving contributed 35 points for the Mavericks, while Pascal Siakam had 29 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for Indiana.
This is the first time this season that Flagg has crossed the 40-point mark and the fifth of his young NBA career. In April during his rookie season, the former Duke standout scored a career-high 51 points in a loss to the Orlando Magic. At 19 years old, he was the youngest player in NBA history to reach the 50-point mark.
TORONTO, ON - November 9 In first half action, Jamal Shead (1) of the Raptors works some defence on Jerami Grant (3) of the Grizzlies The Toronto Raptors played the Memphis Grizzlies in NBA basketball action at the Scotiabank Arena. November 9 2026 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors may have fallen to the Memphis Grizzlies 118-102 on Monday, but there was a familiar presence on the court that both softened the blow of a loss and boosted hopes for the future.
With Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles and especially Immanuel Quickley out with injury, it was a chance for Jamal Shead to step up. Shead ultimately did so while summoning the spirit of Kyle Lowry.
Here are seven examples of how Shead looked like the Raptors legend during the game:
Finding what the team needs the most
One thing Lowry was known for – other than his ability to lull opponents into committing offensive fouls – was his uncanny feel for the game. Whatever the Raptors needed at any given moment, Lowry usually dug into his deep bag of tricks to supply it. When Toronto was a horrendous 0-for-6 from the perimeter, it was Shead who hit the team’s first three of the game.
The point guard followed that up with two additional threes before the end of the first quarter. Shead’s three triples were the only shots Toronto made from beyond-the-arc in the opening frame. Considering Shead entered the contest shooting a career-low 21.7 per cent from the perimeter, it was very “Lowry” of him to transform into a deadly shooter when the moment called for it.
“Me being aggressive is going to add fuel to us,” said Shead. “They won’t be able to load up on Scottie, load up on Kawhi, load up on IQ.”
Shead finished with four three-pointers, the most he’s made this season. It’s the most threes Shead has made since Dec. 9, 2025 against the New York Knicks.
The signature Lowry move
Speaking of lulling opponents into a false sense of security, a player can’t have a Lowry-type game without drawing at least one offensive foul. In the second quarter, while Memphis was in semi-transition, Shead drew an offensive foul on Taylor Hendricks.
After the whistle was blown, and while Shead was on the ground, the point guard enthusiastically pointed the other way. It was easy for those in attendance at the Scotiabank Arena to cheer the blue-collar play. Even for those who don’t ever see the sequence, if you’ve watched the Raptors before, you know exactly what this looked like.
A night to remember
Despite the outcome, it still ended up being one of Shead’s best performances as a professional. Shead finished with 20 points on 35.2 per cent shooting. He was two points shy of tying his career-high (22 points vs. the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 11 in 2026).
The uptick in usage was obviously due to the Raptors’ injuries, but Shead was ready for the call.
“A lot of guys wait for those opportunities and are just ready to play,” said Shead. “Obviously those are really important pieces for us…but when they’re out, it’s just next-man up.”
Authoring a career-type game while undermanned is very Lowry-coded.
Mighty mouse in the house
Lowry’s stature may have prevented him from living above the rim during his 20-year career, but it didn’t stop him from controlling the painted area – and it didn’t matter how much height he was giving up.
On two separate occasions, Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer had Shead pinned in the paint. The first example occurred in the opening quarter. Shead leaned his body into Boozer’s back, daring Memphis to throw the entry pass. Instead, the Grizzlies opted out.
Later in the game, Boozer received a pass near the basket with Shead guarding him. While Shead’s help lurked nearby, Boozer quickly passed to the opposite side instead of taking advantage of his size.
The set-up man
While Shead may be light-years away from reaching Lowry’s all-time Raptors assists record – 3,447 to be exact – that shouldn’t take away from the fact that he’s an excellent table-setter. After setting a career-high in assists (16) against the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 6, Shead continued to show his playmaking chops against Memphis. He led Toronto in assists with 11.
It’s also the way he got his teammates the ball that mirrored Lowry.
Shead’s Nash dribble as he exited the baseline before throwing the lob pass was fun. Later in the game, Shead’s dribble drive opened up the lanes and as soon as the Memphis defence committed, he kicked it to the corner for an Allen Graves three. Shead’s paint touches and vision also make the game visibly easier for Jakob Poeltl.
“We had a lot of great conversations during the game about where he’s going to be,” said Shead. “He’s very mobile and can kind of handle the ball. He’s really smart…it’s really easy playing with Jak.”
An endless amount of pocket passes, dump-offs and alley-oops allowed Poeltl to have his best game of the season. Poeltl finished with 18 points and eight rebounds.
QB1 at the one
The only player that might’ve thrown a better outlet pass as a Raptor than Lowry was Marc Gasol, but Shead definitely added to his resume against the Grizzlies. In the second quarter, Shead corralled a defensive rebound and immediately threw a deep ball to Walter on the break. The play shifted the momentum and brought the entire Raptors bench, including Barnes, off their feet.
“Those guys really want to be out there,” said Shead. “But they’re really engaged with us regardless if they’re out there or not, and that’s really helpful.”
Later in the fourth quarter, Shead fought through the trees and somehow snagged the defensive rebound. Without hesitation, he launched a perfect outlet pass to Jamison Battle in stride, subsequently leading to an easy two points during a pivotal moment in the game.
Electric defensive plays
Lowry had a knack for coming up with clutch defensive plays, especially when the Raptors were in dire need of a stop. When Graves helped knock a ball loose at the top of the arc, Shead teleported to the ball and rushed down the court for a breakaway layup, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Moments later, while getting back on defence, Shead motioned to the bench to ask for a breather. Before the whistle blew, Shead swiped at the ball while Canadian Zach Edey had it under the basket, causing it to go off his leg and out of bounds. As the crowd roared, Shead yelled as he walked back to the bench. The play was ultimately overturned due to a Poeltl foul, but it highlighted just how much passion and bravado Shead brings to the team.
Even while taking on a larger responsibility on the offensive end, Shead is still finding ways to impact the game defensively, just like Lowry.
“The more minutes I’ve been playing, I’ve took off the gas a little bit on the defensive side,” said Shead. “Once those guys come back, I get to do what I do best and go guard the ball.”
The Los Angeles Lakers star nearly notched a triple-double on Monday, Nov. 9 in his return from injury when he tallied 32 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in a 124-114 win against the Atlanta Hawks.
Dončić missed one game with back tightness, a win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, Nov. 8, but he returned to the starting lineup on day later at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Sandro Mamukelashvili contributed 23 points off the bench, and Walker Kessler added 21 points and 10 boards.
CJ McCollum led Atlanta with 21 points off the bench. Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 20 points.
The Hawks took an early 15-7 lead in the first quarter, but the Lakers took control from there and didn't trail the rest of the game.
Los Angeles snaps the Hawks' four-game winning streak. On Saturday, Nov. 7, Atlanta had a star of their own return from injury. Jalen Johnson had 30 points and bounced back from a hurt ankle to help his team come back from a 17-point deficit and notch a victory against the New Orleans Pelicans.
The six-time All-Star is averaging a league-high 39.3 points per game this season. He adds 7.9 assists per outing, which ranks seventh in the NBA, and 7.8 rebounds and is making an early case for MVP. Dončić also leads the league in field goals made per game (12.1), 3-pointers (5.5) and free throws (9.6), while 49.8% from the field, 40.7% from beyond the arc and 88.1% from the charity stripe.
Featured on the Pelicans roster is their reserve point guard Jordan Poole, who was drafted by the Warriors with the 28th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Poole helped the Warriors win a championship in 2022.
During pregame warmups, Poole – who rocked a pair of athletic shades – had briefly reunited with his former backcourt mate, Warriors star Stephen Curry. Poole just finished his shootaround and was headed back to the locker room when Curry was also warming up on the court.
The two completed their signature handshake from years ago when Poole stopped to greet Curry. Curry couldn't help but to notice Poole's cool shades.
He signals to try them and on as Poole takes them off his face and hands him to Curry to wear for himself. Curry, of course, took and did 3-point shot with them on.
Poole played four seasons with the Warriors from 2019 to 2023, during which he averaged 15.8 points, 3.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game across 266 total regular-season games. He became known for his microwave-like scoring off the bench as he worked up trust between his teammates. He excelled enough to run the backcourt alongside Curry as a starter during the 2021-22 season as Klay Thompson, then, recovered from a torn ACL.
Poole developed the nickname "Poole Party" for his 3-point shooting and the range he began to develop.
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 9: John Collins #20 of the Detroit Pistons dunks the ball in the game against the Washington Wizards on November 9, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For those of you DBB sickos who care, I’m officially a married man! We had a spooky wedding on Halloween night and spent the past week in Cabo San Lucas for our honeymoon. We had a great time celebrating over the past week and a half!
Now we’re back to Pistons hoops.
JB Bickerstaff decided to mix up the starting lineup by starting John Collins at center. Paul Reed moved to the bench, and Daniss Jenkins was inserted into the starting lineup. Detroit started small with Duncan Robinson at the 3 and Ausar Thompson at the 4.
It proved to be the right idea early, as Collins was the leading scorer for Detroit after the first quarter with nine points. The Wizards took a 32-31 lead heading into the second, behind 12 points from Trae Young and 11 from Anthony Davis.
Detroit struggled to have an answer defensively for AD, and this was another game where Detroit missed Jalen Duren’s physicality and inside presence. Davis had 30 points and eight rebounds at the halfway point while only missing one of his 11 attempts. The Pistons put up 37 points in the quarter with five different players scoring more than seven points. Collins led the way with 15, Duncan had 14, and Cade had 11 as Detroit held a 68-58 lead.
The third quarter was all about Daniss Jenkins. Cade picked up his fifth foul halfway through the third, and DJ took the reins. He made Trae Young look like a traffic cone on defense as Jenkins went on to score 13 in the quarter. He consistently attacked Young, and Young never stood a chance. Detroit continued to extend their lead as they were up 103-87 heading into the fourth.
The fourth quarter was highlighted by two beautiful plays by Ebuka Okorie and Ausar Thompson.
First, watch Ausar find Okorie in transition as Okorie does his best Kyrie Irving impression:
Second, the Human Swiss Army knife blocks the 7-footer Alex Sarr on one end, then follows that up by directing traffic and finding an open DJ with a great bounce pass for a wide-open dunk:
The Pistons will continue to hope for a speedy recovery for Jalen Duren as they needed his inside physicality against Anthony Davis, who finished with 44 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 16-for-21 from the field. Detroit still managed to pull away with a 122-111 win behind three different players who scored 20+ points, despite none of them being Cade Cunningham.
John Collins, in his starting small-ball five role, led the way with 24 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 9-for-13 from the field. Both Daniss Jenkins and Duncan Robinson added 22 points each, and Jenkins led Detroit with eight assists. Your fun fact of the night: Robinson led the Pistons with seven free throw attempts. There has been a clear difference in his game this year as he looks to get to the line more often. Cunningham added 17 points and seven assists.
The Pistons improve to 7-3 on the season. Detroit’s home-and-home matchup with the Wizards continues as the Pistons will travel to Washington for Round 2 on Thursday night.
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 9: Anthony Davis #23 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on November 9, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards lost to the Detroit Pistons, 122-111 on Monday night to fall to 4-7 in the 2026-27 season.
While the Wizards led 32-31 after the first quarter, Detroit outscored Washington 37-26 in the second. The oddest part was that Anthony Davis scored 19 of his 44 points in the second quarter. Davis ws Washington’s brightest spot tonight shooting 16-of-21 from the field and grabbing 13 rebounds.
Still, things didn’t get much better in the third quarter when the Pistons shot 63.2 percent from the field and out-rebounded the Wizards 127 in the period. Washington also committed 19 turnovers in the game as a whole which also made things harder for them tonight.
John Collins led the Pistons with 24 points and 10 rebounds while Daniss Jenkins and Duncan Robinson added 22 points each for Detroit.
AJ Dybantsa added 21 points while Trae Young added 20 more for Washington.
The Wizards’ next game is on Wednesday where they will play against the Indiana Pacers. Tip off is at 7 p.m. ET. See you then.
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 9: James Harden #1 and Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on November 9, 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
The Cleveland Cavaliers, in desperate need of a get-right game, put together one of their worst performances in recent (regular season) memory by getting blown out by the Charlotte Hornets 124-112 on Monday night. The Cavs fall a game under .500 before heading to New York on Wednesday to play the defending champion Knicks on national television.
Instead of using tonight’s game as a momentum builder, the Cavs were laughed out of the arena by the woeful Hornets. Cleveland trailed by as many as 33 points against the NBA’s worst offense in Charlotte, a team that was already missing several key players. Grayson Allen (27 points on 8-of-14 shooting) and Naz Reid (25 points, 13 rebounds) thoroughly outplayed Cleveland’s starters, resulting in a 16-point deficit at the half. That ballooned to 27 points at the end of the third quarter, leading to none of the Cavs’ starters returning to the game after that.
Jarrett Allen returned to the starting lineup, finishing with 12 points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden had 11 points each and combined to shoot 7-20 from the floor. Harden in particular was disastrous and had some of the worst defensive possessions you will ever see from an NBA player. Evan Mobley had an exceptionally ineffective game, too, with nine points and four turnovers. Harden and Mobley had a combined +/- of -46 tonight, which passes the eye test.
Not only did Charlotte’s starters outplay the Cavs, but Cleveland’s backups did too. Craig Porter Jr., Thomas Bryant, Thomas, and Norchad Omier brought the Cavs within eight points late in the fourth quarter before running out of steam. But the reserves showed a lot of heart, and considerably more effort and energy than Cleveland’s starters.
The Cavs were out-rebounded 49-32 overall, but didn’t get their first offensive rebound until the third quarter, losing that battle 17-3. Cleveland actually ended up with fewer turnovers and shot better from the field than Charlotte, but the final score didn’t reflect that.
This is the type of loss that reverberates through an organization, especially one that is expensive and on a fixed timeline like the Cavs. There is a heightened sense of urgency to right the ship, but Cleveland remains exceptionally inconsistent and underwhelming. Despite quality wins against Minnesota and Philadelphia, the Cavs feel like a team teetering on the edge of the abyss. Losses like tonight’s are what push things over.
Doncic had 32 points and 10 assists in a 124-114 win over the Atlanta Hawks as the Lakers relied on their depth to secure their sixth consecutive win and stay atop the Western Conference despite a short, tired bench.
One night after sitting out with low back tightness, Doncic struggled with his shot, but he reached double-digit assists for the third time this season. He also had eight rebounds and five steals. Lakers center Walker Kessler had 21 points with 10 rebounds, his sixth double-double in the past seven games, and forward Sandro Mamukelashvili had what Lakers coach JJ Redick called “his best game as a Laker” with 23 points and eight rebounds off the bench to help overcome the absences of Reaves and Quentin Grimes.
Reaves, who scored 43 points in a thrilling win over Detroit on Sunday, didn’t play because of illness. Grimes suffered a sprained finger on his right hand against Detroit, although Redick doesn’t anticipate the injury keeping the guard sidelined for long. X-rays were negative, Redick said, and Grimes could return as soon as Wednesday in Milwaukee.
The Lakers (10-2) didn’t look like a team playing on consecutive nights. They blitzed the Hawks (7-5) with 13 unanswered points at the end of the first quarter and ran up the lead to 20 midway in the second quarter. Kessler and guard Collin Sexton connected on back-to-back alley-oops during the second quarter to inject life into a shorthanded second unit.
“It’s building resiliency,” Kessler said. “JJ talks about it, going through adversity and understanding that to be a championship team, you’ve got to respond to that kind of stuff.”
Reaves’ absence was compounded by Grimes’ injury, decimating the team’s ballhandling unit. Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka had worked to stock the roster with guards to ward off the possibility of leaving too much on-ball responsibility to Doncic. On Monday, it all fell to Doncic and Sexton.
Lakers star Luka Doncic drives between Atlanta's Dyson Daniels, right, and Luguentz Dort in the first quarter Monday. (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
Doncic, who came in averaging a league-high 40.1 points per game, leaned on teammates early with five assists in the first quarter. Sexton got going in the second quarter with eight points and three assists, all on lobs to Kessler, his former teammate with the Utah Jazz and fellow Atlanta native.
The 6-foot-1 guard signed with the Lakers during free agency when the team wanted to stock the bench with play-making, shooting and defensive intensity. Sexton, playing on his fourth team in three seasons, has delivered on every mark.
“He just checks a lot of boxes,” Redick said. “For us, it was easy. He expressed interest, and obviously we wanted him, and it’s worked out.”
Sexton went to high school 15 miles away from State Farm Arena. He estimated he had 400 to 500 people in the stands rooting for him. He stayed on the court for more than an hour after the game taking photos with the hundreds who waited.
In front of his city, Sexton wanted to deliver a win, no matter what his role would be within the Lakers’ shorthanded rotation.
“Whenever those guys are in or out, I have to adjust,” said Sexton, who had 18 points and six assists. “And I feel like adjusting is something I’ve been doing my entire career.”
The Lakers relied on their two youngest players for support. Second-year forward Adou Thiero, who only made his season debut two games ago after struggling with left knee swelling, had two points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal.
Rookie Cameron Carr earned his first rotation minutes and even started the fourth quarter. Carr, whose father Chris played in the NBA and famously lost the 1997 dunk contest to Kobe Bryant, scored his first NBA points, appropriately, on a dunk. Doncic snatched a pass away from the Hawks and hit Carr on an outlet pass. The 21-year-old rookie gathered for an emphatic, two-handed dunk.
The first-round pick had two points and three rebounds. After the game, Doncic made sure to grab the game ball as a memento for the rookie.
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 9: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on November 9, 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
The Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Charlotte Hornets 124-112 in a game that trailed by as much as 30 points.
This is, without a doubt, one of the most alarming and concerning games the Cavs have played in the last five seasons.
Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Player of the game
Meleek Thomas
18 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Thomas and the Cavs’ youth were responsible for some of the only inspiring basketball that was played tonight.
They weren’t perfect, but Thomas led the way with an energetic half that showed most of the team’s issues are centered on not trying hard enough.
Thomas shot 7-12 from the floor. His effort and shot-making allowed the Cavs reserves to cut the deficit to within single digits.
Grade: A
Grades
Donovan Mitchell
11 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds
Mitchell has cleaned up his offensive process in recent games to strike a solid balance between playmaking and scoring. His approach offensively wasn’t the issue tonight. It was his defensive effort, and the fact that this team has lost all semblance of an identity around him.
Grade: F
Jarrett Allen
12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
Allen was awesome in the first quarter of this game. He made his return with a bang, detonating on a lob pass for the first play of the game. He finished the opening quarter with 9 points and 4 rebounds on a perfect 4-4 shooting. He even drilled a three-pointer.
It’s not Allen’s fault that everything went down the drain.
Mobley is expected to be capable of transcending all of this. I can’t give him a pass for fading into the background when the team is spiraling out of control. He’s one of the players who is supposed to stabilize things. This wasn’t it.
Grade: F
James Harden
11 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 4 turnovers
It’s time to be concerned.
Harden has not looked good this season. Far from it. He’s hit a new low defensively, and he’s nowhere near good enough on offense right now to justify his minutes. This is a DEFCON 1 situation that can’t be ignored.
The Cavs traded for Harden, and then extended him, understanding that the league has been rapidly moving away from his style of play. His slow-paced, heliocentric offense could only carry you so far even in his prime. At 37, Harden isn’t showing that he’ll be able to adapt his game to no longer being a one-man wrecking crew.
Grade: F
Peyton Watson
13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assists
Watson has not been able to find his niche yet. Most of his scoring comes outside of the team’s system — and he is not providing enough defensively to tip the scales.
Grade: D+
Mario Hezonja
10 points, 3 rebounds
Hezonja is hitting some speed bumps recently but is still someone who I’d feel comfortable giving more minutes to. He plays hard, and he probably has more offensive production in the tank if Cleveland can figure out where he fits.
Grade: D+
Thomas Bryant
11 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
I’ve given the Cavs flak for signing Bryant as soon as free agency began last summer. That’s only because I think it was worth doing your due diligence and searching for a potential upgrade. It is not to disrespect or invalidate Bryant as a stone-cold veteran who plays every possession like it’s life or death.
Bryant plays with a sense of urgency and is a fine role model for the younger players on this team.
Grade: D+
Tyrese Proctor
6 points, 4 assists, 1 rebound
Proctor was part of the inspiring group that brought this game back into reach. Effort and energy matter. Looking like you care about basketball matters. The intention that Proctor plays with on each possession was enough to string together stops and scores. Aka, winning basketball.
Grade: C+
Riley Minix
2 points, 2 rebounds
What a turn of events it’s been for Minix. This wasn’t a barn burner by any means; he shot just 1-of-4, but Minix deserves a ton of credit for brushing off the fact that this team waived him last week and only brought him back due to necessity. He’s played hard and was a positive tonight, given the circumstances.
Grade: C+
Norchad Omier
0 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
Omier is another two-way prospect who had a chance to get some run tonight. He made his impact through hustle, and as is the theme, that was enough to make him a positive in stark contrast to the starters.
Grade: C+
Craig Porter Jr.
9 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds
Porter showed signs of life after a fairly troubling start to the season. He got downhill and looked effective as a ball-handler again. The Cavs would love it if he could get back to being a plus defender and creator.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 11: Washington Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis (6), center, is sandwiched by Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33), left, and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) resulting in a foul during a game between the Washington Wizards and the Indiana Pacers at the Capital One Arena on February 11, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors would like to trade Kristaps Porzingis by December 15. However, they’re not about to sacrifice draft capital to do it for a long-term contract.
There’s not a ton of pressure on the Warriors to trade Porzingis, who isn’t being paid as he decides to “step away” from basketball, which he allegedly loves. He and the NBA Players Association aren’t planning to challenge to Warriors taking him off the payroll, which saves Joe Lacob about $250K per game. He may not play this season, for the Warriors or anyone else, but that doesn’t mean his contract is an albatross.
According to Clutch Points, the Warriors have had trade talks regarding Porzingis with the Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, and Milwaukee Bucks. They’re reportedly interested in 26-year-old center Jalen Smith of the Bulls, who is making $9.4M in the last year of his contract. It’s not clear who on the Pelicans’ roster has interested the Warriors, but with the Bucks, it’s center Myles Turner, who is signed through 2029 for $82.6M.
The Bucks want the Warriors to give them draft picks in a Turner trade, which would have to include another player (Moses Moody?) heading to Milwaukee, as the Warriors can’t take back more money than they send out. The Warriors think that taking on that much of Turner’s salary means they should be getting a draft pick, not the Bucks.
Turner is having a wretched season for the Bucks, who are in a weird rebuild limbo since trading Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer. They got four players back from the Miami Heat, drafted two players in the lottery, and have veterans Tyler Herro, Kyle Kuzma, and Caris Levert on expiring deals. They’re 1-9 and since they don’t have their own first-round pick until 2031, the Bucks don’t even have incentive to avoid the lottery penalty for having one of the league’s worst records.
The 30-year-old Turner is averaging 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds this season, though he is blocking 2.5 shots per game. His effort seems to be lacking, as seen in a blowout loss to the Boston Celtics Sunday.
What Turner can provide, assuming he’s trying, is a rare combination of rim protection and outside shooting. He’s a career 36.4% three-point shooter and has blocked 2.1 shots per game for his career. Turner was the pivot man on an Indiana Pacers team that was a Tyrese Haliburton Achilles injury from winning a title. It’s easy to see how he’s a logical replacement for Porzingis, with the bonus that he’s played at least 71 games the last three seasons.
But his contract is n0t good. It’s even worse for the Bucks, since they waived-and-stretched Damian Lillard’s contract to afford the deal, and Dame Time now costs them $22.5M on the salary cap for each of the next four seasons. By contrast, Porzingis is on the books for only $3M next season, isn’t get paid anything right now, and might take a buyout on the $17M+ remaining on this year’s deal.
The key calendar date for the Warriors is Dec. 15, because of the NBA’s “reaggregation” rule. Players acquired before that date can be combined with other players/contracts until the trade deadline. This came up for the Warriors in Dec. 2024, when they traded De’Anthony Melton for Dennis Schroder just before the reaggregation deadline, then aggregated Schroder’s salary in the blockbuster trade for Jimmy Butler.
That’s why a player like Smith could be more appealing for the Warriors than Smith, as he could provide temporary help while still remaining highly moveable in a later trade. The Warriors could conceivably take back their old friend Buddy Hield in such a trade, as his salary and Smith’s are still less than Porzingis’ total money — and Hield can be waived next summer for just over $3M.
There’s a lot of possibilities for what the Warriors do with Porzingis. But giving up future draft picks to ditch him does not seem to be one of them.
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 9: Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 of the Los Angeles Lakers three point basket against the Atlanta Hawks on November 9, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For the second night in a row, the Lakers picked up a tough road win while shorthanded, this time beating the Hawks 124-114 on Monday to extend their winning streak to six games.
Austin Reaves (illness) and Quentin Grimes (right finger sprain) were both out for the game, placing a heavier burden on the Lakers’ role players to step up. The response came in the form of a season-high 49 bench points.
LA scored 29 points off 20 Hawks turnovers and, again, won the points in the paint battle, 52-42.
The Hawks grabbed the lead and momentum early in the first period. Onyeka Okongwu led them with seven points. LA was 3-7 from the field. Ziaire Williams got the Lakers’ first basket in a triple. Luka Dončić made his first shot attempt, but had three of the team’s turnovers.
At the 6:53 mark, the Hawks were up eight.
Luka inched closer to his usual double figures in the first quarter, pushing his total to seven. With Austin Reaves out, Cameron Carr saw minutes in the rotation. He had two rebounds.
The first ended with back-to-back dunks from Carr and Jarred Vanderbilt, both assisted by Luka, and a triple from Sandro Mamukelashvili. LA was up by nine.
Los Angeles was cooking early in the second period with Williams and Mamu both knocking down triples. Collin Sexton also connected with Walker Kessler twice for dunks.
LA was on an extended 28-9 scoring run. Every Laker off the bench, minus Adou Theiro, had scored.
Sexton continued to give the purple and gold a huge boost. He now had nine points with four assists. He and Kessler helped give Los Angeles a 19-point lead with 6:34 left.
CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker brought some life to the Hawks, combining for 12 points to shave points off the lead. After being down by as much as 20, Atlanta crawled back on the shoulders of Jalen Johnson to cut the deficit to 11 at halftime.
Williams began the third period with the first four points. Atlanta, though, still had momentum and were still slowly chipping away at LA’s lead. They got within six, with Dyson Daniels heating up and scoring five points.
Both teams turned on the offensive jets, scoring at a ridiculous high level.
Alexander-Walker got hot for Atlanta, scoring nine points. Luka and Mamu combined for 11 points. Los Angeles was shooting 46% from the field and the Hawks were close behind with 44%
With 3:39 left, the Lakers were up 10.
The Lakers let Atlanta gain steam again as they knocked down three triples. They got to within three, but Luka converted on a midrange jumper, giving LA a five-point lead at the end of the third.
Third quarter: Lakers 95, Hawks 90
Atlanta outscored LA 33-27 in the third. Luka scored 14 points and is up to 28 points on 9-for-19 shooting, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 5 steals, 1 block, and 6 turnovers. Walker Kessler has 18 points and 8 rebounds. LA needs to shore up its…
Mamu continued his stellar play by knocking down a 3-pointer to start the final frame. He had an impressive 19 points off the bench. The Hawks cut the deficit all the way down to two thanks to Aaron Wiggins scoring five points.
Los Angeles answered immediately with four straight points to take a six-point lead with 8:22 left.
The three ball was proving to be important for both teams as the Lakers saw Sexton make another, but Aaron Wiggins and McCollum drained two for the Hawks, getting the team to within four with 4:29 left.
Los Angeles erupted for a wonderful 9-2 scoring run on the shoulders of Mamu, Luka, Williams, LaRavia and Matisse Thybulle, putting the finishing touches on a great performance.
Key Player Stats
Luka finished with 32 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and five steals. Kessler ended with 21 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Sexton had 18 points and six assists off the bench.
Mamu logged 23 points with eight rebounds and three assists. Williams pitched in with 12 points. Thybulle had six points, all of which came at moments the team needed big shots.
Carr ended with two points and three rebounds. Thiero had two rebounds, an assist and a steal.
The Lakers’ next game will be against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday at 4:00 PM PT.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 30: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans greets Gary Payton II #0 of the Golden State Warriors after the game on October 30, 2024 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors are looking to win their eighth straight game — and sweep the home stand — when they take on old friend Jordan Poole and the New Orleans Pelicans tonight at the Chase Center. Both teams will have their depth chart tested, as the list of ailments is long and notable.
Here’s the full injury report for both teams.
Warriors
Out — Will Richard (left thumb UCL tear)
Really tough news for Richard on Sunday. The second-year guard, who had a brilliant week of play and is really settling into his own, was revealed to have a UCL tear in his non-shooting thumb, which could cost him a few weeks or even a few months.
Out — Gary Payton II (left knee inflammation)
With both Richard and Payton out, the Warriors perimeter defense is going to be severely compromised tonight. Fortunately, they’re facing a below-average Pelicans offense which is also missing some key players.
Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL repair surgery) Out — Moses Moody (left patellar tendon repair surgery) Out — Kristaps Porziņģis(not with team)
The standard trio. Butler is progressing nicely, but these three will likely be a staple of this section of the injury report until Porziņģis is traded.
Available — Gui Santos (left knee tendinitis)
Hey, some good news! Santos is still dealing with some knee pain, but thankfully is able to play.
Pelicans
Out — Zion Williamson (rest)
Williamson has battled health issues his entire career, so it’s not surprising to see him get a rest day, especially since the Pelicans played (and traveled) last night. It’s great seeing him healthy, though, as he’s appeared in all 10 games prior to this one, and is averaging 33 minutes per night.
Out — Trey Murphy III (bilateral patellar tendinopathy)
We know the Warriors have had their sights set on a Murphy trade for a while. Unfortunately for their scouts — but fortunately for their prospects of winning tonight — they won’t get to see him in this game.
Out — Yves Missi (left knee contusion/bone bruise)
The Dubs have also been linked to Missi, as a potential target to replace the retiring Porziņģis. The third-year center was injured in the second game of the season, and hasn’t played since.
Out — Trendon Watford (right ankle sprain)
Watford has been a solid bench contributor in his first season in the bayou, so NOLA’s bench will be shortened by his absence tonight.
Enjoy the game, Dub Nation. It tips off at 7:00 p.m. PT on NBA TV and NBC Sports Bay Area.
SAN FRANCISCO — Second-year Golden State Warriors guard Will Richard has a torn ligament in his left thumb that will sideline him for an undetermined stretch.
The Warriors listed Richard on the injury report Sunday with a torn ulnar collateral ligament and he was out for Monday’s game against New Orleans at Chase Center as the team concludes a six-game homestand. Golden State didn’t have practice or media availability Sunday, so there wasn’t an immediate timetable for Richard’s recovery or a known treatment plan.
Richard has been providing key minutes as both a starter and a reserve as Golden State has won seven straight games since an 0-3 start. He made two starts this past week, against Phoenix and Miami.
Stephen Curry has credited the Warriors figuring out their roles to grab some momentum after dropping the first three games.
“Everybody having an impact, throw Will Richard in there, too, he’s had three straight games really where he’s turned up the energy defensively for us,” Curry said after a 116-113 win over the Suns on Monday. “Defensively he’s just been a pest out there.”
The 23-year-old guard was a second-round draft pick last year out of Florida after he led the Gators to a national championship.
Richard is averaging 5.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists while shooting 47.5% from the floor and 42.9% from 3-point range.
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray dealt with the same injury early last season, underwent surgery and missed the first 15 games.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 8: Brice Sensabaugh #28 of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 8, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Pain. Anguish, even. Torment, if you will. These are but a sample of the emotional petri dish that I’ve consumed while witnessing what was supposed to be a new beginning for the Utah Jazz. A beginning of hope. Of competitive basketball. Of winning.
Yet here we are, 10 games into the regular season, with only a single Jazz victory to account for: a one-point Delta Center victory against a subpar New Orleans Pelicans team.
Their 1-9 record is tied for dead last across the entire NBA, matched only by the worst Sacramento Kings team in years (an accomplishment that is borderline impressive, in all honesty) and the alpha release of the Giannis-less Milwaukee Bucks.
Casual observers may be unsurprised by the Jazz’s slow start. They’ve won an average of under 27 games in the last four years and have become the face of professional basketball’s tanking epidemic — few have mastered the modern art of losing quite like Utah. But the NBA enacted substantial anti-tank measures to dissuade teams from intentional losing. In turn, Utah added a multiple-time All-Star forward and a highly touted rookie point guard to their coagulating pre-existing core.
The Jazz are not losing intentionally; they’re actually this bad.
Keeping in mind the small sample size of just 10 games, Utah isn’t the victim of a string of close losses. They’re a victim of the second-worst offense in basketball, scoring just 106.2 points per game. That average lands ahead of just one team: the shockingly horrific Charlotte Hornets and their 96.3 points per game.
The Jazz offense has been ineffective and stale, but much of that can be attributed to the harsh hand of injury misfortune.
First fell Jusuf Nurkic, the projected starting center who serves a Diet Jokic role as an offensive hub in Will Hardy’s offense. Nurkic appeared in Utah’s first preseason game but has been glued to the bench, modeling this year’s autumn catalog from his courtside seat. Without Walker Kessler (who has been predictably awesome in Los Angeles), Nurkic is essential personnel, as odd as that feels to say. 1-9 is the resut in his absence.
Jaren Jackson Jr. has been out since Utah’s fourth game of the season against Memphis, and will spend at least another month or two recovering from an injured MCL.
Markkanen has been off and on with an injured shooting wrist, and playing below his standard while on the court.
But the Jazz’s issues aren’t exclusive to their frontcourt, the lack of depth at the guard line has really hurt Utah. It’s no secret that George and Collier, two ball-dominant point guards, don’t share the floor well. But besides the rookie Darryn Peterson, who else on the roster can Will Hardy trust to bring the ball down the floor?
Svi Mykhailiuk is off to a nightmare start. Scoring 3.3 points on 27% from the field, Mykhailiuk hs been borderline unplayable. Brice Sensabaugh isn’t a ball-handler either, and is hardly seeing the floor anyway. Newly-acquired Kobe Bufkin was nearly out of the NBA when the Jazz signed him to a two-way deal — he’s not going to drive the bus.
Injuries are compounding a pre-existing depth issue. Under a magnifying glass, the Jazz are a deeply flawed team that needs much more time to coalesce.
It wouldn’t be honest to blame strength of schedule, either. Despite some tough competition, the Jazz have put themselves in winning position. They took early overtime leads agaisnt San Antonio and New Orleans before dissolving like sugar cubes, giving up two separate 12-0 runs and consequently picking up a pair of L’s.
There are no excuses, but that doesn’t mean there is no hope.
Darryn Peterson is finally finding his cadence, posting career-highs of 21 and 26 in back-to-back appearances. Keyonte George has played exceptionally well to back up the team’s $157 million faith in his future. Ace Bailey is maximizing his defensive upside, making it impossible for Will Hardy to keep him off the floor even as he struggles offensively. Newcomers Josh Green and Mo Bamba have flourished in their increased floor time, and have proved to be excellent offseason additions early.
The path toward playoff berth may have to be re-routed through the Play-In this year, but perhaps higher expectations weren’t realistic to begin with.
Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk and a Utah Jazz columnist for the Standard-Examiner. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently writes from his desk in Japan.
