Category: NBA

The official debut of Devin Booker wearing number 15 is a game I’m sure he’d rather forget. His team lost by 41 points in the season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers, trailing by as many as 52. Hopefully I forget it too.

You can understand why Portland came out and blitzed the Suns. It was an emotional night for the fan base, one they’d been waiting more than a season to experience. After being bought out by Milwaukee in Bradley Beal fashion (the ‘ole 5-year waive and streeeeeetch), Damian Lillard returned to the Trail Blazers in the summer of 2025. But an Achilles injury kept him sidelined for the entirety of last season, leaving all that pent-up excitement surrounding the return of one of the franchise’s most beloved players waiting to be unleashed.

And unleashed it was. The Moda Center was in a frenzy. Add newly acquired Ja Morant making his Portland debut, and the recipe was ripe for an emotional tidal wave that the Suns would have to overcome. Overcome it, they did not.

“Incredibly emotional to start the game before the jump ball was even tipped,” head coach Jordan Ott said after the game. “They did the better job of using that to their advantage.”

Phoenix managed only 12 points in the opening quarter and posted its lowest point total in a season opener since 2017. Coincidentally, that team also lost to the Portland Trail Blazers, surrendering 124 points while scoring only 76. In that game, a third-year Devin Booker managed 12 points on 6-of-17 shooting, including 0-of-3 from beyond the arc.

And I know it probably doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, but at least in that game, Booker attempted three-pointers. In this game? Not one. Zip. Zero. Not a single three-point attempt.

Does anybody else find that strange? Odd? Your team is getting its teeth kicked in, desperate for points, and…nothing? You’re supposed to be the tip of the offensive spear. You’re the $57 million man. And in a game where your team needs the hemorrhaging to be stopped, you don’t attempt a single shot from beyond the arc?

It was only the 17th time in Booker’s 738 career games that he failed to attempt a three-pointer, and the first time he’d done so since November 15, 2024. And wouldn’t you know it? That was another loss in which the Suns scored only 83 points. Fun Fact: That was the night that, following an abysmal performance and the fact that I watched it whilst waiting for the Mariah Carey Christmas Special to start, we introduced Mariah Carey as a Bright Side Baller option.

Perhaps the opportunities never presented themselves. Perhaps the smothering defense of former Suns draft pick Toumani Camara (palm, meet face) was too overwhelming for Booker to get a shot off. Perhaps he’s become trigger-shy after posting the second-worst three-point shooting percentage of his career last season (33.0%), compounded by the fact that he went 2-of-16 from deep during the preseason (12.5%). But when you juxtapose that against what we saw from Damian Lillard, who went 6-of-10 from beyond the arc on his way to 25 points, it only added to the embarrassment and frustration of the night.

I’m not asking Devin Booker to become Damian Lillard. I’m asking him to recognize what the team needs from him, especially when everything around him is falling apart. We know Booker is an elite midrange scorer. We know he’s never been a high-volume three-point shooter. But at what point does that become a limitation rather than an explanation? The NBA has evolved, and the best offensive players have evolved with it. Booker is entering his 12th season, and we’re still discussing his reluctance to consistently threaten defenses from beyond the arc.

“You can always do everything better in a loss like that,” Booker told Duane Rankin of AZ Central in the locker room post-massacre. “Trying to find the flow. We have some work to do and we have some things to learn from.”

There’s a significant difference between going 0-of-8 and never attempting one. One represents a willingness to take shots the offense needs, even if they aren’t falling. The other raises questions about why those shots aren’t being taken in the first place. I’m not advocating for contested 30-footers. I’m asking why a player of his caliber can’t generate or recognize opportunities from three over the course of 29 minutes.

My concern extends beyond a single game or a single statistical category. It’s about whether the version of Devin Booker we’re watching today is capable of being the offensive engine this team needs him to be. And after last night, I think that’s a perfectly reasonable question to ask.

Ultimately, this may have been the result of a bad matchup against a big, long, physical Portland team fueled by the emotional return of one of the franchise’s greatest and most beloved players. But it also brings to the surface some familiar concerns about who Devin Booker is and what he can provide from beyond the arc at this stage of his career.

Perhaps these are merely the ramblings and musings of a frustrated fanalyst who went to open his Christmas present, only to discover that instead of the gift he’d been hoping for, he received the proverbial lump of coal. All that excitement, all that anticipation surrounding the start of a new season, and it was immediately ripped away from the fan base.

Will Devin Booker have great scoring nights this season? Absolutely. Was this a one-game aberration? We certainly hope so. Maybe Wednesday was an aberration. But if the Suns are going to have any chance of making this season meaningful, they need Booker to be more than an elite midrange scorer. They need him to be a complete offensive threat, and that starts with being willing to take the shots the modern NBA demands.

Devin Booker’s debut wearing No. 15 was one to forget.

A 41-point loss. Down by as many as 52. And in a game desperate for offense, the $57 million man didn’t attempt a single three-pointer, just the 17th time in 738 career games he hasn't.#D15APPOINTINGpic.twitter.com/KtJvtCvtYK

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) October 22, 2026

76ers stun Cavaliers for largest comeback win in LeBron James' career originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Safe to say the Sixers have had less memorable home openers.

With new stars LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in town and the fans expecting something special, the Sixers fell into a giant hole Thursday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

They then hauled themselves out of it and delivered, earning a stunning comeback win over the Cavaliers by a 114-106 score.

Tyrese Maxey had 32 points and six assists.

Joel Embiid added 24 points. Brown posted 21, James 17.

Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points for Cleveland.

The sidelined Sixers were Dean Wade (left ankle sprain), Dominick Barlow (lower back stress reaction), Anfernee Simons (right Achilles tendon tear) and Tacko Fall (left quadriceps strain). 

The 2-0 Sixers will play a home back-to-back over the weekend, facing the Bucks on Saturday and the Pistons on Sunday. Here are observations on their incredible victory over the Cavs:

Brutal start across the board 

The home fans brought high volume from the opening tip-off. They booed every James Harden touch and cheered all things involving the Sixers’ new No. 23. 

James scored the Sixers’ first points of the evening with a catch-and-shoot three-pointer. He had another highlight when he dished to VJ Edgecombe for a backdoor layup. 

The Sixers’ start was otherwise full of negative plays. They paid on several occasions for trying to force passes into tight or non-existent windows. The team committed six turnovers in the first six minutes and James had half of them. 

Missed jumpers were also responsible for many of the Sixers’ empty possessions. As was the case Tuesday in their opening-night win over the Knicks, they struggled early from long range, starting 2 for 13  beyond the arc. 

The Sixers’ complete lack of free points did not help their cause. Remarkably, a team with so much physical power and talent attempted zero free throws until the 6:43 mark of the second quarter. The Sixers’ self-inflicted miscues were frequent and they could hardly find anything easy or positive. 

Mitchell drilled a buzzer-beating three to give Cleveland a 35-18 lead after 12 minutes. 

Defensive drop-off in first half 

The Sixers hit double-digit turnovers by the first minute of the second quarter. The Cavs scored the game’s first 17 points off of turnovers and the Sixers’ deficit climbed as high as 29 points in the second. 

The Sixers maintained the same nine-man rotation, using Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Anfernee Simons, Adem Bona and Jabari Walker off the bench. Everyone was ineffective in the first half. Bona’s first stint included a giveaway when Mario Hezonja ripped the ball away on an attempted dribble handoff, leading to a fast-break slam. The Sixers were outscored by 10 points in Bona’s 14 minutes.

In the first half, both the Sixers’ starters and bench defended at a far worse level than they had in New York.

The Cavs didn’t face great resistance on the ball and the Sixers’ rotations were often a step slow. Cleveland’s stars enjoyed tons of comfortable shots. Mitchell poured in 22 points over the first two quarters on 7-for-9 shooting. 

Switch flipped  

The Sixers flipped a switch in dramatic, crowd-thrilling fashion.

They made a 16-0 run that began late in the second quarter and ended early in the third. Edgecombe, James and Embiid all converted layups. The Sixers were not in a settling mood on offense and much more forceful on both ends of the floor.

Their defense was focused and aggressive. All of a sudden, it was the Cavs committing a flood of costly turnovers.

Brown got a fast-break layup following an Edgecombe steal. Maxey knifed through Cleveland’s defense for another lay-in and nailed a three-ball that prompted the free-falling Cavs to call timeout. Outside of any schematic complexities, the Sixers appeared extremely difficult to stop whenever they attacked in transition.

The Sixers cut their deficit down to 84-82 on a Maxey layup. Simons and Maxey missed go-ahead three-point tries soon after. 

Finally, the Cavs regained a bit of stability. Hezonja’s turnaround jumper on Cleveland’s final possession of the third quarter put his team up 90-82. 

The Sixers were relentless, though. They eventually broke all the way through, grabbing a 96-95 lead when Embiid canned a mid-range jumper.

The Cavs’ downward tumble continued. Brown went at Sam Merrill and feasted in isolation, scoring three straight buckets to push the Sixers’ advantage to 102-95.

There were no more twists in the tale.

In the big picture, the Sixers will aim to be a consistent team with reliable core elements by the time the playoffs roll around. In the present, it’s evident the Sixers’ top gear is tremendous and they’re not a team you should count out of games when all the stars are available. 

Luka Dončić won a lot of money or any fan who bet on him or the Los Angeles Lakers last night.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick, on other hand, is often on the losing end when betting with his star guard.

The Lakers superstar dropped 28 points along with eight rebounds and and seven assists in Los Angeles’ 127-105 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.

One of the seven shots Dončić made was a half-court heave that banked into the basket right before halftime.

THIS LUKA SHOT LAST NIGHT

Just 3 of his 28 as the @Lakers open their season with a home W! pic.twitter.com/sxiUe1TLwh

— NBA (@NBA) October 22, 2026

Lakers head coach JJ Redick was asked about Dončić draining that shot postgame and shared a hilarious story.

“We have a silly fine system. [If] you’re a minute late to film, you’re two minutes late to the bus, $500, your personal cash goes in that pot, and we shoot for it every shoot around. And I think by far Luka has won it the most,” Redick said.

“He’s yet to win it this year, but when he shoots a half-court shot —especially when he’s set like that and there’s no defender in front of him — you almost expect it to go in,” Redick added. 

“Even when I was his teammate with the Mavs, I lost a lot of money to him. So I expected it to go in.”

Given that Redick was one of the league’s best sharpshooters, one would imagine that he held his own in these shooting competitions when he and Dončić were Dallas Mavericks teammates during the 2020-21 season.

Instead, it sounds like Luka’s half-court make last night was the byproduct of him making lucrative shots in practice.

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Making his Los Angeles Lakers debut Wednesday night, Walker Kessler put on absolute show inside Crypto.com Arena for his new team and fanbase with 26 points on 12-of-12 shooting, nine rebounds, two blocks and one assist in 30 minutes. His sparkling effort helped Los Angeles rout the Golden State Warriors, 127-105, to kick off their season with a win.

Kessler’s perfect shooting night placed him alongside a couple of historic Lakers big men. His 12-of-12 outing was the second-best shooting performance in franchise history behind a 14-of-14 game from Wilt Chamberlain…

Walker Kessler checks out 12/12 from the field, the second-best shooting game in Lakers history behind a 14/14 performance from Wilt Chamberlain.

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) October 22, 2026

…while his staggering 10 dunks joined the company of Shaquille O’Neal:

Walker Kessler's 10 dunks are the most by a Laker since Shaq in 2003, per ESPN.

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) October 22, 2026

Despite the excellent debut, Kessler admitted to some pre-game jitters but thoroughly enjoyed his first regular-season appearance in a Lakers uniform and was glad to emerge victorious.

““Yeah, I would say it [lived up to expectations]. It was awesome,” he told reporters postgame. “Got the win, which was the most important thing. I definitely was a little nervous going to the game, but just so thankful and so grateful for how it went.”

Among Kessler’s 12 made field goals, five came courtesy of Luka Dončić, who’s been involved in the NBA’s last two double-digit dunk games, a testament to his wondrous playmaking aptitude.

10 dunks made in a game since 2022-23 season:

Walker Kessler, LAL vs GSW 10/21/2026
Daniel Gafford, DAL vs UTA 03/21/2024 https://t.co/jis3gEpBmzpic.twitter.com/pFxsAoHrJw

— Iztok Franko (@iztok_franko) October 22, 2026

With Dončić and Kessler on the floor together, the Lakers scored 56 points in 18 minutes, good for a hilariously stellar 151.4 offensive rating (small-sample theater is fun!), according to NBA.com.

“Very impressive game for him. I think he was 12-12, which is very impressive,” Dončić said. “But just the way he saw, when I was driving, he stepped up. When I was doubled, he played in the pocket. So a very impressive game for him.”

Head coach JJ Redick has previously talked about the expectations any notable Lakers big man may experience, especially ahead of their franchise debut. He’s made clear the support system around Kessler to guide him through any worries and was pleased with his center’s first performance of 2026-27.

“Whether he had played for the last year and a half or not, I think it’s a big deal when it’s your first game as a Laker,” Redick said. “We’ve had conversations. He understands what this is and the pressures that come with it. I think it was a good opening statement for him.”

You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.

Yeah, that was a stinker.

Despite Paul George turning back the clock for 38 points, the Celtics were out-rebounded and lost the margin battle in the trenches, Jayson Tatum looked off, and Jaylen Brown looked great in a Sixers win over the Knicks on their Ring Night. After building a 22-point lead in their season opener in Detroit, the Celtics were outscored 72-41 in the final 20 minutes that included a Pistons’ 23-0 run.

But as bad as Tuesday’s loss was, it’s just the start.

“There are bigger adversities in life than losing a game. I’m excited for the challenges and the opportunity,” Joe Mazzulla said at practice on Thursday.

“It was a challenge losing that [game], but it’s how you respond to that. It may or may not happen again, but it’s who you become. You have to learn. As I told the team, I don’t want us to feel a certain type of way after a win or after a loss — it’s all the same. You have to be able to process possessions in a game, so it’s really more about the consistency of the approach, not the feeling of the result. We just have to maintain the consistency of the approach and the process and continue to go through that.”

With a chance to knock off the defending champion Knicks tomorrow night in their home opener, it’s a quick turnaround for a team looking to turn the page quickly. After a 4-0 successful preseason that seemed to legitimize Mazzulla’s approach, the trade for George, the free agent signings of Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley Jr., and the development of the Celtics’ growing young core, the team will now have a four-game homestand to settle into the regular season and they don’t seem bothered by the hiccup.

“I don’t think it’s concerning. It’s the first game of 82,” Sam Hauser said. “There’s definitely going to be kinks that we have to work out. Obviously we ran into a few things in the last game, but I don’t think we’re concerned. We showed flashes of being really really good and showed flashes of where we need to improve. That’s the battle you go through each and every season.”

During training camp, Mazzulla stressed that it’s going to take 10-20 games to see what the team can lean on in terms of their strengths, what needs to be improved, and what the trend lines of the league are going to be. The Pistons, the East’s #1 seed last season, provided a good early test that Mazzulla liked “38 of 48 minutes” of. The key — as it is every year around this time — is being able to do for all 48, night in, night out.

“Last game was a perfect game because it was the epitome of momentum and opportunities and turning points and ebbs and flows,” Mazzulla said.

He noted that the team generated good shots during their worst stretches against the Pistons, but poor transition defense, fouling three-point shooters, and giving up and-1s off offensive rebounds ultimately allowed Detroit to steamroll them down the stretch. It’s all a learning process in the road to consistency.

Mazzulla on Pierce's presence around the Celtics: "The door is open for any Celtic."

"It's great to have him around." @CLNSMediahttps://t.co/2QZv0mHnx0pic.twitter.com/lToi7B4RBC

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) October 22, 2026

“The way we want to play, the freedom, the ability to just read the game — it just takes time understanding what each guy likes. We had some really good moments of that, and throughout that process, there will be some janky moments, but we just continue to grow through it, We’re further along than I anticipated from that standpoint,” Mazzulla reiterated.

And how’s this for consistency: 26,864 points over 15 regular seasons and a decade’s worth of playoffs. That’s second all-time for the franchise. That’s The Truth. That’s Paul Pierce.

The Finals MVP and second all-time leading scorer visited today’s practice at the Auerbach Center.

“It makes you want to carry on the Celtics tradition, the legacy when you’ve got them around,” Hauser said of having The Captain back in the building.

Draymond Green wants to retire a Warrior, but plans to play in 2027-28 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green entered his 15th season with the Warriors on a one-year contract that he signed in the offseason. 

While the one-year deal reaffirmed the team’s commitment to the four-time champion, it raised questions about Green’s future with the team, and in the NBA, beyond the 2026-27 season. 

Green reiterated in an interview with CNBC’s Alex Sherman that he wants to spend his entire career with the Warriors but also stated that this will not be the final season of his career. 

“I would love to retire a Golden State Warrior; however, I also would love to play basketball next year,” Green said. “So if that’s not here, I’m not going to retire. But in saying that, I would love for that to be here.  

“It’s such a rare thing to be on one team for your entire career, and if I can accomplish that feat, I would love to do it.” 

Green’s love for the franchise is clear, but he also acknowledged that he doesn’t have the “luxury that Steph Curry has” of a guaranteed future spot on the Warriors roster if that is what he desires. 

He understands that the franchise has a business decision to make next offseason regarding roster construction. 

“Number one, I understand the business,” Green explained. “I do know that this is a business and the organization is going to make the best decision from a business standpoint. If I fit into that equation: great. If I don’t: great.  

“But I’m extremely grateful for the journey that I’ve been on here, and I’m going to enjoy this year like it’s my last, even if it isn’t.” 

In 2023, Green told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith that his preferred career timeline would draw its conclusion toward the end of his 15th season. But now that year No. 15 has arrived, Green sees at least one more year in professional basketball.  

The possibility that it is his last year with Golden State is not something he ignores. 

“I think I’d be crazy to not think that that’s a possibility,” Green said. “In saying that, I don’t approach every day like this is my last year here. But to say that that’s not a possibility; I’d be fooling myself.” 

Above all else, Green is content with playing a key part of the Warriors since the beginning of his career in 2012. 

“If 14-and-a-half years ago you handed me a sheet of paper that said ‘Hey, not only are you going to player 15 years in the NBA, but you’re going to play 15 years with one team?’ I would have taken that sheet of paper so fast – sign me up as fast as you can,” Green said. “So, I’m not going to get to year 15 in this place and have any ill-will or any ill-feelings towards this maybe [being] my last year.” 

Green is clearly appreciative of his time as a Warrior. And even if the powers that be decide that this is his last year with the franchise, it does not appear that it will be his last year playing basketball. 

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Whenever there are star-laden rosters rolled out in the NBA, skeptics of said rosters often have the same critiques.

“There’s only one ball.”

“Too many egos.”

“Good luck getting that guy to take a back seat to anyone.”

The NBA has long been powered by its stars and while it seems as if the narrative in recent years has changed, particularly with a team like New York winning an NBA championship last season primarily due to its stellar depth, top-end talent will always garner a lot of conversation in the NBA. The Sixers have a ton of it. It was fair to question how quickly all of the talent would mesh and come together, but if the season opener at Madison Square Garden was an indication, chemistry isn’t going to be a problem for this season’s Philadelphia 76ers.

Every Sixer in the starting lineup, besides VJ Edgecombe who attempted the fewest number of field goals amongst the five, had at least five assists in the 106-100 victory over New York. The Sixers committed fewer turnovers than a Knicks team that was returning the bulk of its roster that won last season’s title. Philadelphia also had 24 fastbreak points to 16 for the Knicks. These are all statistical categories that indicate a strong degree of togetherness and selflessness on the court.

On Tuesday night, the Sixers did not look like a team that was still trying to figure out how to put the puzzle pieces together. They also did not beat the Knicks due to a hot shooting night that could just be chalked up to randomness. Philly shot just 28% from the three-point line in the win. They did so with two high-profile new starters in the lineup in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown. They closed out a close game on the road against an opponent that’s owned them in recent seasons including two of the last three postseasons. So if they can do all of that in their first game together against the reigning champions, maybe it’s easy to see why there was so much hype around this team.

Inevitably, there are going to be overtures, if they haven’t started already, from fans about coach Nick Nurse’s overreliance on the starting five. Every starter played at least 33 minutes in the opener. There are another 81 regular season games to go plus what the franchise hopes is a deep playoff run. Managing minutes is not a novel concept for Nurse, but how good will he be at it this season? It’s a fair question.

Will Mike Gansey be able to find a backup center to Joel Embiid after losing Ariel Hukporti for the year before the season started? Finding some consistent outside shooting from the wing also figures to be the easiest way to get James some rest throughout the marathon that is the regular season.

Surely, there are still things the Sixers will have to figure out during the season as they’re not going to waltz to an NBA championship. But playing into June was on everyone’s minds before this season started and the victory on Tuesday night in New York showed us why. Chemistry and cohesion are usually things that only get better as the season goes on and if that’s the case for this group, we might be in for a very special next 6-8 months, Sixers fans.

Draymond Green names the one thing he would change about the NBA as commissioner originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green is in the midst of a Hall of Fame career and is set to play a big role for the Warriors this season. But nothing lasts forever, and it is almost time for him to think about his post-basketball life.

Green could have an option once he retires, as he has said in the past that he would like to eventually become NBA commissioner, a position currently held by Adam Silver.

Speaking to CNBC Sport’s Alex Sherman, Green was asked what he would change as commissioner and his answer suggested that the league’s current state isn’t working.

“The salary structure,” Green told Sherman. “Ultimately, the salary structure has changed a lot of teams. I think it’s changed the NBA. We’ve always heard the word parity thrown around. Over the last six years, there’s been six different champions. That hasn’t had the benefit of having dynasties. All fans love to see dynasties; even the fans that hate to see dynasties, they really tune in for the dynasties and we’re not getting that anymore due to salary structure.

“That’s what I would change because ultimately, it’s a reason why Michael Jordan dominated for a period, the Spurs dominated for a period, LeBron dominated for a period. [The Golden State Warriors] dominated for a period. Now, it’s all over the place, and I don’t love that. As a basketball fan, I don’t love that.”

The Warriors’ dynastic run began during the 2014-15 season and netted four NBA championships through the 2021-22 season. During that time, NBA competition wasn’t as strong, with the Warriors dominating the Western Conference by a large margin.

Sherman noted that Silver recently told him that the NBA has data stating fans want parity. But when it was suggested the commissioner could be twisting the data, Green defended Silver while also emphasizing that basketball fans don’t love parity.

“I never think he’s twisting the data,” Green told Sherman. “When speaking of Commissioner Silver, I think he’s the best commissioner out there when you’re talking about all the major sports leagues. I don’t think he’s necessarily twisting the data. But, as you and I both know, data isn’t everybody’s opinion. It’s a subset of people, and then we take that and say, oh well, if you divide that by this many people, then that’s what you get.

“Or you add that in this amount of people, that’s what you get. I don’t think he’s twisting the data, but I will tell you as a basketball fan, and I’m always around a lot of basketball fans, I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s loved.”

Green is not ready to retire yet and is focused on playing at a high level this season so he can help Golden State achieve its goals. But when he retires, don’t be surprised if he starts impacting the game of basketball in other ways.

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The Dallas Mavericks’ 2026-27 season got off to a rocky start on Wednesday night, as they got blown out by Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets, 128-110. After only trailing 32-26 when the first quarter ended, the Mavs proceeded to get outscored 38-12 in the second quarter, which ended up being the deciding factor in the game. Dallas outscored Houston 72-58 in the second half, but it was already too late.

It was a little bit of a mixed bag when it came to the performances of the Mavs’ two stars, 19-year-old Cooper Flagg and 34-year-old Kyrie Irving, who was playing his first real NBA game in nearly 600 days following an ACL injury. Flagg finished with a game-high 32 points (10-17 FG, 11-13 FT), five rebounds, two assists, three steals and one block in 33 minutes of action. He poured in 23 of his 32 points in the second half alone. Irving finished with 15 points (6-9 FG), four rebounds, two assists and one steal. Both Flagg and Irving had four turnovers each.

Following the loss, Mavs head coach Dusty May gave his thoughts on how his two stars played in their first real game together.

“I thought he was setting us up,” May said of Flagg’s second-half scoring. “In the first half I thought he was being very intentional with getting his teammates shots, and then, in the second half, we did a better job of getting some off-ball movement. We played a little bit faster, and then obviously if you’re not taking the ball out of the net, you can get it up and attack quickly. I thought that was the biggest difference. We just — our pace got a lot better in the second half.”

Getting to the free-throw line was something Dallas struggled with in the preseason, so Flagg’s ability to get to the stripe 13 times and convert 11 of them was a welcome sight for May.

“That’s been a point of emphasis, and that’s one thing, when we evaluated ourselves after four [preseason] games, getting to the line wasn’t something we did well,” May said. “We thought [Flagg] was the best way to capitalize in the paint. I thought he was strong. I thought he made good decisions. When we start knocking down some open shots, his assist numbers will increase.”

Irving was efficient on Wednesday night, but the problem was that his shots were limited. That obviously wasn’t by May’s design, but it’s what the Rockets’ defense forced the Mavs into.

“He’s obviously the focal point,” May said of Irving being limited to nine field-goal attempts by Houston’s defense. “They put two on the ball. I thought he made the right plays, the right decisions. There [are] going to be puzzles we’re going to have to figure out. Playing four-on-three with our other guys — we’ve got to do a better job and find some solutions.

“But I thought there in the second half, he showed a real — his true character — in being a leader when things weren’t going well, I thought he set a great example. Our bench was phenomenal. They were cheering for each other. We’re worried about getting better, especially starting with a couple games on the road like we are. We’re focused on getting better, and I was proud of the way the guys stayed connected and stayed fighting until the end. That showed some character.”

The Mavs now shift their attention to another road test against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night before opening up at home against the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. The Pacers started their season off 1-0 with a 123-120 win over the New Orleans Pelicans after star point guard Tyrese Haliburton made his return from an achilles injury he suffered in the 2025 NBA Finals.

“[We have to] learn from what we did well,” May said. “I thought we made some strides in areas we’ve struggled in. But just look at the film. The lowest-hanging fruit — what can we fix in a 48-hour period, so we’re not out here chasing every rabbit, but focus on a couple of things so we can just trust it a little bit more. From everybody, we’ll fix that area. … These extra possessions, they steamroll on you, so if we just clean up a few things, I think we’ll make a significant jump.”

The Cleveland Cavaliers took a risk when they traded for Donovan Mitchell in 2022. They made a gamble that the assets they unloaded, which included multiple first-round picks that spanned seven years, would ultimately never be missed.

It looks like they’re winning that bet.

“I don’t ever want to wear another uniform,” Mitchell said in a Cleveland.com exclusive with Chris Fedor. “I dream of myself being here forever and hopefully having 45 in the rafters one day.”

Mitchell has not only led the franchise to some of their most successful seasons, but he’s signed an extension that keeps him in Cleveland through the 2029-30 NBA season — past the date of the final draft pick that is owed to the Utah Jazz.

There was a time when it was unclear if the Cavs would retain Mitchell for more than a single season. Or if they’d reach an agreement on even one contract extension. But now we are two extensions deep with a franchise star who has fully committed to the city he’s in.

Mitchell has averaged 26.7 points and 5.3 assists in four seasons with the Cavaliers. He’s been an All-Star in each season and was named to an All-NBA team in three of the four.

Entering his fifth year in Cleveland, Mitchell has made it clear that this is where he wants to be. The franchise has doubled and tripled down on their own commitment to him. Trading for James Harden last season and shuffling the starting lineup to add a 3-and-D wing in Peyton Watson. It’s all built around competing now while Mitchell’s window is open.

The Cavs haven’t had many players of Mitchell’s caliber represent the city, let alone retire in Cleveland. There’s something to be said for a star embracing his new home — even if this is all easier said than done. A lot can change between now and the end of Mitchell’s career, but a verbal commitment like this shouldn’t be taken for granted.

BOSTON — Mitchell Robinson didn’t mince words at Celtics practice Thursday morning, less than 48 hours after his lackluster Celtics debut.

In the Celtics’ 121-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons, Robinson tallied 4 points, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 turnovers in 18 minutes. The normally prolific rebounder couldn’t make his impact on the glass, grabbing just 3 boards, only 1 of which came on the offensive end.

“It’s obviously just my fault,” Robinson said. “I got to accept that, and obviously be better from here on out. It’s straightforward — my fault.”

Robinson pointed to his lack of defensive impact as one of the main issues with his performance.

“We didn’t keep our foot on the gas, and it starts with me,” he said. “I’m one of the best defensive bigs in this league, and I didn’t show it that night. I got to take ownership of that; I gotta be better.”

The 28-year-old did go down with a twisted ankle in the second quarter of Tuesday’s game, but returned shortly after. On Thursday, he said the ankle injury didn’t factor into his performance.

Looks like Mitchell Robinson hurt his ankle – he’s hobbling off the floor in pain pic.twitter.com/gOHLh1XKka

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) October 20, 2026

“You tweak an ankle, you’re going to feel it a little bit here and there, but shit happens,” Robinson said. “I just felt like I was playing like trash the whole time anyways. I mean, shit.”

Robinson isn’t worried about putting points on the board. But his interior presence and rebounding got him a 3-year, $47 million contract, and he prioritizes those on any given night.

“Once I feel good about that after the game, for me, that’s when I know I did pretty good,” he said. “I really don’t care about stat lines, scoring; we got that over here already. It’s like — what can I do to help my team?”

Joe Mazzulla spoke with Robinson after the game

Mitchell Robinson said last week that Joe Mazzulla has been hard on him since he arrived in Boston.

“He’s getting on my ass a lot,” he said. “Which, you know, I need that. But he gets on my ass.”

But after Robinson’s frustrating game, Mazzula reached out in an encouraging fashion.

“Joe’s a great guy,” Robinson said. “He talked me through a lot of things, especially that night. He sent me text messages and stuff like that, and I appreciate it, but I didn’t even respond to the last text. But I was still stuck in my head about it. Like, I played like ass.”

Mazzulla said he recognizes Robinson’s importance and expects him to keep acclimating over time.

“It’s game one, obviously, and again, for us, he’s a very important piece to what we do, and so the standard is a little bit higher, and the expectation is a little bit higher,” Mazzulla said. “So I think it just comes with time, understanding that every play, you’re at the nucleus of what we’re trying to accomplish on both ends of the floor, and it’s a great compliment that all three of those bigs share. And some of that just comes with time — just the offensive reads, the offensive chemistry, the offensive execution, but also the defensive reads and the defensive reactions that we have to have. I appreciate that he’s in that space, and I think he’s taking on the responsibility and knowing how important that position is.”

Robinson said last week he’s enjoying his more involved role, even though there’s been an acclimation period.

“I’m in a lot of actions on the offensive side,” Robinson said. “Over there, I was just like, set one screen, roll, and they’ll be going on the other side, and then maybe come back. But like, this one, I’m in like every action. I’m setting the flare, pin down, ball screen, whatever. Like I’m just always actively moving.”

Mitchell Robinson will face his old Knicks teammates on Friday

On Friday, Robinson will face the New York Knicks, the team he spent his first 8 years with. The Knicks also come off an opening-day loss, a 106-100 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers.

But though Robinson is excited to put Tuesday behind him, he said he doesn’t have extra emotion or motivation specifically because of the Knicks match-up.

“It doesn’t really matter that I’m playing my former team,” he said. “It’s more so just trying to bounce back from what happened two nights ago. At the end of the day, it’s basketball; it’s a business. And, you got to play the team just like you play any other team.”

Luka Dončić produced multiple highlights in the Los Angeles Lakers’ dominant opening-night win against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.

But the clip that’s getting the most attention is Dončić’s postgame exchange with ESPN’s Malika Andrews.

Andrews interviewed Dončić after the Lakers beat the Warriors and the two were all smiles.

This prompted one fan to produce an edited video of the two speaking together with romantic music playing in the background.

The clip has now gone viral, with the original post tallying over four million views reposted across countless other accounts.

Luka Doncic had to leave the interview because because Malika Andrews gave him a… pic.twitter.com/gw3fHyZeoR

— Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) October 22, 2026

While Dončić seems to be single after his very public breakup with ex-fiancée Anamaria Goltes earlier this year, Andrews is married to fellow ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin.

Dončić got off to a hot start Wednesday, which he’ll be keen to continue when the Lakers face the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.

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Los Angeles Lakers’ Walker Kessler tallied 10 dunks during his team’s 127–105 win over the Golden State Warriors Wednesday night.

Those 10 dunks were the most a Laker has produced in a game since the days of Shaquille O’Neal back in 2003.

Following the win, Kessler’s overall performance against the Warriors — scoring 26 points on perfect 12-for-12 shooting from the field — earned high praise from Shaq himself.

“For so long, the Lakers’ big men have been historical and dominant. Walker Kessler is the best big man in the NBA. You heard it here first,” O’Neal said from the ESPN studio.

The NBA on ESPN’s Instagram account posted a clip of Shaq’s comment on Wednesday night, which was then reposted by Kessler’s fiancée, former Miss America winner Abbie Stockard, on Thursday morning.

It might be premature for Shaq to call Kessler the league’s “best big man,” given he has only played one game in the purple and gold.

But Shaq knows dominance down low better than anyone else, and his sentiment about Kessler bodes well for the Lakers’ upcoming campaign.

Beauty queen Stockard recently finished nursing school in Alabama, so it’s unclear whether she’s currently with Kessler in Los Angeles as he embarks on his debut season with the Lakers.

Regardless, whatever mutual support Kessler and Stockard have going on at home is translating to success on the basketball court.

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