PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 17: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns plays defense on Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during the game during the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament on April 17, 2026 at PHX Arena 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
Who: Phoenix Suns (0-1) @ Golden State Warriors (0-2)
When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, AZ
Watch: Suns+, 3TV/AZFS
Listen: AZ Sports 98.7
The Phoenix Suns had two full days to sit with their historic season-opening loss. Two days to flush it out.
It was a historically bad season-opening loss in Portland; we all know it. Devin Booker called it a “wake-up call”. We don’t want a players-only meeting. We don’t want to hear any more pep talks. We want a response on Saturday night against Golden State, in front of the home crowd, that tells us Game 1 was a fluke.
The Suns will face a shorthanded Warriors squad that is coming off a collapse last night against the Grizzlies in their home opener. They’re basically without… everyone?
Steph Curry officially ruled out tonight in Phoenix for the Warriors first back-to-back. Right knee management. Brandin Podziemski and Al Horford also out. Draymond Green is doubtful.
Luke Kennard — QUESTIONABLE (Left Knee Tendinopathy)
Oso Ighodaro — OUT (Oblique Strain)
Mark Williams — OUT (Left Shoulder Surgery)
Warriors
Kristaps Porzingis — OUT (Health)
Stephen Curry — OUT (Rest)
Brandin Podziemski — OUT (Back)
Jimmy Butler — OUT (Knee)
Moses Moody — OUT (Knee)
Al Horford — OUT (Rest)
Draymond Green — DOUBTFUL (Rest)
Here’s my quick hit on the Suns-Warriors injury report ahead of tonight’s game!
What to Watch For
Oso Ighodaro is OUT
That stings for this specific matchup. Oso is the guy who can switch onto Golden State’s guards, run the floor, and keep the ball moving out of the short roll.
Losing him thins out a frontcourt that just got beat by 14 on the glass. The good news is the Warriors are a much smaller and less athletic team than Portland. Khaman will need to be ready, as the Warriors will certainly try to drag him away from the rim and hunt him on the perimeter.
Steph-less
Curry tweaked his ankle before the Lakers game, was listed as probable, and played. Golden State just hosted Memphis Friday in its home opener, which makes Phoenix the second night of a back-to-back. It should come as no surprise that this early in the season, especially after a scare in an open practice that he will sit this one out.
The Warriors will rely on a combination of Gary Payton II, Brandon Williams, LJ Cryer, De’Anthony Melton, and Will Richard to pick up the guard play.
When Steph sits, Draymond tends to hunt for trouble. Put him and Brooks on the same floor and a scuffle feels inevitable. Phoenix needs Brooks to win that exchange on the scoreboard and keep his head.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 17: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 17, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Warriors 111-96. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Already depleted
While the Suns are down Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro, Golden State has deep issues of their own. Jimmy Butler is out until after the new year, and Kristaps Porzingis may not ever play another game of basketball. Plus, Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody are out.
The Suns must control the game defensively, beccause it could be difiicutl for the Warriors to get buckets with this group.
Key to a Suns Win
1) Fix the shot diet. Phoenix took just four corner shots the entire night in Portland, two of them in the 4th, and went 6-of-33 from deep. The rest was contested mid-range junk, the shots Portland funneled them into. Credit the Blazers for executing their plan. Golden State will try to copy that film. The Suns need early rim touches and kick-outs to the corners in the first six minutes, before the Warriors get comfortable and the Suns get frustrated again.
2) The ball has to move. Miles Bridges and Dillon Brooks combined for zero assists. One game, I get it, and I’m not torching the roster build yet. But the connective passing that made this group fun last year was nowhere. Against a Warriors defense that loads up on Booker, the second pass is the whole game.
Oct 21, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (23) and Phoenix Suns forward Miles Bridges (22) battle for control of the ball during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
3)Watch the defensive assignments. Expect rookie Yaxel Lendeborg (who already made headlines calling out Luka’s whining and then guarded him well) on Booker, with De’Anthony Melton or Gary Payton II sliding to Jalen Green.
This is a scrappy roster with or without Steph, and they will compete. It’s a group that is trying to prove themselves and has nothing to lose at this point, which swings all the pressure back in Phoenix’s direction.
Prediction
The Suns take advantage of the Warriors’ lack of depth and feed off the home crowd to get a double-digit win while holding Golden State just below 100 points. Anything less than a win and we need to have a serious discussion about this team.
Suns 111, Warriors 99
Let us know your prediction below. See you in the Game Thread!
The sting of the Warriors’ late collapse to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday night cut deeper knowing how short-handed they could be the next night in Phoenix against the Suns in their first of 15 back-to-backs this season.
Steph Curry didn’t suit up Saturday night. Neither did Draymond Green, Al Horford and Brandin Podziemski, among the other usuals for the Warriors. Their backs were against the wall, and the Warriors didn’t lack in fight. They did lack in experienced talent, though.
Devin Booker torched the Warriors for 43 points as they fell to the Suns 131-122 at Mortgage Matchup Center. He was the Suns’ only player to score 20 points in a game where the Warriors had three of them, and it didn’t matter.
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg led the way with 26 points for his first 20-point game of his young NBA career. Lendeborg also had nine rebounds and five assists. De’Anthony Melton (25 points) and Brandon Williams (20 points) also reached the mark.
Golden State’s defense in the first three games of the season has been a stroll in the park for its opponents. The Suns shot 58.1 percent from the field and tallied 60 points in the paint.
Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ third straight loss to open the 2026-27 NBA season.
Playing Through Yaxel
The Warriors already are basically leaning on Lendeborg to be their No. 2 scorer. In their first game of the season without Curry, he became the Warriors’ top scoring option. Really, the entire offense needed to run through him when taking the absences of Green and Podziemski into account.
And Lendeborg was first to get the Warriors on the scoreboard with a three just to the right of the arc. His next shot was another made three, connecting just to the left of the arc. Lendeborg’s first three made shots were 3-pointers after draining one from the right corner.
But his most impressive sequence might have been Lendeborg’s fourth made shot, sealing Dillon Brooks for a mismatch down and finishing through contact for a three-point play. Lendeborg went into halftime as the Warriors’ leading scorer with 13 points, plus four rebounds and two assists.
Lendeborg proved the Warriors can play through him as a main option. The rookie made six 3-pointers and should have had many more than five assists if his teammates made shots off his dribble-drive passes. This was a Warriors loss, but a win in the development of Lendeborg.
Big Dubs Duo
Having Graham Ike and Charles Bassey as the Warriors’ centers set a tone. The Warriors were all over the glass and keeping possessions alive. Ike, who started the game at center, and Bassey, who made his season debut after missing the first two games to knee tendonitis, combined for nine points and eight rebounds in the first quarter.
As a team, the Warriors had 10 second-chance points, nine bench points and eight offensive rebounds in the first quarter to hold a three-point lead. But they also committed eight turnovers for 11 points. That number rose to 12 turnovers for 15 points with the Suns now leading by three.
While the Warriors did have 17 second-chance points in the first half, they continued to be too sloppy for a team that has such little margin for error. When it looked like the Suns were about to separate themselves with a 9-1 run during the third quarter, it was Bassey who carried the Warriors in answering with a 12-0 run to take the lead.
Ike recorded a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double, and Bassey added 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting. They accounted for 17 of the Warriors’ 44 rebounds and seven of their 19 offensive rebounds. The problem is, the Warriors allowed as many points off turnovers (26) as second-chance points scored (26).
Richard’s Role
All signs pointed to the Warriors finding a steal late in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft when they took Will Richard out of Florida. In just his seventh career game last year, Richard started and scored 30 points on a night where the Warriors didn’t have their regulars. He wasn’t close to the same player a little more than a year later in Phoenix.
Richard had the same amount of turnovers and fouls as shot attempts at halftime: One. He missed his one shot attempt, a three from the left corner. It often felt like the Warriors were playing 4-on-5 offensively having Richard on the floor.
Then in the third quarter, Richard hit two threes that felt like they were worth triple that. The first was wide-open from the right wing where Richard looked around the court and then finally launched from deep. The second was in rhythm from the right corner, where Richard caught a bounce pass and in the same motion splashed a three, which is the exact shot the Warriors have to rely on him for.
Richard made a smooth reverse layup cutting under the hoop early in the fourth quarter, showing more shades of what the Warriors expected. The player he was in the second half, scoring 11 points, was much more reminiscent of who the Warriors need going forward.
BOSTON — The Knicks bricked too many shots in their first two games. Plenty of open ones, too. But coach Mike Brown wasn’t concerned about the misfiring after his team was toppled Friday night by the Celtics.
Those will eventually fall. Especially Jalen Brunson’s. The Knicks aren’t going to shoot just 40.8 percent like the combined home and road openers.
But Brown did identify a glaring issue because the championship hangover apparently hit the Knicks with laziness.
“It was a physical ballgame and [the Celtics] had the advantage out there with the physicality,” Brown said.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts on the baseline in the first half of a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Brown reiterated, several times after Friday’s 107-103 defeat, the problem that has plagued the Knicks intermittently for years: the inability, or unwillingness, to fight through picks.
It was exacerbated in Beantown because the refs were cooler than usual with moving screens, allowing the Celtics to hunt mismatches with weaker defenders like Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
“They set a screen, and we lay on the screen, don’t fight to get through it,” Brown said. “And then we have to switch and get the wrong matchup. That’s why I bring up their physicality in screens, whether it’s the pick-and-roll or off the ball. If that is there from the other team and we’re not defending the screens the right way, communicating, and navigating them the right way instead of laying, laying, laying — it’s going to start the dominoes to fall. If they’re illegal or not, it doesn’t matter.”
Jayson Tatum cooked the Knicks for 36 points, three days after another star ball handler, Tyrese Maxey, filleted the Knicks for 28 points.
The point-of-attack defense has been suspect and OG Anunoby’s rough start is a problematic factor. He’s supposed to be the Knicks’ top stopper and owns the worst defensive rating among the starters through two games.
Mikal Bridges, the other defensive specialist, was benched for much of Friday’s game — including the final 8 ¹/₂ minutes — amid a 2-for-16 shooting slump.
The Knicks closed with Miles McBride over Bridges and nearly pulled off the comeback, but Tatum buried a couple of difficult shots over Josh Hart.
Jayson Tatum (0) of the Boston Celtics handles the ball during a game against the New York Knicks at TD Garden in Boston, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“At the end of the first quarter there was a two-minute stretch where we were just b—hing to the referees instead of just playing through it,” Brown said. “In the third, their level of physicality picked up. And also the beginning of the fourth quarter. And we found a combination toward the end that handled their physicality. And we were just as physical back. And that gave us a chance to win. But against a good team on the road, it was too late.”
Brown said the effort also negatively impacted the team’s offense because it led to turnovers.
“When we tried to drive the basketball, we either fell on the ground and there was no call, or when we got in the paint, and they brought a second guy they had us either jumping in the air and turning it over, or they had us on the heels, trying to make sprays. And it was just because they got us in our bodies,” the coach said. There was a level of physicality that Boston brought to the table that caused us to have 18 turnovers on the road compared to their 11 turnovers. It’s going to be tough to win.”
The Knicks, as a result, became the first defending champs to start 0-2 since the Mavericks in 2011. The good news is they’re back home Sunday against the Magic, who are also 0-2 after getting blown out Friday by the Timberwolves.
A defeat against Orlando would have Brown contemplating a losing start to the first segment of the championship-defending season.
“We break the season into five-game segments,” Brown said. “There are marks that we like to hit in those five games and it kind of gives us a good feel of where you were, in a fair amount of games, and to see if you can make progress in the next five.
“Obviously you want to go 5-0, you’ll take 4-1, and then maybe you have to take 3-2. But if you’re doing anything less than that, you know that nobody is reaching their potential.”
Oct 11, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Jericho Sims (00) dribbles the ball during the third quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Lakers’ preseason roster crunch was ultimately solved by cutting Dalton Knecht, an unceremonious end to his once-promising Lakers career.
It was also an anticlimactic ending to the team’s search for a solution that didn’t involve just waiving Knecht. While they hoped to find a backup center, multiple teams in the league were also looking for ways to consolidate the roster without waiving a player.
There were indeed talks with the Lakers about a swap headlined by Dalton Knecht and Jericho Sims, as The Stein Line first revealed on Oct. 15, but sources say those discussions were derailed by Milwaukee’s intent to extract two future second-round picks in the deal and the Lakers’ insistence that they part with only one in exchange for Sims.
Through two games this season, Sims has played 1:52, all that coming in the third quarter of the team’s loss in the first game of the season to the Wizards.
It’s still early in the season, so his role could change. But is he going to be a big enough piece to turn down draft compensation for him? Especially when he’s on an expiring contract as well?
Granted, every team should have a line in the sand they won’t cross. For the Lakers, including two second round picks does feel like a step too far. That would, effectively, be trading Deandre Ayton for Jericho Sims, since that’s where the team got the second round picks.
Is Sims a better fit than Ayton? Certainly. But Ayton is a better player than Sims, so from a talent standpoint, that trade wouldn’t make sense. You could argue you’re attaching a player to offload in that as well, but it still feels like the right call from the Lakers to not pull the trigger on that deal.
Given how bad Kevon Looney has looked through the first two games of the season, though, it does seem like the team will have to make a move for a backup center. At least we know they are actively searching for an upgrade.
Carr has yet to make his NBA debut as he is dealing with a right oblique strain and has been sidelined for the Lakers’ first two games of the season against the Warriors and Clippers. There’s a chance Carr could suit up for the Lakers’ matchup with the Jazz Sunday, but it’s not guaranteed.
The 2026-27 season is an important campaign for the Lakers as its officially the Doncic era, the first without LeBron James. Thus far, it appears the massive roster overhaul has paid off but the Lakers will have to contend in a loaded Western Conference to prove they are a force to be reckoned with.
It’s hard to be too critical of the Lakers after their first two games of the season – home wins over the Warriors on Wednesday and Clippers on Friday.
Luka Doncic recorded a career-high 11 turnovers against the Clippers. NBAE via Getty Images
They won those matchups by a combined 30 points.
Walker Kessler is making the Lakers brain trust look like geniuses for making the investment to acquire the 7-foot-2 center.
Reaves is playing at an All-Star level after securing a four-year, $180 million contract.
Doncic continues to be the focal point of the Lakers’ success.
Austin Reaves has also been a significant contributor to the Lakers’ ball security issues. NBAE via Getty Images
The team’s roster reconstruction is paying off with an abundance of role players stepping up.
But the major early blemish that’s carried over from the preseason: Turnovers.
“We know the turnovers are a problem,” coach JJ Redick said. “We’ll continue to work at it, continue to get better at it.”
The Lakers followed up recording 18 giveaways in their season opener against the Warriors by turning the ball over 21 times against the Clippers, directly leading to 29 points.
Doncic and Reaves were once again the biggest culprits, combining for 17 of the team’s giveaways.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick had ideas on how his star players could turn the ball over less. NBAE via Getty Images
“How many did I have?,” Reaves asked after Friday’s game.
Six.
“Oh,” Reaves responded, “it felt like 10.”
That was actually Doncic, who recorded a career-high 11 turnovers – something pointed out to Reaves.
“Y’all didn’t have to say that,” he said. “I asked about me.”
But the Slovenian guard wasn’t shy when it came to acknowledging his role in the Lakers’ turnover struggles .
“We have a lot of room left to improve,” Doncic said. “Obviously, my game was terrible. But we are 2-0. Not playing a great game by me and AR, we have a lot of room left [to grow], so it’s very exciting news, honestly.”
The Lakers’ early turnover woes are, in a way, encouraging because of the results they’re getting despite them.
They’ve scored a combined 252 points through their first two games (127 against the Warriors and 125 against the Clippers).
They shot 56.8% from the field against the Warriors, and 58.2% against the Clippers.
They’ve been living up to the expectations of being an ultra-efficient, high-powered offensive team despite nearly a fifth of their possessions ended in a turnover.
But they aren’t allowing their offensive success so far to take away from the progress they’re hoping to make with taking care of the ball.
They know their ceiling can be significantly higher if they clean up the ball security, especially against teams looking to trap Doncic and Reaves.
But some of the giveaways are also growing pains that come with such a significant roster overhaul.
“The reality is a lot of the turnovers are just the pass in front of them,” Redick said. “Just make the pass in front of you. We’ve talked about it with both those guys. It’s the familiarity. They trust their teammates. They want to be playmakers. It’s building that over the course of the season to familiarity where guys are going to be in their spots. So we’ll just continue to build out our options out of that and we’ll be better.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 23: Rui Hachimura #28 of the LA Clippers smiles during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 23, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While other players may have had longer tenures, Rui Hachimura’s three-and-a-half years with the Lakers saw him become a fan favorite.
Immediately helping the team to a playoff victory in his first postseason game with the franchise went some way in endearing himself to the fans. But his personality is really what helped fans fall in love with him during his time in purple and gold.
This offseason, Rui was one of the many players not retained by the Lakers. Making matters worse for some fans, he stayed in Los Angeles and joined the crosstown rivals in the Clippers.
“It was incredible,” Austin Reaves said of reuniting with Rui. “He’s one of my favorite teammates I’ve ever had. I made a joke the other day that I didn’t know if he spoke English for the first two weeks [as teammates]. We sat by each other on the plane his first year and I would say hey to him and he would kind of just look at me and nod. Then after that I couldn’t get him to shut up.
“Always in a good mood, happy to be here, put the work in and it’s just good to see him be happy and successful and enjoying his life.”
Rui looked like the same player the Lakers had last season during the contest. He knocked down open threes, connected on mid-range jumpers and finished with 16 points. He also was nearly on the receiving end of some friendly trash talk by Luka, but didn’t take the bait.
“He was just trying to talk trash or whatever, but I don’t care about those kinds of stuff,” Rui said postgame. “Me and him, I had a good time with him in those two years with the Lakers. I’m happy to see him healthy, back on the court. Hope the best for him.
“I missed all those guys, the players, the coaches,” Rui added. “They got some new guys, but the trainers and all that, it was good to see them…It was a great moment with them. I talked some stuff with them, too, so it was a fun time.”
SAN ANTONIO, TX -APRIL 10: Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs drives by Max Christie #00 of the Dallas Mavericks in the second half at Frost Bank Center on April 10, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks finally got a win Friday night, and their reward came less than 24 hours later: Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.
Dallas comes home at 1-1 after beating Indiana 121-105, but the win came with a pretty high cost. Cooper Flagg suffered a left shoulder injury late in the first half and will miss Saturday’s home opener. Dereck Lively II and Santi Aldama are also unavailable, leaving Dallas short-handed for one of the worst possible frontcourt matchups.
San Antonio is 0-2 after losses to Oklahoma City and Houston, but that record shouldn’t make anyone comfortable. Wembanyama scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds Friday against the Rockets, and the Spurs still have plenty of talent to punish a depleted Dallas team.
Both teams are playing the second night of a back-to-back. Let’s scan the FanDuel board for some value.
FanDuel Snapshot: Spurs -12.5 | Mavericks +12.5 | Total 231.5.
Dallas Mavericks +12.5
I understand why San Antonio is favored this heavily. Flagg is out, Dallas is thin up front, and Wembanyama presents a nightmare matchup for a team already missing Lively.
Still, 12.5 points is a lot.
Friday showed Dallas can survive stretches without Flagg if Kyrie Irving looks like himself and P.J. Washington plays with the same physicality he showed against Indiana. Kyrie scored 24 points and hit five threes, while Washington finished with 20 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks.
Dallas also got meaningful production from Max Christie, Naji Marshall and Zaccharie Risacher. That doesn’t mean I trust the Mavericks to win this game, but it gives them enough ways to stay competitive at home.
San Antonio is also on a back-to-back and hasn’t looked dominant in two games. Give me the 12.5 points and hope Kyrie can keep Dallas within striking distance.
Under 231.5
This one mostly comes down to how I expect Dallas to play without Flagg.
The Mavericks lose one of their best transition players and one of the guys most capable of turning a rebound or turnover into immediate offense. Without him, the game should become much more Kyrie-heavy in the half-court, with Washington, Marshall and Christie handling more of the secondary creation.
That probably means a slower and uglier offensive game for Dallas.
San Antonio’s first two games have also finished below this number, with combined totals of 220 against Oklahoma City and 224 against Houston. Dallas has enough defensive issues for Wembanyama and the Spurs to score, but I am less convinced the Mavericks do enough offensively to push this game into the 230s.
Victor Wembanyama over 11.5 rebounds
This is the matchup play.
Wembanyama grabbed 13 rebounds Friday against Houston, and Dallas enters tonight with an extremely thin frontcourt. Lively is out, Gafford played fewer than 15 minutes against Indiana, and Morez Johnson Jr. is a rookie being asked to handle significant center minutes.
Washington can help on the glass, but Dallas simply lacks size.
Wembanyama should have plenty of opportunities on both ends, especially if the Mavericks struggle to shoot without Flagg. His rebounding line sits at 11.5.
Daniel Gafford under 6.5 rebounds
This one is more about role than matchup.
Gafford played only 14:36 against Indiana despite starting. He finished with three rebounds and did not play during the most important stretch of the fourth quarter. Dusty May instead leaned on smaller lineups and gave Morez Johnson Jr. extended minutes at center.
That makes a 6.5 rebound line pretty interesting.
Gafford has averaged 7.6 rebounds across the larger sample attached to tonight’s market, but the recent playing-time trend is the concern. The current prop line is 6.5 rebounds, and one projection has him at just 4.7 tonight.
The obvious counterargument is that Dallas desperately needs size against Wembanyama, which could force May to play Gafford more. But Friday showed that being the starting center does not guarantee anything close to starter minutes in this rotation.
Until May shows he is willing to consistently give Gafford 25-plus minutes, I would rather bet the under than assume the matchup suddenly changes his role.
The card
Mavericks +12.5 because San Antonio still has to prove it can separate by 13 on the road against a Dallas team that showed some fight Friday.
Under 231.5 because losing Flagg should make Dallas slower and more dependent on half-court Kyrie possessions.
Wembanyama over 11.5 rebounds because the Mavericks are extremely thin inside.
And Daniel Gafford under 6.5 rebounds because his playing time and fourth-quarter role are way too uncertain to trust him to pile up boards.
San Antonio is clearly the better team tonight. The question is whether the Spurs are 13 points better on the road, on a back-to-back, while Dallas tries to grind out enough offense without Flagg.
Mavericks fans won’t see their star player in the team’s home opener.
Cooper Flagg was ruled out for Saturday’s game against the Spurs with a left shoulder sprain.
The former No. 1 overall pick will be reevaluated next week, the team announced.
Flagg, the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year, suffered the injury during Friday night’s win over the Pacers, when Indiana forward Aaron Nesmith fouled him hard from behind on a dunk attempt late in the second quarter.
Cooper Flagg (32) is fouled on a drive by Pacers swingman Aarom Nesmith. NBAE via Getty Images
Flagg crashed to the floor and landed awkwardly on his left shoulder, sparking a scrum between the two teams.
Mavericks forward Naji Marshall immediately confronted Nesmith, setting off a brief shoving match.
Nesmith was also assessed a flagrant 1 foul for his contact with Flagg.
“Look, Nesmith is a great guy, a heck of a player. I’ve known him since he was in high school,” Mavericks coach Dusty May said after the game. “Obviously, an unfortunate play. Hopefully, Coop’s fine … He’s in good spirits. We’ll know in the next couple days what’s next.”
Cooper Flagg holds his shoulder after being fouled during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on October 23, 2026. Getty Images
Flagg remained in the game to shoot free throws before heading to the locker room and did not return for the second half.
The injury interrupts a strong start to the 19-year-old’s second season in the NBA.
Flagg went off for 32 points in Wednesday’s season-opening loss to the Rockets, setting an NBA record for the most points scored by a teenager in a season opener.
He was putting together another strong performance Friday before leaving the game, recording 14 points, five rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block in just 17 minutes.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 13: Head coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors throws his arms up in the third quarter of a preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers at T-Mobile Arena on October 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 101-89. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last night’s loss will reverberate for the rest of the season, just from a statistical standpoint. Oh sure, it’s confirming all of our fears, but fandom and emotionalism are one in the same. Most of us already figured that the Golden State Warriors were in their post dynasty era. Their managed decline. Their hospice years. But, that was their most likely win out of their first 6 games, so the situation actually feels worse than lose labels. History doesn’t offer us any hope, except in one weird case.
Now, that post-We Believe team is the meaningful exception on the list. It’s the entire point of this article. No other time has a Warriors team started 0-3 and gone on to have a winning record. Outside of 2007-08’s 48-34 record, only the 2004-2005 edition won over 30 games (34-48).
But these 26-27 Warriors look setup to start quite a bit worse than 0-3, don’t you think? After bricking the home opener and playing short against Phoenix, they’ll go to Denver, then Minnesota, and come back home to host the Lakers. So, yeah. If the situation feels grim, it’s because it is. And 0-6 feels very likely. But it’s not inevitable. Just 63 teams have started a season 0-6 in the history of the league.
Sure, only five of those teams went on to have a winning record (and because the Eastern Conference has always been a bit of a joke, eight have gone on to make the playoffs), but one of those teams — and I can’t stress this enough — was the 2007-2008 Warriors. That team finished 48-34… and missed the playoffs, sure, but I digress!
Of course, Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler are months (and months!) away. In the meantime, the Warriors will be depth-less and because of their best players being older, often short-handed. Thanks to all the roster moves Mike Dunleavy Jr. didn’t (or couldn’t) make this past offseason and what the team hasn’t been able to do the past couple of years will simply point the franchise towards a dead end.
I’d like to think the randomness of sports and life could be a reason to retain a shred of hope, but then I look at the 2007-2008 roster next to this season’s and I can’t help but note that Don Nelson’s team had just two players 30 or older on it: Chris Webber (34, 9 games) and Troy Hudson (31, 9 games). Steve Kerr’s has five. I look back at the list of 63 teams in NBA history to start 0-6 and note that the Warriors appear on it twice more: 1997-98 and the aforementioned 2004-05. It seems improbable they’d get off to such a bad start, but it feels like a certainty.
So, history is against the Warriors.
It doesn’t feel like one of those situations where “it’s only two games into the season” is a meaningful comment. What frustrates me the most about the NBA (besides the officiating) is how set in stone it all is. Sure, some kind souls might’ve projected 43 wins for Golden State this season, but the weighted nature of these slimmer rosters mean that it doesn’t take much for things to go very wrong and there’s not much that can be done to change course in-season. And from there, it’s easy to project how things will go if certain drastic actions aren’t taken.
This Warriors season has started more or less as feared and as plainly predictable given the totality of their circumstances. They can’t be accused of stasis, but their acquisition strategy has turned their tricky situation into a near-impossible one. Steph Curry is unlikely to play like he’s 34 again, and if the team can’t supplement their veteran players with quality youth and depth, then the last few years of Curry’s illustrious career will be as painful as the start to this season. Obviously.
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 20: The sneakers worn by Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 20, 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
MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Dwight Powell #7 of the Dallas Mavericks plays defense during the game against the Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 11, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Following the re-signing of Mark Williams, the center position felt like one of the few areas where the Phoenix Suns possessed legitimate depth, and with it, a developmental buffer.
You had Williams, an experienced starting center who also carried a lengthy injury history. With him in the starting lineup, third-year center Oso Ighodaro could comfortably slot in behind him on the depth chart. And with Williams likely missing time, whether due to injury or scheduled rest (especially on the second night of back-to-backs), second-year big man Khaman Maluach would also have opportunities to get some reps. There was no need to rush Maluach’s development. The Suns could bring him along on their own timeline, allowing him to grow at a pace they felt was appropriate.
But the news that Williams would miss a significant amount of time following surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder changed that equation. Suddenly, Maluach’s developmental timeline accelerated, and the overall depth of the Phoenix Suns at center took a substantial hit.
Now, one game into the regular season, that depth is already being tested. Per Suns insider Duane Rankin, Oso Ighodaro will be out Saturday night against the Golden State Warriors with an oblique injury.
Suns coach Jordan Ott said Oso Ighodaro will miss Saturday's game as he was diagnosed with an oblique strain.
When asked if the injury is related to the hip, Ott said he's not a doctor.
Added Luke Kennard (knee) practiced today, trending in right direction. #Suns
Ighodaro exited Wednesday’s season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers before the conclusion of the first half and did not return. With confirmation that he’ll miss Saturday’s game, the question becomes how much additional time he might be sidelined.
Oblique injuries can be particularly difficult to navigate, as is the case with many injuries that affect movement on the basketball court. Look at Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, who suffered an oblique injury early in the 2024–25 season. His initial recovery timeline was six weeks, but he ultimately returned 11 weeks later.
There are three varying grades of oblique injuries:
Severity Grade
Typical Recovery & Absence Timeline
Grade 1 (Mild Strain)
1 to 3 weeks (approx. 11.6 days)
Grade 2 (Moderate Strain)
3 to 6 weeks (or up to 6–8 weeks depending on depth)
Grade 3 (Severe / Full Tear)
6 to 8+ weeks (sometimes requiring surgical evaluation)
We don’t yet know the severity of Ighodaro’s injury, but the circumstances certainly provide cause for concern. If he misses any significant amount of time, the team is in quite a pickle. Right now, the Suns’ center room consists of Khaman Maluach and newly acquired two-way players Duop Reath and Drew Timme. That’s it.
However, following the decision to waive Haywood Highsmith before the start of the regular season, Phoenix has one open roster spot. They could go shopping on the market for assistance, given that they have $4.4 million of flexibility under the second apron (which they are hard-capped at).
Who is out there? Let’s look.
Dwight Powell
I’ll start with 35-year-old Dwight Powell, who brings 13 years of NBA experience, nearly all of it with the Dallas Mavericks. Across 768 career games, primarily in a backup role, Powell has averaged 6.5 points and 4.2 rebounds. He’s not going to stretch the floor, as he’s a career 29.4% three-point shooter, but he did post a career-high 15.1% rebounding percentage last season with Dallas. And the Suns? They could use some of that rebounding. This doesn’t project to be a dominating rebounding team, and quite frankly, you’ll need all of the assistance you can get.
The Mavericks waived Powell this offseason after giving him an Exhibit 10 opportunity to stay with the team as they pivot toward prioritizing youth at center, making him an option who could provide Phoenix with much-needed depth and rebounding off the bench.
His rim protection would be welcomed, as his overall defensive talent is rated in the 83rd percentile by B-Ball Index, with an A- grade.
From Mavs Moneyball’s Ben Zajdel on Dwight Powell last season:
Having a player like Powell around can help. A player who’s seen everything, has a personality that’s uplifting, and is generally a good hang can keep a bad season from turning into a disaster. Things in Dallas could have turned toxic quickly this year, and for the most part, the team was drama-free. Powell was a part of that, and it’s something NBA teams value.
Kelly Olynyk
If you want to talk about players with a high motor who would fit the culture Phoenix is trying to establish, you’d be hard-pressed to find somebody who fits that profile better than Kelly Olynyk. Olyknk has made a career out of being a hustle player, the shot of energy off of the bench that might not put up statistical dominance, but affects those around him with his motor.
His 13-year career has spanned eight franchises, most recently with the San Antonio Spurs, where he appeared in 42 games as a backup last season. Throughout his career, Olynyk has averaged 9.8 points and 5 rebounds, and he can knock down the occasional three-pointer as well, shooting 36.9% from deep on 3 attempts per game.
While his athleticism has begun to decline with age, at 7 feet tall and 240 pounds, Olynyk brings size, experience, and an established work ethic that could serve the Suns well given their current circumstances.
He’s not as analytically effective as Dwight Powell, but he is someone who can assist in crashing the boards (you see a theme here for me? Johnny wants rebounds), especially on the offensive end. If he’s your second-team center, extra opportunities would be appreciated.
Bismack Biyombo
What am I doing here? Just looking at all of the backup bigs the Spurs let go this offseason? Well, yeah. They had a trio of veterans behind Wemby and opted to move on. And since the Suns are in a bind, we could use them.
I’m normally not big on retreads, but when you look at the list of available centers, you’re bound to come across a few former members of the Phoenix Suns. Mason Plumlee is available (another former Spur), as is Drew Eubanks. But if I were picking somebody from that pile, it would be Bismack Biyombo.
We know him from his two seasons in Phoenix, where he appeared in 97 games, starting 17, and averaged 4.9 points and 4.4 rebounds.
We also know he can’t space the floor in any capacity, and his push shot leaves plenty to be desired. But if you need somebody who can come off the bench and provide a physical presence on the glass, even at 6-foot-8, Biyombo is capable of doing exactly that.
After all, he averaged 10.8 rebounds per 36 minutes and possesses a career rebounding percentage of 16.7%. I wouldn’t mind having him back around, knowing that his impact is primarily one-dimensional.
Jonas Valanciunas
The last guy on my list might be the most intriguing, and that’s 15-year veteran big man Jonas Valancuinas. The Big V who has bounced all over the NBA but never into the Valley of the Sun.
If you’re looking for a big body, this is your guy. At 6’11” and 265 pounds, Valanciunas brings a physical presence and a skill set that could help the Suns in several areas. He can knock down a midrange jumper, finish around the basket, and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty fighting for rebounds.
After all, across 14 NBA seasons, he’s averaged 12.8 points and 9.0 rebounds. His rebounding percentage? 20.7%!
The Suns are a team that certainly lacks size, and Valanciunas provides exactly that. He ranks in the 7th percentile for defensive rebounding talent but in the 94th percentile for offensive rebounding talent.
He’s strictly an interior player at this stage of his career. He can’t defend the perimeter effectively, nor can he stretch the floor offensively. But if rebounding is a priority, which I firmly believe it should be for this team, Valančiūnas is somebody the Suns should absolutely pursue.
Big V is currently playing in the EuroLeague for Zalgiris in the Lithuanian Basketball League, playing in his home country on a two-year, $5.5 million contract.
The Rest
Here’s a list of everybody else who is available on the free agent market:
Tony Bradley
Drew Eubanks
Christian Koloko
Kevin Love
Josh Oduro
Lachlan Olbrich
Mason Plumlee
Olivier Sarr
Oscar Tshiebwe
My guess is that the Suns will ultimately lean on Duop Reath and Drew Timme as they await further clarity on the severity of Oso Ighodaro’s injury. But the flexibility is there if they decide to explore other options. What do you think? Should the Suns stand pat? Or, after just one game into the new season, should they go out and add some much needed flexbility.
Jayson Tatum explained where his relationship with former teammate Jaylen Brown stands.
“I don’t have any animosity or beef or ill will toward him,” Tatum said after the Celtics’ 107-103 win over the Knicks on Friday. “The frustrating part is, since he’s not on the Celtics anymore, the narrative or conversations haven’t been enough about what we accomplished, all the games we won, winning the championship, how we’ve grown together, right?”
Tatum’s comments on his relationship with Brown stem from a social media interaction between the two superstars earlier in the week.
Brown posted a blue hat — a symbol for “cap,” the slang definition of someone telling a lie — in an Instagram comment section to a video of Tatum saying on his YouTube channel that he was “just as much caught off guard as the rest of the world” by Brown’s trade to the 76ers this summer.
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics takes a shot against Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks during the Celtics home opener at TD Garden on Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Boston. Getty Images
Brown and Tatum spent the previous eight seasons together in Boston.
Brown was drafted by the Celtics in 2016, and Tatum was selected a year later in 2017.
The wing duo won a championship together in 2024 against the Mavericks, with Brown earning Finals MVP, and also made it to the NBA Finals in 2022 — along with five conference finals appearances.
The two were able to combine for eight All-Star appearances and five All-NBA selections during their time in Boston.
“This ain’t no f–king Shaq and Kobe,” Tatum said, referring to the issues between Hall of Fame teammates Shaquille O’Neal and the late Kobe Bryant that occurred during their eight years together on the Lakers. “There’s no beef. It’s not about that. It should be more praise. I understand drama gets clicks and views, but I’m not really into that. I’m not blaming everybody for how they feel. Everybody is entitled to their own feelings, and we all go through different things in our lives.”
The first matchup between the two will be on Nov. 10 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Jaylen Brown of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates during a game against the New York Knicks on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York. NBAE via Getty Images
Jayson Tatum was talking about the Jaylen Brown trade and Brown went in the comments and called him a LIAR.
“I’ve seen all these things about ‘Get your popcorn ready when they play’ — like this ain’t no f–king boxing match, it’s basketball,” Tatum said. “I hate the conversation, the narrative around it. There’s not enough communication, and a conversation will solve or put out a lot of fires.”
Tatum’s 36 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in Friday’s win marked his best performance since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals two years ago against the Knicks.
Jayson Tatum (0) and Paul George (13) of the Boston Celtics box out during a game against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. NBAE via Getty Images
He scored 42 before rupturing his right Achilles, an injury that forced him to miss most of last season.
With Tatum on the sidelines, Brown carried the Celtics to 56 wins and the second seed in the East.
Tatum returned for the final 16 regular-season contests and played in six games in Boston’s first-round series against Philadelphia, missing Game 7 with a left knee injury.
The Celtics lost the series after building a 3-1 lead.
SAN FRANCISCO — An hour or so after the Warriors’ collapse Friday night, Yaxel Lendeborg stood at his locker and swapped out his white No. 1 jersey for a blue throwback No. 4.
Dug out of his childhood closet by his mom, it was already an appropriate homage for a Michigan man trading in one shade of blue for another. Then, Lendeborg went on to have a game that no Warriors rookie had had since the guy whose name was on the back of that jersey.
“This is the jersey I’ve been wearing since I was a kid on the basketball court,” Lendeborg told reporters in the locker room following Golden State’s 111-108 loss to the Grizzlies. “Chris Webber, Michigan legend. Warrior legend. Had to represent, you know?”
Golden State Warriors’ Yaxel Lendeborg (1) dunks the ball during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Chase Center in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Lendeborg did more than represent.
Although he got the short end of his first NBA showdown with fellow rookie forward Cameron Boozer, Lendeborg matched the No. 3 overall pick with 13 rebounds and six assists to go with 18 points — the first Warriors rookie since Webber to put up such a line in one game.
Only two Warriors, period, in the past six seasons have stuffed the stat sheet to the degree that Lendeborg did in just his second professional game. Steph Curry went for 23, 13 and 13 back in 2021. And Brandin Podziemski notched 18, 15 and nine this past February.
That’s it.
However, Lendeborg was also responsible for six of the Warriors’ 19 turnovers.
“He’s gonna get better and better,” coach Steve Kerr said. “He just has to get used to the NBA. … He’s putting himself in some risky spots that he won’t be doing a few weeks from now.”
Yaxel Lendeborg (1) of the Golden State Warriors smiles against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, October 23, 2026, at Chase Center in San Francisco. NBAE via Getty ImagesYaxel Lendeborg (1) of the Golden State Warriors and Cameron Boozer (27) of the Memphis Grizzlies battle during a game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
After going back and forth with Luka Doncic in his NBA debut, Lendeborg kept it more lowkey in his first game in front of the home fans. He said this summer that he would have any matchup with Boozer, whose Duke team he beat for the national championship, circled on his calendar.
“I always want to have a good game against anybody in my draft class, try to outperform them. Today I didn’t,” Lendeborg said. “But every game I’m definitely gonna try to take that personally, try to win my matchup and ultimately win the game for the team.
“I didn’t do both today, but I’ll win it next time.”
Boozer operated at will and finished with 25 points, seven more than Lendeborg — one off the difference in their draft positions. His spinning shot in the lane over Podziemski with 20 seconds left gave the Grizzlies their first lead since late in the third quarter, 108-106.
Lendeborg, meanwhile, is still seeking his first NBA win.
“He played a great game today,” Lendeborg said. “It was a fun matchup. Didn’t really get to guard each other much. He took advantage of the matchup when I was on him and did a great job. Props to him.”
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Collin Sexton (10) made an immediate impact for the Lakers with his defense. NBAE via Getty ImagesLakers guard Collin Sexton (10) “invigorated the game with more energy,” as Matisse Thybulle put it after the team’s win over the Clippers on Friday. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
“I felt like it immediately,” Thybulle said. “He just invigorated the game with more energy.”
Sexton’s first minutes of the season after sitting out the preseason and the regular-season opening win over the Warriors on Wednesday came when he subbed in for Austin Reaves with 3:52 left in the first quarter.
Eleven seconds later, the veteran guard stripped Clippers guard Darius Garland of the ball during his drive into the paint, leading to a steal for the Lakers after Luka Doncic dove on the floor to corral the ball.
“He’s a pest,” Reaves said. “He feeds off the energy, he loves doing the little things and plays the game the right way. He’ll have a big impact [on] what we’re trying to do.”
The former Alabama guard carried that energy into the second quarter.
The Lakers value Collin Sexton’s intensity. NBAE via Getty Images
“He has a really intense way about him that I think will be really good for our group and guys will feed off that,” coach JJ Redick said.
With the Lakers down 44-38 early in the quarter, his perimeter defensive pressure against Kris Dunn forced the Clippers to eat up 10 seconds of the shot clock before Dunn passed the ball to rookie guard Keaton Wagler.
Wagler tried forcing a pass to Brook Lopez on the low block while Ziaire Williams was in front of him, but the ball floated over the 7-foot-1 center’s head and Reaves grabbed the steal.
But the errant Clippers’ possession started with Sexton hounding Dunn even though he didn’t get credited in the box score for the play.
In addition to his three steals, the 6-foot-3 guard also had five points and two assists in 16 minutes.
“Ziaire and I talk about it a lot: That’s what we try to do for them,” Thybulle said. “Even as people who try to do that, to see someone else doing it, it gives us even more energy. It’s just one of those things that when everyone else is doing it, you don’t want to be the guy to not be. It’s almost like when you’re working out in practice and like everyone’s making shots in a row, you don’t want to be the one to miss it and mess it up. Defensively, you can have a similar thing, which is effort and energy.”
Sexton brought an abundance of both in the Lakers’ second win of the season.
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