Category: NBA

The Atlanta Hawks entered Saturday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans hoping to avoid the significant injuries already disrupting teams across the NBA. They finished it facing uncertainty surrounding two important contributors.

Jalen Johnson exited with a left ankle injury, while Jock Landale left with a left hip injury. Neither returned to the game, leaving Atlanta awaiting more clarity on both players.

Their departures brought an uncomfortable league-wide storyline directly into focus for the Hawks. Anthony Edwards, Kawhi Leonard, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant are among the notable players sidelined early this season. Before teams have reached even 10 games, availability has already become a major concern.

Now Atlanta has its own injuries to monitor. Neither player’s absence from the remainder of Saturday’s game establishes how much additional time, if any, he will miss. Still, seeing Johnson and Landale leave the same game creates understandable concern for a team trying to find its footing.

The Hawks know how quickly an injury can change their outlook. During the 2024–25 season, Johnson suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder that required season-ending surgery. That setback interrupted his development and forced Atlanta to adjust without one of its most important players.

Saturday’s ankle injury should not be equated with that previous diagnosis. However, the memory reinforces why Johnson’s availability carries so much weight. His scoring, rebounding and playmaking influence nearly every part of Atlanta’s offense, making his presence difficult to replace through a simple lineup change.

Landale’s situation also matters. He provides an experienced option behind Onyeka Okongwu, giving Quin Snyder another interior presence and a different offensive look. Any absence would test a frontcourt already operating without Henri Veesaar and Mouhamed Gueye.

Atlanta added depth this offseason, but losing multiple contributors at the same position would stretch those resources. Depending on the updates, other frontcourt players could be asked to take on greater responsibilities sooner than anticipated.

That uncertainty arrives during a season in which the Hawks hope to build on last year and respond to their disappointing playoff exit against the Knicks. Developing chemistry and establishing consistent rotations become harder when injuries force changes before those combinations have settled.

Injuries are an unavoidable part of basketball, and no amount of roster planning can eliminate them. Depth can help a team navigate absences, but keeping its core available remains essential to understanding what the group can accomplish.

For now, the Hawks’ immediate concern is learning more about Johnson and Landale. What began as a hope that Atlanta could avoid the NBA’s growing injury wave has become a much more immediate question about the health of its own roster.

The Milwaukee Bucks play their seventh game of the year tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves, a squad widely seen as one of the Western Conference’s best before the season began, but one that has had anything but a smooth start to the year, sitting just above .500. Of course, that bumpy ride is set to continue with the news that they will be without Anthony Edwards for about two months while he undergoes knee surgery. Although that news is obviously very bad for the Wolves—and you never wish injury on anyone—this opens the door for the Bucks in a game they otherwise would have had almost no shot at winning. These two teams played in the preseason, and the Wolves waxed the Bucks with little effort—hopefully that won’t be repeated tonight.

The Task Ahead

The Timberwolves, after their offseason reshuffle, are still adjusting. After three scintillating opening wins from Minnesota—a 25-point win over Miami, a 22-point blowout over Orlando, and a 23-point win over Toronto—they fell flat in an overtime thriller against Cleveland, marked by turnover issues and late-game execution struggles. After the loss, news came out that Anthony Edwards would undergo knee surgery that would keep him off the court for up to two months.

Since Edwards has been out, the Timberwolves have gone 1-2, including a 121-111 loss to the San Antonio Spurs where new addition LaMelo Ball shot 2/10 and managed just 10 points in 20 minutes. Ball has had many exciting moments in Minny, but also some frustrating ones; his foul trouble and playmaking inconsistency have been issues at times. Crucially, Rudy Gobert has also started slow, and a lack of size outside Gobert—along with Donte DiVincenzo’s absence—has contributed to an inconsistent seven games so far. Minnesota currently sits in 10th place in the West at 4-3, and they’ll want to regain momentum heading into a stacked November.

Injury Report

Bucks:

• No injuries

Timberwolves:

• Donte DiVincenzo: Out (Achilles)
• Anthony Edwards: Out (knee)

Player to Watch

Rudy Gobert has drawn online mockery after a rough start to the season. The 7’1” center has been in a shooting slump, going at just 41.2% from the field and sub-50% from the charity stripe; he even went 0/13 across a two-game stretch! Sure, Gobert has never been the most complete offensive player, but he’s been flat-out inefficient on shots he usually makes, shooting just 48% on rim attempts. On the other hand, Gobert remains an elite rebounder (averaging north of 12 boards per contest) and one of the league’s most intimidating defenders.

The matchup between Gobert and Myles Turner—another struggling center—will be very intriguing. Of course, the two have history, having got into an altercation in 2021 when Gobert played for the Jazz and Turner played for the Pacers. Keeping Gobert from finding an offensive rhythm and drawing him out of the key on defence will be crucial in the Bucks’ attempt to secure their second win of the season.

Projected Starters

Game Details

Who: Milwaukee Bucks (1-5) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (4-3).

When: 7:00 p.m. CST.

Where: Target Center—Minneapolis, MN.

Watch: MY24.

Listen: Check local listings.

Prescient Prediction

Ousmane Dieng scores more than 10 points for the first time this season. He’s gotten off to a slow start, averaging 2.4 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 1.2 APG on .422/.311/.716 shooting splits in just 11.8 minutes per night. However, this slump may be temporary, and despite Milwaukee’s lockdown defense and standout wings, I sense a Dieng resurgence.

On October 5th, the Minnesota Timberwolves played a preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks in which the Wolves won by 19, behind a perfect 5/5 shooting night from Antonio Reeves, who is unfortunately no longer a member of the team.

Now, just under a month later, the Wolves will look to bounce back from a Halloween night loss to the San Antonio Spurs by looking to take out what is expected to be one of the worst teams in the East. Even if Minnesota is without Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, they have more than enough talent to keep themselves above the 500 mark.

Let’s get straight into some things to look out for, and some predictions, for Monday night’s game.

Game Info

• Who:Minnesota Timberwolves (4-3) vs Milwaukee Bucks (1-5)
• When: Monday, November 1st at 7:00 PM CT
• Where: Target Center – Minneapolis, MN
• Local TV: DAZN-MN, DAZN-SAS
• Radio: 830 WCCO

Fouling (and Finding) Out

If you missed the Timberwolves Halloween hosing by the refs on October 31st, I don’t blame you! You would’ve been better off enjoying some candy or horror movies – not my thing, but certainly someone’s – than spending the evening watching as the officiating simply moved further and further in San Antonio’s favor in a night in which LaMelo Ball fouled out.

However, to act like fouling hasn’t been a concern for this Wolves team so far would be simply disingenuous and wrong.

Of all the Wolves’ issues, from the injuries to the offensive inconsistency and the fit issues between Ball and Gobert, the biggest one fully in this team’s control is the positions they put themselves in with the referees. Part of the blame can be on the zebras (in Ant’s words), most of it must be on the players.

Especially on LaMelo Ball and Jaden McDaniels.

The Wolves have six different players (Ball, Gobert, Edwards, McDaniels, Ayo Dosunmu, Jonathan Kuminga) averaging over two fouls a game through only seven contests. While that pace will surely balance out as the season goes along, it’s still quite a lot of fouls to be committing.

Beyond the 24 points-per-game in free throws those penalties could allow (not an exact science), foul trouble has kept many of the Wolves’ most important players out of the game when the team needs help.

Even if the Bucks look like a bad team on paper, the Wolves aren’t much better than them without two of their top three players and even more valuable pieces warming the bench because they antagonized the refs. Avoiding fouling will be paramount to getting back on track this season.

Exhaustion looms large

The Wolves have now played five games in seven days, including an overtime game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second game of that stretch.

Safe to say they are exhausted and in need of rest they are not going to get. Despite that, Minnesota is scheduled for this match against the Bucks just two days after their second back-to-back in five days. This is just a brutal set of games for any team to go through, and the Wolves being forced to do so without their two most floor-raising players means bad things for fans hoping for 50 wins.

Exhaustion is often underemphasized in the NBA. Stamina in games is properly accounted for, but stamina in seasons is not.

With how many star players have gotten hurt lately, maybe that’s bound to change.

The NBA season is a marathon, not a sprint, but the Wolves have started their season with an obstacle course and ankle weights. To survive this stretch, maybe playing some deeper bench options in the hopes that they can simply eat innings, let alone help win games, could be a smart choice for head coach Chris Finch.

Either way, with only three games in the next weeklong span, the Wolves should slowly be able to catch their breath.

Good Melo or Bad Melo

So far this season, Wolves fans have experienced the highs and lows of what LaMelo Ball can be.

To start the year, his fit with Anthony Edwards created gaudy scoring numbers and exciting highlights as the roster purred in sync, along with truly glorious crowd pops that only Target Center and maybe a handful of other arenas can produce.

However, over the past handful of games, LaMelo has been far less consistent and far more deserving of criticism. Last game, his fouling, although it was certainly exaggerated and embellished by the Spurs, left the Wolves without their offensive engine as San Antonio ran away with the win.

The highs have always been there for Ball. It’s why he won Rookie of the Year over Ant in a year in which LaMelo was more exciting off the jump, while Edwards proved to be more consistent over a long season.

Stability, though, is what the Wolves need from him now. Without Ant present, Ball needs to be the offensive fulcrum he was for the Charlotte Hornets last year, in place of the organiser and maestro he’s been to date in Minnesota.

Against the Bucks, who lack any particularly amazing defensive players, LaMelo should be dominating the ball and the opponents en route to a Wolves win.

Predictions

If the Wolves do not win this game, I will be hiding in a bunker as Wolves Twitter proceeds to light the world on fire with takes about the recently benched Naz Reid and the worries of that 2033 first-round pick, which might not even matter if an asteroid hits the Earth or sports betting continues to burn at the fabric of league optics and fan interest.

Either way, Minnesota should take this one comfortably.

LeBron Log No. 3: The King dishes, Caitlin Clark visits and closing time originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

LeBron James’ latest week with the Sixers included his first 10-assist game with Philadelphia, his best performance with the team, a visit with Caitlin Clark, a crowd-wide finger wag and one jumper he would probably like back.

Some of it belonged in the box score. The rest quickly made its way around social media.

Welcome to the third edition of the LeBron Log.

SAFE HANDS

Throughout the preseason, the Sixers discussed the responsibility that accompanied their desire to play faster.

They wanted to advance the ball before defenses could organize, but Nick Nurse was not interested in accepting extra turnovers as part of the tradeoff. When asked whether he could live with more mistakes if they came with better pace, his answer was simple.

“No.”

Seven games into the regular season, the Sixers have not yet become one of the NBA’s fastest teams. They entered Monday ranked 20th in pace.

Their ball security has stood out.

Philadelphia has committed an NBA-low 12.7 turnovers per game. James has helped organize the offense as its leading facilitator, recording 35 assists against 11 turnovers.

He leads the Sixers in total assists despite playing only five games. Tyrese Maxey, who has appeared in all seven, is second with 31.

James provided the cleanest example Wednesday night against the Pacers. He finished with 13 points, 10 assists, five rebounds, two blocks and no turnovers during the Sixers’ 114-109 comeback victory.

It was his first double-digit-assist performance with Philadelphia. According to StatMuse, James also became the oldest player in its database to record at least 10 points and 10 assists while committing no more than one turnover.

He was 41 years and 302 days old.

James’ night was not flashy by his standards. He attempted 12 shots and finished fifth on the team in scoring. Still, he helped five Sixers reach double figures without surrendering a possession.

The Sixers signed the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Through the opening weeks of his Philadelphia career, he has been their leading passer.

CUP BUSINESS

James entered his first NBA Cup game with the Sixers possessing more tournament history than anyone else on the roster.

He led the Lakers to the inaugural Cup championship in 2023 and was named the event’s first MVP after averaging 26.4 points, eight rebounds and seven assists during Los Angeles’ unbeaten run.

Three years later, his first Cup game in red, white and blue produced his best Sixers performance yet.

James recorded 20 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, one steal and one block in Friday’s 98-93 win over the Knicks. He shot 8 for 15 and saved two of his most important baskets for the final 70 seconds.

Jalen Brunson’s three-pointer gave New York a 90-89 lead with 1:32 remaining. On the ensuing possession, James backed down OG Anunoby, turned toward the middle and sank a fadeaway to move the Sixers back in front.

VJ Edgecombe extended the lead with a three-pointer as the shot clock expired. After Brunson made two free throws, Maxey drove for a layup and missed. James followed the play, collected the offensive rebound and scored the putback with 11.9 seconds remaining.

The basket sealed Philadelphia’s second win over the defending champions and its first of NBA Cup group play.

“Best game all around,” Nurse said. “He’s been good, but that was his best game for sure.”

James has played more than 1,600 regular-season games, but his Philadelphia closing reel has officially begun.

THE SHRUG AND THE WAG

The fourth-quarter baskets were not James’ only memorable moments Friday.

After converting an and-one earlier in the game, James broke out his familiar shoulder-shrug celebration. Edgecombe joined him, smiling as he mirrored the move alongside his 41-year-old teammate.

The pair had already developed a personalized handshake featuring two taps to the head and a forceful shrug. This one came during the game.

James supplied another recognizable celebration in the third quarter.

Anunoby drove toward the basket with James trailing the play. James caught him near the rim and was officially credited with his fifth block of the season.

He turned toward the crowd and wagged his finger. The fans joined in.

Edgecombe later delivered the biggest shot of the game, and James met him with an embrace near the sideline. The two are separated by more than 20 years, but they have quickly developed a collection of celebrations.

“He doesn’t shy away from the moment,” James said of the 21-year-old. “Young kid, but he thrives in the moment.”

JUST A COUPLE OF HOOPERS

James was not the only basketball attraction inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark watched the Sixers’ win from courtside and brought a small camera with her. It was the second time this year she photographed James during a game.

In March, Clark served as a credentialed photographer when James and the Lakers visited Indiana.

“The KING 👑 … Shot by ME,” Clark wrote when she shared those photos.

After Wednesday’s game, Clark made her way toward the visiting locker room. She briefly met Maxey before speaking with James in the hallway.

James gave Clark one of his No. 23 Sixers jerseys. The team shared photos of the exchange with a fitting caption.

“Just a couple of hoopers.”

Clark publicly expressed hope that James would join the Pacers before he signed with Philadelphia. Their mutual respect goes back further.

During Clark’s first WNBA season in 2024, James compared the attention surrounding her professional debut to what he experienced when he entered the NBA directly from high school.

“I’m rooting for Caitlin because I’ve been in that seat before,” James said at the time. “I’ve walked that road before.”

James did not speak with reporters after Wednesday’s game, so he was not asked about their conversation.

Maxey was asked about meeting Clark for the first time.

“That’s just another person that I like to watch,” he said. “She cold. She nice. Seeing her today was really cool. Sometimes you try not to fan out, but it was really cool seeing her. It’s her building; she plays here too.”

DANCE FIRST, SHOOT SECOND

James and Edgecombe also produced the week’s most widely shared Sixers warmup clip.

Before Wednesday’s game, the two danced together near the three-point line. Edgecombe moved away while James stepped back and launched a jumper.

The shot hit the side of the backboard.

The clip spread quickly across social media. James still walked out of downtown Indianapolis with 10 assists, no turnovers and a victory.

James has made more field goals than anyone in NBA history. Even the career scoring leader is entitled to one warmup mulligan.

For thirty-eight years, Inside the NBA has been a staple of basketball analysis. In its premiere season, the show had no dedicated host. The following year, sideline reporter Ernie Johnson claimed the position as the show’s host, a role he has maintain ever since.

Last week, the emcee and ringleader tasked with managing the personalities of Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny “The Jet” Smith disclosed that the 2026-2027 season will be his last with the show. The announcement was immediately met with sorrow from the trio of retired players for which he’s shared the broadcast over the years.

Johnson began his broadcasting career while attending the University of Georgia. A year after graduating, he worked as a newscaster in Macon, Georgia. Two years later he moved to South Carolina on general assignment, eventually picking up sports on the weekend.

From 1993-1996, Johnson called Atalanta Braves games alongside his father, a 1950s Major League pitcher and Braves play-by-play announcer from 1962-1999.

But E.J.’s bread-and-butter has been at the helm of Inside the NBA for over three decades. The steady hand, the voice of reason, and the man who has attempted for literally thousands of episodes to keep the train on the tracks. The show known for its chemistry and hijinks, highs and lows, and which, at times, seems to be less about basketball and more about the moment has engulfed the zeitgeist and become a staple of basketball. Whether it’s the analysis, the banter, sense of humor (Charles Barkley picks on San Antonio as a town quite a bit), or political commentary (Kenny Smith walked off the set in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake), Inside the NBA has embraced fans worldwide.

When the show lost its broadcasting rights, Barkley walked away from an estimated $100 million to stay, saving the jobs of production and behind-the-scenes staff at Turner. In 2025, rather than being cancelled, Inside the NBA transitioned to ESPN and ABC while continuing to be produced by TNT Sports with the original crew.

The show has survived the slings and arrows. But one thing is for sure — once Ernie Johnson unplugs his microphone it will never be the same.

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The Cleveland Cavaliers will be welcoming the injury-riddled Oklahoma City Thunder to town. It will be the first of two straight games between these two teams. The second will be back in OKC on Wednesday.

The Thunder couldn’t have asked for a worse start to their season. They have lost Jalen Williams and Casen Wallace for possibly the entire season. They are also down the services of Chet Holmgren and Alex Caruso in the short term. That leaves them without four of their top eight rotation players from opening night in this game.

Oklahoma City entered the season with title aspirations. Those dreams are on life support just two weeks in due to major injuries. We’ll see if the Cavs can take advantage of a reeling Thunder team tonight.

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Who: Cleveland Cavaliers (4-2) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (4-2)

Where: Rocket Arena – Cleveland, OH

When: Monday, Nov. 2 at 7 PM

TV: DAZN, WOIO (CBS 19), Peacock, NBC Sports Network

Point spread: Cavs -3.5

Cavs injury report: Peyton Watson – QUESTIONABLE (hamstring), Jaylon Tyson – OUT (ankle), Nae’Qwan Tomlin – OUT (ankle), Khalifa Diop – OUT (G League), Ernest Udeh, Jr. – OUT (G League)

Thunder injury report: Alex Caruso – OUT (ankle), Chet Holmgren – OUT (knee), Jalen Williams – OUT (ankle), Cason Wallace – OUT (shoulder), Thomas Sorber – OUT (knee), Nikola Topic – OUT (back)

Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

Thunder expected starting lineup: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jarden McCain, Ajay Mitchell, Kenrich Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein

Cavs jersey:Black Statement Edition uniform

Previous matchup: The Thunder have won three-straight games over the Cavs. Most recently, the Thunder won 121-113 on February 22.

Here’s a look at both teams’ regular-season impact stats via Cleaning the Glass.

One Possession: Jayson Tatum dominating in the clutch for Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

NBA Games don’t typically boil down to just one possession. But one possession can often tell the story of a game. This is “One Possession,” a recurring series where we highlight one notable sequence from every Celtics game during the 2026-27 season.

The NBA is filled with superstars. But maybe the defining quality of those that sit in the highest echelon of that term are the players that routinely thrive in clutch situations and deliver their team to victory in the moments of highest leverage.

With two weeks of the 2026-27 season in the rearview, Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum leads the NBA while generating 21 points in the clutch — game within five points, final five minutes. He’s tied with Tyrese Maxey at the top of the early season leaderboard but that total only tells part of the story with Tatum’s late-game heroics.

Five days removed from hitting an overtime game-winner against the Nets, Tatum was back in his free-throw line extended office, delivering more clutch-time hoops on Sunday in Orlando. He twice buried midrange jumpers as the Celtics pulled away for their fifth straight win, a 108-97 triumph over the Magic.

Truth be told, the Celtics probably shouldn’t have activated clutch time against the Magic. A Tatum-less lineup had pushed Boston’s lead to 12 right before Tatum was set to sub back in late in the fourth quarter, but Orlando halved its deficit before Tatum finally got back on the court. 

With the Celtics clinging to a four-point lead with under four minutes to play, Tatum utilized a Neemias Queta screen to get to the same spot he hit the Brooklyn winner. This time he pulled up over Wendell Carter Jr. to put Boston up six with 3:41 to play.

That bucket knocked the game outside of the clutch-time parameters but Tatum wasn’t done making crunch-time plays. Tatum shuffled a step closer next trip down and, despite having Tristan Da Silva draped all over him, calmly knocked down another mid-range pull-up for a 101-93 lead with 3:05 to go.

Tatum then assisted on a Queta bucket and capped his fourth-quarter efforts by feeding Paul George for a 3-pointer that had Boston up 11 with 1:31 to play.

A fired-up George emphatically chest-bumped Tatum, then seemingly chest-bumped the entire Boston roster while navigating his way back to the bench following an Orlando timeout.

Tatum tops the NBA in clutch points having scored his 21 points over 15.4 minutes of clutch play (Maxey has 21 points over 19.3 minutes). Tatum is 8-of-13 shooting (61.5 percent) on clutch attempts.

His three clutch assists are tied for second most in the league behind only Joel Embiid (4). Tatum does not have a turnover in clutch time.

Tatum is simply doing all the superstar things to start the 2026-27 season. The MVP conversation is coming once there’s enough games to set the field. His playmaking has been elite and he’s putting up numbers comparable to some of the best point guards in the league.

Defensively, the Magic were 4-of-16 shooting when Tatum was the primary defender on Sunday. Orlando’s Franz Wagner was 1-of-5 shooting (20 percent) when Tatum was the primary defender, per NBA tracking.

Tatum is giving the game what it needs. But especially when it matters most.

For people in the Triangle, it may come as a big surprise that people in the NBA didn’t know that Spud Webb could jump.

People in the Triangle knew. We heard the stories first, that this 5-7 kid from Midland Junior College could really get up off the ground, but no one understood that his vertical might be as high as 47”. That, combined with his insane quickness, made him a real threat.

But he was still 5-7, and there have only been a handful of NBA players that small who had significant careers. Think Earl Boykins and Muggsy Bogues, or Wat Misaka, the first non-Caucasian to play in the NBA (Misaka, who grew up in Utah, didn’t actually have a great NBA career, but he did have an extraordinary journey. He was a talented guard who played college basketball when many Japanese-Americans were forced into internment camps, and went on to help Utah win the 1944 NCAA tournament. He was heavily booed through most of his college career. It’s a fascinating story).

Once he got to the NBA, Webb legendarily won the NBA Dunk Contest as a rookie.

In this video, you’ll get an idea of just how unusual he was, and how much of an impact he made. He was a huge amount of fun to watch.

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Joe Mazzulla had a decision to make at the start of the fourth quarter against the Orlando Magic. Rather than disrupt his team’s momentum, he chose to let the non-Jayson Tatum lineup ride it out.

Mazzulla substituted Luka Garza for Neemias Queta 12 seconds into the quarter, leaving Garza, Paul George, Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, and Baylor Scheierman on the floor. In less than four minutes, that group forced three turnovers, outscored the Magic 8-3, and prompted an Orlando timeout, extending Boston’s lead to 85-79.

Mazzulla considered the early fourth quarter Boston’s “sweet spot” and a valuable chance to test his leaders.

“It’s always a balance,” Mazzulla told reporters after Sunday night’s 108-97 win, per NBC Sports Boston. “You wanna get those guys back in. But at the same time we’re playing really, really well. So we’re in that sweet spot, and I kind of wanted to ride those guys, and it’s a leadership opportunity for Neemi and JT in those moments to let those guys play.”

Mazzulla waited until nearly eight minutes had burned, reinserting Tatum and Queta with 4:22 remaining. By then, the Celtics had built a 97-91 cushion and still had some work to do. But Mazzulla’s decision had paid off. The George, Pritchard, White, Scheierman and Garza lineup had a chance to step up in the first night of a back-to-back on the road, and they didn’t abuse it. Those guys earned every minute, and Mazzulla wanted to make sure they felt rewarded.

Garza played a season-high 21 minutes off the bench, filling in for Mitchell Robinson’s absence (rest). In the second quarter, Garza knocked down his first corner 3-pointer — the second Celtics make from beyond the arc in 16 attempts — to give the Celtics a 31-29 lead. He finished with 12 points, six rebounds (two offensive) and four assists, maximizing his time on the floor.

During that early fourth-quarter run, Garza assisted George, nailed his second corner three, and grabbed an offensive rebound before returning to the bench.

Garza pointed right at a member of the Orlando crowd after the three and pumped up his teammates.

“It’s really just about knowing that the guys have each other’s back and pick the guy up next to you,” Mazzulla said. “That non-Tatum lineup was tremendous. We just have to continue getting better. They got us into that spot, and then the guys came back in and closed it out. So it’s just about having each other’s back in those moments.”

For the first time this season, Mazzulla couldn’t lean on Robinson for minutes. Instead, he utilized the team’s depth to fend off a feisty Magic team that shot 35.9 percent from 3-point range to Boston’s uncharacteristic 27.3 percent.

Although the Celtics struggled to find their rhythm from beyond the arc, they compensated with a strong effort on the other end to keep Orlando in check throughout the game.

“Defensively, we can always bring our defense, right?” George told reporters, per NBC Sports Boston. “We can always bring the intensity. We can always challenge guys. We can always pressure. We can always be disruptive. That’s the part we should always bring night in, night out. And I thought that’s what we did.”

The Celtics were shorthanded, but not disadvantaged.

Boston’s depth made sure of that.

Similar to last season’s team, George already sees the “togetherness” that carries over onto the court. No clashing personalities or individual agendas are getting in the way of what this group is built to accomplish. Everyone has an opportunity to shine, and when that moment arrives, the rest of the team is there to support them every step of the way.

That could look different any given night, depending on the circumstances Mazzulla and the coaching staff are tasked with navigating from the sidelines. But on Sunday night, the decision to entrust and empower the Tatum-less lineup was telling of where the Celtics are this early into the season.

“We were united out there,” George added.

Six games in, Boston has won its last five straight — an NBA best mark.

NBA schedule includes no games on Election Day. Here's why originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The NBA season is off and running, but it is taking a quick break in the action on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

For the fourth time in five years, the league will not have any games on Election Day.

Here is a look at why the NBA made the decision:

Why are there no NBA games on Election Day?

In 2022, the NBA announced that the league would not hold any games on Election Day and encouraged teams, players and fans to vote in their respective communities while amplifying the importance of civic engagement. It continued that initiative in 2023 and 2024 before scheduling Election Day games in 2025.

The league announced during its 2026-27 season schedule release that it would bring back the initiative this season.

“No games have been scheduled for Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 3) as the league will encourage fans and the broader NBA community to make a plan to vote and to participate in the civic process,” the league said.

Ahead of Election Day, all 30 NBA teams will play on Monday, Nov. 2.

Which days have zero NBA games?

Election Day is one of the few days throughout the NBA regular season that features zero games.

The league also takes Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve off, and the NBA All-Star break runs from Feb. 19-24, 2027.

When will the NBA resume after Election Day?

Following Election Day, the NBA will get right back into things with 14 games on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Are there games in other sports on Election Day?

There are 11 NHL games on tap for Tuesday, along with dozens of games across men’s and women’s college basketball.

NBA schedule includes no games on Election Day. Here's why originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The NBA season is off and running, but it is taking a quick break in the action on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

For the fourth time in five years, the league will not have any games on Election Day.

Here is a look at why the NBA made the decision:

Why are there no NBA games on Election Day?

In 2022, the NBA announced that the league would not hold any games on Election Day and encouraged teams, players and fans to vote in their respective communities while amplifying the importance of civic engagement. It continued that initiative in 2023 and 2024 before scheduling Election Day games in 2025.

The league announced during its 2026-27 season schedule release that it would bring back the initiative this season.

“No games have been scheduled for Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 3) as the league will encourage fans and the broader NBA community to make a plan to vote and to participate in the civic process,” the league said.

Ahead of Election Day, all 30 NBA teams will play on Monday, Nov. 2.

Which days have zero NBA games?

Election Day is one of the few days throughout the NBA regular season that features zero games.

The league also takes Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve off, and the NBA All-Star break runs from Feb. 19-24, 2027.

When will the NBA resume after Election Day?

Following Election Day, the NBA will get right back into things with 14 games on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Are there games in other sports on Election Day?

There are 11 NHL games on tap for Tuesday, along with dozens of games across men’s and women’s college basketball.

No Houston Rockets fan has experienced a rebuild quite like this one.

Yes, there have been rebuilds. Some of you are old enough to remember the Rockets tanking for Hakeem Olajuwon even though they already had Ralph Sampson. That’s probably the closest analog, but it’s still not a top-down, from-scratch rebuild like the one we’ve been watching.

When the Olajuwon era was dying, and the Rockets landed Steve Francis, they got quickly off to the races. There was no more vying for high lottery picks. They pivoted to Yao Ming mid-era when their pick leaped. They were a plucky, competitive bunch until they stumbled into James Harden, and now we’re here. The point?

We are not used to evaluating young players over here.

There is an underlying assumption that after four seasons, we “know who a player is”. As far as assumptions go, this one isn’t too far off base. Rare is the NBA player who stagnates in his fourth season, only to make “the leap”.

It seems that Jabari Smith Jr. does not care for our assumptions.

Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr. is having a monster season

Last year, Smith Jr. averaged 15.9 points per game while shooting 45.0% from the field and 36.8% from deep.

It was his best season, but only by a fairly narrow margin. OK, we (with some exceptions, I see you, Darren, shout out Big O) collectively thought. This is who he is.

It wasn’t so bad! Smith Jr. was one of the best shooters in the NBA who could reasonably play any minutes at the 5. That’s something. He had real defensive utility, even if he wasn’t elite. Really, this was the floor version of Bari that was advertised during the draft process. Limited on-ball ability, defensively versatile 6’11” floor spacer. It wasn’t sexy, but we were willing to take it.

But this year’s version of Smith Jr. is downright sultry.

He’s averaging 19.0 points per game while shooting 48.9% from the field and 44.7% from three-point range. This is closer to the ceiling version of Smith Jr.:

Is it sustainable?

Rockets’ Smith Jr. is primed for a career year

Smith Jr.’s shot profile has barely changed. In 2026-27, 51.1% of his field goals are coming from beyond the arc, compared to 50.1% last year. The rest of his attempts are spread fairly evenly from the deep two range to the paint, just as they were last season.

On paper, virtually all the improvement is coming from his three-point efficiency boost. So, that’s a valid concern. Smith Jr. is unlikely to finish the season shooting 44.7% from deep.

It’s worth noting that the data says Smith Jr. is mostly getting better shots this season. NBA.com classifies 25.7% of his field goals as wide open, compared to 18.5% in 2025-26.

The story underneath the story here is that it looks like Ime Udoka thought about offense this summer (I know, right?). He may have intentionally instilled defense and hustle principles for two seasons before expanding his playbook, but that’s another article.

Back to Smith Jr.: He looks much more confident with the ball. He’s attacking closeouts and getting to his spots. He is simply a better basketball player.

There have always been questions about Smith Jr., but none have ever pertained to his work ethic. He’s always had the want. He’s mostly made marginal improvements in every year of his career, and we’re simply seeing the widest margin this season.

So yes, his three-point shooting is likely to regress. It’s also pretty likely that this will be the best shooting (and, vicariously, overall) season of Smith Jr.’s career.

Who saw that coming?

The San Antonio Spurs have won four straight games after a disappointing start to the season. One of those wins recently came in overtime against the Utah Jazz. Now, just a half a week later, the Spurs will rematch the young Jazz at home, looking to extend their winning streak to five games.

The last game against the Jazz was a back-and-forth affair, with the Spurs starting slow and finishing strong in overtime. Utah got some stellar performances from their young guards, while San Antonio needed a 36-point, 14-rebound Victor Wembanyama performance to get the job done. The Jazz played that game without one of their best players, Lauri Markkanen, but will get him back on Monday night. Markkanen is averaging 15.4 points per game this season.

San Antonio is coming off a convincing Halloween win over a shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves squad, developing an early-season rhythm. While the Jazz are just 1-5 to start the season, they’ll pose a real challenge to San Antonio. The Spurs will need to bring their A-game if they want to keep up momentum heading into November.

San Antonio Spurs (4-2) vs. Utah Jazz (1-5)

November 2nd, 2026 | 7 PM CT

Watch: DAZN | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Tobias Harris – Out (calf), Jayden Quaintance – Out (knee)

Jazz Injuries: Trey Alexander – Out (G League), Kobe Bufkin – Out (G League), Harrison Ingram – Out (G League), Jaren Jackson Jr. – Out (knee), Jusuf Nurkic – Out (foot)

What to watch for:

Wembanyama and Fox

San Antonio has gotten great production from their two best players to start the season. The San Antonio Spurs are +96 points in 213 possessions with the duo on the court this year. They are -17 points when they sit. Fox and Wembanyama have found great synergy in the pick-and-roll, where Fox has used Wembanyama’s gravity to find openings in the mid-range, where he is hitting shots at a high percentage. Wembanyama has become more committed to rolling to the basket, creating easier opportunities when opponents switch. The Jazz were great in the last game at staying disciplined and fighting through screens to keep their big man contesting Wembanyama lobs. Fox and Wembanyama finding an edge will be crucial to the Spurs’ success.

Slowing down Keyonte George

George lit up the Spurs for 31 points on 11-27 shooting from the field in their last contest. He especially had it going early, as he hit several pull-up jumpers. San Antonio will need to find a way to slow the opposing guard down, whether with a one-on-one defender like Stephon Castle or a team scheme that forces George to take difficult shots inside of the three-point arc. In general, the Spurs will need to get out to Utah’s shooters, who can get hot quickly.

Getting to the rim

The Jazz are thin in the front court thanks to injuries to Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic. Jaxson Hayes, Markkanen, and Mo Bamba are leading Utah’s big man rotation. None of those big men are particularly elite at defending the paint. Wembanyama exposed this in the last game between these teams. San Antonio will need to find a way to get downhill against the Jazz and challenge their limited front-court depth.

NBA schedule includes no games on Election Day. Here's why originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The NBA season is off and running, but it is taking a quick break in the action on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

For the fourth time in five years, the league will not have any games on Election Day.

Here is a look at why the NBA made the decision:

Why are there no NBA games on Election Day?

In 2022, the NBA announced that the league would not hold any games on Election Day and encouraged teams, players and fans to vote in their respective communities while amplifying the importance of civic engagement. It continued that initiative in 2023 and 2024 before scheduling Election Day games in 2025.

The league announced during its 2026-27 season schedule release that it would bring back the initiative this season.

“No games have been scheduled for Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 3) as the league will encourage fans and the broader NBA community to make a plan to vote and to participate in the civic process,” the league said.

Ahead of Election Day, all 30 NBA teams will play on Monday, Nov. 2.

Which days have zero NBA games?

Election Day is one of the few days throughout the NBA regular season that features zero games.

The league also takes Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve off, and the NBA All-Star break runs from Feb. 19-24, 2027.

When will the NBA resume after Election Day?

Following Election Day, the NBA will get right back into things with 14 games on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Are there games in other sports on Election Day?

There are 11 NHL games on tap for Tuesday, along with dozens of games across men’s and women’s college basketball.