Category: NBA

Yaxel Lendeborg is exactly who the Warriors needed. 

They didn’t get Giannis Antetokounmpo. They didn’t get LeBron James. Their offseason was widely viewed as underwhelming. 

But Lendeborg has surpassed expectations and is helping prop the window open for Steph Curry and Draymond Green to play meaningful basketball this season. 

The Warriors chose to draft Lendeborg with the No. 11 pick because they needed someone who could contribute right away. He had just carried Michigan to an NCAA championship. They hoped the 24-year-old would be NBA-ready. 

Their gamble paid off. 

Lendeborg is averaging 22 points on 47.5% shooting, 9.2 rebounds, four assists and one steal for the Warriors, who have won two games in a row to improve to 2-3 before Friday night’s game against the Lakers.

The 6-foot-9 forward is the first player since Shaquille O’Neal to average at least 20 points and nine rebounds in his first five games. 

He joined Patrick Ewing, David Robinson and O’Neal as the only players in the draft lottery era to have at least 85 points and 35 rebounds in their first four games. 

“The Golden State Warriors [have] found the next face of the franchise,” Draymond Green recently said on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.”

With Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody sidelined for the first few months of the season because of injuries and Kristaps Porzingis out indefinitely because of an undisclosed health-related issue, the Warriors have desperately needed Lendeborg. 

He has answered the call with an early Rookie of the Year campaign, giving Curry a reliable second scorer. 

When Butler returns, the Warriors could be a formidable team. If they can make the playoffs, a lineup of Curry, Green, Lendeborg and Butler could make some noise. 

Lendeborg is skilled. He’s unafraid, so much so that he’s willing to trash talk Luka Doncic and then say that he “lost all respect for him” because of his “whining.” And he’s meeting the moment. 

It’s a giant sigh of relief for Curry, who’s turning 39 this season and wants to play competitive basketball after carrying the Warriors to four championships over eight years from 2015-2022 before they failed to advance past the second round of the playoffs the last four seasons. 

Lendeborg is quickly making a name for himself. 

And he’s making things interesting for Curry, who scored 44 points, including a 19-point second quarter, to carry the Warriors to a 119-114 win over the Timberwolves on Wednesday. 

Lendeborg wants to help make those stunning performances matter.

He wants to make sure the league’s modern-day dynasty remains relevant. 

He wants to be Curry’s wingman, especially after witnessing his magic in person for the first time.

“I caught myself shaking my head like, wow, a couple times,” Lendeborg told reporters Wednesday. “But once he got out the game, it’s like this is my opportunity to help him out. Help his [greatness] be worthwhile.”  

The Dallas Mavericks (3-2) host the Houston Rockets (5-0) in the first game of NBA Cup Group Play on Friday night. The Dallas Mavericks are coming off a dominating win on Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Rockets are undefeated through five games, most recently dismantling the Milwaukee Bucks by over 30 points. This is the first game of Group Play for the NBA Cup. Here is what else you need to know!

• WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Houston Rockets
• WHAT: NBA Cup Group Play!
• WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
• WHEN: 7:00 pm CST
• HOW: KFAA and League Pass

As of the 3pm CST injury report, Dallas will be without what’s become the regular group of guys. Santi Aldama and Tarik Biberovic are listed as doubtful, which all but rules them out. It is a positive change from the usual “out”, but they still won’t play. Sergio De Larrea will miss the game with his knee sprain. Naji Marshall is questionable after missing the last two games due to illness.

For the Rockets, Steven Adams and Reed Shepard will miss this game due to injury. Alperen Sengun and Marcus Smart are both listed as questionable for this game.

It’s difficult for me to give an assessment here on what might happen. Houston is the better team, one of the last two undefeated teams in the league, but Dallas has been punchy since losing to the Rockets in game one. Adams being out gives Dallas a better chance, but the Mavericks must play better defense on Kevin Durant. If Durant has an off game and Flagg and Kyrie play well, Dallas has a very good chance. Either way, this team has become must watch TV.

Since you’re here checking out this post, it’s for one of two reasons.

• Injury report news
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If you’re part of the former, please consider signing up for an account. You get way fewer ads, and you can comment! If you’re part of the latter group: GO GET THE APP. I’m serious. The app has some real-time features specifically for game threads like this one and you can comment and get notified really, really easily. It’s part of what’s keeping this whole series of sites going. So go do it for us and in doing so, you’ll see why the experience is simply better.

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Ja Morant’s first season with the Trail Blazers is already on hold.

Add him to the list.

The two-time All-Star suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain during Thursday’s 124-103 loss to his former team, the Grizzlies, on Thursday and will be re-evaluated in four weeks, the Blazers confirmed.

Morant, 27, sustained the injury midway through the fourth quarter as the game began to get away from Portland. He was seen grabbing at the back of his left leg mid-action.

He exited with 7:46 remaining and was examined on the bench before being ruled out.

An MRI subsequently confirmed the injury, which will likely hold him out of action for at least another month.

Morant finished with 14 points, three assists and went 2-for-5 from 3-point range in 23 minutes.

Morant’s latest setback follows several injury-plagued seasons that contributed to Memphis trading him to Portland — along with the fact that he’s due about $97 million over this and next season.

He underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in January 2024 after tearing his labrum. He subsequently dealt with hip, ankle and other injuries before a left elbow sprain ended his 2025-26 season.

Morant appeared in just 79 games across his final three seasons in Memphis, a total also affected by suspensions due to his off-court conduct.

His availability, declining production, expensive contract and previous off-court issues complicated the Grizzlies’ efforts to trade him, and reportedly, there wasn’t much of a robust market available prior to the 2026 trade deadline, nor this past offseason.

Morant signed a five-year, $197 million extension in 2022 and received NBA suspensions of eight and 25 games in 2023 following separate incidents involving firearms displayed on social media.

He was suspended for another game last November by the Grizzlies due to conduct detrimental to the team.

He averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 assists in 20 games last season. The assists matched a career high, but the scoring was his lowest since the 2020-21 season, Morant’s second year in the NBA.

Through four games with Portland, Morant averaged 15.8 points and 5.5 assists while shooting 42.9 percent from 3-point range, which would be a career-best tally if it stands.

His injury adds to a growing list of significant absences barely a week into the NBA season.

Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams suffered a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle that will sideline him for at least most of the NBA regular season, while teammate Cason Wallace is expected to miss several months with a torn shoulder labrum.

Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards underwent arthroscopic knee surgery and is expected to miss approximately two months.

Magic cornerstone Paolo Banchero is also sidelined for at least a month with a high ankle sprain.

And Pacers leader Tyrese Haliburton is out at least two weeks with a hamstring strain.

The regular season may just be 10 days old, but the first night of the NBA Cup is upon us.

The fourth iteration of the league’s annual in-season tournament tips off Friday, Oct. 30, with a slate of 10 games, all of which are part of the Cup.

Among the highlights are a rematch of the marquee regular season opener between the defending NBA champion and defending NBA Cup champion New York Knicks and the new-look Philadelphia 76ers. Just 10 days ago, the Sixers won that matchup, 106-100, in Madison Square Garden, but Friday’s game will be played at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

The nightcap features another rematch of a season opener between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers. It’s also the re-up of a feisty matchup between Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg and Lakers star Luka Dončić, both of whom were engaged in a battle of words during the opener.

Follow along below for live scores from the 10 games, as well as winners and losers from the first night of NBA Cup action:

NBA CUP EXPLAINED: 2026 schedule, format, groups and more

Stream select NBA Cup games on Prime Video

NBA Cup scores today

• Washington Wizards 95, Charlotte Hornets 79 | FINAL
• Boston Celtics 125, Chicago Bulls 111 | FINAL
• Detroit Pistons 110, Brooklyn Nets 94 | FINAL
• Philadelphia 76ers 98, New York Knicks 93 | FINAL
• Orlando Magic 121, Toronto Raptors 114 | FINAL
• Miami Heat 145, Indiana Pacers 125 | FINAL
• Dallas Mavericks 116, Houston Rockets 111 | FINAL
• Minnesota Timberwolves 127, Los Angeles Clippers 101 | FINAL
• Golden State Warriors 112, Los Angeles Lakers 95 | FINAL
• Denver Nuggets 127, Phoenix Suns 120, FINAL

NBA Cup winners

Miami finds its stroke and the offense is suddenly humming

After dropping the first four games of the Giannis Antetokounmpo era, the Heat have course corrected. Miami has leaned into pick-and-rolls some more, though it hasn’t abandoned its desire to play in transition. But the biggest development for the Heat is that they are making their perimeter shots.

Klay Thompson erupted Friday night, making 9-of-14 attempts, including 7-of-12 from 3-point range, en route to a season-high 25 points. The Heat shot 18-of-40 (45%) from beyond the arc, and Antetokounmpo recorded his second triple-double of the season, on a 31-17-10 stat line. Antetokounmpo is averaging 16.3 rebounds per game over his last three, but Miami is allowing captain Bam Adebayo to play more to his strengths; whereas he was hanging around the perimeter in the first week of the season, Adebayo is operating far more with the ball in his hands and is getting to his preferred spots in the paint and at the elbow. The Heat need to sustain this, but dropping 145 points is a very good sign.

The 76ers show resilience — without a key piece

For the first time this season, Philadelphia was without forward Jaylen Brown, whom it acquired in a blockbuster trade this offseason with the Boston Celtics. It was not an issue, not even against the defending NBA (and NBA Cup) champion Knicks.

The Sixers withstood New York’s late attempt at a comeback, which is notable because the Knicks last season became known for their ability to erase massive deficits. It was also notable because Philadelphia got big contributions from its other stars; LeBron James put in a huge tip-in with 12 seconds left that put the game out of reach. Joel Embiid had several solid defensive possessions against Karl-Anthony Towns. Tyrese Maxey led all players with 27 points. The 76ers (5-1) have shown they can beat the best teams in the East. They’ve also showed they can do that with key players sidelined.

Celtics could have easy run in group East C

There could be a case made for West B (Thunder, Timberwolves, Clippers, Pelicans, Grizzlies) being the lightest group in the NBA Cup, particularly with the injuries facing Oklahoma City and Minnesota, but the Celtics – and the Hawks, to an extent – have the luck of the draw. East C also features the Hornets, Bulls and Wizards, unproven teams that do lack some elite star-level talent. Boston, however, should capitalize and come out on top, perhaps comfortably, which is nice for the Celtics, considering they’re also still incorporating new pieces into the lineup.

Warriors settling in after third straight win

Once the Warriors dropped their first three games, there was concern over what type of season they would have. It was an early overreaction. They have since rattled off three consecutive wins and are beginning to look like a team that can compete down the line. 

The Warriors will go as far as Stephen Curry will go. He's turned it up in the previous three games, scoring 24 points in a win against Denver while shooting 100% from the floor; scoring 44 points against the Timberwolves; and adding in a 31-point flurry against the Lakers. 

But even when Curry is on, it's a team game and the Warriors' strength is in their depth. Other Warriors have stepped up in the previous games. They've leaned on Brandin Podziemski, Yaxel Lendeborg, De'Anthony Melton and Georges Niang. There's now a chance to build consistency and capitalize on their momentum. − Marcus D. Smith

NBA Cup losers

Houston drops its first game …

And a key absence was a big reason why. Houston was without Alperen Şengün, who was managing lower back soreness. Making matters worse, the Rockets held an 11-point lead late in the third quarter, but the offense collapsed as Dallas’ defensive intensity ratcheted up and as Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving made clutch shot after clutch shot.

The return of Fred VanVleet at point guard was a massive boost to stabilize the offense and the point guard position. But Şengün has been Houston’s anchor and is averaging 24.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game. He can orchestrate the offense from the top of the key and find open teammates. As the Mavericks closed the gap and eventually took the lead, they could’ve used exactly that.

Raptors might be in trouble without Kawhi Leonard

It has now been three games that Toronto has been without Kawhi Leonard, who is battling knee inflammation. The Raptors have lost two of those, and the latest came against an Orlando Magic team that’s without its best player: Paolo Banchero.

Toronto needed a 41-point showing from forward Scottie Barnes, and yet, they could barely stay in this one. The Raptors held a lead for just 2:10, but the offense simply could not find a steady rhythm. Barnes took 34 shots. And while he did connect on 55.9% of them, the offense was disjointed as Toronto tried to sustain scoring. Leonard was averaging 19.5 points per game before he got hurt, so it’s not like he was dropping massive scoring numbers. But without his presence, Toronto loses its offensive complexity.

All the teams in group of death East B

If there’s one group in the entire NBA Cup that is overly stacked, it’s easily East B. Not only does it feature the defending NBA champion New York Knicks, it also showcases the runners up in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers.

Philly, of course, retooled this offseason and added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, making the Sixers a popular preseason pick for the NBA title. Miami acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo and has struggled to start the season, but a victory Oct. 28 against the Hawks showed that the Heat have plenty of potential if they lean into pick-and-rolls. And the Pacers may be without Tyrese Haliburton, who is nursing a hamstring injury, but Indiana still has plenty of talent. If there’s a group of death in the NBA Cup, it’s this one.

Dillon Brooks ejected

Brooks was tossed from the Phoenix Suns' game against the Denver Nuggets during the third quarter after he received a flagrant 2 foul.

The longtime NBA pest "overtly" − in the words of official Tyler Ford − kicked the Nuggets' Jamal Murray in the groin area while attempting a shot. Initially Brooks was just assessed an offensive foul but it was upgraded upon review.

Status alert: Dillon Brooks has been ejected Friday after being assessed a Flagrant 2 foul.pic.twitter.com/83wU9AMKxo

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) October 31, 2026

Lakers' loss of concentration in collapse indicative of bad habits?

It was the Lakers' game to win after building a 23-point lead after 12 minutes. Instead, they crumbled and Golden State's momentum carried the Warriors through the remainder of the game. It's early, so there's no need to get worked up, but there's a pattern developing with the Lakers. They have lacked the focus to keep their foot on the gas in multiple games where leads have slipped. 

Los Angeles has high expectations but will be its own worst enemy if it has lapses during games. Leads evaporate quick in the NBA. The Lakers got a dose of that on Friday. − Marcus D. Smith

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA Cup winners, losers: Dillon Brooks ejected for groin kick; Giannis, Heat get hot

Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.

While most expected a new-look Lakers team heading into this season, few expected the team to move on from nearly every free agent on the roster heading into the summer.

Legitimately, Austin Reaves is the only player who elected for free agency that the Lakers re-signed. One of the more surprising players the team let walk away was Rui Hachimura.

While he was a player who had his flaws, he was also someone who wanted to stay with the Lakers and stepped up for the team in the playoffs. Despite that, LA didn’t show much interest in retaining him, effectively viewing Sandro Mamukelashvili as an upgrade at the position.

Rui’s desire to stay in Los Angeles led to him signing with the Clippers. After his early return to Crypto.com Arena this season, Rui reflected on his free agency with Khobi Price of the California Post.

“It was tough,” Hachimura told The Post about his free agency. “That’s my second free agency. Of course I was trying to get the extension from [the Lakers]. It didn’t work out, but it is what it is. We have to move on at some point.”

He later reiterated to Price that the decision was ‘on them’ and that ‘It wasn’t me. It was them.’ It’s very clear, then, that he wanted to stay in the purple and gold and the Lakers did not want to continue that partnership.

As much as he became a fan favorite — and was a favorite teammate of multiple Lakers still on the roster — the job of a front office is to make tough decisions separate from how fans may feel. They need to be objective in their decision-making and not let feelings get in the way.

The team’s desire to go the route of players who can dribble, pass and shoot means Rui didn’t fit their needs as much anymore. Would he have been a nice player to keep around? Certainly. But even through five games, it’s clear he doesn’t fit what the Lakers want to do this season.

Perhaps the only surprise is that the Lakers weren’t interested in working out a sign-and-trade, which Price reported that Rui’s camp pursued. It was also initially reported by Shams Charania of ESPN when the news of Rui signing with the Clippers. The team wasn’t interested in the cap gymnastics, so they let Rui go across the proverbial hall to the Clippers.

It was a tough call by the Lakers and a tough moment for Rui, but one that the team believes will make them better in the long run.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Nine days ago in Los Angeles, Walker Kessler went 12-for-12 in his debut. The only cleaner perfect night in Lakers history belongs to Wilt Chamberlain, who went 14-for-14 back in March 1969. Tonight the Lakers bring that problem to Chase Center, along with the two guards who keep feeding him, and the Warriors get a second crack at the team that ran them out of the building 127-105 on opening night.

Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors
When: Friday, October 30, 2026 | 7:00 PM PT
Where: Chase Center, San Francisco
TV: Prime Video
Radio: 95.7 The Game
Stakes: NBA Cup group play opener (West Group C)

---

Tonight 🍿 pic.twitter.com/ySpkxnK1wT

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 30, 2026

Everything starts with Luka, so we’ll start there too. Through four games he’s averaging 36.0 points, 8.3 assists and a league-leading 5.3 made threes a night. He does all of it at the pace of a man strolling through his own living room while five defenders sprint around him. He sat out Wednesday with back tightness on the second night of a back-to-back, and he’s off the injury report tonight. For the Warriors, this is a chance for Yaxel Lendeborg and Co. to get their revenge on the phenom.

Then there’s Austin Reaves, who the Lakers paid $185 million to stick around. He has spent five games proving the check cleared for good reason. He’s putting up 24.4 points and 5.4 assists a night, and he dropped 23 on the Warriors in the opener while everyone was busy watching Luka bicker with a rookie. Together Reaves and Doncic have pushed the Lakers to 123.2 points per game, second in the league, on 39.2% from three.

But let’s get back to the big man Kessler. The Lakers have never been shy about going out and getting the biggest man on the market. They traded for Wilt in 1968 and Kareem in 1975. They handed Shaq a free-agent deal in 1996, pried Pau Gasol out of Memphis in 2008, rolled the dice on Dwight Howard in 2012 and pushed every chip to the middle for Anthony Davis in 2019.

Kessler is the newest name on that wall. Luka reportedly told the front office he wanted an “A-list center,” and the Lakers paid like they believed him. They sent Utah two unprotected first-rounders and two pick swaps, then handed Kessler a four-year, $130 million deal.

What I keep coming back to is the recipe. Wilt had Jerry West, Kareem had Magic, and Shaq and Pau had Kobe. The best versions of the Lakers have almost always come down to an elite guard who knew exactly where to put the ball and a giant who knew what to do with it. Kessler hasn’t earned a seat at that table, but he’s inheriting the assignment and he’s doing it with two of those guards at the same time. He’s averaging 14.8 points on 75% shooting with 8.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks. He’s available tonight despite playing through a splint on his finger.

The Warriors’ best answer so far has been the rookie with the loudest mouth in the building. Yaxel Lendeborg said he “lost all respect” for Luka after the opener, and he had the receipts to talk. He held Doncic to 1-of-6 shooting as the primary defender, and the lone make was a half-court banker at the halftime buzzer.

Since then he’s put up 31 and 12 against Denver and 26 more in Minnesota, where Steph dropped 44 points on a perfect 16-of-16 from the line to give the Warriors two straight wins. Five games into his career, Golden State is asking him to chase the league’s leading scorer on one end and carry the second-biggest scoring load on the roster on the other. Most rookies don’t get handed that kind of double duty until they’ve at least learned where the team bus parks.

YAXEL & STEPH 💯

The first Warriors rookie with 3-straight 25-point games since @StephenCurry30 in 2009-10… @Yaxel_Lendeborg's career is off to a special start!

🏆 LAL/GSW • West Group C
🏀 10 PM ET, Prime pic.twitter.com/etm99qe1QF

— NBA (@NBA) October 30, 2026

.@stephenasmith on Yaxel's comments about Luka 😭😭😭

"Basically what [Yaxel] is saying to a global, iconic basketball superstar in today's NBA game, what he is saying is 'Stop b*tching! Stop looking for the officials to save you. You supposed to be that dude, then let's go.'" pic.twitter.com/TB8UwXi4we

— Chef (@CurryForGame) October 30, 2026

The problem is everything around those two. Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody and Kristaps Porzingis are all still out, and Gui Santos is doubtful. That leaves Draymond Green and Al Horford to deal with a 7-foot-2 lob target who hasn’t missed a shot against this team yet.

Luka is going to spend all night looking for Lendeborg out of the corner of his eye. Reaves is going to punish anybody who helps, and Kessler is going to be floating at the rim waiting for the ball to drop out of the sky. The Warriors don’t have the bodies to solve all three, so they have to decide which problem they can live with losing to.

That’s the old argument again. The Lakers have spent generations finding giants for their guards to throw the ball to, and the Warriors have spent the last decade asking their guards to make giants irrelevant. Nine days ago, Kessler made Golden State’s side of that argument look awfully expensive. Tonight the Warriors get another chance to prove they were right.

Observations after Sixers beat Knicks again, move to 5-1 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Six games in, the Sixers have a single loss and two victories over the defending champion Knicks.

They moved to 5-1 on Friday night with a 98-93 win over New York in their NBA Cup opener. The Knicks, who also lost to the Sixers on opening night, fell to 2-4. 

Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 27 points on 10-for-19 shooting. LeBron James posted 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Anfernee Simons poured in 21 points off the bench.

Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson had 24 points and six assists. Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 22 points and 12 boards. 

The Sixers will wrap up their back-to-back Saturday night in Charlotte against the Hornets. Their second NBA Cup game on the calendar is next Friday against the Cavaliers.

Here are observations on the Sixers’ win over the Knicks:

Signs of offensive progress 

The Sixers racked up 39 fourth-quarter points on Wednesday in their comeback victory over the Pacers.

While they didn’t come close to matching that in Friday’s first quarter, the Sixers read the action and reacted in encouraging fashion. The Knicks often denied the Sixers’ first option, but the stars worked together well to unlock the defense. 

Embiid was effective all over the floor in his first stint. He teamed up with James on a sharp two-man game late in the shot clock, leading to a layup for the 22-time All-Star. James nailed a wide-open three-pointer in the first quarter after Embiid freed him up with a strong ball screen. 

Maxey sunk a catch-and-shoot three assisted by James off a designed double drag action. Embiid drove along the baseline and threw a nifty jumping pass to Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for a layup. 

Across the board, the Sixers made sensible, intuitive plays in the first quarter. They had eight assists and zero turnovers over the first 12 minutes. 

Wade starts, does his thing defensively 

Dean Wade moved into the starting lineup, replacing Brown.

The Sixers used a nine-man rotation, adding rookie Labaron Philon Jr. to their usual early-season crew of Simons, Caldwell-Pope and Adem Bona. 

The second unit had a nice stretch late in the first quarter. Bona swatted away OG Anunoby’s layup attempt. Simons knocked down a three to put the Sixers up 29-19. 

The Knicks settled for plenty of jumpers in the first half. Still, the Sixers competed hard on defense and on the boards. They held New York to 44 first-half points. VJ Edgecombe was excellent on Brunson.  

Wade was solid against Anunoby and nabbed three steals in the first half. Much of the focus on the Sixers’ defensive potential naturally centers on the stars, but Wade is a key piece who’s got ample experience guarding big names.

Sixers sweat it out

Embiid took an apparent hit to the face from Josh Hart’s arm and subbed out with 1:05 left in the second quarter holding his face. However, he was good to go for the start of the third quarter.

The Sixers extended their lead to 58-44 early in the third, prompting a timeout by Knicks head coach Mike Brown. 

New York found the required response. Regular turnovers began to pop up for the Sixers. Brunson drilled a corner three and drove in for a layup that cut the Knicks’ deficit to five points. 

The Sixers’ bench then stepped up. James threw a beautiful skip pass from the post to assist a Caldwell-Pope three. Simons buried three triples in the third quarter and swished a pure baseline jumper. He’s gotten hot and made a massive impact the last two games.

Bona struggled in the second half, which helped the Knicks keep the game tight. Embiid subbed back in with 8:42 remaining in the fourth quarter after Bona was whistled for his fourth foul on a Jordan Clarkson and-one layup. The Knicks trimmed the Sixers’ lead to 85-82 on a Clarkson put-back lay-in. New York wound up with a 20-7 edge in second-chance points.

Embiid’s re-entry did not create an automatic reversal in momentum. A Brunson jumper pulled the Knicks within two points and the visiting fans were very vocal.

The Sixers played ultra-aggressive defense on Brunson in the closing minutes, sending several full-on blitzes at the reigning NBA Finals MVP. They still couldn’t stop him from making a tightly contested corner three over Edgecombe that gave the Knicks a 90-89 lead.

James replied with a mid-range jumper. Following a stop, the Sixers were truly back in business when Edgecombe drained a top-of-the-key three.

Brunson then split a pair of free throws. Maxey tossed up a heavily guarded shot inside on the ensuing trip and missed it wide left, but James was there to snatch the ball and lay it in.

Not the smoothest finish in the world for the Sixers, but they ultimately notched another high-quality win against a projected Eastern Conference contender and deserve their 5-1 record.

SAN FRANCISCO — It only took a few games for it to be clear what area of weaknesses would likely be present for the Lakers in 2026-27.

Luckily for them, Jarred Vanderbilt can help the team in at least a couple of areas.

The question that remains is how often he’ll be on the court to contribute.

After sitting out the first four regular-season games, Vanderbilt made his season debut in Wednesday’s win over the Clippers and immediately made an impact. 

The veteran forward recorded seven rebounds, two assists and being a plus-22 in individual plus/minus in 21 minutes. 

The work on the boards was an area the Lakers struggled with before Vanderbilt made his debut, ranking last in offensive rebounding percentage, and second-to-last in overall rebounding percentage and defensive rebounding percentage.

“Just the rebounding aspect, the physicality aspect,” Vanderbilt responded of the areas he can help the Lakers after Friday’s shootaround ahead of the Lakers’ road game against the Warriors. “Whether that’s boxing out, securing rebounds, finishing possessions. Obviously on the offensive glass, too. Just putting pressure on the rim and offensive glass, two areas I feel like I could contribute to.”

And Vanderbilt provided that in abundance, especially on the offensive glass.

The Lakers grabbed 37.5% of their offensive rebounding opportunities against the Clippers when Vanderbilt was on the court compared with the 25.4% offensive rebounding rate they have without him playing. 

“When the opportunity comes, it calls, just be an impact guy,” he said.

Vanderbilt’s debut came after not only receiving DNP-CDs (did not play — coach’s decision) in the first four games but also having limited playing time during preseason.

He played a combined 12 minutes in the Lakers’ preseason games against the Kings on Oct. 8 and the Warriors on Oct. 13 before not seeing the court in the preseason finale against the Nuggets on Oct. 16.

“Just preparing myself, doing my part,” Vanderbilt said of how he stayed ready. “Being a professional, going in every day putting in the work. It’s a long season. As you see, not even our team, but across the league, a lot of guys are suffering injuries, getting hurt. That’s the good part about having depth.”

But Vanderbilt was still ready to help on the glass and apply defensive perimeter pressure when he could.

“Even when I get out there, obviously just flying around and causing chaos, crashing the boards and kind of propelled [Quentin Grimes] and Collin [Sexton to] start picking up full court,” Vanderbilt said. “Jake [LaRavia] started crashing. It’s contagious when everybody’s boxing out. You don’t want to be the one guy that’s not boxing out and your man gets the rebound. So it kind of puts that pressure on everybody to just lock in, box out and do all the dirty work that’s required.”

With it appearing that Kevon Looney’s spot in the rotation is diminishing, the 6-foot-8 Vanderbilt could get more playing time as a small-ball center like he did against the Clippers — a role that has advantages and disadvantages.

“Size, I think, that would probably be a disadvantage,” Vanderbilt said. “But also on the other hand,  just me being able to have quicker feet than these guys on both ends. Whether that’s getting in and out of screens, running the floor on offense or being able to switch out on defense. So it has its pros and cons.”

The Golden State Warriors open a six-game homestand Friday night as they host the Los Angeles Lakers in their first NBA Cup matchup of the season. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM PT in San Francisco, with the game streaming on Prime Video.

NBA Cup goin' down on Warriors Ground

🏀 GSW vs. LAL
🕖 7:00p PT
📺 @NBAonPrime
📻 @957thegame
📱 https://t.co/6fWWQpq2o1
🎟️ https://t.co/CHS4EdsrDb@CarMax || Warriors Cup Games pic.twitter.com/OhzW1LKVtr

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 30, 2026

Previously with the Warriors:

Golden State appears to be finding their rhythm now after securing their second consecutive victory with a 119-114 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. Unsurprisingly, leading the charge once again was none other than Steph Curry. The Warriors’ superstar followed up a perfect 8-of-8 shooting performance against the Denver Nuggets by pouring in a season-high 44 points against Minnesota.

Curry finished shooting 11-of-27 from the field, including six three-pointers, while going a perfect 16-of-16 from the free-throw line. With the Timberwolves playing without All-NBA guard Anthony Edwards, Curry took full advantage, delivering an offensive masterpiece that ultimately proved too much for Minnesota to overcome.

CHEF CURRY COOKED IN MINNESOTA!

🧑‍🍳 44 PTS (19 in 2Q)
🧑‍🍳 8 REB
🧑‍🍳 6 AST
🧑‍🍳 6 3PM
🧑‍🍳 GOLDEN STATE W@StephenCurry30 (15 games) ties LeBron James for the most 40+ point games at age 35 or older in NBA history! pic.twitter.com/LlkdYCLXvT

— NBA (@NBA) October 29, 2026

What to watch for tonight:

Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg continues to make an immediate impact for Golden State. The 11th overall pick was instrumental in Wednesday night’s win over Minnesota, finishing with 26 points and nine rebounds while providing a much-needed secondary scoring option alongside Curry.

Now, with the Warriors set for a rematch of their regular-season opener against the Lakers, Lendeborg will have another opportunity to go head-to-head with Los Angeles superstar Luka Dončić. The rookie made headlines following their first meeting after publicly criticizing Dončić’s style of play, sparking plenty of attention around the matchup.

Yaxel Lendeborg said he “lost all respect” for Luka Doncic after facing him tonight because he said Doncic was “complaining the entire game.”

On his interaction with Doncic: “I told him he sucks. He can’t score on me.”

Full soundbite pic.twitter.com/1NPctFQ3Vp

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 22, 2026

With a few more NBA games under his belt and his confidence continuing to grow, Lendeborg says he’s looking forward to facing Dončić once again. Friday night presents another opportunity for the rookie to back up his words on the court, this time in front of the home crowd at Chase Center.

Is Yaxel Lendeborg looking forward to the Lakers game on Friday?

“Absolutely. Absolutely. Yes, I am. I’ll talk about that on Friday.” pic.twitter.com/31b3isk3dI

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 29, 2026

Enjoy the game Dub Nation. GO WARRIORS!!!

Projected Starters

Warriors: Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Yaxel Lendeborg, Georges Niang, Draymond Green

Lakers: Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Walker Kessler

How to watch Regular Season Game 6

Who: Golden State Warriors (2 – 3) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (4 – 1)

When: Friday, October 30th, at 7:00 p.m. PT

Where: Chase Center — San Francisco, California

TV and Streaming: Prime Video

Two days after losing their 17th straight game to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Washington Wizards return home to face the Charlotte Hornets — a team they’ve dropped five straight games to.

The Wizards were out-rebounded 54-41 in their 110-103 loss to the Hornets on Monday. They allowed 21 offensive rebounds — 11 to Moussa Diabate — that generated 26 second-chance points.

After the Wizards tallied just 27 rebounds in Wednesday’s loss to Cleveland, Anthony Davis said they must rebound better. Finishing defensive possessions with boards is key to winning Friday’s contest.

AJ Dybantsa will remain on a minutes restriction similar to the one he was on against the Cavaliers, Brian Keefe said pregame.

Keefe said Tre Johnson, who didn’t play Wednesday after reporting right achilles soreness after his pregame warm-up, is a game-time decision.

Injury Report

WAS: Justin Champagnie (foot), Tristan Vukcevic (hip impingement) and Jamir Watkins (ACL tear) are OUT.

CHA: Kon Knueppel (hamstring), Coby White (calf), Grant Williams (hamstring), Kylan Boswell (G League) and Michael Ajayi (G League) are OUT.

Washington’s projected starters

PG: Trae Young

SG: AJ Dybantsa

SF: Kyshawn George

PF: Anthony Davis

C: Alex Sarr

Game information

Opponent: Charlotte Hornets

Tip-off: 7 p.m.

Location: Capital One Arena

TV: Monumental Sports Network

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

You can chat about the game in the comments below!

Dwyane Wade is looking much more like himself these days.

That is, the statue of Wade outside of Kaseya Center in Miami now looks much more like the retired Heat legend than it did when it was unveiled two years ago. The sculpture’s new look, featuring a redesigned head by original sculptors Omri Amrany and Oscar Léon, was unveiled Friday.

The statue was meant to capture the iconic moment in 2009 when Wade jumped on a scorers’ table and declared, “This is my house!” Much of the public reaction, however, centered around how the piece looked less like the three-time NBA champion and more like Laurence Fishburne, Kelsey Grammer, Ken Norton Jr. and others.

Read more:Is it Dwyane Wade or Laurence Fishburne? Artist defends statue: 'We had the same thing with Kobe No. 8'

“I heard the jokes. I saw the memes. I read the reactions. Everybody had an opinion about whether it actually looked like me,” Wade wrote in an essay published Friday on Substack. “At first, it was hard not to feel protective of it because I had spent so much time involved in the process. ... But eventually, I had to take a step back and understand that the statue doesn’t belong only to me. It also belongs to Miami.”

He added: “I had to ask myself a pretty simple question: If people don’t feel that connection when they look at the face, why wouldn’t we try to make it better? So we listened and had honest conversations with everyone involved, and we all agreed to make adjustments to the head.”

When the statue was originally unveiled in October 2024, Wade had nothing but great things to say about it. He said it was his idea to immortalize that pose and that he had a lot of input on how the final product would look.

“I was just like, ‘Dude, that’s beautiful,’” Wade told reporters after the original unveiling. “Personally biased, I think it’s one of the best statues that’s been created because of what it represents for us and for me.”

Amrany also defended the statue at the time.

“We emphasized a two-second moment of his life when he jumped on the table and was in screaming mode,” Amrany told The Times in October 2024. “And that’s what it is, that’s what happens to the face when people are doing this activity, this facial activity.

Read more:Sparks deliver a win after legend Lisa Leslie's statue is unveiled at Crypto.com Arena

“We are very dedicated to a very high detailed quality to deliver exactly what the exact photo is giving us. For somebody to say that this does not look like Dwyane Wade in action, they don’t know Dwayne Wade in action. Or they don’t remember that. And it’s OK for them to say whatever they want.”

Both artists explained the decision to revisit the project in a statement released to media outlets this week.

“After seeing the work at full scale and in its permanent environment, we identified opportunities to strengthen the portrait,” Amrany and Léon said. “We decided that the importance of Dwyane warranted making those refinements rather than accepting something we believed could be improved.”

Read more:James Corden pranks David Beckham with hideous fake statue before real one is unveiled

According to Wade, “this isn’t about erasing the work that was already done or disrespecting the artists who put their time and talent into creating it. It’s about being willing to listen. It’s about recognizing when something carries meaning for more people than just yourself and being open enough to revisit it.”

He added: “I hope when people see it now, they see a better likeness of me. But more than that, I hope they see themselves. Because it may be my likeness, but it will always be our house.”

Based on the comments on an X post by the Heat showing off the changes, Heat fans seem to approve. As one person wrote, it’s the “first statue to have a redemption arc.”

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

SAN FRANCISCO — The Lakers will be without one of their starting wings when they kick off NBA Cup Group Play action against the Warriors on Friday night at Chase Center. 

Ziaire Williams is missing his second straight game, with the Lakers ruling him out against the team’s in-state rival six hours before tipoff because of left foot injury management.

The 6-foot-10 wing entered Friday as questionable.

He also sat out of Wednesday’s win over the Clippers, with his injury designation being left foot soreness.

Williams started in the four regular-season games he’s played in so far, plus the two preseason games he suited up for.

Williams last played in Tuesday’s loss to the Trail Blazers, recording 11 points, four assists and two steals in 29 minutes.

He’s averaging 11.3 points on 57.1% shooting (46.7% on 3-pointers), three rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

The Lakers remain without Cameron Carr (right oblique strain) and Adou Thiero (left knee injury management).

Thiero’s injury was changed from being listed as “left knee effusion/swelling” to injury management ahead of the win over the Clippers. 

The NBA Cup should carry a little extra significance for the Brooklyn Nets, perhaps more than it does for any other team in the league.

Why? Brooklyn has the NBA’s lowest team payroll, with eight players on rookie contracts and another three on two-way deals. For a young roster earning relatively modest salaries, the tournament offers an opportunity to bring home some meaningful extra money.

The payouts increase with each round of the NBA Cup. Players on teams eliminated in the quarterfinals receive $60,499 apiece, while those eliminated in the semifinals earn $120,997. Reaching the championship game guarantees $241,994 per player for the runner-up, and the winning team takes home $604,985 for every player on its roster.

Oh yeah, there’s also the matter of winning a basketball game. Brooklyn is 0-4, one of two winless teams remaining in the NBA. The Cup offers an added financial incentive, but getting that first win won’t be easy. Detroit has won four of its first five games.

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Game Info & How to Watch

• Matchup: Detroit Pistons (4-1) at Brooklyn Nets (0-4)
• Time: 7:30 PM ET
• Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
• TV/Streaming: YES Network and DAZN

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Nets-Pistons Injury Report

Brooklyn Nets

• OUT: Egor Dëmin (right leg bone bruise)
• OUT: Tyler Bilodeau (G League assignment)
• OUT: Joshua Jefferson (G League assignment)
• OUT: Grant Nelson (G League assignment)
• OUT: Ben Saraf (G League assignment)
• QUESTIONABLE: Drake Powell (G League assignment)

Detroit Pistons

• OUT: Jalen Duren (hamstring)
• OUT: Ugonna Onyenso (G League assignment)
• QUESTIONABLE: Elijah Harkless (G League assignment)
• QUESTIONABLE: Isaiah Joe (hip)
• QUESTIONABLE: Isaac Jones (G League assignment)

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The Game

Brooklyn’s loss to Boston had its share of highs before ending in a familiar low.

Mikel Brown Jr. stepped up in the fourth quarter and scored 13 points on 3-of-4 shooting from three, including a game-tying three with .2 left. The Nets had reason to believe a win was within reach, but Brown Jr.’s fourth-quarter performance was encouraging in its own right. The sixth overall pick looked increasingly comfortable on the NBA stage.

Unfortunately for him and the Nets, the momentum ran out — Brown Jr. attempted an ill-advised layup when he could’ve dribbled the ball out or taken the intentional foul. Jayson Tatum won the game on the other end. Brown Jr.’s performance was encouraging, but Brooklyn is still searching for its first win as the losses continue to pile up.

Friday poses a new challenge against a 4-1 Detroit team who enters Brooklyn following a 97-89 win over the Charlotte Hornets. Cade Cunningham led the way with 30 points, five rebounds and seven assists, while Paul Reed contributed 16 points and four rebounds in place of the injured Jalen Duren (hamstring).

Others continue to step up for Detroit — more on that below.

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Player to Watch: Daniss Jenkins

Daniss Jenkins continues to make a name for himself after going undrafted in 2024. The former college standout was a favorite of Rick Pitino’s at both Iona and St. John’s before working his way up from the G League during his rookie season. He’s since developed into an important two-way contributor for a Detroit team with championship aspirations.

Of course, scrappy players like Jenkins step up most when backs are against the wall. In this case, Jenkins has stepped up for the Pistons when they’ve needed him in the early portion of the 2026-27 season.

“He has never shied away from being who he is,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said on Wednesday. “And it doesn’t matter who the competition is, who the opponent is in front of him. DJ’s gonna be DJ. He’s gonna talk sh*t, he’s gonna bump, he’s going to grind, he’s going to go at you, he’s gonna compete at a high level. And you know he has no fear. That’s why he’s special and that’s why we love him.”

Jenkins has carried some of the scoring burden off Cunningham’s back since Duren got injured, averaging 14 points on 43% shooting from three in the three games Duren’s been out. Jenkins has been a steady force for Detroit, providing a versatile presence in the backcourt. He can crash the boards, create opportunities for teammates and push the pace in transition.

Expect Jenkins to draw some important assignments against a Nets backcourt that will rely on Mikel Brown Jr. and Nolan Traore to dictate the pace. His defensive pressure and physicality could make life difficult for Brooklyn’s young guards, particularly if they struggle to protect the basketball. They’ll be off and speeding to the races in Motor City if that’s the case.

Brooklyn averages the fifth-most turnovers in the NBA at 17.5 per game, while Detroit forces approximately 16 turnovers per contest, ranking 12th in the league. With Jenkins and Cunningham leading the Pistons’ backcourt, protecting the basketball will be especially important for Brooklyn.

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From The Vault

The Nets aren’t playing on Halloween this year, but should we expect some spooky festivities in Brooklyn on Friday night? It wouldn’t be the first time. Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane…

Let’s bring it back to 2013 — The Brooklyn Knightsighting!

Great costumes from everyone today! We had a great time at the Halloween Monster Mash for #BrooklynNetsAssist. pic.twitter.com/62rrZ86uf7

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) October 28, 2013

Fast forward to 2015 with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Jared Sullinger, Jarrett Jack, Brook Lopez and Markel Brown:

Ready to have a spooktacular time at the #Nets Halloween Party! 🎃 pic.twitter.com/C07PCyjSCp

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) October 27, 2015

And of course, the Nets training staff dressed up as James Harden in 2021. Perfect.

Brooklyn Nets athletic training staff dressed up as James Harden for Halloween 😂

Gotta love it 😂 pic.twitter.com/84YJ4j4Rem

— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) November 1, 2021

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Detroit Pistons Game Notes – Detroit Pistons
• Nets’ Nolan Traore will see more action with Egor Demin out at least a week – Dan Martin – New York Post
• What the Knicks and Nets’ new streaming home on DAZN means for viewers ($) – Peter Sblendorio – New York Daily News

Bill Simmons isn’t the most reliable source regarding the Lakers.

On Thursday’s episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” Simmons — a die-hard Celtics fan — claimed, “The Lakers guy doesn’t have the money yet.”

He was referring to Josh Kushner, who bought the Lakers’ franchise from Mark Walter for $12.5 billion in August.

Simmons added, “[Kushner is] still searching for about $5-6 billion of [the money he owes Walter]. Doesn’t have it… [Bob Iger] is putting in the minimum. The minimum is like $63 million. So Kushner has to find all this other money.

“I think they’re using the Buss family as scapegoats for why the deal’s dragging along, but he can’t find the money,” Simmons continued.

Josh Kushner is still $5-6 BILLION short on the Lakers deal and Bob Iger is only putting in "like 63 million dollars," per @BillSimmons

"I think they're using the Buss family as scapegoats for why the deal's dragging along, but he can't find the money." pic.twitter.com/pY9tSIc1R4

— NBABase (@TheNBABase) October 30, 2026

It turns out Simmons’ claim isn’t completely accurate.

Ben Horney of Front Office Sports reported on Friday, “Josh Kushner and Bob Iger have been offering Lakers minority stakes to investors starting at $250 million apiece as they build out their ownership group.”

Horney added that some investors will put in significantly higher amounts into the deal.

Most importantly, Horney refuted Simmons’ claim that Kushner “can’t find the money,” saying that there has been “massive demand” to get in on the Lakers deal.

Dan Woike of The Athletic confirmed Horney’s report, adding there aren’t any issues finding money for the $12.5 billion sale in an X post on Friday.

It seems Simmons spoke too soon regarding this Lakers deal being in jeopardy.

The Los Angeles Lakers will be without one of their key role players in Friday night's NBA Cup opener against the Golden State Warriors.

Ziaire Williams is out for the second consecutive game with a left foot injury, the team announced Friday, Oct. 30. He's considered day-to-day and was questionable after missing the 103-87 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, Oct. 28 before having his status downgraded.

Head coach JJ Redick told reporters before that game that both Williams and Luka Dončić woke up sore after Tuesday's loss to the Portland Trailblazers and that the team preferred to be cautious on the second night of a back-to-back with a stretch of five games in the next seven days ahead of them.

Dončić is not on the injury report and is expected to play against Golden State Friday night.

NBA CUP EXPLAINED: 2026 schedule, format, groups and more

Williams is hampered by the same foot injury that limited him throughout the preseason, though the 25-year-old wing has thrived in a starting role this year. He is averaging 11.3 points on 57.1% shooting and 46.7% from 3-point range, providing spacing and athleticism alongside the core of Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler. Williams has also played well on defense in his four games this season with 1.5 steals per game, but his value on that end of the floor devives from things that don't show up in the stat sheet, like clogging up passing lanes with his length and diving for loose balls.

The Lakers signed Williams to a one-year, $2.8 million contract in July after he spent two years with the Brooklyn Nets and the previous four with the Memphis Grizzlies. He immediately made an impression on Redick and earned a spot in the starting five out of training camp despite the injury.

"(I) think everybody in our building that’s been around him for the last six to eight weeks just recognizes what a special human being he is and I really believe in him as a player," Redick told reporters earlier in October. "I think he has a lot of room to grow still, which is exciting for all of us."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Ziaire Williams playing vs. Warriors tonight? Injury update on Lakers wing