MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 05: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates against the Milwaukee Bucks in the second quarter during the preseason NBA game at Fiserv Forum on October 05, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves head to the Windy City to close out their preseason schedule against the Chicago Bulls. After a series of games that showed the awe-inspiring flashes of the starting five’s offense and the tenuous causeway the bench will need to walk to maintain leads, we’re ready for the games to actually matter. Before we can get started with the real stuff, once more we head into the breach.
The Chicago Bulls are a team on the rise. After years of playing towards the play-in, they dismantled much of their team for second-round picks and young players, including four seconds from Minnesota along with Leonard Miller and Rob Dillingham to acquire Ayo Dosunmu. After that mid-season overhaul, they moved up in the lottery odds and selected UNC forward Caleb Wilson.
Head Coach Chris Finch has extended his starters’ minutes more and more as the preseason has worn on, and I expect the same, especially with four full rest days before the opening tip in Miami.
Between both Chicago and Minnesota’s combined starters and benches, this will be a battle of young talent. The Wolves core, most of whom are around 25 years old, have played minutes deep into the playoffs and are gearing up for a long season. They’ll play with their newfound “giddiness” – as Chris Finch called it – with a shade more maturity.
The Bulls, who boast the second-youngest team in the league, will play with a “Giddeyness” of their own. Bulls guard Josh Giddey will be helming the offense and looking to feed the ball to slashing forwards Matas Buzelis and aforementioned top pick Caleb Wilson. If the defense collapses too hard, he will kick out to newly acquired three-point threats, Norman Powell and Buddy Hield.
Giddey, like LaMelo, is a point guard bigger than some NBA forwards at 6’7”. He has a strong handle and averaged a shade over nine assists per game to a decent 3.5 turnovers. His great deficiency is his outside shot, which allows teams to frequently go under screens and dare him to let it fly.
The Bulls figure to be at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Even in the weirdness of preseason, this is a game the Wolves should win.
Minnesota’s starting five showed in the Detroit Pistons game that they can score in bunches out of the gate. What’s more, whether in the lead or chasing, these young Wolves are looking for highlight plays that spark energy throughout a team. The primary concerns for Minnesota were shown in their recent bout as the Pistons’ big and physical team continued to disrupt the flow on defense and pushed their way to the hoop through the Wolves’ skinnier players.
Containing Big Forwards
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 11: Caleb Wilson #8 of the Chicago Bulls drives to the basket during the game against the Denver Nuggets during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 11, 2026 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In Buzelis and Wilson, the Bulls have two dynamic forwards who love to put their heads down and drive. Buzelis was in the 92nd percentile last season in rim frequency and saw his average points nearly double as the Bulls put the ball in his hands more.
Wilson apparently reminds people of Kevin Garnett, but thems fighting words in these parts. I do see shades of the Big Ticket’s energy in Wilson’s twiggy 6’10” body, so I won’t begrudge the national media their deja vu. The rookie is developing a three-point shot but butters his bread at the rim.
With defensive legend Rudy Gobert minding the paint, he should be able to shut off most of these attempts by less experienced players. The Bulls’ presumed starting center Nic Claxton, who they acquired as the third team in the Julius Randle trade, has missed all of preseason with an injured hamstring.
To try and give their wings room to fly, Chicago will look to Jalen Smith, who shot 37% from three on over four attempts a game last season. This might juice the offense a bit, but at 6’8”, Smith at center allows the Wolves to contend in the rebound battle.
Bring the Illinoize
AMES, IOWA – OCTOBER 07: Ayo Dosunmu #13 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball during the first half against the Indiana Pacers at Hilton Coliseum during a preseason game on October 07, 2026 in Ames, Iowa. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tyler Clouse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This will be Ayo Dosunmu’s first time playing against Chicago since he was traded. He was drafted by the Bulls in 2021 with the 38th pick.
As a kid who grew up in Chicago in the twilight of the Jordan era, he watched the rise and fall of the Thibe-Bulls headed by Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, and Jimmy Butler.
On the cusp of reclaiming their relevance behind the play of DeMar DeRozan, former Wolf Zach LaVine, and Lonzo Ball, he was selected to play for his hometown team and even given starter’s minutes several times in his first two seasons. From there, the Bulls unfortunately fell apart due to injury and bad management.
Despite his bench assignment, Ayo continued to improve. He honed his three-point shot (save for a weird 2025 season), improved his rebounding, and continued to bring energy to a team badly in need of it. When he was traded to Minnesota, he went right to work finding where he could fit in and help his new team. Now, with the bag secured and more familiarity with his team, he is primed for a breakout.
There will be plenty of emotions playing against his old team in their home arena in front of his community. The Bulls are looking for direction after tearing down their team. For Ayo Dosunmu, his eyes are raised higher than the Willis Tower.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the first quarter of a preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on October 08, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LeBron James is already all over the NBA’s record books. Heading into the 2026-27 season, he’s first in league history in regular-season points (43,440 and counting), games played (1,622), minutes played (61,030), made field goals (15,961), field-goal attempts (31,502), win shares (276.8) and value over replacement player (159.4).
LeBron is widely considered no worse than the second-best player in NBA history, depending on how old you are/how you feel about Michael Jordan. While LeBron has the leg up on Jordan in most counting stats, Jordan has the edge in championship rings (six to four) and Finals record (6-0 vs. 4-6).
To some, that’s where the story starts and ends. There’s nothing LeBron can do to jump over Jordan given his deficit in the ringzzzzz department and his sub-.500 Finals record. (Whether it makes sense to punish LeBron for helping guide more teams to the Finals is another matter entirely.)
LeBron signed with the Sixers this offseason because he thought they gave him his best chance at winning a fifth championship. Even if he does win a title with the Sixers, it still might not be enough to vault him over Jordan as the NBA’s consensus GOAT. But it would put him in even more unique historical company.
How a Sixers ring would impact LeBron’s legacy
LeBron is already one of only four players in NBA history to win a championship with three different teams. John Salley, Robert Horry and Sixers legend Danny Green are the other three, and none of them were the focal point of their respective teams like LeBron was.
But if LeBron wins a championship with the Sixers, he’ll become the first player in league history ever to win with four different teams.
Again, that might not be enough for him to supplant MJ in all-time rankings. But that feat would be the perfect encapsulation of LeBron’s career.
After spending the first seven years of his career with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron ushered in the so-called Player Empowerment Era with “The Decision” in 2010. Rather than stick it out with the Cavaliers for his entire career, a la Kobe Bryant on the Los Angeles Lakers or Tim Duncan on the San Antonio Spurs, he took his fate into his own hands and sought greener pastures that might put him closer to a championship. Four years later, he had two rings and two Finals MVPs to show for it.
In 2014, LeBron exercised his early termination option to opt out of the final two years of his contract with the Miami Heat and head back home to the Cavaliers. In his absence, they landed the No. 1 pick in 2011 (Kyrie Irving), 2013 (Anthony Bennett) and 2014 (Andrew Wiggins), the latter of whom they’d eventually trade to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Love. Two years later, LeBron and the Cavs overcame a historic 3-1 series deficit to topple the 73-win Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals.
And two years later, LeBron once again left Cleveland to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers. That also resulted in a ring—one with a Disney bubble-sized asterisk, depending on who you ask—in 2019-20.
Perhaps more than any modern star, LeBron understands the typical life cycle of NBA team-building. Once you get a star, you begin cashing in whatever chips you have (draft picks, young prospects, etc.) to maximize your win-now window. But at a certain point, you’re out of chips to play.
At that point, the star has two choices: tough it out through some rebuilding years and hope his team strikes gold with some under-the-radar moves, or head elsewhere. As Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo have proved in recent years, unyielding loyalty to a team often devolves into frustration. LeBron never allowed himself to get to that point throughout any of his career stops.
Other stars have taken LeBron’s lead over the past 15 years and have exerted more control over their own careers. Players who spend their entire careers with one team are a nearly extinct species, although Stephen Curry may wind up being a rare exception. It’s now far more common for stars to force their way off teams via trade—see: Kevin Durant and James Harden—since free agency for superstars is largely dead as well.
Durant might have been directly responsible for the creation of the “supermax” contract, but James’ decision to leave Cleveland in 2010 was a wake-up call to owners who expected player loyalty to outweigh their desire to compete for championships. LeBron exerted win-now pressure on every team that he ever played for, and deservedly so.
Beyond his laundry list of NBA records, that’s going to be a major part of his legacy. Becoming the first player in league history to win a title with four different teams would therefore be a fitting culmination for that aspect of his career resume.
The Knicks are waiving Drew Eubanks after the center suffered a torn pectoral muscle that will sideline him for an extended period of time.
Eubanks last played in the Knicks' preseason loss to the Raptors on Tuesday. He scored eight points on 3-of-5 shooting with two rebounds and two assists in his 15 minutes on the court. Eubanks played in three of the Knicks' four preseason games, and combined to score 13 points and come down with three rebounds.
SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley reports that even before Eubanks' injury, James Wiseman put himself in a good position to make the final roster as the Knicks look to add center depth following the departures of Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti this offseason.
Wiseman was in the starting five against the Raptors on Tuesday. He posted 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting with 10 rebounds (four offensive) in his 24 minutes.
The Knicks also waived Tony Bradley and Ochai Agbaji.
Knicks have enough room under the second apron to keep one camp vet. Bruce Brown has also put himself in a good position to get a roster spot, but the Knicks would need to trade a rostered player to make that happen.
The Knicks will need to lock in their roster ahead of the regular season opener against the 76ers on Oct. 20.
Welcome back to Mavs Moneyball Mailbag, where we answer all of your questions relating to the Dallas Mavericks. Take a look in our Feed where you can post your questions. We will also pick up questions from our social media and even face-to-face as the case may be. As always, thanks for participating! Please spread the word; we’re always happy to talk all things Mavericks!
“Which new addition to the team is most likely to exceed expectations and earn a lot of minutes?”
CDubss asks a good one, as Dallas will surely benefit from one of the newbies showing out. I have an irrational belief that Tarik Biberovic is going to exceed expectations in a big way for Dallas this season. Cynically, one could argue that expectations for him are low in the first place, but our very own Mette Robertson reminds us that Biberovic has been a pro overseas for years, in a piece written earlier this month. Even before reading what she had to say, I thought Biberovic could be a sleeper hit for Dallas. He is a full-grown man with an NBA body, has played for high-level teams overseas, and can shoot lights out. Dallas was below league average from downtown last season, so if Biberovic can come in and light it up, he’s going to have a spot in short order. His defensive prowess is also apparently nothing to scoff at, so that will only help his cause for floor time. He gets my vote for the newbie most likely to blow expectations away. I don’t think many will see him coming, but he will surprise people in how he adapts to the NBA game with shooting that translates.
“Can we expect Kyrie Irving’s play in the one Macau game to continue in the regular season?”
Time for my second irrational belief of the column. Almost from the time he was injured I felt like Irving was the type that would have a recovery on the more favorable end of the spectrum. Nothing has changed my mind on that front throughout his recovery process and I remain onboard with the thought he is going to return to form – especially after what we saw during his single game in Macau. Irving just simply strikes me as the type of guy who is so focused on his craft and so dedicated to the behind-the-scenes work, that he was well-suited to make a strong comeback. His lengthy duration away from the court probably caused some consternation amongst the fanbase, but I thought even that was a good thing. He wasn’t going to forget how to play basketball and would have training camp and preseason to shake off some rust, but I’d like to think the time away allowed him even more space to get stronger and more fully recover. So, color me crazy, but I think Irving is back and the ACL injury is behind him. At age 34, it’s fair to expect some other dings and dents, “load management” games and the like, but I’d like to think he gets better as the season progresses and ultimately returns to the player we remember.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Mitchell Robinson #4 of the Boston Celtics dunks the ball during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on October 14, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When the Celtics first signed Mitchell Robinson back in July, it was met with a lot of excitement. He played an integral role with the New York Knicks as a rim protector for 8 seasons and even helped them win a championship in 2026.
The part of the signing I was most excited about was the possibility of watching him run the pick and roll with Jayson Tatum. With Tatum’s ability to get down hill alongside Robinson’s big body in the paint, it felt like a match made in heaven just waiting to be realized. In the Celtics 114-93 Preseason Win over the Charlotte Hornets, we saw the dream I manifested and it was glorious. Robinson finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks on 5-5 shooting from the field.
Lobs to Rob
Robinson was dominating in the paint early, scoring the first 6 points of the game for Boston. Much like we used to see with former Celtics center Robert Williams, the new age “Lob to Rob” was a factor and the chemistry between Robinson and Tatum was on full display.
On their first possession together, Tatum drove to the lane with relative ease and found Robinson who slipped back door to throw down a monstrous slam. On the next possession we saw Robinson set a pick for Tatum so he could receive a pass from Paul George at the top of the key. Then a spinning Tatum found Robinson underneath the basket again for an easy layup. We saw the pair link up again in the third quarter when Tatum recieved the ball in the midrange area where the Hornets assumed he was taking a shot. Little did they know, he had a seven foot behemoth rolling to the basket to throw down another thunderous slam.
Out of the five baskets Mitchell Robinson had in the game, four of them came by the alley-oop. Having an established center like Robinson who can be a big body in the paint to grab offensive boards and roll to the rim like he does, gives the Celtics offense another dimension that they didn’t have in previous years. Not only do you have to defend Boston from beyond the arc, they have a big man down low that can hurt you at the rim as well. It has been a joy to watch so far.
On the NBC Sports Boston postgame, Abby Chin ask Robinson about his two-man game with Tatum, he seemed exciting, saying, “I’ve never seen those from him before when we were playing against him. To be his teammate and he can throw them, I think we’re going to build a great connection.”
Double Big Lineup
Another new feature we saw in the Celtics offense was the addition of a double big lineup with both Robinson and Neemias Queta on the court together. Boston experimented with this kind of lineup last season slightly with Nikola Vucevic but it didn’t work out well. This was different however, with Queta at the power forward we saw him handle the ball more and drive to the basket. The double screen actions with both bigs on the court caused tons of confusion for the Hornets defense and even resulted in the highlight of the night with a big slam by Queta in the fourth quarter.
NEEMIAS QUETA THROWS IT DOWN! Look at Hugo Gonzalez's reaction on the bench 😂 pic.twitter.com/CrZCfqZJep
When asked about the double big lineups post game, Joe Mazzulla said, “Just kind of wanted to get you know get some game reps in it, so we could have it on the dome to see, you know, what we want to work on if it’s something that we have to do before the regular season starts.”
He also praised Mitchell Robinson a lot when asked about the Celtics chemistry. “I mean Mitch is one of the smartest players.” Mazzulla said glowingly, “…I think we can throw him in the mix and he can just pick it up. He’s been around great coaches, great players, so he knows the game. He’s been playing for nine years, and he’s smart.”
Joe Mazzulla on the Celtics Chemistry and he talked highly on Mitchell Robinson saying:
“Mitch is one of the smartest players been around. His ability to process information is ability to understand.” pic.twitter.com/mQgBG4hLhc
It was cool to see Joe go out of his way to praise Robinson like that. Ever since Media Day it has felt like these two have had a special connection. Mazzulla loves what Mitch can provide on the court and Robinson loves being coached by Joe. If this keeps up, we might seeing the start of “Big Country” becoming a star in Boston, and I for one can’t wait to see it play out.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 5: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks in the first quarter during the preseason game at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 5, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Knicks 120-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
About a month ago, I wrote about whether the Philadelphia 76ers could climb atop the Philly sport hierarchy. With the Sixers’ regular season starting next week, that possibility is looking increasingly realistic.
The Phillies exited the playoffs with a whimper yet again, the Eagles’ season is circling the drain, and the Flyers may never win a game. Sports fans in the city are beginning to view the Sixers as a lifeline to pull them out of this morass of disappointment. Counting on the Sixers for happiness? Now that’s a dangerous game.
But vibes have been sky-high through training camp and the preseason. Team chemistry seems off the charts and everyone is saying the right things about sacrifice and achieving greater goals together. The only bummer thus far has been Ariel Hukporti’s season-ending Achilles tear. So I don’t relish the idea of bringing this up, but I feel like it bears mentioning: the Sixers could get off to a slow start.
Let’s start with the schedule. In their first 10 games, the Sixers play the Knicks, Cavaliers and Pistons twice each, with two back-to-backs. Those were three of the top four seeds in the Eastern Conference last season. It’s not the easiest way to kick off a new campaign.
We should also remember that this starting group has played exactly one half of basketball together thus far, the first 24 minutes against Brooklyn in which Philadelphia entered halftime ahead by just two points. The offense looked dynamite, a choose-your-own adventure of despair for the opposition. However, the defense might take some time to gel, as all the new pieces hone their on-court communication and Joel Embiid (hopefully) gradually knocks the rust off in live game action. With the glaring acknowledgment that “It’s Just Preseason,” and the reality of many regulars being rested liberally in these games, we should still note that the Sixers are 1-2, and got smoked by Boston and lost a close one to Brooklyn.
So yes, the Sixers won’t be playing Rayan Rupert and Duke Miles on opening night at the Garden, but is it realistic to expect everything to come together in an instant for the main group against the defending champs on their banner ceremony? Or could there be a bit of a learning curve and some bumps along the road as these guys feel each other out? When Embiid is sitting out a back-to-back and Adem Bona gets in early foul trouble and the Sixers are forced to play 30-plus minutes with small lineups of Dean Wade or Jabari Walker at the five, the hoopla of this past offseason might feel a long way away.
If there is a slow start, though, my advice would be not to panic. To paraphrase LeBron James, he didn’t leave his family to lose in the second round, but he also didn’t leave his family to make sure the Sixers go 8-2 in their first 10 games. This season will be a marathon, not a sprint. What’s of paramount importance is keeping everyone healthy and experimenting with lineup combinations and building chemistry so that this group is peaking in the spring, not early November. So I know with everything else happening in Philly sports right now, a lot of hopes are being piled on the Sixers at the moment. No matter what happens, stay the course, and don’t let those hopes be dashed in just a couple weeks’ time.
Three preseason games, three wins, and three beautiful possession-maximized games. The Boston Celtics have now logged 311 offensive possessions (per Cleaning The Glass) as they prepare for the upcoming season. They’ve scored 381 points, winning their games by an average of 23.3 points per game. For reference, that’s 1.22 points per possession.
Against the Charlotte Hornets, Joe Mazzulla’s team faced a different challenge, as Charles Lee had both Naz Reid and Moussa Diabate in the starting lineup, giving them high-level rim protection. Credit to the Hornets, they played hard, but ultimately, the Celtics kept their strong march toward the regular season going.
The Curveballs Played A Role
It’s preseason; quirky rotations, random substitution patterns, and lineups are par for the course. So, when Mazzulla opted to throw out a lineup of Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson, Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, and Payton Pritchard, I wasn’t surprised, but I was intrigued, just as I suspect most of you reading this were, too.
There were other curveballs, too. Hugo Gonzalez played only 4 minutes in the first half, losing some of that time to Sam Hauser, who went scoreless in his 9 minutes. Jordan Walsh got the nod as a starter for the second straight game, but only got six minutes of playing time through the first two quarters.
We saw more of the same in the second half, with Hauser getting another nine minutes and Gonzalez playing two-thirds of the fourth quarter.
Joe Mazzulla is gathering information. He’s trying things out, getting film on those possessions and seeing what clicks, what doesn’t, and what could be impactful with some subtle tweaks here and there.
“I have a deep bench, a lot of depth, so I just want to give every look imaginable so that you know we’re able to have a general idea of how we want to attack it defensively and offensively when the season starts,” Mazzulla told the media after the game.
Those curveballs made the Celtics harder to cover. Throwing out three shooters, two of which can penetrate off the bounce, read the floor, and create for themselves and others, along with two lob and rebounding threats in Robinson and Queta, was interesting. It gave the Celtics a genuine presence across all three scoring levels and made Charlotte’s pick-and-roll coverage deal with some uncomfortable situations.
Boston’s willingness to get downhill was also a welcome sight, as they navigated some forgettable shooting from deep, which included not one, but two (that I counted) airballs from Paul George.
Ultimately, though, it was the Celtics’ ability to impact shots on the defensive end that gave them an edge in this game. Shutting down driving lanes, forcing tough looks, switching with purpose, and attacking the passing lanes — all of these things added up to a stellar rearguard production, holding Charlotte to 93 points on 75 shots.
From the moment George rotated over from the weak side to blow up this short-roll action from the Hornets, you knew it would be a difficult night for Charlotte’s offense. The Celtics registered 16 steals and 22 deflections, allowing them to control the tempo and dictate the terms of engagement as they looked to shut down the game.
A pattern is forming throughout this preseason: Boston is aggressively attacking the defensive side of the floor, looking to get out and run off mistakes. The Celtics ranked 23rd in the NBA in opponent turnover percentage last season, and if I had to hazard a guess, this will be their most improved area coming into the new campaign because it’s working, and it’s working well.
A Look At The Playbook
Against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Celtics pushed the pace. They were hunting pitch-ahead passess, and attacking in transition off misses, rebounds and pilfers. Mazzulla’s offense looked different against Charlotte. The team still played at a solid tempo, but it was certainly more half-court based.
There were more off-ball screens, secondary screens, veer actions, and cuts.
One play that really stood out to me was a high split action on the weak side of the ball that got Jayson Tatum moving downhill before ending in a lob pass to Mitchell Robinson.
The play starts with Tatum swinging the rock to the opposite side of the floor on the way up the floor, with George being the recipient. Robinson then sets an off-ball screen for Tatum, which on the surface looks like it’s designed as a quick action to get Tatum cutting toward an impending pass from George.
Tatum, however, delays his cut, waiting for White to get into the play. From there, Tatum and White split cut off each other.
This is where the magic happens.
After the cut, Tatum indeed receives the pass from George. He draws two defenders as a result: one who helps off George, and another who has stepped up to contain the drive (this was Robinson’s man). Hauser’s defender has also shaded over.
The problem for Charlotte is that by having Robinson’s man plant his feet in front of Tatum, Robinson, who began his role immediately after the split cut, is running unimpeded to the rim. Tatum’s defender is in the rearview, but hasn’t closed space quickly enough.
With Tatum’s driving lane closed off, and a jump shot being a poor shot choice, Tatum does what he does best when playing with a rim-runner: puts the ball straight into the lob corridor for Robinson to attack vertically.
Boom!
Bucket.
There’s another wrinkle here, though.
As the action unfolds, White has positioned himself in the weak-side corner. His defender has his back turned, as he watches the play unfold. If Robinson’s roll had been shut down, or he had met resistance as he got to the rim, a skip pass to White would have created a high-quality three-point attempt.
One screen. One cut. Three different scoring options.
In the words of Sidney Dean: It’s pretty. It’s so pretty.
Losing The Rebounding Battle
I don’t think we’ll say this often this season, but last night the Celtics lost the rebounding battle. Charlotte pulled down 43 boards compared to the Celtics 40. OK, it’s marginal, but it’s still an area where the Celtics lost.
It’s worth noting that Boston won the offensive glass, grabbing 9 ORBs to the Hornets’ 7.
Tatum led the team with 8 rebounds, all coming on the defensive glass. He’ll probably hover around that number as his season average, too. However, Charlotte’s double-big rotation caused the Celtics some issues. That’s good information to have, as it’ll allow Mazzulla and the coaching staff to develop counters and game plans for when they find themselves in that position and sending two bigs on the floor doesn’t make sense in the moment.
I’m not worried, though. The Celtics rank first for total rebounds, second for defensive rebounds, and third for offensive rebounds during preseason. With the size and length the Celtics have throughout the roster, coupled with the big man rotation at Mazzulla’s disposal, controlling the glass, at either end of the floor, should not be an issue this season.
This Isn’t The Same Neemy
Queta has been working on his game this summer. You only have to watch his performance last night to see that he’s taken a developmental leap. How big that leap is, will be something we learn as the season gets underway and progresses. Still, there’s a lot of reasons to be excited for his production this year.
A lot will be said about his willingness to take shots from the perimeter. I get it. If he can become somewhat reliable out there, he’ll give Boston a spacing boost and another pick-and-pop option alongside Luka Garza. Yet, it was his activity that really stood out to me. His screening, movement, and decision-making with the rock in his hands.
“I think the best version of Neemy gives us a little bit of playmaking opportunities and being able to make plays off the dribble in the seam,” Mazzulla said. “…That playmaking is an area that we’d like to see Neemi take to a little bit of a different level for sure.”
By now, we’ve all seen this highlight play from Queta. He fakes the hand-off, turns the corner and drives for a poster dunk. There will be times where Queta will need to make a read out of his drive, or to abandon getting downhill in favor of moving the rock. How well he makes those reads, and the pace of that decision-making, will tell us a lot about the type of jump he could take this year.
Whether he starts or comes off the bench this season, Queta’s development will be a genuine swing factor for the Celtics. So, seeing him play so well during preseason, is certainly encouraging.
Paul George’s Shot Will Come
George is now 5-20 from the field over his two preseason games.
Woof.
Outside of scoring the ball, he’s playing great. He’s highly impactful on defense. He’s a willing passer. And his presence, both as a spot-up threat and when on the move, forces defenses to stay locked in.
However, until his shots start to fall at a considerably higher clip, we’re not going to see him at his best. The point of being a two-way threat, is that you impact the games on both sides of the ball. George will get there, though.
Right now, he’s navigating through some growing pains. A whole new offensive and defensive system. Brand new teammates, learning when and where he’s most effective receiving the ball, and of course, vice versa. Oh, and lets not forget that he’s figuring out his new role on the fly.
Preseason isn’t supposed to be polished. It’s not supposed to be pretty. You play these games to get an idea of what needs work, and what does or doesn’t gave the desired outcome. George will continue figuring all this out during the opening weeks, maybe even months, of the upcoming season. His shooting struggles won’t last forever (I hope). It’s then, when he’s close to the best version of himself within his role, that we’ll start to see what the duo of George and Tatum are capable of.
It’s going to take some time, and that means some patience from everyone involved, but when it clicks, it’s going to be so much fun to watch!
Final Thoughts
We’re less than a week away from opening night. Before that, there’s one more preseason game on the docket. Win or lose, it won’t change the fact that this Celtics team has the potential to defy whatever low expectations get put on their shoulders this season.
There’s so much to like about this roster. So, while the offseason was full of controversy, and some are still ruing the loss of Jaylen Brown, i’m choosing to put my green goggles on and look ahead to what has the potential to be a memorable and highly entertaining season.
The NBA is welcoming an absolutely loaded rookie class ahead of the 2026-27 season that places good young players all over the league. The top of the 2026 class got most of the attention with Washington’s A.J. Dybantsa, Utah’s Darryn Peterson, Memphis’ Cameron Boozer, and Chicago’s Caleb Wilson looking like one of the strongest top-4 in recent memory, but that’s only the start of the incoming talent pool.
This rookie class already balled out in Las Vegas Summer League, and now they’re impressing in preseason. There are too many good rookies to name, so this list won’t include honorable mentions like the Spurs guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Pistons guard Ebuka Okorie, Mavericks guard Sergio de Larrea, or Milwaukee’s Brayden Burries. I also can’t wait to see Brooklyn’s Mikal Brown and Toronto’s Allen Graves, who haven’t played in the preseason yet.
Check out our list of non-rookie NBA preseason standouts for more coverage. Here is our list of the best rookies in the NBA preseason so far. These are the players who impressed us the most relative to expectations, not ordered by who we would take going forward. You can read my final draft board for my full opinions on this class coming into the NBA.
9. Darius Acuff, G, Sacramento Kings
Darius Acuff Jr impressive showing in his third preseason game:
Acuff has scored in bunches while also struggling with turnovers and taking enough questionable shots that even an opponent like Draymond Green had to tell him to move the ball. The most encouraging thing about Acuff to me is that he’s still shooting the cover off the ball from three. I was a bit worried he shot over his head at Arkansas last season, but he has hit 41% of his threes in preseason so far and clearly looks confidence shooting the ball from the NBA line. He’s going to have some nights where he looks like a masterful three-level scorer, but a deeper dive is going to be required to evaluate his shot diet and lack of defensive impact. I’m rooting for Acuff because he’s a cool player and Kings fans desperately need something to latch onto. He’s going to be good as a rookie, but maybe not quite as impactful as his loudest fans want you to believe. His game still needs a lot more development beyond the buckets before he’s actually influencing winning, but I think he can get there eventually as the supporting cast around him improves.
8. Kingston Flemings, G, Atlanta Hawks
Flemings won’t match Acuff’s scoring numbers or Mikal Brown’s best highlights, but he still feels like the most well-rounded of the rookie point guards to me. He’s going to defend bigger than his size, he’s going to make smart decisions with the ball, and his mid-range scoring will offer some value while his three-point shot catches up. Flemings has always had such a strong feel for the game, and he’s doing it again with a 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio through four preseason games. He has such great hands defensively, and his excellent quick-twitch athleticism is going to create advantages even against bigger defenders. It’s easy to have some skepticism for a smaller guard who isn’t a knockdown three-point shooter, but Flemings simply brings so much to the table without taking much off of it. The Hawks have a lot of guards who need minutes, but Flemings is going to be dependable as C.J. McCollum’s understudy when he gets minutes.
It feels like Stirtz landed in the best possible spot on a Thunder team that can coverup his deficiencies on the defensive end while needing his creation magic and shooting. He’s been off to a tremendous start in preseason combining on- and off-ball versatility as only he can. Stirtz is a great shooter, a skilled pick-and-roll operator, and he has a good feel for the game. Those are qualities worth betting on even if he’s kind of weak and might be toast defensively. This is the perfect type of player to get the Thunder offense out of the mud when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on the bench. Sam Presti has done it again.
6. AJ Dybantsa, F, Washington Wizards
It’s fair to say Dybantsa’s preseason run has been a bit of a mixed bag despite the fact that no one doubts his talent. It’s encouraging that he’s getting to the free throw line, taking some pride in his defense, and making some heads-up passes to start his pro journey. I’m less enthused by a shaky three-point stroke, and a shot diet that feels like it should be geared more toward the rim. Dybantsa has admitted himself that his defense got “lazy” in college, and it’s been great to see him put his outstanding physical tools to work on that end during preseason. I’d rather see the ball in Dybantsa’s hands than Trae Young’s, but Young has always been such an on-ball heavy player that it puts more pressure on the rookie to fix his three-point stroke. I don’t think anyone questions that Dybantsa is going to be really good both as a rookie and down the line, but he still has some stuff to clean up.
5. Caleb Wilson, F, Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are trying to stretch Wilson out from a majority play-finisher to a majority play-creator, and there have been some understandable growing pains early in that process. Added structure feels beneficial for Wilson in the short term, with his best moments coming as a roll man or running off pin-downs to show-off his newfound three-point stroke. It’s been more of a struggle when he’s tried to iso against NBA defenders, with nearly twice as many turnovers as assists to start the preseason. The good news is that Wilson really does look like he’s going to shoot it from deep this year, which is wonderful news given that he was a total non-shooter in college. Ultimately, the handle is going to be just as important for Wilson’s development as his shot, and right now he still can’t access certain parts of the floor off the dribble. The Bulls aren’t trying to win anything this year, and that means Wilson will get plenty of room to test the limits of his offensive skill set — something that could be good for his long-term development. Even as a work-in-progress, the highs are going to be very high, and the best moments are going to be incredible in his rookie season.
Peterson followed up a terrible preseason debut with an awesome second game, and as always the truth on his performance is somewhere in the middle. The No. 2 overall pick is going to be extremely tough to defend because he can splash shots all over the floor — but sometimes he’s going to beat himself by not being able to generate easier shots. I wish Peterson got to the rim more instead of relying on tough pull-ups, and it’s possible that will come in time. The Jazz are going to need a point of attack defender next to Keyonte George this season, and that’s really where Peterson could have his biggest impact. His combination of shooting touch and defensive playmaking is still really intriguing, but I’m not sure I’m still seeing the all-world guard prospect we thought we had back at Prolific Prep. Then again, I did have Peterson at No. 2 on my draft board, so maybe I should just chill out.
— Basketball Performances (@NBAPerformances) October 8, 2026
Boozer is the youngest player in the NBA this season, but you would never know it from watching him play. The 19-year-old forward has remarkable polish offensively with a supercomputer brain, hulking strength, a sweet shooting stroke, and compact driving ability powering his unlimited offensive versatility. Boozer is rarely flashy, though he did have one poster dunk on this preseason run. Instead, the Grizzlies’ new superstar just always makes the right play. He has enough scoring gravity to compromise opposing defenses when they try to play him straight up, and he’s always moving the ball to the open man when the double comes. Boozer was obviously the best prospect in the draft, and it’s still wild he fell to No. 3. Memphis is going to immediately exceed expectations if they stay healthy around their new star.
Mara has been dominant in preseason, and it’s absolutely not fair that the Thunder are adding a 7’3 guy who is this skilled at both ends of the floor. The former Michigan big man seems to have made strides in his conditioning since his college days, looking more mobile than ever in this short preseason run. Mara is an easy bet to protect the rim with his ridiculous 9’9 standing reach, and he’s shown Derik Queen how difficult it’s going to be for smaller bigs to finish over him in the clip above. It was fair to wonder how Mara would be able to score in the league, but he’s looked unreal so far with 79% true shooting fueled by stuffs at the rim and spinning post moves in the paint. It’s for the best that Mara will probably be in a smaller role this season, but he could be really effective in the right matchups — and that’s all that matters for a loaded Thunder team.
There was a report that the Warriors would have drafted Brayden Burries if he fell to their pick in the 2026 draft. They should consider themselves lucky he went one spot earlier, because Lendeborg is going to be an ideal fit for this Golden State team in both the short term and the long term. Yes, Lendeborg is already 24 years old, but he might be the perfect role player. Start with the size: he’s gigantic for a forward at 6’9, 240 pounds with a 7’3 wingspan. He’s a very good athlete for that size who knows how to leverage his tools on both ends of the floor. Yaxel can rip three-pointers off the catch, he can clean the glass, he can rumble in transition, and he’s unselfish when he sees a passing lane. His combination of size, power, and skill is only surpassed by Boozer, who is nearly five years younger than him. Lendeborg is going to fit this Golden State team like a glove, and that will continue to be the case long after the Stephen Curry-Draymond Green era is over.
MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Daniel Gafford #21 of the Dallas Mavericks talks to the media during the game against the Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 11, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Daniel Gafford was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2024 to pair his rim-running abilities with Luka Doncic’s playmaking. Gafford quickly became a key part of the Mavericks, contributing to Dallas’ 2024 NBA Finals run. Two and a half years later, the entire franchise has been flipped upside down, with everything around Gafford changing. Doncic, traded. Coach Kidd, gone. A new budding star in Cooper Flagg. On a roster that has completely transformed since his arrival, Gafford has remained one of Dallas’ few constants.
The previous front office regime signed Daniel Gafford to a three-year, $60 million contract extension in the 2025 offseason. As the 28-year-old enters his third full season in Dallas, he will have to carve out a role for himself in a new offensive system led by Coach Dusty May. The Mavericks are a frontcourt-centric team, leaving Gafford among the group jockeying for position in the center rotation. As the Mavericks progress towards building a contender around Flagg, they will have to evaluate Gafford’s role with the team. With early frontcourt injuries, Gafford will have an opportunity to cement his place in the Mavericks’ future.
Big Question
Can Gafford evolve his offense under Coach May’s system? For the entirety of his career, Gafford’s offensive role has been setting screens, rolling hard to the basket, and finishing at the rim. He is one of the league’s best finishers, scoring efficiently at the basket every season. Coach May wants the Mavericks to shoot more threes, something that stood out in the Mavericks’ two preseason games in Macao. When asked about adding a three-point shot to his game, Gafford noted that the coaching staff is putting a lot of faith in him and that it will be uncomfortable at first. Gafford had one career three-point attempt from his early years with the Washington Wizards.
Gafford answered the call in the first quarter of the Mavericks’ first preseason game in Macao against the Rockets with a spot-up three off a crafty pass from Sergio de Larrea. It’s safe to say he shook off his discomfort early with his impressively smooth jump shot.
Daniel Gafford had attempted just one career regular-season three before knocking down this one 😮
Coach May values bigs who can play as “connectors,” who can dribble, pass, and shoot. For Gafford, this means short-roll passing and shooting the occasional three when open. Coach May has given Gafford a green light, as long as he “earns the right.” With Dereck Lively out to start the season, Gafford has an early opportunity to adapt his game to the Mavericks’ new system.
Best Case Scenario
The best case for Gafford starts with a healthy season. He hasn’t played more than 57 games in a single season in Dallas. With Kyrie Irving returning from a torn ACL and Flagg’s gravity, Gafford’s presence on both ends of the floor has already stood out to his teammates. An ideal season for Gafford is putting what Coach May envisions into play. His efficiency dropped slightly last season, likely due to the previously mentioned circumstances in Dallas. The best-case scenario is that he improves his efficiency and averages around 11 points, seven rebounds and close to two blocks. To add, he hits the occasional three, effectively passes out of short rolls, and doesn’t get burnt on switches. That version of Gafford becomes one of the league’s most valuable contracts at the center position.
Worst Case Scenario
Gafford falls down the pecking order of the center rotation. A quick return from Dereck Lively, combined with Morez Johnson earning Coach May’s trust early in the big leagues, could make Gafford the odd man out. If Santi Aldama emerges as a back-up stretch five, Gafford could fall even further down the totem pole.
The injuries from last season come back, and he’s in and out of the lineup again. By February, his $17 million contract ages poorly for a third-string or lower center, leaving Dallas no choice but to shop him for a lower price than it could have gotten last summer.
Season Goal
Stay on the floor and make the spot-up three a real part of his game. A realistic average attempts-per-game goal should be less than one, since he is just now adding this to his game. Gafford has struggled to put together a full, healthy season since the Mavericks’ Finals run. If he can play 70 games this season, it will be hard for Coach May to deny him playing time. If he can stay on the floor consistently and still has the green light from behind the arc come All-Star break, the season will be considered a success for Gafford.
Overall
Gafford has survived a coaching change, front office and roster overhaul, the biggest trade in sports history, and trade rumors of his own. Despite the rumors, the Mavericks’ new regime praised Gafford throughout training camp, outlining a path for him to be a part of their future. If Gafford can acclimate to the new-look Mavericks, he will continue to be a valuable piece to the Mavericks’ puzzle as they build towards a contending roster around Flagg.
Nets coach Jordi Fernández said preseason games may not count, but they matter. They’re less about wins and losses but playing hard and well.
The Nets’ preseason finale was their first defeat, beaten 144-128 by Miami before a sellout crowd of 19,600 at Kaseya Center.
And tuneup or no, there were plenty of positives, negatives and questions to be taken from Wednesday night.
The good?
Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, drives on Michael Porter Jr. during the Nets’ 144-128 preseason loss to the Heat on Oct. 14, 2026 in Miami. NBAE via Getty Images
Michael Porter Jr.’s game-high 27 points on 4-for-8 shooting from deep. And some of the youth, from rookie Mikel Brown Jr.’s 15-point preseason debut to sophomores Egor Dëmin (17 points on 4-for-7 from deep, three assists, two steals) and Nolan Traore (12 points, five assists).
The bad?
All-Star Julius Randle (4-for-13, game-worst minus-19) and veteran Moritz Wagner (minus-13 in 22 minutes). And Porter’s lone rebound won’t cut it.
And the downright ugly?
Defending the paint and protecting the rim. The Nets never came close to doing either.
“[The problem was] just defense. I mean, it was a very poor defensive game,” Fernández admitted. “[It’s the] second time that we’ve given up in one half 70 points — 69 in the first half, 75 in the second. That’s unacceptable. And if we want to be a competitive team, we have to play better defense than that.”
The Nets — who finished preseason 3-1 — were outscored a staggering 62-38 in the paint, allowing 31-for-40 shooting. Much of that was a combination of Heat star Giannis Antetokounmpo’s dominance and Day’Ron Sharpe’s early foul trouble.
The first may well have led to the other.
Julius Randle, who had an off night, looks to make a play as Klay Thompson defends during the Nets’ preseason loss to the Heat. NBAE via Getty Images
Antetokounmpo finished with 20 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists and three blocks, a plus-15 in just 23 minutes. He may have been one dime shy of a triple-double, but was plenty good enough to be the deciding factor Wednesday.
The Nets tried to attack the paint early with Miami’s Bam Adebayo out, but their own rim protection was far more lacking.
Sharpe picked up three quick first-quarter fouls in just 4:49, and Antetokounmpo had his way. The Nets failed to pick him up early, and let him get a head of steam. They ended up paying for it, falling behind by as much as 13.
The Nets watched Antetokounmpo pile up 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three blocks by halftime, when they trailed 69-66.
Porter was on fire throughout, but Dëmin catching fire helped the Nets erase a double-digit deficit into a brief third-quarter lead.
Brief.
Dëmin’s assist to Sharpe put the Nets up 76-75. And his 3-pointer off a Porter feed gave them an 84-83 edge with 7:12 left in the third.
But the Nets coughed up 10 unanswered and never recovered.
Davion Mitchell needed six stitches on his face after he fell into Sharpe’s knee to open the third.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - FEBRUARY 7: Jared McCain #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball in front of Reed Sheppard #15 of the Houston Rockets during the second half at Paycom Center on February 7, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tonight marks the third and final preseason game for the Houston Rockets. On the other side of the court, the Oklahoma City Thunder are playing their fifth game that doesn’t count.
Obviously, some of that is due to the Rockets taking a trip across the Pacific Ocean to play a pair of games with the Dallas Mavericks. Additionally, Houston knows its players and probably already has a decent idea of what the rotation will look like when the games start to count. Marcus Smart is new to the team but not to Ime Udoka. Bogdan Bogdanovic is the other new addition that figures to get minutes, and he’s a 34-year-old that knows the ropes. There isn’t a lot that needs to be worked out.
The Thunder of course still retain their core from last season, but had to make some trades to make their financial lives better down the road. The Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams (“J-Dub” for the kids at home) both had their big rookie extensions kick in this season and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets a $20.8 million bump in his salary next season. And they have to figure out a Cason Wallace extension by Monday or will risk him hitting restricted free agency next summer (and there will be suitors for him, I assure you). Due to those factors, they traded Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe in the offseason to get cheaper on the books.
OKC is also integrating rookies Aday Mara and Bennett Stirtz into their lineups, and also get a full offseason with Jared McCain and Nikola Topic, though the latter has missed all of preseason with a back injury. The point is that OKC is going to be a different team this season, especially in the regular season. A few more games probably helps them a lot more than the Rockets.
We’ll see you back here Wednesday for the start of the regular season!
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 13: Miles McBride #2 of the New York Knicks drives to the basket during the game against the Toronto Raptors during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 13, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Knicks host the Raptors (2-1) Thursday at Madison Square Garden in the final preseason game for both. Revenge? Do preseason scrimmages matter enough to call this a revenge game? Winning would be nice, though. The world champs have dropped all four of their preseason games, with the worst game of the bunch coming on Tuesday in Toronto.
On the second night of a back-to-back, coach Mike Brown rested his starters and the reserves suffered a 50-point beating. Kawhi Leonard (in his first game since rejoining the Raps) scored 21 points in 17 minutes. Scottie Barnes added 19 points, six rebounds and four assists. Collin Murray-Boyles dropped 19 and nine. RJ Barrett had 17. James Wiseman led New York with 18 points and 10 rebounds while the rest of the team struggled to stay in their shorts.
The takeaway? When Toronto plays its actual rotation and New York does not, the gap is wide.
Toronto is built with two-way versatility and physicality up front. With Leonard and Barnes on the wing, and Barrett and Immanuel Quickley in the backcourt, they have enough talent to be a problem. Jakob Poeltl anchors the paint and remains a serviceable center.
New York has spent the preseason evaluating depth pieces and managing minutes for the starters. Tonight will be the last dress rehearsal before they uncork their season on Tuesday. We assume that means the starters will play a little longer, as they get back into full game shape, and Mike Brown will use this time to get last looks at the guys hovering on the edge of the roster. Prediction? Another L to run the table, of course!
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (0-4) at Toronto Raptors (2-1) Date: Tuesday, October 15, 2026 Time: 7:30 PM ET Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC TV: MSG Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 14: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball against Ronald Holland II #5 of the Detroit Pistons in the first quarter during a preseason game at Target Center on October 14, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Target Center shook off the rust for the Minnesota Timberwolves’ sole home preseason matchup. The first game where Minnesota donned the white rebrand jerseys and the first look fans got to check out the new court. The Detroit Pistons, fresh off their saga with Jalen Duren’s agent, came to town as two opposite-conference foes wound down the preseason and got ready to set sail on the regular season.
Minnesota’s offense was clicking early as they put up 38 points in the opening frame. On the backs of Jaden McDaniels and Jonathan Kuminga, the Timberwolves started off humming in front of their home crowd. Jaden McDaniels scored double digits and got to the free-throw line seven times in this quarter. Despite their best efforts on offense, Jalen Duren took it at Rudy Gobert and Joan Beringer to convert in the painted area. The $200 million man made his money by using his strength inside. Despite this, the Wolves still held a nine-point lead after the first quarter.
The Pistons dug in in the second quarter. Their ball pressure and disruption started to bother the Timberwolves’ offense and force some turnovers. This disruption bothered the Wolves’ lead guards and forced them into bad decision-making. They dominated the frame and punched right back in the second quarter. They outscored the Timberwolves 36-20 and left them with a seven-point deficit at halftime.
The third quarter continued with Detroit digging in defensively as they were able to make Minnesota question their process on the offensive end. That did not deter a highlight play that got even the preseason crowd going with a LaMelo-Ball-to-Jonathan-Kuminga lob dunk connection. The athleticism was on full display throughout the game on the home team’s side. Despite this, the Pistons still squeezed the Timberwolves as their field goal percentage continued to go down. They strengthened their lead in the quarter and went up by 15.
While the Timberwolves’ regular rotation players played for longer in the matchup, in the 4th quarter the bench got some run. The main highlight was a couple of treys from Jaylen Clark as he took four of them with confidence. The efficiency from Detroit’s starters was too much to overcome, however, as the Pistons took the win 128-106.
Jonathan Kuminga Fitting In
This was easily Johnathan Kuminga’s best game of the preseason. He scored 16 points and added four rebounds and three assists to his final line. While it is easy to play alongside LaMelo Ball, this was encouraging to see it start to click how he can be impactful without assessing himself too much within the overall team scheme. He offered a highlight dunk and knocked down a couple threes, a big question mark heading into the season. The preseason is for knocking off rust and starting to become acclimated to new circumstances, and Kuminga did both of those things in this one. Kuminga’s processing tonight was a perfect example of how much he can impact the team positively and boost the starting lineup.
Feel like this is a good example of a value Jonathan Kuminga provides that this Wolves roster wouldn't have had, had they not been able to land Kuminga.
Kuminga being able to guard on the perimeter, but also being able to survive on a switch to a big — even Jalen Duren. pic.twitter.com/0D28wVehDI
The Detroit Pistons possessed a physical defensive identity that carried them to 60 wins and the top seed in the East last season. While their offensive shortcomings reared their head in the postseason, they still maintained that slugfest attitude that was so key to their success.
They brought that physicality tonight, as they bothered the Timberwolves at every turn. They made a point to pressure the ball and deny ball handlers especially when Rudy Gobert received a pass to run a two-man action.
When swapping out the sheer size and physicality that they had last season, that was a big question mark with the new-look roster. Detroit was a great test for this exact question, and the Timberwolves did show things to be concerned about. They greatly struggled with the physical defense that the Pistons deployed on them in this matchup.
New Court – 10/10
While the rebrand was a resounding success when it dropped, seeing the new court in action was beautiful. The new shades of both blue and green pop strongly and inspire feelings of nostalgia and excitement for the upcoming season. It looked very similar to the “Old Shep” court and jerseys they used during the 2023-24 season and way back when the franchise started.
Pair the colors with the different shades of wood, and it looked great under the Target Center lights.
All three jerseys are a great representation of the team brand, and with Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball being an extremely popular and fun pairing, it would not be surprising if they both cracked the top ten in jersey sales this season.
Up next
The Wolves make a quick pitstop to face the Chicago Bulls in their final preseason tuneup on Friday 10/17 at 7pm CT.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 14: Kasparas Jakucionis #25 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Josh Giddey #3 of the Chicago Bulls in the third quarter during the preseason NBA game at Fiserv Forum on October 14, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks… got gored… by the Chicago Bulls tonight, falling in their final home preseason game before the regular season tips off next week. Kam Jones led the Bucks in scoring with 23 points, while Brayden Burries and Kasparas Jakucionis finished with 19 and 18, respectively. Matas Buzelis starred for the Bulls with 19 points. Green, Rollins, Turner, Jaquez, Trent, Porter, Kuzma, and Herro did not suit up.
The Bucks marched out a starting lineup of Kasparas Jakucionis, Brayden Burries, Ousmane Dieng, Pete Nance, and Jericho Sims. Jakucionis picked up two quick fouls, leading to Cormac Ryan hitting the floor and scoring the first points for the Bucks after a 9-0 Bulls run (a corner three, set up by Burries). That was his first of three assists in the opening stanza, helping the Bucks go on a 10-0 run and get right back in the game. Burries also stole the ball from Caleb Wilson later in the first quarter, keeping his motor running high. The same wasn’t true for the rest of the team, however, as messy perimeter defence led to the Bulls stringing together a few runs themselves. Milwaukee was down 24-15 after one.
The Bulls brought back their starting lineup to open the second quarter, and for the first four minutes, the Bucks treaded water and kept the deficit within nine. Milwaukee’s offense struggled, though, and the Bulls eventually found their groove, easily out-shooting the Bucks throughout the period. Through two quarters, the Bucks logged 17 turnovers and never looked comfortable, with defensive assignments breaking down or being missed altogether. After losing the offensive rebound battle, the Bucks were left with many one-shot possessions to close out the period, and the score was 62-39 at halftime.
The third quarter saw the Bucks get off to a faster start: Jakucionis nailed a floating and-one jumper on the first possession, followed by a steal and a three from Burries on the next. After a cold streak for the next several minutes, the Bucks started to regain their groove, with Jakucionis showing some creative shot-making, Burries drawing fouls, and the Brewers on a seventh-inning tear (they mentioned it during the broadcast, so count it). Last but not least: Kam Jones finished the quarter leading the team with 17 points on 6/9 shooting (2/5 from deep). Still, the Bucks were down big, 102-78, after three.
Milwaukee continued its steady offensive attack (and non-existent defensive formations) until about halfway through the fourth when both teams went even deeper into their benches. For the Bucks, it felt like an audition for a two-way spot: Cormac Ryan, Johni Broome, Jake Stephens, and Kam Jones would close out the game, along with Bogoljub Markovic. Markovic largely underwhelmed, scoring just one point in his 21 minutes, while Kam Jones made the most of his time, finishing with a team-high 23 points. Jones showed a creative touch while shooting 9/14 from the field. In the end, the home team had a poor showing, even considering who didn’t play.
Stat That Stood Out
30: the number of turnovers committed by the Bucks.
Obscene Overreaction
Despite committing four fouls in four minutes, Kasparas Jakucionis looked very comfortable with the ball in his hands, as did Brayden Burries (once again). While it remains to be seen who the long-term starters are, it is becoming clear that these two players need minutes (even if it is at the expense of veterans). The future is now, and the Bucks need to let Jakucinois and Burries keep getting comfortable.
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 14: Max Christie #0 of the Dallas Mavericks plays defense on Saddiq Bey #41 of the New Orleans Pelicans on October 14, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (1-2) spent most of Wednesday night’s preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans (2-1) playing from behind. While the deep reserves eventually made the final few minutes interesting, Dallas could never completely erase an ugly offensive start in a 101-97 preseason loss to the Pelicans.
With Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving and several other rotation pieces sitting, Dallas opened with Naji Marshall handling much of the creation alongside Max Christie, Zaccharie Risacher, P.J. Washington and Moussa Cisse. The offense looked disjointed almost immediately. Washington turned the ball over twice in the first two minutes, Risacher missed an early three, and the Mavericks struggled to generate anything consistently in the half-court. Mar Hall gave them some life with seven first-quarter points, including a pull-up three and a late floater, but New Orleans still built a 26-18 lead after one.
Dallas actually played some of its best basketball in the middle of the second quarter. John Poulakidas hit back-to-back 3-pointers, Seth Lundy knocked down another, and Sergio de Larrea created easy looks for the bigs. Cisse scored twice at the rim, including a cutting dunk off a de Larrea assist that brought Dallas within three at 47-44. Instead of carrying that momentum into halftime, the Mavericks completely lost it over the final two minutes. New Orleans closed with a 9-1 run, capped by Bennedict Mathurin scoring through contact with one second remaining, and Dallas suddenly fell behind 56-45 at the break.
The third quarter never really produced the run Dallas needed. Tobi Lawal repeatedly found openings as a cutter, and Risacher finally got on the board with a pair of layups. Still, the Mavericks kept throwing away possessions and missing open threes as New Orleans pushed the lead back into double digits behind Jeremiah Fears, Zion Williamson, and Yves Missi, taking a 75-63 lead into the fourth. Most of the rotation players were done by then, but the end-of-bench group gave Dallas one final push. Law l continued attacking the rim, Poulakidas made shots, and Lundy got aggressive late, cutting a 95-86 deficit with just over three minutes remaining to 98-95 after a Tarik Biberovic three, four straight Lundy free throws, and a Lundy steal and dunk. Poulakidas eventually hit a pull-up jumper with nine seconds left to make it 100-97, but the comeback ran out of time.
Risacher’s rough night
Risacher started again and finished with six points, four rebounds, two steals, and a block in 23 minutes, but shot 3-of-11 from the field and missed all seven of his 3-point attempts.
The misses aren’t the biggest issue. Dallas wants him taking those shots. The bigger question is what else he can consistently give them. He had a nice cutting layup and a block in the third, but he still looked uncomfortable on too many possessions when attacking or creating. Dallas does not need Risacher to look like a former No. 1 pick. He needs to become useful. This was not one of those nights.
Larry continues to look interesting
I did not expect to be this interested in de Larrea this quickly. He played 30 minutes and finished with 10 points, six assists, four rebounds, a steal, and two blocks while shooting 3-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-3 from deep. The most encouraging part is how comfortable he looks creating for others. He found Moussa Cisse for a dunk late in the second quarter and set up Lawal several times in the second half. There were also mistakes, including four turnovers, but that comes with giving a young guard this much freedom. Dallas desperately needs more ball-handling behind Irving, and de Larrea continues to look more NBA-ready than expected.
Tobi Lawal keeps making things happen
Lawal might have been Dallas’ best player against the Pels. He finished with 16 points on just six shots, went 8-of-8 from the free-throw line and added four rebounds and a steal in 23 minutes. He did most of his damage doing exactly what you want from him: cutting hard, running the floor, and attacking the rim. On a night when New Orleans couldn’t stop him, Lawal gave them easy offense through activity and athleticism.
Broad side of a barn
Dallas attempted 49 threes and made 10. That is 20.4 percent. Risacher went 0-of-7, P.J. Washington went 0-of-4, Caleb Martin went 0-of-4, and Tarik Biberovic went 1-of-9. I don’t actually hate the volume. Dusty May clearly wants this team taking threes. But this is also the downside. When the shots don’t fall, and Irving or Flagg isn’t around to stabilize things, the offense can get ugly fast. Wednesday was a pretty good example of that.
