The Warriors had back-to-back exhibition games on Tuesday against the Lakers and Wednesday against the Trail Blazers.
Here are our takeaways:
1. Yaxel Lendeborghas arrived
In Tuesday’s game against the Lakers, Yaxel Lendeborg was the main story. The Warriors’ 11th pick in the NBA draft looks ready to contribute, which is music to Golden State’s ears considering it will be without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody for the first few months of the season and Kristaps Porzingis indefinitely.
Lendeborg had 17 points in the first half on 7-for-11 shooting from the field, including going 2-for-3 from deep in the Warriors’ 124-98 win over the Lakers. He also had nine rebounds for his second straight preseason game.
The Warriors are going to need the 6-foot-9 Lendeborg to make an immediate impact as a scorer and rebounder. That’s why they drafted the 24-year-old forward. He appeared NBA ready.
So far, he has lived up to those expectations.
He led the Warriors to a championship in Las Vegas in summer league play while winning the MVP Award. And he has delivered in the team’s exhibition games, making a strong case for him to get some big NBA minutes as a rookie.
Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg, right, brings the ball up the court against Los Angeles Lakers forward Adou Thiero during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in San Francisco. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
2. The Warriors could have some depth
Steph Curry looked good against the Lakers, finishing with 16 points in 14 minutes. Draymond Green looked sharp, finishing with eight assists, three points, two rebounds and one steal in 15 minutes.
But what was most impressive is that the Warriors won handily with their star players hardly playing.
Four players scored in double figures, including Curry, Lendeborg, Brandin Podziemski and Brandon Williams.
The Warriors finished with 44 rebounds, 32 assists and only 10 turnovers.
It’s only preseason, so you can’t read too much into any of this. But if Butler looks good when he returns from his torn ACL in a few months, maybe the Warriors will be better than everyone thinks.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) high-fives forward center Draymond Green (23) after scoring a 3-pointer in the first period against the Los Angeles Lakers during an NBA pre-season basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
3. The guys fighting for roster spots were put on blast
Nine players didn’t travel to Portland for the Warriors game against the Trail Blazers on Wednesday, including Curry, Green, Al Horford, Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, Gui Santos, Georges Niang and Lendeborg.
Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers fielded what could be their starting lineup in Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan, Damian Lillard and Ja Morant.
The Warriors put up a fight in their 123-118 loss, with a few guys making notable contributions.
Dalen Terry nearly recorded a triple-double with 23 points (9-for-18 from the field, 4-for-5 from 3), eight rebounds, nine assists and four steals in 43 minutes. He’s on an Exhibit 9 contract and is trying to earn a roster spot.
Miles Kelly, who is eligible for a two-way contract, added 24 points (8-for-16 from the field, 6-for-11 from 3), seven rebounds and six assists in 28 minutes. On the other side of the spectrum, two-way player Malevy Leons struggled, finishing with as many turnovers as made shots (two).
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 09: Carter Bryant #11 of the San Antonio Spurs walks on the court during a break in the first half of a 2026 NBA Summer League game against the Atlanta Hawks at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 09, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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After the Spurs lost in the NBA Finals to the Knicks, it’s been a long, cruel summer with no Spurs basketball, and that comes to an end tonight. It’s only preseason, but it’s great to see the Silver and Black in action again. The final score won’t count tonight, so it’s going to be interesting to see the Spurs try to run it back with mostly the same lineup, with the major additions being Jayden Quantance1, Tobias Harris2, and Tarris Reed3.
That’s not counting the internal growth of the squad. Dylan Harper is poised for an incredible sophomore season after a rookie season where he became one of the best performers on the team during the playoff run. Stephon Castle has been working on his game in the offseason and we could see the results early this season, if not tonight. Carter Bryant looked lost at the start of the season, but he sh0wed a lot of promise towards the end of the season. This season could see that promise develop into production. And Victor Wembanyama is always amazing to watch, and he’s just getting started, as he will take another leap in both the physical and mental parts of his game. David Jones Garcia, who is on a 2 way contract, is returning to health after missing most of last year and could have a breakout season as he looks for a bigger role on the Spurs.
The veterans can’t be overlooked, De’Aaron Fox looks to be in the best shape to start a season since he joined the Spurs, and Luke Kornet could become more active on offense under Billy Donovan’s tutelage. Devin Vassell had his best season in 2025-2026, and Julian Champagnie is a key component on both the offense and defense. Keldon Johnson has trimmed down a bit over the summer, and it’ll be interesting to see how well that will affect his game in the new season after a somewhat disappointing playoff run for him.
Tonight starts the DAZN era. I’m not happy about having to pay for another streaming service, but there’s already a positive. In past seasons, it was really hard to find preseason broadcasts, but that’s not the case with DAZN, because they will be showing all five preseason contests live. They’re going to be the main broadcaster for all of the games that aren’t on national TV or one of the other streaming services, so that’s something to consider if you’re a fan that likes watching games live and you’re not on a pirate ship. If you are, don’t tell me.
[Unavailable until some time in 2027]
[Unavailable for preseason]
[Available tonight]
Game Prediction:
Carter Bryant gets a little too excited in warmups and jumps over the backboard during shootaround.
San Antonio Spurs vs Atlanta Hawks (Preseason) October 8, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT Streaming: DAZN, League Pass TV: DAZN Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 05: Ty Jerome #2 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket as Aaron Wiggins #2 of the Atlanta Hawks plays defense during the second quarter of the preseason game at State Farm Arena on October 5, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Paras Griffin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Hawks hit the road for the first time this preseason and take on the San Antonio Spurs.
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen
Location: Frost Bank Arena, San Antonio, TX
Start Time: 8:00 PM EDT
TV: N/A
Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)
Streaming: NBA League Pass, Youtube TV (NBA League Pass)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 07: Devin Booker #15 of the Phoenix Suns looks on against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of the preseason game at the United Center on October 07, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Daniel Bartel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Do you know what the most annoying thing about the preseason is? Trying to figure out what the hell actually matters. And am I allowed to have an opinion on any of it? If you do and it’s perceived as negative, you’re a hater. If it’s positive, you’re a fan boy. What happened to watch, process, and report?
I get it. The games don’t count in the standings. The rotations are incomplete. Starters aren’t playing 36 minutes, coaches are experimenting with combinations that may never see the light of day once the regular season begins, and winning is rarely the primary objective. It makes evaluating what we’re watching an exercise in selective interpretation. You see something you like, you convince yourself it’s a sign of things to come. You see something concerning, you remind yourself that it’s only October.
We’ve been down this road before. The Phoenix Suns have gone 4-2 in the preseason, giving us plenty of reasons to believe that something special was brewing, only for those performances to mean absolutely nothing once the games started counting. I’m looking at you, 2016-17. There’s a reason we approach these exhibitions with skepticism. History has taught us to.
And yet, here I am, two games into the preseason, trying to make sense of what I’ve watched. I’ve spent much of the offseason expressing optimism about this team. I believe in the identity they’re attempting to establish. I believe continuity, culture, defensive intensity, and a commitment to playing a more physical brand of basketball can provide a legitimate pathway to success. But optimism has a funny way of allowing you to overlook the things you already know are going to be problems.
We entered this season understanding that the Suns have deficiencies. There are areas of the game where their roster construction creates legitimate concerns, challenges that effort and enthusiasm alone won’t necessarily overcome. We can talk ourselves into believing that defensive intensity will create additional possessions, that continuity will improve execution, and that a renewed culture will help swing close games in their favor. And perhaps all of that will prove true.
Still, through two preseason games, we’ve begun seeing glimpses of the very issues we spent the offseason trying to rationalize away. That’s what makes evaluating this team so fascinating, and occasionally frustrating. There are encouraging developments worth acknowledging, concerning trends that deserve attention, and a few things that could become downright ugly if they carry into the regular season.
So, with the appropriate preseason disclaimer firmly attached, let’s take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of what we’ve seen from the Phoenix Suns thus far.
The Good: The depth is starting to show
I’ve mentioned previously how inspiring the second unit has looked. They elevate the energy and tenacity whenever they enter the game, and I think that collective intensity has the potential to create havoc throughout the season. If they can sustain it, they’ll provide another layer of success for this team.
Unfortunately, we haven’t seen much of Miles Bridges, but the early indications surrounding his addition have been positive as well. He tweaked his ankle eight minutes into Wednesday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls, limiting our opportunity to see how he fits within the starting lineup.
Through 21.9 minutes of preseason action, Bridges is 4-of-9 from the field and 1-of-3 from beyond the arc, totaling eight points, six rebounds, five assists, one steal, and only one turnover. He’s also grabbed two offensive rebounds. That additional dimension he can bring offensively is something I’ve been theorizing about throughout the offseason. And while the sample size is incredibly small, the early returns appear to be trending in the right direction.
Then there’s Collin Gillespie, who looks like he’s preparing to take another leap as a player, something I’m ecstatic about. I believe Gillespie has the potential to become more than our version of T.J. McConnell coming off the bench. If things don’t work out with Jalen Green in his current role and the Suns eventually decide to move in another direction, they have options. Because Gillespie is beginning to look like somebody who could legitimately start at point guard in this league.
Through 30.7 minutes of preseason action, he’s shooting 7-of-11 from the field and 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, adding three assists and four rebounds. The five turnovers have been ugly (we’ll get into that shortly), although that puts him in the company of seemingly everybody else on this roster through the first two games.
Still, there’s plenty to be encouraged about with Gillespie. His confidence, efficiency, and growing command of the offense are all reasons to believe another step forward could be coming.
The Bad: The shooting concerns are holding up
This is probably one of our biggest concerns, especially considering the Suns lost both Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale this past offseason. That’s 371 of their 1,210 three-point makes from last season walking out the door, with those two combining to shoot 45.1% from deep.
Strategically, the theory behind replacing that production is that newly acquired Luke Kennard will shoulder a greater shooting responsibility, while Collin Gillespie should be able to contribute as well. But the starting five is going to have its challenges from beyond the arc.
What is the combined career three-point percentage of a potential Suns starting five of Jalen Green, Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, and Mark Williams?
Through two preseason games, the combination of Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Miles Bridges, and Dillon Brooks is shooting 9-of-34 from deep, good for 26.5%. Booker’s 0-of-8 performance against the Chicago Bulls certainly skews that number, but it remains an area of concern. Why? Because it doesn’t matter whether you’re playing in the preseason, regular season, Summer League, or your local rec league at the YMCA. You don’t suddenly become a better shooter because the calendar transitions from the preseason to the regular season. Yes, improvements can be made through time, effort, and repetition. But collectively, this is going to be a vital area of opportunity for Phoenix this season, and thus far, the concerns appear valid.
The same would be true if the numbers were reversed. If those four players were collectively shooting 40% from deep through two preseason games, we’d be pointing toward that production as an early indication of improvement and questioning whether our concerns entering the season were warranted.
The Suns will certainly do their part schematically to create open looks. And I believe the addition of Miles Bridges, with his ability to attack the rim and put pressure on defenses, will make it more difficult for opponents to account for Phoenix’s perimeter shooters as they collapse into the paint.
The opportunities will be there. But ultimately, you have to knock down the shots.
The Ugly: You can’t win by giving the ball away
This one has to go to ball security. Through the first two games of the preseason, the Suns are averaging 29 turnovers per game, dead last among the 24 NBA teams that have played a preseason game thus far. We’ve witnessed 32 turnovers against the Pistons and 26 against the Bulls.
On the surface, that’s concerning, especially when you consider the potential challenges this team could face with overall facilitation and ball distribution. Ball security absolutely needs to become a point of emphasis as the regular season approaches.
Take the preseason opener against the Detroit Pistons, for example. The starting five combined for only five turnovers, although they played between 15 and 16 minutes apiece. Against the Chicago Bulls, however, things got considerably uglier. Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker played 23 minutes, Jalen Green played 22, Oso Ighodaro played 17, and Miles Bridges played eight. That starting group combined for 13 turnovers. No matter how you slice it, that’s ugly basketball.
"Playing good first halves, but not putting a whole full game together. Turnovers are a big thing right now."
Dillon Brooks on Suns 0-2 start to preseason after 124-117 loss to Bulls.
Committed 26 turnovers that led 36 Bulls points. Had 32 Monday at Detroit that led to 37… pic.twitter.com/ojiiX5TFqN
Sure, the preseason is designed for exactly this. It’s an opportunity for the coaching staff to experiment with different schemes, put players in unfamiliar situations, and see how what they’ve been working on in practice translates to live game action. These five games are about getting your legs underneath you, building conditioning, and testing players in roles they might not be entirely comfortable with.
But should this become a concerning trend as we approach the regular season? Think back to last year, when the Suns averaged 16 turnovers per game during the preseason. How did that translate once the games started counting? Phoenix averaged 14.5 turnovers during the regular season.
There’s also the reality that three preseason games remain, providing plenty of opportunity for that overall number to come down if ball security becomes a priority. And it must become a priority. The way the Suns intend to beat opponents this season is by outworking and outhustling them, creating extra possessions through defensive pressure, offensive rebounding, and relentless effort. That’s the identity they’re trying to establish.
But those extra possessions lose their value when you’re giving the basketball right back. For a team that plans to manufacture advantages through effort, giving away possessions could ultimately mean giving away games.
That’s the challenge facing Phoenix as the preseason continues. The good gives us reasons to believe. The bad reminds us that roster construction comes with consequences. And the ugly exposes mistakes that could undermine everything this team is trying to accomplish. There’s still time to address these concerns, and nobody should be drawing definitive conclusions after two exhibition games. But the Suns have shown us enough to recognize where the work needs to happen.
Optimism is warranted. So is a healthy dose of reality.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 3: Josh Hart #3 and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks box out Kyshawn George #18 of the Washington Wizards during the game on February 3, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The World Champion Knicks (0-1) return to Madison Square Garden tonight for their first home appearance since defeating the Spurs in June. Monday’s 120-97 loss in Philadelphia featured brief starter minutes, 20 Knicks, and a ton of missed threes. Mike Brown wants more physicality tonight, and some made shots would be nice, too.
Washington (0-0) makes its preseason debut with Trae Young, Anthony Davis, and top pick AJ Dybantsa leading the latest rebuild. The Wizards finished last season 17-65. This one won’t count, but beating Trae is always a worthwhile activity.
Game time is 7:30 on MSG. This is your game thread. This is Bullets Forever. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams. Be kind to each other. And go Knicks!
CLEVELAND, OH - MARCH 8: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 8, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Cavs basketball is back, or at least preseason basketball is. We’ll see how the team looks in their first time taking an NBA floor since last May.
Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 06: Chaney Johnson #31 of the Brooklyn Nets dunks the ball in the second half against the Charlotte Hornets during their preseason game at Spectrum Center on October 06, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s only so much stock you can put into a preseason game, but a 34-point win is never a bad thing. It Brooklyn nailed 20 of 37 from deep and dished out 31 assists without Mikel Brown Jr., while stars made the most of the minutes. Now, the Nets head home to Barclays Center for the first (and only) time the preseason.
On the flip side, the star-studded 76ers come in with a preseason win of their own — a 120-97 blowout over the Knicks on Monday. Both teams are 1-0, which is about as much as anyone should read into October. The storyline tonight? We’ll get to see LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid playing together.
Keep an eye on the minutes. Most of the Nets’ starters were finished by halftime in Charlotte, and these are professionals playing as a team while also battling for their own minutes.
Game Info & Broadcast Details
Who: Philadelphia 76ers at Brooklyn Nets
What: Preseason
Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV/Streaming: YES Network/DAZN
Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Injury Report: Who’s Out?
Nets: Michael Porter Jr. (left wrist soreness), Day’Ron Sharpe (left shoulder soreness), Mikel Brown Jr. (ankle recovery) and Joshua Jefferson (lower back).
💬 Discussion
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BOSTON, MA - MAY 2: Baylor Scheierman #55 and Hugo Gonzalez #28 of the Boston Celtics react during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 2, 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
CLEVELAND — The Celtics will rest most of the roster in their preseason opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Paul George, Mitchell Robinson, Neemias Queta, Sam Hauser, Ron Harper Jr., and Payton Pritchard are all out.
Mike Conley, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, and Luka Garza will start, with Chris Cenac Jr., Dillon Mitchell, and Amari Williams all available to sub in. Exhibit-10 players Devin Carter, Gabe McGlothan, Milos Uzan, and Tucker DeVries are all available to play as well.
Thursday will mark the Celtics debuts of Conley, Cenac, and Mitchell; George and Robinson’s will wait.
For the Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, Jaylon Tyson, Payton Watson, and Meleek Thomas will start the game.
Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay will coach the game
On top of the limited rotation, the Celtics will be coached by assistant coach Tony Dobbins for the first half and assistant coach DJ MacLeay for the second half.
“I want to give them the opportunity to be able to just build themselves as coaches,” Joe Mazzulla said at shootaround on Thursday morning. “Both those guys had head coaching interviews this past summer, and I want them to be able to build on that.”
Before the game, Dobbins expressed his excitement for the opportunity to coach several players’ first NBA games.
“I’m excited to get started with this group that we have, and then for me, there’s some guys who it’ll be their first time stepping on the NBA court, and that’s exciting,” Dobbins said. “Like you get to be a part of somebody living out their dream, and that would be the case whether I was coaching or whether Joe’s coaching — but just not taking those moments for granted. You’ve got a person, a family, who has worked for this moment, as long as they can remember, and they have an opportunity.”
Knicks guard Tyler Kolek’s girlfriend, Lexi Sousa, recounted his run-in with police after they mistook him for a fan during the team’s championship parade in New York — and she revealed that it actually happened twice.
Knicks guard Tyler Kolek and his girlfriend, Lexi Sousa, at the Knicks’ championship parade in New York City on June 18, 2026. Instagram/Lexi Sousa
Lexi, who is a mental health counselor, did not get into the details of Kolek being stopped by police for a second time during the June 18 parade.
At the time, the 25-year-old Kolek was running along the parade route and greeting fans while holding a Michelob Ultra in one hand when he was stopped by two police officers who grabbed him.
One officer was seen shaking his head, appearing to say “no,” while another turned him around and pointed for him to leave the area.
That’s when others intervened to inform the officers that Kolek was a member of the championship team.
Tyler Kolek VIPs, former and current players, and New York Knicks fans arrive at City Hall in Manhattan to attend a keys to the city ceremony after a ticker tape parade, Thursday, June 18, 2026, in New York. Stephen Yang for NY Post
He averaged 4.4 points and 2.7 assists per game last season.
Kolek — who was a second-round pick out of Marquette by the Trail Blazers in the 2024 NBA Draft — spent the 2024-25 season with the Westchester Knicks, New York’s G-League affiliate.
The Knicks open the 2026-27 regular season on Oct. 20 at home against the 76ers.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 01 Frank Isolas, Brian Scalabrine and Washington Wizards AJ Dybantsa speak at the SiriusXM Front Row at Capital One Arena on October 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for SiriusXM) | Getty Images for SiriusXM
The Washington Wizards play the New York Knicks tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. Watch the game on Monumental Sports Network.
It’s been nearly half a month since we’ve see the Wizards, meaning the actual team (not the Summer League version), play basketball. Playing against the Knicks will be a challenge. The biggest thing I am looking forward to is seeing AJ Dybantsa make his preseason debut against the defending NBA champions. I’m not hoping for a win per se when the games don’t count yet.
But I am looking to see a more cohesive offense and stronger defense. Watching the Wizards the last few seasons has been tough. But now, there’s a franchise player and it’s time to see if the tanking can produce some winning seasons in the near future.
NEW YORK — LeBron James is truly up and running as a Philadelphia 76er.
James made his Sixers preseason debut Thursday night at Barclays Center and played a strong first half in the team’s 114-108 loss to the Nets.
The four-time MVP logged 18 minutes and scored 10 highly efficient points, going 1 for 1 from the field and 8 for 8 at the foul line. He added five assists and four rebounds.
Jaylen Brown was the Sixers’ top scorer with 18 points and Tyrese Maxey tallied 14.
The Sixers were without Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tendon tear), Adem Bona (left foot sprain), Anfernee Simons (hamstring), Dominick Barlow (back) and Tacko Fall (left hip strain). Here’s a full rundown on the team’s injury picture.
Next up for the Sixers is their third of four preseason games Saturday against the Celtics in Boston. Here are observations on their defeat to the Nets:
James gets right to work with special passing
James’ pregame introduction in the Sixers’ starting lineup prompted a massive swell of noise. A bright spotlight will be on the Sixers wherever they go this season.
Once the action began, the team wasted no time flashing its immense offensive potential. The Sixers started 7 for 8 from the floor.
VJ Edgecombe leaked out for a fast-break layup to get the Sixers on the scoreboard. When healthy, the star-stuffed Sixers should be a menacing team in transition.
While they don’t appear to have installed a vast half-court playbook yet, the Sixers generally looked sharp out of the gates with both designed sets and improvisation.
James should be a giant help as an elite passer and world-class offensive organizer. He notched all five of his assists in the first quarter, including a clever one-handed pass that set Edgecombe up for a slam. On another eye-catching play, Maxey slipped open, James rifled the ball to him, and the Sixers’ All-NBA guard sunk a wing three-pointer.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Dean Wade and Jabari Walker were the first men off of the Sixers’ bench.
Brown and Edgecombe were the last starters on the floor with the second unit. James then replaced Brown for the final minute and 50 seconds of the first quarter. The starters all came back together for the final few minutes of the first half.
Labaron Philon Jr. and Justin Edwards joined the rotation in the second quarter. Philon was ready to roll, draining a catch-and-shoot three on his first touch.
Simons, Bona and Barlow should be in the rotation mix once available, but Thursday was a decent indication of Sixers head coach Nick Nurse’s current broad blueprint for using his bench and staggering the stars. He’s clearly a fan of the Brown-Edgecombe duo, which impressed Monday in the Sixers’ preseason opener vs. the Knicks.
Rusty first game for Embiid
Embiid had an odd second quarter and was far from his A-game overall.
He got whistled for a technical foul after expressing vehement disagreement about multiple calls and missed an easy, flat-footed layup in transition. The seven-time All-Star big man posted six points on 1-for-5 shooting, three rebounds, three assists and eight turnovers in 23 minutes.
Of course, preseason rust is common and not automatic cause for deep concern.
The Sixers held a two-point halftime lead and kept Embiid, Brown and Edgecombe on the court until around the midpoint of the third quarter. From that point, the Sixers’ bench closed out the night. They ended the game well and cut Brooklyn’s lead down to 109-108 on a late Edwards three, but the youthful Nets ultimately secured the win.
Austin Reaves knows how to get Luka Doncic fired up and he’s willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure the Lakers superstar plays well.
Reaves has thought about hiring fans to talk trash to Doncic throughout games in order to awaken the Slovenian beast inside.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves gestures as he speaks to the media. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
“I’ve thought about paying people in the stands to just talk crazy to him because he goes to that different level,” Reaves said to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.
The Lakers have officially kicked off a new era in Los Angeles with Doncic at the helm and the squad enters the 2026-27 campaign with several question marks. How will Doncic acclimate to being the captain of the Lakers?
Can the Lakers be a playoff contender without LeBron James? Will the major roster overhaul by general manager Rob Pelinka pay off?
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers watches his team play against the Golden State Warriors from the bench during the first half of their preseason game. Getty ImagesLuka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers during a game against the Sacramento Kings. NBAE via Getty Images
While many of these questions won’t be answered until the Lakers take the floor Opening Night, Doncic has already taken action in assuming his role as the leader of the team. For one, the entire roster traveled to Slovenia for a four-day minicamp hosted by Doncic.
The overseas trip was meant for the Lakers to get a feel for one another on court, but perhaps just as importantly, the team got to know one another on a personal level.
Getting to build a rapport with his teammates was important for Doncic and will certainly play a role with how the squad performs on the court together. The pressure heavily lands on the shoulders of Doncic for the Lakers’ success.
Thus, paying fans to talk trash might be Reaves’ solution to ensuring Doncic is at his best every single night.
As a Houston Rockets writer, I don’t write about Alperen Sengun very often.
Some of you know why. For the uninitiated, here’s a potentially self-indulgent confession.
I have a graphic saved on my phone quoting me as saying the Rockets should trade Sengun (and picks) for Nic Claxton and Mikal Bridges. I know that if you search my name on Houston Rockets Reddit, it won’t take long before the word “moron” comes up.
And…it bothered me. I don’t like being called a moron. But that was a while ago. My life has changed. I am a teacher now, and this is a hobby. I still don’t love being called a moron, but my reaction is softer in my old age. I know that I am neither a genius nor a moron.
I’m not the only variable that’s changed. Sengun’s PR is presently in the gutter. If you don’t believe me, find any post in any corner of social media that mentions Sengun that isn’t from a Rockets-focused account.
Pick One: Alperen Sengun, Lauri Markkanen, Chet Holmgren, or Jaren Jackson Jr. This was a viral (and meaningless) comparison that was making the rounds recently. Here’s what the replies looked like
“Sengun is clearly the worst”
“Definitely not Shampoo”
…Etc.
If anyone answers Sengun, they’re almost certainly a Rockets fan, a Turkish person, or a combination of both. The criticisms are the same that this moron levied against him from a much earlier time. He’s a bit too small to be a five, he’s a defensive liability, and he’s a ball-dominant player who can’t shoot.
Is there any hope left?
Sengun faces pivotal 2026-27 season
The year was 2023-24. Sengun posted an impressive 4.9 Box Plus/Minus (BPM). The numbers people were having a field day. There was a veritable mass of think pieces along the lines of “here’s a list of players in their age-21 season to post a BPM above 4”. Sengun was a poster boy for a certain brand of basketball fan.
The next year, it was 4.4. Then, it was 4.2. Last year, per DataBallr, the Rockets were +3.5 with Sengun on the floor, and +12.3 when he was resting. None of these stats are perfect, but in this case, it has reflected reality. It’s begun to feel like Sengun peaked early.
Unless…
There’s plenty of room for improvement. Take your pick. Better three-point shooting? Better defense? Better interior efficiency?
Yet, isn’t that the point? We’re heading into year six, and there is so much room for improvement.
The Sengun Army is already at arms. Doesn’t Thompson have room to improve? Why are we protecting Jabari Smith Jr.?
Wake me up when Smith Jr. is the highest-usage player in the young core, or when he isn’t making roughly $10 million less per year than Sengun. Smith Jr. is useful even if he’s not a star, which, again, is the point. Sengun doesn’t have those secondary qualities to carve out a secondary role.
Thompson does. A non-shooting role player makes for some roster construction barriers, but at his best, Thompson is a top-5 wing defender. He’s also got two fewer NBA seasons under his belt, and despite their comparable ages, that means two fewer seasons of NBA-level training.
Sengun’s talent is beyond reproach. His footwork, passing creativity, and understanding of the game are all on display every year.
I always remember when the Rockets lost Chandler Parsons and replaced him with Trevor Ariza. Such a downgrade. Ariza is worse in almost every way: ball-handling, passing, isolation scoring…
Well, he’s a better defender. That’s about it, and that’s all that mattered. It was an upgrade, and I came to understand portability in basketball.
Perhaps it’s a lesson I’ve applied too thoroughly to Sengun. If it isn’t clear, I would have likely replaced him with an above-average defensive big years ago, even if they had minimal juice in their offensive repertoire. The Sengun and picks for Claxton and Bridges framework I’d have advocated for would have been a disaster, as Amen Thompson would not have been ready (if he ever will) for the offensive responsibilities he’d have necessarily taken on.
Replacing Sengun with role players isn’t viable. Replacing him with a different star player, rather than pairing him with one, could be the path forward for this roster: Emphasis on “could”.
Speaking of this roster…
It would be fair to assert that it hasn’t been built to optimize Sengun. A playmaking hub operating in the interior should be surrounded by shooters and smart off-ball movers. Sengun is surrounded by non-shooters. Thompson is a great off-ball mover, but he’s the most non-shootingest non-shooter of all the non-shooters.
The counterargument is that Sengun also needs to be surrounded by defenders, and defenders who can shoot are a market scarcity. Fair, but if we’re strictly talking about what would have been best for Sengun, it would have been to maximize the offense and punt on defense.
It’s too late for that. That doesn’t mean it’s too late for Sengun, but the clock is ticking. If the Rockets run into “sure there’s talent here, but they can’t shoot” again in the first round, he’s probably gone next summer.
Maybe you’d prefer Thompson on the chopping block. If you think the front office will trade him before they trade Sengun, I’ll softly recommend not gambling on sports. Tea leaf reading is not your strong suit.
We’re 902 words deep here. That’ll do. You have reached the end of my annual-ish Alperen Sengun piece.
The next one will either be about his on-court improvements or a summary of his time in Houston.
It happened on April 2 in a game against the Thunder last season. It was a measuring stick game against the reigning NBA champions. The Lakers’ momentum was at a fever pitch.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers brings the ball up court against the Oklahoma City Thunder . Getty Images
The Lakers were on a 16-2 run. Dončić was playing out of his mind, averaging 37.5 points, 8 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game in March. He had catapulted himself into the MVP conversation and turned the Lakers into a championship contender.
If Dončić led the Lakers past the Thunder, he could have leapfrogged Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the MVP race. He could have made the Lakers considered real threats for the Larry O’Brien trophy.
But the game was a nightmare from tipoff.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a play during the second half of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Getty Images
The Lakers were being steamrolled. To make matters worse, Dončić felt a tweak in his left hamstring in the second quarter.
Given the implications of this game, he decided to push through it. Even though the Lakers were down by 31 points at halftime, he decided to fight.
Then disaster struck.
Five minutes into the third quarter, the pain worsened. Dončić grabbed at his left hamstring again. He was taken out of the game.
An MRI later revealed that he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Dončić missed the final five games of the season. He was sidelined for the entire postseason.
That moment effectively ended the Lakers’ championship hopes. It put a red slash through his MVP campaign. It marked his team’s postseason demise.
If Dončić could go back, he would.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors. Getty Images
“When it comes to my spirit of trying to win, I am just stubborn,” Dončić told Sports Illustrated. “I felt a little bit in the first half that I should have just stopped. I should have come out. I think we had a team that could compete for the championship. I definitely regret it.”
That was Dončić’s first time publicly acknowledging he wishes he would’ve handled things differently in that moment.
It’s impossible to assess fault here.
Sure, Dončić should’ve known better. You don’t mess around with hamstrings. But teams have coaches and training staffs to prevent players from getting in their own way.
Lakers coach JJ Redick could’ve refused to put Doncic back in. The training staff could’ve intercepted. There were a lot of dropped balls in retrospect. Hindsight is 20-20.
But it’s hard not to imagine a sliding doors situation, especially knowing Dončić believes things could’ve easily gone another way.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts from the floor after a play during the second half of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Getty Images
What would’ve happened if Dončić had pulled himself from that game at the first sign of pain?
It’s impossible to say.
The Lakers lost their regular season games against the Thunder by an average of 29.3 points. Maybe they never had a chance of getting past Oklahoma City in the playoffs.
Or maybe they did.
No one thought the Lakers would go on a 16-2 run last spring, including beating the Knicks, Timberwolves, Nuggets and Rockets.
No one thought they’d take a 3-0 lead against the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs without Dončić and Austin Reaves (who suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain against the Thunder on April 2).
The Lakers were on a roll.
Dončić was playing better than anyone in the league last spring. LeBron James had fully bought into being the Lakers’ third offensive option. Austin Reaves looked like an All-Star.
Things were clicking.
In many ways, belief is more powerful than anything in basketball. And the Lakers really believed. Dončić really believed.
But Dončić’s hamstring strain robbed the Lakers of knowing their potential.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic watches his team play against the Golden State Warriors from the bench. Getty Images
James put the Lakers on his 41-year-old shoulders and carried them past the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. But without Dončić, they had no chance of getting past the Thunder in the second round.
Dončić was in the zone. Over a six-game stretch in March he averaged 40.6 points, 6.6 rebounds 6.3 assists and 2.6 steals, becoming the first player to average 40 points over six road games since Michael Jordan in 1986.
Players don’t get into trances like that often. And when they do, it’s powerful.
The Lakers’ potential last season will forever be unknown. At that moment, it felt limitless. It felt as though they could really compete for a championship.
Then everything went up in flames in that one fateful game against the Thunder.
We’ll forever be left with more questions than answers.
And Dončić will forever be left with pangs of regret.
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