Jock Landale made his presence in Atlanta known almost immediately, recording a career night after a trade deadline acquisition.

Landale was on his way to Utah in a trade from the Grizzlies until he was told to “get off the [dang] plane.” He found out he was being rerouted to the Hawks, and so he then made the 6.5-hour drive from Memphis to Atlanta to suit up with his new team.

In his debut with teammates with which he was mostly unfamiliar (save for, of course, his country-mate Dyson Daniels), he dropped 26 points on 10-for-14 shooting with five triples. And, for good measure, he added 11 rebounds and four blocks.

From there, he settled into a role as the burly backup center who can space the floor for his team to operate. In 23 games for the Hawks, he averaged 9.1 points per game on 60% shooting from two and 39% shooting from three plus 4.1 rebounds per game on 19.4 minutes per contest — mostly coinciding with a blistering 20-6 end to the regular season for the Hawks.

But then on a fateful day on April 1st against the Orlando Magic, his season was ended prematurely due to a dirty foul from Goga Bitadze.

Ultimately, he was unable to return for the Knicks series — a series where he could have battled Karl Anthony-Towns and Mitchell Robinson down low and provided screening and physicality.

“My ankle injury took a little while to get over,” Landale talked about his steps of recovery at media day. “So initially when I went back to Australia, there was a lot of time spent towards that. I’m going on 31 in a couple of weeks, so I just decided it was time for me to trim up a little bit. Worked on my body in that capacity.”

In the offseason, Landale signed a one-year, $14.1 million contract — almost doubling his career earnings with one swift stroke of the pen. With Onyeka Okongwu returning, he’ll remain the backup center for 2026-27 but it’s possible we could see lineups with the two of them sharing the frontcourt.

Defensively, he’s largely a liability in space, and frankly that won’t change this season. Once Mouhamed Gueye returns from an injury of his own, he or rookie Zuby Ejiofor could be a natural partner off the bench to help cover ground. But as a bigger body than Okongwu, he can certainly be helpful against bruising bigs throughout the 82-game grind and beyond.

Most of all, he sounds absolutely thrilled to be back in Atlanta after contemplating ending his NBA dreams and returning home to Australia.

“It meant a lot,” said Landale about the Hawks’ interest in re-signing him. “A lot of conversations with Quin [Snyder] and Onsi [Saleh] about what the team needs. How I can continue to help out. That was more towards when I was in the moment playing. I really felt as though from day one when I got here back in February, it felt like I was involved. It felt like I was valued. And they really cherished the skillset I brought and the level of maturity.”

There’s no doubt that Landale will be a welcome returnee to the Hawks for hopefully a productive and helpful season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers had opportunities to drastically reshape their core over the summer. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown were available in trades. Reports suggested both the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics were interested in Mobley as a centerpiece for potential deals. And if one of those trades were made, maybe LeBron James would’ve decided to come back as well.

Instead, the Cavs chose not to make Mobley available. They doubled down on their belief in the 25-year-old former Defensive Player of the Year. But in doing so, they took on a much bigger risk than they would’ve if they traded him for a big name.

Moving Mobley for an established star would’ve raised this team’s ceiling in the short term and fit better with the shortened, self-imposed timeline they created by acquiring James Harden last winter. Yet, they decided to keep Mobley, presumably believing he can be the player the team needs to lift this core to a championship now, while also providing long-term stability.

It’s easy to believe in Mobley on his best days. His scoring looks effortless when he’s getting to the rim. He has enough vision and touch as a passer to make him effective when he can clearly see the doubles. And when the outside shot is falling — as it was at times last postseason — he can be a complete scorer. That is on top of being one of the most disruptive defensive players in the league.

Yet, Mobley doesn’t reach those heights as often as you’d like him to. His baseline is a high-level offensive contributor, but not the kind that you build an offense around. There’s tremendous value in a big that can roll out of bed and give you 18 points. But that impact pales in comparison to the All-NBA offensive superstars that were available over the summer.

This has left the Cavs with a very good player. One who can be All-NBA Second Team when he’s put in the right position, although he isn’t likely to be the focal point of an offense. That’s okay, but may not be enough to get the Cavs over the hurdles they’ve continually run into in the postseason.

Basketball is a team sport, despite how we sometimes frame the narrative. Nothing happens in isolation on the court. That is especially true for big men like Mobley, who are more dependent on their teammates to feed them the ball and hold up their end defensively. This is where the reshaped roster could work to Mobley’s benefit.

Having a full offseason with Harden will make a difference. And based on some of the lineups from training camp in Spain, Harden and Mobley could be the pairing head coach Kenny Atkinson sticks with this upcoming season, even though nothing is set in stone yet.

“A lot of discussion [goes into] who works best with who,” Atkinson said when asked about how he’s going to split the core four after practice yesterday.

“Collaborating with the players on what they like. Then, you have to consider minute stints. You have to match that. Does Evan function better in longer stints? Does JA (Jarrett Allen) function in longer stints? How you combine them plays a role in that. And then who are the three around them? It’s a lot of discussion with the staff and players, but we haven’t decided yet.”

Mobley and Harden only shared the court for about 2,000 possessions last season across the regular season and playoffs. For context, Mitchell and Mobley were on the court for over 4,000 possessions in the regular season and playoffs last season.

The Harden and Mobley pairing had solid results in the regular season as they were in the 77th percentile in net rating (+5.5), 80th percentile in offensive rating (119.5), and the 68th percentile in defensive rating (114). The really encouraging numbers came when Harden and Mobley were on the court without Allen and Donovan Mitchell. Those lineups were in the 97th percentile for net rating (+13.9), 96th percentile for offensive rating (124.2), and 88th percentile for defensive rating (110.4). Those lineup combinations dipped drastically in the playoffs — as to be expected — but the structure of a solid two-man pairing is there. This is also where the addition of Peyton Watson should help most.

Mobley is most optimized when surrounded by four shooters. This is why lineups with him and Dean Wade — Cleveland’s previously longest-tenured stretch four during the Mobley era — historically did well even though Wade was hardly a consistent offensive contributor despite having a respectable outside shot. This is where Watson should help most.

Watson’s three-point shot is more of a question mark than last season’s shooting percentage would suggest (41.1%) due to him only attempting 3.6 threes per game last season (for context, Wade attempted 3.3 threes per game last season). That said, opponents can’t cheat off Watson on the perimeter due to his shooting and ability to attack off the dribble, which will stretch defenses out. Watson has shown throughout his career that lineups can succeed when he plays power forward due to his length and ability to hold up as a rebounder.

Mobley hasn’t benefited from this ideal of a point guard and forward pairing before. The closest we’ve seen was Darius Garland and De’Andre Hunter during the 2024-25 season, yet that year Mobley spent most of his minutes with Mitchell, and Hunter wasn’t an optimal four alongside Mobley due to his poor rebounding and defense. On paper, this latest trio should be the perfect lineup combination to let Mobley’s skills shine.

That all said, the Cavs still need to fine-tune the Mobley and Allen minutes.

Cleveland was bad last postseason when both were on the floor (-6.8 net rating, 25th percentile), and even worse when they played together without Wade (-18.4 net rating, 5th percentile). We’ve seen that duo play extraordinarily well in the regular season, but it hasn’t translated over ot the playoffs as you’d envision it.

There’s an argument to be made that Cleveland’s two-big lineup can’t work in the postseason against elite competition. Playoff opponents have the game plan and personnel to take away what opposing offenses do best. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the Cavs need to trade one of their bigs. It does, however, mean that Watson and, to a lesser extent, Mario Hezonja need to be capable of playing high-leverage playoff minutes at the four.

At 25, it’s unreasonable to expect Mobley to drastically change who he is. It’s unlikely that he develops an elite face-up game or becomes a high-volume outside shooter. That’s historically not how development works. Yet, he could still fine-tune the areas of his game that he’s already good at.

Marginal improvements combined with lineup combinations that accentuate his abilities could be enough for Mobley to have a career year. After all, a big like Mobley is more reliant on his teammates and lineup construction than a score-first guard like Mitchell.

The biggest gamble the Cavs have made this era is betting on Mobley. So far, that bet has led to consistent regular-season success and mixed playoff results. The former will likely continue this season. Whether or not the latter flips to more consistently positive outcomes will determine if that gamble was worth it.

In his second preseason game, former Duke star Cameron Boozer did pretty well. He got 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists, in just 22 minutes. He also shot 4-7 overall and 2-3 from behind the line.

In this video, Gary Parrish and Chris Herrington talk about the impression Boozer is making, with Herrington noting – this will come as no surprise to Duke fans – that he is way ahead of the curve for his age, and that he’s noticeably quicker than he was at Duke. And also that he’s basically good at everything, with the possible exception of being able to protect the rim.

However, you can protect the rim without leaving the ground if you know what you’re doing. There’s no reason why Boozer can’t do that.

• Winners and losers from Memphis Grizzlies preseason loss to Orlando Magic
• Cameron Boozer records 16/6/2 line vs. Magic
• Cameron Boozer Highlights vs. Orlando Magic
• Ty Jerome Praises Grizzlies’ Pace, Cameron Boozer After Preseason Return
• Breaking Down Cam Boozer’s NBA Preseason Debut

Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

With a hat tip to OG NFL writer Peter King, and to Bill Simmons and the crew at Grantland and The Ringer, and to Zach Lowe, and to Eric Koreen, and to the legion of writers I’m ripping off with this format, here are 10 things I think I think about this year’s Washington Wizards:

1. Trae Young will lead the NBA in assists per game for just the second time in his career. Young’s been a genius-level passer throughout his career but has carried a heavy scoring burden. In Washington, he’s going to be asked to help his younger teammates learn how to excel on the offensive end, and there’s no better way than using his gravity to help give them open looks.
2. Anthony Davis will be a top five candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. Davis has — at times — been an all-time great defender. At other times, he’s been merely very good. Either one would be a major upgrade for Washington. He’s been top five four times previously — a second place behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, a third place behind Rudy Gobert and Joel Embiid and two fourth place finishes. The last top five was in 2020, but even leading the Wizards to league average-ish on the defensive end would be a colossal achievement.
3. Alex Sarr is on the cusp of greatness. Sarr improved a bunch in his second season. History says players usually make their biggest jumps in years three and four…which are coming. Plus, he’ll have Young and Davis and AJ Dybantsa drawing attention, which should give him more open looks from in close and the three-point line.
4. Bilal Coulibaly will be traded by the Feb. 11, 2027 deadline. This one pains me. I wanted Washington to draft him, and I was happy they traded up to get him. At least by my reckoning, he’s improved each season. Except, I’ve watched all the games, and I’m not overwhelmed. Too many utter bricks, wild turnovers, and way-off-target threes that somehow bank in. He’s long, athletic, and good on defense. Opponents seem to have trouble staying in front of him when he decides to drive. But I’m doubting he gets where the team needs him to be.
5. AJ Dybantsa will average at least 15 points and 6 rebounds per game. These benchmarks may sound a bit pedestrian. They are not. Over the past 10 seasons, only 12 rookies have hit these marks: Karl-Anthony Towns, Kyle Kuzma, Lauri Markkanen, Ben Simmons, Luka Doncic, Deandre Ayton, Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes, Paolo Banchero, Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, and Cooper Flagg. Mileage may vary, but I count 9 of the 12 who ended up in the very-good to great range — not counting Flagg. Yet. This would be a good start for Dybantsa.
6. Kyshawn George will seize the starting backcourt job. This connects to No. 4 above. I’ve had some doubts about George — especially his turnovers and rampant fouling. And yet, he’s big, he’s gotten stronger, and he’s skilled, feisty, and tough.
7. Brian Keefe will still be the Wizards’ head coach when they make the playoffs. Whether it’s this season or next. I saw enough smart Xs and Os from the staff to make me think Keefe is a clever tactician. Some of his out-of-bounds sets were designed to leverage good defenders doing their jobs properly, which is devilish. He’s also been effective about getting buy-in from nearly everyone, and he successfully navigated the few who didn’t.
8. Deandre Ayton will play well enough to rehabilitate his reputation…and get traded by the deadline. I don’t see Ayton as a long-term guy in Washington. My best guess is that he plays well off the bench and in spot starts and ends up packaged in a deadline deal to bring a younger player.
9. The Wizards will make the play-in this year. Over/under betting lines suggest it’ll take 37-40 wins to earn 10th and get into the play-in. I still haven’t done my forecast for the year, but I think that’s doable for Washington, and for some bizarre reason — despite all the history, despite having a (currently moribund) podcast called #SoWizards, precisely because of this franchise’s ability to screw up in spectacular fashion — I think I think they actually will.
10. The Wizards will have two All-Stars this season. Davis and Young would be the relatively easy picks. I wouldn’t be shocked if it’s one of those two plus Sarr. Just sayin’.

Enough from me. What do you think you think about the 2026-27 Wizards?

The Thunder are one of the hardest teams in the league to bet on this year because both things can be true at once.

They are probably the best team in basketball.

They also got worse.

Oklahoma City went 64-18 last season after winning 68 games the year before, and they did it despite Jalen Williams playing only 33 games. Their defense was still elite, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won another MVP, Chet Holmgren remained one of the league’s best two-way bigs, and even with major injuries, they were still two wins away from another Finals appearance.

Now the question is whether losing real depth finally brings them back in line with the rest of the league.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Over/Under 61.5 wins

Over: -125
Under: +100
To win NBA Championship: +250
To win Western Conference: +130
To win Northwest Division: -650

Last season: 64-18, first in the West, lost in the Western Conference Finals

Key additions: Aday Mara, Otega Oweh, Bennett Stirtz
Key losses: Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins, Branden Carlson

The case for the over

I think the first thing you have to remember with Oklahoma City is just how ridiculous they were last year.

They won 64 games with Jalen Williams essentially missing most of the season. That alone shows how high this team’s floor is.

If Williams gives them anything close to a healthy year, that could offset a lot of what they lost this offseason. Shai is still one of the best players in basketball. Chet is still one of the league’s best defensive bigs. Isaiah Hartenstein is back. Ajay Mitchell took a real step. The core that made this team elite is still here.

That is why I cannot look at 61.5 and immediately call it too high.

Yes, losing Lu Dort hurts a lot. I think people are underselling that. He was by far their best perimeter defender and one of the most important tone-setters on the roster. He also shot around 35 percent from three last season, so Oklahoma City isn’t only losing defense. They are losing someone who could stay on the floor offensively too. Joe and Wiggins were also real rotation players who provided shooting, defense, and depth.

But this team has been so deep and so well-built that losing role players may not be enough to knock them down that far.

Mara is also an interesting addition. At 7-foot-3, he gives them another massive frontcourt body behind Chet and Hartenstein, and Oklahoma City does not need him to be anything close to great right away. Oweh and Stirtz need to give them playable regular-season minutes and keep the rotation afloat.

The injury part is real, especially with Chet. He’s already missed significant time in his career, and Williams played just 33 games last year. But if Oklahoma City gets even average health, this is still the kind of team that can win 62 games without it feeling wild.

They already proved that last year.

Prediction: Over 61.5 wins (-125)

The Golden State Warriors’ 123-118 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers told us very little about what this year’s team will be like, but it did indicate that the Santa Cruz Warriors could have a very exciting season.

In a game where nine of the Warriors’ top players didn’t even travel to Portland — Draymond Green was watching the Valkyries beat the Las Vegas Aces — the backups scrambling for roster spots, two-way deals, and some sweet Exhibit 10 bonuses in the G League kept it close against a Blazers team that played their starters about 20 minutes.

Dalen Terry showed he’s in excellent cardiovascular shape by playing 43 minutes and flirting with a triple-double. He finished with 23 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, turning the ball over four times but nullifying those errors by getting four steals. Not known for his outside shot, Terry connected on four of his five threes Wednesday night and made a strong case for getting the Warriors’ 15th roster spot.

Second-year guard Miles Kelly, a former Auburn star and Dallas Mavericks two-way player, scored 24 points and shot 6-for-11 from three-point range, adding seven rebounds, six assists, a steal, and a block. On one of those shots, Kelly got his path cleared by Portland’s Yang Hansen, who appears to still be adjusting to playing defense in the NBA.

Yang Hansen unintentionally screens his own teammate, and it leads to a 3-pointer by Miles Kelly pic.twitter.com/MFEUOLrr26

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) October 8, 2026

Kelly is still eligible for a two-way contract, something that seemed more relevant after a night where current two-way player Malevy Leons had the same number of turnovers as made field goals (two). Fellow two-way players Graham Ike and LJ Cryer came off the bench and showed good pick-and-roll chemistry, and Ike showed off an outside shooting stroke, going 2-for-3 from deep. Still, it felt like an offensive approach more akin to winning games in Santa Cruz than San Francisco. Ike also showed he was a true Warriors center by getting whistled for a blatant moving screen.

Will Richard played like a man secure in his place on the team. Like his time with the Summer League champions in Las Vegas in July, Richard didn’t force up shots, focusing on defense, team basketball, and shooting. He went 6-for-6 from the foul line and 3-for-3 behind the arc.

Will Richard with a bullseye 🎯 pic.twitter.com/5TzOH1GtMF

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 8, 2026

Starting center Charles Bassey was -2 in 24 minutes, not bad while primarily matched up with Portland’s starters. He had 13 points and six rebounds, shooting 6-for-7 and enjoying a very active defensive night, with three blocks and three steals. Did you know Bassey had an elegant-looking floater? We see you, Bassey Hive!

Charles Bassey floaters are automatic 🔒 pic.twitter.com/f6nHYl9rIw

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 8, 2026

Alex Toohey got some extended run, finishing with five points, two assists, and two blocks, and making his only three-point attempt. The Warriors went 19-for-34 from deep, the main reason they were able to hang with a full-strength NBA team for three quarters — the game was tied at 86 after 36 minutes.

But ultimately the lack of size on the floor with most of the team’s big men sitting was too much for the scrappy Sea Dubs Warriors to overcome. Portland had 50 rebounds to Golden State’s 40 and dominated points in the paint, 54-36.

All in all, it was a perfectly unmemorable preseason game that I’ll admit I watched on a split-screen with the Valkyries’ win over the Las Vegas Aces. Now there’s a team that knows how to rebound!

We are so back… kind of.

The San Antonio Spurs will take to the hardwood for their first preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks. It’s the first time we’ll see the Silver and Black since they lost game five of the NBA Finals to the New York Knicks. They’ll face off against one of the teams trying to dethrone the Knicks as the best team in the East.

In past years, the Spurs have taken a cautious approach to the preseason. It was rare to see all five starters play together for the majority of the game. However, San Antonio has plenty of lineup questions coming into the season, and the preseason could give them a chance to experiment. Game one could give fans a hint at who the starters will be coming into the season, or it could be a chance for head coach Mitch Johnson to try a unique lineup against the smaller Hawks.

Atlanta will come into the game with a few players resting. CJ McCollum, Aaron Wiggins, and Lu Dort all sat out Monday’s preseason opener against the Memphis Grizzlies. It’s likely that both of these teams will limit the playing time of their regular rotation players as they ease into the regular season.

San Antonio Spurs (0-0) vs. Atlanta Hawks (0-1)

October 8th, 2026 | 7 PM CT

Watch: DAZN | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Jayden Quaintance – Out (knee), Tobias Harris – Out (calf), David Jones-Garcia – Questionable (ankle)

Hawks Injuries: Aaron Wiggins – Questionable (lip), Luguentz Dort – Questionable (knee), CJ McCollum – Questionable (nose), Henri Veesaar – Out (knee), Mouhamed Gueye – Questionable (foot)

What to watch for:

Three-guard lineup

The talk of Spurs training camp was the coaching staff finding a way to play De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper together. San Antonio played those three together sparingly last season. All involved parties have said they see the trio playing together more this season. We’ll see how often the Spurs go to this lineup on Monday, and its general effectiveness against a team with many long, agile perimeter defenders in the Hawks.

Wembanyama’s go-to move

We’ll all be watching to see if Victor Wembanyama can establish a go-to move this season. The basketball world has been clamoring for the big man to develop a signature, dominant scoring move. Something he can use at any time and that’s a nightmare for the defense to stop. We’ll likely not know what that move is in a preseason opener, but keep an eye out for any new tricks the fourth-year big man has against Atlanta.

The rookies

The real excitement of the preseason is the chance to see young players suit up for the first time. San Antonio will likely give Tarris Reed Jr. plenty of run in the preseason, with second-round picks Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Maliq Brown playing more in garbage time. Reports out of training camp are that Reed Jr. is making his presence felt, especially on the glass. He’ll have a chance to prove that against real NBA competition on Thursday.

The Lakers’ preseason stint continues on Thursday when they take on the visiting Sacramento Kings. This will serve as a rematch after the purple and gold absolutely demolished them in their preseason opener.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings

When: 7:30 p.m. PT, Oct 8

Where: Crypto.com Arena

Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet, ESPN2

---

Just like that, we’re two games into the Lakers’ preseason. So far, it’s been exactly what we all expected: a few somethings and a whole lot of nothings.

In their previous loss to the Golden State Warriors, we learned absolutely nothing about the team since they basically rested everyone. It’s fair to assume this trend will continue as the preseason goes on.

But that doesn’t mean we won’t see Luka Dončić or most of the Lakers’ key players in a game or two. At this point, it’s anyone’s guess who will suit up. What isn’t in question, though, is that Los Angeles has more than enough to beat Sacramento regardless of who takes the floor.

With all due respect to the Kings, that’s how bad they are.

So, in Thursday’s preseason home game, it would be nice to see the Lakers come away with some positive takeaways again. If Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler remain inactive, perhaps the role players can continue giving us a glimpse of what they have in store for this season. So far, it’s been fascinating to watch the new faces in Quentin Grimes and Sandro Mamukelashvili, who combined for 27 points last game.

It’d also be nice if the Lakers could spare JJ Redick another first-half headache like the one he had last game. Save that anger for the regular season and playoffs, coach!

JJ Redick said the way the Lakers started the game against the Warriors was "insane" and that their first half was "unacceptable".

JJ: Redick: "They responded. When you draw up a first play, and then give them a second play that is a play we've scripted for ten days, or whatever… https://t.co/CilCYAkQIypic.twitter.com/KdaPp7a6zj

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) October 7, 2026

In all seriousness, Thursday’s game is another opportunity for the Lakers to build chemistry, get valuable reps and keep the good vibes flowing regardless of who’s on the floor. It’s only preseason, but these games are still important in helping LA hit the ground running once the regular season begins and hopefully, that’s exactly what happens.

Remember, we’re just 13 days away from the season opener. Before we know it, the Lakers’ season will officially be underway. But for now, let’s enjoy the appetizer that is preseason and see if the Lakers can make Thursday’s matchup against the Kings a fun one.

Notes and Updates

• Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton and Arthur Kaluma have yet to play in any preseason game. Let’s see if that changes on Thursday.
• The Lakers will also be celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Night during this game.
• We have an exciting new feature in our app this season. It’s easier than ever to chat in our game threads. Each game, this post will become a live chat and will be easy to find at the top of the Lakers community page, so be sure to download the app and give it a try this preseason!

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

The Minnesota Timberwolves played a special game against the Indiana Pacers at the Hilton Coliseum on the Iowa State campus as former Cyclone Tyrese Haliburton got his first game action in over 600 days. He addressed the crowd before tip-off, leaving a buzz circulating through the arena. Many were excited to see Hali’s first action at his alma mater, but just a three-hour and 15-minute drive north will bring you to Minneapolis and the Target Center. Timberwolves jerseys littered throughout the crowd to see Ball and Edwards put on a show. They did not disappoint. 

Breaking Down the Starters

Minnesota ultimately lost the matchup 123-11, but there was plenty to take away from a second game of these new-look Wolves as the starters played the entire first half and nearly half of the third quarter.

The Wolves jumped out to a quick 10-point lead early in the contest through smooth ball movement and exceptional defense from both McDaniels and Gobert, but quickly realized that this Pacers team is no Milwaukee Bucks, especially with the return of their star floor general in Haliburton. 

Things got ugly fast, though, as Minnesota went into the half with 13 turnovers, leading to some quick, easy looks for Indiana. The Pacers lit up the scoreboard early as well, shooting 62% from the field and 50% from three after the first quarter.

Sloppy rotations, lack of urgency to close out, and general confusion smothered the Wolves’ defense against a much smoother Pacers team. However, Minnesota was able to reel the troops in and grab 18 points off turnovers from Indiana to close the half. 

All while that was happening on the defensive end of the floor, LaMelo Ball was showing what he brings to this Minnesota team on the offensive end. He finished his evening with seven assists, all in the first half, 14 points on 5-9 from the field, and 4-6 from three. That includes one cold-blooded three to tie the bow on quarter one. What Ball was able to do on the floor, manipulating defenders, was on display, especially for his running mates, Anthony Edwards (19 PTS, 5-10 from the field, 4-5 on threes) and Jaden McDaniels (16 PTS, 6-10 and 4-6 from the same distances). 

Edwards found himself with more space to shoot than he had at any point last season. He started off the game deferring to his teammates, which allowed Ball to get his game going before a detonation happened in the second quarter from the three-point line. One of those shots was an electric back-and-forth between Ball and Edwards.

LAMELO BALL AND ANTHONY EDWARDS ARE PUTTING ON A SHOW. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/EcS6HsM7V9

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 7, 2026

Not many shots felt forced from Edwards, who seemed to play at his own pace rather than trying to make something happen. That will be huge for the superstar, who was so often overtasked and can now expend more energy on the defensive side of the floor.

McDaniels had a signature quietly efficient game. Sprinkle in a couple of easy looks courtesy of Ball, and it’s starting to feel like McDaniels may put up his most efficient offensive year yet, as hard as that is to believe. The offensive barrage Minnesota laid on Indiana in the second quarter propelled them to a four-point lead at half. 

Out of all the starters, it was apparent that Jonathan Kuminga is still figuring out his role in the offense and even on defense. The Wolves’ abysmal first quarter defensively was due in part to confusion on defensive rotations leading to wide open looks. A handful of contested looks and poor shot selection led to a two point night and 1-for-9 from the field. He was provided a couple of open looks from three-point range, but ended up missing all three attempts.

There weren’t as many impressive flashes as Monday’s game in Milwaukee, but there is still plenty of intrigue that Kuminga will be an effective player for this team at the power forward position. 

Who Stood Out?

With the preseason being a time to get a look at some of the young talent, tons of eyes were following Joan Beringer, who was looking to build on an impressive performance in Milwaukee. He was able to match up against one of the league’s best bigs in Ivica Zubac.

Just like many young players in their sophomore season, it was up and down for Beringer, who went to the bench after his first stint with a -11 plus-minus. He was able to grab eight rebounds, but he is one of the most raw prospects in the league right now. You can see the development happening on the floor with each minute, but you also realize there is still so much work to do with his game. 

As preseason games go, it comes down to the guys who are fighting for the final spots on the roster. When the Wolves made the deal to trade established veteran Josh Green for former 10th overall pick Cody Williams and journeyman John Konchar (who they later cut), eyebrows were raised.

His first two years in the NBA have been rocky, to say the least, but he’s far from a lost cause. He’s gone from sub-40% from inside the three-point arc to making a huge leap to 56% from two in year two. Although he only shot 2-for-7 from the field tonight, he showed characteristics that may give him the chance to stick in the league. 

Anthony Edwards gushed about his defensive potential, which showed on Wednesday through tipped passes, physical defense, and shot contesting.

His offense was also impressive. Nearly all of his passes were led with anticipation and rarely put the ball in danger of a turnover. He only finished with one assist, but could’ve easily had three, producing wide-open looks for Bones Hyland. A Beringer block would lead to a Williams fast break, who proceeded to posterize Quenton Jackson with a two-hand slam.

CODY WILLIAMS PUT QUENTON JACKSON ON A POSTER, THEN JACKSON PUSHED HIM IN THE FACE FOR A TECHNICAL! 😳🍿 pic.twitter.com/y7gnJaRwGd

— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) October 8, 2026

It’s not likely Williams sees a consistent role for this specific Wolves team, but there are some real NBA tools he has in his bag, and I will be intrigued by his development this season. 

So far, after two games, this team has been pleasant on the eye. Edwards seems to be reaping the benefits of having a de facto ball handler. We don’t know how much more the starters will play as four preseason games remain.

Game highlights

Up next

The Wolves fly down to South Beach to visit the Giannis-led Miami Heat on Saturday, 10/10 at 7:00pm CT. The game will be on DAZN-MIN.

The Knicks (0-1) host the Wizards (0-0) tonight in their first return to the court at 4 Pennsylvania Plaza since sinking the Spurs in June. New York seeks to rebound from a 97-120 loss in Philadelphia, where the starters played around 15 minutes each and Mike Brown fielded 20 players. For the Wiz, it will be their inaugural preseason game and their first chance to see how Trae Young, Anthony Davis and the top draft pick AJ Dybantsa fare against the defending champs.

The last meeting between these two came March 22 at MSG. New York won 145-113. Karl-Anthony Towns posted 26 points and 16 rebounds, and Jalen Brunson added 23. Jaden Hardy led Washington with 25 points, including seven threes. The Knicks’ second-half shooting (62%) buried a Wizards team that already had 15 straight losses.

Last season, Washington finished with a league-worst record of 17-65. Their defensive rating was dead last, and their offensive rating was close to it. They averaged 112.9 points and allowed 124.9. Cheer up, Wizards fans; we remember those days. The club has upgraded their talent pool with Young, Davis, and, of course, Dybantsa, but the supporting staff remains a work in progress.

Dybantsa, the number one pick out of BYU, joins the Wizards’ rebuild as a 6’9” scoring wing with elite athleticism, three-level scoring, and physicality. Davis has called him a special talent, and scouts see the 19-year-old as a new messiah for the D.C. gym, with potential to be a high-usage, two-way star. That’s a tough load for a youngster to carry. Alex Sarr (second pick, 2024) has been unable to lead the team out of the desert; neither has Tre Johnson (sixth pick, 2025). The club is rich with young talent, and eventually ownership might decide that Brian Keefe is not the coach to maximize it. Now where did I leave Thibodeau’s phone number. . . .

Projected Wizards starters: Young (PG), Kyshawn George (SG), Dybantsa (SF), Davis (PF), and Sarr (C). Off the bench, look for Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Khris Middleton, and Deandre Ayton (totally forgot he landed there).

New York’s starters looked sharp in limited minutes Monday before the bench lost the second half with simply atrocious shooting (finishing around 8-of-40 from deep). Mike Brown cited a lack of physicality across the board, so the ‘Zards should expect more chests and elbows. The third center position is still up for grabs, so you’ll see more of James Wiseman and Drew Eubanks off the bench.

For the Knicks: Jose Alvarado is day-to-day with a knee contusion. Wizards: Alex Sarr (foot) is a game-time decision; Tristan Vukcevic (hip) and Jamir Watkins (knee) are out.

The Knicks have won 12 straight regular-season games against the Wizards and 18 of the last 20 meetings. This scrimmage won’t count in the record books, but we predict the same result. Knicks by 10.

I’ll miss the game because of NYC Comic Con commitments, but will catch the rerun. Look for me in the crowd if you’re at Javits; I’ll be the good-looking one. On a personal note, today’s my 20th anniversary of sobriety. ODAT. If you think you can’t stop, drop me a line. And go Knicks.

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (0-1) vs. Washington Wizards (0-0)
Date: Friday, October 5, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY
TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

Forgive me for the early preview, but since this matchup between the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks is tipping off at 7am CT, I figured it would be best to get this out there the day before.

The game is starting at an ungodly hour for Central Time denizens because it’s taking place in Macau, China, at Venetian Arena. A quick Wiki search says that it’s an arena with a capacity of 14,000 and has hosted several NBA preseason games, Celine Dion (twice), a Manny Pacquiao fight, BTS, and Hong Kong musician “Tari” Eason Chan. Okay fine he doesn’t go by Tari. But it was too neat of a coincidence.

This is a preseason game, so who knows how the teams will play it. Ime Udoka generally gives his rotation a decent number of minutes in preseason and the league will definitely want the stars to play in these international contests. Dusty May is coaching the Dallas Mavericks so there’s no data on how he’ll utilize his rotation. Again, I expect to see Kyrie Irving (back for the first time since March 2025) and Cooper Flagg get some real run just because the league doesn’t want these games to be played between guys who will be in the G-League and Europe when the actual season begins.

These teams will play each other again Sunday morning. That game starts two hours earlier than this one, which means you can start your morning with the Rockets, switch over the London NFL game, and then go straight into the early NFL window which features the 0-4 Houston Texans heading to Nashville to take on the 0-4 Tennessee Titans in a game the Weather Channel doesn’t even want to broadcast.

Tip-off

7am CT

How To Watch

NBA TV and Space City Home Network

Injury Report

Rockets

No one yet, but undoubtedly there will be some

Mavericks

Do you really care?

The Line (as of this post)

I can’t find one and honestly, if you really need this line, please get some help.

Check here for updates

Looking ahead because we can

Sunday morning (5am CT) against the Mavericks

Bucks win! In their second preseason game, the Milwaukee Bucks secured a road W against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Myles Turner had a monster game for Milwaukee, scoring a team-high 19 points in 22 minutes. However, it was Brayden Burries who starred late, closing out the game in clutch fashion. Aday Mara led the Thunder with 22 points. AJ Green, Kyle Kuzma, Caris LeVert, Kevin Porter Jr., and Gary Trent Jr. were all inactive for the Bucks.

NBA.com Box Score

Game Recap

The Bucks actually began the first quarter with a strong pace. Jaime Jaquez Jr. started with a couple of threes and scored eight points in the first few minutes. However, after jumping out to an 18-13 lead, the misses quickly stacked up for the Bucks as they continued their barrage from deep. After a Herro missed three, OKC answered with their own bomb to take the lead, and would not look back for the rest of the half. About midway through the first, we got to see both Kasparas Jakucionis and Ousmane Dieng check in for their first minutes of the preseason, and both got to work quickly; Dieng was able to dribble to his spot in the paint and hit a floater, and then on the next possession was able to find Jakucionis behind the arc for his first bucket in a Milwaukee jersey. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder were rolling, though, and closed the quarter up 44-35.

The Bucks then seemed to have one of those classic stretches where they could not buy a bucket, but this time it was not for lack of effort, but for lack of cohesion. While Milwaukee went cold, OKC swiftly built a 24-point edge, but instead of folding, the Bucks kept the energy high—even if it was chaotic. Dieng fed Ament on the backdoor cut for a yam, and Ament seemed particularly set on attacking the rim and having his presence felt in the paint. But then came bad news: Ament extended at the rim, landed awkwardly, and twisted his ankle while drawing the foul; he was promptly taken out of the game and did not return. Moving on, the Bucks closed out the half decently, with Herro finally getting on the scoreboard and Rollins hitting a sweet teardrop—Bucks down 82-64 at the half.

OKC, like Minnesota, rested all of their starters except Mara for the second half. The Bucks, meanwhile, kept their starters in a bit longer and began to turn the game because of it, outscoring the Thunder 33-20 in the third to cut the deficit to five at the end of the quarter. The Bucks began moving the ball more easily. As the third quarter carried on, the starting lineup was subbed out entirely except for Kel’el Ware, who feasted on the Thunder’s bench for the rest of his minutes. The Bucks were down just five, 102-97, after three.

The fourth quarter saw more Bucks get their first preseason minutes: Bogoljub Markovic, Kameron Jones, and Cormac Ryan all finally got some run; those three closed it out with Pete Nance and Brayden Burries. The game was tight throughout the final quarter, with Burries giving the Bucks their first lead of the game with about four minutes on the clock. After OKC reclaimed the lead, Burries drew a foul and tied it up with under two minutes left. Fellow first-round draft pick Bennet Stirtz took the lead back with a triple of his own, only for Burries to finish through double coverage at the rim and pull the Bucks within one. On the ensuing possession, after a made OKC free throw, Burries hammered home a dunk to tie the game and went on to dominate the final minutes of play with composure beyond his years. Bucks win!

Stat That Stood Out

31: the number of rebounds the Bucks secured in the first half while OKC were playing their starters. The Bucks rebounded the Thunder 31-24, a disparity that grew even larger on the offensive glass: 12-3. Very on-brand for a Taylor Jenkins’ team, the Bucks shot five more times than the Thunder in the first half.

Obscene Overreaction

The Milwaukee Bucks will be hanging their next banner in 2027… OK, maybe that is a little too obscene of an overreaction, but how about this one instead: Ousmane Dieng needs to start at power forward. He tied Ryan Rollins with a team-high seven assists and logged just one turnover, and it was clear from the jump that his court vision and awareness were locked in. The best versions of Turner and Ware will be unlocked with steady playmaking around them, as both had over 80% of their shots assisted last season. With Dieng able to switch and cover multiple positions on defense, he could be the glue guy Milwaukee is looking for.

For the second straight preseason game, the Suns could not finish the job, falling 124-117 to the Bulls. They built a lead of as many as 15 points mid-second quarter, and had good defensive energy described by color commentator Rex Chapman as “it looks like the Suns are playing with eight players out there”. This intensity and focus did not sustain going into the locker room up just two. The final score involved a late crumbling by the back end of Phoenix’s roster, but this was mostly a tight game throughout the second half.  

Free throw shooting was improved over game one at 76%. Turnovers tied directly to the loss, and tonight’s 26 were not much better than the last game. Some of this ties to all the rotation mixing and it being preseason, but I see it also as a loss of focus.

Some positives include Dillon Brooks playing with a somewhat controlled intensity (aka no technicals, at least) and being an efficient scorer, getting 24 points on only 9 shots. Is Jordan Goodwin the best ever “second stint with the Suns” player? The lineup with him, Maluach, and Dunn was stifling. Gillespie was solid all around.

Several concerns surface from this outing. The core rotation can play like a top 4 seed and then fall apart, same as preseason game one. There are no indications Bridges’ ankle injury is serious, but that will be something to monitor as the preseason continues.  Book’s three-point shot was not falling, finishing 0-8 from the arc, and the team needs that to be a rarity when the games count.

Devin Booker shot 33% from 3 last season.

His percentage has dropped in each of the last two seasons.

Through two preseason games: 1-of-12 (0-for-8 tonight vs. Bulls). #Suns

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) October 8, 2026

Of players with roles to be determined:

Impressed…Ryan Dunn provided solid defense without much fouling until the closing minutes.  He passed the eye test. Jamaree Bouyea scored 9 points on 4-of-6 shooting.

Did not impress…Rasheer Fleming didn’t show the intensity needed to take his next steps, finishing 1-of-4 with three fouls and no steals or blocks. Khaman Maluach: While there were some highlight blocks, his overall strength in the paint both offensively and defensively was underwhelming. Keep in mind Chicago was missing their first- and second-string centers.

Game Flow

First Half 

Phoenix opened with a slow start, down 10-3 in the first two minutes – including two turnovers and allowing two open threes (which Norm Powell and Jalen Smith converted). Multiple plays at the rim in the first few minutes had me thinking how Khaman Maluach may have made a difference with that. 

Coach Jordan Ott successfully challenged an inbound pass, and Miles Bridges immediately converted an and-1 to close the gap to 13-17. Jalen Green showed a nicely paced mid-range and an alley-oop to Oso on back-to-back plays – things he worked on this summer. 

We got to see Maluach with the starters at the 6:25 mark of Q1 down 3.

Dillon Brooks made his third three-pointer to give Phoenix a lead. Jordan Goodwin started doing Jordan Goodwin things, and then Ryan Dunn successfully forced an 8-second count for back-to-back turnovers forced, immediately followed by a Collin Gillespie three turned 4-point play with Man Man converting the free throw on an away-from-the-ball foul. A Collin three opened up a 14-point lead. 40-29 Purple Gang after Q1.

Bridges turned an ankle and came out at the 11:01 mark. He did not return. A very durable player – but so was Jalen Green before last year! Fingers crossed.

Oso Ighadaro converted an alley-oop from Kennard and two fast-break visits at the boom room in the preceding 90 seconds of game play. Overall, the Suns are looking sharp and playing with good intensity. 

Caleb Wilson went on a mini run to cut the deficit to 9. Phoenix seemed to lose focus; Norman Powell (a focus of our preview article) made back-to-back threes, and the Bulls closed the half down only two, 66-62.

Second Half

Rasheer Fleming opened with the second-half starting unit in place of Bridges. Back-to-back Brooks baskets opened the half. Things got sloppy with the team, up to 15 turnovers at the midpoint of Q3.  

While Brooks has kept his composure and toed the edge in terms of technicals, he was already up to 4 personal fouls and got a fifth pushing off on an inbound. He and Buddy Hield had to be separated at 4:55, and Dillon came out.

Huge block at the rim on rookie Noa Essengue by Maluach at 4:30.  

MAN MAN SAYS N🚫 pic.twitter.com/c0K0ZLoPRY

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) October 8, 2026

A review reversed a foul on Gillespie and put him at the line (make that 2 for 2 on reviews).

More sloppy play and a Patrick Williams three put the Bulls up 3 to end the third.

Q4 opened with Jamaree Bouyea, Pat Spencer, Dunn, Fleming and Maluach – the first four of which are fighting for their place on the roster. 

Spencer tied it up with a three at 5:25, then made a steal and took it the distance for a dunk and the lead at 4:42. Another game headed for crunch time. Tobe Awaka went for 14 and 11 in 21 minutes, and the Suns could not get it done.

---

Up Next

Spurs at Suns, Saturday, October 10, 7:30pm! We’ll see you then!

The Washington Wizards play the New York Knicks tomorrow to start the preseason. Let’s get to it.

Game Info

When: Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Arena, New York, NY

How to watch: Monumental Sports Network

Injury Report

Wizards: Jamir Watkins and Tristan Vukcevic are out.

What to watch for

Washington will begin the preseason tomorrow on the road to play the defending NBA champions. The Knicks lost to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, 120-97. Tomorrow, all I care about is seeing how rotations look in limited minutes as opposed to how AJ Dybantsa does in 35 minutes of action. Either way, hopefully, the Wizards win!