Cade Cunningham scored a career-high 52 points and had 11 assists, and the Detroit Pistons outlasted Washington 144-140 in double overtime Thursday night after the Wizards twice extended the game with last-second shots.
Trae Young’s 3-pointer at the buzzer forced the first overtime, and then rookie AJ Dybantsa’s midrange effort with less than a second left sent the teams to another OT. But Cunningham quickly made a 3-pointer, and then Anthony Davis fouled out to give Detroit the upper hand.
It was still a two-point game in the final minute, but Cunningham scored from the baseline to make it 142-138 with 25.3 seconds left. Washington has lost six straight.
Detroit’s Ausar Thompson had 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career triple-double.
Young had 37 points for the Wizards but shot just 8 of 23. Davis and Alex Sarr scored 30 each as the franchise had its first trio of 30-point scorers since Mike Davis, Earl Monroe and Gus Johnson for the Baltimore Bullets on Nov. 18, 1969.
Young had 14 assists, two more than Washington’s whole team managed in a loss at Indiana the previous night.
Cunningham’s previous career high was 46 points, just over a year ago — and also against Washington. He became the first NBA player with 50 points, 10 assists and no turnovers since the league began tracking turnovers in 1977-78, according to OptaSTATS.
Detroit beat the Wizards for the second time in four games. The Pistons overcame Davis’ 44 points to win Monday, and Washington looked ready to end its skid when it scored the first seven points of the first overtime Thursday to lead 128-121. Then Cunningham rallied Detroit.
He finished 16 of 25 from the field and 17 of 18 on free throws. Daniss Jenkins scored 21 points for the Pistons before fouling out. Kyshawn George fouled out for the Wizards after scoring 14.
Sarr was 10 of 10 from the field in regulation and finished 12 of 14.
Up next
Pistons: At Miami on Saturday night. Wizards: Host Houston on Sunday night.
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 12: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons celebrates against the Washington Wizards during the first overtime at Capital One Arena on November 12, 2026 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. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cade Cunningham scored a career-high 52 points, and the Detroit Pistons needed every single one of them in a 144-140 victory in double overtime against the Washington Wizards. It was not just a career-best night for Cunningham, not just one of the top-5 scoring performances in Pistons history, it was the first game in NBA history that saw a player score 50 points, dish 11 assists, and commit zero turnovers.
Cunningham simply did it all. He scored 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. That includes a critical 3-pointer after the Wizards had crawled their way back into the lead in the first overtime on an Anthony Davis alley-oop dunk.
The Pistons trailed 130-127 and each team had traded misses. Cunningham calmly took the ball up the left side of the floor, took a pass from Ausar Thompson, and walked into a movement 3-pointer that hit nothing but net to tie the game. On the next possession, Cade swung the ball to Duncan Robinson for what felt like a game-sealing 3 with 9 seconds left, but a video review determined Duncan had approximately 1 milimeter of his foot on the line and changed it to a two.
The scoring barrage also included critical stretch in the fourth quarter where he scored eight points and assisted another to account for 11 of Detroit’s final 12 points of the fourth quarter. Cunningham also locked up Trae Young on defense with Detroit up 119-118 in the final 30 seconds of the fourth. He forced Young into the sideline, cut off any passing lane, deflected the ball, and forced shot clock violation.
Sadly, after Cade hit two free throws to make it a 3-point game, Young redeemed himself by hitting an off-balance three from 29 feet away to give us our two overtimes of fun.
Cunningham’s performance slightly overshadowed another notable feat — Ausar Thompson tallied his first career triple-double. He was aggressive on offense driving to the rim, and delivered crisp passes in narrow lanes to keep Detroit’s offense moving.
On a night where Cade scores 52 and Ausar gets a triple-double, how the heck was it so close to begin with? How does a game like that feature 20 lead changes and 13 ties? It was a weird game.
Alex Sarr was 12-of-14 from the floor and hit his first four threes of the night. He scored 30 points and was one of three Wizards to hit the 30-point threshold. Young scored a team-high 37 points, including a perfect 17-of-17 from the line. Anthony Davis scored 30 points and added 15 rebounds.
Honestly, Detroit’s biggest issue was the same issue they’ve had all season. Their bigs were dominated and DEtroit really misses Jalen Duren. Washington outscored Detroit in the paint and were outrebounded. The biggest issue was John Collins yet again. He was a minus-18 on the night and it felt like it was even worse.
Collins started the overtime period at center in place of Paul Reed, who was a plus-25, and promptly was the primary factor in Detroit giving up a 7-0 run to the Wizards right out of the gate. It was ugly. Come back soon, Jalen Duren.
Yeah, the Pistons might be missing Duren something fierce, but they have Cade Cunningham. And that’s enough.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 12: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 12, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Bell Ringer Standings: Tyrese Maxey – 3.5 Jaylen Brown – 2.5 VJ Edgecombe – 2 Joel Embiid – 1 LeBron James – 1 Anfernee Simons – 1 Dean Wade – 1
The Philadelphia 76ers started slow but roared back for a 123-112 win over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night.
LeBron James sat this one out for the Sixers for sciatica management, joining Adem Bona (cervical spine sprain) and Dominick Barlow (back) on the injury report. Joel Embiid was able to play after spending the day questionable for plantar fasciitis management. The Raptors had some notable injuries of their own with Kawhi Leonard and Scotti Barnes both sidelined, as well as Trayce Jackson-Davis and Nate Bittle.
It was a brutally rough start for the Sixers, with Philadelphia letting Toronto — on the second leg of a back-to-back — build a 16-point lead at one point in the first frame. Thankfully, someone finally told them the game had started and they came out of the gate much tighter in the second, quickly battling back to tie things up and entering the halftime break knotted at 60 a piece. The Sixers finally took control of the game in the third, with the Raptors trailing right around the double-digit mark into the final frame.
The Raptors continued to battle just within striking distance of the Sixers, but Philadelphia was able to hold on to take the double-digit victory at home thanks to six Sixers scoring in double-digits Thursday night.
The Sixers get back in the win column and are now 10-3 to start the season. They will now get a few days off before a Sunday afternoon matinee hosting the Indiana Pacers.
Until then, let’s get to the Bell Ringer. We have quite a few candidates tonight…
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
With LeBron James out, VJ Edgecombe was tasked with commanding the Sixers’ offense — and the sophomore was up for the challenge. This was another great example of Edgecombe doing what he can do well and not worrying about forcing things that aren’t working. Edgecombe was careful and protective with the ball but didn’t hesitate to whip quick passes in and out of the paint for assists, while utilizing his own lightning-fast speed and athleticism to get out ahead for easy buckets for himself when the chances arose. He was aggressive grabbing the boards and wasn’t afraid to get involved on defense, even if it meant picking up a few more fouls then he probably wants to on a normal basis.
We mentioned the increased responsibility for VJ with LeBron out, and, frankly, this was a great example of Edgecome doing a LeBron impression: doing all the little things (and some of the big things) right on both ends of the floor, making an impact absolutely everywhere. It all resulted in another all-around great performance from the young guard.
Edgecombe finished with 15 points on 7-for-12 field goal shooting with eight rebounds, eight assists, three steals and a block. Yep, that close to a triple-double. All with zero turnovers. Like I said, not a bad LeBron impersonation.
VJ Edgecombe had some increased responsibility tonight with LeBron out and he delivered excellently on both ends of the floor. A great all-around game from the sophomore guard.
15 PTS (7-12 FG), 8 REB, 8 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK Damn close to a triple-double. Highlights here 👇 pic.twitter.com/eBr566nLhk
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
From spending all day as questionable to play, to finally being ruled available, to knocking knees in the first period and looking like his night was done… to multiple dunks and a solid overall performance. The Joel Embiid experience!
Seriously, I thought Embiid’s night was likely over after the amount of pain he seemed to be in after knocking knees setting a screen. After a quick trip to the locker room, however, the big fella returned to the game and somehow looked better than he did before the knee knock. He didn’t miss an opportunity to get up for a block or a dunk, kept setting screens for his teammates and simply got a lot more aggressive and efficient offensively — whether that meant knocking down a bucket, earning a trip to the free throw line, or both. There were moments where, as has been the case many times before, it didn’t seem to matter what the opposing defense tried to do with Embiid. He was simply too big, too strong, or too smart. Guess the knee was OK.
The only downside to his performance was that the jumper wasn’t falling tonight, as evidenced by his 7-for-17 field goal shooting, but even those were just rimming out. That’s the sort of thing you just hope is early-season rust and will only get a little better — or even a little luckier — with time.
Embiid finished with 20 points, four rebounds, three assists, a steal and two blocks.
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s pretty impressive that this sort of performance is considered just a usual night at the office for Tyrese Maxey at this point, but that’s how it feels. It’s the same way that sometimes Jaylen Brown can put up an excellent, consistent performance throughout an entire game but almost without anyone noticing. A bucket here, a steal there, an assist when the opportunity presents… Maxey is just ol’ reliable at times for the Sixers. Tonight, it didn’t come in the form of a complete Maxey takeover we see sometimes, but the guard just kept chipping in on both ends of the floor throughout this one with impressive efficiency.
Maxey finished this one with 27 points on 8-for-13 field goal shooting. He also had two rebounds, eight assists (including a LeBron-esque cross-court lob to Jaylen Brown), two steals and a block.
<p>(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
The start of this one was not good for Jaylen Brown. It wasn’t great for a number of Sixers early, but it really wasn’t good for Brown. He couldn’t seem to score and struggled with sloppy turnovers in the first. It was looking like it might be another rough night for JB, who had a rough outing last game against his former team.
But, like the Sixers did overall, Brown turned it around. He kept rebounding. He kept up his solid defense. And, as more offensive opportunities presented themselves, Brown started knocking down shots and, other than having a few lay-ups blocked later on, put together a decent overall performance.
A rough start after a tough overall game the other night could have been enough to mess with the mental of any player, but Brown didn’t seem to let it stymie him. He turned a bad opening into an excellent 18-point performance on 8-for-15 field goal shooting, filling the stat sheet also with six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
When Anfernee Simons is on, boy is he on. An incredible scorer off the bench, this was one of those nights that any shot coming off of Simons’ hand you knew had a good chance of going in. Simons chipped in 17 points off the bench on 6-for-9 field goal shooting and sinking 5-of-6 from long range. For a team that can go completely stagnant at times when the subs come in, having someone like Simons ready and willing to knock down the big buckets is huge for keeping momentum on the Sixers’ side in games like tonight.
(Frankly, with how badly this team shoots from beyond the arc at times, shooting this well from three-point range in it of itself will always earn a Bell Ringer nomination from me at least…)
Simons hits a much needed three to beat the buzzer and hopefully gather some momentum pic.twitter.com/AQuWy9zFQI
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 12: Caleb Martin #16 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on November 12, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (7-5) embarked on a three-game road trip with the first stop in Minnesota to take on the Wolves Thursday night. Entering on a three-game winning streak, the Mavericks couldn’t get to four-straight as they lost 133-94.
The game got off to a shaky start, with Daniel Gafford committing a foul seven seconds in and Cooper Flagg tweaking his ankle less than 30 seconds later when he came down on Rudy Gobert’s foot after attempting a shot. The Mavs settled in behind Caleb Martin getting some early reps at point guard and doing a fine job keeping the offense flowing. Gafford’s second foul resulted in Morez Johnson, Jr. checking in, looking no worse for wear after missing a game due to injury. It was a tight game throughout, but with two minutes remaining in the frame, Minnesota peeled off a 12-0 scoring run, good for an eight-point lead (34-26).
The Mavs locked in to begin the second quarter and had a 7-0 run to draw closer. Naji Marshall, Zaccharie Risacher and Santi Aldama were a big part of Dallas pulling to within a point, but the Wolves responded quickly and got out to their largest lead of the game (14) with just over two minutes remaining in the half. Kyrie Irving nailed a cold-blooded three that made you think a run was coming, but the Wolves had other ideas. Dallas was down 67-52 at halftime.
Dallas has been good at making halftime adjustments this season. They clearly had a plan to attack the rim, with Flagg getting to the line on the first possession. Free throws were a welcome sight after neither team attempted even a single one in the second quarter. The plan was foiled almost instantly, however, with the Wolves jumping the lead to 24 points within the first three minutes of the quarter, at one point having connected on 22 of their prior 30 shots. Another blink of the eyes and this one was all but over. The Wolves looked significantly fresher than the Mavs, with everything looking very easy for the former and very difficult for the latter. The Mavs spent much of the remainder of the third quarter down by 30 or more points before limping into the fourth quarter down 103-69.
The fourth quarter afforded the starters some rest and gave some of the players who see limited time a chance to showcase themselves. Unfortunately Max Chrisite couldn’t capitalize on a chance to log some minutes. He tweaked his ankle, negating even the potential silver lining of him finding a shooting rhythm.
The iron unkind
It was a tale of two rims on a number of occasions. Dallas had a few shots go in and out, while Minnesota had the opposite luck. In the first quarter alone, the Wolves had two three-pointers nearly spin out, only to drop through the net. The Wolves had hot shooting even without the favorable rolls, connecting on 61.4% in the first half – nearly 20 percentage points higher than the Mavs across the first 24-minutes. When all was said and done, the Wolves shot 57.8% and the Mavs shot 37.2% overall.
Making the most of turnovers
The one part of the game Dallas had a meaningful edge on was points off turnovers. Their advantage waned a bit as the game devolved into garbage time, but for much of the game they were plus-10 or better in this category. The Mavs did show effort in this sloppy outing, not hanging their heads or giving up regardless of the story told by the scoreboard. Even with the blowout and garbage time, Dallas managed to outscore Minnesota in this particular category 29-25.
The battle from beyond the arc
The Mavericks hung in the three-point battle relatively well in the first half, despite LaMelo Ball nailing all manner of shot from the next town over as he is wont to do. Unfortunately, the Mavs shot worse from deep as the game wore on, making the battle of the long ball very one-sided. The longball opened up the entire offense for the Wolves while the Dallas misses allowed a good rebounding opponent to get out and run.
The Wolves were rested and made the most of their reserved energy. Throughout the night they were totally in a groove getting whatever they wanted and looking like a fully cohesive unit. Meanwhile, Dallas struggled to find the right lineup and fell behind big. The game lasted 48 minutes, but it was over long before then. With two more games on the road trip, the starters at least got some rest before the next one Saturday night in Cleveland.
I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.
Caleb Wilson, perhaps the 1-9 team’s only bright spot through the first three weeks of the season, underwent surgery for a fracture in his right hand and is expected to miss four to six weeks.
He injured his hand during the third quarter of Wednesday’s loss to the Spurs as he tried to knock the ball out of Victor Wembanyama’s hands.
Wilson, the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, had kicked off his professional career about as well as Chicago could have hoped.
Caleb Wilson of the Chicago Bulls shoots a free throw against the Philadelphia 76ers at United Center in Chicago on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Through 10 games, Wilson is averaging 18.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 steals in 30.8 minutes per contest, putting himself squarely in the early NBA Rookie of the Year conversation.
He was on his way to another big night Wednesday, scoring 15 points in 15 minutes before suffering the injury.
“I expect to have Rookie of the Year, honestly,” Wilson said in June. “I’m going to work hard. I’m going to do what it takes. I feel like this team is really good for me and how I envision to play.
Caleb Wilson of the Chicago Bulls shoots as Dylan Harper and Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs defend, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, in Chicago. Getty Images
It’s not the first time Wilson has dealt with hand injuries in recent years.
His freshman year at North Carolina was cut short after he broke his right thumb while attempting a dunk in practice in March, just as he was nearing a return from a fractured left hand that had sidelined him for six games.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 19: Alex Sarr #20 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons at Capital One Arena on March 19, 2026 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. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards’ struggles continued Thursday night, as they fell to the Detroit Pistons 144-140 in double overtime (8-3) at Capital One Arena to extend their losing streak to six games.
Playing the second night of a back-to-back after a 114-101 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, Washington (4-9) once again could not close out a close game in the fourth quarter, first or second overtime periods, which led to its second loss to the Pistons in the past four days after Monday night’s 122-111 loss in Detroit.
Washington got out to an early 17-10 lead thanks to triples from Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and Trae Young – which looked to be a positive sign from a team that entered the contest shooting 29.8% from distance.
Sarr started the game a perfect 4-for-4 from the field, quickly notching 10 points in the first quarter. His counterpart in the front court, Anthony Davis recorded 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting in first-quarter, to join Sarr in double-figure scoring.
However, in a lineup starring Trae Young, Tre Johnson, Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly and Deandre Ayton, Washington’s 10-point lead dissipated as the Pistons completed a 11-point swing to take a 33-32 lead over the Wizards to end the first quarter. After protecting the ball for the first nine minutes of the game, Washington coughed up four turnovers in the final 3:15 of the quarter to contribute to the Pistons run.
Washington steadied the ship before halftime with the help of Young, who scored eight second quarter points to help the Wizards stay within three and trail 64-61 entering the half. Davis paced Washington with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Sarr tacked on 14 points and Young scored 12. The trio combined for 69% of the Wizards first half points, and Sarr shot a perfect 6-for-6 from the field.
Rookie AJ Dybantsa appeared to truly struggle for the first time this season when matched up with Ausar Thompson. Dybantsa shot 0-of-2 from the field and looked uncomfortable with the ball in his hands when guarded by Thompson. Yet, the BYU product managed to record two assists and not turn the ball over in the first half, to finish with a team-high +11 when he was on the court.
After keeping the game close in the second quarter, Detroit erupted for an 11-point lead of its own with the help of Duncan Robinson who shot a perfect 3-for-3 from three point range during the run. Cade Cunningham also tacked on seven third quarter points to keep Washington at an arms length throughout the period.
The Wizards cut the lead back to four thanks to Alex Sarr, who remained perfect from the field, tacking on seven third quarter points to enter the fourth with 21 points and four rebounds. Tre Johnson was also in rhythm in the third, scoring six of his 13 points at the time while shooting 3-of-4 from the field.
Washington entered the fourth quarter trailing 94-90, with a chance to snap their five game skid in front of an energetic home crowd in D.C. — and Young matched the energy in Capital One Arena. He scored a quick nine points in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter to give Washington a 103-102, and found Coulibaly streaking down the court for an assist on a fast break.
But head coach Brian Keefe subbed Young out for a two-minute rest, and Detroit capitalized immediately with a 6-0 run to take a 108-103 lead. Washington kept it close, including taking a 118-117 lead with 31.5 seconds remaining thanks to a three from George. But Cunningham drew a foul from Dybantsa on the following possession, and knocked down two free throws to essentially seal the game. But 1.8 seconds remaining, Young buried a three at the buzzer to send the game to overtime, knotted at 121.
Redemption. Trae Young ties the game at 121 at the buzzer to send it to OT. https://t.co/mtfidIZFUS
George knocked down a triple to give Washington a 124-121 lead in OT before picking up his sixth foul and being forced to sit the rest of the game. But in his absence, Young found Davis in the paint for a floater, and then drew a charge on the ensuing possession, which lead to Davis finding Sarr for the alley-oop to start overtime on a 7-0 run.
Detroit responded with a 6-0 run of its own led by Cunningham — who finished with a game-high 52 points and a team-high 11 assists. He sealed the game on back to back possessions, both in transition. First he nailed a triple to tie the game at 130, and then assisted Robinson on the break for a jumper to take a 132-130 lead with nine seconds remaining in the extra period.
Dybantsa, the rookie, took matters into his own hands and drove to the paint and pulled up for a jumper that tied the game at 132 at the buzzer to send the game to double-overtime.
Davis fouled out early in the second overtime, which led to Detroit taking a 137-132 lead without Washington’s primary big — one they would hold for the remaining of the game.
Young and Davis both finished in double-double territory, but it was not enough to halt Washington’s losing streak. Young scored 37 and dished out 14 assists — both season-highs — while Davis scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Sarr also tacked on 30 points and seven rebounds, while George scored 14 points and Johnson finished with 13.
Washington is off until Sunday, Nov 15 when it hosts the Houston Rockets at Capital One Arena at 7 p.m. ET on MNMT.
AJ Dybantsa collided with Cade Cunningham during the Washington Wizards' game against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday, Nov. 12 and was bloodied on the play.
With 26 seconds left in regulation and the Wizards up 118-117, Cunningham was dribbling the ball and attempted to twirl and switch directions. The Wizards rookie and 2026 No. 1 overall pick was guarding him and, when Cunningham spun back around, his jaw smacked into the side of Dybantsa's face.
AJ Dybantsa was left bleeding after colliding with Cade Cunningham 😳
Dybantsa fell backwards onto the court and grabbed his mouth as he laid on his back. Blood started dripping from his mouth. A trainer tended to him as he continued lying on the hardwood.
He then got up and returned to action.
The game went into overtime with the score tied at 121 at the end of the fourth quarter. Dybantsa even sent the game to a second overtime, seemingly no worse for wear.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 12: Head Coach Darko Rajakovic and JaKobe Walter #14 of the Toronto Raptors look on during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 12, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors continued a challenging stretch of their schedule tonight, facing the Philadelphia 76ers on the second night of a back-to-back, this time on the road. After coming apart at the seams despite an early lead against Boston, the Raptors’ intention to move on was thwarted by a Sixers team that handed the Raptors a similar loss. A significant early lead dwindled by the half, ultimately leading to Toronto falling, this time 112 to 123.
To no surprise, Philly’s big names of Joel Embiid (20 points), Jaylen Brown (18 points), VJ Edgecombe (15 points), and TJ Maxey (27 points) carried the Sixers. Anfernee Simons was their most productive bench player, offering clutch long-range shooting that gave the rest of the team space to operate, finishing with 17 points in the process.
Toronto saw excellent performances from RJ Barrett who finished with 31 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists, Immanuel Quickley who had 26 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists, and Collin Murray-Boyles chipping in 14 points, 4 assists, and 5 blocks.
The Raptors had their hands full early, needing to answer for a number of offensive weapons on a Sixers team that is building plenty of hype for a championship contender. They didn’t need to face LeBron James who sat due to sciatica, but the remaining four of their starters remained a formidable challenge.
Toronto targeted Embiid early, forcing him into awkward defensive coverages that required speed and lateral movement that he struggled with as a result of his laundry list of injuries. After knee-to-knee contact, Embiid briefly visited the locker room but returned a few minutes later.
RJ and Quickley were quick to answer their less-than-savory performances last night. Quickley worked hard to distribute the ball and get everyone going early while RJ hit a pair of threes on consecutive possessions.
Just like last night, their offense was running smoothly. They built a significant 33-16 lead, and it felt like everything was going in the Raptors’ favour until in the final two minutes of the frame, the tide slowly started to turn. Philly went on an unanswered 8-point run to close the quarter.
In the second quarter, the Sixers were able to close the gap and draw ahead, making much of the second frame a back-and-forth contest.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Anfernee Simons showed their abilities from beyond the arc, creating spacing for the Sixers’ starters to operate in the paint where they’re comfortable. Tyrese Maxey was almost unstoppable from virtually everywhere on the floor. Jaylen Brown started to come alive as well, an equally challenging offensive player to find an answer for.
Toronto had contributions from everyone, with CMB, Barrett, Martin, and Battle all making long range shots. Their ball movement helped limit poor shot selection, and even when they were missing shots, Walter stood out as having a motor, with a phenomenal put-back that showed the Raptors were going to fight through the fatigue. By the end of the half, the game was all tied up.
The third quarter mirrored the second, going blow-for-blow with Philly. Ties and lead changes riddled the period, with neither team able to build any kind of momentum or separation.
Alijah Martin has impressed with his continued active defence and fearless scoring, willing to take the ball through anyone. At times, the minutes with mostly bench players on the floor actually felt more cohesive and productive than without.
Despite best efforts, Philly’s top four firepower was hard to contend with. Late in the third, a series of costly turnovers allowed the Sixers to get out in transition, managing a 8-0 run to build their largest lead, a 9-point advantage before the final twelve minutes of play.
Toronto’s fatigue might have played a role as this game started to get away from them. Second effort isn’t enough when you’re struggling to make second and third shots, and despite their effort, a lot of them rolled off the rim and couldn’t be recovered. Murray-Boyles’ effort, however, should be celebrated. On one end, he was blocking shots and playing tough defence, and on the other, good screening and off-ball movement helped him be a standout on the court.
In the end, it wasn’t enough to overcome Philly, and Toronto continues to seek their first win against a team over 0.500. Next, they’ll face New York twice, with the first of the matchups on Sunday at 6 pm.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 11: Marcus Smart #36 of the Houston Rockets and Charles Bassey #28 of the Golden State Warriors are separated during the third quarter of the game at Toyota Center on November 11, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart has been suspended by the NBA for three games after an attempted punch against Golden State Warriors center Charles Bassey, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The NBA is suspending Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart for three games for punching Golden State center Charles Bassey on Wednesday night, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/QOQFFyBd7I
After Bassey and Smart were jostling for a rebound, Smart rushed toward Bassey as they were jogging toward the other end of the floor. Immediately confronting the big man, Smart subsequently threw a right straight that Bassey rolled and slipped in Floyd Mayweather fashion.
Look at that man. Mayweather/Canelo-esque lmao https://t.co/OpsIRAkLIT
After the game, Bassey — addressing media — characterized Smart as ‘fake toughness.’
Charles Bassey on Marcus Smart throwing a punch at him: “Fake toughness.”
“I don’t think he was trying to play. I think he was trying to get himself out of the game.” https://t.co/ZxbgvUDeY9
Smart’s absence from the game did not affect the Rockets’ chances, as they were able to comfortably win against the Warriors — albeit, a Warriors team without Steph Curry, who exited the game early in the first quarter due to an oblique abdominal tear.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 12: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on November 12, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Maybe not the blowout people are looking for, but still a pretty decent win. The Sixers erased a 17-point first half deficit to defeat the Toronto Raptors 123-112 Thursday night.
Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 27 shooting 8-of-13 from the field along with eight assists. Joel Embiid didn’t quite break out of his shooting slump, but looked much better as he avoided an injury scare early in the game. He finished with 20 points going 7-of-17 from the floor along with four rebounds.
Jaylen Brown had an up-and-down night, going 8-of-15 from the field for 18 points and six rebounds. VJ Edgecombe had another great swiss army knife game, finishing with 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. R.J. Barrett led all scorers with 31.
LeBron James was out for this one with lower back management, as well as Adem Bona (neck) and Dominick Barlow (back). Toronto was without Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.
First Quarter
The Sixers opened the game generating good shots. Brown shook free of CMB for a pull-up jumper, Dean Wade and Edgecombe both stepped into open threes, and Embiid got a jumper from the free throw line, but none of these looks fell. Maxey finally got the Sixers their first field goal of the game getting the ball off a broken play and getting to the basket.
Embiid set a screen for Maxey to help him get open on the three-point line and appeared to bang knees with Ja’Kobe Walter as Walter was trying to fight through the screen. Embiid went down in a heap of pain immediately and the Sixers stopped the game so he could head back to the locker room.
The Sixers’ offense continued to struggle after the stoppage. Brown was trying attack off the dribble but was getting bottled up. They still couldn’t hit a three off the catch either — the rest of the team started the game 0-of-4 from deep. The Raptors ripped off a 12-0 run during this stretch.
For the second game in a row, Edgecombe had a really nice spin move to split defenders and get to the basket. Darko Rajakovich called timeout after he did so, which allowed Embiid to emerge from the locker room and return to the game. Edgecombe did just about the same thing coming out of the timeout.
Maxey ran quick off a miss to create a fast break layup, but Toronto was able to snuff out the momentum quickly. The Sixers went into a zone for a couple of possessions, but the Raptors shooters had gotten into a rhythm and they were able to get open pretty easily. Two threes from Barrett and another from Jamison Battle helped them score 13 more unanswered points.
Embiid nearly passed up a wide open layup near the basket, but did eventually put it up once he realized the 6-foot-1 Jamal Shead was guarding him for his first field goal of the game. Maxey was able to hit a ridiculous layup in transition, and Anfernee Simons drilled a three at the buzzer to pull the Sixers to within nine.
Second Quarter
Simons drilled a stepback three with a hand in his face to open the quarter. Embiid, looking a bit more comfortable, blocked a layup and got himself an easy bucket going to the paint. Brown wasn’t able to bury his three after making Kyle Anderson fall with a crossover, but he finally got a midrange to go that capped off a 15-0 Sixers run going back to the first.
That seemed to do the trick as Brown drilled his next two pull-ups in the midrange. Edgecombe was the best Sixer on the floor for much of the first half. His intercepting of passes from the weak side was the best defense they had going for them, and it was creating plenty of transition opportunities. On top of a big fast break dunk, Edgecombe also hit a very nifty up-and-under layup.
It probably gave everyone a good scare, but Embiid was able to get by Jakob Poeltl and throw down a dunk, albeit one that did not look like the smoothest landing. The Sixers’ offense started scorching, but a lack of stops prevented them from building a lead. Nick Nurse called a timeout to regroup after they allowed two offensive rebounds on one possession, ending with a putback.
That timeout also gave Nurse a chance to put Maxey back in the game, who immediately went straight to the basket and got fouled. After teams traded threes, Maxey got to the hoop again, but Embiid picked up his third foul of the night trying to grab a defensive rebound and had to sit for the last two and a half minutes of the half.
Brown took up the mantle offensively, nailing another pull-up and driving for a layup. Jabari Walker, who didn’t have much of an impact in his first shift, picked up an offensive rebound and drew a foul pulling down another. His putback was answered with another three from Barrett. Wade missed another open three on the ensuing possession, keeping the game tied at 60 at the break.
Third Quarter
Both teams stayed hot coming out of the break as Wade and Edgecombe each drilled a corner three. On the other end of the floor the Raptors drove right to the basket for three easy layups. Immanuel Quickley also drilled a very deep, very contested pull-up three. Embiid missed a fadeaway over Poeltl, but got himself another easy dunk playing high-low with Edgecombe.
The Sixers were still giving up plenty of easy baskets off simple actions, but they were guarding one-on-one better when the Raptors isolated. Brown blocked a Barrett layup and jumped a passing lane for a pick-six. Screens ended up being risky plays on the night as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope came up favoring his shoulder trying to fight through one, but he didn’t have to leave the game.
Despite throwing a post-entry pass for Brown a little too far, Embiid seemed to finding his comfort offensively. He was confident in his physical advantages over Poeltl and was aggressive because of that. It did seem like he was trying to dunk as much as he could, which did lead to him fumbling away an attempt at the basket.
Embiid is still waiting on that midrange game to come back around as he was long on another free throw line jumper. It remained a hot Simons game, something the team desperately needed with how they’ve been shooting lately.
Maxey was a consistent source of scoring to close the quarter, but stops on the other end continued to come at a premium. The Sixers were finally able to get some space after Quickley missed a pretty open layup after beating Maxey through the paint. Simons got it up the floor for a transition basket. The Raptors called a timeout to regroup, but CMB got called for a moving screen on the first play coming out of it. Maxey got to the line, which Barrett responded to by backing him down in the post for a layup, bringing the Sixers lead back down to nine after three.
Fourth Quarter
Walker opened the quarter with a corner three and just missed a second a few possessions later. He did scoop up another putback after Edgecombe’s attempt to dunk on two Raptors came up empty, and Simons swiped the ball away from Barrett for a fast break bucket to start the quarter strong.
At some point in the first half, the ball got stuck behind the backboard and the crowd let Poeltl hear it as he struggled to knock it free with a broom. When the ball got stuck again in the fourth, a referee brought the broom back to Poeltl on the bench for a chance at redemption. The crowd got a kick out of it, but Poeltl did not, and refused. The crowd shared a sarcastic celebration with KCP after it took him a few attempts to dislodge it.
The Sixers’ offense seemed to hit a bit of a lull midway through the fourth. Brown missed a pair of free throws and was blocked again at the rim by CMB. Edgecombe tried to hit Brown with a lob but that was broken up by CMB again, but Edgecombe was able to pick it back up and finish it himself. After giving up second chance points on the following possession, Nurse called a timeout to put Embiid and Maxey back in the game.
The Raptors got another basket inside, a trip to the line, and a corner three to cut the lead down to six with plenty of time left. Simons hit a much needed three, as was the case for much of the night. Embiid finally knocked down a midrange after a couple of stops, but Quickley walked into an open three off a screen on the next trip down the floor.
Maxey got to the line again as the Raptors started to run out of time. Embiid got past a couple of defenders and nearly had another self lob off the backboard, but that was also broken up by CMB. Embiid was still able to secure the ball and get it to KCP, who buried a three right before the shot clock expired. Embiid hit a midrange on the following possession, wrapping up this game quite nicely for both himself and the team.
The double-digit lead gave the fans enough confidence for loud “We Want Tacko” chants, and Nurse obliged, putting Tacko Fall in for the final 54 seconds of the game. Poor Jabari Walker got a round of boos when he went to the scorer’s table on account of not being Tacko Fall.
MILWAUKEE — The Lakers have been getting more from Sandro Mamukelashvili recently than simply his highest-scoring games since joining the franchise over the summer.
Sandro Mamukelashvili of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. NBAE via Getty Images
But what the Lakers hope can be taken from those games beyond Mamukelashvili’s scoring output was his offensive approach.
“High performance — a few of the key components to that is belief, focus and freedom,” coach JJ Redick said. “And I want him to understand how much his teammates, his coaches, myself, we believe in him.”
Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. NBAE via Getty Images
The sixth-year forward feels that belief from his current teammates during his first season with the Lakers.
It’s a catalyst of Mamukelashvili having the performance he’s had recently where he’s been active in looking for ways he can contribute offensively.
“I want to be aggressive from the jump,” he said. “I know these guys trust me, I know Coach trusts me. He wants me to be me. He wants to just let me play how I’m used to playing. So, it just kind of like eases my mind, doesn’t make me think that much.”
That’s how the Lakers want him to operate.
Redick referred to Mamukelashvili being an “over-thinker” during training camp — which the Lakers coach could relate to.
Which is why Redick’s made it an emphasis to help the 27-year-old realize they want him to play more freely.
“The big thing for him is understanding that he has a lot of freedom,” Redick said. “Luka [Doncic], [Austin Reaves] — that doesn’t need to be said — they have freedom within the structure of our offense. Mamu also has a lot of freedom.”
Sandro Mamukelashvili of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. NBAE via Getty Images
Mamukelashvili, who played for the Bucks, Spurs and Raptors before joining the Lakers, recognized how different this is compared with his former teams.
“It was a hard journey from a two-way [contract] and out of the rotation,” he said. “I feel like it mentally kind of drains you. It kind of sometimes makes you doubt yourself, makes you think about what you can do out there to help the team win and everywhere you have kind of a different challenge.
“I feel like here, they just tell me, ‘We want you to be you. We want you to be a big part of this team. And just believe in yourself.’ I have never had a chance to have somebody who would tell me that. It started a little bit last year, but I feel like this year, I feel much more freedom.”
Mamukelashvili, who’s averaging 10.8 points this season, acknowledged it’s a process of realizing the trust he has.
“I hope I’ll get better,” he said. “I hope I’ll start believing in myself as much as they do. I think I do. But as I said, sometimes going through all this up and down you’re like, ‘Do they really trust me?’ Like, you start questioning it. And once you start assuming what people think, how they want you to play, that’s when you lose your swagger. So I just got to be me and go out and keep playing with confidence.”
New York Knicks guard Miles McBride (2) reacts after scoring against the Cleveland Cavaliers during a game at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 11, 2026.
The Deuce has been loose.
Miles McBride, after some early-season struggles, is playing some of his best basketball since sports hernia surgery disrupted his season last year.
He was averaging just 6.4 points on a rough 35.7 percent shooting from the field across the Knicks’ first five games. But over the past six games, McBride averaged 9.2 points on 51.3 percent shooting from the field. He went 14-for-30 (46.7 percent) from 3-point range during that span as well.
New York Knicks guard Miles McBride (2) reacts after scoring against the Cleveland Cavaliers during a game at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 11, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Their depth at guard — and lack of depth at center — presented the enticing possibility of flipping McBride for a big man rather than losing him for nothing in free agency, like what happened with Mitchell Robinson.
McBride’s recent form, though, has made him pivotal to the Knicks’ chances of making another championship run.
The Knicks will have to wait a bit longer to face nemesis Tyrese Haliburton, who is out for the team’s NBA Cup game against the Pacers on Friday night in Indiana. The star point guard has missed the past eight games with a hamstring injury, and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Wednesday that he will miss at least 10 more days.
The Knicks have not faced Haliburton since he became an MSG villain and eliminated them in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2025, as he missed all of last season due to a torn Achilles he suffered in Game 7 of the Finals that year.
It is possible Haliburton will be back by the time the Knicks host the Pacers at MSG on Nov. 22.
The night before, Smart grazed the face of Bassey when he threw a punch with 21 seconds left in the third quarter after the whistle was blown for a separate foul. Their arms had been caught in each other during a play and, when game play was stopped, Smart seemingly snapped.
After the punch was thrown, players from both teams got in a scuffle and, as the scene was broken up, the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year started walking to the locker room. It seemed as if he was sure he would be given a flagrant foul 2 and ejected from the game, which, after a review, he was.
Just before the incident, Smart and Bassey got tangled up under the rim when trying to box out during a Warriors possession. The two continued to jaw at each other up the floor. Then, when play halted, Smart squared up and threw a right-handed hook that nearly landed on Bassey’s cheek. Bassey had moved his head backward to avoid contact. Officials later said that Smart made contact to Bassey’s nose.
After the game, which the Rockets won 115-108, Bassey criticized Smart for his "fake toughness."
Houston head coach Ime Udoka also addressed the incident and shared Smart's side of the story.
"Marcus, I just talked to him, he said they got wrapped up and his elbow that he had hurt got bent up," the coach said. "And so he said something to him and Bassey said, 'What you going to do?' and he did it."
When will Marcus Smart return from suspension?
The former Oklahoma State standout will miss the Rockets' next three games due to his suspension. Houston faces the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards and Miami Heat.
Smart's suspension will be lifted to play in the road game against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
Marcus Smart stats this season
Smart is averaging 8.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal per game this season, his first with the Rockets.
He had six points, two rebounds and an assist before being booted from the Warriors matchup.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 11: Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz celebrates during the game against the Orlando Magic on November 11, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I know that sports fans have said, “This is our year,” at the beginning of every season for every sport since the dawn of man. Archaeologists only recently discovered cave drawings of ancient man calling his shot by prematurely tattooing the Larry O’Brien Trophy on his shoulder with the description: “Tigris River Valley Hunter-Gatherers 5,000 B.C. World Champions” (no need to fact-check me on this, just trust me).
But for the Utah Jazz, the 2026-27 season was actually supposed to be “their year”. No blind optimism, no baseless fantasies. Just grounded, reasonable, and logical projections for a team on the rise.
Through four painful seasons, the Jazz lost a grand total of 211 games in search of an elusive young superstar to lift their tragic franchise from an endless tank. As those four seasons came to a close, Utah finally claimed their prize: a star guard out of Kansas named Darryn Peterson. And he couldn’t have come at a better time, either.
Tired of witnessing one-third of the league actively trying to lose basketball games, the NBA enacted anti-tanking protocols and installed lottery reform intent on de-incentivizing the act of “tanking”.
Teams have far less incentive to tank this season, especially this early on, as the owners of the four worst records will have a statistically lower chance of getting the number-one overall pick than those who finish 5th-8th from the bottom.
That adjustment is one of two reasons why Utah is off to such a slow start. The other, in my view, is having a very injured roster at a time when most teams are still playing at or near full strength. Teams are fighting to win every game, and the Jazz are ill-equipped to fight back.
As a result, the Jazz are off to an even worse start this year through 11 games than any of their rebuilding seasons. They hold hands at the bottom of the Western Conference standings with an abysmal Sacramento team.
Utah Jazz record through 11 games (last five seasons):
The Jazz are not tanking. Not intentionally, anyway.
Utah has even less reason to minimize their competitive edge, being barred from a top-four pick after drafting second overall this summer, and owing their pick to Memphis even if it were to finish in a favorable position.
With three of their five starters out with prolonged injuries, things may get even worse before they get any better. But they can — and I believe Utah will — improve before a play-in spot is out of reach.
Assuming Lauri Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic all return according to current timetables, the Jazz are only a month or two away from full strength, barring further injury. This is a team still learning to play with each other. With several key pieces having arrived within the last year, chemistry will take time to develop.
A Play-In appearance is a reasonable goal this season, despite my own preseason projections anticipating a top-six finish. Should the Jazz rally and finish with a top-10 record in the Western Conference, Utah has hope of building on that success in the following season. This was never going to be “the year” for Utah. It was always destined to be a stepping stone. But so long as that stride carries the Jazz closer to a better place, there’s still reason for optimism.
This is a talented team. Time will tell if talent can translate to results.
Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk and a Utah Jazz columnist for the Standard-Examiner. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently writes from his desk in Japan.
It’s no secret the Warriors need to acquire an impactful big man.
While it hasn’t been a month since the NBA season started, Golden State appears to be aware of its deficiencies and is looking into fixing them.
According to NBA insider Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, he’s heard rumors of the Warriors being interested in Norman Powell but isn’t buying into it. He mentioned two potential players.
ClutchPoints’ @BrettSiegelNBA says Wendell Carter Jr and Naz Reid could be potential trade targets for the Warriors:
“Right now, who are targets for the Warriors?… Wendell Carter Jr and Naz Reid… Those are the two guys I’m keeping an eye on for the Warriors if they are to add… pic.twitter.com/xsG6RQeiV6
“Then also, Naz Reid with the Charlotte Hornets. He was traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Charlotte Hornets this past offseason,” Siegel said. “Obviously he’s had a ton of suitors between the Warriors, the Portland Trail Blazers. A few other teams mix out there.”
As the Warriors are expected to search for a big man, the irony is that last season the organization thought it solved its problem when it made a splash at the trade deadline and acquired Kristaps Porzingis. Golden State gave him a two-year, $40 million contract extension over the offseason.
Yaxel Lendeborg celebrating during Sunday’s game against the Rockets. Getty Images
Kristaps Porzingis warming up for the Warriors last season in a game against the Kings. AP Photo/Scott Marshall
With a little more financial flexibility, Golden State could pull off a deal to get Carter. He is making $18.1 million this season and will make $19.6 million next season, while having a team option for the 2028-2029 season.
Reid will make $23.3 million next year, $25 million the following, $26.7 million for 2028-2029 and has a player option of $28.4 million for the 2029-2030 season.
