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Knicks Mailbag: How can Karl-Anthony Towns get more comfortable in Mike Brown's system?

SNY's Ian Begley will be responding to Knicks questions from readers. Here's the latest...

@MELOMIKE7 -- Hello Ian, It's obvious that KAT is not comfortable with this system. I feel Coach Brown needs to simplify his game and lean to his strengths a bit more, but most important he needs to take time off to head from that quad injury. God forbid it gets worse, so does our chance to reach the Finals

Melo Mike asked this question earlier in the season before Karl-Anthony Towns had 33 points and 13 rebounds against Washington. But I still think that Towns’ comfort/effectiveness in Mike Brown’s system is one of the bigger storylines early on for the Knicks. 

Towns has been switching between power forward and center due to the Knicks’ load management of Mitchell Robinson. It was clear earlier in the season that he wasn’t fully comfortable in Brown’s offense. It became quite obvious during the Knicks’ loss at Milwaukee. 

In a perfect world, Towns will grow more comfortable in Brown’s offense as the year goes on. If Monday’s game was any indication, it seems like Towns is trending in the right direction. But this is something that certainly bears watching, I think. 

Towns raised some eyebrows during the preseason when he said he wasn’t sure about his role in Brown’s offense. Sometimes, answers to questions in news conferences are meaningless. But I don’t think Towns was giving you a meaningless answer there. Based on the time I’ve spent around the team, I think Towns’ answer was a legitimate reflection of his comfort/confidence in where he fit in the offense. 

Like the rest of the Knicks, Towns is still finding his way in Brown’s offense. But the offense is a significant shift from what Towns was playing last season. There’s very little isolation and it requires cuts and other off-ball movement from Towns. This is a significant change from Tom Thibodeau’s offense. So Towns’ comfort level is certainly worth watching in the first few weeks of the season. 

With regards to Towns’ quad injury, I believe it is fully healed because it is no longer listed on the NBA’s injury report.  

QUICK HITTERS 

@KnicksCentral -- Do you expect the Knicks to be active at the trade deadline? Active as in “normal” trades, not a Giannis level deal

I would expect them to be active simply because this is viewed as a prime opportunity to reach the NBA Finals. If you’re looking at this season through that prism, I assume you will be searching for opportunities to upgrade the roster in early February. If the Knicks are playing well, I’d expect them to pursue moves around the back end of the rotation. If they are not playing well, we will probably be having a different conversation ahead of the trade deadline.  

@Buddyboybets --  Do you think Leon Rose primarily focused on the KAT vs. Giannis matchup the other day to see if he would lean more to trading for Giannis this season?

I don’t think so. These kinds of decisions are made by using a ton of research/analysis. I don’t think one game would sway a team one way or the other in this case.   

@5outball -- could the knicks be open to trading for backup big man depth with Mitchell Robinson missing lots of time and KAT playing through injury right now ?

I think that they have to keep an eye on the market given Robinson’s injury history. They would love to have him healthy in the postseason but they have to prepare for other options. So I’m sure that they will keep an eye on the trade market for bigs. 

@TomPenders -- I like Deuce. Thibs developed him into a solid guard. I scouted Deuce at WVA. He wasn’t a lead guard there. He’s capable of scoring 15-20 ppg but only as a scorer. When he’s with Brunson, he’ll score.

Miles McBride is so important for this Knicks team. When they were considering trades during training camp/preseason, they never seriously considered trading McBride. That tells you how they feel about his value on the roster. As Coach Penders mentions, McBride is more comfortable off the ball. That’s one reason why Tyler Kolek was getting minutes earlier in the season. Maybe the Knicks ultimately look for a veteran ball-handler to fill that role off the bench. Or maybe Kolek plays well enough to keep the role himself.  

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Fantasy Basketball Week 3 Injury Report: Trae Young, Zion Williamson join the list

Another week, another list of key players who will miss time due to injury. Atlanta, Charlotte and New Orleans are among the teams forced to navigate the loss of key players, but some are better equipped to offer viable streaming alternatives than others. Let's look at some of the key injuries at the halfway point of Week 3, starting with the Hawks' star point guard.

G Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Injured during the Hawks' October 29 win over Brooklyn, Young will be re-evaluated in four weeks (from November 2) after suffering a sprained right MCL. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (37 percent rostered, Yahoo!) has moved into the starting lineup and is a suitable option for fantasy managers seeking a boost. While his fantasy value has remained low, he's averaged 19.0 points and 32.7 minutes in the three games the Hawks have played since losing Young. Luke Kennard (eight percent) has seen his playing time increase, but only slightly. And in the Hawks' last three games, he's averaged 9.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 three-pointers.

The player whose fantasy value has received the most significant boost with Young sidelined is Dyson Daniels (98 percent), who got off to a slow start. Over the last three, he's averaged 18.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals while shooting 70.6 percent from the field. Daniels and Jalen Johnson have, according to Basketball Monster, provided third-round value over the last three games. Managers who have either of those players rostered are in a good spot going into the back end of Week 3.

G LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

Ball has missed the Hornets' last two games with a right ankle impingement. That's the same ankle that was operated on in the spring, ending the point guard's 2024-25 season in late March. While Ball did go through pregame shootaround ahead of Tuesday's loss to the Pelicans, one would imagine that the Hornets will exercise caution given the injury history.

Rookie Sion James (three percent) has moved into the starting lineup, with Collin Sexton (34 percent) shifting into the point guard role. In his two starts, James totaled 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block and four three-pointers, shooting 58.3 percent from the field. The rookie had his best performance of the season in Charlotte's November 2 win over the Jazz, tallying 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three three-pointers. What works against James and Sexton more than anything is the Hornets' schedule: Week 3 is a two-game week, and the second game (Friday at Miami) is part of an 11-game slate.

G Coby White, Chicago Bulls

Due to a calf injury, White has yet to appear in a game this season, and a status update was expected this week. Before Tuesday's win over the 76ers, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said the hope is that White will be able to play in a couple of weeks. While he has progressed to sprinting and cutting, he still has not played 5-on-5.

Tre Jones (32 percent) has filled in admirably, providing fifth-round value in eight- and nine-cat formats. He's shooting well from the field and the foul line while averaging 11.6 points, 5.7 assists, and 2.3 steals in 29.4 minutes per game. However, the player whose value may have received the most significant boost is Josh Giddey (100 percent), who has been a top-20 player in eight-cat formats. He recorded his second triple-double of the season on Tuesday and is shooting nearly 42 percent from three on 4.4 attempts per game. This version of Giddey is the one many fantasy managers hoped to see earlier in his career. The question: Should managers sell high on Giddey or hold onto him?

G Darius Garland, G Sam Merrill and C Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers

Garland could make his season debut on Wednesday when the Cavaliers host Philadelphia. While it was reported on Tuesday that he would play, the point guard was still listed as questionable on the team injury report at the time of publishing. And Garland isn't the only starter on the mend, as Merrill's hot start was derailed by a hip injury that has sidelined him for the last three games. Last but not least is Allen, who has missed the previous two games with a non-displaced fracture of his left ring finger. Like Garland and Merrill, he is also listed as questionable for Tuesday night.

The most recent replacements in the starting lineup were Jaylon Tyson (five percent), De'Andre Hunter (30 percent) and Larry Nance Jr. (less than one percent). Despite shooting 38.4 percent from the field and offering limited defensive stats, Hunter is ranked just outside the top-100 in eight-cat formats. Tyson is a few rounds behind him, while Nance's 1-of-9 night against the Hawks on Sunday did not inspire anyone to grab him off the waiver wire before the start of Week 3. Hunter may have some staying power if Garland and Merrill play this week, but he shouldn't be considered a "must-hold."

F Tobias Harris, Detroit Pistons

Harris sprained his right ankle during the Pistons' November 1 win over the Mavericks in Mexico City, missing the November 3 win over Memphis as a result. And it was "Beef Stew time" in Detroit, as Isaiah Stewart (22 percent) put up 26 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, four blocks and two three-pointers in 34 minutes. Harris is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Jazz, but it's worth considering whether Stewart should be rostered in more leagues regardless of Harris' availability. Through seven games, he has been a top-100 player despite serving as Jalen Duren's backup on most nights, thanks in part to an average of 2.3 blocks per game.

G Stephen Curry and F Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors

Curry has been playing through an illness recently, and after Tuesday's win over the Suns, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said the guard will not play Wednesday against the Kings. We'll see what Curry's status is for Golden State's final two games of the week, Friday at Denver and Sunday against the Pacers in San Francisco. However, Butler's status is more concerning, as he has been dealing with a lower back injury and played only 14 minutes on Tuesday.

He's officially questionable for Wednesday, but it isn't easy to envision Butler playing the second game of a back-to-back after not returning for the second half of the previous game. Moses Moody (five percent) started the second half and finished with a season-high 24 points. He and Brandin Podziemski (40 percent) are worth streaming for Wednesday's game, and Moody may have added value for the rest of Week 3, depending on Butler's status.

Golden State Warriors v Portland Trail Blazers
Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Jonathan Kuminga taking a leap to begin fifth season
Kuminga is showing signs of growth to begin the season while Raptors center Jakob Poeltl has struggled out of the gate.

G Quenton Jackson, Indiana Pacers

The Pacers can't buy a break when it comes to injuries. Jackson is the most recent guard to go down, as he strained his right hamstring during Monday's loss to Milwaukee. While the Pacers have not provided a definitive timeline, hamstring injuries are ones that teams generally exercise caution with. There aren't any appealing options among the Pacers who could be moved into the starting lineup, including Ben Sheppard (three percent). But this is a time to go "all-in" on Jarace Walker (17 percent) and Aaron Nesmith (27 percent), even if their current fantasy values aren't all that impressive. Also, center Isaiah Jackson (17 percent) has played well recently and is worth a look, despite the inconsistency concerns.

F Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers

Following Friday's win over the Pelicans, Leonard said he was not restricted in any way and planned on playing both games of the Clippers' Monday/Tuesday back-to-back to begin Week 3. Unfortunately, he sprained his left ankle in the fourth quarter of Monday's loss to the Heat, which led to Leonard not playing in Tuesday's loss to the Thunder. Bradley Beal (74 percent) was also held out of the matchup with the reigning champs, but that was due to knee injury management.

Kris Dunn (four percent) and Nicolas Batum (less than one percent) moved into the starting lineup on Tuesday, but neither offered much in the way of streaming value. Derrick Jones Jr. (seven percent), who has been a fixture in the starting lineup, is worth a look in deep leagues, especially if Leonard's ankle injury limits his availability for the Clippers' final two games of Week 3 (at Phoenix on Thursday, host Phoenix on Saturday).

G Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers

While Luka Dončić was removed from the Lakers' injury report after sitting out Monday's win over the Trail Blazers - the team's second game in as many nights - Reaves was not. He's questionable for Wednesday's matchup with the Spurs due to a sore right groin. His availability impacts Jake LaRavia (31 percent), who logged 36 minutes on Monday and finished with 11 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals. Even if Reaves can play against San Antonio, LaRavia is worth holding onto, at least until LeBron James can return from his case of sciatica.

F Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans

On Tuesday, the Pelicans announced that Williamson would be re-evaluated in 7-10 days after suffering a low-grade left hamstring strain. New Orleans was also without starting center Yves Missi for Tuesday's win over the Hornets, leading to Jordan Poole (94 percent) and Kevon Looney (one percent) moving into the starting lineup. Poole isn't available in most leagues, and there isn't much to be gained from rostering Looney. But could this be a time when rookie Derik Queen becomes more valuable?

While he only played 18 minutes against the Hornets, Queen and fellow reserves Jose Alvarado (one percent) and Saddiq Bey (two percent) gave New Orleans a much-needed boost. The Pelicans can't afford to punt on this season, especially after trading their 2026 first-round pick to move up and draft Queen. But, they also can't afford not to play him rotation minutes. There may not be much to gain from rostering Queen in the short term, but keep an eye on him in the Pelicans' final two games of Week 3.

G Jalen Green and F Dillon Brooks, Phoenix Suns

Green may be closing in on a return to the court, as he has played 5-on-5 as recently as Tuesday morning ahead of the Suns' loss to the Warriors. Could Thursday's game against the Clippers be in play for the guard to make his Suns debut? If so, one would imagine that Green's minutes will be restricted due to the amount of time missed. His availability impacts Grayson Allen (34 percent) the most, and managers who have Allen rostered should not drop him immediately.

Phoenix is also waiting on Brooks, who has missed the last five games with a core muscle strain. Royce O'Neale (25 percent) has been effective as his replacement in the starting lineup, providing top-75 value in eight-cat formats (as has Allen). He's another player to hold onto until Brooks is on the court and able to play without restrictions.

G Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs

Harper injured his left calf during Sunday's loss to Phoenix, with the rookie leaving the arena on crutches while wearing a walking boot. He's expected to miss multiple weeks, leaving the Spurs down another rotation guard with De'Aaron Fox still recovering from a hamstring injury. Is there anyone worth targeting behind starters Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell? No. Jordan McLaughlin (less than one percent) played 19 minutes off the bench on Sunday, but that isn't enough time to impact fantasy basketball, and his upside is minimal.

San Antonio's overall depth could be boosted soon, as Jeremy Sochan, Kelly Olynyk and Lindy Waters III are all questionable for Wednesday's game against the Lakers. However, none are likely to get the run needed to impact fantasy basketball immediately.

C Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz

Kessler has missed Utah's last two games with left shoulder bursitis and will miss at least two more, as the team sent him home early for further evaluation. Utah ends its four-game road trip with games against Detroit (Wednesday) and Minnesota (Friday), then begins Week 4 with a Monday/Tuesday home back-to-back against the Timberwolves and Pacers. The concern is that Kessler also dealt with left shoulder bursitis during the preseason, missing all but one exhibition.

Jusuf Nurkić (11 percent) has started the last two games, totaling 14 points, 20 rebounds, six assists, two steals and one blocked shot. While the scoring can be inconsistent, the rebounding production is what makes Nurkić an appealing streamer for Utah's final two games of Week 3. Also, Isaiah Collier (hamstring) was available for Monday's win over the Celtics but did not play, possibly a byproduct of how well Keyonte George (63 percent) has played to start the season. Walter Clayton Jr. (two percent) will likely take the more significant hit to his playing time once Collier begins to play in games.

F Khris Middleton, Washington Wizards

Wednesday's game against the Celtics will be Middleton's second missed game, this one due to a sore right knee. Justin Champagnie (less than one percent) started Monday's loss to the Knicks, finishing with four points, one rebound and one assist in 17 minutes. Rookie Tre Johnson (12 percent) played 21 minutes off the bench and was reasonably productive, tallying 10 points, four rebounds, one assist, one block and two three-pointers. He's a better streaming option than Champagnie, especially for fantasy managers who have the room to consider holding onto Johnson for the long haul once Middleton is cleared to return.

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Ja Morant trade value, interest low but Kings, Timberwolves reportedly monitoring situation

Memphis has stumbled out of the gate to a 3-5 record with a bottom-10 offense and defense. Then came the reality-TV level unnecessary drama: Star Ja Morant had a low-effort game against the Lakers (check out the video), new Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo believes in being direct and calling out players letting the team down and did so with Morant in the locker room, Morant responded by throwingthe coaches under the bus, which led to him being suspended for one game for “conduct detrimental to the team.” Things have not looked much better since.

In the NBA, an unhappy star inevitably leads to trade speculation. That has happened here. However, there is not much of a market around the league in trading for Morant, multiple front office sources told NBC Sports. There are concerns about whether he is still an All-Star-level player, and how his personality and ball-dominant style would fit on a lot of rosters. That said, there is always some level of interest in picking up a player — especially a popular one, someone a team's marketing arm can sell and boost ticket sales — on a lowball offer, or a team open to trading a problem star for a problem star. The challenge becomes that if Memphis is ever going to consider parting with the face of the franchise, it will want a massive haul in return, and that market is not out there.

Teams are at least keeping their eye on what is happening in Memphis, reports Sam Amick at The Athletic.

"There is still no shortage of teams that will continue monitoring his situation. The Minnesota Timberwolves, per a team source, are one. Ditto for the Sacramento Kings. The Grizzlies' next opponent, the Houston Rockets, need a point guard after losing Fred Van Vleet to a torn ACL in the preseason but, per a team source, are unlikely to pursue him."

Morant's contract is not the issue. He is making $39.5 million this season and has two years, $87.1 million remaining after this season, reasonable numbers if a team still considers Morant an All-Star. Morant can still put up numbers, averaging 20.4 points and 7.1 assists a game this season.

Memphis would be wise to wait until they get healthy — center Zach Edey is near a return, and this team badly misses Scottie Pippen Jr. and Ty Jerome for spacing — before making any decisions. Give Iisalo a chance as he starts to get back key players who better fit his system. Then, if that doesn't work, there will be hard conversations to have about him, Jaren Jackson Jr. and the rest of the roster.

For right now, Memphis is just trying to get itself right, and the rest of the league is watching this play out. As we get closer to the trade deadline in February, the situation may change, but this is more likely an offseason kind of move. If we see a change at all.

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Kings' Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine out vs. Warriors; Jimmy Butler questionable

Kings' Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine out vs. Warriors; Jimmy Butler questionable originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Both the Warriors and Kings will be without key players for Wednesday’s game at Golden 1 Center.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr ruled superstar Steph Curry (illness) out immediately after Tuesday’s win over the Phoenix Suns, and on Wednesday, the Warriors listed forward Draymond Green (rib) and guard Brandin Podziemski (wrist) as questionable against Sacramento, while downgrading forward Jimmy Butler (lower back) from questionable to out later in the afternoon.

The Kings, meanwhile, ruled out star guard Zach LaVine (lower back) and center Domantas Sabonis (ribcage contusion) for the Northern California matchup.

While both Sacramento and Golden State will be without its top scorers in LaVine (27.4) and Curry (26.8 PPG), respectively, both teams also will be without their second-best players.

Butler was questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Suns, but ended up playing in the first half, scoring 2 points with 4 rebounds and 2 assists in 14 minutes before he was ruled out for the remainder of the game as Golden State built a 25-point lead late in the second quarter.

Curry, dealing with an illness that he admits hindered him in the second half of the game, was unofficially ruled out by Kerr on Tuesday night before being officially ruled out on Wednesday.

Both LaVine and Sabonis played in Sacramento’s loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday, and it’s unclear how severe their injuries are.

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Warriors, Kings each rule out pair of star players for Wednesday's game

Warriors, Kings each rule out pair of star players for Wednesday's game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Both the Warriors and Kings will be without key players for Wednesday’s game at Golden 1 Center.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr ruled superstar Steph Curry (illness) out immediately after Tuesday’s win over the Phoenix Suns, and on Wednesday, the Warriors listed forward Draymond Green (rib) and guard Brandin Podziemski (wrist) as questionable against Sacramento, while downgrading forward Jimmy Butler (lower back) from questionable to out later in the afternoon.

The Kings, meanwhile, ruled out star guard Zach LaVine (lower back) and center Domantas Sabonis (ribcage contusion) for the Northern California matchup.

While both Sacramento and Golden State will be without its top scorers in LaVine (27.4) and Curry (26.8 PPG), respectively, both teams also will be without their second-best players.

Butler was questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Suns, but ended up playing in the first half, scoring 2 points with 4 rebounds and 2 assists in 14 minutes before he was ruled out for the remainder of the game as Golden State built a 25-point lead late in the second quarter.

Curry, dealing with an illness that he admits hindered him in the second half of the game, was unofficially ruled out by Kerr on Tuesday night before being officially ruled out on Wednesday.

Both LaVine and Sabonis played in Sacramento’s loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday, and it’s unclear how severe their injuries are.

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Steve Nash hilariously credits Steph Curry for pushing him into retirement

Steve Nash hilariously credits Steph Curry for pushing him into retirement originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

On the latest episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast, co-host Steve Nash told a story to LeBron James and guest Steph Curry about the moment he realized his NBA career was done — and Curry was part of the reason why.

The moment traces back to the 2014-15 preseason, when Nash and the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Warriors in Ontario, California. Golden State came out firing, putting up a 39-point first quarter and eventually cruising to a 116–75 win. Curry dropped 12 points in the opening 2:30 and finished with 25 points in just 24 minutes.

Nash, already dealing with back issues, knew he didn’t have the legs to keep up with Curry flying around screens.

“I’m guarding Steph,” Nash said. “They put up like 50 in the first quarter — maybe it was 45, but it felt like a 50-piece. He’s running everywhere. My back is broke. Everything’s jacked. I couldn’t have stopped him if I was 100 percent.”

A few days later, the realization hit.

“Man, literally like three more, four more days of thinking on it, I was like… yeah. I think it’s time,” Nash joked to Curry. “You put me out!”

In July 2014, Nash already had said the upcoming season would be his last. The 40-year-old point guard played just three preseason games before his back flared up again, including the one against the Warriors in Ontario. On October 23, 2014, less than a week before opening night, he was ruled out for the season and never appeared in another NBA game.

Nash didn’t formally announce his retirement until March 2015, but he says now that the moment guarding Curry was when the decision really settled in.

Instead of stepping away from the game entirely, Nash shifted into a new consulting role with the Warriors.

“Next thing I know,” Curry said, “he showed up at practice teaching us pick-and-roll.”

On the podcast, Nash joked that it was one of those “if you can’t beat ’em” situations — and LeBron quickly finished the line for him before the trio erupted into laughter. The matchup that ended his playing days ultimately brought him right back into the game.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Fantasy Basketball Trade Tips: Early Season Buy Low, Sell High Guide

Early-season fantasy basketball trades separate contenders from pretenders. Shooting percentages haven't normalized, roles remain fluid, and league-mates overreact to hot starts or cold streaks. Smart managers target buy-low candidates with strong underlying metrics, cash in on unsustainable efficiency, and hold established players through shooting slumps. Understanding usage rates and minute trends reveals which performances are real versus noise. Act fast before the market catches up.

Buy

Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks

As the top pick in the draft and one of the more highly regarded prospects in recent history, Flagg entered the league with significant fantasy expectations. He was going in the third or fourth round in many leagues, which means he's someone that fantasy managers intended to build their team around. The early returns have not been great, with him averaging 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 three-pointers. His biggest issue has been shooting only 38.8% from the field.

Since Kyrie Irving (knee) is out, the Mavericks have been deploying Flagg at point guard for stretches. That's a difficult assignment for any rookie, let alone one who is more suited to be a forward at 6'9". Despite the early growing pains, Flagg has massive upside. Once Irving comes back, Flagg can all settle back into a more suitable role playing the wing. Fantasy managers who drafted him early might be frustrated with their initial returns, so there is a possible buy-low window here.

Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls

Buzelis was widely regarded as one of the top breakout candidates this season. He didn't play much to begin his rookie season with the Bulls, but once they moved him into the starting lineup, his fantasy upside began to show. With a secure spot in the starting lineup entering this season, it looked like full-steam ahead for Buzelis when he recorded 21 points, six rebounds and three blocks in his season opener versus the Pistons. However, he has averaged a more modest 13.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks since.

Buzelis hasn't contributed a ton outside of points and three-pointers. It is encouraging to see him shooting 46.9% from the field and 42.4% from behind the arc. It's also good to see him logging 29 minutes per game. If not for a rough game against a very good Magic defensive team in which he fouled out in six minutes, his overall numbers for the season would look better. Big things could still be on the horizon.

Sell

RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors

The addition of Brandon Ingram figured to cut into Barrett's scoring opportunities. However, Barrett is still averaging 20.8 points per game, which is nearly in line with his average of 21.1 points last season. However, it's important to point out that Barrett is shooting 55.4% from the field. He has shot 44.3% for his career, so some significant regression could be coming. His usage rate has indeed dipped significantly, falling from 28.7% last season to 23.3% through eight games.

Barrett averaged 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists last season, but is down to 4.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game this season. If not for his significant increase in efficiency, his overall numbers would have taken a big step backward from last season. Trade him now before his shooting percentage begins to normalize.

Quentin Grimes, Philadelphia 76ers

Grimes helped many fantasy managers down the stretch last season. Over his final 25 games, he averaged 23.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 3.1 three-pointers. With the 76ers dealing with so many injuries, he logged 34 minutes per game during that span and was often their top scoring option. Despite Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid being back in the fold this season, Grimes has averaged 17.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.7 three-pointers over their first seven games.

Helping Grimes has been him playing 32 minutes per game. That type of workload might not be sustainable now that Jared McCain is back. Grimes played 30 minutes in McCain's first game of the season Tuesday against the Bulls, finishing with 10 points, three rebounds and four assists. Paul George (knee) should also return at some point down the road. It's possible that Grimes could be in the 25-to-28-minute range moving forward, so his fantasy value might have already peaked. 

Hold

Derrick White, Boston Celtics

White looked primed for an expanded role entering the season. Jayson Tatum (Achilles) is out, and the Celtics traded away Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Other than Anfernee Simons, the Celtics didn't make any noteworthy additions. That left White with the potential to set a new career high in points after he put up 16.4 points per game last season.

As many expected, the added shots have been there for White. His usage rate is 23.6%, which is up from 19.8% last season. The issue is, him shooting 31.0% from the field and 26.3% from behind the arc has limited him to 14.4 points per game. Entering this season, White had shot at least 38.1% from behind the arc in each of his first three full campaigns with the Celtics. As his three-point percentage improves, so should his scoring contributions. Don't panic about his slow start and trade him at a discount.

Desmond Bane, Orlando Magic

The Magic had a clear need in the offseason and it was to improve their three-point shooting. That made the acquisition of Bane seem like a perfect fit. He has averaged at least 2.4 three-pointers in each of the last four seasons, and he has shot 40.8% from behind the arc for his career. The surprise for the Magic and fantasy managers alike is that Bane is shooting 28.6% from deep across his first eight games. That has left him to average just 13.9 points per game.

If there is a bright side to Bane's slow start, it's that his usage rate is 22.7%. That's not too far off from his mark of 23.3% with the Grizzlies last season. It will be difficult for him to average at least 5.0 assists for the third straight season playing alongside good passers in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, but much better shooting production should be in the cards for Bane.

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Victor Wembanyama to go Coast 2 Coast with Spurs flexed into Nov. 11 game on NBC

Victor Wembanyama is about to go Coast 2 Coast.

We've seen him do it on the court, now Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs have been flexed into NBC and Peacock’s Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA coverage on Nov. 11, hosting Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. This will be the first game of the nationally broadcast doubleheader at 8 p.m. ET, with the late game featuring Phoenix at Portland (8 Pacific/11 Eastern).

The Detroit at Atlanta game will no longer be televised by NBC/Peacock and will now be available on League Pass, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Wembanyama has had such a hot start to the season that he has inserted himself into the early-season MVP conversation in just his third season in a way nobody has since Derrick Rose won the award in 2011. Wemby is averaging 26.7 points, 13.7 rebounds and a league-leading 4.7 blocked shots a game, sparking the Spurs to a fast 5-1 start. Wemby is getting support from reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle — 20 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists a game — but San Antonio will be without No. 2 pick Dylan Harper, who is out with a strained calf.

This will be the first-ever Grizzlies game on NBC. The last time the Spurs played on NBC was Game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2002, where they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers, 87-85, a game where Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and Tony Parker led the team in scoring.

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

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Victor Wembanyama to go Coast 2 Coast with Spurs flexed into Nov. 18 game on NBC

Victor Wembanyama is about to go Coast 2 Coast.

We've seen him do it on the court, now Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs have been flexed into NBC and Peacock’s Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA coverage on Nov. 18, hosting Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. This will be the first game of the nationally broadcast doubleheader at 8 p.m. ET, with the late game featuring Phoenix at Portland (8 Pacific/11 Eastern).

The Detroit at Atlanta game will no longer be televised by NBC/Peacock and will now be available on League Pass, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Wembanyama has had such a hot start to the season that he has inserted himself into the early-season MVP conversation in just his third season in a way nobody has since Derrick Rose won the award in 2011. Wemby is averaging 26.7 points, 13.7 rebounds and a league-leading 4.7 blocked shots a game, sparking the Spurs to a fast 5-1 start. Wemby is getting support from reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle — 20 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists a game — but San Antonio will be without No. 2 pick Dylan Harper, who is out with a strained calf.

This will be the first-ever Grizzlies game on NBC. The last time the Spurs played on NBC was Game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Semifinals on May 12, 2002, where they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers, 87-85, a game where Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and Tony Parker led the team in scoring.

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

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2025-26 NBA Power Rankings: Trail Blazers, Lakers, Bucks rise, while Clippers, Warriors fall!

The NBA gave us buzzer-beaters in Week 2, more OT games, and another season where the Oklahoma City Thunder start 7-0. Only one team dropped out of my top 10 and one team entered, but there was a ton of movement! All Championship odds are courtesy of DraftKings.

Vaughn Dalzell’s Week 3 NBA Power Rankings

Oklahoma City Thunder Primary Logo
1. Oklahoma City Thunder (7-0)
NBA Finals odds: +235
Points Leader: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33.6)
Rebound Leader: Isaiah Hartentstein (11.4)
Assist Leader: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (5.9)

Oklahoma City became the third team ever to start a season 7-0 after winning a championship and back-to-back seasons. Without Jalen Williams, the Thunder have not skipped a beat with wins over Houston, Indiana, Atlanta, Dallas, Sacramento, Washington, and New Orleans.

Not to discredit the Thunder's start, but only a few of those teams will be playoff squads, so we will have to see how good Oklahoma City is when opponents begin to find their rhythm. For now and the foreseeable future, the Thunder are the undisputed No. 1 team in the NBA.

Los Angeles Lakers Primary Logo
2. Los Angeles Lakers (6-2)
NBA Finals odds: +1600
Points Leader: Luka Doncic (41.3)
Rebound Leader: Luka Doncic (11.5)
Assist Leader: Austin Reaves (9.3)

The Lakers have won four consecutive games and have played pretty much nothing but expected playoff teams through eight games. Los Angeles has played Portland and Minnesota each twice (3-1), plus Golden State (0-1), Sacramento (1-0), Memphis (1-0), and Miami (1-0).

If you would have told me that Luka Doncic will miss four games and LeBron James be out for the start of the season and the Lakers would be 6-2, I wouldn't have believed you. Los Angeles ranks seventh in offensive efficiency and second in effective field goal percentage, but 18th in defensive efficiency, so the Lakers will have to clean up that end of the floor to consistently be a top-five team.

Milwaukee Bucks Primary Logo
3. Milwaukee Bucks (5-2)
NBA Finals odds: +4500
Points Leader: Giannis Antetokounmpo (34.0)
Rebound Leader: Giannis Antetokounmpo (13.3)
Assist Leader: Giannis Antetokounmpo (6.8)

Milwaukee has been one of the hottest teams to start the season after most media members wrote them off this season, including me. The Bucks have shown that Myles Turner can space the floor for Giannis Antetokounmpo then Brook Lopez could with their fourth-rated offensive efficiency through seven games.

Antetokounmpo has been on a tear and leads the team in points, rebounds, and assists. Cole Anthony and Ryan Rollins have both averaged more than five assists per game and Antetokounmpo is posting a career-high in that department, so as long as they keep up this offensive flow, Milwaukee could win the East.

Denver Nuggets Primary Logo
4. Denver Nuggets (4-2)
NBA Finals odds: +550
Points Leader: Jamal Murray (24.2)
Rebound Leader: Nikola Jokic (13.2)
Assist Leader: Nikola Jokic (11.3)

In Denver's four wins, the offense has scored 133, 127, 122, and 130 points and have the sixth-rated offensive efficiency, but in the two losses, they are ranked second behind the Bucks. That is a good sign that the offense is strong. Last season was the same case with the fourth-ranked offense in losses and top-rated offense in wins.

Denver is in the middle of a four-game home stand that was kicked off with a 130-124 win over Sacramento. The Nuggets host the Heat, Warriors, and Pacers this week — all rank in the top-half of the league in defensive efficiency, so Denver will be put to the test.

New York Knicks Primary Logo
5. New York Knicks (4-3)
NBA Finals odds: +1300
Points Leader: Jalen Brunson (29.0)
Rebound Leader: Karl-Anthony Towns (13.1)
Assist Leader: Jalen Brunson (5.6)

After suffering a three-game losing streak on the road to the Heat, Bucks, and Bulls — the Knicks bounced back with two dominant home victories versus the Bulls and Wizards by 12 and 17 points. New York has five straight home games on deck as apart of this seven-game home stand.

New York takes on Minnesota, Brooklyn, Memphis, Orlando, and Miami as the final five games of the home stand. That's a schedule that could certainly move the Knicks up. I could see them go 5-2 or better during the seven-game home stand that already started 2-0.

Cleveland Cavaliers Primary Logo
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (4-3)
NBA Finals odds: +700
Points Leader: Donovan Mitchell (29.5)
Rebound Leader: Evan Mobley (8.9)
Assist Leader: Lonzo Ball (5.3)

Cleveland has struggled offensively despite averaging 114.1 points per game (23rd). The Cavs come in at 26th in offensive efficacy, ahead of only the Pelicans, Pacers, Wizards, and Mavericks.

Most of that is due to bench scoring. Cleveland is second-worst in that category as they didn't improve this offseason. The only addition was Lonzo Ball, who leads the team in assists per game (5.3). Defensively though, Cleveland ranks sixth in defensive efficiency to start the season, so that's been the Cavs bread and butter.

Golden State Warriors Primary Logo
7. Golden State Warriors (4-3)
NBA Finals odds: +1300
Points Leader: Steph Curry (26.6)
Rebound Leader: Jonathan Kuminga (7.1)
Assist Leader: Draymond Green (6.1)

Golden State dropped two consecutive games, so they have to drop back on my list. Milwaukee and Indiana slowed the Warriors roll as the Bucks were without Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Pacers riding a five-game losing streak. Not exactly quality losses.

Al Horford has missed two games for Golden State, Jimmy Butler is on the latest injury report, and De'Anthony Melton is still out. The last thing the Warriors can afford is injuries early in the season. Golden State is the second-oldest team in the NBA (27.53).

Portland Trail Blazers Primary Logo
8. Portland Trail Blazers (4-3)
NBA Finals odds: +40000
Points Leader: Deni Avidja (24.1)
Rebound Leader: Donovan Clingan (9.1)
Assist Leader: Jrue Holiday (8.3)

There is a youth movement going on in Portland and unlike Charlotte, Brooklyn, Washington, or any of those other youthful, lively and vibrant teams — Portland is winning. Eight out of 15 Trail Blazers are 25-years-old or younger, but they come in at 17th for average age. If you take a closer look at the rotation, only Jrue Holiday, Robert Williams, and Jerami Grant are veterans. There will be growing pains, but I see the vision in Portland.

San Antonio Spurs Primary Logo
9. San Antonio Spurs (5-1)
NBA Finals odds: +4000
Points Leader: Victor Wembanyama (26.7)
Rebound Leader: Victor Wembanyama (13.7)
Assist Leader: Stephon Castle (5.3)

I might be crazy having San Antonio this high, but the Spurs are hot! The Spurs opened the season at 5-0 for the first time in franchise history, which blew my mind. San Antonio did have that streak snapped against the Suns and while the stretch has been awesome to witness, the competition has been lackluster to say the least.

The five teams that San Antonio beat, Dallas, New Orleans, Brooklyn, Toronto, and Miami are a combined 12-25 to start the season. Half the league could go at least 4-1 to start the season with that schedule, so I will hold the horses at little longer.

Philadelphia 76ers Primary Logo
10. Philadelphia 76ers (5-1)
NBA Finals odds: +2500
Points Leader: Tyrese Maxey (33.7)
Rebound Leader: Andre Drummond (6.7)
Assist Leader: Tyrese Maxey (9.0)

Philadelphia was one of the biggest surprises to start the season at 5-0 before dropping their first game to Boston in the second meeting between them this year. The 76ers bounced back with a win to move to 5-1, tying the Bulls for the second-best record in the NBA, who are next on the schedule.

If Chicago wins, then I probably should have had the Bulls here, but if the 76ers win, then I guess I got this right. For me, it's simple that a mixture of Tyrese Maxey,Joel Embiid, Paul George and VJ Edgecombe are enough most nights over Chicago and a good amount of teams in the NBA.

Out of the Top 10

Los Angeles Clippers Primary Logo
Los Angeles Clippers (3-3)
NBA Finals odds: +3000
Points Leader: Kawhi Leonard (23.8)
Rebound Leader: Ivica Zubac (8.6)
Assist Leader: James Harden (9.2)

The start to the Clippers season is not turning out as expected with a 3-3 record through six games and a date versus the Thunder on Peacock next. Kawhi Leonard and Bradley Beal were both ruled out in the second night of a back-to-back for that meeting with Oklahoma City, so it's clear Los Angeles will be managing both players all season long for a playoff run.

The Clippers narrowly escaped New Orleans (0-6) in their last win, and lost to Miami by one point in their previous game, so this squad is trending down.

New to the Top 10:

Portland Trail Blazers Primary Logo
Portland Trail Blazers (4-3)
NBA Finals odds: +40000
Points Leader: Deni Avidja (24.1)
Rebound Leader: Donovan Clingan (9.1)
Assist Leader: Jrue Holiday (8.3)

The Trail Blazers have beaten the Warriors, Lakers, Jazz, and Nuggets this season and lost to the Clippers, Lakers, and Timberwolves — so that's five potential playoff teams in seven games. Portland has proved they are ready to make a jump and be a sleeper to make the play-in tournament this year in a crowed West.

How to Watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones. Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

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Moses Moody shares mature outlook on unstable Warriors role after win vs. Suns

Moses Moody shares mature outlook on unstable Warriors role after win vs. Suns originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Moses Moody has developed a reputation with the Warriors.

For many players in his role — in and out of the starting lineup and with fluctuating minutes — that reputation might be pessimistic or discontented.

But Moody never seems to be fazed by that inconsistency, as evident in his 24-point night off the bench in Golden State’s 118-107 win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday at Chase Center.

After the game, Moody was asked about the transition from starting at the end of last season to coming off the bench so far in this campaign.

“I think it’s part of life,” Moody told reporters. “You know, stuff goes your way, stuff doesn’t go your way.

“I guess that’s why I got the nickname ‘Stay Ready Mo.’ No matter what the situation is, you’ve got to deal with it, and I think that’s where we’re at, so day by day.”

On the front end of a back-to-back Tuesday, Moody played a season-high 34 minutes as the Warriors were without Al Horford for the whole game and Jimmy Butler for the second half. The fifth-year guard, who is in the first season of a three-year, $37.5 million rookie contract extension, made 5 of 8 3-point attempts to help guide Golden State to a bounce-back win.

Following the NBA All-Star break last season, Moody averaged 27.2 minutes per game and started all 27 games. But after suffering a calf injury during the preseason that kept him out of the Warriors’ first two contests of the 2025-26 season, the two-way wing hadn’t played more than 22 minutes in a game until Tuesday night.

“Moses was the player of the game tonight,” coach Steve Kerr said postgame. “His defense on [Suns guard Devin] Booker and his shooting — he was fantastic. He’s just found his groove now after missing most of training camp with the ankle. So it was a tough start to the season for him, mainly because we just found a different starting lineup and different rotation while he was out, and we were doing pretty well.

“But he’s forcing his way back into the mix, for sure.”

Now, with Golden State set to be short-handed for Wednesday’s matchup against the Sacramento Kings, Moody likely will have another opportunity for an increased role — which could lead to a more permanent uptick in minutes.

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Pelicans' Zion Williamson out at least 7-10 days with Grade 1 left hamstring strain

New Orleans is 0-6 to start the season, with three of those losses by 30+ points. Yes, that's a record, the kind no team wants to hold.

Now comes more bad news: The Pelicans' leading scorer, Zion Williams, is out with a Grade 1 hamstring strain and will be re-evaluated in 7-10 days, New Orleans announced. That timeline would have him missing at least four games, starting Tuesday night against Charlotte, and history suggests he could be out longer.

Hamstring injuries are literally an annual occurrence now for Zion, who now will have missed time in each of the past four seasons due to hamstring issues (as noted by Will Guillory of The Athletic). As is always the case, Zion has played well for the Pelicans when on the court, averaging 22.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists a game so far this season.

The Pelicans have been outscored by 28.7 points per 100 possessions this season when Zion Williamson is off the court, a concerning statistic heading into the next couple of weeks without him (they are -9.7 points per 100 with him on the floor, not great, but the gap between the numbers shows how much he still means to this team).

All of this could mean a long couple of weeks coming up for Pelicans fans.

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Warriors to rely on depth with sniffling Steph Curry, maybe more, out vs. Kings

Warriors to rely on depth with sniffling Steph Curry, maybe more, out vs. Kings originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Walking to the podium for his postgame press conference after the Warriors’ 118-107 win against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night at Chase Center, Steph Curry was on his way to greet two older women. As he approached them, Curry’s words raised reporters’ eyebrows. 

“I don’t want to get you sick, but I wanted to say hi,” Curry said. 

Sweating, sniffling and coughing, Curry opened up about a sickness he has been dealing with for a couple days now. Curry said he was on his way to meet with doctors to determine his status for Wednesday night’s game against the Kings in Sacramento on the second night of a back-to-back. He didn’t know it yet, but his coach already had made an executive decision for him. 

Curry officially has been ruled out by Steve Kerr, making the Warriors’ first matchup with the Kings the first game Curry will miss this season. 

“He’s wiped out right now,” Kerr said. “I don’t care what the doctors say, we got to get him some rest. I’ll make the decision right now: He’s not going to play. He needs some rest. He’s been sick. All the travel, everything just caught up to him. 

“Hopefully get him some rest and he’ll be ready to go for Denver.” 

The Warriors play the Nuggets in Denver on Friday night. The two teams met in the second game of the 2025-26 NBA season when Curry scored 42 points and lifted the Warriors to an overtime win at home. 

Curry struggled in the Warriors’ two previous games, losing to undermanned teams in the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers. Though he averaged 25.5 points in the two losses, Curry had five turnovers in each defeat and shot far below his standards, going 16 of 42 from the field (38.1 percent) and 8 of 26 on threes (30.8 percent). He didn’t exactly light the Suns on fire but was more effective and efficient, gutting it out for 34 minutes. 

As he battled through his cold, Curry scored a team-high 28 points and only had two turnovers. He still wasn’t his usual self shooting the ball, but did make five of his 12 3-point attempts. Curry scored 16 points in the second half, fighting against his own body to get the Warriors a win. 

“Second half, tank was on E,” Curry said. “I’m not blaming the air ball on that. But like I said, just trying to dig through it and get to the finish line.” 

A big reason Curry had to do so was because the Warriors were without his running mate, Jimmy Butler, for the entire second half due to lower back soreness. Butler’s back tightened up earlier in the day. He tested it on the Warriors’ practice court and was deemed good enough to play, but then didn’t return after halftime. Kerr is considering Butler questionable against the Kings. Draymond Green, who was dealing with back pain of his own after the win, also is questionable. 

The Warriors snapped their first losing streak of the season Tuesday night. To start a new winning streak, they’ll have to get back to their Strength In Numbers mantra. 

“We’re going to need everybody,” Kerr said. 

The Warriors’ bench outscored the Suns’ bench by 44 points, 63-19. Their 41 points in the first half were a new season high for an entire game, and Golden State tacked on another 22 after halftime.

And the first player Kerr can turn to based on performances against Phoenix is Moses Moody. Kerr called him the “player of the game” for the Warriors, and it’s easy to see why. Moody scored a season-high 24 points in 33 minutes off the bench. He started the season slow recovering from a calf injury he sustained in preseason and hadn’t found a rhythm early in the season. 

But the game called for energy, effort and the long ball, playing right into what Moody does best. Moody made the nets drip and went 7 of 11 from the field, 5 of 8 on threes and 5 of 6 at the free-throw line while also grabbing five rebounds. 

Moody knows the challenge of playing without Curry, and possibly Butler and Green as well, and feels the Warriors are up to the task. 

“First time doing it this year, but yeah, I think we’ll be all right,” Moody said. “We play that way in practice a lot of times and in preseason. We’re used to playing with each other a little bit. I think we got all the pieces we need.”

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Observations after Sixers squander 24-point lead, lose to Bulls

Observations after Sixers squander 24-point lead, lose to Bulls  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers squandered a large lead and an opportunity to take sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night.

Once up by 24 points, the Sixers fell to a 113-111 loss to the Bulls at United Center. Chicago moved to 6-1 and the Sixers dropped to 5-2. 

Nikola Vucevic drilled a go-ahead corner three-pointer with 3.2 seconds left. Quentin Grimes then had a good look at a game-winner, but he missed a top-of-the-key three-point attempt. 

Tyrese Maxey’s 39 points on 14-for-26 shooting led the Sixers. Joel Embiid had 20 points on 7-for-21 shooting.

Josh Giddey posted a triple-double with 29 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. Vucevic recorded 19 points and 10 boards.

Paul George (left knee surgery recovery) and Dominick Barlow (right elbow laceration) were the two Sixers out in Chicago. The team will travel to Cleveland and face the Cavs on Wednesday night.

Here are observations on the Sixers’ loss to the Bulls:

Maxey passes Covington

The Sixers’ offense continued to look like one of the NBA’s best in the first quarter. They racked up 45 points over the first 12 minutes and led by as many as 21. 

Embiid drew a foul on Vucevic 16 seconds in. He wrapped up the first with a pair of free throws and finished the quarter with nine points. 

While the Sixers had several contenders, Maxey was the star of the period. He made four three-pointers in the first quarter and dished out four assists. Maxey’s third long-range jumper moved him past Robert Covington for second on the Sixers’ all-time list. Early in his sixth season, he’s at 728 career threes.

After a poor start and overall subpar shooting season last year, Maxey has been prolific. He’s made at least three triples in every game and shot 32 for 66 (48.5 percent) beyond the arc. 

Maxey displayed more of his considerable variety in the second quarter — mid-range jumpers, a four-point play, a tough scoop shot. He was also active defensively, blocking a shot and swiping a steal in the backcourt. 

McCain’s return

Jared McCain checked in off the Sixers’ bench late in the first quarter for his first action since Dec. 13. 

It was a long, testing road back for McCain, who had to rehab from a left knee lateral meniscus tear and then a right thumb UCL tear. 

McCain missed all three of the jumpers he tried in the first half. The 21-year-old mostly blended in, which wasn’t a surprise given he hadn’t appeared in an NBA game for nearly 11 months.

The only shot McCain attempted in the second half was a leaner that Dalen Terry blocked. He played 15 minutes and had no points on 0-for-4 shooting, two assists and one rebound.

Offense goes missing

Kelly Oubre Jr.’s driving layup early in the third quarter gave the Sixers an 87-56 advantage. Following his 29-point night in the Sixers’ win over the Nets, Oubre posted 18 on 7-for-11 shooting. 

The Sixers’ offensive pace, ball movement and overall production badly dropped off and the Bulls went on an extended run. Chicago cut its deficit to 89-77 on a Kevin Huerter fast-break layup.

Maxey sat to start the fourth quarter and the Bulls trimmed the Sixers’ lead to eight points. As soon as Maxey checked back in, he scored an and-one bucket.

Embiid returned to the floor with 5:39 left. His post-up and isolation scoring has often been enough for the Sixers to hold off opponents, but the big man kept coming up empty in Tuesday’s fourth quarter.

The Sixers gave Embiid regular touches and he was unable to deliver anything against Vucevic.

He missed four mid-range jumpers and an end-of-shot-clock three. Embiid also committed a turnover that led to a Giddey layup.

Maxey couldn’t find a run-stopping answer either and appeared to finally feel the effects of so many nights with 40-plus minutes.

The Sixers’ final point of the game was a Maxey free throw with 4:26 remaining. They were bound to pay for that complete lack of offense and now find themselves hoping to avoid an 0-2 back-to-back.

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What we learned as Moses Moody shines in Warriors' bounce-back win over Suns

What we learned as Moses Moody shines in Warriors' bounce-back win over Suns originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – No more messing around. The Warriors, for the most part, got the memo and mostly acted accordingly, beating the Phoenix Suns 118-107 on Tuesday night at Chase Center. 

The Suns scored the first five points of the game, but never led again after that. Frustrations from two ugly losses to lesser teams missing their main talent turned to focus for the Warriors back on their home court. The Warriors assisted 20 of their 25 made shots with only five turnovers in the first half to mount a 19-point halftime lead. 

They then reverted back to some bad habits and tallied seven turnovers in the third quarter, allowing the Suns to make it a nine-point lead going into the fourth quarter. Having to bring Steph Curry back in for the final three and a half minutes of a game the Warriors led by as many as 25 points is less than ideal. But the Warriors held on for a badly needed 11-point win.

Curry in 34 minutes scored a team-high 28 points with four rebounds, three assists and five 3-pointers.

Behind him in the scoring category for the Warriors was Moses Moody, who after scoring 20 points against the Memphis Grizzlies a week ago had scored just 12 points since. Moody against the Suns put up a season-high 24 points in 34 minutes off the bench, going 7 of 11 from the field and 5 of 8 from deep.

Devin Booker did all he could for the Suns, scoring 38 points for his sixth 30-point game already this season.

The only downside to the win was Jimmy Butler not playing the second half because of lower back soreness. Butler’s back tightened up earlier Tuesday, but after going through a pregame warmup on the Warriors’ practice court, Butler felt healthy enough to play. He was a plus-17 in 14 minutes with two points, four rebounds and two assists. 

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ win against the Suns.

Bench Mob

Instead of a one-man show or relying solely on their stars, a rolodex of Warriors contributed to their win. Chief among them was Moody and the rest of his bench buddies. Moody on his third three pumped his right fist and played into the crowd’s reaction. Those three points put the Warriors ahead by 23 points and gave Moody his 300th career 3-pointer. 

Moody passed Dorell Wright for 18th place on the Warriors’ all-time list of made threes. Multiple Moody threes staved off rallies from the Suns.

The bench in the first half scored 41 points, which were a new season high for an entire game. They wound up with 63, which were 44 more than Phoenix’s reserves. 

Along with Moody’s big night, Brandin Podziemski scored 13 points, Buddy Hield had 12, and every bench player but Hield and Gui Santos had a positive plus/minus. Whenever the Warriors play a back-to-back, production from the bench is paramount.

QP + TJD Combo 

They play the same position but couldn’t be more different as players. With Al Horford out for the first night of a back-to-back, coach Steve Kerr found a way to get the best out of centers Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis. 

Post started and found his 3-point shot early after struggling the previous two games. He was 1 of 7 from long distance in losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers, and then made his first three attempts of the first quarter.

Jackson-Davis, after being a DNP-CD (Did Not Play, Coach’s Decision) in those two losses, replaced Post a little more than halfway through the first quarter and made his presence felt. As Post drained threes, Jackson-Davis rattled the rim, finishing two alley-oops in the final minute and a half of the quarter. 

His first of the two came right after swatting away a layup, too. 

Jackson-Davis in the first two weeks of the season scored a total of eight points in 27 minutes. Against the Suns, he played 15 minutes and dropped seven points on three dunks and a free throw. Post in 27 minutes scored a season-high 14 points while going 4 of 6 on threes to balance the Warriors’ two centers.

Draymond’s Defense 

The best medicine to fix a leaky defense from two straight bad losses is an all-time great understanding the moment. That’s what the Warriors got out of Draymond Green early to get back in the win column. Nothing was getting by him, even when the Suns had the advantage on him.

Nobody shuts down a 1 vs. 3 in transition like the Warriors’ defensive wizard. When Jonathan Kuminga lost his dribble three and a half minutes into the game, Green ran back, stopped Booker and got in between Ryan Dunn and Royce O’Neal. Booker chose Dunn and Green met him at the rim, contesting and forcing a missed layup.

Not even two minutes later, Green again stopped a fastbreak by Booker and jumped out to the 3-point line to get vertical for Grayson Allen’s attempt. He missed and on the other side Curry hit his second three of the game for a six-point swing. 

After leading the NBA in 3-pointers made per game (16.4) coming into the night, the Suns went 1 of 7 from 3-point range in the first quarter and were 5 of 15 through the first two quarters. Phoenix found some success in the third quarter, going 3 of 7, but ended four threes shy of their season average, and Green was a big reason why.

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