Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins made his official return to the team on Wednesday. He still doesn't officially have a number.
Has he spoken to rookie safety Jakobe Thomas, who currently wears No. 8?
"I need to circle back with him," Cousins told reporters. "Haven't gotten there. So we'll have a conversation and I think Mike Parsons will help us, too, in the equipment room. But, yeah, I've got to talk to Jakobe for sure."
When the issue came up again later, Cousins laughed — while also making his intentions clear: "I'm confident that Jakobe and I can have a healthy and mature conversation and figure this out."
It's hard to imagine Thomas standing in Cousins's way. There are too many Vikings fans who still have No. 8 jerseys that will become moot if Cousins isn't wearing it.
However it goes, it would be a shock if Cousins isn't wearing No. 8 on Sunday at Lambeau Field.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 2: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 and Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors high five during the game against the Phoenix Suns on November 2, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Back in the day, guys weren’t supposed to be this good this late. Kareem was the exception everybody pointed to for decades, still putting up 23.4 a night and making All-NBA at 38. LeBron is the recent exception. Everybody else got the farewell tour, the rocking chair at the end of the bench, and the jersey ceremony.
If you’ve ever iced a rec-league knee after a Tuesday night run, take a good long look at Steph Curry and Kevin Durant tonight. While most 38-year olds are having to take a day off of work to go see their medical provider for their aching spines, these two are doing something most 25 year old hoopers can’t do. As of Nov. 9, of the 38 players in the league averaging at least 20 points, only two were older than 35, and they’ll be on the same floor in Houston. That’s love of the game, plus years of cold tubs, film sessions, and a burning desire to dominate.
Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets When: November 11th, 2026 | 6:30 PM PT TV: ESPN Radio: 95.7 The Game
ANOTHER CHAPTER of Steph vs. KD 🔥
Steph Curry and Kevin Durant battle for the 41st time in their careers as the red-hot 8-3 Warriors seek their 9th straight win against the 8-3 Rockets!
Tonight is the 41st time these two have faced each other. Both teams are 8-3, and both are coming off seasons that ended beneath them. The Warriors went 37-45 and lost to Phoenix in the play-in. Houston won 52 games and then fell to the Lakers in the first round with Durant hobbled. Golden State has won eight straight, and its offense ranks second in the league, one spot ahead of Houston’s.
KD and Steph’s legacies are tied together for good. They went from playoff rivals in 2016 to teammates in Oakland, where they won two titles and Durant took home both Finals MVPs. In Paris in 2024, with France still threatening an upset, Steph swung the ball to Durant at the top of the key, and KD handed it right back. Steph buried a fadeaway three over Nic Batum and Evan Fournier to put the U.S. up nine with 35 seconds left. As teammates they’ve proven at the highest level how to make sure each other gets the ball when it’s their moment to shine. And nobody can seize the moment like these two hoopers can.
A crazy perspective on Curry now is the scoring he packs into the minutes he’s got. He’s averaging 30.6 points, with nights of 44 and 41 already. Through his first seven games, he was scoring 1.04 points per minute, a rate only Wilt Chamberlain, George Gervin, Luka Dončić and James Harden had topped that early in a season. Even Durant has noticed. Back in April he told NBA.com that Steph “got quicker and faster,” a terrifying thought for the rest of the league.
Stephen Curry:
2015-16: 2026-27: 30.1 PPG 30.6 PPG 50.4% FG 50.3% FG 45.4% 3P 45.7% 3P 90.8% FT 98.7% FT
What’s ice cold about Durant nowadays is his level of control. His scoring is down to 21 a night, the lowest since his rookie year, but the possession still bends around him. He’s a 6-foot-11 sculpture of a jump shot who sits No. 5 on the all-time scoring list, and he just put up 23 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists on Denver.
That’s the problem Golden State has to solve tonight. When Durant has the ball, every defender leans toward him, and teammates like the All-Star Alperen Şengün make you pay for leaning. He’s averaging 21.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.8 assists, and with Houston missing Clint Capela and Steven Adams, even more of the offense will run through those two. Watch whether Draymond can sit on Şengün’s cuts and rolls without giving Durant a clean look. Golden State is still without Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody and Kristaps Porzingis. This morning’s official report also has Gary Payton II out and Will Richard questionable.
Steph owns the playoff edge at 4-3, all from that 2016 comeback. Since Durant left the Warriors, he’s 7-3 against Steph. Houston will take your lunch money in November, but April and May are another story, and the Warriors have five playoff series wins over the Rockets to prove it.
Savor this one. Two 38-year-olds are doing things the sport told us were impossible, and we get to watch it on a random Wednesday in November.
Lakers rookie guard Cameron Carr hangs on the rim after dunking against the Hawks on Monday in Atlanta. (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
The son of former NBA dunk contest runner-up Chris Carr, Lakers rookie Cameron Carr envisioned his first NBA points coming on a lob. When asked before the draft in April, the first-round pick knew that if not on a sky-high alley-oop his first bucket would at least be something athletic.
He now gives himself half-credit for calling his shot.
The 21-year-old Lakers guard scored his first NBA points on a fastbreak dunk Monday in Atlanta, making the most of his opportunities during the Lakers’ hot start.
Carr had two points and three rebounds in seven minutes and 19 seconds in the Lakers’ win over the Atlanta Hawks in the first significant playing time of his professional career. The Lakers, who finish a three-game, four-day road trip in Milwaukee on Wednesday, have the top record in the NBA at 10-2 with a six-game winning streak.
Carr helped extend the Lakers’ streak by bolstering a shorthanded lineup against the Hawks. The Lakers needed the rookie Monday when they were without Austin Reaves (illness) and Quentin Grimes (right finger sprain).
Three weeks into his NBA career, Carr, the 24th overall pick the Lakers traded up to acquire from the New York Knicks, said he is still nervous any time he subs into a game. Getting the first of what he hopes will be many NBA points helped settle his nerves.
“Over time it’s only going to grow, it’s only going to get better,” Carr said. “I’m only going to get more and more confident, so every time I get a chance to step out there, just show what I can do and of course show my talents through God’s work.”
The 6-foot-5 guard is a skilled scorer and an athletic marvel. He couldn’t even touch the rim when, one summer, he begged his father, who was the runner-up in the 1997 dunk contest to Kobe Bryant, to teach him to dunk. He just needed one summer to master it. Carr set a single-season sophomore scoring record at Baylor last season and his 642 points rank fifth in program history regardless of class. An efficient shooter (37.4% from three in his final college season), Carr also led Baylor with 45 blocked shots.
Now in the NBA, defense is still where Carr can improve most, Lakers coach JJ Redick said. Although Carr is a talented offensive player, it is still difficult for young players to find their rhythm with limited playing time, Redick said. The Lakers staff has encouraged Carr to take advantage of stay-ready games against coaches and make the most of G League opportunities to get more reps. Carr had 13 points and four rebounds during the Coachella Valley Lakers’ season opener on Friday.
“Just being patient, man,” Carr said of his approach to the beginning of the season, “just putting my head down, working every day, knowing that I can be the best person I can be. And when my time, my name is called, just be ready.”
Carr subbed into Monday’s game with 3:35 remaining in the first quarter. The Lakers, trailing by two, soon flipped the game with 13 unanswered points to end the quarter. A steal by Luka Doncic with 1:44 remaining fueled the streak and the star point guard threw an outlet pass to Carr in transition, who collected the ball for an emphatic two-handed dunk.
Doncic dished out another assist after the game when he rushed to secure the game ball for Carr. The superstar said he wanted the rookie to remember his first NBA bucket.
Cameron Carr said he’s going to ask everyone to sign the game ball from Monday’s game when he scored his first NBA points and keep it in a case. On Luka Doncic chasing it down for him: “That’s big time, especially coming from him. That says a lot about who he is as a person.” pic.twitter.com/eEGrD7VJYy
“That’s big time,” Carr said Wednesday of Doncic’s kind gesture. “Especially coming from him, that says a lot about who he is as a person and how he views this team.”
Redick handed the game ball to Carr in the locker room after the win as teammates cheered. Carr broke the team huddle on the word “together.” He plans to have everyone sign the ball before keeping it in a trophy case.
“There’s no price on it,” Carr said. “It’s forever.”
Lakers sign two-way center
The Lakers swapped out two-way centers Tuesday, waiving Lawson Lovering and signing Carson Cooper, the team announced. Both previously played in the Memphis Grizzlies organization and Cooper made one NBA appearance for the Grizzlies after signing a two-way deal with the team.
Cooper didn’t become a regular starter in college until his senior season, when he started all 35 games for Michigan State. The four-year Spartan averaged 11.1 points on 58.4% shooting with 7.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists and one block in his final season.
Lovering, who signed a two-way deal with the Lakers on Oct. 28, appeared in Lakers blowouts against Miami and Sacramento with a rebound and a block.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 07: Devin Booker #15 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against Fred VanVleet #5 of the Houston Rockets during the first half of the game at Mortgage Matchup Center on November 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the season off to a slow start, many Suns fans have expressed frustration with the team, myself included. Whether it’s how the starting lineup fits, the lack of cohesion on defense, the lack of a second star, or frustration with shooting percentages, there’s something for someone to pick at and be mad about. For a team that was supposed to build on last year’s success, it hasn’t looked that bright just yet. They have shown in spurts that they can be this solid, but ultimately their shortcomings seem to overpower their positives.
Injuries to the team’s frontcourt at the start of the year forced the Suns into a situation they may not have been as prepared for, and it has ultimately cost them. Then you add Jordan Goodwin being out and missing his hustle and rebounding, and there seem to be some issues. Especially when you look at the fact that in two games, Devin Booker has dropped over 30 points and the team has lost by a landslide; in this recent game vs. the Spurs and the one last week against the Trail Blazers, Booker was on and showed he can be that number one option for this team. He can hunt his shots, find them, and, most importantly, he is not washed.
Sadly, in both of those games, Booker had no one else show up offensively to help him. This is where the main problem comes into play, as the Suns’ owner, Mat Ishbia, wants to win a championship, and one with Booker at the helm. Unfortunately, when your second-highest-paid player is the same position and functions best in the same role as your 1A star, you have a problem, and that is where Jalen Green comes into play.
Now it’s not all Green’s fault, since they’re asking him to play a role he’s never played in his career, and he’s not too bad at it. Yes, he turns the ball over a lot when he mishandles it, but he can make some nice passes to create plays. The problem is that since he always has to make the pass, he also wants to hunt his shot when others are out. That doesn’t work for Green, though, because it forces contested looks or shots, disrupting the team’s rhythm. His averages this year clearly show this: his worst in six years.
Can he be a good player? For sure, but it depends on whether he can play a role he won’t succeed in on a team that needs a true playmaker and facilitator. That will not help Booker and has proven to be the case this year. Will the Suns regret trading Green, though? No, because the fit was never going to work with how they’re constructed, with Booker in the same role as Green.
So how does one get this second star in Phoenix, you may ask, right? Well, that goal may be one of the bigger obstacles for this team, since they lack draft capital. Remember that 2033 pick that the Suns traded for Miles Bridges? That was the team’s most valuable asset, and yet they traded it the day they could for someone who, at best, would be the third offensive option.
Your assets are either Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, Mark Williams, or Jalen Green. Their value isn’t enough to get you anything relevant for the next step. For everyone clamoring for Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Darius Garland, those players will cost a decent amount of pick value to acquire. With Green basically looking like a glorified six-man for the Suns in his best role, how would that trade value get boosted enough for other teams to see him as a positive?
That is why, sadly, this hunt for that second star may have to wait on Khaman Maluach’s development. The big man has looked solid since moving into his bench role, and with more development this year, he can truly set himself up to take those next steps toward becoming a top-tier big man. This year, it seems like the team is trying to figure out new roles for the players we have and then make a playoff run. The offseason will focus on adding a second star player and freeing up time for this big-man duo to cement themselves as the true starter and backup.
At this point, I do think waiting that long is just not going to be beneficial. At this rate, we have seen that the true “second option” cannot be that, given his new role as the point guard. Brooks has to step up, and even though he can do it, the Suns should not be living and dying by his catch-and-shoot three for this season to be impactful. In his best role as the best defender, Brooks should be the third or fourth offensive option.
The game plan for the Suns seems tough, but there may be some light at the end of the tunnel. Even though we are just around 10 games in, there are clear issues that need to be addressed before the trade deadline. Some of them are even as early as next week, but time will tell if they make those adjustments or stand pat until they can actually pivot in a direction. With all that said, though, one thing is clear: if the Suns want another chance at a championship with Booker, they need another top-tier scoring option.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 5: RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket during the game against the Boston Celtics on April 5, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boston Celtics (9-2) at Toronto Raptors (5-5) Wednesday, November 11, 2026 7:00 PM ET Regular Season Game #12, Road Game #7 TV: NBCSB, TSN, NBA-LP Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, TSN 1050, Sirius XM Scotiabank Arena
The Celtics close out their 4 game road trip with the 1st of 4 games against the Toronto Raptors. They will play in Toronto again on January 31 and twice in Boston on January 25 and February 14. The Celtics won all 4 games against the Raptors last season. They are 77-43 overall, all time, against the Raptors and they are 32-26 all time in games played at Toronto. The Celtics have won their last 5 games against Toronto.
The Celtics are playing in the 2nd of back to back games, having played at Philadelphia on Tuesday night. This is the third of 16 back to back sets for the Celtics this season. The Celtics were good in back to back games last season and hopefully, with their depth, it will carry through to this season. They are 1-1 so far on the second night of back to back games. They beat Brooklyn at home in the first and lost to Houston on the road in the second.
With their win over the 76ers on Tuesday, the Celtics now are 1st in the East, half a game ahead of Philly. They are 4-2 on the road and 9-1 in their last 10 games. They are 3-0 against Atlantic Division teams. They have won their last 4 games. The Raptors are 6th in the East, 3.5 games behind the Celtics. They are 2-2 at home and 5-5 in their last 10 games. This is their first game against an Atlantic Division rival. They are coming off a loss in their last game.
The Raptors made several moves in the offseason. They added Kyle Anderson to the main roster as a free agent and they added Kevin McCullar, Jr, Nate Bittle, and Malachi Smith as 2-Way players. They traded for Kawhi Leonard and they drafted Allen Graves with the 19th pick and Jaden Bradley with the 50th pick. They lost Gradey Dick, Chucky Hepburn, Brandon Ingram, AJ Lawson, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jonathan Mogbo and Garrett Temple.
After this game, the Celtics will return home to face Dallas and Orlando before a West coast trip that takes them through Denver, Sacramento, Golden State, and Washington. They then play one game at home against Atlanta before playing at San Antonio and Dallas. Then it’s home against Charlotte before a game at Brooklyn. Next they have a 7 game home stand against Washington twice, Utah, Detroit, Portland, Miami and Cleveland.
After this game at home, the Raptors play at Philadelphia then home for two games against New York and one against Washington. Then they play one game at Detroit before 3 games at home against Milwaukee, Brooklyn, and Denver. Next they have a 4 game road trip against Houston, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Charlotte before a 3 game home stand against San Antonio, Golden State, and Houston.
Predicting the starting lineup for this game is tough. The Celtics have been changing the 5th starter on a regular basis and there is no telling who they will start from game to game. In this one, it’s even harder since they are playing in back to back games and Paul George will be out. I’ve listed a possible starting lineup for them with Sam Hauser in place of PG13, but it will likely change. For the Raptors, they have 3 possible starters questionable who are listed as a game time decision so I’ve listed the starters from their game notes, but that may also change.
After his big game against the 76ers, Paul George was listed as out for this game due to an illness. The Raptors have 6 players on their injury report at this time. Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) and Collin Murray-Boyles (illness) are listed as questionable and will be a game time decision. Kawhi Leonard (knee), Scottie Barnes (groin), Trayce Jackson-Davis (illnerss), and Nate Bittle (foot) are listed as out.
Possible Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Jamal Shead
Derrick White | Getty ImagesJamal Shead | NBAE via Getty Images
SG: Jordan Walsh vs RJ Barrett
Jordan Walsh | Getty ImagesRJ Barrett | Getty Images
SF: Sam Hauser vs Ja’Kobe Walter
Sam Hauser | NBAE via Getty ImagesJa’Kobe Walter | Getty Images
Neemias Queta | NBAE via Getty ImagesJakob Poeltl | NBAE via Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Chris Cenac, Jr Mike Conley, Jr Luka Garza Hugo Gonzalez Ron Harper, Jr Payton Pritchard Mitchell Robinson Baylor Scheierman
Two Way Players Devin Carter Dillon Mitchell Amari Williams
Injuries/Out Paul George (illness) out
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Raptors Reserves Kyle Anderson Jamison Battle Jaden Bradley Allen Graves Alijah Martin
2-Way Players Nate Bittle Kevin McCullar, Jr Malachi Smith
Injuries/out Immanuel Quickley (hamstring) questionable Collin Murray-Boyles (illness) questionable Trayce Jackson-Davis (illness) out Scottie Barnes (groin) out Kawhi Leonard (knee) out Nate Bittle (foot) out
Head Coach Darko Rajakovic
Key Matchups Jordan Walsh vs RJ Barrett Barrett is averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He is shooting 45.7% from the field and 27.8% from beyond the arc. Against the Celtics he is averaging 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists over his career. He has been struggling from the perimeter, but if left open he is very capable of hitting threes so the Celtics need to defend him both in the paint and on the perimeter.
Sam Hauser vs Ja’Kobe Walter Walter is averaging 11 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He is shooting 38.7% from the field and 32.8% from beyond the arc. Over his career against the Celtics, he is averaging 8.5 points 2.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists. I’m guessing that Hauser gets the start in place of Paul George.
Honorable Mention Neemias Queta vs Jakob Poeltl Poeltl is averaging 8.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. He is shooting 64.6% from the field with no 3 pointers. Since he isn’t a threat from the perimeter, the Celtics need to keep him out of the paint and off the boards.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense is the most important key to winning. The Celtics are 4th in the league with a defensive rating of 106.3. The Raptors are 14th with a defensive rating of 112.4. The Celtics have played good defense for the most part, but there have been times when they let up on the defensive end and allowed teams to come back from big deficits. They must stay committed to playing tough, lock down defense, especially against a Raptors team that plays good defense themselves. The Celtics must especially defend in the paint as the Raptors are 4th in the league with 52.2 points in the paint per game.
Rebound – As with defense, rebounding will always be a key to winning every game. The Celtics are 10th with 45.0 rebounds per game. The Raptors are 25th with 41.4 rebounds per game. The Celtics will need to rebound as a team with players crashing the boards from every position. The Celtics can’t score without the ball and rebounding is a great way to get the ball and to get extra possessions and to also deny the Raptors extra possessions. The Raptors are best in the league with 20.7 second chance points per game. The Celtics need to deny them rebounds to limit those points.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics are at their best when the ball moves and they make the extra pass. When the ball sticks and players try to do too much, the Celtics struggle. But they have to make careful passes and not get sloppy because the Raptors average 22.3 points off turnovers (2nd) and 16.2 fast break points per game. The Celtics need to be careful with their passes and ball handling because if they aren’t the Raptors will make them pay.
Play with Energy and Focus for 48 Minutes – The Celtics must play with effort and energy and they have to play harder than the Raptors for all 4 quarters. The team that plays the hardest and with more energy will usually get the win. They also must stay focused on taking good shots and making them. If the 3’s are falling, they are tough to beat. But, if the 3’s aren’t falling, it can get ugly and so the Celtics need to focus on taking the best shots, whether that means shooting more 3’s or taking the ball into the paint if they aren’t falling.
X-Factors On the Road and Fatigue – The Celtics are on the road for the 4th straight game and have to deal with the distractions of travel and going through customs along with playing on an unfamiliar court and in front of hostile fans. They are also playing in the second of back to back games and in the 3rd game in 4 nights. Fatigue may come into play down the stretch.
Last Game of Road Trip – This is the final game of a tough 4 game road trip and the 3rd game in 4 nights as well as being the second of back to back games. All of that has a lot going against the Celtics. The final game of a road trip is always a tough game. The Celtics will be tired and looking forward to going home. Also they will be coming down off the high of their emotional win in Philly the night before. Hopefully they can shake all of that off and play well in this game.
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus from playing the game. They did a good job of overcoming a 28-5 free throw disadvantage against the 76ers. The Celtics also have to be aware of the new points of emphasis for this season and try to avoid flopping (although Embiid seemed to get away with it), off‑arm push‑offs, reckless closeouts, delays before free throws, and illegal screens. They have been especially calling flops and push offs and so the Celtics need to avoid doing both.
The Utah Jazz hoped to be part of the Western Conference playoff race this season after years of rebuilding. But those plans have gone horribly awry during the opening few weeks of the 2026-27 NBA campaign, and getting back on track just became even more difficult after a sobering update involving star Lauri Markkanen.
Markkanen has been diagnosed with two nondisplaced fractures in his right hand and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. The good news is a nondisplaced fracture is considered less severe than a displaced fracture, in which the bones are no longer in proper alignment. A non-displaced fracture generally doesn't require surgery.
The 29-year-old forward had already been playing through a sprained right wrist as the Jazz were hit hard with injuries during the first month of the NBA season. An initial X-ray did not reveal the fracture, according to ESPN, but Markkanen underwent scans that revealed more damage after returning to Utah in recent days.
Why Lauri Markkanen's injury could be devastating for Jazz
The Jazz were already teetering to start the 2026-27 season because of injuries, and they've lost 10 of their first 11 games. Utah watched Jaren Jackson Jr. go down for at least two months with a knee injury, while center Jusuf Nurkic has yet to appear in a game this season because of a toe injury. Guard Keyonte George has also been dealing with a sprained ankle and did not play in Tuesday's loss to the Miami Heat.
That leaves rookie Darryn Peterson as the only player from the Jazz's expected Opening Night starting lineup currently available entering Wednesday.
Utah was already struggling with Markkanen in the lineup, and losing its most reliable offensive weapon only makes an uphill climb steeper. His ability to score at all three levels, stretch defenses and create matchup problems is central to everything the Jazz want to do offensively. The timing is just brutal. A team that entered the season hoping to take a step forward is suddenly staring at the possibility of another year buried near the bottom of the Western Conference.
The injury could also create bigger-picture questions for the franchise. The Jazz resisted opportunities to trade Markkanen when his value was arguably at its peak, believing he would be the centerpiece of their return to contention. Now, with Utah off to a disastrous start and its roster ravaged by injuries, the mission is simply to keep the season from slipping away before Markkanen can return.
If this season ends as disastrously as it has started, the Jazz could revisit assumptions that have guided their moves to this point, including whether their current timeline and roster construction around Markkanen remain the right path forward.
Lauri Markkanen stats
Markkanen was averaging 18 points and 6.8 rebounds per game through eight games for the Jazz this season. He was shooting just 38.9% from the floor, which is the worst mark of his career. Markkanen averaged 26.7 points on 47.7% shooting during the 2025-26 season.
The early-season injuries in the NBA keep piling up as the Utah Jazz announced that forward Lauri Markkanen was set to miss at least a month with a non-displaced fracture in his right hand.
Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen has sustained a non-displaced fracture in his right hand and will be sidelined for at least one month, sources tell me and @BannedMacMahon. pic.twitter.com/UcXV8E9H4y
It's a brutal blow for a Jazz team that looked ready to contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference after four straight losing seasons. Last year, the Jazz traded for Jaren Jackson Jr., but he played just three games before getting shut down with an injury. They had also lost starting center Walker Kessler to injury after just five games, and Markkanen himself was limited to just 42 games.
Yet, there was optimism building around the Jazz heading into this season. Even with Kessler now on the Lakers, the Jazz had Markkanen and Jackson Jr. healthy to pair with breakout guard Keyonte George and dynamic rookie Darryn Peterson. Ace Bailey and Isaiah Collier were likely to be impactful young options off the bench, and the play-in seemed like a bare minimum in Utah.
But things went south quickly.
Jackson played four games before tearing the MCL in his right knee. Jusuf Nurkic, who was set to replace Kessler at center, hasn't made his season debut yet as he battles a foot injury, and Keyonte George sprained his ankle over the weekend. Both George and Markkanen sat out Utah's game on Tuesday before it was revealed how serious Markkanen's injury was.
The 29-year-old has played in eight of the Jazz's 11 games this season and was averaging 18.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting a disappointing 38.9% from the field. With his struggles and the mounting injuries, the Jazz have put together just the 21st-ranked defense and 29th-ranked offense, which has led to the 26th-best net rating in the league. With a record of 1-10, it's not at all the start the team envisioned.
With Markkanen sidelined for the next month, the Jazz might continue to start Josh Green at small forward, but Markkanen's usage will likely be spread to shooting guard Darryn Peterson and power forward Ace Bailey. In Tuesday's loss to the Heat, Peterson scored 25 points on 10-of-19 from the field with four rebounds and four assists, while Bailey scored 23 points on 10-for-15 from the field to go along with seven rebounds and two assists. Their development will be a silver lining amidst all the injuries for the Jazz.
However, by the time Markkanen and Jackson Jr. return, the improvement of Peterson and Bailey may not be enough to save what looks to be another lost season.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 2: Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz looks to shoot the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on November 2, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Another day, another addition to the injury report for the Utah Jazz.
Shams Charania reported that Lauri Markkanen “has sustained a non-displaced fracture in his right hand and will be sidelined for at least a month”
Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen has sustained a non-displaced fracture in his right hand and will be sidelined for at least one month, sources tell me and @BannedMacMahon. pic.twitter.com/UcXV8E9H4y
According to MacMahon, Markkanen suffered the injury in the loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Initial X-rays didn’t reveal the fracture but additional scans in Utah showed cracks.
It’s a blow to the Jazz’s depth that has obviously derailed their season. Utah was without four starters in their game against the Heat and they’re struggling each game to overcome it.
Utah’s bench hasn’t stepped up as much as they’ve needed in the wake of injuries to Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jusuf Nurkic, plus not having Keyonte George last night. The play of Svi Mykhailiuk, Isaiah Collier, and Brice Sensabaugh has been nowhere near good enough. It’s hard to criticize the Jazz too much this season. Had they not signed Jaxson Hayes, Josh Okogie, and Josh Green, the team would be embarrassingly bad. Utah’s record is horrendous, but they’ve had two overtime games and multiple single-digit games.
All the Jazz can hope for now is for Keyonte George to come back soon from his ankle sprain and grind out some wins. It’s a long season, and the play-in is still in the picture.
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 9: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dunks during the first half against the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Center on November 9, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After an impressive Rookie of the Year campaign in the 2025-2026 season, Cooper Flagg entered this year looking to polish his offensive game and bring the Dallas Mavericks back to relevance. So far, he’s exceeded expectations in both.
Through 11 games, the Mavericks are 7-4 and have faced one of the league’s tougher schedules. Flagg has played in 10 of those games and is averaging 25.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. He’s 19 years old. He joins a short list of only Luka Doncic and LeBron James as one of the youngest players in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. At 20 years old, Doncic averaged 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game, while James, at 20, averaged 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.2 assists.
What’s been most impressive about his leap is Flagg’s shooting. He’s knocking down 50.0% of his shots, on 61.2% true shooting. He’s also been excellent at the free-throw line, shooting 90.3% there. Put those numbers together, and you get a player whose scoring efficiency is looking much more advanced than you might expect from a 19-year-old. Let’s take a deeper dive into the numbers.
He’s getting into the paint
Flagg has attempted 42 shots at the rim (in the restricted area), making 28 of them for 66.7%. That’s roughly 22% of his total attempts. It’s not an enormous portion of his shot diet, but he can get there whenever he wants. Flagg often uses his size and athleticism to his advantage. At 6-foot-9, he can finish with ease over smaller defenders but also has the finesse to finish around larger ones. That combination makes his drives difficult to contain. Unlike some young perimeter players who settle for difficult jumpers when their initial attack gets cut off, Flagg has multiple ways he can beat you off the dribble.
Flagg has taken 47 shots in the portion of the paint outside of the restricted area, the most of any zone on the floor. He’s made 27 of them, giving him a 57.4% shooting percentage. That’s roughly 26% of all his field-goal attempts. The non-restricted-area paint has become something of a sweet spot for Flagg because it allows him to use his size and touch without having to completely beat the defense to the rim. It’s also a shot that can be available when a defense successfully cuts off his initial drive. His comfortability to get to this part of the floor and shoot over defenders has proven to be his bread and butter.
Nearly half of Flagg’s shot attempts come inside the paint, and he’s incredibly efficient, shooting 61.7% on those attempts, 55-89. A teenager being this comfortable living in the paint is pretty rare, especially in today’s NBA, where outside shooting rules. Once Flagg expands his game beyond the three-point arc, he’ll be unstoppable.
He loves the midrange
Flagg has Kevin Durant-like capabilities in his mid-range game. He has attempted 43 mid-range shots, second only to his 47 attempts in the non-restricted-area paint. He’s made 21, good for 48.8%. That’s an important number because the mid-range is often treated as something players should eliminate from their offensive diet. For Flagg, that’s not necessarily the case. Use Durant as the example, who is currently fifth on the all-time NBA scoring leaders list, as he approaches 33,000 points.
At nearly 49%, Flagg is making enough of these shots to justify taking them — particularly because many of them are self-created. If a defender backs up to protect the drive, Flagg can shoot. If the defender presses up, he can attack. If the help defender steps into the lane, he can stop short. That puts a lot of pressure on the defense and leaves them with no real solution in guarding him.
There’s a tendency in modern basketball analysis to look at a player’s shot chart and immediately identify mid-range attempts as something that needs to be reduced. That isn’t necessarily true for Flagg. An efficient mid-range shooter who can also get to the rim, shoot threes and create for teammates is a completely different proposition than a player who lives in the mid-range because he can’t do anything else. Flagg is not that player. The mid-range is one part of his offensive toolkit, and right now, it’s a pretty good one.
One blemish: 3-point shooting
Now for the part nobody needs to sugarcoat – 29.2% from three isn’t good, making 14 of 48. The shot-chart data shows that almost all of Flagg’s three-point attempts are coming above the break. He has attempted 42 above-the-break threes and made only 10, good for 23.8%. That’s the biggest blemish on his shooting profile. The good news is that he’s actually been excellent from the corners. Flagg has attempted just six corner threes, but he’s made four of them for 66.7%. Obviously, that’s an extremely small sample, but worth noting. But it does reinforce an important point: the problem isn’t that Flagg can’t physically make a three. It’s consistency, particularly on higher-volume, above-the-break attempts.
One thing not to lose in the discussion about his three-point percentage is the fact that Flagg is willing to take them. He’s attempted 48 total threes. That’s enough volume to matter. He’s not hiding from the shot. He’s not passing up every open look. He’s taking the shots defenses are giving him. If he can get this percentage to 34-36%, Flagg will enter 30 points per game territory.
The verdict through 11 games
It’s too early to call Flagg a great shooter, but at 19 he is a great scorer. Shooting wasn’t his calling card coming into the NBA, but it’s evolving. Being an efficient scorer in today’s NBA without a reliable three-point shot (yet), bodes well for Flagg. As he continues to work on his outside shooting and that three-point percentage creeps northward, he will become one of the most unstoppable forces in the NBA. The three-point shot isn’t the foundation of Cooper Flagg’s offensive game. It’s the potential multiplier.
Flagg arrived on the heels of Luka Doncic’s departure to Los Angeles. And despite the weight of seismic expectations and a tumultuous situation when he arrived, Flagg has largely exceeded expectations. These numbers aren’t normal for a teenager. They point to something much larger – the next generational superstar.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 10: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Mitchell Robinson #4 of the Boston Celtics go up for a rebound during the game on November 10, 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
Tuesdays’ big-stage matchup between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers saw no shortage of storylines. Buried beneath the Jaylen Brown vs. Jayson Tatum, Celtics vs. Sixers rivalry, and the battle of the uncs, Mitchell Robinson quietly entered his first real measuring stick game.
What did he have for Boston as they matched up against Joel Embiid (alongside four other massive names)?
Adding Robinson over the summer came with plenty of luxrious hypotheticals. That’s all great. More than anything, Boston clearly needed some extra frontcourt help after their previous rotation of Neemias Queta, Nikola Vucevic, and Luka Garza had no answer for post-appendectomy Embiid in the playoffs last spring.
Queta spent much of the series in foul trouble, while neither Vucevic nor Garza was strong enough to keep the former NBA MVP away from the basket. Buckets came easy for The Process and so did the wins.
Embiid dominated the Celtics in Games 5-7 to help lead the Sixers to a 3-1 comeback in what was their first playoff series win over Boston in 44 years.
Big Mitch hasn’t quite met the expectations surrounding his arrival just yet. He hasn’t been the same nuisance on the offensive glass as he was seemingly everytime he’d play Boston as a member of the New York Knicks. He’s looked out of shape. His quickness and defensive playmaking have remained hidden talents.
Plus, the “Sheets FC” analytics nerd portion of the fanbase would tell you that those numbers don’t favor Celtics Mitch just yet.
You wouldn’t have been able to guess all that if you just watched him for the first time on Tuesday. Robinson clearly understood the assignment.
It’s not always easy to notice defense when you watch a game live. Sometimes you’re just watching the ball. Others, the fundamental, non-highlight-worthy defense doesn’t jump off the screen at you. The experience is a little different when Embiid catches the ball in the post and you get war flashbacks to the spring.
You just kind of expect him to take a few power dribbles and work his was to the rim.
That didn’t happen.
Instead, Robinson consistently held his ground and forced the longtime 76er to work further from the basket. He also remained under control while getting physical — an important skill when guarding one of the league’s most profound grifters. Like, Embiid averages more free-throws per game this season than field-goal attempts.
Look it up.
So, the fact that Mitch was able to defend him without fouling (except for when he decided to sloppily closeout on a three-point attempt for some reason, despite Embiid shooting 10% from deep entering the game) was huge.
The Louisiana native guarded the seven-foot-two center on 24.3 partial possessions, held him to five points on 1-3 from the field, and forced a turnover. Embiid couldn’t move him. It was like watching him try to back down one of Mitch’s monster trucks.
For perspective, Queta guarded Embiid on 18.1 partial possessions in Boston’s Game 7 loss to Philly back in May. Embiid scored 14 points on Queta while shooting an efficient 6-11 from the floor.
The Portuguese big man was much better Tuesday, in fairness. Queta limited Embiid to just three points on 17 partial possessions.
Both his play, and Robinson’s as his backup, were a clear step in the right direction. There’s a lot of season left. Robinson has to continue to uphold a defensive standard. But, if he looks the way he did against Embiid and the 76ers, then Boston will have aptly plugged the hole that sank their ship last spring.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics controls the ball against LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 123-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They say hindsight is 20/20, but was there anything more obvious — or perhaps anything more Sixers — than the night that was supposed to centered around Jaylen Brown vs. Jayson Tatum being dominated by the salary the Sixers sent out to Boston to acquire Brown?
Paul George’s 36 points led a Celtics three-point onslaught that allowed them to defeat the Sixers by 22 points in Brown’s first game against his old team since the blockbuster trade in the summer. While emotions were running high for a lot of the night’s participants, George didn’t feel any extra need to make a statement against the team he spent the last two seasons with.
“My job was just to come in and support JT and be the best version that I could be for him,” George said after the game. “That was my only focus.”
There really doesn’t get much better support than going 6-of-11 from three-point range. The Sixers were frustrated with their inability to stop George getting open from behind the arc, especially his former teammates who know him well.
“He played within the game too, that’s what Paul does. He plays within the game, he takes what the defense gives him, and we gave him too many open looks tonight,” Tyrese Maxey said. “For him to even be able to get up 11 threes, that’s the issue. We know what PG does, we shouldn’t even been allowing him to get up 11 threes, and that’s on us.”
Maxey, along with several other Sixers, were happy to reconnect with a teammate they got along with well during his time. The sting of what PG had just done to them on the floor was still on their minds when asked what it was like to see him again though.
“It’s good to see Paul,” Maxey said. “I didn’t want to see Paul get six threes, 30 points. I love him, love his family, I didn’t care less, I wanted him to score zero points.”
As someone who went through similar injury struggles, Joel Embiid always seemed to have a good relationship with George. He detailed that while in classic Embiid fashion, trolling Tatum a little bit in the process.
“Off the court, we have a special relationship. Families are close, especially both of our kids,” Embiid said. “I’m extremely happy for him. You know, he’s healthy. He’s playing well. He’s been … the start of the season, you see what he did tonight. You can kind of say he’s been the best player on some level.”
George seemed happy to reunite with old teammates as well, referring to them as brothers throughout the night, but his return was never going to elicit the same emotion as lamb chops and gravy. That might have been different if he had been a Sixer longer, but as he told reporters at shoot around before the game, he was only in Philadelphia for two years.
The Sixer crowd didn’t give him the same level of venom that’s typically gone to star players since departing, James Harden in particular has really heard it from Sixers’ crowds each time he’s come back. Most of the crowd’s animosity was aimed at Tatum, but George still had to deal with some rotten fan behavior. Towards the end of the game, the Sixers called a timeout after another Celtics three and George was seen giving the middle finger towards the crowd.
Looks like Paul George may have also flipped out a fan (or someone) after that three pic.twitter.com/LecXldKldE
It turns out that despite being a Celtic, George was pretty justified in that response.
“There was a fan being an asshole. Ball rolled to him, he looked me dead in my eyes, dropped the ball on the ground as if, I’m a dog to go fetch or go get it, instead of passing the ball to me like a normal fan would do,” George said, “so then I rolled him a middle finger in return.”
Despite all the new exciting parts of this team, a max player coming back to light up the Sixers in his return to South Philadelphia is a story all too familiar.
At least George isn’t the type of guy to scream “Jaylen Brown over me??!!” down the tunnel after doing so.
The Jazz have had terrible injury luck to start the season. Jaren Jackson Jr. should miss about another 4-6 weeks due to an MCL tear. Lauri Markkanen has missed their last two games with a right wrist sprain. Keyonte George missed Tuesday’s game with an ankle injury, though both George and Markkanen could end up returning to play on Wednesday. Of course, Jusuf Nurkić still hasn’t made his season debut due to a toe injury.
That has left Utah shorthanded early on this year, which has contributed to their 1-10 start. However, especially recently, that has allowed others to thrive. Darryn Peterson has stepped up in a big way lately, with the first three 20-point games of his career coming over Utah’s last three games. The hot starts of other rookies have overshadowed Peterson, but if he continues to produce to this level, he’ll quickly remind everyone why he was the No. 2 overall pick and will be one of the best rookies in fantasy basketball.
Ace Bailey has also gotten the chance to shine, though not in the way that many expected when he was drafted. He was supposed to just be a shot-creating scorer, but he has done more as a playmaker and as a defender, which has worked out well for fantasy managers. That doesn’t mean he can’t score, which he proved on Tuesday by scoring a season-high 23 points. Isaiah Collier didn’t start in place of George, with Josh Okogie getting the nod instead and Peterson playing point guard. However, Collier was productive off the bench with a 17/5/5 line that included four triples. Even if he’s coming off the bench, Collier can continue to be streamed, assuming George remains out.
Thankfully, there aren’t too many other injury updates around the league. Hopefully that’s a trend that continues.
Knueppel made his return last week, but he checked back out after playing just five minutes. Unfortunately, he’s gonna be sidelined for at least another few weeks. Grayson Allen, who was excellent to start the year with Knueppel out, moved into the starting unit after coming off the bench to open the season. Allen was horrendous in his first start, but he had 27 points, six assists, two steals and six triples in the last one. Allen should be considered a must-roster player for at least the next month until Knueppel returns.
Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons
Duren is still sidelined with a hamstring injury, and while he has progressed to on-court work, he is set to be out until at least Nov. 22, which will be his next evaluation. Paul Reed had been the starter in place of Duren, but head coach J.B. Bickerstaff opted to bump Reed to the bench in favor of Daniss Jenkins, who has been on fire as of late. That allowed John Collins to start at center, which resulted in his best game of the season after struggling mightily early on. Hopefully that will help Collins get going, while Reed's value will take a hit as a reserve.
Kawhi Leonard, F, Toronto Raptors
There still isn’t much clarity on Kawhi’s timeline, but he will miss at least one more week due to swelling in his left knee. At this point, the swelling has been addressed, and he’s just ramping up. Ja’Kobe Walter continues to start, and while he began the year shooting the ball well, he has shot below 40 percent in five straight games. Walter is still worth hanging on to for now as a source of three-pointers and steals. Hopefully he’ll start knocking down shots at a better rate, but a rough shooting stretch isn’t enough for him to be dropped.
Scottie Barnes, F, Toronto Raptors
Barnes is set to miss a third straight game on Wednesday due to a left groin strain. His absence has allowed Jakob Poeltl to return to the starting unit, which has resulted in his best two games of the season. He has averaged 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 2.5 blocks over the last two games, with Collin Murray-Boyles starting alongside him in one of those. Poeltl struggled to stay on the court last season, which severely limited his production. However, he has played well lately and should continue to be rostered, at least until Barnes returns.
Jaylon Tyson, F, Cleveland Cavaliers
Though he is listed as questionable to play the Knicks on Wednesday, Tyson has missed the last six games for Cleveland. He wasn’t great to start the year, but he could have had a few starts when Peyton Watson missed a couple games. HIs absence allowed Meleek Thomas to take on a larger role and even start two games. Thomas has shown some fun flashes, including an 18/3/3/2/2 line with four triples in Monday’s loss. Tyson’s absence has opened the door for some streamers, but there hasn’t been a dramatic impact in standard leagues.
Kristaps Porziņģis, C, Golden State Warriors
In some rather sad news, Porziņģis announced that he is stepping away from basketball due to the ongoing medical issues that have plagued him over the last few seasons and have prevented him from suiting up this season. While this doesn’t guarantee that his NBA career is over, it is certainly trending in that direction. Porziņģis can be safely dropped in redraft leagues and doesn’t need to be rostered in dynasty formats.
Philadelphia 76ers' Jaylen Brown guards Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum on Nov. 10 at Xfinity Mobile Arena. (Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)
Two days before playing his former team for the first time since being traded this summer, Philadelphia 76ers star Jaylen Brown told reporters he had “nothing to talk about” with ex-teammate Jayson Tatum.
Apparently he meant it — and it might have had something to do with lamb chops. Figuratively speaking.
Before Tuesday’s game at Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena, Tatum approached Brown and gave him a tap on the arm and a few on the chest. Brown wouldn’t even look in the direction of the player with whom he won an NBA championship, made two NBA Finals appearances and played in five Eastern Conference championship series during nine seasons as Celtics teammates.
The pregame moment between Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
After the game, a 123-101 Celtics win, Brown implied to reporters that he didn’t notice Tatum’s attempt to interact with him.
“I’m just focused on coming out and doing what’s best for my team,” Brown said when asked about the apparent snub. “Everything else was just — to be honest, I wasn’t paying attention. But credit to Jayson, he played well tonight. Credit to the Celtics, they executed, they shot the hell out of the ball, and they were the better team tonight.”
Tatum also dismissed the pregame non-encounter as no big deal.
“No headlines about anything like that,” Tatum told reporters. “I was just getting ready for the game, ready for jump ball, go out there and compete, have some fun and try to get a win.”
Still, things have been a bit frosty between the two players in the aftermath of a July 6 trade that sent Brown to Philadelphia — after spending his first 10 NBA seasons in Boston — in exchange for Paul George, two first-round draft picks and two second-round picks.
Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown share a laugh during a 2025 game against the New York Knicks in Boston. (Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
In October, Bleacher Report posted a clip on Instagram of Tatum saying he was “caught off guard” by the trade. Brown responded in the comment section of that post with a blue hat emoji, which is often used to represent the word “cap” when being used as slang for “lie.”
Asked about the situation during an Oct. 23 news conference, Tatum insisted “there’s no beef” between the two players.
“I think he’s right. There’s no beef,” Brown told reporters. “Jason comes from a wonderful family. We’ve accomplished some great things. He’s a hell of a basketball player. He’s got a great PR team. There’s no beef but, you know, it might be a little lamb chops and some gravy, you know what I mean? He should stay ready at all times.”
Asked why he would say that, Brown responded: “Just, you know, that’s what it is. No beef. It should never ever be that. It’s just basketball. We’re both blessed, but it might be a little lamb chop. We’ll be all right.”
Brown was then asked if he had been suggesting that Tatum was being untruthful about the trade situation.
“Hey, look, like I said, it’s no beef,” Brown said. “The PR and all that type stuff is it is what it is, but I think we’re just both focused on what’s in front of us.”
George was the leading scorer in Tuesday’s game, with 36 points, while Tatum added 21 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots. Brown netted 13 points, his lowest output in 11 games with the 76ers.
“I was looking forward to this,” Brown said after the game. “I was looking forward to playing well, but you know, s— happens. You just get ready for the next one, I guess.”
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 10: Paul George #13 and Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics high five during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 10, 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
TORONTO — The Celtics and Raptors will each miss key players as they meet on Wednesday night.
For the Celtics, Paul George is out with an illness; the star is just a day removed from a 36-point performance against his former squad, the Philadelphia 76ers. Everyone else on the Celtics will play on the second night of a road back-to-back; the team flew from Philadelphia to Toronto late Tuesday night, and Mitchell Robinson and Jayson Tatum, both of whom have gotten one rest game this season, are among them.
George has been the Celtics’ second-leading scorer so far this season; he’s averaging 22 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. He’s also been the team’s most efficient scorer, shooting 48.8% from the field and 44% from three. The Celtics are 0-1 without him so far this season; they lost by 16 to the Houston Rockets last Monday.
The Raptors could be significantly shorthanded; Scottie Barnes (left groin strain) and Kawhi Leonard (left knee injury management) are both out, while Trayce Jackson-Davis (illness), Colin Murray-Boyles (illness), and Immanuel Quickley (right hamstring injury management) are all questionable.
After blowing out the 76ers on Tuesday night, the Celtics lead the Eastern Conference at 9-2. The Raptors have the 6th-best record in the East at 5-5. The Celtics have won four straight; the Raptors are coming off a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Jayson Tatum will once again play on the second night of a back-to-back
The Celtics are in the middle of their third back-to-back of the season, and Jayson Tatum has played in every single back-to-back game so far.
But last week in Charlotte, he said he’s receptive to conversations around his rest management.
“It’s my 10th year, so I understand the balance of wanting to play every game, and rest, and back-to-backs, three-in-fours, five-in-sevens,” Tatum said. “It’s always a conversation. We talk about it. We have a plan. I don’t really like sitting out on away games, but we just kind of figure it out as we go.”
Tatum said he does not like missing road games, and that has factored into his decision to play on the second nights of multiple back-to-backs this season.
Jayson Tatum explained that part of why he played in the back-to-backs was to go through the mental process:
"I used to always play back-to-backs… it was an opportunity for me to test myself out, to see how I felt."
“[That’s] part of it, and just kind of the mental aspect of it,” he said. “I used to always play back-to-backs, and obviously health is most important, and how I’m feeling physically. But it was an opportunity for me to test myself out, to see how I felt playing the back-to-backs, traveling, getting in at a certain time, and see how I felt after that. I kind of just really wanted to go through that for myself, and I felt really good.”
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 10: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on November 10, 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
The Utah Jazz have officially lost 9 straight games. The team is getting close and closer to a win, but that still eludes them. 1-10 overall and 1-5 at home, Utah may be able to pull this one out after a gutsy comeback against the Miami Heat last night.
The good news is that Darryn Peterson is slowly breaking out. After scoring 25 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists yesterday, Jazz fans expect to see even more continue growth from their 2nd overall pick. He truly does look like a future star, with Ace Bailey very much looking the part of a do-it-all forward that is sorely needed in SLC.
But this team just can’t seem to get a win. Although it was an okay 4th quarter for both Svi and Isaiah Collier, the bench overall has been having a horrific season. Brice Sensabaugh has yet to show up, Kyle Filipowski continues to struggle with a back injury, and the injuries are mounting for this team. Once a promising season, this year has gotten out of hand quickly. The Jazz NEED a win and tonight against the Orlando Magic is a great chance.
The Orlando Magic are having a rough season themselves, sitting at 3-7 and seeing numerous injuries themselves. Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs have been out, Tristan de Silva missed last game, and a few of their younger guys in Izaiyah Nelson and Noah Penda have been struggling with injuries as well.
Much of the season has been placed on the shoulders of Franz Wagner, who has yet to truly find his outside shot, shooting 22.9% on the year. Desmond Bane has shot inconsistently, but Anthony Black has been a bright spot. It could be a competitive one tonight at the Delta Center.
Start Time and TV Schedule
Who: Utah Jazz vs Orlando Magic
When: November 11, 7:00 MT
Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
How to watch: KJZZ, Jazz+
Injury Report
Jazz Injury Report (as of 11/10)
OUT – Trey Alexander (G League – Two-Way)
OUT – Keyonte George (Right Ankle; Sprain)
OUT – Harrison Ingram (G League – Two-Way)
OUT – Jaren Jackson Jr. (Right Knee; MCL Tear)
OUT – Jusuf Nurkic (Right foot; 2nd Plantar Plate Tear)
Raphielle Johnson
