Category: NBA

CLEVELAND — It’s been an up-and-down couple of months for Celtics guard Devin Carter.

Carter, who drafted to the Sacramento Kings just two summers ago, was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in June in a salary dump. Then, last month, Carter was waived.

Suddenly, a guy who was the 14th overall pick in 2024 found himself on the outskirts of the NBA.

“It was tough,” Carter said. “I got traded I want to say at the end of June, and then I didn’t get waived until right before training camp started. So it was tough, especially trying to find a home that fast.”

Carter signed an Exhibit-10, training camp deal with the Celtics shortly after he was waived, in hopes of ultimately fighting for a two-way contract (the Celtics have Dillon Mitchell and Amari Williams as their two two-ways, but have one two-way open).

“Everything’s top class,” Carter said of his Celtics. “Great players, great guys as off the court. That matters just as much as who they are on the court. But, the coaching staff’s great. Front office great. Everybody wants to work. Everybody shows up with the mindset ready to get better. So I think that’s a a big thing in a winning organization.”

Devin Carter was a standout in the Celtics’ win over the Cleveland Cavaliers

On Thursday night, Carter laced up for his Celtics debut, and finished with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals in the preseason matchup against the Cavaliers.

“I just wanted to go showcase how much I want to play and how much I deserve to be here,” Carter said. “So, I just think that I’m blessed. All glory to God for the opportunity, and I think I went out there and played as hard as I could. That was what my goal was.”

Carter’s impact was felt; the Celtics outscored the Cavaliers by 22 points in his 24 minutes on the floor; they were outscored by 11 in his 24 minutes sidelined. Perhaps most impactful was his ability to get to the line; he went 6-6 from the charity strip, attempting the second-most free throws in the game.

Celtics Devin Carter 17 PTS (5-9 FG, 1-3 3P), 5 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, +22 vs. Cavs

Kings salary dumped him for nothing. pic.twitter.com/BS3qsKfeKk

— Role Player Performances (@BenchHighlights) October 9, 2026

“I thought he did a really good job getting fouled,” said DJ MacLeay, the Celtics assistant coach who was tasked by Joe Mazzulla with coaching the second half of the game. “He got downhill, attacked, scored. I thought he really put pressure on their defense and got us to the free throw line.”

He finds himself in the same position Celtics players like Ron Harper Jr. and Luka Garza were once in; fighting for a two-way contract in training camp. Last fall, Harper Jr. was one of four players on an Exhibit-10 deal competing for a two-way; this fall, he’s on the first of a three-year deal with the Celtics.

Carter can also draw inspiration from Neemias Queta, who was cut by the Kings three years ago and picked up by the Celtics shortly after. Queta initially signed a two-way contract in the fall of 2024, which was later converted to a standard deal. In July, he signed a $54 million contract extension.

“I talked to Neemi a little bit, because we had kind of the same route, I guess you could say,” Carter said. “We went from Sac, to getting waived, to the Celtics.”

Joe Mazzulla said at training camp that Carter’s mindset and competitiveness has stood out.

“The humility to show up and the openness that he has, of where he’s been in the league and where he wants to get to — and how competitive he is,” said Mazzulla. “He’s very open about wanting to make it. So I’ve appreciated just his mindset, his mentality, the chip on the shoulder that he brings to the game.”

Luka Garza, who was once on an Exhibit-10 contract himself, said after the game that he’s been impressed by Carter’s ball pressure and energy.

“He’s another guy that’s relentless — brought a lot of energy to start,” Garza said. “Was super aggressive, pushed the ball in transition, and I think what stood out just from being in camp and pickup, defensively, is the instincts he has, the way he can guard. He understands that that’s what his superpower is, and then the rest of it, he showed offensively tonight how talented he is and the different things he can do.”

No lottery pick wants to be cut in the middle of their rookie contract. But, Carter doesn’t want to live in the past. He wants to focus on a potential future in Boston, a city an hour away from Providence College, where he starred.

The Celtics’ lone open two-way spot is not promised to Carter, though based on Thursday’s game, he seems like a frontrunner to get it.

“Everything happens for a reason, and I’m just thankful to Brad and the Celtics organization for giving the opportunity to me,” Carter said. “It’s just a blessing.”

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers opened up the exhibition slate with a less-than-stellar 124-113 loss to a Boston Celtics team that didn’t bring their starting lineup. Still, there were some positives to take away from this one.

Peyton Watson was the bright spot of this game.

Preseason basketball can be fool’s gold. You don’t have to look further than some of the takes I had about De’Andre Hunter and Lonzo Ball after their first few exhibition games last season as evidence of that. Those disclaimers aside, Watson looked exactly like the player the Cavs have long needed at the wing in this game.

Watson has the toolset to be the most complete small forward the Cavs have had since LeBron James left nearly a decade ago. That well-rounded skill set was on display as he showed his “creative chops,” in the words of Kenny Atkinson, as a secondary creator, spaced the floor as a shooter, and was disruptive defensively.

Previous playoff runs have been derailed due to a lack of multifaceted players — particularly on the wing. One preseason performance doesn’t mean that he’s the solution to this problem, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.

Speaking of promising wings, Jaylon Tyson looked impressive in his season debut. Nearly everything that I said about Watson could also be applied to Tyson. On this night, he looked like a complete all-around wing.

As good as he played, Tyson’s energy remains the best part of his game. The way he attacks in transition and hustles to rotate out to shooters on the perimeter is infectious — or at least it would be in theory if this were a game where the score mattered.

Atkinson has talked about preseason games being important for finding lineup groupings that work well together. Based on what we saw, the Watson and Tyson duo showed promise.

“I love it,” Atkinson said about that pairing before the game. “They complement each other well. Obviously, the size and then defensive chops, too. So if you pair them with one of Donovan [Mitchell] and James [Harden] or even both, that’s really interesting. Because I think you look at Jaylon and Peyton, they’re really kind of two, three, four. They can play any of those positions. We’ll see, but it seems like it could be a really good match for us.”

The lineup possibilities are a huge advantage for that particular grouping. Both being able to play the two through four means that they can go smaller with them on the court or go with a jumbo lineup featuring two bigs and a guard. Having multiple athletic wings in the same lineup isn’t a luxury the Cavs have had in quite some time.

On top of that, they seem to feed off each other’s energy. We saw that here as they rotated and recovered out to shooters on the perimeter and were dynamic in the open court.

Sticking with things that went well, Meleek Thomas looked good in his minutes. He played with energy, was disruptive defensively, and showed some solid touch as a passer. In short, the things he did well in Summer League were evident in preseason, which is encouraging considering how much better the talent was here than in Vegas.

Thomas was the eighth man in the rotation, but the backup point guard spot is hardly decided based on Atkinson’s comments postgame. Especially after Craig Porter Jr. had a solid showing with 10 assists.

If Thomas does break into the rotation, it’ll have to be because he improves defensively. He grabbed a couple of steals — which is exactly what you want to see — but there’s still a learning curve for rookie guards on that end of the floor. And, considering some of the defensive issues Cleveland showed here, they may not be able to afford someone who’s still trying to figure out how NBA defenses work.

“Offense is going to come with the team and power that we got, but if I could be a real presence on defense, then I know I could make a huge impact,” Thomas said afterward.

As of now, it’s difficult to see Thomas as a day-one member of the rotation Atkinson would prefer to cap at 10. That’s okay. Most rookie second-round picks aren’t instant impact players.

Still, this was a strong outing for Thomas. The tight handle that allowed him to get where he wanted on the court in Vegas carried over here.

With that out of the way, let’s look at some of the concerning parts of this game, starting with the lackluster defense.

The Cavs spent the lead-up to this game talking about how they want to reestablish their defensive identity. If this performance was any indication of things, there’s still plenty of work to be done on that end.

The Celtics reserves were able to break down Cleveland’s perimeter defense and get to the basket at will. On top of that, neither Mobley nor Allen had an answer for opposing center Luka Garza, who registered 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting and seven rebounds in the first half.

You don’t want to be too critical of defensive effort in a preseason game. But there wasn’t much from this performance that would make you believe that this could once again become a strong point for this team.

Rebounding was also an issue. Atkinson pointed out afterward that this was a “concern coming into the season.” It proved to be in their first game as Boston grabbed 46.9% of their missed shots (98th percentile).

You can’t have an elite defense if you can’t end possessions.

Mario Hezonja also struggled mightily in his debut.

The Cavs have continually gone out of their way to praise what they’ve seen from Hezonja throughout training camp and off-season workouts. The things that he was praised for didn’t carry over to this outing.

It’s foolish to overreact to preseason basketball, both good and bad. Yet, it is concerning when the game looks too fast for a certain player.

Hezonja struggled with the speed of the game. His drives to the basket were walled off by multiple defenders, he didn’t hold up guarding his man on the perimeter, and overall just looked slow. It’s easy to excuse away missed shots. It’s difficult to justify looking this out of place.

Atkinson said Hezonja is still getting “his feet wet” being back in the NBA. “It’s going to be easier when we reduce the rotation and define a role for him a little bit more.”

The Cavs don’t have much financially invested in Hezonja. His contract is unguaranteed, and he’s only making the minimum. That said, the forward depth chart looks pretty thin if Hezonja ends up being unplayable. There really aren’t many ideal options at the four and five outside of Watson, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.

It’s way too early to write off Hezonja. One preseason game doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. That said, this wasn’t what the Cavs wanted to see. We’ll see if that improves in the final two preseason games.

Lakers star guard Austin Reaves made his preseason debut during Thursday’s matchup against the Kings at Crypto.com Arena. 

Reaves sat out of the Lakers’ first two preseason games earlier in the week after hurting his ankle in practice. 

The star guard, who re-signed with the Lakers on a four-year, $180 million contract, was in the starting lineup alongside Luka Doncic, Quentin Grimes, Adou Thiero and Kevon Looney. 

Walker Kessler, Ziaire Williams, Collin Sexton, Dalton Knecht, Cameron Carr and two-way forward Arthur Kaluma weren’t available against the Kings.

Coach JJ Redick said Williams was experiencing soreness, but it isn’t a concern of the team’s.

Kessler, the 7-foot-2 center the Lakers acquired from the Jazz as part of a four-year, $130 million sign-and-trade, hasn’t played in the preseason yet after jamming his finger during a practice.

Redick said the team will examine Kessler’s finger on Friday, before adding that the ailment isn’t concerning and that Kessler will play during the preseason. 

The Lakers have two more preseason games after Thursday: Tuesday vs. the Warriors in Las Vegas and Oct. 16 vs. the Nuggets in Los Angeles.

Halfway through Egor Dëmin’s rookie season, the Nets slid him off the ball. A year later, with Mikel Brown Jr. out, they’ve moved him back to lead guard. 

So, is Dëmin a point guard? A shooting guard? 

Neither, Dëmin says. He’s a player, and he’s a winner. 

And early preseason returns say the Russian might be right. 

“I think back to last year in summer league — and even before that on the predraft when I was in the workout with Brooklyn — I’ve been saying at all times to Jordi [Fernández] and the other coaches that I’m seeing myself as a very versatile player in the future and that I want to be anywhere I can benefit the team,” Dëmin said. “I’m a winner, so I want to win as much as I can. 

“If that means for me to have 25 assists and five points, or whatever that means for me, I want to win first. Working on certain things helps to be even more versatile, whether I’m off or on the ball. And that’s the goal, for sure, is being everywhere and being able to be everywhere. You look at LeBron [James], he can play from 1-through-5.” 

Dëmin started a second preseason game Thursday at point guard and sparked a second Nets win, this one 114-108 over James’ 76ers at Barclays Center. 

With Brown unavailable, Dëmin had 13 points, a game high-tying five assists and finished a game-high plus-13 in 21:36. It was another auspicious outing. 

“Very composed, five assists, one turnover, got to the paint multiple times,” Fernández said. “You just can see how much he’s improved already from last year. I probably wanted him to be a little bit more aggressive shooting 3s, but his willingness to get everybody involved is showing. He played the right way, defended. … He was a good leader handling the ball, communicating with everybody. His voice is growing, so it’s very important.” 

Using his voice is vital for the 20-year-old sophomore, who is rapidly growing into a leadership role on this young, rebuilding Nets team. 

“He’s not afraid to lead,” Julius Randle said. “We know what he does on the court, talent-wise how he is, but he’s not afraid to lead and use his voice. And I try to encourage him to do that even more. You’re not too young to be a leader. So, he’s very vocal. 

“You can tell he’s comfortable in his own skin, with who he is as a player, and really understands the game. So he’s never trying to prove anything out there; he’s just playing the game and making the right plays. But he’s not afraid to use his voice. You can tell he has a point guard background. So he knows how to lead a team and get us organized. He has a bright future.” 

Dëmin started last season as a point guard but too often got turned at the point of attack and couldn’t drive. An offseason spent bulking up and working on his downhill game has paid dividends. 

“Last year, it looked like he touched the paint, he had no plan for it,” Fernández said. “He worked, and he put his mind to it and handling pressure. He’s just like a new player.” 

This new player gives Fernández options if he and Brown can play on or off the ball once the latter returns. 

Dëmin repeatedly touched the paint during the win at Charlotte on Tuesday. On Thursday, he crossed up James and went over Joel Embiid for what likely was the best drive of his life. 

“I’m really trying to be a leader of this group in the most selfless way,” Dëmin said. “I want to win and I want to do whatever it takes to win. I want to make sure that I understand every single person and that’s my way to lead. 

“Obviously, putting as much work as I can to lead as an example of what I’m doing from a development standpoint and being vocal is what Julius talked about is going to be a big part of who I am.”

What does the preseason actually determine? Do the wins and losses matter? The answer to the second question is quite literally, no. The answer to the first is general improvements from individual players, and some idea of what the rotations could look like come the regular season.

The San Antonio Spurs saw a little bit of both in their 123-116 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Before the game, head coach Mitch Johnson announced that De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama would start the game. The three-guard lineup that many had speculated about would get plenty of time together, joined by their best movement shooter and last year’s defensive player of the year. But right before tip-off, the Spurs announced that Fox would miss the game with soreness from Thursday morning’s practice, putting Julian Champagnie into the starting five.

San Antonio got off to a great 39-20 first-quarter lead without Fox, led mostly by Harper. The second-year guard had 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in his 16 first-half minutes. Harper looked to be in mid-season form, dominating with his size and strength in the paint. The newer development was Harper’s three-point shooting, particularly off the bounce. Harper knocked down three of his five three-pointers, two of them off the dribble, and another on a catch-and-shoot attempt in the corner.

Harper’s three-point shooting is a development to watch. He will be one of the toughest covers in the NBA if he can combine three-point shooting, particularly off the dribble, with his elite downhill driving ability.

Speaking of downhill driving ability, Carter Bryant looked much more comfortable in his second career preseason. The sophomore was composed (except for a silly turnover in the second quarter when he passed to a teammate who wasn’t looking at him), made quick decisions, and played with more confidence than he showed last season. Bryant finished the game with 11 points, including two three-pointers, and 5 rebounds in 23 minutes.

The rest of the Spurs showed just about what you would expect from them. Wembanyama’s jumper was falling; he was a lob threat in the pick-and-roll, and he created a no-go zone around the rim. Castle was a force getting to the rim and hit his sole catch-and-shoot three-point attempt. Champagnie hit a pair of catch-and-shoot threes and flashed his ability to attack a closeout. Keldon Johnson brought energy off the bench, and Vassell continued to look like one of the best shooters on the team.

Another less positive familiar trend reared its nasty head in San Antonio’s first preseason game. After jumping out to a 23-point lead in the first half, the Spurs let the Hawks chip away at the lead until it was just a 7-point game going into halftime. San Antonio lost the game for good in the second half, albeit with the starters resting and the depth players logging all of the minutes. Preseason losses don’t mean anything, but it’s unfortunate to see the Spurs blow a lead after what just happened in last year’s NBA Finals.

David Jones-Garcia and Ja’Kobi Gillespie led the way for San Antonio in the second half. The guard duo had the ball in their hands frequently and made the most of it. Jones-Garcia had 14 points on 4-for-9 shooting, while Gillespie scored 8 points on 3-for-6 shooting, including a deep three in the fourth quarter. Rookie Tarris Reed Jr. looked like a monster on the glass, grabbing 6 rebounds, 2 of them offensive.

Remember, last preseason the Spurs were playing double-big lineups and players who didn’t make the regular-season rotation. There were hints of what San Antonio will look like come October 20th, but the final product, as they look to make another Finals run, is still a work in progress.

Preseason Bell Ringer rankings:

Jaylen Brown – 1

---

It was the first game the starting five of LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid all played together, and there is a ton to be excited about.

The Sixers' new Big 5 — LeBron, Embiid, Brown, Maxey and Edgecombe — played (preseason) together for the first time tonight.

Here's a glimpse into the pace they played with, the offensive progression, off-ball movements and more in a highlight reel of the 5 together ⬇️🔥 pic.twitter.com/LYdWew3UNH

— Erin Grugan (@eringrugan) October 9, 2026

Jaylen Brown continued his strong preseason against the Nets, tallying 18 points on 5-of-9 shooting. He made up for a slow start with a full house spreading the basketball around by taking over in the early moments of the second half.

Considering he earned Bell Ringer honors in the first game, it felt most sensible to showcase the stars we saw for the first time.

LeBron James:10 points, 18 minutes, 1-of-1 FG, 8-of-8 FT, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal

James looked in control for all of his 18 minutes, finding open Sixers in transition on what seemed like every possession for the first six minutes.

Three Sixers possessions… three Sixers dunks 💪 pic.twitter.com/4360wGJEs1

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) October 8, 2026

Although his only field goal came in the form of an early post-up finish over Drake Powell and Mo Wagner, most of James’ points came at the free throw line. He was a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe, converting drives into points.

Lebron James with his first (preseason) field goal as a Philadelphia 76er, with a little English on it pic.twitter.com/T3xDJMTPEI

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) October 9, 2026

His court vision has the chance to really elevate the games of Maxey, Edgecombe and Brown. It will be a focal point if Embiid can look more comfortable before the regular season begins. He finished with eight turnovers.

Tyrese Maxey: 14 points, 5-of-8 FG, 2-of-4 3PT, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal

Maxey looks incredibly fast and showcased his speed on a nasty baseline dunk over Egor Demin.

Reseee! 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/9auzyrumNv

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 8, 2026

He made two threes and appeared to be in a rhythm early. First three was off a James assist while the second three was running in transition and receiving the return pass from VJ Edgecombe.

Second three-ball of the night for Maxey so far 🎯 pic.twitter.com/JqHRkjO1SI

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) October 8, 2026

He was playing very comfortable off-ball, playing a cutoff-man role to help pace out the offense or push the pace in transition.

LeBron James made his first on-court appearance since signing with the 76ers.

James, 41, made his preseason debut with Philadelphia on Thursday, playing 30 minutes during the 114-108 loss to the Nets on Thursday.

Scoring was not on the agenda for James, who scored 10 points while going 1-for-1 from the field and 8-for-8 from the free throw line.

James, who took a playmaking role for the majority of the game, also put up four rebounds, five assists and a steal.

Thursday’s game was James’ first appearance in a Sixers uniform since signing a two-year, $7.95 million veteran-minimum contract with the franchise in July.

When speaking to reporters in September, James expressed full confidence in bringing a championship to Philadelphia, saying that he hopes to bring his previous winning experience to the team.

“I hope that I can, you know, bring that experience, bring that knowledge, bring the blueprint to the guys that’s trying to accomplish some things that they haven’t done in their career,” James said. “I’ve seen everything that this league has to offer on the floor and off the floor, so I hope that every single day with my approach to the game, approach to the work, that it can translate to every single guy.”

Drama has already started in Philadelphia, however, with reports saying that James let Joel Embiid “hear it” after the Sixers star big man was “a couple of minutes late” to a practice.

During Monday’s preseason game between Philadelphia and the Knicks, Mike Breen relayed the story that someone told him about the two.

“I had somebody tell me before the game that they were out ready to practice, and Joel Embiid walked out onto the court a couple of minutes late, and LeBron let him hear it,” Breen said on the MSG broadcast.

James vehemently denied Breen’s comments through a post on his Instagram story.

“He ain’t been late so stop the lies,” James wrote. 

Following James’ comeback, Breen apologized for the initial report, saying that the story was taken out of context.

“I’m so disappointed how the story was interpreted,” Breen told ESPN.

“The whole intent was praising LeBron for already having an impact on the team’s professionalism and accountability, even something so benign as a player getting on the court for practice a minute or two late.” 

The Cleveland Cavaliers opened their first of three preseason games with a loss to the Boston Celtics.

We’re trying a new format for player grades this year. The goal is to separate players into categories and trim some fat from each game. We’ll be focusing more on the standouts (for better or worse) instead of grading every individual player.

Let us know in the comments if this template is enjoyable.

As always, grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Player of the game

Jaylon Tyson

14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists

No one played enough minutes tonight to really earn this title. And it’s hard for me to give it to a player who didn’t even play in the second half. But Tyson looked like he was taking the next step in his natural progression, scoring 14 points in 16 minutes by being everywhere offensively.

Tyson hit a three-pointer, cut to the basket for a handful of layups, and ran the two-man game with Evan Mobley with efficiency. He has the tools to be a fantastic role player off the bench, and this was a sign that Tyson is ready for that leap.

Grade: B+

Gold Stars

Craig Porter Jr.

5 points, 10 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals

Porter has been challenged to be more of a leader off the bench. Dishing out 10 assists feels like a good start. The fourth-year guard navigated the floor and ran the offense like someone who has experience under his belt. That could be the difference-maker in his race to be Cleveland’s backup point guard this season.

Grade: B+

Meleek Thomas

11 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

After a quiet first half, Thomas opened the second with a string of successful plays. A drive to the basket, followed by a catch-and-shoot triple, capped off by a steal and coast-to-coast finish. Moments later, he’d add to the run with another steal and an outlet pass to Craig Porter Jr. for an assist.

There he is again! @ThomasMeleek | #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/7HrSFxswXx

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 9, 2026

In the fourth quarter, Thomas was given the opportunity to dribble the ball more frequently. This led to some slippery moments where he broke down his defender and got into the middle of the floor for a bucket. His shifty handle will be an X-factor in his development.

Grade: B

Passed the Class

Peyton Watson

7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists

Cavs fans got their first look at Watson in a Cleveland jersey tonight. It was brief, but it was mostly sweet. Watson dished out 4 assists as he pushed the ball in transition and fit in nicely with the rest of the starters. He also buried a corner three-pointer, though he shot just 1-of-4 from downtown.

PWat is getting going! @peytonwatson_ | #LetEmKnowpic.twitter.com/ofJJg8r6O4

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 9, 2026

Watson also defended Mike Conley to start the game. A sign that Cleveland plans on using Watson to shore up their point-of-attack defense. We won’t know how impactful this can be until the real games start. But Watson’s mobility on the perimeter looked strong, even if the defensive effort around him was lacking tonight.

Grade: B-

Donovan Mitchell

There isn’t much for Mitchell to accomplish in preseason other than get his feet under him. He did so tonight, spinning his way around the court for 11 points and doing just enough before bowing out at halftime.

Grade: B-

Sam Merrill

8 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists

We know what Merrill does on a basketball court. He didn’t record a single stat other than scoring, but seeing him drill a 30-foot bomb is always going to get me excited.

Merrill shot 3-for-4 from the floor and scored 8 points before resting the remainder of the game.

Grade: B–

Evan Mobley

8 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist

I thought Mobley would have had more assists tonight given the way he was moving the ball. His handle and vision looked as strong as ever, with Mobley walking the ball up the court and plowing into the lane for his most impressive bucket of the night.

He wasn’t much of a factor on defense, however. We know it’s preseason, but someone still has to grab a rebound.

Grade: C+

Missed the mark

Merio Hezonja

5 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists

Hezonja just played his first NBA (preseason) game in roughly six years. So, we won’t judge him too harshly for having cold feet.

That said, Hezonja looked clumsy in his first few minutes. An ugly turnover and a very hectic sequence dribbling the ball had us all wondering if his return to the league would be more choppy than we thought. He shot 2-for-7 from the field and has much to prove moving forward.

His presence on the glass and multiple assists could be something he hangs his hat on in the future. He’ll just need to get more comfortable on the floor before all of that clicks into place.

Grade: D+

‘Tis the preseason. The Brooklyn Nets began theirs on Tuesday night in Charlotte, putting on quite the performance, particularly at the offensive end, as they aerosol sprayed the “Hornets” en route to a 124-90 victory. Hornets is in parenthesis because Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, and Coby White all sat out.

Thursday, it was the Philadelphia 76ers’ turn to be the showmen. Remember Brooklyn’s “Big 3”? Well, Philly now has a “Big 5” and they all suited up on the floor for the first time this evening as LeBron James and Jaylen Brown joined Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe.

The Nets started Egor Dëmin, Keon Ellis, Noah Clowney, Julius Randle, and Mo Wagner. Michael Porter Jr. and Day’Ron Sharpe sat out. Mikel Brown Jr. remains on the shelf with a rolled ankle.

Hydrogen bomb vs coughing baby? It sure sounded that way going into the game. Few teams, if any, can field a five that matches Philly’s in terms of point blank talent. The Nets certainly can’t on paper.

However, this was a basketball game, not a comic book, even if the Philly’s starting group looked like The Avengers. The Nets had as impressive of a win as the preseason will allow. Here are a few takeaways from the upset.

6:37, 1Q – Brooklyn Nets 15, Philadelphia 76ers 15

• There were already going to be questions about Brooklyn interior defense going into this season with Day’Ron Sharpe stepping in as the lead rim protector. So, with Sharpe sitting out tonight, the bow inside expectedly broke early. The 76ers scored an abundance of their first quarter buckets with baseline cuts. When the regular season starts, the Nets will want to make sure their back court communicates better with the front court. More importantly, they’ll want to make sure Day’Ron Sharpe plays.

• The Sixers weren’t the only ones trying to attack the rim early. Dëmin, who spoke all summer about expanding his shot diet, had quite the two-point take early in the first. He beat LeBron James off the dribble and went through Joel Embiid to score at the rim. I know that sounds like Nets fan fiction, but trust me, it happened. It’s as clear a sign of his growth as you’ll see.

Here's one hell of an interior take for Egor Dëmin. Blows past LeBron James and goes over Joel Embiid. pic.twitter.com/g5ymfyZfNO

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) October 8, 2026

5:52, 1Q – Brooklyn Nets 19, Philadelphia 76ers 15

• Nolan Traoré, Drake Powell, Chaney Johnson, Danny Wolf, and Josh Minott replaced the starters at this point in the first. Perhaps that’s meaningless with absences from Porter Jr. and Sharpe already disrupting the rotation, but it might also be a sign of what Jordi Fernández’s regular season bench will look like.

• This five also played a bit of 2-3 zone. Still attacking the baseline, Philly had little trouble scoring against it.

0:31, 1Q – Brooklyn Nets 31, Philadelphia 76ers 31

• Chaney Johnson took and made a three less than 10 seconds into the shot clock near the end of the first. We know Chaney can shoot, and we know Jordi Fernández has never been brash about encouraging his guys to let it fly. However, Mo Wagner also pulled a semi-contested corner one earlier in the game, which is a bit more eyebrow-raising. So, while the personnel has changed, Jordi’s philosophy on shooting seems to be the same.

10:01, 2Q – Brooklyn Nets 36, Philadelphia 76ers 32

• Once the starters and reserves started to mix, one thing became clear: the Nets are going to stick with the switch. I saw Drake Powell on LeBron James at least twice at the top of the key. Brooklyn largely did that in their first preseason game as well.
• NBA defenses often live and die based on how they defend screens. And, in the second, Brooklyn lived by it, forcing four turnovers in the period’s first four minutes. They were especially physical in their pursuit of these extra possessions, often along the elbow and in the low post. Wagner had James visibly frustrated on more than one occasion.

4:24, 2Q – Brooklyn Nets 44, Philadelphia 76ers 45

• As the Nets look to establish themselves as that gritty team nobody wants to play, wreaking havoc in the backcourt appears to be on the agenda. Traoré poking away this possession from Jaylen Brown to set up Danny with an alley-oop as just one bit of evidence supporting that claim. The Nets ended up turning the 76ers over 22 times by the end of the game.

Nets are giving Philly plenty of problems in the back court. This time it's Nolan Traoré sneaking up on Jaylen Brown to set up Danny Wolf. pic.twitter.com/ylVknOluvE

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) October 9, 2026

1:12, 2Q – Brooklyn Nets 52, Philadelphia 76ers 56

• At the other end, however, Traoré might need to work on his chemistry with Randle. He had a few misplaced dump-offs as the two ran pick-and-roll down the stretch of the second. Those turnovers helped Philly retake the lead entering the break.

HALF – Brooklyn Nets 56, Philadelphia 76ers 58

• Egor was willing and able to probe inside consistently against a legitimate NBA defense, with several takes to the basket outside of that aforementioned one over Embiid. That means it’s real now. He’s not just attacking G-League players or rookies in Las Vegas. He’s doing it against All-NBA defenders. Dëmin’s touch around the rim still needs work, but you’ll surely take the improvement for what it is. It’s also rare to see an athlete identify such a clear weakness in his game and work so deliberately to address it. He’s lived up to everything we’ve heard about his work ethic, and this may be the clearest evidence of that yet.
• This team has the potential to be the gritty, pain-in-the-butt matchup for contenders many of us want them to be. Wagner had King James shouting at the officials like a spoiled monarch on more than on occasion. As Philly’s turnovers were mounting, Drake Powell also drew a foul on an Embiid screen in the backcourt. Embiid got in Ed Malloy’s face, and got a tech. Needless to say, the Nets got the 76ers pissed, and they did it in a game that doesn’t even matter. That’s telling.

9:47, 3Q – Brooklyn Nets 60, Philadelphia 76ers 64

• You don’t often see multi-year All-Stars on the other side of 30 playing in the second half of a preseason game. You see them diving on the court for loose balls even less. Julius Randle did both here. I think Nets fans are going to like him more than they realize.
• Randle’s on-ball gravity at the other end is still a factor as well. He initiated much of Brooklyn’s offense early in the third just by getting in and getting the ball back out to shooters. Having that to fall back on during broken plays or wayward possessions will be huge, and it’s something Brooklyn’s hasn’t had in a long time.

5:02, 3Q – Brooklyn Nets 82, Philadelphia 76ers 75

• Noah Clowney and Danny Wolf can still do that thing where they makes a handful of threes in a flash after having little-to-no points all game. If the Nets are able to make good on their intentions to stay in more games this year, that’ll make those sequences more fun to watch as well.

1:34, 3Q – Brooklyn Nets 90, Philadelphia 76ers 79

• The Nets established their largest lead of the game at this point via an 8-0 run. The 76ers also pulled all their main rotation players off the floor a few minutes before this. Sorry, I feel like I have to mention that.

11:51, 4Q – Brooklyn Nets 90, Philadelphia 76ers 79

• Ben Saraf and Terance Mann both played their first minutes of the night here. Just incase it ends up meaning anything, it’s worth noting. Saraf did connect on his first triple of the game from the right wing, but struggled to run the offense after that.

4:45, 4Q – Brooklyn Nets 107, Philadelphia 76ers 97

• It’s never too late, even in the preseason, to make hustle plays. Grant Nelson had several in the final five minutes of this one, particularly on the offensive glass. As Brooklyn’s offense began to falter down the stretch, he kept them afloat, mining for extra possessions. It was the least flashy “closer” performance I’ve seen in some time, but worked nonetheless, and that’s what matters.

END OF GAME

• I know, it’s only the preseason, but the 76ers started a lineup tonight that’ll at worst be an all-time NBA 2K team. The Nets went toe-to-toe with them, and minus Porter Jr., Brown Jr., and Sharpe. In my opinion, a lot of factors have to align for a preseason game to warrant true optimism from fans, but this one had them all. Don’t got crazy, but you’re allowed to like what you saw.
• Again, Egor’s development, specifically where it’s happening, is beyond encouraging.
• On the contrary, it’s not looking good for Ben Saraf. Not that it would’ve mattered much, but Brooklyn almost let this one slip after giving him the keys to the offense. It’s hard to get around that when you consider the defenders he was facing at that point.

Next Up

Brooklyn’s tour of new look teams in the preseason rolls on with a visit to the nation’s capital on Monday. The Nets will face off against the Washington Wizards at 7:00 p.m. EST.

• Boxscore: Brooklyn Nets 114, Philadelphia 76ers 108 – NBA.com
• Game Highlights: Brooklyn Nets 114, Philadelphia 76ers (Video) – NBA.com
• Sixers’ LeBron James praised by Nets big men Julius Randle, Moe Wagner – Ky Carlin – USA TODAY

Nick Young wanted to fight D’Angelo Russell in 2016.

The two former Lakers teammates’ relationship was reportedly over after Russell leaked a video of Young confessing to cheating on his ex-fiancée and rapper Iggy Azalea. Young was infuriated with the former second overall pick and revealed he was prepared to rumble with Russell following the incident.

“I tried to get to the arena, they had security and everything. They stopped me at the door, told me I couldn’t come in, take a couple of days off,” Young told Shannon Sharpe on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast.

“I had the whole gang with me. It was about to go crazy,” Young added.

Young never ended up fighting Russell, but he got his revenge in another way — through his family.

“I ain’t never been in a situation like that where my teammate just snitched on me. I was like, ‘they’re gonna call me a punk in the media,’ and I’m mad for real, I gotta do something. I gotta show him. I know he’s young, 19, 18 or whatever, but still you don’t do nothing like that,” Young said.

Young went on to tell Sharpe how his friend helped him with the revenge on Russell’s brother.

“I still had to get him, so while he was playing, a couple friends of mine had to get his brother in the family lounge and all that. I had to get some type of get-back,” Young said.

A confused Sharpe asked how that was able to stay out of the media given how publicized the moment was.

“It’s the Lakers. There’s a lot of things that go on in LA,” Young answered. “LA is no place for the weak.”

The topic is still a point of contention for Young, who said his relationship with Russell was never the same after he seemingly broke the unwritten rule of never snitching on teammates.

“It was over after that,” Young said.

The Washington Wizards defeated the New York Knicks, 111-109 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. The win gives Washington a 1-0 record in the preseason.

As you might have expected, the Wizards started their Big Three of AJ Dybantsa, Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Washington even finished with a 30-29 lead. Dybantsa didn’t start out too hot, but he did make this nice drive to the hoop in the second quarter.

That's tough rook 😤 pic.twitter.com/usHPXhbKgh

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) October 9, 2026

And he made this nice assist to Bilal Coulibaly on the fast break.

BC getting out and running💨 pic.twitter.com/u5yTCdnlSR

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) October 9, 2026

Ultimately, the Knicks had the stronger second quarter and headed into halftime with a 63-57 lead.

Washington was able to cut the lead down in the third quarter despite being behind by as many as 10 points. But a strong fourth quarter, which started with this go-ahead bucket by Will Riley helped give Washington the momentum needed to take down the NBA Champions.

Willy J floater💧 pic.twitter.com/JzMgvEfXRz

— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) October 9, 2026

Anthony Davis led the Wizards with 16 points while Trae Young added 15 points and made some long three pointers. Dybantsa scored 11.

For the Knicks, Jalen Brunson and Landry Shamet co-led with 13 points.

The Wizards’ next game is on Saturday when they host the Detroit Pistons. Tip off is at 7 p.m. ET. See you then.

It’s understandable if it’s still hard to believe, but the Sixers’ starting lineup of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James and Joel Embiid made its debut Thursday night in Brooklyn.

It was just a preseason game, but it gave us a fun glimpse of what can be in the Sixers’ 114-108 loss to the Nets.

Brown led the way with 18 points while Maxey had 14 points and James finished with 10 points, five assists and four rebounds. Maxey and James did not play in the second half. Edgecombe chipped in with 11 points. Embiid had six points, three rebounds and three assists, but looked rusty, committing eight turnovers.

Anfernee Simons (hamstring), Dominick Barlow (back) and Adem Bona (foot) were all out.

Next up for the Sixers is their penultimate preseason game in Boston against the Celtics Saturday night.

First quarter

• Embiid comfortably switching onto Keon Ellis on the first possession of his first preseason game feels like a massive positive. He had another possession on Nolan Traore which led to a miss. He was moving extremely well. The only blemish for Embiid was his three turnovers. He looked a little rusty dealing with ball pressure.
• The Sixers’ first basket of the game was on a LeBron hit-ahead pass to Edgecombe. This team should be a nightmare to handle in transition. The ball movement was breath-taking at times.

Three Sixers possessions… three Sixers dunks 💪 pic.twitter.com/4360wGJEs1

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) October 8, 2026

• Maxey’s first bucket was a dunk on a baseline drive. He then buried a couple threes off movement. This lineup is going to allow Maxey to flourish as an off-ball scorer. He led the Sixers with 10 points in the first.

Second three-ball of the night for Maxey so far 🎯 pic.twitter.com/JqHRkjO1SI

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) October 8, 2026

• A brief scare as Mo Wagner pushed Embiid in the back on a box out and the big man rolled into Brown. Brown was down for minute grabbing his right knee, but got up and appeared no worse for wear.
• Dean Wade and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were the first subs. Wade did exactly what you’d hope he’d do, snagging two offensive rebounds, burying a corner three and playing stout defense.
• The defense looked leaky to say the least, but the offense was ridiculous. They had 10 assists on 12 made field goals. LeBron had half of the those dimes and finished the quarter with four points, five assists and two rebounds. The game was tied at 33-33 after one.

Lebron James with 5 assists tonight already after this laser pass to Jabari Walker for the jam pic.twitter.com/uwlnZr73yk

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) October 9, 2026

Second quarter

• Nearly a highlight-reel alley-oop to start the second. After great hustle from Wade and Jabari Walker, KCP was on the break with Edgecombe. Unfortunately, Ellis broke up what would’ve been a nasty slam.
• Labaron Philon, Jr. getting some minutes with the regulars and buries a three off a Maxey drive. Love Nurse experimenting with a smaller backcourt, though those minutes will likely be Simons’ when he’s healthy.

Labaron Philon showing off the silky smooth jumper from long range 🔥 pic.twitter.com/kiDPsYG6fC

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) October 9, 2026

• Another turnover for Embiid. Mo Wagner is playing like it’s the NBA Finals, which good for him, but it did look like he might’ve fouled Embiid. Embiid then picked up a frustration foul (it was a bit soft) followed by a technical. It’s been a frustrating night for Embiid offensively.
• If there was one aspect of Embiid’s game that looked good it was his passing. He delivered a frozen rope pass to Wade on the baseline, who was then fouled.
• Speaking of Wade, he’s proving to be an outstanding cutter so far. He had a few impressive defensive possessions on the strong-bodied Julius Randle as well. He looks like an oustanding fit.
• Again, the defense has been rough at times, but the Nets only shot 39.2% from the field. The turnover battle was the issue, with the Sixers only forcing four in the first half while committing 14. That — and a serious Sixers’ free throw advantage — led to Brooklyn taking 20 more field goal attempts. Embiid had seven. Many of the giveaways were a clear result of guys simply not playing together.
• With all that said, the offensive talent is just so overwhelming. There are mismatches and advantages on every single possession. The Sixers were up 58-56 at half. Maxey led the way with 14 points while James had 10 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Lebron James with his first (preseason) field goal as a Philadelphia 76er, with a little English on it pic.twitter.com/T3xDJMTPEI

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) October 9, 2026

Third quarter

• Embiid, Brown and Edgecombe were all out to start the second half. Wade and Philon joined them as LeBron and Maxey sat.
• Brown started to take over a little offensively like he did the other night. He had an excellent kick-out pass to Wade on a drive for another three.

Jaylen Brown spins, sinks the shot and draws the foul 💪 pic.twitter.com/NlPYvSWHGW

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) October 9, 2026

• Another turnover for Embiid. He’s really got to tighten it up. Sure, a couple have been caused by timing issues, but a few have just been plain sloppy.
• The Nets’ strategy seemed to be to make the officials call fouls. On one hand, it did seem to slow the Philly offense down. On the other, Wagner had five fouls and Randle four not even midway through the third quarter.
• Without James and Maxey, the offense seemed to get stagnant. The ball stopped moving and there was a bit too much iso ball.
• Brown really started cooking with a bench-heavy unit. He made a gorgeous teardrop, buried a three and then delivered a beautiful behind-the-back pass to Jabari Walker, which led to a foul. He scored 18 points in just under 24 minutes.

Jaylen Brown with 5 more quick points on these back-to-back possessions pic.twitter.com/BcKi0YArSi

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) October 9, 2026

• Walker is having an excellent preseason. He put back a Justin Edwards missed three and then took a charge on the ensuing possession. Walker proving to be a legitimate stretch big option would be a welcomed development.

Great sequence here from Jabari Walker — a put-back bucket down one end and immediately takes a charge down the other 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/OpxhsAu9rD

— Liberty Ballers (@Liberty_Ballers) October 9, 2026

• The Nets went on an 11-0 run as the Sixers subbed out most of their regulars. Brooklyn took a 93-81 lead into the fourth.

Fourth quarter

• Philon hasn’t shot well in the first two preseason games, but when you watch him, you see the potential. The handle and the creation ability are real. He’ll start to make more of these as the game reps increase.
• It’s been a struggle for Justin Edwards so far. I thought he’d have a chance to compete with KCP for minutes this season. Thus far he looks like the team’s 14th man. He did make a few shots late, which will hopefully give him a confidence boost going forward.
• Take it for what it’s worth, but Kate Scott mentioned on the broadcast that Tacko Fall might be available for Saturday’s game in Boston. It would be fun to watch the 7-foot-6 center play, but he also has a legitimate chance to earn the Sixers’ final two-way deal. With the season-ending injury to Ariel Hukporti, it’s not crazy to think Fall would get regular season minutes if he earns that spot.
• Jameer Nelson Jr. has been really good! He plays his butt off on both ends. Should be a solid addition to the Blue Coats this season. Honestly, the team down in Delaware should be entertaining.

In their return to the Garden for the first time since Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night, the Knicks struggled to keep up with a young Washington Wizards core, losing by just two points, 111-109, for their second loss of the preseason.

Here are some takeaways...

-- Just as in Monday's 120-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Knicks' starting lineup comprised the five stars that powered the team to its NBA Finals win in June: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Karl-Anthony Towns. For the Wizards, the game marked their first of the preseason, as well as their first chance to see how newly-acquired vets Trae Young and Anthony Davis — as well as 2026 first-overall pick AJ Dybantsa — fit into Washington's rebuild. 

-- The Knicks' offense got off to a slow start, turning the ball over thrice in the first three minutes of the game. After the Wizards went up 1-0 on a free throw from Dybantsa, Brunson landed a three to kickstart a back-and-forth offensive effort that would extend through the end of the first half.

Miles McBride and Andre Drummond were the first two Knicks to come off the bench, shortly followed by Landry Shamet and Jose Alvarado. McBride, who enters the season as the longest-tenured Knick, made a convincing argument for the contract extension he's pursuing, quickly dumping in a three before drawing a foul and adding a fourth point on the free throw.

They finished the first quarter down one point, 29-30.

-- New York's bench saw more action in the early portion of the second, with Mohamed Diawara and Jordan Clarkson taking the court for the first time. Just as in Philadelphia on Monday, New York's offense continued to ebb and flow but found a groove at the end, taking a six-point lead (63-57) into the half. Hart led the team in both minutes (16) and points (13) through the first 24 minutes of play.

-- The game's pace quickened in the third, but the Knicks' offense remained steady, increasing its lead thanks to Shamet. The shooting guard landed three straight three-point attempts for nine of the team's 21points scored in the frame. New York was up by as many as 10 points, but Washington narrowed the gap to just three by the end of the quarter.

-- The Wizards began to run away with the game in the middle of the final frame, gaining a seven-point lead until Pacome Dadiet sank a 26-foot three-pointer to put the Knicks back in the fight. The Knicks closed the deficit to just two in a chaotic final minute of play, but their effort was to no avail. 

-- Overall, the Knicks shot just 42 percent from the field and 29 percent from three (11-for-38). New York's starters played much more than in the preseason opener in Philly, each crossing the 19-minute mark. Hart led the star five with 21 minutes, tying with Brunson for 13 points. Leading the bench, Shamet also had 13 points. 

-- Dybantsa, 19, scored 11 points in his debut and led the Wizards in minutes (23) and steals (4). He went zero-for-three from three.

Game MVP: Anthony Davis

The 33-year-old power forward scored almost as many points (16) as he played minutes (17), landed two of his three three-point attempts, and went two-for-two from the free-throw line in his first game with Washington.

Highlights

Welcome back to The Garden, Jalen Brunson https://t.co/c51x7IM5Wc

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 8, 2026

Four-point play for Deuce! https://t.co/8JyXjJEaxD

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 9, 2026

Josh Hart with the fake! https://t.co/GF7KaZPUS9

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 9, 2026

What's next

The Knicks are set to host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m. in their third preseason contest. 

LeBron James made his debut for the Philadelphia 76ers. Sort of.

The NBA's all-time leading scorer suited up for the team's preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, Oct. 8 at Barclays Center and was in the starting lineup.

The crowd cheered enthusiastically as James did his pregame ritual, tossing chalk in the air, for the first time in the blue No. 23 jersey.

First LeBron chalk toss in a Sixers uniform 🚨

Sixers/Nets in preseason action is LIVE NOW on NBA League Pass! pic.twitter.com/Jg1TzhhCFT

— NBA (@NBA) October 8, 2026

James' first field goal came in the second quarter via a reverse layup with an assist from Tyrese Maxey. The future Hall of Famer credited the rising star as a major factor in choosing to join the 76ers this offseason. The bucket put Philadelphia up 40-39.

He got his first points in the first quarter when he was fouled by Keon Ellis and made both free throws.

LeBron's first bucket in his @sixers preseason debut comes in style!

A smooth reverse layup 👏 pic.twitter.com/kpZUZ7LiwB

— NBA (@NBA) October 9, 2026

James got his first assist as a member of Philadelphia in the first quarter when he dished the ball to VJ Edgecombe for a layup.

The four-time NBA champion was substituted out of the game at halftime with the score 58-56 in favor of Philadelphia. He had 10 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers and a steal in 18 minutes of play.

James became a member of the 76ers this offseason as a free agent after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. He joins former MVP Joel Embiid and former NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, who joined the team in a blockbuster trade with the Boston Celtics.

What were LeBron James' stats in 76ers preseason debut?

James had 10 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 turnovers and a steal. He played 18 minutes in the first half.

More: LeBron James, 76ers' loaded starting 5 play preseason game: Did we learn anything?

Here's his full stats rundown:

• Minutes: 18
• Points: 10
• FG: 1-for-1
• Free Throws: 8-for-8
• Rebounds: 4
• Assists: 5
• Steals: 1
• Blocks: 0
• Turnovers: 2
• Fouls: 1

76ers highlights vs. Nets

When will LeBron James make his 76ers debut in regular season?

James will make his first official start for the Philadelphia 76ers during the NBA's opening night on Tuesday, Oct. 20. He will play against the defending champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How did LeBron James do in Sixers debut? Stats from 76ers vs. Nets preseason game

After sitting out the first two exhibition contests, Austin Reaves will make his preseason debut against the Kings on Thursday.

Head coach JJ Redick announced pregame that Reaves would return to the court, his first appearance since signing his big deal to return to the Lakers this summer.

Austin Reaves is playing tonight, per JJ Redick.

— Connor Moreno (@cmorenoNBA) October 9, 2026

However, Reaves is not going to be joined by his teammates who also missed the first two games. Walker Kessler remains out after jamming a finger during practice while Collin Sexton and Arthur Kaluma are also sidelined.

Joining them for Thursday’s game are Ziaire Williams, Cameron Carr and Dalton Knecht. Williams had some soreness, as Redick described, while Carr and Knecht took hits leading to contusions.

Ziaire Williams, Collin Sexton and Arthur Kaluma remain out; Cameron Carr and Dalton Knecht are also out, both of whom have contusions.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) October 9, 2026

JJ Redick on Walker Kessler’s finger injury: “It’s not concerning. He’ll play in the preseason.”

Redick on Ziaire: “He’s got some soreness. It’s not anything that we’re worried about.”

Redick said that Carr and Knecht both “got hit” and suffered contusions.

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) October 9, 2026

Reddick has remained steadfast that these injuries are not long-term concerns. After a flurry of games this week, the Lakers will be off until Tuesday before wrapping up the preseason with a game next Friday.

With over another week of games remaining — and additional practice coming after that — there isn’t any real reason to worry about any of the players who have yet to make an appearance. In fact, Redick said pregame that Kessler would play in preseason games.

Notably not mentioned during any of those injury updates is Luka Dončić, which means not only is Reaves playing on Thursday, but fans will get to see the superstar pair on the court together for the first time this season.

While this happened plenty of times last season, something about this being a new era of Lakers basketball makes it feel like a bigger deal to see them on the floor together, ushering the Lakers forward.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.