Lakers coach JJ Redick was stumped. 

He had recently likened Luka Dončić to a supernova. He said you have to pick your poison against him. 

So, when asked if he had any superlatives to offer following Dončić’s 53-point, five-rebound, five-assist performance in the Lakers’ 124-118 win over the Trail Blazers on Friday, Redick stumbled.

“Sure,” Redick said. “Sure.”

When a reporter started asking another question, he interjected. 

“I’m going to just sit around, we’ll gather one day and come up with more superlatives,” Redick added. “So I’ll have more words ready. But for now, I don’t have any words.”

The hyper-prepared Lakers coach was finally ill-prepared for an assignment.

Redick isn’t the only person who has been left dumbfounded following Dončić’s blazing start to the season in which he’s averaging a league-leading 40.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.6 assists.

In Friday’s game, Dončić passed Michael Jordan (347) for the most points scored in the firstnine games of a season since the NBA-ABA merger with 361 points. 

It’s the most points anyone has scored in the modern NBA since Wilt Chamberlain in 1962-63.

“I’m having a lot of fun,” Dončić said. “Obviously playing basketball, it’s a lot of fun for me. It’s more [fun] when you play like this and when you win games. So, it’s been like this my whole life. Basketball was my dream. Playing in the NBA was my dream. Just living my dream.”

The Lakers are living theirs, too.

The 27-year-old face of their franchise is having an MVP-caliber campaign while leading the Lakers to the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference with an 8-2 record.

No one expected the Lakers to be this good.

And no one expected Dončić to soar to the top of the MVP conversation after he hadn’t finished in the top two in voting ever in his career.

But if the first few weeks of the season have made anything clear, it’s that Redick needs to beef up his vocabulary. He needs to get a thesaurus. Dončić is skyrocketing, and he’s carrying the Lakers with him.

There were many incredible moments in the Lakers’ 16-point come-from-behind win over the Trail Blazers in which they stormed back after shooting 4-for-23 from beyond the arc in the first half, including missing all 15 of their initial attempts from that distance.

There was the buzzer-beating 62-foot shot that Dončić made at the end of the second quarter, a shot he literally banked in from three-quarters of the court.

“Luka can do some things that maybe a handful, if not no one, can do in basketball,” Redick said.

Things only got more fun from there. 

There was a little mixup after Dončić notched his 11th 50-point performance in his career, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for 10th-most such games in NBA history.

It all started because Ziaire Williams couldn’t wait to congratulate Dončić. 

So much so that Williams decided to interrupt what he thought was Dončić’s walk-off television interview with “NBA on Prime” by approaching him from behind, putting his hands on his shoulders and yelling, “Fifty ball.”

Only, there was a problem.

Austin Reaves was doing the interview. Not Dončić.

“I’m the wrong white person,” said Reaves, who had 25 points.

Did Williams seriously confuse his two teammates? “Deadass,” he said, flashing a smile in the Lakers’ locker room.

Dončić got in on the fun, too. 

“That was very disrespectful to me,” Dončić said jokingly of being confused with Reaves, with whom he shares a brotherly bond.

It has been a wild stretch for Dončić, who’s shattering records nightly.

He’s leaving his coach at a loss for words. He’s making shots from outer space. And he’s leaving his teammates seeing his face in everyone. 

So, only one question remains. 

Can Dončić keep this up? 

“I feel like that,” he said. “But as long as we win, I’m good.”

The Dallas Mavericks were in a funk for their past two games, with Kyrie Irving sitting one and Cooper Flagg having arguably the worst two-game stretch of his young career. Emirates Cup action raised the intensity and the Mavs stepped up to the tune of a 112-100 win Friday night.

63-45: Rebound disparity in favor of Dallas

For what felt like the first time in a long time, the Mavs dominated on the boards to the tune of +18 for the night. Dallas knew this was something they needed to work on and they answered the call Friday night. The cherry on top was that rookie Morez Johnson, Jr. led all players 17 boards!

20-5: Mavs’ second chance points advantage

All of those rebounds led to plenty of points for Dallas. They made the most of ending Utah possessions and extending their own possessions, outscoring the Jazz by 15 in second chance points.

31-14: Free throw disparity in favor of Dallas

The Mavericks got themselves to the line early and often, allowing them to keep the game tight in the first half. Utah was more efficient from the line, missing only a single attempt, but Dallas’ 80.6% (25-of-31) was more than enough of an edge, giving the Mavs a +12 advantage from the charity stripe.

9: Number of traveling calls

The game had an inordinate number of traveling calls; nine to be exact. In the flow of the game, it was quite noticeable and somewhat bizarre. The travel-happy referees were equal opportunity penalizers, handing Utah five of the infractions, and Dallas four of their own.

28-6: Mavericks scoring run

Dallas opened up a tight game in the third quarter and early part of the fourth. Reeling off a 28-6 scoring run, Dallas extended a one possession game to a 20-point lead. Utah responded with a couple of three-point makes and a smaller run of their own, but that 28-6 run proved to be the deciding factor in a Mavericks’ win.

The Mavs needed a win to wash away a bit of the stink from the prior two games and they did all the little things to make it happen against the Jazz. Dallas was locked in on the boards, got to the line, and put together a nice run to build a cushion that proved insurmountable for the Jazz.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

The Phoenix Suns moved Oso Ighodaro into the starting lineup for Thursday’s win against the Orlando Magic. Many called for a change to the lineup (or multiple changes, which is another article for another day). He is a somewhat polarizing player, with staunch fans and outspoken skeptics. I’ll make a case for this being absolutely the right move for this team, right now.

Khaman Maluach is learning game by game. Working on his body (and hopefully hands) to get stronger. He has an awesome frame and, at 20 years old, is just beginning to learn the nuances of NBA success. He has a mostly high effort level and wants to be good. However, the NBA is littered with players thrust into action before developing properly – and then losing confidence, picking up bad habits. Time on the court in meaningful minutes is needed to progress toward the objective of becoming a solid NBA starting center. The current situation with Mark Williams out well into 2027 allows for consistent 15-20 minute nights. Handing the “starter” keys could put him on a path more closely aligned to former Suns top-10 pick Josh Jackson (sorry to those with draft PTSD here).

Back to Oso. The Phoenix starting lineup needs more connectivity and flow on offense? Check. Struggling horrifically on defense? Check. Per HoopsJunkie.io, Ighodaro’s on/off defensive rating of -17.2 points per 100 possessions ranks EIGHTH in the NBA! This is in spite of being a below-average defensive rebounder (141st in the NBA in DREB%). Keep in mind, he suffered a right oblique strain in the opener and is likely just rounding back into form now. I’ve referenced DARKO several times as a great tool to project overall player value at a moment in time.

Through last season, his projected value was steadily growing. Once fully healthy, it is reasonable to expect that progression to continue. He looks bigger and stronger. His turnovers are down. While the results are not there yet at the free-throw line, he looks smoother (and commentators have noticed the same). With a DARKO of 1.0, compared to a -1.6 for Maluach, the model predicts more positive impact on winning in the present.

Oso and Ryan Dunn, to an even greater extent early this season, are developing players. They show what development can look like for players drafted 40th and 28th, respectively. With his raw talents (drafted 10th) and willingness to work, Maluach’s ultimate success depends on development done the right way. This franchise needs Man Man to get there for the long run – and needs Oso right now to stabilize a starting lineup that was in disarray.

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Ten games is too early for most valuable player conversation. Just don’t tell fans at Crypto.com Arena.

“M-V-P! M-V-P!” the Lakers faithful chant at Luka Doncic every time the Lakers guard toes the free-throw line.

After dropping a season-high 53 points during the Lakers’ 124-118 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, Doncic is averaging 40.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists in a scoring binge for the ages. He’s the fourth Laker to have four consecutive games of 40 or more points. He’s the third to have seven games of 35 or more points.

And he’s doing it efficiently: Doncic’s sky-high shooting percentage dipped to 49.8% after an unusually cold 5-for-15 shooting night from three-point range Friday. He was still 12 for 18 from two-point range.

Here are three takeaways from Friday’s win:

Too early to tell?

Walker Kessler just shook his head as he grasped for the right words. There might not be many more left to describe what Doncic is doing.

“He’s my MVP,” the Lakers center said eventually.

Being in the most valuable player conversation isn’t new for Doncic. The two-time scoring champion finished third in MVP voting in 2024 with Dallas. He averaged 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists during the regular season, then led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals.

Each season the do-it-all guard is among the favorites to win the award. But Doncic’s early-season campaign feels different. Not only is Doncic in great shape, Portland coach Micah Nori said before Friday’s game, but Doncic also has the right pieces around him after the Lakers remade their roster to complement the star with floor-spacing shooters, strong perimeter defenders and a rolling center.

“It’s a perfect offensive storm,” Nori said. “He’s the MVP right now. Hands down.”

LUKA JUST SANK IT FROM 3/4 COURT 🤯

Bruce Springsteen can’t believe what he just witnessed! pic.twitter.com/D0a9aSnwuX

— NBA (@NBA) November 7, 2026

Lakers coach JJ Redick does not engage in MVP discussion until 50 games in, he said. When told Doncic topped NBA.com’s first MVP ladder Friday, the Lakers coach brushed aside any chance to make a grand proclamation.

In the premature MVP rankings, Doncic was ahead of San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. The 22-year-old is averaging 29.1 points, 12.6 rebounds, three assists and 4.2 blocks per game.

Doncic’s 53-point outburst eclipsed Wembanyama’s 52 points the star center scored Wednesday for the highest single-game scoring performance this season. But Wembanyama also grabbed 24 rebounds with eight blocks in a historic statline matched only by Wilt Chamberlain.

The French superstar finished second in MVP voting last year and was the first unanimous defensive player of the year in league history. His outsized defensive impact was a significant part of why he entered the season as the betting favorite to win his first MVP.

Read more:Swanson: Luka Doncic can lead Lakers to a title, but only if his teammates pull their weight

Doncic, who didn’t get any votes from NBA general managers when asked in a preseason survey who they thought would win the MVP, said he’s determined to step up on defense for his team. He is averaging 1.7 steals per game, which ranks second among Lakers players. His four drawn charges is tied for most in the league.

“He has a pride and he has a hunger,” Lakers forward Sandro Mamukelashvili said of Doncic’s defense. “He has a will to not be labeled as that guy who you can just attack.”

Doncic is challenging Chamberlain’s stats on the offensive end. His 361 points through his first nine games are the most for a player since Chamberlain’s 472 points in 1962-63. No one has averaged 40 points over a season since the legendary center in 1963. The possibility has barely crossed Doncic’s mind.

“As long as we win, I’m good,” Doncic said.

The Lakers are 8-2 with the best record in the Western Conference. They have not started 8-2 since their last championship season.

Welcome back

Adou Thiero had a loud four points, four rebounds and two assists in his long-awaited season debut Friday. The energetic forward missed the first nine games of the season because of swelling in his left knee. He didn’t waste any time reintroducing himself to the team, keeping a loose ball alive on his first offensive possession that led to an offensive rebound and a put-back from Mamukelashvili.

“He literally did everything we asked him to do,” Redick said.

The second-year forward has been hampered by his balky left knee since college, when he missed the end of his junior season after surgery. The procedure delayed the beginning of his rookie season and when he returned, a sprained MCL in his right knee knocked him out for six more weeks.

The injuries prevented Thiero from gaining any traction. This summer, when he had the longest stretch of sustained health during his short professional career, he could finally show teammates and coaches what he could do.

Thiero jumped out of the gym during practices. He smothered teammates while guarding the ball. He brought the same energy to the court Friday when it counted.

“We value Adou a lot,” Kessler said. “He’s a very physical player, really talented, athletic player.”

Defensive backup plan

The Lakers missed their first 15 three-point shots. It felt like a minor miracle they trailed by only seven at halftime.

The most dynamic offense in the league had to rely on its defense. The Lakers forced 24 turnovers and held the Trail Blazers (6-2) to 15 points in the third quarter.

“It’s nice to know when you’re not making shots that you can also rely on your defense to help keep you in the game,” said forward Jake LaRavia, who had seven points, eight rebounds and one steal.

The Lakers rank 21st in defensive rating, giving up 113.6 points per 100 possessions. They are one of the worst rebounding teams in the league, ranking 29th despite outrebounding the Trail Blazers by three. Their defense instead relies on blocks and steals.

The Lakers are tied for third in the NBA with 10.7 steals per game. Matisse Thybulle leads the team with 1.8 steals per game. Austin Reaves had a team-high four steals Friday.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Before the season and even into the first few games, critics have questioned the San Antonio Spurs’ four-guard starting lineup. However, through 9 games, that lineup has a +25.4 net rating in 95 minutes and has led the Spurs to a 7-2 start. The bench lineups, especially those without Victor Wembanyama, have caused the team issues. That was never more apparent than in San Antonio’s 124-109 thrashing of the Sacramento Kings on Friday night.

Let’s be honest about the Kings for a moment. They are a bad basketball team, perhaps not in talent, but in discipline and execution. They lose people on defense and take errant shots on offense. Yet, multiple times on Friday, they gained back ground with most of San Antonio’s starters off the floor.

Most of San Antonio’s mistakes come from defense, where too often players, especially on the wings, overhelp on a drive or watch the ball, letting the offensive player get an open three or cut to the rim and score over the top of Luke Kornet. San Antonio’s defensive lapses were a big reason the Kings shot 49% from the field and hit 46% from three. That second unit’s defensive issues don’t flip the game against the worst in the league, but against a legitimate, deep team, it could lead to a loss.

The Spurs will take a 15-point win on the road in their first NBA Cup game. But it’s hard to come out of that game feeling overly confident about the performance. San Antonio has won seven games in a row, but over half of those have come against teams under .500. A real test awaits them on Saturday in the red-hot Portland Trail Blazers. The Spurs’ second unit will need to step up its defensive play if they want to compete with another Western Conference leader.

Takeaways:

• Devin Vassell is one of the most important players on the Spurs. Vassell is shooting 34.1% from three this season, well below his usual average, which has hurt San Antonio’s offense. When he’s hitting shots, like he did against Sacramento, the offense opens up a ton for the guards and Wembanyama to dominate the paint. Vassell had 19 points, hitting 5 of his 6 threes on Friday. His off-ball defense was solid, too. He did about all you can ask from a glue guy in the starting lineup. San Antonio will need more performances like these moving forward.
• The Kings ran one of the weakest zones I’ve seen this season, and it led to a big run from the Spurs in the first half. That said, it made me realize that San Antonio is basically built to bust zone defenses. One, Wembanyama is kind of the ultimate cheat code to beat a zone. He can stretch it out on the perimeter or punish smaller players who get caught helping around the basket in the zone. Then, the Spurs have dynamic playmaking guards who are big and physical and can operate in the middle of the zone, a common weak spot in many zone defenses. Add in a couple of knockdown shooters like Vassell and Champagnie, and it becomes nearly impossible to run zone against San Antonio. The Kings tried, and failed to do so on Friday.
• Stephon Castle had a rough defensive night, but made up for it with some of the best playmaking we’ve seen from him this season. He had 19 points, 7 assists, and 1 turnover in the win. One of those assists came on a beautiful inverted pick-and-roll with Wembanyama as the ball handler and Castle as the screener. Castle caught the ball on the short roll, did a 180-degree turn, and fired the ball to a wide-open Vassell for three. It was as close to the Beautiful Game Spurs as San Antonio got on Friday.
• Harrison Barnes has earned his spot in the rotation lately, and one could argue he should be getting more minutes than some other bench forward on the roster. He had 13 points on 4-for-7 shooting on Friday against his former team. Offensively, he’s a savvy connective player who can take advantage of a defense that is out of position after one of the Spurs’ guards creates an advantage. He looks more like the Barnes we saw in his first season with San Antonio, rather than last year. He has essentially replaced Carter Bryant in the rotation, and it doesn’t look like he will be giving up that spot any time soon with how he is playing.
• I’m interested to see how this team will look once Tobias Harris comes back (hopefully this month?). They desperately need another shot creator and capable defender in that second unit. I know a lot of people want to see him replace Vassell in the starting lineup, but it seems like he could provide even more value as one of the first subs in the game, then playing for a prolonged stretch alongside Kornet and one or two of the guards. The Spurs’ top free-agent acquisition should give them more of the versatility many thought the team would have going into the season.

Coming off a thrilling win against the Dallas Mavericks, the Spurs traveled to Sacramento to take on the Kings in their first NBA Cup game of the season. From the opening tip, the Spurs’ offense showed no rust from Wednesday. They outscored the Kings 38-29 in the first quarter and took a 19-point lead into halftime. Despite a low-scoring third quarter, the lead remained the same as the Kings’ defense had no answer for the Spurs’ hot shooting from three-point range. They shot 50% (15-30) after shooting an abysmal 15% (5-36) against Dallas. The Spurs ultimately won 124-109, and extended their winning streak to seven.

Victor Wembanyama followed up his career-best performance of 52 points, 24 rebounds, and 8 blocks with 30 points (10-for-18 FG, 4-for-6 3PT, 6-for-9 FT), 14 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 assists. Despite Wemby’s Wilt Chamberlain-esque performance this past Wednesday, his three-point shooting was forgettable (1-8 3PT). Wemby quieted the critics who have wanted him to stop shooting threes by shooting a scorching 66% on four-for-six against the Kings.

W3MBY 👌

📺 @DAZNpic.twitter.com/x2V7c4gbpn

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) November 7, 2026

He continued to control the glass on both ends and demonstrated that no one can guard him in the paint, especially on lob attempts and putbacks.

no rim is safe 👽

📺 @DAZNpic.twitter.com/m1hLjMaTmE

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) November 7, 2026

Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and Devin Vassell each dropped 19 points to balance out the Spurs’ offensive attack. All three of them shot efficiently from the field: Castle shot 7 for 13 (54%), Harper shot 5 for 10 (50%), and Vassell shot 6 for 10 (60%), with five for six from three-point range (83%). It was a great sign to see Devin light the nets on fire after going almost scoreless against Dallas. His ability to spread the floor and get to his spots helps the three guards penetrate and kick out to him for an easy three-point laser. In some cases, his range might surprise you.

DEV FROM THE CUP LOGO TO BEAT THE BUZZER 🚨

📺 @DAZNpic.twitter.com/DSdOFmrnWb

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) November 7, 2026

Dylan continues to be one of the best finishers in the league, and he got most of his buckets with ease against a Kings team with not a lot of defensive resistance. In transition, Dylan made rookie Darius Acuff Jr. look silly with a eurostep into a layup for two.

this @dy1anharper euro in transition 😮‍💨

📺 @DAZNpic.twitter.com/HDikNJpQyq

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) November 7, 2026

HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Steph not only got his fair share of tough finishes and dimes (seven assists), but he put Dylan Cardwell on a poster. Cardwell had just scored on the other end and celebrated by wiggling his tongue out and slapping the floor in a defensive stance. Wemby and Steph both decided to humble with an AREA 51 lob but with Wemby as the passer. And one!

STEPHON CASTLE OMG 😱😤

📺 @DAZNpic.twitter.com/E78x3XUB2p

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) November 7, 2026

Here’s another angle of the staredown Steph gives Cardwell afterwards.

⚠️ AREA 51 POSTER MY GOODNESS ⚠️

📺 @DAZNpic.twitter.com/F4O2Ap3bM8

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) November 7, 2026

As stated earlier, the silver and black shot uber-efficiently from three, including down the stretch to close the game out. Harrison Barnes even chipped in 13 points with a pair of threes. This is when the team’s offense is at its best. Swinging the rock around and punishing the defense with open threes and great looks inside.

squad was dialed in from deep down the stretch 🔥👌 pic.twitter.com/fJERcIs45m

— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) November 7, 2026

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

The Spurs face a SEGABABA against the Portland Trail Blazers in the Moda Center later tonight at 9:00 P.M. (CST) on DAZN.

Hey, a win! The Brooklyn Nets entered Wednesday night’s game against the Charlotte Hornets searching for their first home win of the season. Thankfully for them, it finally came thanks to a big fourth quarter run as Brooklyn came away with a 114-104 victory.

Now, Brooklyn takes that momentum on the road, beginning a four-game trip against an Atlanta team coming off an offensive explosion. The Atlanta Hawks are hoping to go far in the postseason this year and position themselves for a promising future. They helped the cause with a 139-132 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night.

Game Info and Details

• Matchup: Brooklyn Nets (2-6) vs. Atlanta Hawks (6-4)
• Time: 7:30 PM EST
• Location: State Farm Arena (Atlanta, GA)
• Watch: YES Network, DAZN, NBA League Pass
• Listen: WFAN Radio

Nets vs. Hawks Injury Report

Brooklyn Nets

• OUT – Egor Demin (right bone bruise)
• Questionable – Drake Powell (G-League assignment)

Atlanta Hawks

• OUT – Jalen Johnson (left ankle sprain)
• OUT – Jock Landale (left hip strain)
• OUT – Mouhamed Gueye (left foot fracture)
• OUT – Keshon Gilbert (left knee inflammation)
• OUT – Asa Newell (left great toe hyperextension)
• OUT – Henri Veesaar (right ACL tear)

This night one of a back-to-back for Brooklyn. We’ll see if anything changes before tip-off.

The Game

The Nets are on the first night of a back-to-back and first game of a four game road trip. They’ll head to Dallas for a Sunday evening matchup with the Mavericks.

The Hawks are on the second night of a home back-to-back. They wrap up their brief three game homestand on Monday night against the Los Angeles Lakers. They hope to do something big this spring, but they have their doubters. From Ricky O’Donnell at the mothership:

“This team doesn’t have enough force going to the basket, and the defense isn’t anything special despite generating a lot of takeaways and forcing misses from three. The Hawks look mid as always.“

We shall see.

It takes time to get used to someone in a new role. We’ve spent so much time with Nickeil Alexander-Walker being a solid bench role player that it’s still somewhat surprising to see him operate as a high(er) usage wing as a starter. Alexander-Walker won the Most Improved Player award last year and he’s carried that success over to this year. He’s averaging a career best 22.3 points per game, and most impressively is getting to the line over four times a game. When Johnson returns, we’ll see how the Hawks look to climb the standings.

Nolan Traore keeps stacking good days together. The second year guard had another good game as a starter on Wednesday night and he’s making a great case to remain the starter once Egor returns. Traore can get to the rim and is second on the team in drives per game.

Player to watch: Kingston Flemings

We’ll get to watch a rookie who finally made his way into the starting lineup.

CJ McCollum requested that he come off the bench and the kid gets to start. With the Hawks looking to establish their future, a selfless decision like that from McCollum will go a long way in establishing Flemings as a key player going forward. For Atlanta, finding out what they have in Flemings will go a long way in determining their future. He’s played over 23 minutes in four out of the last five games and with this being night two of the b2b, we’ll see how long Quin Snyder plays him for.

Mikel Brown Jr is not on the injury report, so he’ll play tonight and will more than likely sit tomorrow night in Dallas. The Nets are continuing to build Brown Jr and trust that his growth will lead to an exciting future. The drives are there, but if the three pointers start to become consistent, the sky is the limit for him and the Nets. It’s all about making the most of the opportunities that are available to you.

From the Vault

Last weekend, the Atlanta Dream fell short in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals against the Golden State Valkyries. The last do-or-die game to decide the W Finals was a pretty celebratory occasion around these parts.

More reading: Peachtree Hoops, Soaring Down South, Sports Illustrated, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Nets Insider, SNY, Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, Steve’s Newsletter

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Atlanta Hawks Game Notes – Atlanta Hawks
• Julius Randle knew when to step aside, and the Nets were better for it ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Julius Randle to Jordi Fernandez: Let Nets’ hot bench unit ‘roll’ – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets rookie Mikel Brown Jr. has critical reaction to season-best performance – Erik Slater – Clutch Points

Welcome to Winners & Sinners, where we reflect on the week that was for the Milwaukee Bucks. Week 3 saw the Bucks go 0-3, with the team losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics, and Toronto Raptors, despite some valiant efforts that put them in positions to win. But who’s deserving of the hardware?

MVB

Prior to the Raptors game, this was a legitimate conversation between Myles Turner and Tyler Herro. Then Turner pulled one of his all-too-common vanishing acts. Meanwhile, Herro put in his best playmaking performance as a Buck to make it a no contest. And although he’s struggled in first quarters—zero first-quarter points this week—it hasn’t really mattered. He heats up. Quickly. But as Nate O. said in our staff thread, “he’s definitely more than just a microwave—he’s an air fryer.”

And so the nickname was born: Tyler Herro, the Air Fryer. Please make this a thing.

Defensive Belt

Defending Champion: Vacated.

The Contenders: Myles Turner, Ryan Rollins.

The Decision: I was so ready to anoint Turner as the defensive champion following his showings against the Timberwolves and Celtics, where he was a force blocking shots, accumulating seven across the two games, and also doing yeoman’s work on the boards (at least for him). Then he made it look like the Bucks would have to give up picks in any swap for Jakob Poeltl. Rollins had his moments too, especially when hounding Derrick White. But this belt ain’t no participation award; folks need to take it. And so it’s still collecting dust in the locker room.

The People’s Champ

This week’s champion is Sausagemahoney, who raised a very thought-provoking question about the Bucks’ decision to take Brayden Burries over Yaxel Lendeborg, who’s since given the zombie Golden State Warriors new life—and who legend Chris Mullin thinks is “going to be a perennial All-Star and just an All-NBA type”:

Truthfully, I’m just jealous I didn’t pose the question for this week’s Bucks Reacts Survey.

Run That Back

If, prior to the season, someone told you that Nate Ament would play fourth-quarter minutes for the Bucks—not the Herd—in the third week of the season, you’d have assumed it would come in garbage time. If they told you he would be a key contributor in a 22-point comeback, splashing an above-the-break three-pointer to cut the lead to two, you’d have called them crazy. Yeah, the Bucks didn’t go on to win this one. And, yes, the Bucks are in the trenches. But moments like this give you a reason to believe.

No hesitation, no rim. No ceiling. Not for this rookie.

Nate Ament from deep again! pic.twitter.com/lwhllndMFY

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 5, 2026

Sinner(s)

Whoever coined “Kuzmania” absolutely nailed it—even if it was originally intended as a positive. Like “mania’s” psychiatric denotation, Kyle Kuzma’s game is just all over the place far too often for a tenth-year veteran. This week’s case in point came at the 2:59 mark of the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics when, after coming back from a 22-point deficit and down only two, Kuzma decides to take a corner three with19 seconds left on the shot-clock. 19! It wasn’t even as if he was hot—he’d hit only two field goals all game. Of course, after it clanks off rim, the Celtics go on to collect multiple offensive rebounds on the next possession, before Derrick White makes an and-one layup to extend the lead to five. Game over. But the most infuriating thing isn’t even that it cost the Bucks the win, it’s that Kuzma is supposed to be a veteran presence teaching the Bucks’ youth. Some lesson.

If… Then…

If Taylor Jenkins moving Brayden Burries into the starting lineup is a signpost of his willingness to tinker, then he has to do so elsewhere too. There is absolutely no reason to continue to start Kuzma and play him heavy minutes. None!

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That’s all for Week 3. Share your winners and sinners in the comments!

We were in the middle of a good, slow late-week break…

…only for Tyler Kolek, of all people, to force the Knicks PR into releasing a statement.

Here’s that and more before the Knights host the Knickerbockers tonight.

Knicks report Josh Hart OUT Saturday in Cleveland

Hart will miss his second straight game on a sore right ankle pic.twitter.com/Kvx89EQAP4

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) November 6, 2026

Mike Brown

On Karl-Anthony Towns’ strong start and the areas where he still needs to improve:

“I say those two things because he’s been doing so many things well for us. He’s rebounding, he’s running, he’ s shooting the ball well from 3, he is passing when he doesn’t go for the home run ball, he’s communicating. The energy he’s bringing is great.”

On Towns’ professionalism amid his contract situation:

“Yeah, I didn’t have any doubt on it, you know? And obviously the contract stuff, that’s something that Leon [Rose] and at the end of the day, Jim [Dolan], will handle. But for me as his coach, I can’t even tell. I can’t tell. He’s played really well and not just during the games, but practices, too.”

On Towns’ pick-and-roll defense, turnovers and overall performance:

“Man, I tell you what, KAT’s been great. He has been great in practice. Really everything. It would be easier for him to say the areas that he needs to be better in. And the first one is just putting his chest in front of the ball in pick-and-roll situations and activity in that regard. And then not looking for the home run pass all the time when he has the ball as our hub. And I say those two things because he’s been doing so many things well for us.

“He’s rebounding. He’s running. He’s shooting the ball well from three. He is passing when he doesn’t go for a home run all the time. He’s communicating. So there’s the energy that he’s bringing that’s great . . . So I’m really pleased with the way that KAT is playing overall.”

On unexpectedly giving Dalton Knecht playing time against Chicago:

“It’s just a gut feel. Like, [Knecht’s] on my, quote-unquote, minutes sheet. He’s down for zero minutes, you know?”

Knicks spokesperson: “Taylor Swift has been a Knicks fan for many years, has a long history with Madison Square Garden, and we are incredibly appreciative of her support of the organization” pic.twitter.com/r7ZGZzlgG6https://t.co/4ZbEt7R8sF

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) November 6, 2026

Jalen Brunson

On Dalton Knecht’s impressive debut and encouraging him to play aggressively:

“He played great. I think the way he was rebounding and getting out in transition, and just telling him to be aggressive no matter what the situation is. And whether you know a player or not, being aggressive is important. And so aggressive mistakes are fine, so just stay aggressive, and he hit a big shot in the second quarter. He’s going to be comfortable, and once he is, he’s going to play even better.”

Video clip by Tellyo pic.twitter.com/k27920u0Lk

— New York (@newyork5ny) November 6, 2026

Karl-Anthony Towns

On the Knicks’ title defense and his motivation to win another one:

“I came into the season wanting to defend the championship at all costs. Like I said before, the city hasn’t seen that trophy here in New York for 53 years, and all of us in this locker room, especially myself, don’t intend for it to leave.

“Being the No. 1 pick, [reaching] the Finals and getting your title, and having to go out there and try to figure out how to do it again, that’s enough motivation for me.”

On his rebounding numbers and compensating for Mitchell Robinson’s departure:

“I just always want to impact winning, and I always try to get every rebound possible for our team so we don’t give up any second-chance points or we give ourselves more chances at second-chance points on offense.

“Obviously, with [Mitchell Robinson] gone, I had to pick up the effort, especially the rebounding effort. When you have one of the greatest offensive rebounders the NBA has ever seen in Mitchell Robinson, it’s a team effort. I just want to do my part to help with rebounding.”

On putting the Knicks ahead of his contract situation and personal interests:

“Me and Jalen [Brunson] are here to lead the team. I want to do my part as best as I possibly can. I can’t allow outside distractions and ego to get in the way.

“We won last year because we put our egos to the side and we did what’s best for this city, best for this team, this organization, and we sacrificed, and I’m always going to be willing to sacrifice for my brothers and this family that we’ve built here.”

On focusing on winning rather than his contract and individual statistics:

“I want to do my job as the best possible way and I want to impact winning. And every single time I put that jersey on, I step on the court, I want to impact winning and help my team be the best they could be. So, you know, obviously I’ve got more work to do so I could help our team more. But I’m happy that right now recently, especially last game, we showed glimpses of that team from last year.”

Q “Who’s the fakest celeb fan you’ve seen courtside?”

Tyler Kolek “Maybe Taylor Swift?”

Deuce McBride “I would agree…Swifties not gonna like that answer”

Kolek “I’m gonna get some hate…I guess she’s got a lot going on…can’t come all the time…but it’s a little performative” pic.twitter.com/r7v4AJBK04

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) November 5, 2026

Tyler Kolek

On fake Knicks fans:

“At the Knicks games, I would say it’s very performative. Because they just want to be seen at the game. They’re not necessarily fans.”

On the absolute fakest Knicks celebrity fan:

“Maybe Taylor Swift? I don’t know if I’ve seen her at any other games. I guess she has a lot going on so she can’t come all the time. But it’s a little performative.”

On the truth of it all:

“I’m going to get some hate from the Swifties.”

My baby cousin Darius “Cheeks” Acuff Jr dropped 40pts and 8ast playing with 8th graders yesterday. This little dude so much better than me it’s ridiculous 😂me and his dad argue about this but man he’s like a miniature Greg Anthony from Oak Hill. The next Detroit PG. Talk soon. pic.twitter.com/3SOBpCMIuw

— Rashad Phillips (@RP3natural) February 4, 2019

Despite being hundreds of miles away from Boston, Jayson Tatum had no trouble feeling at ease in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday night. For a moment, the Spectrum Center even began to sound like TD Garden.

Chants of ‘Let’s go Celtics’ began filling the arena. In response, the Hornets began turning up the volume on their signature buzzing sound effect in an attempt to drown out the Celtics fans taking over Charlotte. It didn’t work. When Tatum arrived at the free-throw line in the third quarter, he was greeted by a chorus of loud ‘MVP’ chants.

“It definitely feels like home,” Tatum confessed after Boston’s 119-80 NBA Cup win, per CLNS Media.

Tatum found his footing and began painting his latest masterpiece early on. He scored or assisted on 30 of the Celtics’ first 40 first-quarter points, which tied Paul Pierce for the most 15-point first quarters (106) in the franchise’s play-by-play history, according to ESPN Insights. By halftime, he had reached 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, surpassing his combined 3-point makes from his three previous games.

JAYSON TATUM GETTING MVP CHANTS IN CHARLOTTE 🗣️

34 PTS | 8 REB | 9 AST

Tatum got checked out from the game after three quarters. pic.twitter.com/nqm2JXrbid

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 7, 2026

If he wanted to, Tatum could’ve pursued his career-high (60 points). But instead, his night was called off after three quarters as the Celtics held a 96-57 runaway lead.

At that point, the damage was already done. Tatum only needed three frames to finish with 34 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists, falling a hair shy of securing his first triple-double of the season. He earned a fourth quarter of rest, watching from the bench as head coach Joe Mazzulla allowed reserves including Luka Garza, Mike Conley, and Ron Harper Jr. to get their reps in until the final buzzer.

The Celtics found a way to turn a trip to Charlotte into a home-away-from-home experience. For Tatum, as uplifting as the Boston fans in attendance may have been, the 28-year-old had other reasons to feel comfortable in North Carolina, dating back to his teenage years.

“I have a lot of connections here in this state, this area,” he explained. “I came here as an 18-year-old kid, my first time spending real time away from home. I was here for a little under a year, and obviously the connection I have here with Duke and the relationships that I’ve been able to build. I always love coming back to North Carolina and love playing here. A lot of Celtics fans, a lot of Duke fans. It’s always a good time coming back.”

Throughout his career, Tatum has always flipped the switch in Charlotte. He’s averaged 29.9 points with eight rebounds and 3.7 assists across 15 career games — not including Friday nights — against the Hornets on the road.

For as many ‘MVP’ chants as Tatum has drawn and will continue to draw this season, this performance certainly lived up to the billing. He did everything. He entered the night shooting 41.8 percent from the field and 22.9 percent from three before going 56.3 percent and 62.5 percent, respectively, in Charlotte.

“It was a pretty damn good night,” Payton Pritchard told reporters, per CLNS Media. “34 is pretty good.”

Tatum unleashed his dominance, both as a scorer and as a playmaker. He was the undisputed leader, carrying out a belt-to-backside thrashing that took Hornets head coach Charles Lee’s group out of contention well before the game had reached its end.

He also got to the line plenty, going a perfect 11-for-11 from the charity stripe.

Pritchard continued: “He plays the right way, and he makes great decisions and [he’s] one heck of a ball player for sure.”

In each of his first eight appearances this season, Tatum has recorded six-plus assists.

It’s been only eight months since Tatum returned from his ruptured Achilles tendon last season, which is much more recent than it might sound. He’s still working toward completing his first full season since returning, and as much as he’s continued to pass the eye test, Tatum still doesn’t consider himself 100 percent just yet.

“Hell no,” Tatum told CelticsBlog’s Noa Dalzell. “I wish. I’m getting there, but no. How I felt before I got hurt was really, really good. I don’t feel too far, and again, I still only played less than 40 games since I’ve been back, so still in the quote-unquote rehab phase of returning to play.”

Still, he isn’t discouraged by the process.

“We’re gonna get there, though,” Tatum added.

On Wednesday, the Celtics survived letting go of a 22-point lead against the Milwaukee Bucks as Tatum rested on the sidelines. In Charlotte, they witnessed Tatum make the most of his additional rest and take another step toward becoming the leader Boston will need this season.

In their first NBA Cup game, the Milwaukee Bucks followed a terrific first half with a disappointing second half and lost to the wounded Toronto Raptors, 121-107. The Bucks led most of the game and at one point were up 15; their first-half defence was great, which let them get out and score easily in transition. However, the second half, in which the Raptors scored 70 points, was what got the home side. Now, it doesn’t take much for me to get invested in the Bucks—whatever stage they’re at—but for whatever reason, this loss made me feel pretty damn bleak. Against a team without most of its primary offensive engines, Milwaukee should have been able to pull it out, and losing was really disheartening. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Ryan Rollins

14 minutes, 10 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist, 2 steals, 5 turnovers, 3/3 FG, 1/1 3P, -12

Annnnnd we’re back to the bad version of Rollins. The issue in this one was obviously his turnovers; the Raptors like to apply heaps of pressure to the ball handler, so you have to stay composed with the ball. Rollins was rushed and, at times, just plain nonchalant; I mentioned in the Rapid Recap one instance in the fourth where he threw a left-handed whip pass across the middle of the floor that ended up in a layup down the other end. The other problem was Rollins’ defence. There were a few instances where his positioning was off, and he allowed his man to reject the screen and knife into the lane; Jenkins threw his hands up in disgust on one of them.

Grade: D

Tyler Herro

35 minutes, 23 points, 5 rebounds, 10 assists, 3 turnovers, 7/16 FG, 1/5 3P, 0

Herro’s best playmaking game as a Buck, with five assists in the second quarter alone. The team had much more direction and flow when Herro was on the floor—evidenced by him being one of just two Bucks without a negative plus/minus—which they completely lost when he was off the floor.

Grade: B+

Jaime Jaquez Jr.

27 minutes, 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 4/10 FG, 2/7 3P , 4/4 FT, -6

Jaquez started like a house on fire, scoring half of his points in the first few minutes of the game. I liked his use of “stampede cuts” in this one as well, where the player starts moving to the rim before the ball reaches their hands, catching their defender off guard. Jaquez had a few nice instances using stampedes to get into the lane and create. Unfortunately, his three-point shooting failed him for the most part.

Grade: C-

Kyle Kuzma

32 minutes, 13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 3 turnovers, 6/9 FG, 1/4 3P, +3

Overall, Kuzma played a solid game and, in particular, a great first half; he scored all 13 of his points on 5/6 shooting in the first, which included some very instinctive tip-ins. I liked how active he was as a screener, sprinting into the screen and getting himself in the right spots to receive the ball and finish around the rim. Additionally, Kuzma was basically their only credible defender for RJ Barrett, and for the most part, he did a good job with that assignment. BUT, as I seem to say every game, Kuzma did some enraging stuff too. He did his nightly drive to the rim with no vision for what else was going on, and most of his turnovers seemed to be live-ball. Moreover, I’ve noticed a trend where he makes a mistake and then gets pissy at his teammates for some reason, as if it were their fault.

Grade: C+

Myles Turner

23 minutes, 0 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers, 0/7 FG, 0/4 3P, -4

Good golly. I don’t know, man, sometimes I want to shake Turner, but as Zac replied to me, “He’d probably break; his hands seem to shatter on every rebound or catch attempt.” Like, why is it so hard for a seven-footer like him to play more physically? The Raptors made Turner look like a child last night, which I was hoping wouldn’t happen because Toronto was meant to be one of the trade suitors for him! Myles, this was your audition, SMH.

Grade: F

Kel’el Ware

13 minutes, 4 points, 3 rebounds, 1 block, 2/7 FG, 0/4 3P, 0

Another rough game for Ware, who seemingly can’t hit a three in a Bucks uniform, down to 20% on the year. Also not great to see him throw a fit on the sidelines after getting subbed off.

Grade: D-

Kasparas Jakucionis

10 minutes, 3 points, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 turnover, 1/2 FG, 0/1 3P, -9

Kind of a nothing-y game from Jakucionis. Again, he didn’t do much wrong, but his niche of finding angles and getting into the lane looked harder against a gritty squad like the Raptors. KJ did make a great cut in the first half for his only field goal, though, which I loved.

Grade: C-

Brayden Burries

38 minutes, 21 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover, 8/14 FG, 1/5 3P, 4/6 FT, -5

Burries had his “I’ve arrived” game. I mean, we can talk about the scoring and athleticism around the rim, but I’m more interested in how he seems to grab every rebound in sight. It’s surreal to watch. Grabbing six boards in the first quarter, Burries had this “I’m not losing tonight, so jump on my back” vibe about him. The kid just has this nose for the ball and a will to pursue it like very few players I’ve seen. Burries is showing he’s a winner, and I can’t wait for him to gain confidence from this game and give us more like it in the future.

Grade: A+

AJ Green

24 minutes, 12 points, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 4/9 FG, 4/8 3P, -19

Whenever the Raptors looked like they were about to get the game out of reach, Green would hit a three. One thing I will always appreciate about Green is that, despite his unassuming nature, he is never scared of the moment. Hit two huge ones in the fourth.

Grade: B

Nate Ament

15 minutes, 7 points, 1 block, 3/5 FG, -11

Ament got two of his three buckets in transition, while the other came on a nice baseline cut where he smartly waited for the defender to jump, then calmly put in the and-one. Not many other notes, other than that I thought Ament’s minutes were generally quite positive.

Grade: B-

Jericho Sims

7 minutes, 0 points, 0/0 FG, -7

Sims was forced into extended minutes because Turner had early foul trouble and Ware looked borderline unplayable at times. He did his job defensively, but you could tell the Raptors were happy to double all on-ball screens Sims set because they didn’t trust his decision-making out of the short roll, which is a strategy we saw from opponents last year too.

Grade: C

Taylor Jenkins

Based on Jenkins’s postgame comments, the team clearly wasn’t doing much of what they had been instructed to do in practice. His decision to close with no centre was the right one, but that then made it tough to rebound. Part of the issue is that the Bucks are leaning on flawed veterans; you don’t want to turn to Kuzma to close as a two-way wing, but there aren’t many other great options, especially when you needed someone beefy enough to deal with Barrett. Jaquez is a fine player, but he’s a seventh man on a good team. Turner is a great locker room guy, but he drives you mad with his lack of physicality. I say this to reiterate that Jenkins is working with a rough set of cards right now, and I struggle to think another coach could have got a different result with this same group of personnel.

Grade: C

DNP-CD: Ousmane Dieng, Caris LeVert, Gary Trent Jr.

Inactive: Kam Jones, Cormac Ryan, Pete Nance, Bogoljub Markovic,

What We Learnt

Milwaukee’s centre rotation might be the league’s worst when both play poorly.

Bonus Bucks Bits

• Jenkins was hot in his postgame presser, cutting off a reporter’s question about what he saw from his struggling offence in the second half: “We were getting stops in the first half. We were playing fast. We didn’t have to call sets. But then we just gave up second-chance opportunities, fouled them way too much, and they were taking the ball out of the net, so we couldn’t play as fast as we needed to.”
• Jenkins also mentioned that the Bucks didn’t “tag up,” which means that when the shot goes up, all five players get to their man, which, when done right, impedes the opponent’s ability to advance the ball up the floor and score in transition.
• Jenkins said that after the game, Turner owned his bad performance to the group.
• The broadcast showed a stat that over the last three games, Herro had scored 0 points in the first quarter and 62 in all other quarters. Crazy.
• Speaking of Herro, I noticed he subbed back in earlier than usual in the fourth, which resulted in him breaking the ~30-minute pseudo-limit he had seemingly been operating under previously.

Up Next

The Bucks return to Fiserv on Sunday night to face the Boston Celtics. Watch at 7:00 p.m. CST on MY24.

Some members from Generation Z might believe that the history of the Cleveland Cavaliers started and ended with a man named LeBron James (not once but twice). They couldn’t be more wrong. The Cavs joined the NBA in 1970 and accumulated plenty of interesting anecdotes through the years, especially early on. For example, they scouted the players for their expansion Draft with the help of trading cards that assistant coach Jim Lessig discovered while shopping for a few gallons of milk.

On that understandably subpar inaugural roster was also a man named Gary Suiter, whose biggest contributions were eating hot dogs in the stands during warmups and calling the front office disguised as a fan, lobbying for more playing time for—you guessed it—Gary Suiter. When the well-known bachelor tried to shake down the Cavs for bigger travel expenses by hiring a prostitute to play his wife, even the desperate Cavaliers had enough and kicked him out.

Later on, though, basketball really took off in Ohio. The Cavs featured some really exciting teams, especially when the aforementioned James came to town and then came again to actually win a title. Other teams that are fondly remembered in “The Land” are the squads from the late 1980s and 1990s that featured stalwarts like Mark Price, Ron Harper, Brad Daugherty, or Craig Ehlo. Exactly: the guy who is mostly remembered for crumbling to the floor after Michael Jordan’s famous first “shot”, one of the most iconic images in league history.

Facing familiar faces on the Cavaliers

How history and Cleveland will remember the current iteration of Cavaliers remains to be seen, yet it might very well be decided this year. The headliners on Kenny Atkinson’s team are mostly unchanged from last year’s Eastern Conference Finals sweep at the hands our Knickerbockers. That result could be described as another conquered mountain ledge on the Knicks’ way to the NBA summit, or seen as just another failure by a Cavs’ core that’s been trying to win it all for about three years now.

At the heart of that core has been Donovan Mitchell and he is still the headliner at Rocket Arena this season. The stocky highflyer is scoring an efficient 22.5 points per game while probably sporting one of the more explosive games in the league these days. Fans are lamenting his decision making though, criticizing his constant hero ball and what they get for a massive $273 million dollar deal he signed in the summer. Next to Mitchell, a now 37-year-old James Harden runs the point for the Cavaliers, which might also impact “Spida” negatively. The former MVP is showing his age early on, only connects on 38 percent of his shots, and looks disinterested doing it every second night out.

THE ENDING OF REGULATION IN CAVS-KNICKS. ABSOLUTE MADNESS. pic.twitter.com/Synu1jsCY5

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 20, 2026

Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen still form Cleveland’s frontline—with all their shortcomings, yet also with plenty of talent. The ultra versatile Mobley has taken his physique and his game to another level in recent years, sports a much better jumper from the outside, and the former Defensive Player of the Year isn’t moved off his spots as easily he used to be. If you want a big to switch effortlessly on Jalen Brunson, he’s your man. His current season has been particularly promising with shooting splits of 56/48.6 (we’ll ignore the 63 percent from the line this time around). Allen is kind of there: big, athletic, and skilled, yet you won’t see him in any Strongman or Tough Mudder competitions any time soon.

A new supporting cast for Kenny Atkinson

After their four starters from last year, Cleveland has mixed it up a bit. They got emerging defensive specialist Peyton Watson from Denver (he is struggling early on with barely 10 points per game), found the talented Meleek Thomas (13.0 points) in the second round of the NBA Draft, and subscribed to the “Super Mario” Hezonja (8.6 points) experience. Sharpshooter Sam Merril and Jaylon Tyson are leftovers from last season and still contribute fairly consistently.

Even if Cleveland got a bit longer and a bit more athletic, you still have to wonder where all of this is really going. They are good but how good really? Can they really compete with the top teams in the East? So far there is just a lot of “meh” in their profile. Standing at 5-4 they rank 9th in offensive rating and 14th in defensive rating. They play with a solid yet unspectacular pace (thank you, James Harden) and are average at best on the boards or from the field. Cleveland doesn’t turn the ball over, which is good, yet doesn’t force any turnovers either, which is bad (only the Bucks and Knicks make the opponent cough the ball up fewer times than Cleveland).

To be fair, Cleveland is a team that for the most part knows who it is, and such groups can take a little time shaking off the rust, especially after a long last season—we as Bocker buddies know all about it. The Cavaliers, just like the Knicks again, have a lot of things going for them, but it seems like Cleveland unlike New York also has a definitive ceiling. I’d mostly call it James Harden as he has never shown that he can be the ultimate difference maker in the postseason, at least not in a good way. Until then of course the Cavaliers are a perfectly fine, quality opponent, especially at home. They just proved it in their NBA cup last night against the Philadelphia 76ers, dismantling the fighting Nurses 119-95.

Let’s hope our Knicks fare a little better tonight and that the biggest historical significance of this game is another win for the good guys. At the very least we don’t have to worry about any of our players binge eating in the stands before the game, I guess. As funny as that would be.

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (4-4) at Cleveland Cavaliers (5-4)
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Place: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
TV: MSG, NBATV
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

CLEVELAND — The opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s apathy.

LeBron James has gotten many receptions from Cleveland Cavaliers fans over his 24 seasons in the league. None have been as half-hearted and uncarring as Friday’s.

There’s always been a certain buzz in the arena when James plays in Cleveland. That has been the case since he was in high school.

That juice, however, was lacking in his first trip back home in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform. There were empty seats before tip-off. The ovation for him when he was announced in the starting lineups was positive, but hardly more than respectful. No tribute video was played, as has been the case for the last eight seasons. There were smatterings of boos and cheers throughout the night, but nothing more than what any other high-profile player gets at Rocket Arena. And a good number of fans were content heading out while James was still on the court.

In short, LeBron was just another guy participating in one of 41 home games against the Cavs.

LeBron James receives a positive reception from Cleveland during player introductions. pic.twitter.com/t4q94ZneSr

— Jackson Flickinger (@JacksFlickinger) November 7, 2026

“At this point it’s become normal,” Donovan Mitchell said of James’s return. “My first year, you see it, and now it’s just, we’re playing the Sixers, to be honest. You obviously understand that the stands are going to be packed and obviously cheer for him, and rightfully so. He’s a champion, he’s from here, and he deserves all that and more for what he’s done for the city. At this point it’s just regular. … For us it’s normal.”

The normality of this reception stands in stark contrast to what we saw last year. Then, the crowd showered him with praise all game, ultimately moving him to tears. At the time, it seemed unfathomable that he would receive anything but love in the building he called home for 11 years. This summer, however, changed that.

James chose to leave the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency at the end of June. He then spent the first three weeks in July dragging his feet, leading those within the city and organization to believe he was returning to Cleveland. But then James threw a curveball and decided to go to a city he had no previous connection with and build a super team with the 76ers.

LeBron has earned the right to ring chase at the age of 41. But that comes with consequences, especially when you choose a conference rival over returning to a good team back home that also has a chance of winning a championship.

We saw the fallout of that choice on Friday night. There wasn’t the pain and vitriol from 2010. There wasn’t the love in all of his returns since 2018. Just emptiness.

LeBron understandably preferred this reaction to what he got when he first returned as a member of the Miami Heat. “Nothing can get as worse as December 2, 2010, from a reception standpoint,” James said. “I’ve seen the end of the depths of hell when it comes to a reception here.”

That night in 2010 was an absolute disaster. Cleveland should’ve handled that moment better. They have deserved all of the blame and condemnation that has come from how they handled that. Yet, hate comes from a place of passion. It comes from pain, an emotion that’s real. Fans cared about what happened that night.

On Friday, I’m not sure if anyone cared too much anymore. There was appreciation, but there wasn’t undying love. There was frustration, but not enough to actually voice that displeasure. Just a tiredness of a decades-long relationship that keeps oscillating back and forth, without either side really being sure how much they mean to the other.

That uncarrying is the saddest place a relationship can find itself, especially one as personal as this. Arguably no professional athlete has meant more to a region than LeBron to Northeast Ohio. The journey from being the teenage prodigy from Akron to delivering the first professional championship in over half a century for a sports-starved region is truly impossible to put into words.

The relationship between LeBron and northeast Ohio will continue in some form beyond this. Maybe that appreciation is there if he plays future games in Cleveland. And most likely, that outpouring of love will return for the inevitable statue and jersey retirement ceremonies.

But then again, that isn’t guaranteed. James’s choice to presumably end his career in a different uniform could just be the straw that broke the camel’s back. The rift that caused both sides to continue drifting apart forever.

Friday could have been LeBron’s last professional game in Northeast Ohio. Nothing about the future is guaranteed. And if so, there couldn’t have been a more pitiful way for things to end in Cleveland.

Luka Doncic has been nothing but extraordinary to start the Lakers’ season. He is hitting shots from all over the court with little or no separation between the defender and himself. The rest of the Lakers are feeding off his energy and playing inspired hoops. And the Lakers are winning! If Luka keeps this up, it will be a season for the ages. We can all thank ex-Mavericks GM Nico Harrison for what might turn out to be the most lopsided trade in the history of professional sports.

Dave Ring
Manhattan Beach

---

With all his logo threes, and fancy assists, Luka Doncic is the Caitlin Clark of the NBA.

Vaughn Hardenberg
Westwood

---

Last weekend a letter concluded the only name for a Lakers team that plays hard and entertains every night is “Showtime Lakers.” That nickname belongs to the Laker teams from the 1980s, just like “Phi Slama Jama” belongs to the early 1980s University of Houston basketball team.

Regardless of a funny, informal nickname for this season’s Lakers, so far the starting unit has been great fun to watch. Not only has Luka Doncic been on a scoring tear, but Luka has been getting back on defense and even raising his hand when a foul is called on him.

Ken Feldman
Tarzana

Not-so magical

I guess Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick forgot that LeBron James is no longer with the Lakers. How else can you explain the waiving of Dalton Knecht and keeping Bronny James. Am I the only one that noticed Bronny was sent down to the G League and Dalton had a successful debut with the Knicks?

Stan Shirai
Torrance

Comparison

USC fans have wondered whether Lincoln Riley could measure up to a certain coach across town. After his performance in the Coliseum tunnel and his postgame news conference after the Ohio State game — cursing out Buckeyes’ staffers one minute, reading a prepared statement about “internal joy” the next — we now have our answer: Riley can be every bit as unhinged as Mick Cronin.

Wes Wellman
Santa Monica

Time to change

As much as it pains me to say this as a lifelong Chargers fan, please trade Justin Herbert so he can salvage what is left of his once-stellar career (a la Drew Brees). I can no longer bear to watch the countless acknowledged injuries and unacknowledged concussions he sustains each game with this poorly coached team. You are destroying one of the “greatest quarterbacks” in our time.

Diane Hom
Claremont

It’s a coin flip

The most intriguing question on the L.A. sports scene remains: Which UCLA Bruins team will be anointed No. 1 in the country first, undefeated footballers or basketballers?

Marty Zweben
Palos Verdes Estates

Greed is not good

LIV Golf Chief Executive Officer Scott O’Neil sure served up a heaping helping of atta-boy accolades. Lost in all that, LIV burned through $6 billion in under five years. Mr. O’Neil’s long list of accomplishments is lipstick on the pig. From inception that tour’s financial sensibilities were wack — $100 million, $200 million, $300 million signing bonuses before a stroke was played. Greed killed that beast.

David Griffin
Westwood

Friendly reminder

Thank you Bill Dwyre for reminding us that the game is played by the players and not by the announcers.

Does Joe Buck deserve $17 million a year, and should Troy Aikman even care, or know how much his partner is making? The guy’s a Hall of Fame quarterback, and as such, should be able to deal with life’s unfairness, if whatever he makes can be considered unfair.

Again, this is an insult to the workers, all of them, who barely can make ends meet. Both these guys should be grateful that life is unfair, but not if you’re making millions of dollars for flapping your lips about a game.

Ron Brumel
West Los Angeles

Sure shot

When I open my L.A. Times in the morning, I go directly to the sports section and search for Bill Plaschke’s column. I love his style and especially his wit. So he has a prediction miss or two here and there, but no one puts a smile on my face more than him. Keep it up Bill, we all need more laughter in our lives.

Carol Lindsey
Camarillo

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

On the final game of the Spurs recent home stand, Victor Wembanyama had a historic game. The reigning Western Conference Player of the Week scored a career-high 52 points, grabbing 24 rebounds and tallying 8 blocked shots.

After the game Wemby was seen signing autographs for fans with the game ball in tow. Moments later in the locker room, he handed off the momento to Mitch Jihnsion to commemorate the head coache’s 100th win.

How great is this:

TV cameras caught Victor making a point to grab the 🏀 before leaving the floor amid the excitement. Most would assume that it was for his career-high 52-point performance.

But no.

Victor secured it for his head coach, who secured win #100.

That’s a leader. https://t.co/sT203Nw5HN

— Nate Ryan (@nateryansports) November 5, 2026

Johnson, who took over for legendary Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, accumulated 32 wins while sitting in for Pop six games into the 2024-2025 season after he’d suffered a stroke. In his first full season as head coach, the Spurs won 62 games on their way the NBA Finals. After two losses to start the season,. the Spurs started a winning streak that as of Wednesday was six sicx in a row.

Johnson is t6he sixth Spurs coach to hit 100 wins with the Silver & Black.

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