DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 16: CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks walks to the bench during a preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on October 16, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CJ McCollum happened to be one of the biggest additions for the Atlanta Hawks last season, and once he was inserted into the starting lineup, they became a top-tier team. They had the best net rating in the second half of the season, and it led them to the No. 6 seed and a playoff spot.
McCollum’s shot creation was a big key to the Hawks’ success, but it was evident after Game 3 of the first round that he needed more help in that department. They were able to do that in the offseason, and life may be easy for him coming into this season.
The good thing is that this will be another year for McCollum to build with the team, and having a full training camp under his belt should be beneficial.
“I got traded in January. I got here, met the team on a road trip, and kind of jumped right into the season, which was difficult, but I think I’m most excited about being able to go through a full training camp,” McCollum said at Media Day.
McCollum is the oldest player on the Hawks, and he’ll probably still be one of the most relied-on players on the Hawks. Though they’ve added some help in the creation department, and Jalen Johnson looks to have taken another step, McCollum is still set to have the ball in his hands most of the time.
Another area where McCollum seemed to have a good season with the Hawks is on defense. He was never known as the defensive type, but he did his job last season, and Quin Snyder has never been shy of letting everyone know.
“I think he was one of the guys who embraced the defensive mindset,“ Syder said at Media Day.
McCollum was in all of the closing lineups for the Hawks last season, but that may not be the case this time around. In the event that they do need stronger defense on the floor, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Dort took his place down the stretch in some games. At the same time, if the Hawks are still missing some juice on offense, McCollum will continue to be in those lineups.
It’ll also be interesting to see how Snyder plans on managing McCollum’s minutes this season, and if he plans to at all. At age 35, it wouldn’t hurt to have him under 30 minutes again, which is what he averaged in 41 games last season with the team.
McCollum might also find himself in a teacher role this season as well, lending a hand to Kingston Flemings in his rookie season.
It should be another solid season for the veteran guard, and he’ll have a big impact on their success.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 18: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors drives past Josh Giddey #3 of the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on March 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After licking their wounds from the lost series against the Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors fans have had to wait through the agonizing months of the Kawhi Leonard trade saga, all for what comes later today. The start of the 2026-27 NBA season.
The Raptors have been granted an interesting matchup to start off the campaign, against the new-look Chicago Bulls. Chicago, a stagnant franchise since their time led by (Raptors legend) DeMar DeRozan, has rebuilt their roster after getting rid of General Manager Marc Eversley, and VP of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas.
Led by guard duo Josh Giddey and Norman Powell (another Raptors legend), the Bulls have a very well-rounded starting 5, highlighted by the arrival of rookie Caleb Wilson. Wilson, out of UNC, is considered one of the drafts’ highest-value prospects.
A 6’10” power forward who averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 boards in college, Wilson looked like a stud in Summer League, averaging 23.5 points and 7.3 rebounds on 50-40 shooting. Scary stuff. Ricky O’Donnell’s profile of Wilson in SB Nation highlighted a few things that will be worth keeping an eye on.
O’Donnell highlights comparisons to Kevin Garnett, and a more offensively focused-less defensively focused version of the Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley. While there were then-concerns about Wilson’s ability to shoot, the forward averaged almost eight attempts from downtown, and made more than three of them nightly. However, Wilson weighs in at only 215 pounds, so someone like Scottie Barnes at 237 would have a meaningful advantage when guarding him.
Nic Claxton will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks, per Tiago Splitter
The Raptors’ biggest leg up tonight is the absence of Nic Claxton, the Bulls’ starting centre. Having a weaker 5 means that Toronto’s biggest deficiency — lack of a high-impact big man — will be felt less on the defensive end, and give the Raptors opportunities for more good looks in the paint. RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes could have big nights, as both drive-heavy swingmen could take advantage of less opposition at the rim, paving way for some high scoring nights from the pair. Even Jakob Poeltl could put up some big numbers on the boards, matching up against 6’8”, 215 Jalen Smith extremely well.
Seeing what Barnes will do against Wilson will be exciting, as the two forwards, built in very different physical archetypes, will have to Duke it out lest Chicago give most of the Raptors a potential matchup issue. However, one of the other defensive matchups worth keeping an eye on will be that between guards Jamal Shead and Norman Powell. The All-Star is a threat from anywhere on the court, and the former Raptor will likely be walking into the arena with putting on a show for his old crowd on his mind.
Keeping Josh Giddey’s passing under control will also be a must. The point guard’s size is frustrating, and his defensive assignment might fall to someone like Ja’Kobe Walter , as both RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley could be hard pressed to keep up with the Australian.
Seeing what Kawhi Leonard looks like in the regular season will be interesting as well. Leonard is certainly capable of massive scoring outbursts, but whether or not he’ll put on a big show to start off the season, or take it easy and reserve energy, is not totally clear. Kawhi looking like a top-five offensive player tomorrow pushes the needle in the Raptors’ direction in a serious way, and this is a relatively low-pressure matchup with which to start off the season for him.
Keys to success for the Raptors will be managing both personnel and energy to maintain punishing defence on the Bulls, while getting as many shot attempts in the paint as possible. The Raptors can take this one if they defend wisely and don’t allow flamethrower Norm Powell to heat up.
This post is also where we’ll be running our game thread, a live chat to post about the game, chat, and socialize. We hope to see you there, either on the browser or in our app!
Game Information and Details
Game Time: 7:30 EDT
Watch On: Sportsnet
Injury Report
Raptors: Nate Bittle (Out – foot)
Bulls: Nic Claxton (Out – hamstring), Jordan Hawkins (Out – illness), Tobe Akawa (GTD – knee), Zach Collins (GTD – toe), Dailyn Swain (GTD – illness), Isaac Okoro (GTD – knee), Leonard Miller (GTD – right adductor strain)
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 20: Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics shoots a free throw during the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
DETROIT — If you didn’t know any better, you may have thought you were watching the Paul George of old.
In his Celtics debut at Little Caeser Arena, George shot lights-out, hitting three after three while the Celtics’ bench rejoiced. Most of the night, the 36-year-old looked like the best player on the floor, carrying the load offensively while taking on tough defensive assignments on the other end.
George erupted for 12 points in the second quarter, and followed that up with a 17-point third. In total, he finished opening night with 38 points, 5 steals, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, hitting 7 of 12 three-pointers and 12 of his 21 shot attempts.
George also set a new record for most points by a Celtics player in his debut, surpassing Kristaps Porzingis’s 30-point debut in 2023.
“He was unbelievable, just the confidence he played with,” said Jayson Tatum. “Obviously, made plays on defense, but just kind of getting to his spots, his ability to defend, and get on the run and be able to space the floor and attack certain matchups.”
PAUL GEORGE JUST SET THE RECORD FOR MOST POINTS IN A CELTIC DEBUT:
George’s tremendous individual performance ended up not mattering; the Celtics blew a 22-point second-half lead, in large part due to a 23-0 Pistons fourth quarter run and a 15-point Duncan Robinson fourth quarter.
As such, George made clear that the final outcome soured the way he felt about his otherwise-spectactular debut.
“I’m not a moral victory guy, so it means nothing,” he said. “We lost. Just got to get ready for the next one.”
Still, though the Celtics’ demonstrated a litany of issues in the regular-season opener — they were outrebounded, for one — George’s performance was a significant bright spot, and a great way to turn the page on a couple of injury-riddled years.
Paul George has maintained all year: he’s the healthiest he’s been in years
George said he hasn’t felt this healthy since he was with the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2023-2024 season, and it showed.
“I was pretty healthy to finish my last year there, and then honestly, going to Philly, I just had a bad hyperextension that really set me back, and I couldn’t quite shake that one — it was an ongoing thing of my leg, my knee not feeling strong, and it was rough, right?” George said. “Because I was trying to rest, but I was also trying to be available for the team, and just couldn’t quite find the time to let it all come together.”
Asked Paul George when the last time was that he felt this healthy:
“My stint in LA. I was pretty healthy to finish my last year there, and then honestly, going to Philly, I just had a bad hyperextension that really set me back, and I couldn't quite shake that one — it was an… pic.twitter.com/6jqmbROmSm
But, George has since made a full recovery, and he’s beginning to show the world what a difference full health makes on his ability to play on both ends.
“This summer was huge,” he said. “I had a great summer, had time off, and coming into this year, I knew it was going to be a big one. It was going to be a fun one, a great opportunity, and so I was just happy that I was able to attack this summer with working on my game, more so than rehabbing and working on my body.”
Still, despite the clean bill of health, George was candid in sharing that Celtics training camp marked a significant transition.
“It’s been a rough camp for me, I would say – just trying to figure out new concepts, new terms, new plays, playing off other guys, just finding rhythm within that,” he said Wednesday, adding that part of it was also just getting back into game shape.
“The camp legs were just heavy. I was winded a lot of times. So it was taking away the ability to kind of do things when I just felt a little heavy and sluggish, but I’m getting my wind back. I’m getting my legs back. I feel like I’m getting my pop back, and so that was kind of the difference-maker.”
George has credited his teammates for helping him adjust over the past few weeks, and for empowering him to have such a big debut.
“It was fun to watch,” Derrick White said. “Obviously, he got super hot and trying to find him in different ways. But everything, even defensively, causing turnovers and being disruptive, it was a lot of fun. He played a hell of a game.”
Mazzulla, who has praised George through training camp, said he appreciated how the veteran approached the opener.
“He made some great reads throughout the game,” Mazzulla said. “He was able to find advantages for himself and others and be aggressive, and we just have to continue that.”
As for George, he gave a lot of the credit to his teammates and coaches, who have instilled confidence in him since he arrived in Boston.
“Credit to these guys, though, they did an amazing job keeping me in the loop, making me feel a part of the team at all points throughout this process,” he said. “[Credit to] Joe for making you know the game easier for me, D-White, Payton, JT, all of those guys. The bigs freeing me up, all of them are collectively a part of me feeling confident and playing with rhythm out there.”
George, like the rest of the Celtics, will look closely at what went wrong in the 121-113 loss.
And, he won’t overreact in either direction.
“There are good days, and there are bad days,” he said. “I’m always even-keeled. I won’t get too high on this. It’s a long season. It’s more so about being consistent for these guys.”
Lakers center Walker Kessler understands the pressure that comes with playing for the iconic NBA franchise. His competitive nature embraces the opportunity. (Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)
The last name of iconic Lakers centers is placed above their number on a wall at the team’s practice facility. Centers who have dominated the NBA on their way to the Hall of Fame.
Each day at practice, new Lakers center Walker Kessler has cast his eyes toward the wall, marveling at those names and numbers, unable to look away from a group of big men who left an indelible mark on the sport of basketball.
“Yup, they got some bigs up there, some great bigs,” Kessler said.
He chuckled.
There is Gasol (16), Mikan (99), Abdul-Jabbar (33), Chamberlain (13) and O’Neal (34).
“You know, obviously, there’s a certain legacy that comes with being a Laker big,” said Kessler, who wears No. 14. “But honestly, it’s just what an opportunity this is to play for a franchise that has had just historic bigs. I think that Lakers fans, when their bigs are at that level, they fall in love with them. So, what an opportunity.”
Lakers center Walker Kessler, looking to block a shot by Warriors center Yaxel Lendeborg during a preseason game last week, has averaged 2.4 blocks a game in his young career. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
Starting with George Mikan to Wilt Chamberlain to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Shaquille O’Neal to Pau Gasol, all of them have won championships playing for the Lakers and all of them have had their jerseys retired by the franchise.
Kessler is the next center in line, the next big man who will try to live up to those lofty standards.
Surely, Kessler was asked, he has to feel some inherent pressure to follow in the footsteps of that majestic group, starting Wednesday night when the Lakers open the regular season at Crypto.com Arena against the Golden State Warriors.
“I think it depends on how you look at it,” Kessler said. “If you do look at it as an approach of, ‘Oh my gosh, I got to perform this certain way.’ But, I think it’s twofold. With pressure or with opportunity comes somewhat a level of pressure. But to focus on the opportunity and being grateful for the ability to be in that position, you know?
“If I talked to my 8-year-old self telling me, ‘Hey, you’re going to be the starting Lakers center,’ it puts it in perspective. So what an opportunity. I’m just so grateful to God. I mean, it’s fantastic.”
Pressure is something Kessler feels equipped to handle, even while acknowledging that the stakes are high and that all the noise about the high price the team paid to acquire him only increased the volume.
The Lakers got Kessler from the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade deal in which L.A. sent two first-round draft picks and two first-round draft swaps for him. Then the Lakers gave Kessler a four-year, $130-million deal.
“I think I try to put pressure on myself because at the end of the day, it is a sport and I play my best version of myself when I go out there and compete every night and just play with joy,” Kessler said. “I think pressure kind of steals that. So for me, again, it’s just focusing on the opportunity. The Lakers’ fan base is obviously a massive global presence, so to have a chance to have that backing is pretty exciting.”
After meeting Kessler and having several conversations with him, Lakers coach JJ Redick has no worries about that pressure.
Besides, Redick is part of Kessler’s support system.
“Well, I think he wants to embrace that. I think that’s why he wanted to be a Laker,” Redick said. “And why he wanted to be here was because of the fact that there are stakes every single night when you wear a Lakers uniform. We’ve had a number of conversations.… We had a long conversation the other day about it. I think the awareness is there, how you navigate that early on and how you navigate that in your first year. There’s no way to predict that because you’ve never dealt with it before.
“But he’s got great support around him. … I’m here to help him. We’re all here to support him. All these guys that haven’t gone through it, there’s nothing like it. And I think they all want to embrace it. They all have a chip on their shoulder about it. They want to make Lakers fans proud, and I know they will.”
Lakers center Walker Kessler, driving to the basket against two Kings defenders during the final preseason game last week, has averaged nearly 10 points and 10 rebounds a game in his career. (Ben Liebenberg / Associated Press)
Redick wanted Kessler on his team.
Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka wanted Kessler on his team.
At 7-foot-2, active and mobile, they all felt he was the perfect fit to play alongside Doncic. Kessler is the lob threat, rim-runner, screen-setter and defender Doncic has thrived with in the past when leading the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals.
“It’s extremely humbling,” Kessler said. “Again, just so grateful to have a franchise that’s this historic to show that they want you and show that they value you. And then having Luka, arguably the greatest player in the league right now, saying that he wants me specifically. … Yeah, just very, very grateful.”
An injured shoulder limited Kessler to only five games last season with the Jazz.
And, he’s only started in 125 out of the 201 games he has played in over his first four seasons in the NBA.
But over that time, Kessler displayed his skill set, averaging 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.2 assists a game.
Lakers center Walker Kessler, at 7-foot-2, towers over guar Collin Sexton as they walk onto the team's practice court for media day. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Many around the NBA think Doncic can unleash even more out of Kessler, and that’s why the superstar guard wanted him on the Lakers.
“I’m very excited,” Doncic said. “Obviously [I was] kind of involved, not signing him but there was a lot of communication with Rob and JJ about him, so I’m very excited to just share the floor with him.”
Kessler said his love for the game of basketball grew so much after he was forced to miss 77 games last season recovering from having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
He’s ready to show Lakers fans his worth.
“I’m fully healthy. I feel fantastic body-wise,” Kessler said. “The only thing, like I was saying before, is kind of the rust and kind of getting back into the game feel in a sense. The NBA, you’re playing against the best players in the world. You’re not going to your local YMCA.”
Basketball runs in his family.
His dad Chad, brother, Houston and uncle, Alec, all played basketball at Georgia. His dad was drafted by the Clippers and his uncle played for the Miami Heat.
Somehow, Walker ended up going to Auburn. Nevertheless, his family is always around for advice.
“My dad and brother are some of my biggest supporters. They’re incredible,” Kessler said. “They didn’t put pressure on me to go one way or the other way. My dad even texts me after every game. Yeah, before the game, after the game, my brother, we talk all the time. So they’re fantastic.”
When asked what he likes to do when he’s just chilling, Kessler laughed.
“Getting to the real stuff now,” he said, smiling.
One thing that stood out was that Kessler said he likes to play board games, particularly Catan.
Is he as competitive playing Catan as he is when he plays basketball?
“What do you think? I’m a psychopath,” Kessler said, laughing. “So are my buddies, though. It’s a good time. We sometimes get a little heated, but it’s good though. It’s all in fun. So, yeah, Lakers fans should know that I’m competitive. Very competitive.”
NBA Games don’t typically boil down to just one possession. But one possession can often tell the story of a game. This is “One Possession,” a recurring series where we highlight one notable sequence from every Celtics game during the 2026-27 season.
The Boston Celtics carved out a pretty clear identity last season: Play harder and smarter than the opponent, and try to dominate the margins. They piled up a bunch of wins because of it.
That’s the road map again this year, even with a new-look roster, but the Celtics lost their way at times in the season-opener in Detroit.
Boston built a 23-point second-half lead (72-50 after a Paul George 3-pointer with 8:32 to play in the third quarter), but the Pistons surged within a single possession later in that frame. The Celtics pushed their lead back to 12 early in the fourth frame and led 99-89 with 8:19 to play after a Derrick White 3-pointer.
Then the wheels came off.
Not only did the Pistons embark on an improbable 23-0 run, they needed little more than two minutes to erase that double-digit deficit and pull ahead 101-99. Both Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser endured avoidable 3-shot fouls on Duncan Robinson early in the fourth quarter, further fueling Detroit’s offensive eruption, but it was often bad offense that led to poor defense for the Celtics.
Which sets the table for today’s possession. After watching the Pistons shuffle ahead, the Celtics desperately needed something to settle them down. Derrick White produced a live-ball turnover, but Boston lacked numbers in transition and the play quickly devolved into a Jayson Tatum isolation.
Despite drawing three defenders as he dribbled from beyond the arc, and despite having not made a 3-pointer on a day in which he would finish 0-for-7 from distance, Tatum elected to pull up with Detroit big man Jalen Duren leaping to contest.
The shot — which the NBA’s tracking gave just a 34.4 percent expected field goal percentage — rattled out, and things went from bad to worse.
Duren beat all the Celtics down the floor, got away with a little push off as Tatum tried to seal him off, and Ausar Thompson lobbed the ball over the top from the other end of the floor for a Duren and-one layup.
The Celtics didn’t work hard enough to generate good shots during Detroit’s run. Boston most certainly did not work hard enough to get back on defense and generate the stops that could have led to easier opportunities in transition. And in the span of less than four minutes, the Celtics went from up double digits to down 10 with 4:27 to play.
Fumbling away a big lead while poor offense leads to bad defense is not an unfamiliar storyline for the Celtics, who have routinely struggled to salt away games with what should be a comfortable cushion in recent seasons. The team has typically been able to catch itself despite making things interesting.
On Tuesday, Boston could not.
The maddening part is that Boston’s entire identity is built on being the harder-playing team. And yet in key spots, the effort was lacking. The Celtics didn’t run with White in transition, Tatum settled for a low-percentage pull-up as the offense went cold, and Mitchell Robinson was too slow getting back on defense as Duren got the and-one.
The Celtics pulled Robinson in favor of Neemias Queta after Duren’s bucket. Players said after the game that communication and effort need to be better all around.
Boston had uncharacteristic turnovers early that complicated matters. The fouls chasing Robinson beyond the 3-point arc in the fourth quarter might have been even more maddening. The Celtics didn’t dominate the margins the way they did throughout the preseason and allowed Detroit to be the more physical team overall.
The Celtics have to work harder for better possessions. They have to work harder to generate stops, especially when the other team has momentum. Boston didn’t work hard enough to maintain its identity in Detroit.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento Kings' training camp and preseason are officially behind us, and the 2026-27 regular season is set to start again.
There's excitement surrounding the team in California's capital for their upcoming season following a tumultuous 2025-26 that saw injuries and losses pile up. In turn, it resulted in one of the worst seasons in Kings history since moving to Sacramento in 1985, finishing 22-60.
But now they have a clean slate. 0-0. It's a new day. There's a newfound energy that fills the Kings' practice facility at Golden 1 Center. And a reason to be hopeful that the Kings won't be as bad as they were in the previous year.
"Everyone's excited," Domantas Sabonis told USA TODAY. "There was a lot of guys who were hurt. A lot of guys that didn't play above like 20 games. So just being out there. Everyone's happy to be out there, you know go out there and do what you love."
Sabonis appeared in just 19 games with a torn left meniscus injury, Keegan Murray only played 23 games mostly due to an ankle injury. Zach LaVine missed half the season with a right pinky injury. All three have reported to camp healthy, ready to compete. Second-year center Maxime Raynaud did have a setback with a right knee injury in a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors, but he'll be reevaluated in a week.
The Kings' offseason wasn't very busy; it did have some moments. It was highlighted by the retirement of Russell Westbrook, a contract buyout for DeMar DeRozan and their 2026 draft class featuring No. 7 overall pick Darius Acuff Jr.
With their offseason acquisitions and multiple players returning from last year, there's good reason why the Kings won't be as terrible as they were in the previous year, despite the considerable loss of Ben Simmons. Here's what the Kings need in the 2026-27 season:
Everything needed for the Kings to have success
Here's what the Sacramento Kings need for a considerably successful season.
Darius Acuff Jr. is as advertised, if not better than expected
Darius Acuff Jr. was the Kings' No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. He has a superstar written all over him and Sacramento is just completely enamored with what the 19-year-old brings to the table.
As a freshman at Arkansas, he averaged 23.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.4 assists on 48.4% field goal shooting. It's not just his skill or his potential. It's his work ethic that will really shine through.
Acuff is regularly one of the last ones to leave the practice facility. Once the session ends, another one begins for the rookie, where he's getting up shots, working on his spots, demonstrating his desire to make a name for himself in the league.
"That's how I got to get better," Acuff told USA TODAY. "I just got here, so I ain't really did nothing. I ain't did nothing to show nobody yet. But like I said, that's kind of been my whole motto my whole life. Just putting work in. If I see something that I didn't do well today, I'm gonna do it after to try to work on it. So that's just how I am."
Kings head coach Doug Christie will at times jaw at him to see if he could throw him off concentration. Acuff isn't phased by it. Christie knows the pedigree Acuff comes with. They're cut from the same cloth. He loves it.
"He is about as hard a worker as you see," Christie said to USA TODAY Sports. "For us to push him, we're going to push him in a lot of different ways. Obviously, defensively, offensively, he is special, man. I mean, he can make the shots, he can make the passes, he sees it all. You can't really speed him up like he plays on the ball, off the ball. So there's a lot of of things to be happy about with Darius."
Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis need to have All-Star caliber seasons
The Kings will be a solid team that surprises opponents if their best players produce All-Star seasons. Even if they get snubbed, playing at an All-Star level is still significant. Both players missed large portions of the 2025-26 season due to injuries.
Both have said their health is intact and they are ready for the campaign. LaVine has been selected to an All-Star team twice, in 2021 and 2022. He put up 19.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 39 games last season. He shot 47.9% from the field in 2025-26.
Sabonis is a three-time All-Star, appearing in 2020, 2021, and 2023. He only played in 19 games with Sacramento last season. He's played for the Kings for five seasons where he's averaged 19 points, 13.1 rebounds on 59% field goal shooting and 37% 3-point shooting.
Kings are healthy, stay healthy
The Kings were unfortunate in the health department last season. Their projected starting lineup did not log a single minute together. Guys were filling in or playing out of position throughout the 2025-26 campaign.
Sacramento cannot afford to miss guys, especially key players. Last year it happened and it got ugly at times. They enter this season relatively healthy. Their success will depend on how available their players are.
Team depth and bench production
A lot has been made of the Kings starting lineup but they have talent coming off the bench as well, but they will need consistent contribution from that group of guys, led by Malik Monk.
Last season, the Kings were ranked 13th in the NBA for total bench points and bench points per game during the 2025–26 regular season. But they need to be consistent on defense as well.
They will be heavily dependent on Monk, Raynaud, Emmanuel Sharp, Precious Achiuwa, De'Andre Hunter, Nique Clifford, Dylan Cardwell and Daeqwon Plowden.
And although a starter, not a reserve, Keegan Murray will have a major presence in this team's success. He's not being asked to do too much, nor too little. Just answer the phone when your number is called, because it will be often.
“We’re still new to each other,” LeBron James said after posting 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. “We had some turnovers that were kind of unforced. We had some moments with an open look and we didn’t take it. That will happen early in the season. As we continue to build our offensive sets, our defensive sets, we will have some bumps in the road at times.
“But I think tonight we had those bumps in the road against a good team and we were able to use what happened previously to make those adjustments. Tonight we knew we gave them some pick-sixes in the first half and we gave them offensive rebounds. … We cleaned that up in the second half and that’s the sign of a good team.”
Following a 19-point Sixers debut, Jaylen Brown agreed that the team hasn’t yet advanced past “just figuring it out.”
“We’re not even at the tip of the iceberg in terms of chemistry, understanding ourselves on the floor, understanding our spacing,” Brown said. “We’re still at the very early stages of what we can possibly be. So it’s a good sign that we can win while still being in that early stage.”
None of the Sixers’ flaws in the opener raised serious alarm bells.
They were a tad thin on the second unit — only Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope played double-digit minutes off the bench — but both of those players drilled vital three-pointers in the second half. The Sixers will have useful manpower once Dean Wade (left ankle sprain) and Dominick Barlow (lower back stress reaction) are available.
Joel Embiid shot just 4 for 15 from the field and lost a handful of his individual battles with former teammate Andre Drummond in the first half. However, Embiid played far better than a 13-point, 11-rebound outing might indicate. He had three blocks, two steals and nimble, hustling sequences that made it natural to remember his defensive peak.
Embiid doesn’t think those days are behind him. The 32-year-old big man has three All-Defensive team selections on his future Hall of Famer résumé, the last of which came in the 2020-21 season.
“I think this year is going to be back to All-Defensive team like in the past,” he said. “Felt good. Moving great and felt like I was all over the place. … Defensively, I think a lot of it falls on me. If I want to be All-Defense like I used to be, that changes everything for our team. If I can play that way every single night, which I will, it changes everything.”
Embiid’s defensive contributions also included a proposed mid-game matchup adjustment.
He thought James should defend Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, enabling Embiid to serve in more of a roaming role and worry less about fouls.
“I suggested it to the guys,” Embiid said. “I had three fouls and I just felt like the way they were calling it … I was just being honest. I wasn’t going to be as aggressive as I should be on defense, having three fouls. I wanted to stay on the floor and I thought we should do that.
“He was great. That’s another big body that can guard the post. PJ Tucker was the last one we had that could do that, that could switch off and guard those bigger guys in the post. Last year we had (Paul George) and P.G. did a great job, but he’s a little light. Having Bron … we did that in the Olympics. We’ve done that in the past. That’s a good thing to change a little bit.”
On a glitz and glamour type of night at the Garden that featured the Knicks’ pregame championship banner ceremony and celebrities around every corner, the Sixers showed they have some real substance.
“Lot of fun,” Maxey said. “Very competitive. I’ve been saying it all training camp and you saw it tonight. Extremely competitive on both ends of the floor.”
The home fans will pack Xfinity Mobile Arena to see the show Thursday night. The Sixers will meet the Cavaliers in their home opener.
“Listen, it’s one game,” Nurse said. “I’m really happy to come here and get a win. They’re a hell of a team. When I wake up tomorrow, I’ll probably forget about it and start getting ready for Cleveland.”
Allen Iverson #3, Shooting Guard and Point Guard for the Philadelphia 76ers looks up through the net of the basketball hoop during a photoshoot for Reebok Sportswear on 3rd July 1996 at the Chelsea Piers basketball courts in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Al Bello/Allsport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Duke fans were understandably dazzled by the precocious and highly athletic play of freshman Deron Rippey, as he led Duke to a dominant win over Tennessee. You have to be mindful of the hype this early, but it’s inevitable that he’s going to get a lot of comparisons. We talked about his game having elements of Johnny Dawkins, Jason Williams, and Allen Iverson.
Rippey’s not really built like Dawkins or Williams. Dawkins was, and is, incredibly lean. Williams was explosive and muscular.
He’s somewhat closer to Iverson. Like Iverson, Rippey is deceptively strong. He debuted a much shorter hairstyle against Tennessee, which made his lean, muscular build much more apparent, and you saw an ability to maneuver in very tight spaces like Iverson. AI’s been retired since 2013, so a lot of people have forgotten how great he was in his prime. Here’s a reminder.
We don’t know if Rippey will ever get close to this, much less consistently, but on Tuesday night, we got a pretty good idea of his potential, and it’s considerable.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 25: Josh Hart of the New York Knicks throws out the ceremonial first pitch before game 2 of a doubleheader between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
At Madison Square Garden last night, the Knicks unveiled their 2025-26 NBA Champions banner, gave out some very fancy rings, and they even threw in an NBA Cup banner as well because hell, why not? It was a season for the ages. Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice were in attendance. Remember when the Yankees had events like these? Granted, the most recent ones phased out a championship flag going up a flagpole and just stuck to the rings, which I thought was unfortunate. That was fun! Oh well. Maybe we’ll see another one someday.
It’s a shorter day for us on the site today, but don’t miss Kevin running through the disappointment of Jazz Chisholm Jr.‘s 2026 season (which was not a 50-50 season) and Kento wishing a happy birthday to a fella named Eddie Ford. Whitey would have turned 98 today, and it feels fitting that he and his pal Mickey Mantle had birthdays within one day of each other, albeit with Mantle three years younger. What a twosome they made for opposing teams to have to deal with in the 1950s.
Today’s Playoff Matchup:
Offday.
Questions/Prompts:
1. Did you watch any of the Knicks’ championship ceremony last night?
2. Here’s an Immaculate Grid-esque question: Who is the first player that comes to mind who played for both the Brewers and Rays?
Who's next? It's a question that lingers over every NBA season, but perhaps never more so than at the dawn of a new one.
The 2026-27 campaign begins this week after the NBA crowned a ninth different champion in nine years when the New York Knicks captured the 2026 NBA Finals. Despite the spotlight on New York, Victor Wembanyama remains at the forefront of the league conversation entering the season as the San Antonio Spurs star continues his ascent toward becoming the NBA's next dominant force.
Twenty-five players under the age of 25 made the list, led by Wembanyama. The rankings also feature three teenagers, two members of the 2026 draft class and multiple young stars expected to shape the NBA's future for years to come.
Here's a look at the top 25 NBA players under 25, according to USA TODAY Sports.
Each player on this under-25 list is ranked based on where they were voted in USA TODAY's NBA top 100 rankings released ahead of the 2026-27 season. Their overall player ranking is in parentheses.
If there's one thing sports fans are good at, it's overreacting to one game.
We excel at drawing big-picture conclusions from a very small sample size. Well, we've had one game for six NBA teams, that's enough for me. It's time for some overreactions to opening night in the NBA, a triple-header you could see on NBC and Peacock.
Wemby who? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will win MVP
Fans and media have sounded ready to anoint Victor Wembanyama as the best basketball player walking the face of the Earth. He looked like it in stretches during last season's playoffs (even if he faded in the NBA Finals), and at 22, he is poised for another leap (or just a Wemby-sized step) forward.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would like to have a word with us.
SGA looked every bit the best player on the planet, scoring 32 points in the Thunder's statement win over the Spurs to start the season. As a reminder, that's his record-extending 141st straight 20+ point game. And Gilgeous-Alexander is not a one-way player — he had three blocks and three steals against the Spurs. He was doing it on both ends.
That's what MVPs do.
Maybe Wembanyama will ascend to the mountaintop, but on opening night he was 1-of-13 from the floor and finished a -2. If and when he gets to the top of that mountain, Wemby is going to find SGA already standing there.
Philadelphia is going to win the East
Sure, the 76ers have a lot of new talent, but how will it all fit together? Well... just like old times?
Tyrese Maxey scored 28 points, Jaylen Brown had 19 points and was a team-best +17 on the night, Joel Embiid played 33 minutes with 13 points and 11 boards, and LeBron James was the glue guy bringing everything together with 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
LeBron with an all-around performance in his 76ers debut!
Sure, the 76ers can score, but can they defend? They held the reigning-champion Knicks to less than a point per possession on the night, with a 98 defensive rating.
If the Knicks are going to become the first team to repeat as champions since the Curry/Durant Warriors, that road in the East looks like it goes through Philadelphia after opening night.
Pistons’ Javonte Green will win Sixth Man of the Year
For one half in Detroit, it looked like the best free agent addition of the offseason was Boston landing Paul George — and he scored 38 in his Celtics debut.
Then Javonte Green sparked a comeback — he came off the Pistons bench, gave them the shooting they desperately needed, hitting 5-of-8 from 3, and scoring 19 points. It was Green off the bench who lit the fire for the 22-point comeback and the Pistons' bench-led 23-0 run in the fourth quarter that sealed the game.
There's still a lot of the season left, but Green is now your Sixth Man of the Year frontrunner.
Andre Drummond is the Knicks’ best center
NBC's play-by-play icon Mike Tirico said it best: "Drummond, the one guy who did not get a ring, is getting everything else."
And for a half, it looked like Drummond was the Knicks' best center and helped fans forget about Mitchell Robinson.
Andre Drummond was EVERYWHERE in the 1H!
10 PTS I 12 REB (6 OREB) I 3 AST I 2 BLK
He becomes the first Knick in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) to record a first-half double-double in their Knicks debut... New York ahead at the break pic.twitter.com/7CqoRNC10n
When asked about his first-half double-double, Drummond said on the broadcast, "I'm just excited to be here."
The second half was a reality check: Drummond went 1-of-5 from the floor, and his only bucket came off a putback. But if the Knicks can get 12 points and 14 boards from Drummond on a nightly basis, they will take it. Even if that Karl-Anthony Towns guy is their best center.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 20: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder handles the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on October 20, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The arena was amped, the fans were in their seats early, but the San Antonio Spurs laid a dud in the first half and could never recover as they suffered a 116-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Frost Bank Center on Tuesday night.
San Antonio shot just 29 percent in the first half, including a dismal 31 percent from three-point range in the opening 12 minutes. The Spurs began the second half on a 14-3 run to cut a 26-point deficit to just seven points, but turnovers and mistakes would halt their momentum as Oklahoma City built up their lead back to 15 points later in the period.
Victor Wembanyama suffered his worst shooting performance of his young career, finishing with 12 points on 1-13 shooting (7%) and 13 rebounds. After the game, Head Coach Mitch Johnson declined to cast blame solely on his star player.
“I think everybody struggled pretty equally,” Johnson said when asked about Wembanyama’s performance. “I know his field goal [percentage] will stand out, but we all participated in that one.”
Johnson said his team did not come out firing as expected, saying the Spurs may have been a bit excited and could not properly channel that energy when needed.
“It didn’t feel very connected,” he said. “Execution wasn’t very good, and I thought we competed and played hard, just didn’t feel like we put our energy in the right places.
Stephon Castle, who led the Spurs with 24 points on 9-for-20 shooting, agreed with his coach’s assessment of the game.
“I think that we got excited with shots,” Castle said of the offensive struggles. “We were taking the first one instead of making them work on defense and finding a better shot.”
Despite Johnson not wanting it to stick, Wembanyama’s poor night was the highlight of the evening. Last season, he averaged 18.4 points per game during the regular season against the Thunder. After the game, the Spurs’ big man admitted he did not feel like himself for most of the night.
“I need to go back to playing the basketball I like,” Wembanyama said. “This is not the sport I like right here. I’ve got no reason to be hesitant, no reason to not be myself. I’m good when I have fun. I missed a lot of shots I usually don’t miss. But after that, I didn’t go back to these shots, and I wasn’t decisive. I might be overthinking it. I don’t need to do more. I need to think less probably.”
Wemby added that he did not feel like himself, and when asked he said “for many reasons” but did not go into it.
Oklahoma City’s defense was a tough nut to crack for the Spurs, but their offense was led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 32 points on 48 percent shooting from the floor. Jared McCain added 20 points, including going 6-for-8 from deep. Chet Holmgren rebounded from a poor Western Conference Finals to score 14 points and pull down seven boards.
With Wembanyama struggling, the Spurs’ three-guard lineup trio of Castle, De’Aaron Fox, and Dylan Harper combined for 56 of San Antonio’s 104 points on the night. Devin Vassell had a poor night with seven points on 25 percent shooting.
“We can’t get away with these type of mistakes against a team like this,” Wembanyama said.
With one game down and 81 left to play, the Spurs will hope that their clunker will be behind them early, and they can learn and move on. Who waits for them next? Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets in Austin on Friday night.
“It’s good to get the first one (bad game) out of the way,” Johnson said. “Got a lot of tape to look at and learn from.”
Game Notes
Despite the loss, the Spurs fans made the Frost Bank Center feel like Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals all over again. It was loud from the opening tip and when the Spurs made their second half comeback attempt. Nice job, Spurs faithful!
Dylan Harper hobbled over to the bench in the second half after grimacing, but was only out for a few moments before returning to finish the game.
Carter Bryant had a few moments where he shined and others where he still is showing some growing pains. This will be a big season for the second year player and he’s one I am keeping my eye on as the season goes on.
I know fans may overreact to this game, but breathe. Let’s see how the team responds to the loss in Austin on Friday.
Podziemski discussed his goals for the pivotal season with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Bonta Hill and Dalton Johnson.
“I think, first and foremost, win as many games as we can before Jimmy [Butler] and Moses [Moody] come back,” Podziemski stated. “I think getting off to a really good start is super important, the same way the ’22 championship team did.”
Wins were hard to come by for the Warriors last season. They finished under .500 for the first time since their abysmal 2019-20 NBA season and missed the playoffs for the second time in four years.
In particular, a sluggish start to the season was only made worse when Butler’s season ended due to injury in mid-January.
Podziemski says coach Steve Kerr got the team to focus on stacking wins early heading into the new season.
“Steve emphasized it the first two days in camp, like how good of a start we can get off to?” Podziemski recalled. “And not put ourselves behind the eight ball and try to play catch up in February and March.”
Podziemski’s availability while the team managed other injuries helped the Warriors stay somewhat afloat. He was the only Warrior to play all 82 games last season. That streak comes to an end Wednesday, however, after Podziemski was ruled out of the Warriors’ season opener.
But last season, Podziemski found his best form late in the campaign.
“I know if I, at minimum, play the same way I played the last six weeks of the season, I’ll be a pretty good player,” Podziemski stated. “But doing that combined with the things I worked on this summer, I think I’ll be able to play even better, which is exciting for me.”
In the final six weeks of the season, Podziemski averaged 18.1 points per game, shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from 3-point range.
His final 11 games were even better, averaging 20.1 points per game with an incredible 52.2 field goal percentage and 42.4 percent on 3-pointers.
Kerr told reporters Monday that he is “leaning towards” a starting lineup which includes Podziemski, who started 43 games last season.
If Podziemski can produce close to his late-season performance, it would be huge for the Warriors as they wait for the return of their second-leading scorer in Butler.
Joel Embiid had something to tell Tyrese Maxey after the Sixers walked off the Madison Square Garden floor victorious Tuesday night.
“I told Tyrese after the game, I was like, ‘We’ve been going against these guys for the last couple of years, and tonight felt a lot different than in the past,’” Embiid said.
In one important way, it was.
The Sixers scored 24 fast-break points, their most against the Knicks since Feb. 4, 2011, when they scored 26. Only that 2011 total was higher across the 63 Sixers-Knicks meetings covered by Sportradar’s game logs dating to the start of the 2010-11 season.
Maxey accounted for half of the 24.
That production carried the Sixers through a difficult shooting night in their 106-100 season-opening win. Philadelphia shot 41.6 percent from the field and went 11 for 40 from three-point range. Embiid went 5 for 15. LeBron James went 5 for 13. Jaylen Brown missed 11 of his 18 shots.
The Sixers made up for it by forcing 14 turnovers and converting them into 22 points. Maxey scored nine of those points and finished with 12 on the fast break. He led Philadelphia with 28 points in a team-high 39 minutes and 34 seconds.
“He doesn’t seem like he gets tired,” James said.
Brown wants Maxey applying that pressure throughout those minutes.
“I want him to continue to do that for the whole game if he can,” Brown said.
“They’ve all been on me about being aggressive,” Maxey said. “Every last one of them.”
The Sixers spent the offseason talking about playing faster. Maxey was always going to be central to that plan. It took less than a minute for him to show why.
With 11:04 remaining in the first quarter, Maxey stole a Karl-Anthony Towns pass. Three seconds later, he pulled up from 26 feet and gave the Sixers a 6-0 lead.
The play showed why Maxey can be so damaging before a defense gets set. Rather than drive toward a retreating defender, he stopped behind the three-point line and took the open shot New York’s turnover created.
“Speed. Speed,” Brown said when asked what stood out about playing alongside Maxey. “His ability to just take off and put a defense in a tough spot, the pressure he puts on.”
Maxey’s impact in transition went beyond his 12 points.
With 7:15 remaining in the third quarter, he collected a Jalen Brunson miss and found James for a layup four seconds later. Early in the fourth, Embiid blocked an Andre Drummond dunk attempt and James grabbed the rebound. Five seconds after Embiid’s block, Maxey was finishing through contact at the other end.
The three-point play stretched Philadelphia’s lead to nine.
The Sixers’ best transition possessions did not all start with steals. Some began with rim protection or a defensive rebound, which made their second-half improvement on defense important to how they generated offense.
“If we can find spaces for him to get out and run, he’s going to create offense for everybody when he does that,” Brown said. “So just continue to use his speed, continue to use his skill to get downhill, and that’s going to be great for us.”
The Knicks felt every bit of that pressure.
“All throughout the game, it looked like we were running in mud,” Knicks head coach Mike Brown said, according to the New York Post.
The Sixers scored seven fast-break points in the first half, then added 17 in the second.
“That’s where the game was won and lost, especially in the third quarter when our starters were out there,” Brown said.
The Sixers outscored New York 29-18 in the third, turning a four-point halftime deficit into a seven-point advantage. Their half-court offense remained uneven, but their defense kept creating chances to score before the Knicks could organize.
“Defense kept us afloat,” Embiid said. “We couldn’t make shots.”
Maxey has steadily become more productive in those situations.
Excluding his rookie season, when he made eight starts, his fast-break scoring average has increased every year. It rose from 3.3 points per game in 2021-22 to 3.9, 4.0, 4.7 and then 5.5 last season.
Maxey led the NBA with 382 total fast-break points in 2025-26 and tied for second in per-game production. The only player ahead of him was James at 5.7.
Now they are teammates.
Playing beside James, Brown and Embiid could reduce the number of possessions Maxey needs to create from a standstill. It could also produce more of the opportunities that suit him best.
James can grab a rebound and throw an outlet pass. Brown and VJ Edgecombe can force turnovers or fill a lane. Embiid can protect the rim and begin a possession before Maxey races in the opposite direction.
Tuesday was Maxey’s 23rd regular-season game with at least 10 fast-break points. Before the opener, he had averaged 3.9 fast-break points across 18 regular-season meetings with New York. His previous high against the Knicks was nine, a mark he had reached three times before scoring 12 Tuesday.
Philadelphia reached 24 fast-break points only nine times during the entire 2025-26 regular season. In those games, the Sixers averaged 21.9 points off turnovers. They landed almost exactly on that combination Tuesday.
Maxey’s final basket provided the clearest example.
With New York within four points, Maxey intercepted OG Anunoby’s pass and immediately accelerated in the opposite direction. Three seconds after the steal, he dunked and forced the Knicks to call timeout.
“Tyrese was keeping us afloat offensively while me, I didn’t have it going and some of the other guys,” Embiid said. “And then defensively, he’s taken a step being better.”
The Sixers still have considerable work ahead. Their spacing, timing and lineup combinations remain unfinished. Brown said the group is “not even at the tip of the iceberg” when it comes to building chemistry.
But their first game showed how they can survive when their shots are not falling. Their defense can create openings, and Maxey can turn those openings into points before the opposition gets settled.
James has played with hundreds of teammates over 24 seasons. When asked for a player whose speed resembled Maxey’s, he named Dennis Schröder, his teammate during two separate stints with the Lakers.
Otherwise, James struggled to find an equal.
“He’s one of the fastest guys in the league, if not the fastest, with or without the ball,” James said. “That’s just going to be key for our team, to continue to put pressure on the defense. Obviously, he consistently can do that.”
LeBron James is a four-time NBA champion and the league's all-time leading scorer [Getty Images]
LeBron James scored 14 points on his debut for the Philadelphia 76ers as they defeated champions the New York Knicks on the NBA season's opening night.
The 41-year-old James, entering a record-extending 24th season in the league with his fourth team after his summer move from the LA Lakers, also racked up seven assists as his new side triumphed 106-100.
Tyrese Maxey top-scored with 28 points for the 76ers, while Jaylen Brown, who also made his debut after joining the 76ers from the Boston Celtics in a high profile trade for Paul George, scored 19 points with eight rebounds and six assists.
The Knicks enjoyed title celebrations prior to the match, raising their third title banner to the rafters at Madison Square Garden in the presence of a crowd that included celebrity Knicks fans Ben Stiller and Spike Lee.
The Knicks ended a 53-year title drought with their victory over the San Antonio Spurs in last season's NBA Finals but were unable to open their season with a win as the 76ers held out after taking the lead in the third quarter.
Jalen Brunson led the scoring for the Knicks with 21 points and Karl-Anthony Towns picked up 19 points with 12 rebounds.
"I could be a lot better," James told broadcaster NBC. "Still getting my rhythm, obviously just a little bit over two weeks with the new squad.
"But I like the way we played. I think we played exceptionally well, especially defensively."
In the opening match of the NBA's 81st season, the Detroit Pistons fought back in the second half to win 121-113 against the Boston Celtics.
Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren added 22 points each and Duncan Robinson scored 15 of his 21 in the fourth quarter as the home side secured their victory with a 23-0 scoring run.
Celtics debutant Paul George scored 38 points for his new side in a match between last season's top two regular-season teams.
In the night's final encounter, back-to-back NBA most valuable player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder as they completed a 116-104 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Stephon Castle top-scored for the Spurs with 24 points but his side were unable to match the form that saw them put out defending champions Thunder in last season's Western Conference finals.
Victor Wembanyama made just one basket in 13 attempts for the Spurs but contributed 13 rebounds and six blocked shots and scored 12 points largely thanks to 10 free throws.
"Obviously, this is the team that eliminated us from achieving our goal," Gilgeous-Alexander said.
"But for us, I think it was more like we're just happy to be back. It's a longer summer when you don't win and we felt that this summer."
The New York Knicks received their title rings from Walt 'Clyde' Frazier, a member of the franchise's previous title-winning teams in 1970 and 1973 [Getty Images]
