SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 25: Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies is guarded by Precious Achiuwa #9 and Zach LaVine #8 of the Sacramento Kings during the second half at Golden 1 Center on October 25, 2026 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s still early in the NBA season, but as we have noted, Cameron Boozer is off to a great start. Prior to Sunday night’s game, he was tied for third in the NBA in rebounding with 12 per game. He’s also averaging 16 points and 5.5 assists.
On the downside, he’s not shooting that well, but rookies will be rookies.
Against Sacramento on Sunday night, Boozer wound up with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists, which is essentially right at his averages.
More importantly, Memphis is 3-0.
As for the players who went before him in the 2026 NBA Draft, #1 pick AJ Dybantsa hasn’t played yet due to injury, and the Washington Wizards are 2-1.
The #2 pick, Darryn Peterson, is doing fairly well. He’s getting 12.0 ppg, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. However, the Utah Jazz are just 1-2.
It’s a long season, and things will obviously change, but as of now, Boozer is looking like the pick of the draft.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 24: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Milwaukee Bucks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 24, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bucks 127-116. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Transparency and authenticity, for better or worse, are rare in professional sports. For Jaylen Brown, it’s par for the course.
Most recently, Brown’s candor has made an early reappearance less than a week into the regular season as a response aimed at former Boston Celtics teammate Jayson Tatum. Brown’s “cap” emoji comment — modern slang for dishonest — left under a clip of Tatum’s ‘Summer of Jayson’ series documenting his reaction to Brown’s trade to the Philadelphia 76ers opened the floodgates for questioning.
Both Brown and Tatum found a middle ground in there being “no beef.” Tatum used his press conference to invite Brown to a conversation, if needed, and Brown used his to take a few subtle shots by telling reporters Tatum has a “great PR team” and that “he should be ready.” It’s the same old routine Boston, more than any other city and organization, should understand by now.
Nothing Brown is doing is new. Sure, the optics of the subject — his former teammate in Tatum — don’t look great. Brown’s entitled to his feelings about the departure, his relationship with Tatum, or even the Celtics. But the approach, which has historically drawn Brown unwanted attention, is where the issue lies.
It’s in Brown’s nature to be cryptic. He’s blunt, but most of the time it’s in a read-between-the-lines sort of way. So to fill the empty spaces, Brown leaves the rest up for interpretation — allowing everyone from fans to members of the media to colleagues across the NBA to speculate and draw their own conclusions. Then, as soon as those assumptions run rampant, it gets to Brown.
For example, just four days after Boston’s Game 7 loss to Philadelphia back in May, Brown took to his FCHWPO Twitch livestream to unload on a plethora of topics. Among those, Brown accused officials of having “an agenda” against him, telling his audience, “there’s some referees that need to be investigated.”
Brown caught plenty of flak online for those comments, among others, and quickly became the biggest subject in NBA discourse. As unfair as it was for ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins to drag Brown’s name through the dirt in the name of clickbait, Brown fed them the fodder. He handed them the material by sharing unproven allegations, such as the intentional double standard he claims referees had for him last season, and paved the way for the aftermath.
That never justified Smith or Perkins for their juvenile journalism, but Brown should understand their schtick by now. He’s been in the league for over a decade, knows much more than we do from the outside, and should expect to see his face on ESPN the next morning. It helps those like Smith and Perkins avoid breaking down basketball like true experts, and instead nourishes their viewership and wallets.
Today, that’s (unfortunately) just the way it goes.
During his trip to China over the summer, Brown posted “The neighbors rice always smells better,” another cryptic message widely interpreted as a response to being dragged into trade talks involving the Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
When Brown wasn’t selected as Kawhi Leonard’s replacement for Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics — shortly after being named NBA Finals MVP — he felt slighted. When the Celtics overhauled their title-winning roster in the aftermath of Tatum’s ruptured Achilles tendon in 2025, and the team was written off the following season, Brown fed off it.
He led the Celtics to 56 wins, the No. 2 seed in the East, and finished sixth in MVP voting.
No matter what Brown’s accomplished up to this point, he’ll always search for his next source of fuel, including being traded away in the prime of his career.
It’s all part of his demeanor. He’s always carried a chip on his shoulder, with the need to challenge any narrative linked to him that he deems unfair or inaccurate. It fueled him after Celtics fans at TD Garden booed him on Draft Night in 2016, and it’s a part of Brown that’s either beloved or hated for. You’ll either find him in the right or feel he’s blowing his need-for-validation approach totally out of proportion.
In Boston, for the most part, he had the support to comfortably be his authentic self. Fans defended him whenever he spoke out, whether it was at the podium or behind a computer screen on Twitch. There was an understanding during Brown’s time with the Celtics that his commitment to standing 10 toes down on everything he believed in, from social justice causes to calling out the NBA in certain areas, was 100 percent real.
He wasn’t doing it for the sake of his brand or to protect sponsorship opportunities, and that authenticity played part in the pain fans felt once Brown was traded in July.
It should come as no surprise that Brown remains this way in a Sixers uniform, or wherever he plays in the future.
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.
Jayson Tatum loudly delivered the Boston Celtics to the finish line of a gritty win over the defending champion New York Knicks during the green’s home-opener Friday night at TD Garden. But what shouldn’t get lost amid Tatum’s heroics is the “Welcome to Boston” sequence that newcomer Mitchell Robinson provided against his former team earlier in that final frame.
The first six regular-season quarters of Robinson’s Boston tenure were less than ideal. Robinson himself admitted that he, “played like ass,” in the Celtics’ season-opener in Detroit, then picked up two early fouls against the Knicks.
But Robinson might finally have settled in with a loud fourth-quarter sequence that helped Boston build a cushion it would need to fend off the Knicks.
The Celtics were operating without Tatum early in the fourth quarter when Robinson chased down a charging Karl Anthony Towns and swatted his layup attempt into the Boston bench with a big left-handed volleyball swat. The Knicks maintained possession but Robinson vacuumed in a Mikal Bridge missed floater soon after.
At the other end of the floor, Robinson rolled hard after setting a screen for Derrick White and was rewarded with a lob that he reached back to corral with an outstretched right arm, then flushed it strong to put Boston on top 91-79 with 8:31 to play.
Robinson picked up his fifth foul going back up the floor but the stoppage allowed 1) TD Garden to salute Robinson for the loud sequence, especially as he checked out in the aftermath, and 2) Viewers at home got a million replays of the block/oop combo.
Robinson finished with four points, four rebounds (two on the offensive glass), two assists, and the lone block over 22 minutes of floor time. He hasn’t had the oversized impact on the glass that we saw at times throughout his New York tenure and in glimpses with Boston during the preseason, but that fourth-quarter sequence might help Robinson exhale a bit given two tough matchups for the Celtics to start the 2026-27 regular season.
“New here, so kind of got to get used to seeing how they really play and stuff like that,” said Robinson. “So as it goes, stuff will start to happen.
“I think I played better [than Game 1]. Not like how I wanted to, but it was way better than the first game. Definitely.”
Credit to Luka Garza, who got thrust into action again Friday with both Robinson and Neemias Queta in early foul trouble. Garza chipped in 8 points over 3:30 to give the Celtics a much-needed first-half boost. The Robinson/Queta combo got going in the second half, with Queta knocking down just the second 3-pointer of his pro career, and Robinson delivering at both ends.
The Celtics dominated the offensive glass throughout the preseason and getting Robinson active on the glass can alleviate some of the rough patches the team has navigated to start the regular season.
And Robinson’s loud fourth-quarter stretch showed how impactful he can be, even in just small stretches.
From head coach Mike Brown’s perspective, it’s mostly a combination of the following:
1. Missing quality shot attempts
2. Not enough physicality/pace on either side of the ball
3. A lethal combination of careless turnovers and poor transition defense.
There are many other reasons why the defending champs are 0-3. But those three are the most glaring – and fixable – issues Brown sees at the moment.
During shootaround on Sunday morning, Brown talked to his players about each of the three issues listed above. He hit on them again before Sunday night’s game against Orlando.
“We're not quite there yet,” Brown said late Sunday night, shortly after New York fell to 0-3 in a loss to Orlando.
The good news for the Knicks? They believe the issues at hand are fixable. (Also, they won the NBA title last year and will have a well-earned grace period with fans/media. Imagine if the Knicks started 0-3 last year? It would have been total chaos.)
Jalen Brunson says the lack of crisp cuts/actions on offense is on him.
“Organization on my part and making sure we’re in the right place to execute what we need to do; everything falls on my shoulders,” Brunson said late Sunday. “I just got to be a better leader in making sure our guys are ready to go and are in the right spots. There are a lot of little things but that’s the main thing. Organization on my part.”
Turnovers (16 against Orlando, 49 over the first three games) and poor transition defense (Orlando, missing Paolo Banchero to injury, had 23 points off turnovers on Sunday) hurt New York against the Magic. The Knicks, by Brown’s count, also lost five of six 50-50 balls (loose balls where the ball can be corralled by either team) in the fourth quarter.
“That’s hard to overcome,” the coach said.
Of course, the Knicks aren't going to go 0-82 this season. They will win plenty of games. But losing to a Magic team missing Banchero is not ideal -- no matter what time of year it is.
Brunson has said several times this season that the first two weeks or so of the year will reveal a lot about this Knicks team. Every opponent will get up for games against the defending champs (particularly at the Garden).
And then there’s the championship hangover.
“Everyone has been telling us what a great job we did, how fun it was, what we did for the city, the constant praise (for winning the title),” the Knicks captain said. “So now we need the opposite.”
Fortunately for Brunson and the Knicks, “the opposite” is never hard to find in this town.
BENCH ROLES UP FOR GRABS
Andre Drummond played just seven minutes against the Magic – the same amount as third string center James Wiseman.
Wiseman also played a couple of minutes in place of Drummond on Friday against Boston.
Brown says Drummond will be the Knicks’ backup center on Tuesday against Detroit. But the coach also made it clear that all rotation spots off the bench are up for grabs.
“We have our starting five. Other than that, anybody can play,” Brown said before tipoff on Sunday. “When you’re a backup in this league, that doesn’t mean you’re always gonna be the seventh man or you’re always gonna be the eighth man. No, no, no, no, no, no. It’s competitive. And it’s less so with the starting group if your starting group is established, which ours is, but everybody else after that starting five, I can throw in front of the next guy in a heartbeat.”
Brown was responding to a question about Wiseman playing against the Celtics. He then referenced the Knicks’ standards, which are spelled out in a document signed by all staffers.
“We will make sure that everybody embraces it, not just accepts it,” Brown said.
KNECHT-ING IN WESTCHESTER
New two-way player Dalton Knecht will initially spend time with the Knicks’ G League club, the Westchester Knicks. The thinking is that Knecht will have ample opportunity to play in G League games. Knecht will certainly garner consideration to play in NBA games with the Knicks. But Brown and the organization want Knecht, an ex-Laker, to get acclimated.
“We want him to play as much as he can,” Brown said of Knecht, a 2024 first-round pick.
To make room for Knecht, the Lakers’ first-round pick in 2024, the Knicks waived two-way player Kevin McCullar Jr. McCullar Jr. was beginning his third year with the Knicks this season.
“Kevin, first of all, he's a fantastic young man and we're gonna miss him, obviously,” Brown said. “But he's been here (two years; three including this season) as a two-way player so we have a pretty good feel for him. He has a good feel for us and you know being able to try to get to know a guy like Dalton Knecht at this point of the year, it's something that we need to take a look at.
“So (getting waived) wasn't anything that Kevin didn't do. He was great and he is an NBA player and I think he's gonna get a shot someday; and it could be with us – who knows -- down the road. But (the decision to waive McCullar Jr.) was more so having the opportunity to bring a guy like Dalton on just to get to know him a little bit better.”
Andre Drummond was benched and said he didn’t get an explanation.
“Control what I can control. I can’t do s–t about not playing,” the center said. “All I can do is cheer my teammates on and hope for the best.”
About midway through the second quarter, Drummond was caught jogging back on defense and was beaten in transition by Orlando center Wendell Carter Jr., leading to an open layup for the Magic in their 111-102 win Sunday at the Garden.
New York Knicks center Andre Drummond (0) defends under the basket during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Jason Szenes for NY Post
Brown called a timeout and subbed out Drummond for good. The backup center minutes then went to James Wiseman, who struggled while shooting 0-for-5.
Drummond said he didn’t know why he was pulled — “You can make the guess for me” — and added that he’s “probably not” owed an explanation.
The 33-year-old veteran, who was signed in the summer to replace Mitchell Robinson, also played sparingly in Friday’s loss to the Celtics.
Brown said Drummond will remain the first backup in Tuesday’s game against the Pistons.
“I felt our transition defense wasn’t good during that time, not just because of [Drummond], but I wanted to go with a change,” Brown said. “Wiseman’s been playing well in practice. I wanted to give him an opportunity and I thought he was pretty good in his first stint [in the first half]. And so I decided to go with him for a second stint. But Andre will go out there as a backup in the next game.”
Before Sunday’s loss, Brown warned that all the reserve spots are up for grabs.
“First thing I wanna make clear is we have our starting five. Other than that, anybody can play,” Brown said. “When you’re a backup in this league, that doesn’t mean you’re always gonna be the seventh man or you’re always gonna be the eighth man.
New York Knicks center James Wiseman (35) pulls down a rebound during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Jason Szenes for NY Post
“No, no, no, no, no, no. It’s competitive. And it’s less so with the starting group if your starting group is established, which ours is, but everybody else after that starting five, I can throw in front of the next guy in a heartbeat.”
Jose Alvarado sat out Sunday’s game with an ankle sprain. Tyler Kolek played 15 minutes in his spot and went scoreless with nine assists.
The end of the night also turned somber when Jalen Suggs, the Magic’s starting point guard, appeared to suffer a significant knee injury while driving to the basket. His leg buckled and he collapsed in pain, as teammates huddled around.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 25 : Auston Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after sinking a shot against the Utah Jazz during the second half of their game at the Delta Center on October 25, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) | Getty Images
Instead of Sunday being a tale of two halves, the Lakers’ win over the Jazz felt more like a tale of four quarters. Or, more specifically, one quarter vs. three quarters.
The first quarter is going to rank up there with one of the worst LA plays this season. The Jazz shot unsustainably well, as we would see, they also were just outworking the Lakers, too.
They had a staggering 24-4 advantage in points in the paint. They had 16 second-chance points on six offensive rebounds. Everything they did seemed to work.
The benefit of having a superstar, though, is that they can paper over your shortcomings on any given night. And from the second quarter on, it was Luka Dončić’s world with Austin Reaves playing an overqualified Robin.
They still struggled rebounding. They still lost the battle in the paint. But they hit 11 more threes and six more free throws over the final three frames to overcome that.
The end result was a gritty win that leaves the team with much to work on, but they get to do it in higher spirits.
So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.
As uncertain as I remain about the long-term viability of starting both Thybulle and Williams, if they’re going to play and shoot like this, then it’s hard to also argue for going away from it. They offer the Lakers the chance to cross match on defense, which can also lead to confusion on the other end as well.
There are still a few too many times when he goes to the rim without much of an idea of what to do and hopes his athleticism can bail him out. But he’s shooting the ball well and is an active defender. He really seems to have solidified his spot in this lineup.
After the game, he admitted that he let his emotions get the best of him and it impacted his play. It showed, because he was a relative non-factor in this one. Considering the circumstances, and the way he played in the first two games, we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Reaves will be a bit of an unsung hero in this one for about 52 reasons, but his second quarter was as important as any stretch of this game. He had 15 points on 4-5 shooting from the field while making all four of his free throws and pulled the Lakers back into the game.
Fresh off one of his worst games as a Laker, he has one of his best. He pretty much epitomized the Lakers overall in this game. He started the game 3-8 from the field and 0-5 from three, meaning he hit 14 of his final 22 shots and eight of his final 13 threes.
After a couple of strong games to open the season, Grimes wasn’t as productive on Sunday. The benefit of having a deep team is that they don’t need to rely on him if he’s struggling.
The Lakers have gone to lineups fairly often with Mamu at the five with Looney really struggling. It’s not his best option against most opponents, but it seems they’re going to have to make do. It was nice to see him get to the line for six free throws.
Considering it’s his second time suiting up at all this season, an unexpectedly strong game from Sexton. He showed his value as a release valve and dribble-drive threat alongside Luka and Reaves. He’s still shaking off the rust, but this was more than a glimpse at his value.
This was a game where the scoreline doesn’t do justice to LaRavia’s impact. Once he came on in the second period, he really helped change the tide of the game. Even without scoring, he was an impactful player, evidenced by tying for a team high in plus-minus.
Grade: B+
Kevon Looney
I don’t imagine there’s going to be much different about this section for the vast majority of games this season. It’s very evident he’s past his prime and can no longer be impactful.
JJ Redick
Challenging his way into an early foul for Walker Kessler was suboptimal, but you can understand why he did it. It did leave the Lakers in a tough spot the rest of the game, but it was nice to see none of the players able to make the circular, challenging motion with their finger most of the game.
Grade: B
Sunday’s inactives: Cameron Carr, AK Okerek, Adou Thiero
Sunday’s DNPs: Jaden Hardy, Bronny James, Arthur Kaluma, Chris Mañon, Jarred Vanderbilt
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 24: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on October 24, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Joe Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks will complete their season series tonight at the Toyota Center.
The Rockets should get Fred VanVleet back tonight and maybe Marcus Smart. Steven Adams remains out. The fact that Houston still beat Atlanta without three key members of their rotation is impressive. The final few minutes of the fourth quarter caused PTSD, but unlike many instances last season, the Rockets held on.
With this being a home-and-home, Atlanta is likely to come out the more desperate team. No one likes losing to the same team twice in a row. The Hawks also probably felt that if the game was just one or two minutes longer, they would have completed the comeback. Still, with the game in Houston, the Rockets could try to get greedy. For Atlanta, they will feel like they won’t shoot 27% from deep again.
Houston only has one back-to-back against the same team again this season, and it will happen in late March with two games in two nights in Portland.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 25: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on October 25, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The vibes are pretty, pretty good in Minnesota right now.
The Minnesota Timberwolves just finished yet another fairly complete victory to begin the season 3-0, with the Kawhi Leonard-less Toronto Raptors serving as the team’s latest victim.
Unlike the previous win over the Orlando Magic, the Wolves did not endure poor shooting nights from Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball en route to a 23-point victory. Things are starting to click, and this team has a ton of potential.
In the past, Timberwolves fans could consider games like this a trap game. The team has had a propensity to play down to lesser opponents and keep them in the game, especially if said opponents are missing one of their star players. Minnesota now has a good start to rewriting that narrative with this thorough dismantling of a weakened Eastern Conference team at the Target Center home opener.
Regardless of the evening’s narrative regarding Toronto missing Leonard, the Raptors are still widely considered to be one of the better teams in the now-loaded East. We’ll see how different things look later in the season when the Wolves play the Raptors in Toronto (and presumably with Leonard in the starting lineup), though this performance is exactly what should be expected of a Minnesota team with increasingly legitimate championship aspirations.
Jim Petersen said it himself. This all feels sustainable for the Timberwolves.
LaMelo Ball Impacts Winning
LaMelo Ball is good, dude. No, seriously.
Ball played a modest 17 minutes and finished the game at +33. This is, to put it mildly, a wildly inconsistent statistic, but it was felt today. His 15 points (on 5—for-8 shooting, 4—for-5 from three-point range) and eight assists tell the tale of how impactful his usage was in those minutes.
It was an opinion that was seemingly in the minority among NBA fans not located in Minnesota or Charlotte, though it is increasingly clear that LaMelo Ball has what it takes to be a winning player. Theatrics and demeanor aside, the guy makes smart plays and brings the best out of his teammates. There’s not much more you can ask from your starting point guard.
The eye test tells the same tale as the stats. Minnesota shot 22/29 from the floor in Ball’s 17 minutes tonight. We’ve seen all of the offseason statistics about how much Ball raised the offensive floor for the Charlotte Hornets over the latter half of last season – pushing them to all-time categories in offensive benchmarks – and it would appear that momentum has carried over to a Timberwolves squad that possesses far more talent than that Hornets roster.
When he wasn’t throwing lobs to Joan Beringer or Jaden McDaniels, Ball was manipulating the Raptors defense and creating wide-open looks for his teammates. This level of impact is what has allowed the Wolves to get out to these major leads to start the season, which also allows the team to limit his minutes to mitigate the risk of injury.
It’s a win-win situation for Head Coach Chris Finch
Sure, Ball may have been limited by some foul trouble (four total across his 17 minutes, but the three in the first half hampered his playing time). However, it’s still a great time to buy stock in Ball’s long-term effectiveness on this team.
As of right now, the potential is limitless. It’s looking to stay that way for a while.
Defensive Identity Continues to Shine
Lost in the glitter and glam of Minnesota’s newfound offensive potential is the continued defensive impact of their stalwarts in Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels. Their energy becomes infectious for the rest of the team’s effort, and this showed itself in holding the Raptors to a meager 38% from the field (35-91) and 26% from three (10-38).
Particularly emblematic of this notion is the team’s work on Scottie Barnes, who was held to zero points (0-12). The Toronto Raptors are not one of the darlings of the Eastern Conference just because of Kawhi Leonard, but because they have a tough, well-balanced starting lineup and a pesky bench unit with plenty of guys who contribute to winning in different ways.
This was not the case on Sunday night. The Raptors got some decent scoring nights out of RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Ja’Kobe Walter ( who continues to shine to start this season, scoring 22 on 7-12), but it was not enough to overcome the total offensive dud from Barnes.
That ability of the Wolves to completely take players out of the game could pay dividends for Minnesota going forward. It’s a tall task to ask a team to ascend within the Western Conference that’s already so brutal, but if they can limit the impact of at least one key player per team in this manner, it seems feasible to tip the scales in their favor.
Defensive identity has been a hallmark of the team since the arrival of Gobert, while the offense had typically been dependent on the heroics of Edwards and former Timberwolves fulcrums Karl-Anthony Towns and Julius Randle.
With fewer concerns about getting buckets now that Ball is in town, the team can continue to lean into that identity while not fearing a lack of impact on the offensive end of the floor.
Strong Bench Performances
We all know what Ayo Dosunmu brings to the Timberwolves. He earned every penny of his new contract with the team, and he has continued to excel in his role. As the minutes for Ball will continue to be managed for various reasons, Dosunmu is a natural fit with any and all lineup combinations that Finch puts together.
We’re also beginning to see more of the reserves put in complete and complementary performances during their limited minutes.
Beringer, as mentioned before, is looking more comfortable on the offensive end of the floor. While he only played 13 minutes, the French center (the young one without the crazy facial hair) snagged six rebounds to go with six points on 2/3 from the floor and 2/2 at the charity stripe.
TJ Shannon Jr. also managed 15 points on 5/6 shooting in just 23 minutes of play. Bones Hyland did not have a great shooting night, going scoreless from the field, though he found other ways to impact the game as the diminutive guard contributed two steals and a shocking three blocks on the night. Even Trey Lyles, who has had a slow start to the season, pitched in three points, six rebounds, and a steal to go along with a +14.
As the new-look Timberwolves continue to grow into their newfound roles, the efficiency and production of this bench unit will begin to take a more concrete shape. The roster is deep enough that Finch can employ different personnel on any given night in order to adapt to whatever the matchup is throwing at him, and the players are buying into their roles on any given night.
The Timberwolves haven’t lost a game yet, and beyond a poor shooting night against the Orlando Magic, it’s been hard to poke holes in this team’s performance thus far. There will be bumps in the road yet to come, though it is encouraging to see few weak spots from top to bottom with this team.
Up Next
The Timberwolves’ time at home is short-lived, as the team will travel to Cleveland tomorrow for yet another game against an Eastern Conference opponent expected to make some noise in the playoff race.
Minnesota will take on the 1-1 Cavaliers at 6:00 PM Central Time. Catch the game on DAZN-MN and NBA League Pass.
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 24: Daniel Gafford #21 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on October 24, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Cooper Neill/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (1-2) have a chance to lock the new-look Miami Heat (0-3) in the freezer on Monday when they travel to take on Giannis Antetokounmpo & Co. at the Kaseya Center. Tipoff is slated for 6:30 p.m.
The Heat have lost three in a row to open the 2026-27 season after nabbing Antetokounmpo in an offseason trade this summer and blowing up their young core to get the deal done. The Heat also brought on Klay Thompson in free agency, and now harbor two former Mavs sharpshooters in Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr.
So, yea, if it sounds like Miami is the NBA’s geriatric unit, that might be why. They made quote-unquote “win now” moves this offseason, but the (very) early returns have yet to yield any actual wins. Meanwhile, the little Mavericks seem to be taking the first few baby steps toward growth, with the NBA’s fifth-youngest roster, guided of course, by sage ball guru Kyrie Irving.
So, let’s go over three points that make Monday’s Mavericks-Heat game appointment television.
Irving sat the second night of the back-to-back on “injury management,” which is confusing since Irving’s recovery from the torn ACL he suffered in March 2025 was extended by six months as last season got away from Dallas after the calendar turned. Wasn’t he supposed to be ALL the way back after 18 months of recovery?
Anyway, whatever the case, Irving has been removed from the Mavericks’ injury report as of Sunday night, and Flagg has been upgraded to questionable for the game at the Heat. If Flagg isn’t back on Monday, we suspect he would be back on Wednesday when Dallas plays host to the Oklahoma City Thunder. He took a scary fall on Friday after absorbing the hit from The Coward Nesmith, but it appears the injury associated with the fall is a relatively harmless one. Bullet dodged.
All eyes on Miami
The Heat made big, splashy offseason moves this summer, but trading for Antetokounmpo limited how much they could bring on around him, as he is set to make more than $58 million this year — good for just north of 29% of the Heat’s available salary under the cap. So, while they have some intriguing players deeper on their roster, the bulk of their scoring punch comes from Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo in the frontcourt.
Klay Thompson is a hall-of-famer and a name, sure, but as Mavericks fans know, he doesn’t affect winning at this point in his career like he did during his time with the Golden State Warriors. Point guard Davion Mitchell, in his sixth season out of Baylor, appears poised to take the first big leap of his young career and has jumped out of the gates to the tune of 17 points and 8.7 assists per game through the first three games.
But Miami, as currently constructed, presents a pretty straightforward challenge. Throw all the resources you can at limiting Antetokounmpo from going nuclear, and see if the rest of the roster can beat you. Through three games at least, the Heat have not shown that they can.
The Charlotte Hornets coerced the star forward into foul trouble in Saturday’s 115-110 win over Miami, limiting Antetokounmpo to just 4-of-11 shooting and 14 points in 25 minutes. The Mavericks definitely have the bodies to throw his way at that position as well. The Heat have gotten most of their offensive production going to the basket through three games this year, and that makes sense — that’s a huge part of their star’s game. Staying in front of Antetokounmpo will be essential to stealing one in Miami. Dallas comes into the game as one of just four teams shooting over 50% from the field through three games played, while Miami is shooting just over 42% from the field to start the year, which puts them in the bottom third of the league, for whatever that’s worth.
For better or worse, the Heat are a name brand with easily recognizable star power. Getting a win in their barn would be a nice feather in the Mavericks’ hat in the middle of a brutal six-game stretch to start the season.
Intriguing young talent
One through line for the Mavericks through three games has been the emergence of a couple of intriguing young guards. In the season opener at the Houston Rockets, it was Marcus Sasser, who’s using a return to his old stomping grounds in the Dallas area as a fresh start after getting lost in the shuffle with the Detroit Pistons, who came up big with 17 points off the bench. He has shot a combined 8-of-14 from 3-point range to start the year.
In Saturday’s loss at the Spurs, it was Sergio de Larrea who stood out. His first bucket that night was his first NBA score, and that alone would have made for a landmark moment for any rookie, let alone a young Spanish phenom viewed in NBA circles as more of a project than a first-year contributor. He went on to score a team-high 21 points in the loss on 3-of-4 shooting from deep.
Which of the Mavericks’ young pieces will turn heads at Miami? And the third time around, could it coincide with a win? It’s early, but going 2-2 to start the year would be an encouraging start.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 25: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket against LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 25, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pistons defeated the 76ers 106-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Regular Season Bell Ringer Standings: Tyrese Maxey – 1.5 Joel Embiid – 1 Jaylen Brown – 0.5
The Sixers once again had to battle a sluggish start, but were unable to come back against the Pistons despite resilient efforts from key Sixers.
It was a poor shooting night for the Sixers, who made only seven threes compared to Detroit’s 14. The more alarming figure is their free throw tally on Sunday. They went 14-of-23, with Jaylen Brown and LeBron James both missing four each.
Brown struggled to get in a rhythm against the gritty defense of the Pistons, and it was evident quickly Anfernee Simons did not have it either. They were missing VJ Edgecombe badly in the first half, on both ends of the floor. They could’ve used Joel Embiid as well.
Just before halftime the Sixers gained some momentum thanks to one of our Bell Ringer nominees, but it would become a defensive struggle the rest of the way.
Maxey finished the third quarter with only 11 points, but went ballistic in the final frame. He went 6-for-10 from the field, notched 18 points and kept the Sixers in striking range offensively in the fourth. His speed paired with shooting ability makes him impossible to stop when he gets an advantage on his defender. He was able to turn the corner on multiple occasions in the latter 12 minutes, giving the Sixers quick scores in their attempted comeback.
Maxey’s defensive impact has been felt in every game for the Sixers this season, and it continued tonight against the Pistons. His point of attack defense and team-wide effectiveness at blowing up dribble-hand-offs has created a large handful of easy transition buckets each game. Against Detroit, Maxey went vertical for a nasty block as well.
He added a three and pull-up deep two in the fourth as he valiantly willed the Sixers into a close game late.
Unfortunately, Maxey collided heads with John Collins with 1:40 remaining in the game. He was able to walk to the bench under his own power and return to the game, but it was already out of reach.
The intensity that Maxey had in the fourth to keep the Sixers in reach, LeBron James had at the end of the first half.
A sloppy start for the Sixers had them staring at an 18-point deficit with a 1:10 remaining before halftime. James goes on a personal 6-0 run to bring them to within 12, and gathered some much-needed momentum.
Three straight LeBron James buckets brings the Sixers back to within 12 at halftime pic.twitter.com/w9HbtmPP8f
James joined Maxey in their fourth quarter push, but poor shooting from the Sixers and decent shooting from the Pistons kept them from completing the comeback.
James has been an omnipotent force for the Sixers. He continued to fill holes offensively and fight defensively as the makeshift five with Dean Wade.
The rookie notched his first career bucket and three-pointer against the Pistons. The first field goal came in transition, off a LeBron James assist, as he found the bottom of the net on a pretty floater. He also displayed his playmaking once again with a savvy lob to Adem Bona in the paint over the taller defender.
Bona still needs to work on staying on the ground defensively, but you have to credit his energy level in attacking the boards with Embiid out. Against the Pistons, when he jumped he either got pump faked, or blocked a shot. He finished with just two fouls in what was an overall uptick of a performance.
Regardless, New York's head coach remains unfazed, eager to continue tinkering and tweaking the way his team plays while keeping the faith in the team's star-studded starting lineup.
Against the Magic at home, Brown gave some extended playing time to newly signed backup big James Wiseman, who cut into the bench minutes of fellow newcomer Andre Drummond.
"Our starting five is what it is, everybody else after that -- until we're at a point where it's consistent -- I'm going to try to give guys [like Wiseman] that opportunity."
Along this vein, with regular bench unit floor general Jose Alvarado sidelined with a sprained ankle, second-year guard Tyler Kolek stepped into a larger role and delivered nine assists and zero turnovers. It will be interesting to see whether Wiseman and Kolek continue to earn the coach's trust as the season progresses.
Brown shared more of his outlook on how the contest unfolded, focusing on the "game within the game" rather than the final score and squandered lead.
"Our transition [defense] wasn't good in short bursts... we didn't do a great job of taking care of the ball... there's no single common thing," he explained. "In the first half, we gave up 13 fast-break -- or transition -- points. In the second half it was six, but those came off of our turnovers, so while we were doing a great job with our rules of transition defense, other things bit us in the behind."
"It's the focus on the details," he continued. "We'd go on a run, and then throw the ball away. I'd say three-fourths of our turnovers were our mistakes rather than their [defensive] pressure."
"We'd do a pretty good job on some closeouts, and on others we'd stop short and let them shoot a comfortable shot," Brown lamented. "We'd play great defense and force a tough shot, and then not box out. Those are the little things we have to embrace for 48 minutes, especially when we're not shooting the ball well."
In spite of the rocky start, Brown is as composed as usual. He has no doubt that the shots will start to fall, the rust will shake off, and the ring-wearing returnees on the roster will find their consistency again.
However, the coach knows the attention to detail must improve for the Knicks' self-inflicted struggles to subside.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 25: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates his three-point basket as RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors looks on in the third quarter during the home opener at Target Center on October 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Raptors 117-94. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
94-117. It can only be hoped that those 5 digits are remembered well by those who took the court for the Toronto Raptors today as a symbol of what cannot happen again this campaign.
The Bad
In the Raptors’ first game without Kawhi Leonard, the team fell apart early on against the still-undefeated Minnesota Timberwolves, a horrific loss punctuated by a very messy game from Scottie Barnes, where he went 0-12 from the field, picked up four steals, didn’t get to the line once, and scored zero points. That is an unquestionably bad night for Barnes, no two-ways about it, where there was no two-way play from the star who’s expected to do it all on the basketball court.
But, is this an early herald of Raptor-related doom? A sign that the team as currently constructed just can’t work? No, not really.
A lesser organization might try to pass around blame, talk about “analytical wins” or make some kind of excuses to the media, but the Raptors aren’t the type to do that. Rather, this game furthers a number of talking points that if applied correctly, could lead the Raptors to a much more stable future.
The Good
Starting with RJ Barrett. Barrett, who has been on the trade block for months, has once again proven his value to the team by giving the Raptors 20 points and three steals in a night where nothing was falling for Toronto. “I’ve done my part on the court this year,” RJ said last May. “And I will continue to do my part, and just hope things work out that way.”
Barrett did just that tonight, adding added offensive value to a team absolutely starving for volume, and handicapped on attack with Kawhi Leonard out of the starting lineup. In his place came Ja’Kobe Walter, whose 22 points led the team, while shooting 62.5% from three on eight attempts tonight. That’s the type of performance a dangerous bench player gives when given the opportunity to start, and Walter has yet again proven the importance of his shooting on a team that rosters so many players who are streaky from long range.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 25: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball against Ja'kobe Walter #14 of the Toronto Raptors in the fourth quarter during the home opener at Target Center on October 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Raptors 117-94. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While Walter’s future on the team is likely secure, Barrett, who has yet to sign a contract extension, is playing his heart out on a team that has yet to commit to him. It would be extremely disheartening to see Barrett build up his value this year, just to be traded for a piece that is perceived to “fit” the Raptors’ needs better. Toronto has already made a Faustian Bargain, trading away a hometown star for a shot at championship success, once in the past decade, and the potential blow to morale for a failed version of such a swing could be catastrophic.
There is something to be said about standing by players that produce well for a franchise. The NBA is a business, yes, but there are real feelings and real relationships at stake here. But beyond that, when placing a significant bet on Kawhi Leonard’s health as contingent to team success, there is no world in which the Raptors can afford to play without a clear number-two on offence, who can step up and make the shots that Leonard is not there to make on nights he’s resting.
Barrett looks like he can be that guy.
The Ugly
The three-game sample size from Jakob Poeltl is tasting particularly unsavoury this year. As of October 25th, there has not been a concrete explanation from Raptors staff or from the centre himself as to why his offensive production has been practically non-existent this year. The Raptors’ starting centre has not grabbed double digit rebounds, nor scored double digit points, despite averaging more than 24 minutes of play per game. He has attempted four shots across three games, and has scored a total of nine points. Points scored tonight? Zero.
Considering Poeltl’s massive contract extension set to begin next season, this level of production is absolutely unacceptable. Lingering health issues are the most obvious potential culprit to blame, with potential obfuscation regarding these concerns possibly tied to attempts at maintenance of Poeltl’s trade value. But, for the team to work this season, something has to give.
Either Poeltl gets it together and starts looking like his old self within the month, or the Raptors will be put in a position where starting Collin Murray-Boyles full-time will be their best course of action. Either way, the team can’t go on like this.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 25: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against Collin Murray-Boyles #30 and Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors in the third quarter during the home opener at Target Center on October 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Raptors 117-94. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
And Scottie Barnes. From anyone else on this team, going scoreless would be the ultimate failure, and while it’s still a case of abject horror coming from Barnes, his 5 stocks is not nothing. Granted, his zero points is nothing, but it might serve as the perfect kick in the pants for the young star, who is averaging 25.5 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists to start off the season.
Is it a problem that Scottie Barnes didn’t score tonight? Yes. Who else has gone scoreless in a game? A lot of the good NBA players.
Stephen Curry had five scoreless games in his career, Kobe Bryant had 15, Kevin Garnett had 13, and even David Robinson had two. Now, are these outings anything to be proud of? No. Just like tonight, those occasions were failures on the parts of the players to do what they were meant to do on the court. But, Barnes is a professional, who, with any hope, will take this loss to heart and work hard to have it never happen again. At least, that’s what Darko Rajaković thinks.
Darko on what the Minnesota Timberwolves did well against Scottie Barnes tonight:
“I don’t think they did anything, to be honest with you, that they got him off the game. He just missed his shots. All the shots that he took in the game, I thought they were good shots.”
“This is not going to happen again to Scottie. Scottie is going to make those shots next time,” said the coach tonight, according to Omer Osman. And those words had better be true.
Scottie is the team’s leader, whether he likes it or not, and judging by last year’s playoff run, he likes it enough to be able to do it at a high level. Only he has the combination of pedigree and regular production in a Raptors jersey who can lead this team successfully. What happened tonight can’t happen again, but he probably knows that already.
What should you ride off into the sunset with?
The Raptors sucked tonight without Kawhi Leonard, but having two starters who go totally scoreless is an anomaly amongst anomalies. Scottie disappearing like that again is extremely unlikely this season, and while Jakob Poeltl’s production is beyond questionable at this point, the Raps’ coaching staff won’t allow that to happen on a regular basis, lest they condemn the team to total failure.
A 23 point loss is bad, but a 23 point loss to one of the world’s best scorers while your best scorer is out, and two of your most important players have their worst game of the season is something a little easier to swallow. The Raptors need a good, hard look in the mirror after this game, and changes must be made, both internally for players, and potentially externally to the starting lineup. But, while fans have a right to be miserable and demand better, there needs to be a level of understanding that sometimes, a good team is going to stink. And after two convincing victories, considering tonight a death knell for the team is unrealistic and unhelpful.
Toronto needs to learn to win without Kawhi Leonard. Expecting him on the court for every big game is a matter of wishful thinking, and how the Raptors adapt to make up for his absence will be an indicator of just how well they handle the realities of this season. Still, this was a low-low for the current squad.
well, this game was basically all of the Raptors chickens coming home to roost
– can’t shoot – Kawhi out – POA D worries – Jak a negative – Scottie negative on O
Samson Folk of Raptors Republic said it succinctly: “it doesn’t get worse than this.” At least, it shouldn’t.
Either way, today should be a turning point for the Raptors. They remain a dependable, if flawed product, and nights like tonight should be few and far in between. But if disappearing acts like this start to become the norm for anyone in Toronto’s starting lineup (or from six to ten on the bench too, for that matter), this team’s odds at real playoff noise might *poof* and vanish just like they did tonight.
Jalen Williams had to be taken off the court on a stretcher after he sustained a gruesome lower-leg injury as he went up for a layup late in the Thunder’s 108-101 win over the Clippers.
The scary injury had players and fans alike in shock, with Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander visibly shaken while team trainers and medical personnel attended to Williams on the Paycom Center court.
Williams drove to the net for a basket when he got sandwiched between two Clippers players as he went for the layup and went flailing to the ground. His left leg got caught underneath him as it hit the ground and bent awkwardly, resulting in the injury.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams is attended to by medical staff during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Oklahoma City. AP Photo/Kyle Phillips
A team trainer immediately put a towel over the All-Star wing’s left leg to cover the injury, while team staff frantically waved over the medical staff and the stretcher.
The ESPN broadcast showed Gilgeous-Alexander with his jersey covering his face, while other members of the Clippers were also seen visibly upset about what had just happened.
OH NO
Jalen Williams suffers a serious lower-leg injury after an awkward landing.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams is taken off the court by medical staff during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, in Oklahoma City. AP Photo/Kyle PhillipsA view of the video board shows Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams giving the thumbs up after being injured against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault told reporters after the game that “we’re not doing great” when reacting to the injury.
“Those are tough, man,” he said. “We’re not doing great. That’s tough on the guys. Everyone empathizes; I think both teams in those situations and so not doing great.”
He added that the injury “speaks for itself” and that he would have more information on Williams on Monday.
Williams was coming off an injury-plagued season in 2025-26 in which he played just 33 games while dealing with strains in both hamstrings and a nagging shooting wrist injury.
Luka Doncic is already putting his stamp in the Lakers’ history books.
He had 52 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists in the Lakers’ 132-123 win over the Jazz on Sunday, surpassing LeBron James for sixth-most 40-point games with the Lakers.
James was with the Lakers for eight seasons, his longest consecutive stretch anywhere in his career. Doncic, whom the Lakers acquired in a trade from the Mavericks in February 2025, is entering this third season in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Lakers player Luka Doncic smiles while talking to the media during a game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. NBAE via Getty ImagesLuka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a 3-point basket during a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
It was the 10th time in Doncic’s career that he has scored 50 or more points. Since Doncic entered the league as the third overall pick by the Mavericks in 2018, only James Harden (16) and Damian Lillard (11) have had more 50-point performances than Doncic.
Doncic helped the Lakers storm back from an 18-point first-quarter deficit against the Jazz to jump to 3-0 record.
Doncic recently told the California Post that he hopes to spend the rest of his career with the Lakers.
“Hopefully, yeah,” Dončić told the California Post. “But as you know in this NBA business, you never know what’s going to happen. But I feel like I’ve found something here that’s very comfortable for me. And hopefully [that happens].”
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 25: Daniss Jenkins #24 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 25, 2026 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Cade Cunningham was the best player on the floor for the Detroit Pistons in their 106-93 win over the previously unbeaten Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night. He had 26 points and eight assists, both leading the team, and added eight rebounds. No surprise there. But if you were going to ask me who the star of the game was for the Pistons, it would be hard to choose.
It’s a testament to the team’s depth and the roster’s unselfishness that so many people contributed in such critical ways against one of the Eastern Conference’s best teams. Detroit’s depth was already set to be tested as starters Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson missed the game with injuries. Sixth man Isaiah Joe left the game tonight after suffering a tailbone contusion four minutes into his first on-court action.
The loss of Detroit’s best interior scorer, best perimeter defender, and second-best 3-point threat, and with all three handling the ball quite a bit for the Pistons, meant everyone else needed to play to the top of their abilities.
It wasn’t always pretty, but the Pistons got it done. So who was the star?
You could say it was Duncan Robinson, who hit five three-pointers, including several when the Sixers were flirting dangerously close to getting fully back into the game. You could argue it was Daniss Jenkins, who never saw a clutch shot he didn’t want to take (and make). He scored 18 points and added eight rebounds and six assists. He hit three of his four three-pointers, including one in the final minutes that put the game out of reach for good.
Looking beyond the box score, you could say it was Ron Holland. He played 23 minutes off the bench and only made two of his nine field goals. But he played absolutely ferocious defense all night. None better than when he was matched up one-on-one against Jaylen Brown, whom he had in absolute jail several times in the critical fourth quarter.
It seemed like it might be a laugher early as the Sixers didn’t seem to have it in them as they were playing their third game in four nights. The Pistons were up 21 early, but the Sixers made a 9-0 run to end the second quarter, and from then on it felt like Detroit was just trying to survive.
They scuffled on offense for long stretches, but they could almost always rely on their defense. Brown was 5-of-20 on the night, and Tyrese Maxey was 11-of-24. It would have been much worse, but he turned it on in the second half, scoring 23 of his 29 points in the second half.
The Sixers were able to cut it to five, but the Pistons somehow always had an answer. I think they might be good.
