The questions the Lakers had to face as they returned to Southern California after a one-game trip to the Bay Area revolved around how this new group would respond to early-season adversity.
The answer: Pretty well, for the most part.
Less than 48 hours after blowing a 25-point lead that resulted in a 17-point loss to the Warriors, the Lakers bounced back with a 131-125 win over the Raptors on Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena to improve to 5-2 on the season.
Luka Doncic continued his brilliant start to the season. NBAE via Getty Images
The rhythm of Sunday’s game was similar to Friday’s.
Luka Dončić once again got off to a hot start en route to a spectacular performance.
But this time, it was his effort on both ends of the floor that stood out, with his four steals and two charges drawn in the first quarter being just as impactful as the 16 points he scored in the opening frame.
The Slovenian superstar finished with 45 points (12-for-23 shooting, 8 of 12 on 3-pointers), 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals in 35 minutes against the Raptors.
It was his second 40-point, 10-rebound, five-steal game as a Laker, and he’s still the only player in franchise history to reach those statistical benchmarks in a game.
Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
Dončić, the league’s leading scorer, has scored at least 37 points in four consecutive games.
His performance was supported by 19 points and four assists from Austin Reaves, 14 points off the bench from Collin Sexton and a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double to go with three blocked shots from Walker Kessler.
The Lakers controlled most of the game, leading by as many as 26 points early in the third.
The Raptors cut their deficit down to nine midway through the fourth before the Lakers regained composure.
But once coach JJ Redick emptied the bench with his team having what seemed to be a comfortable 14-point lead, the Lakers quickly lost control of the game, with the Raptors going on a 11-2 run to cut their deficit to 125-120 before Redick subbed Doncic, Reaves, Kessler and Matisse Thybulle back in with 44 seconds left.
Lakers star Luka Doncic reacts after scoring during the third quarter of a 131-125 win over the Toronto Raptors at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday. (Scott Strazzante / Associated Press)
With nine new players on the roster still working on maximizing their on-court chemistry, the Lakers are taking a patient approach to the start of the NBA season.
For now, it looks as if they’re fine with following Luka Doncic‘s lead.
The Lakers’ star had another sensational performance, finishing with 45 points in a 131-125 victory over the Toronto Raptors at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday night.
Doncic was key in helping the Lakers build a 26-point lead in the third quarter. He shot 12 for 23 on the night, going eight for 12 from three-point range. He made all of his 13 free throws and also had 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals.
Not bad for 35 minutes of work on Doncic bobblehead giveaway night.
And his teammates did follow his lead, with Austin Reaves collecting 19 points and Walker Kessler producing a double-double with 16 points on six-for-six shooting and 15 rebounds to go along with three blocks. Collin Sexton came off the bench to score 14 points. Rookie Cameron Carr played his first game of the season, but he didn’t score.
The Lakers were sloppy with the basketball, turning it over 22 times. Scottie Barnes finished with 29 points and six rebounds for Toronto (3-3).
In the eyes of Lakers coach JJ Redick, each game the Lakers (5-2) play is a step in a process aimed at becoming a championship-contending team.
“Frankly, this entire season is about becoming a great team,” Redick said. “Like, we believe we can become a great team and I think as coaches, players, we all have to participate in patience with that. Doesn’t mean you allow things to happen and say, ‘Oh, that’s fine. That’s OK.’ No. No. No. You address those things. I think the guys are very, very open to that dialogue, both with each other and with the coaching staff.”
Lakers star Luka Doncic prevents the ball from going out of bounds in front of Toronto forward Scottie Barnes during the first half Sunday at Crypto.com Arena. (Scott Strazzante / Associated Press)
Doncic is certainly doing his part to bring a championship mood to L.A. He made a three-pointer with 0.5 seconds left before halftime to give the Lakers a 66-54 lead. He blew a kiss to the fans and waved his hand toward them, prompting cheers from the crowd.
The Lakers play the Miami Heat at home Monday night.
Injury update
Ziaire Williams missed his third consecutive game, but Redick said a scan on the forward’s ailing left foot was “clean.”
“I would describe it [as] soreness that just pops up in the morning and he’s feeling a lot better,” Redick said. “I think just being, again, cautious with the back to back.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 1: Jamal Shead #1 of the Toronto Raptors plays defense against Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the game between the Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers on November 1, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Another night of brilliance from Luka Dončić led the Lakers to a bounceback win on Sunday as they knocked off the Raptors, 131-125.
Coming off a loss to the Warriors, LA rode Luka’s back to another win as he put up another 40-point game. The team struggled mightily in the minutes without him, but still did enough to hang onto the win, barely.
The Lakers forced 15 turnovers, many of those coming in the first period, which they turned into 23 points. They offset that by turning the ball over 24 times themselves, leading to 30 Toronto points. It was a much-improved performance from the bench as well as they scored 37 points.
Luka set the tone to start the game, as he’s one to do. However, this time, it came on the defensive end. The Lakers were particularly active on the defensive end, swiping seven steals in the quarter.
Behind that, LA jumped out to not only an early advantage, but a double-digit one at that. A 10-0 run all came at the hands of Luka, who hit a three, set up Matisse Thybulle for one and got assists on Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler finishes at the rim.
A 10-2 run shortly after included threes from Reaves and Sandro Mamukelashvili to build a 23-11 lead. Luka hit a pair of threes at the end of the period to help LA carry a 36-23 advantage into the second.
Luka Dončić had four steals and four made threes in the first quarter tonight. The Lakers say it's the first time in league history a player has done that in the first quarter of a game.
The Lakers were much better with Luka on the bench in this contest with Collin Sexton scoring eight points and Mamu connecting on another three to help keep LA ahead by 11 through the first nearly six minutes of the frame.
Toronto did eventually piece together a run that forced a timeout after a Jamal Shead corner 3-pointer made it just a 49-41 LA advantage. Shead converted on an and-one to trim the lead even further, but Jake LaRavia helped LA responded with consecutive threes to make it a double-digit lead once more.
Luka closed the half in style with a 30-foot 3-pointer just before the buzzer, giving the hosts a 66-54 lead at the break. It also gave him an absurd stat line of 24 points, eight rebounds, 5 steals, 4 assists and a block in 18 minutes.
Luka did not slow down in the second half as he hit a trio of threes in the opening five minutes as the lead ballooned to 18 points.
Despite picking up his fourth foul on a silly double foul, he stayed red hot throughout, upping his total to 35 as the Lakers’ lead crossed the 20-point threshold. A Grimes 3-pointer to beat the shot clock late in the frame made it a 26-point lead, the largest of the night.
A small surge from the Raptors cut the gap to 21 points heading into the fourth. That run carried over into the final frame as Toronto was on a 15-4 run.
A Mamu 3-pointer stopped the bleeding only briefly before RJ Barrett pulled the visitors to within 14 to force a Lakers timeout. Luka checked back in just before the seven-minute mark with the Lakers down 12 after leading by 22 when he checked out.
Barrett knocked down another three to make it a nine-point lead. Luka answered with a layup, then Austin finished through contact at the rim to quell the Raptors’ run. A pair of Luka freebies helped stabilize LA further.
The Lakers finally pieced together a string of defensive stops that eventually led to Toronto pulling their starters down 15 with just over four minutes remaining and with a game against the Clippers on Monday.
JJ Redick soon followed suit by pulling the starters up 15 with 2:28 left. Cam Carr, fresh off the injury report, made his NBA debut in the final minutes of the game.
The garbage time minutes somehow went disastrously as the Raptors went on a 12-2 run to make it a six-point game with 43 seconds left, forcing the starters back into the game.
Luka promptly launched an 80-foot pass downcourt the first time he touched the ball for a wide open Kessler dunk that effectively sealed the game.
Key Player Stats
Luka had another huge night, finishing with 45 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and five steals. Austin Reaves had another quieter outing until some late buckets to help put the game away, tallying 21 points on 6-16 shooting. He did have just three turnovers to four assists.
Kessler had another double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Collin Sexton was the leading scorer off the bench with 14 points while Mamu had 11 points on 4-7 shooting. Jake LaRavia pitched in eight points and Thybulle had six.
The Lakers will be right back in action on Monday against the Heat. Tip is set for 7 p.m. PT.
The Warriors managed to get the win in the most recent game to split the season series at one game apiece. Despite the win, Lendeborg wasn’t much of a factor. He was held to six points, one rebound and five turnovers before fouling out in 24 minutes of play.
"I had no impact on the game whatsoever (on Friday), and then the depth came in, and they took care of everything," Lendeborg told reporters. "Me having the worst game of my life, it's awesome to be able to see that those guys are there to just do what they have to do cause we're all in the NBA."
Here’s how Lendeborg performed in the Warriors' win against the Clippers, a game in which he scored the most points by a Warriors rookie since Steph Curry in 2010:
The Los Angeles Lakers put away the Toronto Raptors, thanks in no small part to another monster game from Luka Dončić, who scored 45 points and filled up the stat sheet as he continues to make an early-season case for MVP honors.
Coming off a disappointing loss to the Golden State Warriors on Friday, Oct. 30, in which they faded after a fast start, the Lakers returned to Crypto.com Arena Sunday, Nov. 1 and got off to a fast start, with Dončić being particularly active on both ends of the floor. The Slovenian superstar finished the first half with 24 points, eight rebounds, four assists and a career-high five steals – four of which came in the first quarter.
"Luka doesn't get enough credit for his defense," Lakers center Walker Kessler said. "He's a very high IQ individual when it comes to being on the court, so his positional defense, just being in the right spots at the right time, is really good and it showed tonight."
Then there's also a bit of history he made: Dončić became the first NBA player in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) with 20 points, five rebounds, five three-pointers and five steals in a half and the first point guard in NBA history with five steals and five three-pointers in a half.
Luka Dončić is the first NBA player in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 3-pt FG and 5 steals in a half 😲
The six-time All-Star and two-time scoring champ finished the game with eight 3-pointers, one shy of his career high.
Dončić was on quadruple-double watch early, especially with his five first-half steals, but he was not able to add to that category. Still, he finished with his second double-double of the season and his fourth in a row scoring at least 35 points even as the Raptors clawed their way back from a big deficit by outscoring the Lakers 43-27 in the fourth quarter.
It remains unclear if Dončić will play in the second game of a back-to-back on Monday against the Miami Heat.
"I got to get rest, a cold tub, a massage, and rest and see you tomorrow," Dončić told Spectrum SportsNet after the game on Sunday night.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 1: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the LA Clippers on November 1, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night 124-112, improving to 4-3 on the season. It is the first time the Dubs have had a winning record since March 8th (when they were 32-31 last season). Despite sitting Steph Curry and Draymond Green on the first half of a back-to-back, Dubs rookie Yaxel Lendeborg continued showing he is capable of leading the team.
Both teams were pushing the pace early, and a cold three-point shooting start for Golden State allowed the Clippers to jump out to an early lead. Los Angeles led 37-29 at the end of the first quarter. Lendeborg responded with a 14-point outburst in the second that led Golden State to a 63-57 halftime lead. De’Anthony Melton continued his hot shooting stretch and Brandon Williams added 12 first-half points of his own.
To say Lendeborg looks better than anyone could expect of a rookie remains an understatement. The 11th overall pick is already the second most fluid offensive player on the Warriors roster. He has already showcased an excellent ability to utilize his size to attack openings with his size when he gets moving downhill. His jump shot has looked far more polished than expected.
But none of those previous flashes were as dominant as Yaxel’s outpouring of offense on Sunday.
On one three-play sequence, Lendeborg knocked down a mid-range fadeaway, a catch-and-shoot three at the top of the key, and then brought a Clippers player to the floor with an ankle breaker and drew a foul on a layup. Three levels of scoring on three plays.
Given some of Lendeborg’s recent struggles with turnovers, the Clippers tried attacking him with the smaller Kris Dunn. Dunn wreaked havoc all day defensively, racking up 7 steals, but Yaxel finished the game with just two turnovers.
Yaxel capitalized on his size advantage when he had it, pushing defenders into the paint and finding easy buckets. When the Clippers tried attacking him with defenders who could match his strength, they all were afraid of his drive, leaving him a lot of space to operate on the perimeter. With plenty of wide open opportunities, going 6-for-8 from three point range to start the game before some late-game launches as he forced it to try and reach 40.
Lendeborg finished with 37 points, the highest by a Warriors rookie since Steph Curry scored 42 in the final game of his rookie season, alongside 4 rebounds and 6 assists on 13-for-19 from the field. The Clippers deep bench went on a 13-0 run to cut the deficit to single-digits with two minutes to go, but head coach Steve Kerr trusted Melton and Brandin Podziemski to close the game out. Melton knocked down back-to-back threes to put the game out of reach.
Melton had a game-high +20 plus/minus, recording 21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block on 6-for-8 shooting from the field (6-for-7 from three). Podz filled the statsheet with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Charles Bassey was very solid as the starting center, finishing with 6 points and 10 rebounds. Brandon Williams scored 17 points off the bench.
Rui Hachimura finished with a Clippers high 24 points. Kobe Sanders, Darius Garland, Kris Dunn, and Nick Marinelli also finished in double figures, but they simply lacked the offensive punch to keep up with Yaxel’s Warriors.
The Warriors will not have to wait long to continue their homestand. Golden State will be back at the Chase Center tomorrow night, hosting the Phoenix Suns. Steph Curry and Draymond Green should be back in the lineup (although the Dubs will certainly be sitting Al Horford and could conceivably be sitting Gui Santos and/or Brandin Podziemski as well). Opening tip is scheduled for 10 p.m. pacific time.
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 30: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on October 30, 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (4-2) will look to extend the first winning streak of the 2026-27 season on Monday when they host the Sacramento Kings (0-6), who are searching for any semblance of balance or defensive identity, at American Airlines Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The Mavericks have won three in a row, including impressive showings against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets, which have fans wondering whether the fifth-youngest team in the NBA, which came into Dusty May’s first year as head coach with so many questions, might actually be good. I mean, what happens if the Mavs are actually good? Is that allowed?
Monday’s matchup against Sacramento offers the Mavericks an opportunity to do one of the things that good teams do: beat a bad team. Take care of business. My, how the mindset shifts when the first few things start going right.
Here are three things the Mavericks will have to account for to get a win over a struggling Kings bunch.
Fresh air vs. stale stink
In six short games, the Mavs have become one of the pleasant surprises of the early part of the 2026-27 season. The league is officially taking notice after the team’s 116-111 win over the Houston Rockets on Friday. Cooper Flagg is one of the most likable young, budding stars in the NBA. Irving’s return after missing the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a mangled ACL is endearing.
Meanwhile, the Kings find themselves on the business end of a brutal 0-6 start in a year when the league’s worst record will no longer be rewarded with the most lottery balls in the 2027 Draft lottery. Including Monday’s game at Dallas, their next seven don’t provide many opportunities to get off the proverbial schneid, either. Sacramento has matchups the Los Angeles Lakers, the San Antonio Spurs, the Portland Trail Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder mixed in after the date in Dallas. They are staring 2-11 in the eye. Third-year head coach Doug Christie is a cumulative 49-90 since taking over for Mike Brown, who presided over the short-lived “Light the Beam” era of Kings basketball.
This year’s team has yet to hold an opponent to fewer than 121 points. The defense is… wanting.
Mavericks’ injury report
Mavs fans have been wondering in recent days how stretch big man Santi Aldama will fit into a team chemistry that is already working as the season gets off the ground. Aldama (right knee) is listed as doubtful once again for Monday’s game against the Kings. Word is that Aldama is close to being back, but it doesn’t appear Monday will be the day for his season debut in a Mavericks jersey, at least not as of Sunday night.
One odd note is that Kyrie Irving’s name continues to appear on the Mavericks’ injury report, even after (or, maybe because) he was turned loose in the win over the Rockets. He’s listed as questionable under the heading of injury management. Irving scored a game-high 35 points (in 35 minutes) and dished nine assists in the win that really got the league talking about the young upstart Mavs. The team had 73 hours off after Irving dropped 35 in a win. Is this just going to be a thing on the injury report all year, or what?
Sergio de Larrea (right knee sprain) is listed as out.
Acuff Jr. (19y, 349d) becomes the youngest player in Kings franchise history to record consecutive 30-PT games… surpassing Oscar Robertson (21y, 357d)! pic.twitter.com/d4XXRF0bEH
Love his game or hate his game, rookie Darius Acuff is the most interesting Sacramento Kings talking point for miles and miles and miles. The seventh overall pick of the stacked 2026 NBA Draft class comes into the game averaging 26.3 points per game through his first six. Golden State’s Yaxel Lendeborg (19.8 ppg) has made headlines for his scoring, along with his penchant for running his mouth, and Caleb Wilson (21.2) has impressed for the Chicago Bulls, but no one in the league, rookie or not, has the chance to redefine the term volume shooter quite like Acuff. Head coach Doug Christie has few other options on the roster, as Keegan Murray, Zach laVine, Ben Simmons, Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell have all been sidelined or limited with injuries to open the year.
Acuff, who was third in the nation in scoring last year while playing college ball for Arkansas, is hoisting a healthy — a robust — 24 shots (9.8 3-pointers) per game. He comes into the game against the Mavericks on the heels of back-to-back 30-plus-point games and is now the youngest King (19 years, 349 days) to ever do that, surpassing the great Oscar Robertson (21 years, 357 days). He scored 38 on nine made 3-pointers in a 136-105 loss at the Memphis Grizzlies and 34 (to go along with 14 assists) in a 132-120 loss at the New Orleans Pelicans. Only Wilt Chamberlain has gotten to 150 career points faster than Acuff to start an NBA career.
Teammate Draymond Green, himself no stranger to on-court drama, had this to say on his podcast:
Draymond on his on-court interaction with Darius Acuff
"My advice to him was just 'hey man, who else touched the ball that possession?', he's like 'nobody' and I was like 'don't have many of those' because you can end up having a bunch of those with the Sacramento Kings this… pic.twitter.com/yOkX1adCnx
“My advice to him was just ‘hey man, who else touched the ball that possession?’, he’s like ‘nobody’ and I was like ‘don’t have many of those’ because you can end up having a bunch of those with the Sacramento Kings this year and a few things can happen, you can get guys start plotting against you, guys that don’t really wanna see you do well, guys that start bickering on the side to other guys… you can get guys that get upset like ‘aahh man they wanna give this rookie this, they wanna do that, f**k that!’… and so for me when I saw that, I just wanted to give him a little game.”
For the record, LaVine (elbow soreness) and Cardwell (calf strain) are listed as questionable for Monday’s game.
How to watch
The Mavericks and the Kings are scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip on Monday. The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29 and regionally on sister station throughout the Mavs’ viewership area, which includes North and Central Texas as well as parts of Northern Louisiana. The game will be streamed on MavsTV and on NBA League Pass, where available. The radio call will be on KRLD 105.3 The Fan.
Flemings will sit out one game without pay after the league ruled that he intentionally elbowed New Orleans Pelicans guard Bryce McGowens in the head during their matchup on Saturday, Oct. 31.
The rookie made contact with McGowens in back-to-back plays in the Hawks' 121-99 loss at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. With just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Flemings drove for a layup and his elbow hit McGowens in the face as the defender blocked the shot.
Trey Murphy III grabbed the rebound from Flemings' miss and tossed the ball to Zion Williamson. The two-time All-Star tossed it back to Murphy, who slammed home a dunk to make the score 119-93. In the background, Flemings threw an elbow at McGowens' head as they were following the play downcourt. The two teams scuffled at center court.
Atlanta Hawks guard Kingston Flemings has been suspended one game without pay for intentionally elbowing New Orleans Pelicans guard Bryce McGowens in the head. He’ll serve his suspension tomorrow against the Indiana Pacers. pic.twitter.com/gLM3GPvcyp
Kingston Flemings drives to the rim, unintentionally elbows Bryce McGowens in the face, who still manages to block him, and Trey Murphy III soars for the alley-oop dunk off a lob by Zion Williamson, and a kerfuffle erupts.
Upon review, Flemings was given a technical foul and ejected from the game. The Pelicans' Julian Reese was also handed a technical foul "for not being a peacemaker during the melee."
Flemings, who is averaging 7.1 points per matchup in seven games off the bench, spoke to reporters after the loss and explained how frustration got the best of him.
"Upset we were losing the game, so definitely apologize for that," he said. "Gotta be smarter than that."
He will sit out the Hawks' road game against the Indiana Pacers on Monday, Nov. 2.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 24: (L-R) Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks talks with Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers after the game at Rocket Arena on February 24, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Knicks 109-94. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Knicks (2-4) head into the first full week of November with a mixed slate that starts soft and gets progressively harder. Two home dates against basement-dwellers offer a chance to build momentum and pad the win column, but the road finale against an Eastern Conference rival looms as the team’s next measuring stick. How New York fares will say a lot about where this group stands after a choppy 2-4 start. Or not. The season’s still young.
Monday, November 2 – Knicks vs Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 PM ET (MSG)
The week opens the week with a home date against a struggling Nets squad that finally notched a win on Sunday (98-90 at Indiana) after opening 0-5. Brookly has been one of the conference’s weakest teams so far, ranking near the bottom in most major categories (except pace; these youngins are quick!). They allow a high volume of points, but the addition of familiar face Julius Randle and some young pieces has produced occasional competetive stretches, including a close overtime loss to Boston.
In this, their first meeting of the season, the Knicks should control the glass at Madison Square Garden against a spunky group still chasing consistency at both ends. The home crowd, hungry for winning basketball, and Jalen Brunson’s midrange game should set the tone early.
Wednesday, November 4 – Knicks vs Chicago Bulls, 7:30 PM ET (MSG)
A quick turnaround brings the Bulls back to Madison Square Garden. “The Bulls again?” you ask. Yessir, our heroes already handled the Chi-Guys 133-127 on the road last week, thanks to Brunson’s 38 points that helped to flip a 19-point deficit. The Bulls are 1-5 and have lost four straight, struggling defensively while leaning on newcomer Caleb Wilson, Josh Giddey and Norman Powell for production.
As we’ve seen, Chicago’s youth and athleticism can create transition problems and second-chance opportunities, but their defensive rating has been poor and the sloppiness of youth continues to surrender easy looks. The Knicks should impose their physical side again and not let Chicago jump so far ahead in their rematch. A 19-point comeback might not be so easily attainable this time around.
Saturday, November 7 – Knicks at Cleveland Cavaliers, 8:00 PM ET (NBA TV / MSG)
The week closes with a road test against one of the east’s top teams. The Cavaliers sit at 4-2 and have been scoring efficiently (top-tier offensive numbers) behind Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and James Harden. Their defense hasn’t caught up yet, however. As of this writing, they’re 20th in the league for points allowed and 17th for defensive rating.
Cleveland’s length and ability to switch or protect the rim will challenge the Knicks’ half-court sets. You’ll recall that New York is a little thin at the center position. James Wiseman has played just three of six games thus far, and has sat for two straight. Against the twin towers of Jarrett Allen and Mobley, Knicks coach Mike Brown might find it necessary to deploy Wiseman for a few minutes. The Rocket Arena crowd could be a factor, too. This is the toughest of the three games as both teams try to establish themselves in a competitive Eastern Conference. Cleveland is still smarting from from the Knicks sweeping them in the Eastern Conference Finals, so don’t think they haven’t circled this on the calendar. Everyone wants a swing at the champs this season.
Atlanta Hawks rookie Kingston Flemings threw a cheap-shot elbow to the face of the Pelicans' Bryce McGowens late in the Pelicans' win Saturday night and will serve a one-game suspension without pay, the league announced.
The play came after (not during) a Flemings drive to the rim against McGowens, where McGowens blocked Flemings' layup attempt, leading to a Pelicans transition bucket the other way. Something largely missed by the broadcasts was Flemings elbowing McGowen in the face as they ran back up the court — that got him a technical and ejection.
This is the dirty elbow off the ball that Kingston Flemings hit Bryce McGowens with, and this is why he got ejected.
Both the Pelicans and Hawks broadcasts missed it at first.
Flemings, the No. 8 pick in last June's draft (and the Hawks hope to be the point guard of the future), is averaging 7.1 points and 4.6 assists a game off the bench for Atlanta, and dropped 23 on Miami in a game last week.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 27: Luke Kornet #7 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball during the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 27, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs have rallied after losing their first two games of the season, rattling off four wins in a row. They are starting to round into form while still having room for growth, looking like the contender their talent suggests they can be, through ups and downs.
Among the areas that still need improvement is the play of the second unit. And among the reserves, Luke Kornet has been getting a lot of scrutiny, as he hasn’t bounced back to the form he showed last year and now has an exciting rookie behind him who has looked productive in limited minutes.
In the Spurs’ latest win against the shorthanded Timberwolves, Kornet looked good, but his solid performance won’t completely get him off the hook from those who might want to see Tarris Reed Jr. get a chance to fight for the backup center spot as soon as possible.
While the rookie should get his opportunity if Kornet continues to struggle, for now, being patient with the veteran seems like the right move.
The offense is terrible with Kornet on the floor, but it’s not necessarily his fault
It’s always tricky to put too much stock in advanced numbers with so few minutes to go by, but they are not kind to Kornet. The Spurs score just 100.5 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor, a ghastly number. His limitations on that end are well-known, and it doesn’t feel like he has developed any other tools, such as a floater, to change that. His strengths, however, are also clear and are not insignificant.
Kornet is a good screener. In just 14.6 minutes a game, he’s averaging 2.7 screen assists, the 18th most in the league, and those screen assists are resulting in six points per game, the 25th-best mark in the league. Now, screen assists tend to be higher for limited role-playing centers who don’t get the ball back after initially freeing their ball-handler. There’s a reason why Victor Wembanyama averages fewer despite playing over twice as many minutes as Luke: Wemby screens, then the guards find him, and Wemby scores. The Alien leads the league in plays finished as the pick-and-roll dive man, which makes sense. Luke can’t do that. Context is important.
Still, the screening is good, as anyone who has watched Kornet play can attest to, and while he doesn’t finish after a pass, he has another skill that he can use after setting them: grabbing offensive rebounds. His offensive rebound percentage has dipped slightly from last year, but it’s still very good.
So if Kornet is doing his job on offense, why are the Spurs struggling to score when he’s on the floor? First, he’s currently posting an uncharacteristically high turnover percentage that is bound to come down significantly. He’s been fumbling passes and losing offensive boards, and while he’ll always do that to an extent, there’s simply no way he continues to do it at the pace his done it so far. If he somehow does, he won’t only be out of the rotation but out of the league soon. Second, the Spurs are shooting very few threes per possession when he’s on the floor (in part explained by the fact that Kornet doesn’t take them) while also connecting on just 33.2 percent of them. When Kornet is off the floor, that number climbs to 35.9 on more attempts.
There’s a decent chance the Spurs simply start shooting better when Kornet is on the floor, and there’s no way his turnover percentage remains as high, considering his usage. Mitch Johnson should try giving Reed Jr. some minutes whenever possible, but prematurely giving up on Kornet because of the offense’s struggles would be unwise.
The defense’s big problem seems more related to lineups than whoever plays center
If the offense was the only issue, there would be little reason to demote Kornet. The problem is, the Spurs have also been horrendous on defense, both by the numbers and the eye test, when Wembanyama is not on the floor. A big decline in efficiency is obviously expected when the best defender of his generation rests, but so far, it’s been precipitous. No one expects Kornet to match Wemby, but a 22-point swing in points allowed per 100 possessions is simply too big and not even close to the more reasonable seven-point swing from last season.
Even though the numbers should normalize with more minutes, Kornet just hasn’t looked good out there. Still, he’s rebounding at a decent level, but the Spurs are allowing a lot of second-chance points when he’s on the floor anyway, and while his allowing a very low percentage at the rim when he’s the closest defender, other teams’ points in the paint have been high.
Kornet has shared the floor very often with Keldon Johnson, a poor defender, and those minutes have been horrendous. In lineups that feature more of the starters (and once again, the numbers need to be taken with a grain of salt), the defensive rating is much lower. Most other Spurs are also used to playing a very aggressive style of perimeter defense when Wembanyama is around, and Kornet simply can’t cover as much space as Wemby does or erase or deter as many shots at the rim once the ball handler gets past the first line of defense. The new lineups developing familiarity should help.
As with the offense, it seems like Kornet, while partially responsible, is not individually to blame for the bad results. He has not been as good as he was last season so far, but a combination of issues involving the lineups he’s in and some seemingly aberrant numbers that should, on paper, get back to normal with a bigger sample size are likely the biggest reasons for the poor performance of the bench units.
Tarris Reed Jr. could be a better option, but it’s far from a certainty
Whether Kornet can go back to being the version of himself from last season, which was a perfectly good backup in most matchups, is irrelevant if there’s a better option waiting in the wings. If Reed Jr. is simply a superior player, he should be getting Kornet’s minutes.
There are two issues with any claim that he is, however. The first is that he’s untested, which can only be solved by playing him, but the second has to do with the limitations that Reed has displayed so far.
The rookie has shown some touch around the rim and, perhaps more importantly, more ambition in terms of finishing plays when he gets the ball in the paint than the more passive Kornet, but they both share strengths and weaknesses. Kornet is likely the better screener while Reed Jr. is almost certainly a better offensive rebounder, but neither spaces the floor either horizontally, as both have limited range, or vertically, as they are both big but not explosive. Passing has never been Reed Jr.’s biggest strength, so he won’t likely offer another dimension to the offense in that area, at least as a rookie.
Defensively, both Reed Jr. and Kornet are only suited for drop coverage, since their foot speed is limited, and both are at their best close to the rim. While the rookie might offer more energy, that could be a plus when it becomes contagious, but it can also be a negative if it results in chaos. Kornet is likely a better steadying force in that regard due to his experience, while once again Reed Jr. has an edge in rebounding. Both have similarly good cases for the non-Wemby minutes.
If Kornet continues to struggle, Mitch Johnson should absolutely give the rookie some more playing time, but Reed Jr. shouldn’t be considered an automatic upgrade over Kornet that will solve every issue. Especially if the only change the coaching staff makes is to swap the two in the rotation instead of figuring out the other problems with the non-Wembanyama units.
Kornet is far from untouchable, and he might lose his spot eventually. But there’s no rush to make a change now, as the season is long and the Spurs are clearly still a work in progress, trying to figure out more important things than their backup center situation.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Michael Porter Jr. scored 23 points, and Julius Randle had 20 points to lead the Nets to a 98-90 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night.
Day'Ron Sharpe had a double-double with 15 points and a team-high 13 rebounds for the Nets, who won for the first time this season. The Nets held a 43-37 edge in rebounds.
Andrew Nembhard led the Pacers with 23 points and Pascal Siakam had 17.
The Nets led by 12 three different times in the third quarter, but the Pacers cut the deficit to 75-72 in the first three minutes of the fourth with back-to-back 3-pointers by Larry Nance Jr. and Nembhard. That’s as close as Indiana got the rest of the way.
The Nets shot 38% in the first half but still managed to lead the Pacers 43-40 at halftime. Indiana made just 32% from the field and were just 4 of 20 from 3-point range. Both teams got off to sluggish starts with the Nets taking a 12-10 lead on Randle’s 3-pointer with less than five minutes left in the first quarter. That erased the Pacers’ last lead at 10-9.
Brooklyn pushed the lead to 71-62 after three quarters as both teams shot better in the second half.
The short-handed Pacers were without Obi Toppin, who was out with a lower back injury for the second consecutive game. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said Toppin is progressing and could play Monday. Indiana is still without Ivica Zubac, who is out with a left ankle sprain. Tyrese Haliburton is expected to be out another 10 days or more with a hamstring strain.
Nets rookie Mikel Brown Jr. sat out for load management to rest back with Brooklyn set to play the New York Knicks Monday night.
Brooklyn Nets forward Julius Randle (30) shoots over Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith (23) in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026.
INDIANAPOLIS — For much of Sunday night, the Nets couldn’t buy a basket.
By the end, they were no longer winless.
The Nets ground their way past the short-handed Pacers 98-90 before a sellout crowd of 17,274 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. It wasn’t perfect or even easy, but it was enough.
“It wasn’t a pretty win, but it’s a win regardless. We got that zero out of that column, so we’re really happy about that,” Michael Porter Jr. said. “If you’re going to be a good team, eventually you’ve got to learn how to win games like this.
Brooklyn Nets forward Julius Randle (30) shoots over Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith (23) in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. AP Photo/AJ Mast
“Neither team shot the ball well. Neither team cracked 100 points. That’s the type of games we want to win. It was good resilience. Sometimes, we let bad offense dictate our defense, and [Sunday,] we just kept going, grinding it out.”
The Nets (1-5) entered Sunday grinding in first gear, their offense struggling and sputtering.
It still wasn’t crisp. But against an Indiana team without Tyrese Haliburton, Ivica Zubac, Obi Toppin and T.J. McConnell, their defense, rebounding and improved attack got the job done.
A week earlier, they’d suffered a 136-109 loss to these Pacers, memorable for Haliburton tossing the ball off the court to himself for a dunk. The Nets bounced back in the rematch for their first victory.
“It feels good. I can sleep a little bit better,” Julius Randle said. “But we’ve got a lot to improve on. I’m happy for the group. We’ve been working real hard. We’re sticking together in tough moments. … But it’s just a start — we know we can be a lot better. We need to continue to grow and build off what we did.”
Brooklyn Nets forward Noah Clowney (21) dunks against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
That beats coming unglued in tough moments, which they’d done all too often.
Porter had 23 points and nine rebounds. Randle added 20 points, six assists and five boards. More importantly, he finished a plus-17, and wasn’t a ball stopper. The Nets cut better and made themselves available to Randle, who released the ball quicker to find his teammates.
“We just had a good talk [Saturday] as far as our offense, how we can just help each other out, things that we can get into,” Randle said.
“We were on the same page. I got into positions where maybe it was isolation and guys knew what I was looking for, and get into screen-and-rolls. It’s more diverse for me how I can attack. And it’s all of us on the page. Coaches want us to run, get to the corners. We got more organized with our sets, what we were trying to do. We got quality shots. We didn’t make them all, but if we keep playing like that, I promise you we’ll have a good chance.”
The Nets led 18-12 after a Porter free throw with 1:43 left in an ugly first quarter.
They were still clinging to a 43-40 edge at the break but came out of the locker room with a 9-0 run. They forced five straight misses and a turnover.
Porter started the run on a four-point play off a Randle assist. Nolan Traore (16 points, six assists) followed with his own 3, then added a midrange to make it 52-40 with 8:42 left in the third quarter.
Michael Porter Jr. of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. NBAE via Getty Images
The Nets saw their lead shaved down to three on an Andrew Nembhard 3-pointer that made it 75-72 with 9:29 to play. They never let the Pacers get any closer.
Day’Ron Sharpe finished with 15 points, 13 boards, four assists and hit his only attempted 3.
The Nets shot just 41.1 percent and 13-for-39 from deep. But the ball didn’t stick, the shot quality was better, and they didn’t let misses seep into porous defense.
“The ball has energy, and everybody touched the ball, and then there was movement of the ball and movement of bodies,” head coach Jordi Fernández said. “These games that you’re buying into doing the right things and the shots don’t fall, but you’re playing defense and stay together, those are the most important ones to me.”
It can be deadly on a hike. It’s costly for a basketball team.
Chemistry must be rebuilt. No steps can be skipped, regardless of how long a team has played together.
“You’re starting all over,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said after practice Sunday. “It’s like climbing a mountain. We’re climbing a mountain as a team and we conquer the mountain, then you gotta come back down, take some time off, then you gotta climb another mountain. It’s the same thing. And when you climb that mountain the second time, you’re starting from base camp again. And if you skip steps doing that, you’re going to die. It’s not that tragic for us. When you’re sitting at 2-4, people equate it to that sometimes, but it’s the same thing, taking each step the right way and embracing it and trying to get a little better.”
Head coach Mike Brown of the New York Knicks speaks to the media at Knicks Training Facility on September 23, 2025 in Tarrytown, New York. Getty Images
The Knicks’ continuity from their championship team was supposed to be a major strength for their chances of repeating. This group clicked about as well as any group has ever clicked during the playoffs last year. Their togetherness and selflessness made them new fans across the country. An ability to elevate each other on the court made them an incredibly well-functioning machine.
But with a 2-4 record through the first six games of the year, the Knicks have resembled a group that, as Brown said, is starting all over again — not one that is picking up where they left off last year. It’s been most glaring on the offensive end, which has been disjointed. There have been too many turnovers, too much isolation and a lack of playing off one another.
Mikal Bridges shoots a jumper against the Philadelphia 76ers. NBAE via Getty Images
It has looked like a group that is relearning each other despite the core knowing each other better than any in the league.
That’s the tricky part about chemistry — it needs to be reestablished and reinforced, like a campfire that constantly needs to be tended to.
“Yeah, that’s why I think for us, we just gotta continue to grow,” Mikal Bridges said on Sunday. “Last time we played was in June. I think [we were] probably the most polished as a team we were at the end of the year, as we should be. So, I know it’s tough to see last time we played to the beginning of the year, and obviously we should be better than we are, me personally. But it takes time and just not skipping steps and just kinda going through the process and keep learning, get back in that rhythm.”
Landry Shamet reacts during the second half against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on October 28, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images
It was similar last year, when the Knicks started 2-3. The offense was a constant — and frustrating — work in progress all regular season. It’s hard to remember with how the season ended, but Karl-Anthony Towns’ involvement in the system — or lack thereof — was a recurring storyline.
There was ample criticism that he and Jalen Brunson were basically taking turns looking for their own shots rather than utilizing a two-man game and playing off each other. Until, all of a sudden, it all clicked and the Knicks played their best basketball when it mattered most.
Brown likes to experiment in the regular season. As they try new things this year, it means a return to that work-in-progress version of the Knicks.
With the belief that as that chemistry re-forms, those championship results will return, too.
“If we don’t go through our growing pains and we can’t get through our growing pains, for whatever reason — because we don’t want to go through it being that hard again or we think we know or whatever it may be — if we can’t get through our growing pains, we have no chance,” Brown said. “It’s like anything you do in life. When you complete something and you have to do it again, you’re not just starting right here [at the top] when you do it again. You’re starting here [at the bottom] and you’re building up. And sometimes, your second or your third year doing it, you’re getting here [at the top] a little quicker. But you still gotta go through all the necessary steps to get there.”
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Ivica Zubac #40 of the Los Angeles Clippers competes for position against Alex Sarr #20 and Kyshawn George #18 of the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on January 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards announced Sunday they have picked up the fourth-year team options for Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George and picked up the third-year team options for Tre Johnson and Will Riley.
Washington’s entire 2024 draft class is now under contract through the 2027-28 season: Sarr: $15.6 million; Carrington: $7.3 million; George: $5.4 million.
On July 1, Sarr, Carrington and George will become eligible to sign rookie-scale extensions. The Wizards just passed on the chance to extend Bilal Coulibaly.
Johnson, the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, will make $9.06 million next season. Riley is owed $3.86 million next season.
