Lakers forward Sandro Mamukelashvili scores between Portland's Sidy Cissoko and Donovan Clingan in the first half. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
They are the top-scoring teams in the NBA and have dynamic backcourts to make it all work.
So, when the Lakers came to work with their superb guard duo of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves and the Portland Trail Blazers came to work with their exciting guard combo of Damian Lillard and Ja Morant, it figured to be a high-scoring affair Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
It lived up to that billing, with the game going back and forth in the decisive fourth quarter, finally being settled after Lillard hit a big-time three-pointer off a pass from Deni Avdija for a six-point lead with 42.8 seconds left that the Lakers couldn’t overcome in a 136-129 loss.
Doncic, coming off a 52-point game at Utah on Sunday, had 41 points, nine assists and five rebounds and Reaves had 26 points, seven assists and four rebounds.
Morant and Avdija had 23 points for the Trail Blazers and Lillard had 21. Jrue Holliday scored 22.
The Lakers dropped their first game of the season, falling to 3-1 after getting outscored 34-26 in the fourth quarter.
The Lakers entered the game averaging a league-best 128 points per game and the Trail Blazers were right behind them at 126 points per game.
Doncic (34.3 points per game) and Reaves (26.7) are the top scoring backcourt in the league.
Lillard, who sat out last season with a torn left Achilles tendon injury, and Morant, who played for the Memphis Grizzlies last season before being traded to the Trail Blazers, formed essentially for a new backcourt for Portland.
“You’re talking about a playoff team that essentially added [Damian] Lillard and Ja Morant so it’ll be a great test for us tonight,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “I think you know the biggest thing for us is being able to get back, set our defense, and try to get our first bumps outside the paint. They’re a heavy drive team, [with a] number of guys that can do it at a high level and Avdija obviously led the league last year in drives and got to be great with that tonight.”
Lakers center Walker Kessler gets hit in the head by Portland center Donovan Clingan (23) in the first half. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The two teams went at it in the first half, with the Lakers taking a 73-68 lead at intermission after a three-pointer at the buzzer by Sandro Mamukelashvili to end the second quarter.
He pumped his chest a few times, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Lakers rookie guard Cameron Carr, who has been out with a right oblique strain, practiced with the Coachella Valley Lakers on Tuesday. Redick said Carr showed progress while at practice with their G-League team.
“We needed him to be able to get through a full practice,” Redick said. “So that’s probably a very important step. Obviously, he was able to do some level of conditioning because it was an upper body injury. But [we] want to make sure he’s able to take hits and able to be in shape.”
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 27, 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A back-and-forth battle between the Lakers and Blazers saw a flurry of big shots down the stretch before a dagger from Damian Lillard gave Portland a 136-129 win, handing LA its first loss.
The Lakers struggled defensively, allowing Portland to make 59% of their shots, including 18 threes on 36 attempts. The game was marred by fouls throughout with 52 being called and 71 free throws attempted.
Austin Reaves drained a triple to get LA on the board. Matisse Thybulle followed it with a layup that put Los Angeles up by five. Ja Morant was the first Blazer to score, converting on a midrange jumper. Luka Dončić knocked down a three on the other end.
Damian Lillard knocked down a 3-pointer, but after four straight points from LA, Portland called a timeout. Out of the break, Morant was fouled and converted on a pair of free throws. Luka continued his great quarter, pushing his point total to 12.
Sandro Mamukelashvili came in and drained his first 3-point attempt. The Blazers, though, had cut the deficit to three. The Lakers answered by pushing their lead back to seven. Mamu had five off the bench for LA.
Neither team’s defense was particularly strong, making it an offensive affair. Los Angeles was up by six at the end of the first.
Donovan Clingan drained a triple to start the second period. Collin Sexton responded with a midrange jumper. Portland tied the game with a 16-6 scoring run.
Reaves scored four in a row to give LA the lead again.
Sexton connected with Ziaire Williams for an impressive alley-oop dunk. Deni Avdija then scored four straight to put the Blazers ahead. Morant scored again, pushing his point total to 15. After Jrue Holiday drained a triple, Los Angeles called a timeout.
Out of the break, Luka was fouled and completed the three-point play.
The rest of the half involved lots of free throws and the lead being exchanged. Mamu drained a three that put LA up by one with 35 seconds left. Holiday was assessed a flagrant foul penalty-1 for a foul on Walker Kessler, who split the free throws.
Mamu knocked down a clutch three at the buzzer to give Los Angeles a five-point halftime lead.
Reaves and Luka drained 3-pointers to start the third period. Toumani Camara got Portland on the board with a triple. It was a 3-pointer party as Luka and Camara each made one. Lillard was fouled from behind the arc and converted on only one of three free throws.
At the 8:33 mark, LA was up by five.
Kessler scored back-to-back buckets before Clingan and Luka exchanged triples. After four straight points from the Trail Blazers, the Lakers held a three-point lead in an offensive battle.
Thybulle knocked down his second three of the night.
Luka and Reaves quickly scored five points, leading to a Blazers timeout. Jake LaRavia fouled Vít Krejčí on a three out of the break, but he made just one of three free throws. Luka connected with Sexton twice on backdoor baseline cuts.
The quarter ended with chaos of sloppy turnovers and missed shots. Robert Williams III got a shot off right at the buzzer to make it a one-point deficit for Portland at the end of the third.
34-21 free throw advantage for Portland tonight so far.
The final frame started with Avdija tying the game with a free throw. It was the seventh tie of the game. Sexton connected with LaRavia for a dunk, putting Los Angeles up by two. The Trail Blazers started to take control, growing the lead to five with 8:29 left.
LA called a timeout and out of the break, Thybulle missed a three.
Los Angeles started 0-6 from behind the arc in the quarter. Avdija then nailed a three at the other end, extending the Blazers’ lead. The Lakers ignited for a 6-0 scoring run to make it a two-point game with 6:44 left.
The lead started to change hands again as both teams were cooking offensively. Williams and Holiday exchanged triples that had Portland up one, but Morant was given a flopping technical foul and Reaves converted on the free throw to tie the game.
Lillard then drained a triple and hit a free throw after Williams was assessed a flopping tech. Luka then drained a ridiculous clutch three with 3:24 left. Avdija answered with a 3-pointer on the other end.
Williams then responded for LA with a three as well. The Blazers were up by one with 2:17 left.
Morant converted on a midrange jumper, putting the Blazers up by three. Kessler was then fouled and missed both free throws. Morant then made another midrange jumper.
Luka converted on a middy with just over a minute left to make it a three-point game again.
It was Dame Time late as Lillard knocked down a clutch triple with 42.8 seconds left to put Portland up six. The Lakers had two opportunities to drain a three and missed.
Key Player Stats
Luka finished with 41 points and nine assists. Reaves ended with 26 points, four rebounds and seven assists. He also dished the 1,500th assist of his career. Kessler notched 13 points and eight rebounds.
Mamu pitched in with a stellar showing of 17 points off the bench. Williams logged 11 points with four assists and two steals. Sexton had nine points with four assists.
The Lakers’ next game will be against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at 7:30 PM PT.
The Nets guard downplayed any worries over the injury afterward.
“I’ll be good,” Dëmin said. “I mean, it’s nothing serious, so I’ll be ready to go.”
Dëmin left the game in the first half and didn’t return.
After appearing to knock legs with Paul George while defending the latter’s drive, the Russian guard came up hobbling on Brooklyn’s ensuing possession.
Dëmin checked out with 2:22 left in the half, limped into the locker room and was ruled out for the rest of the night shortly thereafter.
“I just got kneed in the muscle/bone area … Now it feels better than it did right then. I think I’ll be ready in a couple of days,” Dëmin said. “It was when [George] was driving by me, we ended up hitting each other’s legs kind of, yeah.”
Egor Dëmin, who later left the game with a right leg contusion, slams home a dunk during the Nets’ 125-124 overtime loss to the Celtics on Oct. 27, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston. NBAE via Getty Images
After getting lit up from deep and having one of the worst defenses in the league entering Tuesday night, the Nets held Boston — the NBA’s best 3-point shooting team — to 11 of 41 from deep.
They lost, but it’s an encouraging sign.
“Yeah, it’s one game. I don’t know. Percentages come and go,” Jordi Fernández said. “I think that we were on point with our coverages and we played a pretty complete game. So other than that, I don’t see the numbers in a certain way because we’ve only played four games and even if it’s still the process of getting better and learning.
“So yeah, I’m happy that they shot 26 percent. I still think that we contested the 3s for the most part. I got to look at the numbers and teams that shoot that well, sometimes you contest them and they still make them. So to answer your question, I’m happy with the defense, but regardless of [whether] the shots went in or not.”
Through much of the first half of Tuesday night's contest against the Detroit Pistons, the Knicks found themselves still buried in the slump from the season's first three games: shoddy defense, missed baskets, and sluggish transitions. At one point in the first half, they fell 13 points behind.
Then came the third. New York outscored Detroit 60-47 in the final 24 minutes of play, holding its opponents to just 13 points in the third and eventually running away with a 111-97 lead by the time the clock wound down.
The effort was largely spearheaded by Karl-Anthony Towns. The 30-year-old center completely turned it around after the break, finishing with his fourth double-double in four games so far this season. His 57 percent shooting from the field was second on the team, only to Andre Drummond (5-for-7).
But it wasn't until a near-brawl with Pistons starting center Paul Reed midway through the third that Towns really stepped up; he finished the first half a minus-14.
Reed, who scored nearly one-third of Detroit's 50 first-half points (16) and finished with a team-leading 22 points and five offensive rebounds, got tangled with Towns as teammate Duncan Robinson cut New York's lead to 10 midway through the third quarter. The two instantly became heated, but the referees stepped in before things could escalate and dealt Reed a Flagrant 1.
Then came the shift. After making his two free throws from the flagrant — his only two free throws of the night — Towns exploded for 16 of his 27 total points and tacked on eight of his 20 rebounds, recording his fifth 20-20 as a Knick.
After the game, head coach Mike Brown commended Towns for the way he rebounded and said he had a very frank conversation with the center at halftime.
"KAT's a grown man. He's obviously a perennial All-Star. I just told him the truth: 'KAT, the guy is killing us on the glass, and when he gets a rebound, he's putting it back. Anything he gets in the paint, he's putting it back. If he catches on the perimeter, guard him,'" Brown said. "And he did those things. I've got to take my hat off to KAT because I thought his shift in his mindset was really big for us in the second half."
KAT gets tangled with Paul Reed https://t.co/A6NvVBwm2k
The clash between Towns and Reed ignited a fire inside the entire Knicks roster, serving as a catalyst for a more aggressive effort on both ends of the court.
It was just the boost New York needed to clinch their first win of the season after seemingly falling victim to a championship hangover.
"[Reed] played great in the first half. I think we were able to not let him loose on the offensive boards. He was really impacting the game," Jalen Brunson said after the game. "For [KAT] to step up as he did throughout the game was something that we needed."
Towns, however, credited the turnaround to the entire team.
"I thought we did a better job picking up our intensity and our physicality, and we just executed at a high level," he said. "... We've just got to worry about the controllables, which is us playing our best, executing at a high level, and bringing that physicality to the game."
He added that with one win under its belt, the team has to shift all of its energy toward a second one rather than dwelling on Tuesday's success.
"Gotta get the next one — that's the only thing on the mind," he said. "... All year, it's going to be us improving, going through the ups and downs of the season. We just got to stay steady, keep believing in each other, keep pushing each other to another level."
TYLER KOLEK BEHIND THE BACK PASS! https://t.co/fyBK8WVtQn
After three straight defeats to open their title defense, the Knicks were looking to put together something more of a complete game when they hosted the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.
When New York fell behind by 13 after the game's opening quarter, things looked bleak. But then the home side flexed a muscle that had been dormant during the first week as they dominated the middle quarters, outscoring Detroit 63-25, which meant the lackluster final stanza could be overshadowed by the 111-97 win.
"We talk about trying to string a game together… 48 minutes of basketball the way we know how to play, and we like to play,” head coach Mike Brown said after the win. “And we had some lulls where we weren't as physical as we should have been throughout the course of the game, but we had some really good moments.
“We had more good moments in this game in totality than we did in the first three games, and that's why we got the win.”
Overall, it was a positive step for the Knicks, who still know much more needs to be done to regain the feel of last year’s unit.
"We can have some hiccups,” Brown said of the early struggles. “That's what the [regular] season's for. It’s trying to correct it, so come playoff time, you're ready to go do what you need to do. So is it fixed? No, it ain’t fixed. Nothing's really fixed.
“What tonight shows us is we're more than capable if we put our minds to it. And that’s what we gotta continue to try to build off. And then if we do slip up, that we don’t slip up for eight minutes or 10 minutes. Maybe for a minute and a half, two minutes, and then we get back, regroup, and get back heading in the right direction again."
Karl-Anthony Towns, who had a 27–point, 20-rebound explosion, said the Knicks “looked more like ourselves from last year, but we still have a lot of room to grow.”
“We got to remember that Rome wasn't built in a day,” Jalen Brunson, who scored 23 points on the night, said in his on-court interview after the game. “This is a new year, new team. Adversity started early, so we just gotta fight back.”
“We have a long way to go, but obviously we want to learn from wins as much as we do from losses. Excited we came up with the win today.”
It is a long season, as the head coach was sure to point out, but positive signs were abundant.
“I still believe we took some really good shots,” Brown said. “I believe if we keep taking the shots that we're taking, they're going to start going in sooner than later. But our guys played an overall good game. On the offensive glass, defensively physically, offensively physically.”
The defensive performance shouldn't be overlooked. Brown pointed to the “hot players” the Knicks had keyed in on in the previous game against the Magic, Desmond Bane and Tristan da Silva,who shot a combined 9-for-18 from three, which “had a huge impact” in the 111-102 defeat.
“The guys that we labeled hot tonight, two of the guys were obviously Duncan Robinson and [Daniss] Jenkins, and they were combined 3-for-16,” Brown said. “So our awareness, our level of physicality, throughout the 48 minutes were a lot better on those two guys in the previous game.”
With no rest on the docket and a date Wednesday night in Chicago with the Bulls, the only thing on Towns’ mind after getting the first win of the season out of the way: “Gotta get the next one.”
“Build off of this game and continue to improve as a team,” Towns said. “All year it’s gonna be us improving, going through the ups and downs of a season. We just gotta stay steady, keep believing in each other, keep pushing each other to another level.”
SAN ANTONIO, TX -OCTOBER 27: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs grabs a rebound over a host of Sacramento Kings players in the first half at Frost Bank Center on October 27, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After the San Antonio Spurs’ road win over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, head coach Mitch Johnson was less than pleased with his team’s performance through the first week of the season. He challenged them and pushed them to be better and play like he knows they are capable of.
Tuesday night saw the Spurs answer the call.
A 41-point second quarter effectively put the game away as the Spurs rolled to the 130-107 victory over the shorthanded Sacramento Kings at the Frost Bank Center, securing their second consecutive win.
“Every game has gotten a little bit better,” Johnson said after the game. “We made a few more shots tonight… commitment to the process is real and I thought they came to play tonight.”
Victor Wembanyama had 29 points and 10 rebounds, his best numbers of the young season so far. Julian Champagnie added 26 points on 8-for-13 3-point shooting, while Dylan Harper added 13 points, six rebounds and six assists.
San Antonio’s offense was better, hitting their shots on a 54 percent clip, while hitting 17-of-37 shots from beyond the arc for a season-best 46 percent.
“We felt today what we were supposed to do and what we weren’t,” Wembanyama said. “And we actually showed progress through the game. So, I think, I hope, we can stick to the good stuff we did.”
All five Spurs starters were in double figures in their highest offensive output of the season. San Antonio’s bench had 40 points as San Antonio finished with seven players in double figures.
Sacramento was shorthanded, but led by Domantas Sabonis, who posted 20 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in a losing effort. De’Andre Hunter added 24 points and Zach LaVine had 22 points for the Kings, who remain winless on the season (0-4).
“Whether the ball goes through the hoop or not, our standard stays the same,” Champagnie told reporters after the game. We came out and did exact what we’re supposed to do and played how we want to play. Hopefully we can continue to build on this.“
Games Notes
With so many injuries around the NBA a week into the season, no one give the Spurs ojo. Light some candles for these guys!
In all seriousness, San Antonio has a golden chance to get to the top of the standings thanks to a lighter schedule and teams dealing with huge injuries. As Shams Charania reported, the Minnesota Timberwolves will be without Anthony Edwards when the Wolves visit San Antonio on Saturday.
I didn’t think Harrison Barnes could still get up like that. What a dunk!
Devin Vassell had his best outing of the season with 14 points and eight assists.
During an intermission segment at the Clippers vs. Lakers game on Friday night, a Clippers fan called out James’ age before he began a shooting contest at Intuit Dome. X / @Shane00
After calling out James, the fan took his place on the free-throw line at Intuit Dome and began attempting to shoot the ball into the basket near the right corner of the rim.
Before his first shot, the fan was already stumbling on the court as he appeared off-balanced in his shooting form.
Once he found a comfortable position, he started shooting and needed four attempts to make his first basket.
The fan went to the front left side and attempted to shoot again, but missed three in a row.
Before the fan finished the challenge, the video came to an end.
Austin Reaves ignites a 16-4 run against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
The feeling of his second-hand embarrassment emerged on X when the account @Shane00 posted the video with the caption, “Perfect representation of LeBron haters.”
Six hours after the video appeared, it garnered 184,700 views, with 62 comments, 238 reposts, 2,800 likes, and 298 saves.
Basketball fans started entering the comments of the post and began trolling the man for his comments.
@IshbakaTheDemon wrote, “I mean that is how 40 year is supposed to do itbuddy was not wrong.”
LeBron James against the Pistons on Tuesday night. Getty Images
“He’s right that’s how a 40 year old is supposed to do it,” @Alagie04 wrote.
James and the fan both got trolled by @Vaslive12 when they mentioned James’ performance in the 2011 NBA Finals by writing, “Well, to be fair, he did look like LeBron in that Heat-Mavs series.”
As of now, the Clippers and Lakers rivalry is at an all-time low right now, James is off to new endeavors, playing in his 24th season in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers. Through three games, he’s averaged 16.3 points, 7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists.
The two teams met for the first time this season on Friday night, and the Clippers suffered a 125-117 loss that featured Austin Reaves sparking a 16-4 run in the third.
The Clippers will get a shot at redemption on Wednesday night, when they host the Lakers at 7:30 p.m. PT.
Cameron Carr took a step in the right direction with his recovery from a strained right oblique.
The Lakers rookie practiced with the franchise’s G League affiliate, the Coachella Valley Lakers, on Tuesday before being recalled to the NBA team.
Cameron Carr has been sidelined since the preseason because of an oblique injury. NBAE via Getty Images
Carr has been sidelined since the first week of the preseason because of the injury, sitting out of the last three exhibitions and first four regular season games, including Tuesday’s matchup against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Coach JJ Redick responded “still working through that” when asked if there was an update on when Carr could make his regular season debut.
Cameron Carr hasn’t played since Oct. 6. NBAE via Getty Images
“He was able to do a full practice,” Redick said. “Five games in seven nights, we’re not going to be able to practice this week, and wanted to be cognizant of his ramp up and what he needed to do to be back in our lineup.”
Tuesday was the first night of a back-to-back set for the Lakers, who’ll play the Clippers on Wednesday at Intuit Dome.
They’ll play the Warriors in San Francisco on Friday before another back-to-back against the Raptors (Sunday) and Heat (Monday) in Los Angeles.
Cameron Carr of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court during a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. Getty Images
The Lakers’ practice opportunities are limited over the next couple of weeks with the amount of games through early November, leading to them using their G League affiliate to get No. 24 pick in June’s NBA draft on-court work.
“We needed him to be able to get through a full practice,” Redick said. “So that’s probably a very important step. Obviously, he was able to do some level of conditioning because it was an upper body injury. But want to make sure he’s able to take hits and be in shape.”
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 01: Ousmane Dieng #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket against Tari Eason #17 of the Houston Rockets in the first half at Toyota Center on April 01, 2026 in Houston, 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. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Rockets are 4-0 for the first time in over a decade.
The NBA got rid of the “four games in five nights” thing that everyone hated, but the Rockets are about to get the next-best thing: three games in four nights! It’s already the second time Houston is getting this fun treat after opening the season with the same setup. Another quirk? Houston doesn’t play a game on Thursday until January. That’s usually a day reserved for national television games, but it’s still odd.
Anyway, time to move on to the opponents. The Milwaukee Bucks are 1-3 after picking up their first win of the season against the Indiana Pacers on Monday night. Amen Thompson’s nemesis Tyler Herro scored 23 points and had seven assists to lead the way while Myles Turner added four blocks against his former squad.
Of course, Herro is now with the Bucks after Milwaukee traded Giannis Antetokounmpo after two years of Giannis whispering that he wanted to be traded because he didn’t want to be hated by the fans for demanding a trade. Eventually, everyone moved on and Giannis is with the Heat. With the Heat 0-4 to start the season, many are already declaring Milwaukee the winners of the trade, which is a bit silly. The Bucks did get back a decent haul, but not necessarily anything that will anchor a contender in the near future. Along with Herro, the Bucks received Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jaucionis, the 13th pick in the 2026 draft (Nate Ament), first round picks in 2031 and 2033, a first round swap in 2030, and a second round pick in 2033. Again, it’s a great haul, but it’s the picks that loom largest.
Each of the players mentioned are contributing to the Bucks at the moment. Herro and Jaquez Jr. are starting, and Ament, Ware, and Jakucionis are coming off the bench. The Bucks also drafted Brayden Burries out of Arizona, who is also getting minutes early in the season.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 27: Mikel Brown Jr. #0 of the Brooklyn Nets makes the game tying shot against the Boston Celtics on October 27, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets got about as close you can get to your first win of the season without actually getting it tonight. It was as encouraging and heartbreaking as it sounds.
Adding to the bittersweet sentiment, Brooklyn’s prized rookie was in the driver’s seat for this one’s most pivotal moments. He took us up, down, side to side, and deeper into the night than we originally anticipated. Here’s how we got there…
The Nets began tonight’s contest with a different starting five for the first time all season, making a change at the point guard spot. No, I’m not talking about Mikel Brown Jr. As Bane harrowingly said in the opening sequence of The Dark Knight Rises, that comes later.
It was actually Nolan Traoré who made his first start of the season this evening against the Boston Celtics. And, the Frenchman looked confident and collected early on, with little-to-no hesitation attacking inside after coming around screens. He made his first four shots to put up nine first quarter points, and even left Jayson Tatum in the dust on one of his drives…
Nolan Traore is playing with confidence during his first start of the season.
He's got nine first-quarter points on 4/4 shooting and has already scored on Tatum, PG, and Pritchard. Touching the paint whenever he wants. pic.twitter.com/QhaK1UGTX6
Brooklyn also got a lift from an energized Day’Ron Sharpe in the first, who’s active hands helped the Nets mount a stingy first quarter defense for a second straight game. It wasn’t another seven steal opening frame, but Boston possessions that didn’t involve Brooklyn deflections were difficult to come by.
Speaking of the Celtics, for them, this was the second half of a back-to-back, and they didn’t do much to hide it. Boston, the best 3-point shooting team coming into tonight, began the contest just 2-of-15 from deep, more often than not missing short on their attempts.
Between that, Traoré‘s aggressiveness, and impactful contributions from Mo Wagner and Chaney Johnson, who combined for 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting in the first two periods, Brooklyn controlled almost the entire first half. The only Celtic they couldn’t keep under wraps was Jayson Tatum. Shocker, right? He had a game high 16 points at half while dishing four assists, but the Celtics still trailed going into the break by five.
We’d hear more from him later, but the second half’s opening minutes were our last chance to applaud Traoré, who again came out on the attack. He had arguably his strongest take of his career only a few minutes into the third, seemingly setting the tone for another strong half…
But unfortunately, “seemingly” is the key word in that sentence. Even in Boston, a city known its historical defiance of legislation, the law of averages had to be obeyed. After their dreadful first half, the Celtics shot 8-of-14 from deep in the third, eventually retaking the lead with 1:07 to go in the period. Their second-to-last make in that frame came off the hands of a well-covered Tatum from the top of the key, which just ate you up inside.
As Boston made its run at the lead, the YES broadcast reported that Traoré asked for a sub while indicating that he had been cramping, which Fernández confirmed to be true postgame. Traoré did play a little over a minute in the fourth, but no further, and with little impact on the game. He finished with 15 points and three assists while shooting 6-9 from the field and 1-of-2 from deep.
Day’Ron Sharpe picking up his fourth foul around the time of Traoré’s exit didn’t help either. Brooklyn had found some defensive success earlier with Mo Wagner in drop coverage, although that largely just helped them take care of the defensive glass, and Boston had simply stopped missing. The Nets’ six turnovers in the period also didn’t help.
But in the fourth, The Juniors did. Michael Porter Jr. and Mikel Brown Jr. combined for 25 points in the final frame while shooting 7-11 from downtown. Some of their haves looked like they came all the way from Dorchester. They found the bottom of the net regardless…
After trailing by as many as eight in the quarter, the Nets tied things six separate times, and even snagged the lead for themselves twice, as both groups went back and forth down the stretch.
However, as time ticked away, the game slowed, and that favored the more experienced team, the home team. After Brown Jr. snuck in a high, lefty finish that knotted up the game with under a minute to play, White got free on the next possession for an and-one finish that gave his team the lead back, now with only 33 seconds to go. Then, it was time to play the foul game, and Boston didn’t seem to know the rules.
After another string of misses from Brooklyn, Tatum went to the stripe to put his team up five with three seconds to go. He made the first free throw, but then missed the second as Neemias Queta committed a loose ball foul on Randle. That put Randle at the line, needing to make one shot to pull within three, and then miss in the hope someone would coral the rebound and hit a game-tying three.
Off the miss, the ball instead found Mitchell Robinson’s hands, but that wasn’t so bad either. The career 50.7% free throw shooter proceeded to miss both of his shots at he stripe, giving the Nets the ball back and the chance to hit a game-tying three with three seconds to play. Mikel Brown Jr. did that…
And, to overtime we went. With a new lease on life, the Nets came out swinging in the extra period. Randle pitched in a quick four points to establish an early lead while Porter Jr. registered two blocked shots to help defend it. Brown Jr. kept firing away as well, hitting one triple but missing three others.
Those blanks, however, left the door open for Boston. After Brown Jr.’s next miss, Randle, again going for an offensive rebound, fouled Paul George, who sank both of the free throws from it and made it a one point game with under a minute to go.
After Brown Jr. and Tatum traded misses, the Nets still possessed a one point lead and the ball, but with 28 seconds to go. Brown Jr. drove, hoping to ice it, but missed. Day’Ron Sharpe was originally called for an offensive foul after bumping into Luka Garza while going for the rebound, but a Jordi Fernández challenge overturned it.
So, with a fresh shot clock, a lead, and only six seconds remaining, the Nets just needed to inbound the ball and run out the clock to win.
Well, they did one of those things. After getting the ball into Brown Jr., he quickly found himself under the basket, and put up a shot. He missed. The Celtics then secured the rebound, called a timeout, and let Tatum work for his own look in isolation. He did not miss…
“Obviously on that layup, Mikel, you want to dribble it out because you want to take more time out of the clock and then they’ll foul you,” Fernández said postgame. “Good intentions, but if you go for the layup, you got to make it. But even if you make it, it’s still a one possession game. But he’ll learn from it. I just told him that he was not happy with himself and it’s a lot. But the kid also was a reason why we were there. He got it going and he showed that when the big lights are bright and they’re on, he can perform. So a lot of good things, a lot of the good things as a unit, and got to move on to the next one. I know it’s tough, but I take the positives.”
MBJ put it more succinctly in a tweet…
THAT ONE IS ON ME BROOKLYN! IMMA SHAKE BACK I PROMISE YALL DAT💯
His father and childhood coach, Chris Brown Sr. praised his son for taking accountability for the losss…
This the accountability I want to see. Take it on the chin, head high, shoulders back & LEARN from these moments. I fucking love it, we needed this. 🤫 https://t.co/Gv37Ci7XYs
After the game, Fernández also said that Brooklyn switched onto Tatum when they weren’t supposed to, leading to a better look than what they had hoped to give up.
“We’re not supposed to switch there because we wanted to keep a bigger body on him,” Fernández said. “We did switch. He bumped. Keon tried to contest and he got a shot that he can make… We wanted to maintain the matchup on Tatum with Noah Clowney because he’s big… And then he bumped and then he shot over. And then Keon, who was on the ball, was supposed to track and contest that or help a little bit because we knew that most likely the shot was for him.”
For Tatum, it was one of his biggest moments since coming back from his torn achilles late last year. He finished with 40 points, eight assists, and five rebounds while shooting 10-20 from the field. He also made 18-22 free throws.
For Brown Jr., who finished with 17/5/5 while shooting 5-17 from the field and 4-11 from three, it was the epitome of a “rookie moment.”
For the Nets, though, it’s just another loss.
Final: Boston Celtics 125, Brooklyn Nets 124 (OT)
Injury Update
Egor Dëmin exited this one in the second quarter and was later ruled out with a right leg contusion. He appeared to bump into Paul George, which may have caused it. However, he brushed it off postgame, telling Erik Slater of ClutchPoints it’s nothing serious and he’d be good to go in a couple of days.
Egor Demin on his leg injury:
“It’s nothing serious. I’ll be ready to go… I just got kneed in the muscle/bone area… Now it feels better. I think I’ll be ready in a couple of days.” pic.twitter.com/9II4h4n4z2
As mentioned, Fernández also confirmed postgame that Traoré had been cramping.
“Yeah, he was cramping and then I felt like he was not moving well,” Fernández said. “And as you guys know, Nolan is a guy that has great energy, can touch the pain anytime. And just for that reason, I felt like I didn’t want to change anything. And I know he wanted to because he wanted to battle through it, but I almost just felt like I had to save him for myself.”
Traoré dealt with muscle cramps that last year as well. If there’s anything more to related to his health, we’ll update this report.
Next Up
Do you care about the NBA Cup yet? Either way, it’s coming to a TV or arena near you soon. Brooklyn will play its first Cup game of the year at home on Friday night against the Detroit Pistons. The Nets went 1-4 against Cade Cunningham and company last year. Brooklyn is 5-7 all-time in NBA Cup play. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST.
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 21: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors looks on against the Chicago Bulls during the second half in the game at Scotiabank Arena on October 21, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Per Shams Charania, Toronto Raptors star Kawhi Leonard will miss “a period of weeks” with left knee swelling.
“An MRI on Leonard’s knee showed no structural damage, but both sides will use the time to ramp up Leonard. The 35-year-old had an uncommon offseason, as he could not join the Raptors until after a resolution was reached in the NBA’s investigation into the LA Clippers’ salary cap circumvention case.”
The Bucks play the Raptors in their first NBA Cup game (see here for their full NBA Cup schedule) on November 6, which, if the multi-week recovery timeline holds up, means Leonard will miss it. Of course, the Raptors are still a formidable outfit without Leonard, but you’d still rather play them with the seven-time All-Star in street clothes. The Bucks need every advantage they can get!
Notably, the swelling is in Leonard’s left knee, which is not the knee he has previously had issues with; the 35-year-old has had multiple surgeries on the meniscus and ACL in his right knee.
Leonard issued a statement on Twitter, writing “it’s always frustrating missing time.”
“I came back to compete with this team and I’m focused on getting back to 100. Toronto, I’ve appreciated the love since I’ve been back. Returning soon.”
NEW YORK – Maybe there is such a thing as a championship hangover.
At least for one night and three quarters of nearly flawless execution, the New York Knicks avoided an embarrassing history, and it might signal that the NBA champions are not ready for an extended stint in basketball rehab.
Over the first three games of this new season, the Knicks looked nothing like the team that earned adulation and praise after snapping a 53-year title drought.
After a 111-97 win at Madison Square Garden over the Detroit Pistons, handing them their first loss, the 1969-70 Boston Celtics remain the last defending champs to start the season by losing each of their first four games. That team went 34-48 in its first season after legend Bill Russell retired.
New York, which snapped a six-game regular-season losing streak to Detroit, entered the game with the league’s least efficient offense, with a 40.8 field-goal percentage ranked only ahead of the Chicago Bulls.
“Close to 48 minutes of basketball the way we know we can play and like to play," Knicks head coach Mike Brown said after the game. "We had some lulls where we weren't as physical as we should've been, during the course of the game, but we had some really good moments. We had more good moments in this game than we did in the totality of the first three games, and that's why we got the win."
In the first quarter, those bad trends held true to form as Detroit, with victories already over fellow Eastern Conference contenders the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers, raced out to a 38-25 first quarter lead, doing the things that they lacked in getting them bounced from the second round of the playoffs last season despite having the conference’s best record.
The Pistons relied on a balanced attack, with three different leading scorers in those three games, plus finding long-distance shooting, hitting 42% from downtown and scoring 118 points a game.
Their shooting abandoned Detroit after the first 12 minutes, as an 18-5 run by the Knicks in the second quarter tied the score at 43, led by reserve Landry Shamet, who scored 10 points during that stretch, as the Pistons only scored a combined 25 points in the second and third quarters and found themselves down by 25 entering the final quarter.
The Knicks scored the first 11 points of the third quarter and took their biggest lead, as part of a 15-4 stretch that essentially put the game away as the home team ran its lead up to 27, and finished the road-weary Pistons off with a 12-2 flurry, as they missed 15 of their 19 shots coming out after halftime.
Karl-Anthony Towns led six Knicks in double figures with 27 points and 20 rebounds, his fifth 20-20 game as a member of the Knicks. Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, who went 1-for-10 in the first half, finished with 23 points (13-16 FT) and seven assists.
Almost like laying bricks for a new foundation at the World’s Most Famous Arena, New York shot 35% in the first quarter; then the bench came on, the Knicks heated up, and they started forcing the issue on both ends of the floor as Detroit went cold. Both teams finished shooting 43%, as the game got bogged down with a flurry of fouls and free-throw misses, especially by the Pistons.
Knicks coach Mike Brown called out his team for their lack of effort early in the season, saying they looked lethargic and were slow to get upcourt in transition, which contributed to their next-to-last pace in the league. Brown was singing a different tune after a thorough victory.
Brown said he challenged Towns at halftime and told him that Paul Reed, who replaced the injured Duren in the starting lineup, was getting the best of him in their matchup.
"KAT's a grown man, he's obviously a perennial All-Star. I just told him the truth." Brown added. "The guy is killing us in the paint. Anything he gets, he's putting it back. Catch him on the perimeter, guard him. And he did those things. I gotta take my hat off. I thought his shift in mindset was really big for us in the second half."
Detroit again played without All-NBA center Jalen Duren, who sat out with a hamstring injury, as Cade Cunningham had 19 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Reed led the Pistons with 22 points, but they hit a pitiful 9-for-37 (23%) from the 3-point line.
While their shooting woes continue, New York turned it on, especially defensively, when they needed to much like their championship series against the San Antonio Spurs, when they were down at least double digits at some point in each of the five games.
“This is a long season and we can have hiccups, but that’s what the season’s for: so they can correct it come playoff time so we can do what we need to do," Brown said.
Even Brunson joked during his television interview following the victory when asked, "You said the first few weeks of the season, you'll learn who you guys are. Who are you?"
Brunson calmed stated, "Uh, we're the Knicks, actually. But most importantly, we got to remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. This is a new year, new team. Adversity started early, and so we just got to fight back."
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 26: Mo Bamba #44 of the Utah Jazz looks on during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on October 26, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It could be a very different looking Utah Jazz team when they step out onto the court on Wednesday night to face the surging San Antonio Spurs, especially in the front court. After a physical game on Monday night against the Memphis Grizzlies, Jaren Jackson Jr. is out for at least six weeks with a torn MCL in his right knee. Both Lauri Markkanen (wrist) and Jaxson Hayes (shoulder) are game time decisions and Jusuf Nurkic is still nursing a partial plantar plate tear in his right foot, leaving the team very short in the tall department.
Not a good situation when Victor Wembanyama is coming to town. The Spurs will be on the second night of a back to back, but may be well rested after a lopsided 130-103 throttling of the lowly Sacramento Kings. We can hope that Utah’s altitude may slow Wemby down, but then the French phenom has an altitude all his own. Who can the Jazz start to battle Wemby down low?
Enter Mo Bamba. Coming off a gritty 14 point, 7 rebound and 4 block performance against the Grizzlies, Bamba is finally getting an opportunity to contribute important minutes and the lights only get brighter on Wednesday night. To be clear, Zach Edey is not Victor Wembanyama. The challenge is about to get exponentially harder. But the way Bamba, Keyonte George and Ace Bailey rallied the troops on Monday night, almost stealing an unlikely victory when all the odds seemed stacked against them, says a lot about the fight in this under-manned squad.
Wednesday night will also provide a showdown between number 2 draft picks: Dylan Harper from 2025 and Darryn Peterson from 2026. Harper came off the bench most of last year, but was a vital piece in the Spurs’ run to the NBA finals. He has now earned a starting role on this year’s team. Peterson is still finding his legs in the pro league, has looked a little lost at times, but has also shown flashes of his potential. We can only hope that his trajectory follows Harper’s. Wednesday night will be a big test as he goes head to head with one of the young rising stars of the league.
The game can be seen on KJZZ TV beginning at 7pm MST, with the pre-game at 6:30pm.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 27: Mikal Bridges #25 of the New York Knicks reacts after a three-point shot during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden on October 27, 2026 in New York City. 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 Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Josh Hart took just two shots tonight, but swished ‘em both—and the second was a clutch bomb that saved a blowout from becoming a very uncomfortable final two minutes at MSG.
When the New York Knicks (1-3) hosted the Detroit Pistons (3-1) at the Garden, the world champs were not necessarily desperate for a win. A fourth loss would surely have caused meltdowns across the nation, however. These Pistons are no pushovers, either, and although we’d read that Ausar Thompson would sit with a bad ankle, he suited up. Because real hoopers don’t pass up a chance to play on basketball’s biggest stage.
After surrendering 38 points in the first quarter, New York held Detroit to 25 over the next two quarters with a reassuring return to their defensive form. Jalen Brunson overcame a horrid shooting night with 13 points at the free-throw line, and Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a whopping 27-20 double-double as New York reached a 27-point lead in the fourth. Detroit chipped and chipped, however, until a mere 11-points separated the score. That’s when the otherwise gunshy Hart stepped in. Thanks to his bomb, New York could breathe a sigh of relief and finish the night victoriously. Final score: 111-97.
We love jinxes in our favor. The broadcast reported that Detroit had not trailed in a week. New York broke that dominant streak with four opening points. A certain sanity seemed restored to their offense, too. Early on, Karl-Anthony Towns stood tall at the left elbow and fed passes to slicing wings OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. The latter was blocked at the rim but took a positive turn by connecting from deep, ending his own streak of ten consecutive misses to start the season.
Detroit stunk on the perimeter, bricking five of six tries. Cade Cunningham and John Collins crashed the glass, though, and four separate Pistons notched a block over the first eight minutes. Their defenders were extra-handsy with Jalen Brunson, who repeatedly failed to get significant separation. They were the second-best defense last season, after all.
After J.B. Bickerstaff called a timeout to settle his crew, they rode a 12-6 run to an eight-point lead, then stretched it to 11 and eventually 13. Following triples by Kevin Huerter and Daniss Jenkins, Anunoby made his first longball to slow the bleeding. But Paul Reed, filling in for an injured Jalen Duren, had a sizzle-touch and made his fifth bucket to secure a 38-25 lead at the buzzer.
The Knicks shot badly in the first quarter and did so again in the second. The guests were generous with their misses, too, and when Bridges connected on his second(!) triple, Bickerstaff needed another timeout.
KAT committed two fouls in six seconds, Cunningham hit from deep, and the deficit returned to double digits. The Knicks tightened their defense, though, and a run fueled by Shamet, Drummond, and a KAT tip-in tied the score near the four-minute mark. Detroit had missed almost everything this quarter, and Brunson’s shots weren’t falling either: he missed nine of his first ten. He, KAT, and OG combined to shoot just 1-of-14 from yard in the half. At least they attempted shots, which Josh Hart declined to do. Despite his shooting woes, Cap was nearly perfect at the line, netting two freebies that put his crew ahead 51-50 at intermission.
Third three of the night from Mikal giving the Knicks a lead after trailing by 13 in the first pic.twitter.com/ltE2v1GXnN
The guests shot 3-of-21 in the second quarter and were outscored 26-12. Whatever they did right in the half occurred around the basket: they won the paint 20-16, won the glass 30-23, and blocked nine shots. Making 13 of their 14 free throws kept the Knicks afloat, because their shooting sure didn’t. Neither team could make a three (NYK 26%; DET 24%). Reed topped the first-half scoresheet with 16 points. Brunson led the Knicks with 11.
Our heroes rocketed out of the locker room with a 13-2 run. Detroit’s frustration began to come out sideways. After a Duncan Robinson make, Towns and Reed got tangled under the rim. KAT bristled at an elbow to the back of his head and stepped toward the Piston. They had to be separated, Reed received a flagrant-one, and KAT made both freebies.
Plenty of time remained, but Detroit was coming unglued. Reed collected his fifth foul, Collins caught his second, Cunningham missed twice at the stripe, and Motown trailed by 18. The lead wasn’t just New York’s biggest of the night, but of the season. And for the first time this season, we saw the throttling effort that won a championship. They limited Detroit to six points through the first seven minutes of the half. Shamet’s corner dagger and free throws by Brunson inflated the advantage to 23. After an ugly final sequence, Josh Hart took his first shot of the night, a buzzer-beater three to close the period, 88-63.
New York went up by 27 in the fourth. It was a blast. Tyler Kolek got to play again with Jose Alvarado out and showed a little Grand Theft action of his own:
I always thought Coach Bickerstaff had some Thibodeau in him. So I scratched my head when, with eight minutes left and the deficit a not-out-of-reach 21, J.B. emptied his bench. The Pistons and Knicks were both playing the first game of a back-to-back, and the veteran coach seemed content to rest his guys to fight again tomorrow.
Mike Brown was less confident in the outcome and still had three starters on the floor midway through the quarter, with the lead at 18. Then 17. Bridges passed the ball behind Hart’s back, and Detroit capitalized on the gift with a layup. Brown needed a timeout at 5:24 with the score 99-84. During the timeout, Bickerstaff reconsidered his position. Smelling blood, he sent Thompson, Cunningham, Robinson, and Reed back in. The latter scored on a layup to cut the lead to 13.
Brunson and Cunningham traded buckets. Thompson got dinged for goaltending when he held the rim to avoid crashing into Anunoby, who was staring up at the iron and angling to shoot. OG made both. Robinson responded with a triple and a layup, and the difference was 13 with three minutes left. An OG turnover became a Holland dunk—an 11-point difference. They needed a score to keep the noose loose, and Hart drilled his second shot of the night for his second three. That sealed it for Bickerstaff, who gestured for his subs again. Soon after, the Knicks starters finally got to exit, too, and received an ovation for their second win of the campaign.
Up Next
Mo’s applying a layer of frosting on his recap. Our heroes travel to Chicago for a game tomorrow night. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
BOSTON — What should’ve been a dream night for Mikel Brown Jr. ended up a nightmare. And the rookie went from hero to goat in a couple of plays.
After Brown’s huge last-second fourth-quarter shot forced overtime, his inexperienced mistakes on each end of the court cost the Nets in a 125-124 loss to Boston before a sellout crowd of 19,156 at TD Garden on Tuesday night.
Brown’s 13-point fourth quarter and game-tying 3-pointer had forced overtime. But his ill-advised failed layup attempt with 2.3 seconds left in the extra stanza gave the Celtics one last chance, and his gaffe in getting screened off and switching — after the Nets had been told not to — let Jayson Tatum cash in on that chance.
Mikel Brown Jr. (0) of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the basket against the Boston Celtics during a game at TD Garden in Boston, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Tatum’s 17-footer beat the buzzer. And the Nets.
“It’s just a broken play. I blame me,” said Brown. “We weren’t supposed to switch that, and I switched it. Made a couple of mistakes down the stretch that hurt us, so I’m gonna take the blame on it. Learn from it, get prepared for next game and don’t make the same mistake again. But I’m definitely not gonna forget.”
The Nets were clinging to a 124-123 edge when Brown missed a driving layup, and center Day’Ron Sharpe was initially whistled for a loose-ball foul with 6.1 seconds left in OT. But after coach Jordi Fernández called a timeout to challenge, the call was reversed to a foul on Luka Garza.
Brown missed another layup attempt, this one ill-advised. He should’ve pulled the ball back out, and admitted as much.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates his game-winning shot at the end of overtime to defeat the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Boston rebounded with 2.3 seconds remaining. The Nets shouldn’t have switched on the last play, but did when Brown got screened. The mistake cost them, missing Noah Clowney’s size on Tatum for what proved the winner.
“I did see the open lane, and thought I had a layup. But the ball was already slipping out of my hands and [Paul George] was already coming towards my right side, so I felt like if I didn’t go up with it I was gonna fall out of bounds. That was my last resort,” said Brown. “But I can’t make an excuse. There’s a lot of plays down the stretch I messed up on that I take full accountability of, and I’m gonna be better.”
Jayson Tatum hits the game-winning, buzzer-beating jumper in overtime of the Nets’ 125-124 loss to the Celtics on Oct. 27, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston. Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
The Nets had come back to force overtime. Brown had 13 points in the fourth quarter, including a game-tying 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds left to force OT.
Julius Randle — who’d scored a dozen in that fourth-quarter comeback — hit the first two buckets of the extra stanza to give the Nets a 121-117 lead. But he fouled out with 24 points, while Michael Porter Jr. added 27.
Neither could match Tatum, who poured in a game-high 40 points, eight assists, five rebounds and career-high 18-of-22 from the free-throw line.
Mikel Brown Jr. hits a game-tying 3-pointer just before the end of regulation, but it wasn’t enough as the Nets fell to the Celtics in overtime. NBAE via Getty ImagesMichael Porter Jr., who scored a team-high 27 points, goes up for a layup during the Nets’ overtime loss to the Celtics. NBAE via Getty Images
It overshadowed what should’ve been a huge breakthrough for Brown.
“We were not supposed to switch, but he got cleaned,” said Clowney. “We’ve got to help him learn how to navigate that screen late in the game. Knowing that they’re looking for Tatum, maybe track right behind the footsteps. But that’s on us as the older guys here. We should’ve let him know that before we even left the timeout huddle. We’re staying with our own. You can’t be playing in between your guy and the rim or you’re gonna get screened.
“He’s aware. He’s young, but he’s very capable. He’s been beating himself up about it. We’ve got another game Friday, man. He did a lot of good in this game. He got us in the game, got us into the position we were in.”
buddy was not wrong.”
