Category: NBA

CLEVELAND — Celtics assistant coach DJ MacLeay typically stands on the sidelines and barks out commands. MacLeay, who began as a player-enhancement coach with the Celtics in 2021, leads the team’s defense and is often one of the loudest voices during games.

But on Thursday night, for the first time in his career, he served as the Celtics’ head coach — at least for the second half.

Joe Mazzulla revealed at shootaround that he wouldn’t be coaching the Celtics’ preseason opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Instead, assistant coach Tony Dobbins would coach the first half (and handle pregame media responsibilities), and MacLeay would coach the second half (and handle postgame media responsibilities).

“It was definitely different,” MacLeay said. “I got to be the head coach of the Boston Celtics for a half. Can’t feel anything but gratitude for that.”

Mazzulla decided both coaches would get the opportunity after they went through head-coaching interviews this past summer, Dobbins with the Dallas Mavericks and MacLeay with the Portland Trail Blazers. Neither got the job — Dobbins was a finalist — but Mazzulla wanted to acknowledge their progress by giving them additional preseason responsibilities.

“To me that’s a huge testament to them and the work that they do,” Mazzulla said. “And so, you’re just always looking for opportunities to give them more experience. And sometimes, the only experience is being out there on the sideline.”

The Celtics head coach wanted to give his assistants time to mentally prepare, so he gave them a heads-up.

“In classic Joe fashion, he told us this way back in the summer, so I’ve had some time to think about this,” MacLeay said.

For MacLeay, serving as a head coach for a half gave him the opportunity to hone in on the key messages the team has been emphasizing throughout training camp.

“The biggest thing is working on the stuff that we’ve been trying to build — connection with the group, connection to how we want to play, understanding different turning points, different moments within the game, and I thought for the most part the guys really were intentional about that,” MacLeay said.

In addition to running the Celtics’ defense, MacLeay serves as Luka Garza’s player development coach. Garza excelled in Thursday’s game, finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds, both game-highs.

Afterward, he shared that getting to play for MacLeay formally made the outing even more meaningful.

“It was special, man,” Garza said. “He’s a guy that I just love working with, man. Every day, coming into the gym and working with him, whether it’s film or just the PD or whatever it is, he just brings such a great energy to the game, and I feel like we just have like mindsets in a lot of ways.

MacLeay knows he eventually wants to serve as a head coach, and he’s grateful that both the offseason interview process and the preseason game gave him a chance to prepare for the ultimate goal.

“All these experiences just open your eyes to all the different things that a head coach deals with, right?” MacLeay said. “There were things about that [interview] process that I could have done better, but I wouldn’t have known, having not gone through it before. And so, just like tonight, there were plenty of things that I screwed up, and I could have been better for the guys. And so, ultimately, just trying to be in a space where you take these experiences, you learn from them, you try to get better from them, you try to be better for the people around you, and serve the players as best you can. And you just try to take that mindset, the gratitude for this opportunity, for that opportunity with the interview, and just keep moving forward.”

As for Thursday’s game?

MacLeay smiled when asked what he felt he could have done better, and pointed to his after-timeout play calling.

“I drew way too many long ATOs,” MacLeay said. “I could have been better about that. My first time on the board in a long time — so just could have been better with that.”

The players, for one, could see their assistant coaches’ dreams ultimately coming to fruition.

“It was cool to see him get that opportunity, and he was obviously awesome in that role,” Garza said of MacLeay. “And that’s definitely in his future.”

Although the Los Angeles Lakers’ marquee free agency signing, Walker Kessler, is yet to play through three preseason games after jamming his finger on the backboard during training camp, neither Kessler nor his head coach, JJ Redick, sound alarmed about Kessler’s availability.

“We got a check-in tomorrow,” Redick said prior to Thursday’s game against the Sacramento Kings. “But it’s not concerning. He’ll play in the preseason.”

Kessler conducted an on-air interview with the broadcast during Thursday’s contest and seems quite optimistic about how he’s progressing.

“Finger’s good. Finger’s good,” Kessler said. “Just kind of going through all the protocols right now, talking to coaches and training staff right now…Feeling good.

Despite Redick and Kessler’s shared optimism about the injury, Kessler couldn’t offer a definitive timeline for his return.

“I’m not sure yet. I’m not sure yet,” he said. “We’re still talking and I don’t want to say anything that gets me in trouble. So, we’re still talking.”

The Lakers have two preseason games remaining ahead of their regular-season opener against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21. They play the Warriors in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena Tuesday before wrapping up their preseason slate by hosting the Denver Nuggets Oct. 16.

After a jam-packed first week of preseason action, with three games in four days, the layoff before their next game should provide Kessler plenty of time to suit up in at least one of Los Angeles’ final two preseason outings, as Redick seems confident he will do.

With Kessler sidelined, the Lakers have started veteran Kevon Looney at center in two games while Sandro Mamukelashvili got the nod Tuesday against the Warriors, presumably signaling both are in line for a prominent role this season.

Through the preseason games, Mamukelashvili’s filled up the box score, averaging 14 points, 3.7 assists (2.0 turnovers), 2.0 rebounds and 1.o blocks in 19.3 minutes per night. He’s shooting 57.1 percent from both the floor (16-of-28) and beyond the arc (8-of-14).

He starred during Los Angeles’ 114-110 victory over the Kings Friday with 19 points (7-of-10 shooting), four assists, three rebounds, one steal and one block. Once Kessler is back healthy, which seems like it’ll be sooner rather than later, I’m curious how much Mamukelashvili is deployed as a 4 vs. a small-ball 5.

You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.

The New York Knicks aren't giving Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart the contract extensions they want any time soon.

The reigning NBA champions announced on Friday, Oct. 9, that they are pausing negotiations with all extension-eligible players until a later date in order to minimize distractions as the Knicks begin their title defense. The decision leaves Towns and Hart without long-term clarity after both publicly expressed a desire to remain with New York.

"As an organization, our entire focus is on preparing for the upcoming season and delivering another year for our fans to be proud of," a Knicks spokesperson said, according to multiplereports. "As a result, we will not be negotiating contract extensions until later in the season and will remain solely focused on preparing for the start of the season."

LEBRON JAMES: How did he do in Sixers preseason debut vs. Nets

What a contract extension pause means for the Knicks

Knicks owner James Dolan made clear after the team won its 2026 NBA championship that he had no desire to take the franchise's payroll into the second apron of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement. It's why New York allowed center Mitchell Robinson to leave for the Boston Celtics via free agency and only made moves around the margins of the roster this offseason.

But Towns and Hart have become a delicate challenge for the team's front office coming off that exhilarating title run. While cutting off extension talks is intended to eliminate distractions, it also risks alienating two key Knicks starters who are among the team's most popular players.

By delaying negotiations, the Knicks are ensuring the contract situations involving Towns and Hart remain a storyline throughout the season, especially if either becomes more vocal about his frustration with the process.

Which Knicks players are affected by contract extension pause?

The Knicks currently have four players eligible to receive a contract extension.

• Karl-Anthony Towns
• Josh Hart
• Miles McBride
• Tyler Kolek

Karl-Anthony Towns contract: Latest updates

Karl-Anthony Towns is entering the third season of a four-year, $220.4 million contract he signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves before being traded to the Knicks in October 2024. He is set to make a salary of more than $57 million for the 2026-27 NBA season. The final year of the deal includes a player option with a salary cap hit of more than $61 million.

Towns has been eligible to sign a four-year, $276 million contract extension this entire offseason. The team's latest offer, according to ESPN, was a four-year deal worth about $200 million.

After Oct. 19, Towns would have to decline his player option for the 2027-28 season in order to sign a contract extension with the Knicks, according to NBA reporter Keith Smith. Towns recently expressed frustration with the way negotiations have gone, despite offering to take less than the max like Knicks star Jalen Brunson did in 2024 to provide more salary cap flexibility.

"Simply put, I want to do something that can keep the team together and work with the Knicks and also values me," Towns told reporters earlier this week. "None of those things have come close to happening."

Josh Hart contract: Latest updates

Hart is entering the third season of a four-year contract worth more than $80 million. He is scheduled to earn $20.9 million in 2026-27, while the Knicks hold a $22.3 million team option for 2027-28.

Hart is extension eligible and also wants to stay in New York, but indicated no progress had been made at the start of training camp.

"There hasn't really been much movement and conversation with that, so I don't think it will get done," Hart told reporters last month. "I would love to get it done."

What's next for the Knicks?

The Knicks begin the 2026-27 NBA regular season against the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 20. In addition to Hart and Towns, the franchise also must consider that Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby become extension-eligible next offseason. If Dolan stands by his promise not to enter the second apron, keeping the core of last year's championship roster intact beyond the 2026-27 season will become increasingly difficult.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart in contract limbo after Knicks talks paused

The Houston Rockets opened their preseason with a 135-117 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday morning at The Venetian Arena in Macao, China. The matchup gave both teams an early opportunity to evaluate their rosters, build chemistry, and prepare for the upcoming NBA season.

Houston established control early, taking a 27-19 lead after the first quarter. The Rockets continued to apply pressure in the second quarter, using their scoring ability and defensive intensity to create separation. By halftime, Houston had built a commanding 65-45 advantage, putting Dallas in a difficult position heading into the second half.

Tari Eason led the Rockets with 20 points, providing an important scoring contribution throughout the game. Alperen Sengun looked like the best player on the court at times, racking a up a triple double of 16 points, 10 boards, and 10 assists.

Fred VanVleet also made an impact, finishing with 17 points and 7 assists, as Houston showed its offense with a legit playmaker at the helm. He also hit 5 triples. Jabari Smith Jr. added 19 points, helping the Rockets spread the scoring across the lineup.

Kevin Durant, one of Houston’s major offensive weapons, finished with eight points in limited playing time. His presence added experience and star power to a Rockets team looking to develop its chemistry before the regular season begins. Durant’s limited scoring performance is not a concen to me as this is pre season. Additonally Houston being able to function offensilvey without relying heavily on Durant is a welcome development. Honestly my only real gripe with the offense was watching Tari and Amen try to initiate offense, Amen’s continued lack of handle.

Although preseason results do not determine regular-season success, the game provided valuable insight into both teams. Houston showed its offensive potential and depth, while Dallas gained experience for its younger players.

The Rockets and Mavericks will meet again in Macao on Sunday for their second preseason matchup. Both teams will look to build on Friday’s performance as they continue preparing for the 2026-27 NBA season. Be sure to check back here at The Dream Shake for more Rockets post game recaps.

The Los Angeles Lakers played their first home game on Thursday night, and wasted no time showing love to a late legend within their organization.

Longtime public-address announcer Lawrence Tanter died at the end of September at the age of 76 years old. He started his role with the team in 1982 and his career spanned 43 years before he retired near the end of the 2025-26 season.

The Lakers paid tribute to him before their preseason game against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.

After a brief highlight reel of Tanter’s iconic moments and player introductions, a new P.A. announcer said, “Lawrence Tanter was more than the voice of your Los Angeles Lakers. His unmistakable voice was the soundtrack to generations of Lakers basketball, and some of the most memorable moments in franchise history.

“Tonight, we remember L.T. as a cherished member of the Lakers’ family, and a voice that will forever echo through this arena. Please join us for a moment of silence in honor of the legendary Lawrence Tanter,” it continued.

Lakers pay tribute to longtime announcer Lawrence Tanter who passed away recently pic.twitter.com/lmBLtOpnuU

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) October 9, 2026

The Lakers’ roster also honored Tanter on the court by producing a 114-110 victory against Sacramento.

Tanter had suffered a stroke near the end of the Lakers’ last season and missed the final six games of their regular season, plus their five postseason home games.

The Dallas Mavericks were routed by the Houston Rockets, 135-117, in an early-morning preseason matchup on Friday. The game was the Mavericks’ first of two in Macao as they face the Rockets in the NBA China Preseason miniseries. Dallas echoed the same offensive struggles they faced throughout last season in Friday’s loss.

Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively, Santi Aldama, PJ Washington, Marcus Sasser, and Caleb Martin were held out for the Mavericks.

Here are four stats to know from Friday morning’s preseason loss.

1: Daniel Gafford 3-pointer

Daniel Gafford attempted one career three-pointer ahead of Friday’s preseason matchup with the Rockets. He attempted and made a spot-up three off a kick-out from Sergio de Larrea in the first quarter, to everyone’s surprise, except maybe his new coach.

Under head coach Dusty May’s new offense, he has challenged Gafford to expand his game and take threes as he continues to “earn the right.” Gafford saw just eight minutes of action in Friday’s blowout loss, finishing with seven points, three rebounds and one steal. The Mavericks will need more rebounding from Gafford, with Lively having no timetable to return, but it was pleasant to see the start of growth in his offensive game today.

8: Dwight Powell assists

Dwight Powell finished today’s matchup with a unique stat line of one point, one rebound and eight assists. His regular-season career-high in assists is eight, and he matched that number against the Rockets, leading the Mavericks in that category. Powell is the longest-tenured Maverick, and the leadership and professionalism he has shown throughout his career make him a valuable vet to any locker room. If he continues to contribute to the Mavericks’ bench in the preseason, the Mavericks will have to seriously consider putting him on the final roster heading into opening night.

35% vs. 50%: Mavericks vs. Rockets three-point efficiency

The Mavericks lost the three-point battle today, shooting 35% to the Rockets’ 50%. The shooting discrepancy put the Mavs in a hole they couldn’t dig themselves out of. Yet, still, a glimmer of hope — Dallas hoisted 51 threes today. They were willing shooters, at least, even if not particularly effective. That number exceeds their average attempts per game last season by 20! The Mavericks will be looking to shoot a lot more under May, but will need to see their shots fall at a higher clip, or the 3-point disparity will again be a season-long story.

19: Cooper Flagg points

Cooper Flagg only played in the first half, scoring 19 points in 19 minutes. He added six rebounds, three assists, two stocks, and shot 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. He started the first quarter slowly, with just two points, but heated up in the second quarter. In the second quarter, he seemed more assertive offensively, attempting four threes. His jump shot looked more fluid, a testament to the offseason work he has put in. Flagg’s performance in the first preseason game shows he is poised to take an offensive leap this year and emerge as a bonafide star in the league.

Up next

Set your alarms for Sunday at 5 am CT as the Mavericks and Rockets run it back on NBA TV and mavs.com.

“Our focus has always been what we believe is the best for the Lakers…”

That line came from a joint statement the Buss siblings released in August, as it became clear a battle was coming over the fate of the trust’s share in the Lakers. This week, the siblings made their stance on selling their minority stake in the team official by filing a formal opposition to Jeanie Buss’ claim that they do not have the right to do so.

It’s the latest update in a story that will not be going away for multiple more months. But it keeps driving home the same point.

“…the best for the Lakers…”

To be clear, this is not an argument for or against the new owners, Bob Iger and Josh Kushner. They’re bringing plenty of baggage into this role as well.

Instead, this is an argument that it’s time for the Buss family to move on from the franchise. Is that their true intention behind this move? Almost assuredly not. But call it cashing out. Call it spite or pettiness. Whatever the reasoning, they’re arriving at the solution that best serves the franchise.

Compare their messaging to that of Jeanie Buss’s. Her letter from her lawyer focused heavily on court orders mandating the family vote for her to remain the controlling owner of the Lakers. Her petition portrayed her as the one who had to come in once again and save the day from her scheming family. It suggested that the family trust’s best interest is to retain its stake in the team as franchise values skyrocket.

Does that sound like someone who has the Lakers front of mind? One side is doing what’s best for the Lakers — albeit while receiving a massive payday in doing so — while the other side is not.

Dr. Jerry Buss’ reign as owner was fruitful, but his children’s era has been far from it. The team does have a title to its name in that timeframe, but the Buss family has also had twice as many court appearances in that same span.

Long has the league moved past the Buss family. The lack of finances became more and more of an issue in recent years. The sale to Mark Walter seemed to be the perfect opportunity for a graceful exit as they faded into the background.

But that was always a far-fetched pipe dream. Realistically, there was only one way the Buss family was going to leave the franchise and graceful was never going to be the word used. A messy, unceremonious, contentious exit is far more fitting for the Jeanie Buss era.

This latest drama isn’t going away any time soon. The Buss siblings, at least publicly, are leaving open the door for this all to have an amicable ending, as shown with their statement to The Athletic on Wednesday.

“Jimmy, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss, the five of six siblings who voted to sell the Trust’s shares in the Lakers, today filed their formal opposition, demonstrating that Jeanie Buss’s petition is legally and factually baseless,” the siblings said in a statement given to The Athletic.

“While discussions among the siblings continue, their focus remains on facilitating the proposed transaction and the Trust’s participation in it, while ensuring that all beneficiaries, including Jeanie, are treated equally. Today’s filing is a necessary step to protect those interests and ensure the transaction proceeds on schedule.”

Jeanie, meanwhile, is likely motivated by the agreement she made with Mark Walter to not only be the governor for the next five years but, as reported by Dan Woike of The Athletic, to potentially do so even after.

In addition to negotiating a five-year term as the Lakers’ governor following the sale to Walter, Jeanie Buss secured an agreement allowing her to remain the team’s alternate governor beyond that period, provided she or her affiliated entities retain at least a five-percent ownership stake in the Lakers, according to Wednesday’s filing.

Her interests are pretty clear. She wants to remain a controlling voice of the Lakers. It seems to matter little to her that, at this point, fans likely won’t be receptive to her. Yet another messy, public fight between the siblings has sapped any remaining sympathy many fans had for her.

Most, if not all, are ready to move on from the Buss family. It’s a matter of their own doing with Jeanie at the forefront. If you had told Lakers fans in the mid-2000s that a day would come when they would be ready for the Buss family to sell the team, few might have believed you.

But a long history of mismanagement with plenty of in-fighting, selfishness, spite and pettiness mixed in has gotten us to this point. Now, it’s in the best interest of the Lakers for the family to take their hundreds of millions of dollars and move on…

If Jeanie even cares.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

It’s not a stretch to say that the Philadelphia 76ers’ championship hopes still rest on the broad shoulders of Joel Embiid even after bringing in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown over the offseason. It’s not just that Embiid was arguably the best player in the NBA as recently as Jan. 2024, but also that Philly just doesn’t have much center depth behind him, particularly after backup Ariel Hukporti already suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in the preseason.

LeBron made his Sixers debut in the team’s second preseason game on Thursday night, but Embiid stole the show in the worst way possible. With the caveat that it’s only preseason … Embiid looked absolutely atrocious during his 24 minutes on the floor, and it already feels like a legitimate concern for the 76ers.

Embiid shot 1-of-5 from the floor and finished with eight turnovers in 24 minutes against the Brooklyn Nets. Those numbers don’t even capture how viscerally washed he looked. Embiid already had a few terrible plays early in the game, but he went mega-viral for this pathetic fastbreak attempt midway through the second quarter. Embiid was thrown a perfect alley-oop, but he didn’t jump for it, and then missed the easy layup. Watch the play all of NBA Twitter was talking about here:

JOEL EMBIID ALLEYOOP SLAM 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/FxRjm5cACu

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) October 9, 2026

Is Joel Embiid physically capable of jumping? I’m not sure after watching this clip. Seems important for a basketball player, even if you’re over 7-feet tall like Embiid.

Embiid was bad from the very start of the game, airballing a fadeaway on his first touch. He was making some incredibly sloppy decisions with the ball as Nets defenders crashed down on him in the paint, and just looked like he wasn’t locked in at all on either side of the floor. Maybe there’s nothing Embiid could have done about his physical downfall in the last couple years since his peak, but it almost feels more concerning that he’s making so many mental mistakes. This is not what you want out of the seventh highest paid player in the NBA at a tick below $58 million this season.

Joel Embiid is BACK 🔥

🧱 6 points
🧱 8 turnovers
🧱 1-5 field goals
🧱 9 flops pic.twitter.com/kdl9yR4erT

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) October 9, 2026

The Sixers are pretty deep elsewhere on the roster after a quality offseason that saw them sign Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the bench while drafting Labaron Philon out of Alabama. The one spot where the roster is really thin is at center, and that was true even before Hukporti’s Achilles tear.

Realistically, how many games can the Sixers count on Embiid to play? Over/under 45? That is going to put immense pressure on backup Adem Bona, and the Sixers are going to need some more big bodies after him. Embiid really won’t help the team much regardless of how often he plays if he’s this lackadaisical mentally and physically.

There was already a report in training camp that Embiid showed up to practice late — a theme throughout his career — and got yelled at by LeBron. Both Embiid and James shot down the report, and ESPN apologized for it. Embiid gave another sad sack comment on the report after the game:

Joel Embiid on the recent report about LeBron James getting on him for being late: "I don't know where that came from. It never happened. … One, it's not true. And then again it's like, 'Why me?' But I guess I'm Joel Embiid, I've been in this situation."

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 9, 2026

Embiid’s professionalism has always been a question even when he was at his peak. He’s slipped so much physically at this point that he can’t afford any mental mistakes. Embiid seems like he has a “woe is me” attitude far too often. I certainly have some empathy for the amount of injuries he’s dealt with, but at a certain point making a bunch of excuses isn’t a good look for a player who is this highly paid.

Yes, it’s the preseason. It’s totally possible that the Sixers look great by May, and Embiid is a big part of the team on both ends of the floor. It’s troubling that the veteran center looks so bad after a long summer where he dropped weight and seemed to show a new commitment to his body. The Sixers are loaded offensively, but it’s only going to work if Embiid can step up defensively and on the glass. There’s no safety net behind him anymore.

It’s silly to overreact to preseason, but this game will at least serve as an important note in the Sixers’ story whether they end the season as champions or fail to win a playoff series. Embiid looked awful in his first preseason game. Let’s see where he goes from here.

NBA preseason action has returned to Macao, China, where the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets will play in a two-game series.

Friday’s opening matchup at The Venetian Arena saw the Mavericks’ offense shine, led by reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, along with strong performances from Naji Marshall, Zaccharie Risacher and Max Christie.

Despite their efforts, the Mavericks fell 135-117 to a seasoned Rockets squad. Houston was led by Kevin Durant, who began his 19th NBA season, along with Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson.

Beyond the games, this preseason trip offers an immersive experience both on and off the court. The Venetian Arena will become a basketball hub featuring NBA House, an interactive expo that blends music, live entertainment, fashion and retail experiences to celebrate basketball culture.

Fans will also have the chance to participate in NBA Fan Day on Saturday, Oct. 10, an event where they can interact with players and enjoy performances by top Asian artists. These festivities set the stage for the second preseason game on Sunday, Oct. 11.

More: LeBron James, 76ers' loaded starting 5 play preseason game: Did we learn anything?

What are the NBA China Games?

The NBA China Games bring two preseason matchups between the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets at The Venetian Arena in Macao on Oct. 9 and 11 at 6 a.m. ET.

Fans in the U.S. can watch the NBA China Games on NBA TV and NBA League Pass.

Why are the Rockets so popular in China?

The Houston Rockets rose to popularity in China largely thanks to Chinese basketball legend Yao Ming. Selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, Yao spent all nine seasons with the Rockets before retiring in 2011.

NBA's other international showcases

This season, the NBA has five events outside the U.S.

Beyond the doubleheader contests in China and the Canada Game in Quebec City, the NBA’s international calendar features additional stops in Mexico City, Paris and Manchester.

Here is a look at the International showcase schedule (times ET)

• Oct. 10: NBA Canada Game (Toronto Raptors vs. LA Clippers), 6:30 p.m.
• Oct. 9 and 11: NBA China Games (Dallas Mavericks vs. Houston Rockets), 6 a.m.
• Nov. 7: NBA Mexico City Game (Denver Nuggets vs. Indiana Pacers), 5:30 p.m.
• Jan. 14: NBA Paris Game (New Orleans Pelicans vs. San Antonio Spurs), 2 p.m.
• Jan 17: NBA Manchester Game (New Orleans Pelicans vs. San Antonio Spurs), 10:30 a.m.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rockets vs. Mavericks in China: What to know about NBA China Games 2026

The Dallas Mavericks tipped off a four-game preseason slate on Friday against the Houston Rockets, losing 135-117 at the Venetian Arena in Macao, China.

Dallas’ goal in the preseason opener was clearly to get a good look at all the new players on the roster, to see how the rookies mix in and to see what pieces fit where. Both Morez Johnson Jr. and, inexplicably, Daniel Gafford hit 3-pointers in the first quarter for the Mavericks, but the Rockets led 27-19 after one as Yao Ming looked on from his courtside seats.

Cooper Flagg stood alone in the second for the Mavs, as the rest of the team looked stuck in the mud on the offensive end. The Rockets built a lead as large as 23 before taking a 65-45 lead into the halftime break. The Mavs pulled to within on 27-23 on an alley-oop dunk by Flagg early in the second before the Rockets outscored Dallas 38-22 for the rest of the half. Tari Eason hit a 3-pointer from the right wing as time expired to end a Mavs mini-run late in the quarter and give the Rockets 20-point edge at the break.

The Mavs cut into the lead early in the third before the Rockets built it back to 20-plus late in the third and early in the fourth, behind a game-high 20 points from Tari Eason and 17 more from Fed VanVleet. Flagg led Dallas with 19 points in the loss, and Naji Marshall added 16.

Flagg pours it on

From tipoff, Cooper Flagg was getting after it on the defensive end. Though he was credited with just one steal in the first quarter, he forced the Rockets into three of their first five turnovers. He scored just one bucket in the first quarter, an uncontested drive and dunk as both teams were dipping their feet into the preseason water.

Cooper Flagg throws it down for his first preseason bucket 💥

Watch Rockets/Mavericks from Macao on NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/bQQ2PFr6qG

— NBA (@NBA) October 9, 2026

Flagg made a couple of highlight plays early in the second, blocking Amen Thompson’s driving layup attempt on one end before receiving an alley-oop to finish off the break on the other as he scored Dallas’ first four points of the frame. He picked up his third foul of the game with 9:22 left in the second quarter, but head coach Dusty May left him in for a few minutes because, hey, it’s the first preseason game of the year. Flagg rewarded May by hitting his first 3-ball of the game the next time down, drawing Dallas to within 34-26 with 8:45 left in the half.

Cooper Flagg defensive play and the SLAM!! pic.twitter.com/oT8vWXloyx

— MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) October 9, 2026

All signs to Flagg easing his way into a transcendent second year. He looked free to roam a little and disrupt things on the defensive end, which was good to see. That’s how he can be an elite defensive disruptor.

Flagg scored 17 easy points in the second. He got exactly where he wanted, mainly the nail, but he also excelled on the fast break. This kid is already, say nothing of what he’s going to be, amazing to watch. His comparative readiness to go and the ease with which he adapted to in-game circumstances in the first preseason game stood in stark contrast to the rest of this roster.

If this game is indicative of what kind of leap Flagg could take in his second NBA season, we could already be looking at a top-15 NBA player. His strength and confidence with the ball was the most obvious point of growth on Friday. The scoring and defense were always going to be there.

Flagg sat out the second half after scoring 19 points and grabbing six boards on 7-of-14 shooting in 19 first-half minutes.

Get a look at Risacher

Zaccharie Risacher started the first preseason game for the Mavericks, and take a mental snapshot of that. If his effort was indicative of what he’ll bring to Dallas this season, Risacher won’t sniff the starting lineup in any meaningful games any time soon.

He was timid — soft at times. His first 3-pointer barely grazed the rim, and he missed all three of his shot attempts in the first quarter, when he and Flagg got a little more run than the rest of the starting five. It seemed like first-year head coach Dusty May really wanted to get a look at the player Dallas traded Ryan Nembhard for this offseason — only to find out that there’s a reason that all it took to acquire Risacher was an end-of-the-bench undrafted rookie like Nembhard.

Much has been made of how much good a change of scenery could do the former No. 1 overall draft pick and how he’s apparently now 6’10”, but until he starts doing anything at all on a real live basketball court, expectations should be tempered. He scored his first bucket of the game on a broken play inside late in the second quarter and finished the game with nine points and eight rebounds in 24 minutes.

Risacher looked a little more comfortable in the second half. He curled around a screen and pulled up for his first 3-pointer of the preseason with 7:50 left in the third as the Mavs worked their way out of the 20-point first-half hole. Then, he started a fast break the next time down that ended in Max Christie’s driving jam, which made it a 72-61 game.

Risacher finished a tough baseline drive through Eason’s defense with 5:08 left in the third before bricking an awkward-looking 3-point attempt from the top of the key two possessions later. Then, he put his head down and got to the basket again for a finger roll to give him seven points in the quarter.

Irving held out Friday, will play Sunday

Dusty May officially announces that Kyrie Irving will rest for Game 1 in Macau but WILL play Game 2. https://t.co/e5943lSFDjpic.twitter.com/bhDo2UwVI8

— Ron Harrod Jr. (@RonKnowsSports) October 9, 2026

May announced before the game that Kyrie Irving would rest for the first game of preseason play on Friday, likely to make his debut on Sunday, when Dallas plays even earlier in the morning than Friday’s 7 a.m. tip.

“The leverage he provides the other guys, I think that’s one area we can make a big improvement offensively,” May said in his pregame comments. “Simply having a floor general like him on the court with the young group I think will open up a number of things.”

At times, it felt like that center of gravity was exactly what was missing for the Mavericks in Friday’s preseason opener against the Rockets. It felt like if you added Irving to the mix in a lot of scenarios that went wrong for Dallas on Friday, things could have gone the other way on those possessions.

It was a good early reminder. Patience is going to be key this season — in so many ways. This team has a couple of things going for it, but there are is a ton more that needs to be worked out and will take time to get worked out.

Preseason Larrywatch

Nice outlet pass by Sergio De Larrea. pic.twitter.com/s30w5836Wc

— Nalsketbol (@nalsketbol) October 9, 2026

Sergio de Larrea is going to be one of the most intriguing pieces of this Mavericks’ roster all season long. He quietly knocked down his first two 3-point attempts before using some of his extended run in the fourth quarter to drop a nice assist nearly the length of the court to a sprinting Tobi Lawal for his fourth assist of the game.

Then, for good measure, he knocked down a third straight 3-pointer in the game’s final minutes to give fans something extra to ruminate on.

This kid can play. He showed his special passing and playmaking abilities in Summer League play, and he flashed them again in smaller doses in the team’s first preseason game. He seems one step ahead of Tarik Biberovic in terms of development at this early juncture.

De Larrea finished with 11 points, six assists and four turnovers in 23 minutes against the Rockets on Friday. Two-way rookie Tobi Lawal led the Mavs’ bench unit with 13 points in 15 minutes.

Joe Lacob reveals his straightforward expectations for Jimmy Butler upon return originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are holding on to the final years of a tremendous stretch. If they want any chance of competing deep into the NBA playoffs, Batman will need Robin.

Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler are the one-two punch that led Golden State to the second round of the Western Conference semifinals two years ago. Butler is coming off a torn ACL, and owner Joe Lacob has blunt expectations for when he returns to the court.

“My guess is he’ll come back and be pretty damn good,” Lacob said, “because he’s Jimmy Damn Butler and he works hard.”

Jimmy Butler had to be helped to the locker room after appearing to injury his knee pic.twitter.com/sOSpAxbbAP

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) January 20, 2026

It’s been nearly nine months since Butler’s knee injury, and he has been recovering well. Butler sat down with NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke in Hawaii during training camp for an update.

“I’ve started to run,” Butler stated. “I can dunk. I probably shouldn’t be doing that, but I can.”

Butler’s eagerness to get back on the floor is no surprise. His competitive spirit has never been a concern with every team he’s played for.

“I’m moving in the right direction,” Butler continued. “I’m also moving at a faster pace. I’m stoked. I’m excited about it because now I’m starting to see the progressions that are leading me back to the basketball court.”

Since his time with the Warriors, Butler is averaging 19.1 points along with 5.5 rebounds per game. His stats are great, but his impact is felt more than numbers can quantify.

If the Warriors are able to get Butler back sometime near the All-Star break, that would be a positive. Down the stretch of the regular season is when competition will pick up in the West.

One thing is for certain: Lacob expects Butler to ball out.

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The Knicks have paused all contract extension negotiations – including their increasingly spicy back-and-forth with Karl-Anthony Towns.

Four days after Towns expressed frustration with what he intimated was an insulting offer, the Knicks released a statement Friday morning that attempted to temporarily put the kibosh on both negotiations and distractions.

It was further evidence that the sides weren’t close to an agreement before the regular-season opener Oct. 20.

“As an organization, our entire focus is on preparing for the upcoming season and delivering another year for our fans to be proud of,” a Knicks spokesperson said. “As a result, we will not be negotiating contract extensions until later in the season and will remain solely focused on preparing for the start of the season.”

Josh Hart and Miles McBride, in addition to Towns, are currently eligible for extensions. They can negotiate until June but agreements are often settled before the season to avoid distractions.

Instead, the Knicks sent out a message that they are done talking – for now – as they navigate owner James Dolan’s mandate to stay under the second apron.

As The Post reported, the Knicks offered Towns four years and about $200 million, which is $77 million less than his max. He was willing to take a discount but not as drastic as New York’s proposal.

If Towns left the Knicks in free agency, the max he could make is $265 million over four years.

“Simply put: I want to do something to keep the team together and can work with the Knicks and also (a contract that) values me,” Towns said Monday. “And none of those things are close to happening.”

Asked if he expected to be rewarded after breaking the franchise’s 53-year title drought, Towns responded, “No s- -t, Sherlock. I just won a championship. You’d think it was pretty easy. Unless you guys (the reporters) think I have something else to prove.”

Towns, who will make $57 million this season, left Thursday’s preseason loss to the Wizards without speaking to the media.

He holds the leverage of a $61 million player option for next season. If there’s no extension agreement and he shines again this season, Towns can decline the option and seek a lucrative offer in 2027 free agency. If he struggles, Towns can pick up the option and play next season on the highest salary of his career.

Hart holds less leverage with a team option for next season. He said on Media Day that there was no progress on his extension negotiations and didn’t expect an agreement before the season started.

McBride has no options and, with no extension, will definitely become a free agent after the season.

Joe Lacob believes Steve Kerr ‘goes a little far' with political views originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors are back in action and hungrier than ever to return to the NBA playoffs after missing them entirely last season. Coach Steve Kerr is still leading the charge after rumors circulated that he would step down after last season. But Kerr and the Warriors agreed to a new contract, keeping him in charge of the franchise for at least the next two seasons.

Kerr seems more motivated than ever since announcing his return, implementing changes to the offensive system while also figuring out ways for the team to improve their spacing on the floor. Owner Joe Lacob has noticed Kerr’s renewed fire and is happy that he got his coach back, even if they do not see eye-to-eye on everything.

“I think he’s very motivated,”Joe Lacob told The San Francisco Chronicle’s Ron Kroichick. “I looked around and said, ‘Am I really gonna get a better coach than Steve Kerr?’ Look, he’s a great coach with a tremendous track record of success. We don’t agree on every little thing all the time, but for the most part we do agree on things.”

One of the most notable things that the two do not always agree on is Kerr’s outspoken political views. That topic was brought up back in April when ESPN’s Marc Spears said during a radio show appearance that Kerr was being stifled on that.

Kerr dismissed the issue and said the topic did not come up with Lacob or general manager Mike Dunleavy when he negotiated his new contract. Kerr even told the San Francisco Standard’s Tim Kawakami that Lacob lets him say what he wants as long as there is no controversy.

Lacob echoed that same sentiment while doubling down on the trust that he has in his coach.

“Steve knows there are times he has said things which I did not agree with,” Lacob told the Chronicle. “But I do trust him to say the right things, do the right thing. Now sometimes he goes a little far and I have to go back and say, ‘Hey, Steve, maybe that was a little far.’ (laughing)…

“But we don’t have to agree on everything. Steve’s a really smart guy and we’re lucky to have him as our head coach. I really love our relationship, so I would not make anything more of it than it is.”

Kerr might be known for his highly public views, but his success as a coach overshadows all that. A four-time NBA champion during his time as the Warriors coach, he is ready to see how the next couple of seasons go and is hopeful that he can win at least one more title while the franchise still has future Hall of Fame guard Steph Curry.

The Warriors began their preseason with a 104-101 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 4. They begin the regular season against the Los Angeles Lakers on the road on Oct. 21. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

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