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Kings trade wing Nique Clifford to Thunder for two second-round picks

Second-year wing Nique Clifford was not getting much run in Sacramento, he was unimpressive in Summer League, but the real question has been: Is that because Clifford is not really an NBA player, or is it because of the Kings and coach Doug Christie's player development and usage?

The Oklahoma City Thunder are betting on the latter, as they have agreed to trade for Clifford from the Kings for two second-round picks (Utah's 2028 and Minnesota's 2030), a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN.

The Thunder are looking for wing depth after potential season-ending injuries to Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace.

Clifford, the No. 24 pick in 2025 out of Colorado State, had largely fallen out of the Kings' rotation, and the team worked with him to find a new home, Charania reports. Clifford will make $3.3 million this season and $3.4 million next season, with a team option for nearly $6 million for 2028-29.

Clifford, a 6'5" wing, was averaging 6.3 minutes per game for the Kings, averaging 1.6 points per game on 35.3% shooting. Will putting him in the Thunder system and their development program change things for the 24-year-old? The Thunder are betting yes.

The Kings have just 13 players on the roster and have two weeks to add a 14th player to meet the league minimum.

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Week 4 Look Ahead: Luka Dončić continues to dominate, while Kon Knueppel is back on the injury report

After Sunday's games, the 2026-27 NBA season will have completed its first three weeks. While devastating injuries dominated early on, historic performances have taken center stage more recently. San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama had a night rarely seen in NBA history, while Lakers star Luka Dončić is on an extreme heater. Let's look back at some of Week 3's key storylines and look ahead to what's to come in Week 4.

Five Week 3 Storylines

- Luka Dončić has been on a historic heater: With LeBron James no longer in the picture, the Lakers became Luka's "team" for those interested in that kind of conversation. And it also opened things up for him to do even more offensively, if that were even possible. Well, it was, and Dončić has been on a run rarely seen in NBA history.

Through nine games, the Lakers guard is averaging 40.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 1.7 steals and 5.8 three-pointers per game while shooting 49.8 percent from the field and 87.3 percent from the foul line. Sure, Dončić is also averaging 4.9 turnovers per game, but hisoverall production has minimized the impact on his fantasy value.

Not only has he scored at least 40 points in four straight games, but Luka has also tallied at least 35 points, five rebounds and five assists in each of his last seven appearances. At this rate, Dončić is well on his way to being the most valuable player in fantasy basketball...and possibly league MVP as well.

- Victor Wembanyama's historic night: Wembanyama's averages aren't on par with Luka's, but he's gotten off to the start that fantasy managers expected, based on his preseason ADP. The Spurs center had a huge night in the team's November 4 win over the Mavericks, tallying 52 points, 24 rebounds, two assists, two steals and eight blocks. Wembanyama joined Bob McAdoo as the only players in league history to finish a game with at least 50 points, 20 rebounds and five blocks since blocked shots became an official stat.

Also, he joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to record at least 50 points, 20 rebounds and eight blocks. Wilt achieved that feat on five separate occasions in his storied career. With Wembanyama not turning 23 until January, this may not be the last time he records a stat line like the one he dropped on Wednesday.

- Kristaps Porziņģis stepping away from basketball: Unfortunately, the Porziņģis situation took another turn last week, as the 7-foot-3 center announced that he was stepping away from basketball. He's been dealing with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) since his time with the Celtics, and managing the illness has been a major challenge. Because of Porziņģis' absence, the Warriors have been withholding payment on his contract, and reports suggest the team hopes to trade him for a player who can help immediately.

For his part, Porziņģis said in a statement last week that he's willing to work with the Warriors to reach a solution that satisfies all parties. In his absence, the Warriors have relied more on Charles Bassey, whose contract won't be fully guaranteed until January 10. Undrafted rookie Graham Ike even made two starts early in the season, and Al Horford is providing bench depth.

- Yaxel Lendeborg is establishing himself as the early Rookie of the Year favorite: Porziņģis' absence was a factor in Golden State's three-game losing streak to start the season, but they've been on a roll ever since. Saturday's overtime win over the Magic extended the Warriors' win streak to seven, with Stephen Curry going off for 41 points on 13-of-19 shooting. The future Hall of Fame guard's big night isn't a surprise. However, Lendeborg has established himself, in the eyes of many, as the early favorite for Rookie of the Year.

During the Warriors' ongoing win streak, he has averaged 22.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.0 blocks and 2.1 three-pointers per game, shooting 53.0 percent from the field and 79.5 percent from the foul line. While many teams go young and bet on perceived upside in the draft, the Warriors prioritized adding a player who can help win now, with Curry and Draymond Green in the latter stages of their respective careers. Lendeborg does that, and he's also looked like a potential cornerstone in the post-Curry/Green era, whenever that may be.

- Kon Knueppel makes his season debut...and aggravates his hamstring strain: Injured just before the start of training camp, Knueppel made his first appearance of the season in the Hornets' November 4 loss to the Nets. Unfortunately, he played just under six minutes before aggravating his strained left hamstring and leaving. Knueppel didn't play in Charlotte's November 6 loss to the Celtics, and the Hornets have not provided a return timeline.

Making things worse for the Hornets, Brandon Miller left that game with groin tightness, and neither Moussa Diabaté (quad) nor Dennis Schröder (thigh) played against the Celtics. Naz Reid struggled the last time out, shooting 6-of-17 from the field, and his start in Charlotte has not gone as smoothly as many hoped. But with injuries, the Hornets will need more from Reid.

Five Week 4 Storylines

- Jalen Duren to miss at least two more weeks: The Pistons have been without their starting center since the second game of the season when he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Duren's status was updated on Sunday, when the Pistons announced he's cleared to start on-court activities and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Paul Reed has filled in at center, averaging 12.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks in 29.3 minutes per game. The Pistons don't need Reed to be a prolific scorer, but he has provided solid fantasy value as Duren's replacement. The disappointing part is that John Collins' production has dropped compared to his 2025-26 numbers with the Clippers. He's averaging 9.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game and seems to be struggling to fully grasp his role in Detroit. The Pistons play three games next week, two against the Wizards, which could be a "get right" opportunity for Collins.

- Thunder reportedly acquire Nique Clifford: Needing depth due to their many injuries, Oklahoma City reportedly acquired Nique Clifford from the Kings for two future second-round picks. After a decent rookie season, Clifford fell out of the Kings' rotation, averaging 6.3 minutes per game this season. The move to Oklahoma City gives him a fresh start, and he's joining a franchise that has developed young players well in the past.

As for the Kings, will they look to add another guard? Kevin Porter Jr.'s name has come up before, and he's still a free agent. Whatever the Kings decide, one thing will remain the same: Darius Acuff Jr. will stay the focal point of their ongoing rebuild.

- The Wizards ended Week 3 without Anthony Davis and Deandre Ayton: Davis missed the Wizards' final two games of the week with a sprained ankle, while Ayton exited Saturday's loss to the Thunder with a lower left leg injury. Alex Sarr played 28 minutes on Saturday, finishing with 15 points, 14 rebounds and one assist. He didn't record any defensive stats, but the third-year center has a higher ceiling when Davis is out.

Bilal Coulibaly started on Saturday and could retain that role, but he went scoreless on 0-of-8 shooting. The Wizards have a surplus of wings, which lends itself to smaller lineups for longer periods if Davis and Ayton can't play on Monday against the Pistons.

- The Nets and Timberwolves have light schedules: Brooklyn and Minnesota are the only teams scheduled to play two games in Week 4. However, the Timberwolves have a silver lining: both games are on light days (Thursday and Saturday). With those games against Dallas and Chicago, low-rostered options like Terrence Shannon Jr. and Bones Hyland may be worth a roll of the dice for streaming purposes.

The Nets are also active on Saturday, but their first game is on Wednesday, the busiest day of the week. Nolan Traoré, who has been more productive than many expected before the season began, loses some luster in fantasy leagues because of the schedule. The lighter schedule helps Mikel Brown Jr., who isn't playing both games of back-to-backs because of the back injury that ended his lone college season early. Also, guard Egor Dëmin (leg) will be re-evaluated at the beginning of the week, and the schedule may open the door for him to return to action.

- The Mavericks will play on Saturday and Sunday: Dallas is the only team with games on Saturday and Sunday to close out Week 4. That means fantasy managers rostering Kyrie Irving have to anticipate him sitting out one of those games, at Cleveland (Saturday) and at Boston (Sunday). Caleb Martin started the most recent game Irving missed, a November 2 loss to the Kings, and accounted for five points and six rebounds in 21 minutes. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Naji Marshall is a better streaming option than Martin on nights when Irving doesn't play.

Three Questions

1. How many games will Nic Claxton play before he moves into the Bulls' starting lineup?

2. How much longer will the Raptors be without Kawhi Leonard?

3. Will the Celtics stick with a three-man center rotation all season long?

Early Waivers Look (Players rostered in less than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues)

G: Nolan Traoré (Brooklyn Nets, 40%), Grayson Allen (Charlotte Hornets, 33%), Ja'Kobe Walter (Toronto Raptors, 24%), Jamal Shead (Toronto Raptors, 9%)

F:Aaron Wiggins (Atlanta Hawks, 40%), Tari Eason (Houston Rockets, 37%), Tristan da Silva (Orlando Magic, 27%), Max Strus (LA Clippers, 16%)

C: Brook Lopez (LA Clippers, 35%), Robert Williams III (Portland Trail Blazers, 13%)

Stats of the Week

43: Both Orlando and Golden State made 43 field goals in their November 7 overtime battle. However, the Warriors needed 80 attempts to hit that number, while the Magic needed 113.

11: Orlando's Franz Wagner averaged 11 assists per game over his last five appearances, reaching double figures in that category in four.

35.8: Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 35.8 points per game over his last four appearances, a run that began with him totaling 85 points in two wins over the Cavaliers.

Awards Section

Week 3 Team of the Week

G Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

G Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

G Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers

F Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards

C Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

Week 3 All-Rookie Team

G Darius Acuff Jr., Sacramento Kings

G Darryn Peterson, Utah Jazz

G Bennett Stirtz, Oklahoma City Thunder

F Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors

C Aday Mara, Oklahoma City Thunder

Plays of the Week: Victor Wembanyama’s historic performance against the Mavericks

Week 4 Schedule Breakdown

Week 4 Games Played

4 Games: CLE, DAL, HOU, IND, MEM, MIL, NOR, NYK, OKC, PHX, SAS, TOR, UTA, WAS

3 Games: ATL, BOS, CHA, CHI, DEN, DET, GSW, LAC, LAL, MIA, ORL, PHI, POR, SAC

2 Games: BKN, MIN

Week 4 Back-to-backs

Sunday (Week 3)-Monday: DAL, DET, LAL, NOR

Monday-Tuesday: PHX

Tuesday-Wednesday: BOS, MIL, NYK, OKC, ORL, POR, UTA

Wednesday-Thursday: TOR, WAS

Thursday-Friday: None

Friday-Saturday: CHI, CLE, MEM, MIA, NOR

Saturday-Sunday: DAL

Sunday-Monday (Week 5): BOS, HOU, PHI, PHX, WAS

Week 4 Light Game Days: Thursday (four games), Saturday (five games)

Week 4 Busy Game Days: Monday (eight games), Wednesday (10 games), Friday (nine games), Sunday (nine games)

Teams with no games on Saturday or Sunday: GSW, ORL, POR

Teams with games on Saturday and Sunday: DAL

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Boston Celtics Daily Links 11/8/26

CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 6: The sneakers worn by Royce O'Neale #00 of the Charlotte Hornets during the game against the Boston Celtics during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on November 6, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Globe Celtics at Bucks preview: Milwaukee on a five-game losing streak entering Sunday’s prime-time showdown

CelticsBlog The 20-Game Rule: let’s give this some time

CLNS MediaCeltics Offense Showing Promising New Changes | Still Poddable

Are The Celtics a Guy Short? | Celtics Beat

NBC Sports Boston One Possession: Sure-handed Sam Hauser leads NBA with one wild stat

NESNJayson Tatum’s Road Numbers Against the Hornets Are Absurd

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Today in Boston Celtics history: Sanders, Carroll born; Driggers, Searcy debuted; Overton, Sykes sign; Nostrand passes

Celtics point guard Payton Pritchard on injury that forced exit in win vs. Bucks

Celtics at Bucks: Stream, lineups, injury reports, broadcast (11/8)

Boston Sports JournalBSJ Live Coverage: Celtics at bucks 8:00 p.m. – Keeping up the pace

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Jayson Tatum has uncanny ability to force coaches to take timeouts

Mitchell Robinson’s progress with Celtics continues to be in baby steps

Luka Garza’s absurd 3-point shooting should force Celtics to make big decision

Paul George had his worst game as a Celtic, and no one cared

Celtics just got the mix of joy and aggression they need from Derrick White

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Hugo Gonzalez calls Jayson Tatum one of the best players in the world | Pregame Interview

Luka Garza explains how he has the best defensive rating on the team | Pregame Interview

Heavy‘Hell Nah’: Celtics’ Jayson Tatum Gives Blunt Fitness Verdict After 34-Point Night

Celtics Urged to Pounce on Bulls’ Norman Powell to Solve Glaring 3rd-Scorer Problem

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CBS Sports Jayson Tatum, Celtics look to extend Bucks’ five-game skid

Celtics RoundtableBoston Celtics Need More Consistency From Payton Pritchard

Boston Celtics: Watch Chris Cenac Jr.’s Highlights From G-League Debut

Boston Celtics Schedule About to Get Much Tougher

Hoops Rumors Celtics Notes: Pritchard, Tatum, Brown, George

Maine G-LeagueCeltics go for sweep Sunday vs. Westchester

ESPNMaking sense of Jaylen Brown’s previous impact with Celtics

Brew HoopMilwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics Preview & Game Thread: Revenge game

Athlon Sports Jayson Tatum didn’t know about savings accounts; SoFi gave $1 million to his foundation for St. Louis single parents’ down payments

Basketball Network“This was intentional” – Bill Simmons floated wild conspiracy theory behind Golden State’s $40M Kristaps Porzingis signing

How ‘Bout Them Celtics/YouTubeWhich Celtics Players Are Trending Up After Two Weeks of the Season

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SI .comThe Answer to the Boston Celtics Center Rotation, and Other Thoughts After 9 Games

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Is Luka Dončić playing tonight? Injury update on Lakers star vs. Pistons

The Los Angeles Lakers are tasked with facing one of the NBA's best defenses in the Detroit Pistons in the first of their four-game road trip on Sunday, Nov. 8. They'll have the added challenge of doing so without the driving force of their offense.

Luka Dončić has been ruled out with lower back tightness, the team announced. Dončić was listed as questionable on Saturday, one day after the leading MVP candidate dropped a season-high 53 points at home against the Portland Trail Blazers.

It's a blow to the Lakers (8-2), who will be without Dončić's 40.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists per night in nine games played this season. He's missed one other game with back tightness.

Detroit (6-2), meanwhile, has given up an average of 101.8 points per game, fewest in the league.

Amid Dončić's historic stretch of seven consecutive 35-plus point games, the last four of which he's scored at least 40, head coach JJ Redick was asked if there was any danger in relying too much on the two-time scoring champion.

"Part of planning and team building and playing an 82-game season is that you're constantly assessing and trying to be better," Redick said on Friday. "... Let's say you're running a nine-man rotation or 10-man rotation. It's rare that you have each guy playing great. The goal is for each guy to play great, but that just doesn't happen so you're constantly tending to things. It's just the NBA.

" ... We have to rely on Luka because he's our best player, just like every other team relies on their best player. We still have to coach everyone else and coach the team."

The Lakers could be choosing to be proactive with getting rest for Dončić, as they travel to Atlanta for the second night of a back-to-back on Monday.

Luka Dončić injury history

Dončić does have a history of back injuries during his career. Before this season, he was most recently listed with a back injury in March 2025. He was also listed with back-related injuries during the 2019, 2021 and 2024 seasons.

Where does Luka Dončić rank among NBA's best?

Dončić entered his third season with the Lakers as the unquestioned leader. He was ranked No. 4 on USA TODAY Sports' top 100 player rankings ahead of the 2026-27 season and is currently No. 1 on Lorenzo Reyes' MVP power rankings.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Luka Dončić playing tonight? Injury update on Lakers star vs. Pistons

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Charles Bassey’s play is turning heads in Golden State

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 5: Charles Bassey #28 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Miami Heat on November 5, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Every season I activate this trope to try and inspire a wary Dub Nation who wonders why we don’t replace (insert suspect player) with someone else in the league. You’re in the back seat of your mom’s car, those sweet sweet Golden Arches come into view, and you make your pitch: “Mom, can we PLEAAASEEE get McDonald’s?”

And without missing a beat, back comes the dreamcrushing sentence masquerading as a better suggestion: “We got McDonald’s at home.”

What’s at home is never McDonald’s, but it’s ground beef, sandwich bread, ketchup, mustard, and relish. You eat it and more often than not depending on who your mama is, it hits. Your tastebuds are awash with flavor and gratitude. Maybe mom was right, maybe you do have McDonalds at home.

That’s Charles Bassey for the Warriors right now. When Golden State asked for a real center, the front office looked at the cap sheet and injury report, and said, “we got a center at home.”

And maybe the Warriors front office is right, maybe we DO have a big man at home!

And that is quite the development considering the hope of Kristaps Porziņģis dominating as the big man for the Warriors has effectively died as it looks like he’s retiring from Warriors basketball. The team re-signed him this summer even though he’d missed 90 games over the past two seasons with three different teams.

Then there’s Al Horford, who is 40 years old and dealing with a body banged up from years of playoff warfare. Horford is a professional basketball genius. But asking him to play 30 minutes a night in November is not gonna have him available for any kinda playoff run in the spring.

And of course the Warriors can always counter with the grizzled, undersized legend Draymond Green at center. That works until Draymond does Draymond things and gets ejected two minutes into the third quarter, which brings us to the night the center at home showed up.

On Nov. 2 against the Suns, Golden State trailed by 17. Draymond had been thrown out for body slamming one Phoenix player and quasi strangling Dillon Brooks (rightfully so).

That’s when Bassey had a career night, scoring 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, grabbed 8 rebounds and finished +10. After Draymond’s ejection, the Warriors outscored Phoenix 59-45. He also built a connection with rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. Four of Lendeborg’s five assists that night went to Bassey. Every time the rookie lofted the ball near the rim, Bassey caught it and finished.

After the game, Bassey called out the Suns for “fake toughness.” The center at home has a little seasoning on him, don’t he?

This wasn’t a one-night fluke. The Warriors started 0-3, then won seven straight to get to 7-3, and Bassey was in the middle of it:

  • He has a +34 plus-minus over the seven-game streak, and +33 in the five games where he played real minutes
  • His 15.7 rebounds per 36 minutes ranks second in the NBA
  • He’s shooting 63.6% from the field and 88.2% from the line, with a 25.8 PER.
  • Over the streak he’s averaging roughly 21 points, 15 rebounds and nearly 3 blocks per 36 minutes.

Ummm ladies and gentlemen, he’s really balling in his role right now. Here’s the case for more Bassey minutes: in the Orlando game, he played only 11. The Magic won the offensive rebounding battle 24-3 and outscored Golden State 33-2 on second-chance points. The Warriors still won in overtime, because Steph Curry is a supernatural force of nature on the basketball court.

Bassey isn’t Porziņģis, a guy who stretches the floor to 28 feet or make anyone’s All-Star ballot. He’s 6-foot-9 and focused completely on rebounding, rim-running and blocked shots. He’s also available to play, and we all know the best ability is availability.

Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy may still trade for a center; I absolutely think he should. Using Porziņģis’ contract to match salaries for a real big makes sense, and they have a real chance to pull it off before the trade deadline.

Until then, Dub Nation asked for McDonald’s and got told they had a center at home, and so far the one at home is providing a lot of sustenance.

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Luka Dončić out vs. Pistons with back tightness

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 06: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to a call during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena on November 06, 2026 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. (Photo by Ben Liebenberg/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Lakers are continuing to manage Luka Dončić in back-to-backs this season. For the second time this young campaign, Luka will sit out one leg of a back-to-back as he’ll be held out of Sunday’s matinee clash against the Pistons with back tightness.

It’s the second game he’ll miss this season.

This is the same injury designation Luka had when he missed a game against the Clippers earlier this season. That contest was on the backside of a back-to-back after playing the Blazers the night before.

This time around, Luka will miss the first game of a back-to-back as the Lakers will play Detroit on Sunday before traveling down to Atlanta for a game against the Hawks on Monday. While the Pistons game is against two of the top teams in each conference, the Hawks game is a bit easier on paper, though neither contest is a gimme by any means.

For now, there aren’t any long-term concerns about this injury for Luka. It’s only popped up on the injury report around the time the team might hold him out of a back-to-back and, otherwise, hasn’t been an injury he’s dealt with enough to keep him on the injury report.

The good news for the Lakers is that the rest of the injury report is clean as Luka will be the only person set to miss this game. Adou Thiero, who made his season debut on Friday, remained off the injury report while Bronny James and Cameron Carr, who played in the G League opener on Friday, are with the team for this road trip.

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

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Nets vs. Mavericks Preview: Sunday night basketball in Dallas

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 26: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on October 26, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
MIAMI, FL – OCTOBER 26: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on October 26, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

That shouldn’t have happened. On a night the Brooklyn Nets out-rebounded the Atlanta Hawks by 13, it was their inability to grab rebounds in the final two minutes that lost them the game. Brooklyn wound up losing 124-121 Saturday night, letting a game slip away that was there for the taking.

The opponent tonight is in a pretty interesting spot.

The Mavericks are looking to get back into the playoffs for the first time in a few years, and they hope the talent on the roster is good enough to get it done. They picked up an NBA Cup tournament victory, 112-100, against the Utah Jazz at home on Friday night 112-100 NBA Cup win over the Utah Jazz at home Friday night.

Game Info

  • WHO: Brooklyn Nets vs. Dallas Mavericks
  • WHEN: 7:30 PM EST (6:30 PM CST)
  • WHERE: American Airlines Center (Dallas, TX)
  • WATCH: YES Network, DAZN, NBA League Pass
  • LISTEN: WFAN radio

Nets vs. Mavericks Injury Report

Brooklyn Nets

  • OUT – Egor Dëmin (right bone bruise)
  • OUT – Mikel Brown Jr. (back-t0-back)

Dallas Mavericks

  • OUT – Tarik Biberovic (right heel bursitis)
  • OUT – Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery)
  • OUT – Sergio de Larrea (right knee sprain)

The Game

Back-to-backs are tough, and going from Atlanta to Dallas is especially challenging. We’ll see how the Nets do in this one.

If they want to win, they’ll need to slow down an old friend. Kyrie Irving is back after missing last year with an ACL tear. He’s averaging 21 points a night while his shooting numbers remain strong, the way he’s getting his buckets looks a little different than what we’re used to.

His field goal attempts share of field-goal attempts inside of three feet is at the lowest mark of his career, while his three-point rate is at a career high. Chances are that’ll change the further he gets away from the injury, but it’s certainly something to keep an eye on. Either way, Irving remains a magnetic scorer and a blast to watch when his game is on.

Speaking of being on, Nolan Traoré continues to shine. The sophomore guard had 19 points and a career-high five steals in just 22 minutes last night against Atlanta on Saturday. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter, and with Brown Jr. out tonight Sunday, Traoré should get all the minutes he can handle. When Brown Jr. returns, we’ll see if the coaching staff finally starts to give the young guards more playing time alongside each other. The Nets have little to lose by giving that pairing a longer look. Why not give it a shot?

We’ll see if the Nets can be great on the glass for all 48 minutes tonight. Brooklyn did great for most of the night, but gave away possessions late with their inability to secure the rebound. Day’ron Sharpe and the team will look to keep Daniel Gafford, Morez Johnson, and the rest of the Mavs off the glass.

Speaking of Sharpe, the big guy collected the first triple-double of his career with 12 points, ten rebounds, and a career high 13 assists.

Player to watch: Cooper Flagg

I try not to fall for hyperbole, but I think I’m gonna make an exception here. Cooper Flagg is so damn good at such a young age and even in his second season as a professional, I think he’s comfortably one of the ten best players in the NBA. He’s so good and at just 19 years old, has a chance to lead the next generation of men’s basketball in the USA in the next decade and beyond.

Something that will come with time and experience is the ability to make an impact at the end of games. In a recent game against the San Antonio Spurs, Flagg was relatively uninvolved in the Mavs’ crunch time offense. It was a bit of a surprise considering how excellent Flagg is, and David Trink of Mavs Moneyball has more:

“This is not to say that Flagg is incapable. We have seen him take over fourth quarters multiple times this year. If Dallas wants to be a serious playoff contender, however, they can’t have weird nights from him like this. Even if his shots are not going in, he has to demand the ball, and he has to take them. It is his job to take the pressure off Irving late in games. He’s young, so it is entirely possible he was in his own head after a poor shooting game. But learning to be the guy on a nightly basis and flushing the bad performances will be the next step in his evolution.”

And that next step is gonna be a doozy. That said, he’s been terrific already and it’ll be exciting to watch him ball out tonight.

It’s a homecoming for Julius Randle. The Dallas native is back home and is hoping to put on a show in front of his friends and family. He’s had his good moments so far, but he’s got to cut down on the turnovers. Julius has turned it over at least four times in five out of the last six games and a season high six turnovers last night. The Nets aren’t good enough to withstand that and will need their All-Star to make the most out of possessions every time he has the ball in his hands.

From the Vault

It’s probably been a minute since you watched some Dirk Nowitzki footage. Let me help you with that

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Jalen Duren out two more weeks with hamstring injury

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 09: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons waits during the fourth quarter of Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on May 09, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 116-109. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Detroit Pistons big man will miss the next two weeks as he recovers from his hamstring strain, the team announced on Sunday. Duren has been limited to two games this season, after sustaining the injury Oct. 23 against the Miami Heat. He is averaging 13 points and 7.5 rebounds this season.

The Pistons are 4-2 without Duren this season, losing to two Eastern Conference powerhouses, the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers.

Detroit has struggled on the boards without their big man. They rank 28th in the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage in the six games without Duren. The team has also struggled with foul trouble in its depleted big-man lineup, with JB Bickerstaff constantly juggling minutes for starter Paul Reed, shifting starting power forward John Collins to play the five, and using Tolu Smith more often than he’d probably prefer.

The Pistons play six of nine games on the road over this stretch of games without Duren. That includes road tilts against the Spurs and Hawks. They will also face the Lakers, Wizards twice, Heat, Pelicans and Raptors. Their next game is today in an early evening matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers at Little Caesars Arena.

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What we learned from the Spurs’ win over the Trail Blazers

PORTLAND, OREGON - NOVEMBER 07: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball past Toumani Camara #33 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Moda Center on November 07, 2026 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Soobum Im/Getty Images) | Getty Images

If you’ve been looking for a signature San Antonio Spurs win early in the 2026-27 season, look no further. On the second game of a back-to-back, the Spurs waltzed into enemy territory and blew out a team motivated to get revenge. It was one of the first times we’ve seen this year’s Spurs put it all together against a playoff-caliber team.

Defense was the name of the game in San Antonio’s 125-103 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Both teams played incredibly physical (or just flopped a lot). But the Spurs were the enforcers overall. Stephon Castle set the tone on the perimeter with some suffocating defense on two of the Blazers’ best players, Deni Advija and Jrue Holiday. Advija was particularly frustrated by Castle’s defense, scoring just 15 points on 5-13 shooting.

The rest of the team forced turnovers. Portland coughed it up 18 times, leading to 23 easy points for the Spurs. The tape will show that the Spurs dominated this game with force and athleticism. The stat sheet shows they won a lot of the hustle stats, too. San Antonio won the rebounding battle by 13 and grabbed 14 offensive boards. The force they showed against Portland is the same as what they showed last season in their NBA Finals run, but more refined.

The Blazers just feel like a team the Spurs will have to beat in the Victor Wembanyama era. They are young (for the most part), tough, and skilled. Beating them down in such a dominant fashion after the playoff victory last season is a clear sign that San Antonio has not taken a step back, despite some bumps to start the season. It also showed a lot of grit and edge from the Spurs. It was exactly the type of victory this team needed early in the season.

Takeaways:

  • I gave the second unit a tough time in the last WWL. They were MUCH better against Portland. Luke Kornet in particular had one of his best games of the season with 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block. There were fewer moments when Kornet needed to go one-on-one with a driver at the rim, as the perimeter defense made it harder for the Blazers to get clear drives to the basket. What was even more impressive about Kornet’s game is that he actually took a few shots when he was open. Typically, the backup center isn’t even thinking about shooting, but he hit a pop-a-shot early in the game and took a jumper from the free-throw line that didn’t fall. Just getting Kornet to take those kinds of shots when they are available will help the second-unit offense tremendously.
  • It’s been a minute since we got a sub-25-minute elite performance from Wembanyama. Not because the performances haven’t been elite, but because he’s usually playing more than 25 minutes. He had 29 points on 9-for-13 shooting, including three triples. Portland had absolutely no answer for the early-season MVP candidate. In the last two games, he’s become more selective with his jump shots, and the results have been better looks that are going in more often.
  • Carter Bryant got an opportunity to play early in the game and made the most of it. He hit a pair of three-pointers, got a deflection and a block, providing energy off the bench. Bryant still struggles with overaggressiveness on defense. He picked up 5 fouls in just 17 minutes on Saturday. Bryant has a lot of talent; it just needs to be harnessed with improved awareness and experience.
  • The Blazers continued their strategy of guarding Castle with Donovan Clingan and putting Toumani Camara on Wembanyama. It’s safe to say the Spurs have figured out how to defeat that coverage. It helps that Castle made two of his five three-pointers, and Wembanyama is a game-breaker. Portland still needed to send doubles at Wembanyama, and when they did, the Spurs were able to get easy looks when the ball was passed out.

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Pistons vs Lakers preview: Best Defense vs best offense

Does it get any better than the No. 1 offense versus the No. 1 defense? The Detroit Pistons find themselves in that matchup as the 122-point-per-game Los Angeles Lakers visit Motown tonight.

Luka Dončić and the Lakers put up plenty of buckets, but scoring on Detroit is still an impossible task. The Pistons only surrender 101 points a game. Smothering defense every night.

Detroit’s defense has its biggest test of the season if Dončić suits up this evening. He’s questionable with lower back tightness.

It would be a shame if we’re robbed of Cade Cunningham going head-to-head with another MVP candidate. The bigger shame would be if we miss out on Dončić versus Ausar Thompson. That matchup is like Jerry Rice versus Deion Sanders with how both are operating.  

GAME VITALS

Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI

When: 6 PM EST

Watch: TV20 Detroit/DAZN-DET

Odds: Pistons (-4.5)

Analysis

Detroit hasn’t played since Wednesday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. They’ve had plenty of time to rest up. They’ll need it if Dončić suits up.

Dončić is averaging 40 points. He’s shooting 42% on nearly 14 3s a game. He gets to the line more than anybody. It’s basically no stopping Dončić at the moment. This is a Wilt Chamberlain-like hot streak. Those two are the only players to average 40 nine games into the season. Whew, to say he’s balling is an understatement.

But tasks like this are why the Pistons employ Ausar Thompson. If *anybody* can slow Dončić down, it’s the best perimeter defender on the planet. Dončić usually has success against quick defenders with wiry strength, but Ausar is bigger and stronger this season. We’ll be keeping tabs on how Ausar takes Dončić’s bumps tonight. Ausar has the quick hands to disrupt things as well.

This might be a game where we see Paul Reed getting to the level and blitzing a bunch. J.B. Bickerstaff may decide to get the ball out of Dončić’s hands and force someone else to beat them. Reed is capable of coming to the level on screens and muddying things up.

I’m sure Dončić will see some Cade tonight too. Cade won’t make it easy with his sturdy frame. On the other end, the Lakers only have a few perimeter defenders to throw at Cade.

Matisse Thybulle is firmly in LA’s rotation as he’s started all 10 games. He’s still a defensive playmaking threat. Cade deals with defenders like this nightly, but Thybulle is a plus defender nonetheless. So is Ziaire Williams. The springy 25-year-old treats every possession as if he’ll never get in the game again if he doesn’t go hard.

Those two are solid defensively, and Jake LaRavia competes. Outside of that, Detroit will have plenty of favorable matchups (Walker Kessler is a great rim protector and is off to a good offensive start. He can make a difference).

Dončić displays effort and is trying to shake the terrible defender narrative on his name, but attacking him is still the best way to slow him down. Make him work and keep him involved in actions.

Austin Reaves falls into the same boat. He’s under Dončić on the Lakers’ best defenders on the team list. Anybody with that matchup should look to be aggressive.

Reaves spends most of his time covering shooting guards. Will JJ Redick make Reaves chase Duncan Robinson all night? That’s probably not ideal. Robinson runs even great defenders into the ground.

Robinson’s light-em-up stretch continues as he’s fourth in 3s made (35). Only Dončić, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Steph Curry have made more.

Detroit is letting it fly from deep as a team. According to Cleaning the Glass, 40 percent of their shots are coming from 3 (15th) compared to 31 percent last year (29th). Their rim rate has flipped the other way, but getting Jalen Duren back should rectify that.

The best offense versus the best defense is a mandatory viewing appointment. Can Ausar slow down the MVP-favorite? Do the Pistons show why they’re an elite defense and smother Dončić as a team? Does Cade deliver a masterclass against a guy he’ll be compared to for the foreseeable future if he’s in the MVP race? We’ll find out at 6 PM. Be there!

Projected starting lineup

Detroit Pistons (6-2): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Paul Reed

Los Angeles Lakers (8-2): Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Matisse Thybulle, Jake LaRavia, Walker Kessler

Question of the day

What are your thoughts on Austin Reaves? He reportedly did not want to be drafted by Detroit. Does that still bother you?

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Highlights: Spurs third-quarter barrage blows out Trail Blazers

PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 7: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on November 7, 2026 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Coming off an opening NBA Cup win against the Sacramento Kings, the Spurs faced a SEGABABA against the Portland Trail Blazers. After a sluggish first quarter, the Spurs, behind by 42 points in the second quarter, built their two-point lead to 15 at halftime. In the third, the Spurs drove the nail in the coffin, outscoring the Blazers 45-27 and ballooning their lead to 33 heading into the fourth. The Blazers simply could not stop the ball movement and three-point barrage by the silver and black, as the Spurs ultimately won 125-103.

Victor Wembanyama continues his early MVP campaign with another efficient high-scoring game of 29 points (9-13 FG, 3-6 3PT, 8-9 FT), seven rebounds, three assists, a block, and a steal. Despite only playing 24 minutes and not being as big a focal point of the offense as he was against Dallas and Sacramento, Wemby once again demonstrated how unguardable he truly is. After starting the season shooting under 30% from three, Wemby is now shooting 7-12 (58%) from three in his last two games.

Since he’s shown he can shoot threes, Donovan Clingan steps out to guard him but immediately gets beat by Wemby on the drive to the basket. All Toumani Camara can do is go straight up, but against a seven-foot-four (he’s definitely taller) alien, it’s almost pointless.

The bulk of Wemby’s scoring comes from inside the paint. He is dunking the ball more than any other player in the league and is even leading other TEAMS in total dunks. Where do most of his dunks come from? Lobs, of course.

The most unguardable lob threat in the league, all his teammates have to do is just throw it up above the rim to where only Wemby can grab it. Sometimes, defenders are in the way. This time, Clingan was unfortunately one of his victims.

Devin Vassell dropped another solid game with 15 points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals. His defense somehow outshone his shooting from three. His agility and lateral movement allow him to stay in front of multiple guards and forwards. He also deflected multiple passes, and one of them turned into a steal and layup all by himself.

Stephon Castle dropped 14 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and a block. Castle, like Vassell, played like a Swiss Army knife against the Blazers. He crashed the glass, dished out dimes, and had himself some highlight buckets. The hustle play of the game was him somehow tight-roping the sideline and dishing out to an open Vassell for the corner three.

Poor Clingan. De’Aaron Fox and Castle run a beautiful DHO that results in a posterizing alley-oop with Castle dunking on his former college teammate.

Although they didn’t shoot 50% from three this game, they still drained 17 compared to Portland’s nine. For most Spurs fans, that third-quarter explosion showed that when everyone is bought in and focused within the flow of the offense, this team can put teams away early. The communication also reached the defense, as they held the Blazers to 76 points after 36 minutes (before garbage time). Next week, the Spurs face the Suns, Bulls, Warriors, & Jazz.

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

The Spurs’ early road trip continues with a visit to the Mortgage Matchup Center, the home of the Phoenix Suns, this Monday at 8:00 P.M. (CST) on DAZN.

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Knicks Bulletin: ‘I wasn’t lying in that sense’

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 7: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk after the game on November 7, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cavaliers beat the Knicks on Saturday, adding another win to their analytical spreadsheet.

Cleveland remains undefeated on that front, while New York keeps stacking dubs on the court.

Here’s some of the (very little) latest.

Mike Brown

On giving Landry Shamet more leeway than younger reserves and keeping bench minutes competitive:

“Obviously, you looking at a guy like Landry, he may have a little bit more leash than Pac [Dadiet]. Landry’s as close to being a starter as you can imagine for us. Everybody else, they have to play and even the starters and Landry, they do, too.”

On Landry Shamet’s standing in the Knicks’ rotation:

“About as close to being a starter as you can imagine for us.”

On choosing Tyler Kolek over Jose Alvarado as the backup point guard:

“But you know, Jose had the first opportunity [against the Nets) and then I gave Tyler an opportunity in the second half and Tyler played well. So I go with Tyler and if I feel I need to make a change, Tyler’s not getting it done in my eyes, I’ll go back to Jose.”

On Josh Hart’s ability to contribute without having plays called for him:

“Josh is a connector. I don’t think we call a single play for him at any time, he just goes and gets it done.

“He rebounds. Our pick and roll defense has been bad, and he’s helped clean it up at times by putting him on the ball. So his versatility defensively is a bonus for us. So he’s definitely going to be missed.”

Karl-Anthony Towns

On facing Cleveland again after defeating the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals:

“I mean, they’re a great team. We saw them in the Eastern Conference finals. Obviously, they have another year under their belt with each other, more experience. And we saw what experience does for teams, especially like us.”

Tyler Kolek

On acknowledging that he underestimated Taylor Swift’s history as a Knicks fan:

“Obviously with everything (going on), people have been going back and sending me all the stuff about her going to the games. And she was actually wearing a 13 jersey (in one picture). Probably Joakim Noah back in the day with Carmelo (Anthony). So, I wasn’t up to date on my Taylor Swift Knicks fandom, so that’s on me.”

On the reaction to his comments about Taylor Swift and admitting he answered the question poorly:

“(The video) was everywhere. Everybody saw it. But it is what it is. For me, it’s just a question that was asked to me that maybe I answered in the wrong way. I take that on the chin. But I love her music. We were just playing it five minutes ago and I’m singing every word to every song. Nothing against her at all.”

On being a Taylor Swift fan despite questioning her Knicks fandom:

“I love her music. I probably know more songs than anybody else in the locker room. I just misspoke.”

Landry Shamet

On returning to Cleveland and remembering the Knicks’ championship run:

“It’s human nature, you’re gonna revert back and think back to the last time you were in the building. I had a quick little firing of that walking in for shootaround, but I think the general sense was that was last year. That was great. You can have those memories and hang on to that as long as we want, but ultimately this year is a new year and a new endeavor.”

On the benefits of roster continuity and familiarity with Mike Brown:

“The biggest thing is just being comfortable with the guys on the floor, second year with [head coach] Mike [Brown]. I think that just breeds confidence. Familiarity breeds confidence. There’s no denying that. It allows you to get to the point of conversations quicker. It makes for a good formula to find success.”

On comparing his unpredictable Knicks role to that of a baseball relief pitcher:

“Especially with [my] role, I think I take a lot from my buddy Ashby, bullpen guy, you don’t know when you’re gonna get thrown in, what the situation’s gonna be. My job might look a little different from night to night. If I’m changing my approach every night, that’s not setting myself up for a good situation.

“I think in the past in my career when I was younger I would try to overcomplicate things and think I have to reinvent the wheel. I try to just keep it as simple as possible, reduce it down to my job, my impact and just play my game.”

Donovan Mitchell

On Cleveland’s Saturday loss to the Knicks:

“No excuse. These are games that we feel like we should win. We got another tough stretch coming up so there’s no reason to sit here and feel bad and nothing’s won in the first 10 games.”

On what went wrong for the Cavaliers:

“I think we just gave them too many second-chance opportunities. Then it’s too late, you’re down 20 trying to fight back, but it’s too late.”

Peyton Watson

On the Cavaliers failing to match the Knicks’ intensity:

“Got to bring your A game and we just didn’t do that tonight.”

Kenny Atkinson

On Cleveland continuing to compete despite trailing New York by 18 points:

“We could have folded down 18, could have packed it in on a back-to-back, tough week, but we kept at it.”

On acknowledging that the Knicks dominated the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals and then won the championship:

“They dominated it, and they did it again against San Antonio [in the Finals]. Analytically … there’s an ‘expected score,’ and we’ve won two out of the three games.

“I think when you look back on it and take the context of the question, I’m not sure that was taken into account, which I know was a little bit of a lesson for me — like, you can just take a sound bite (and run with it).

“I would just say there was no coach more complimentary of the Knicks and honest about our performance and how they dominated us. So you live and learn a little bit with those things. But like I said, 99 percent of my comments were how they dominated us. They were by far the better team. I answered the question, as it was taken, (which was) ‘And you’re down 3-0, what hope do you have of even giving to your guys?’

“We get a lot of information … and I wasn’t lying in that sense, but in no sense was it like, ‘Oh, man, we deserve to be winning.’ Like zero — zero — thought of that.”

On why analytics could not outweigh the Knicks’ physical and mental dominance:

“We get information that checks our process. All that being said, we were still dominated. It kind of doesn’t matter (what the analytics say) because there is more than that. There is the mental toughness, the physical toughness, the flow to the game, how aggressive you are. There are all these other intangibles that go with that.”

On recognizing that the Knicks earned their championship:

“They deserved it, and they did it again against San Antonio. Just an incredible, incredible run.”

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Knicks Week Preview: Nov. 8-14, 2026

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 18: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks attempts a shot while being guarded by Isaiah Jackson #22 and Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 18, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Knicks have bobbed over .500 for the first time this season, thanks to yesterday’s return to form against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Over the upcoming week, our heroes will get a second whack at the Ohio Players, plus two beatable opponents. Let’s take a peek at the schedule, shall we?

Tuesday, November 10 — Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks, 7:30 PM ET (MSG)

The Bucks are in a funky funk. Sitting last in the east, they pull into town having lost five straight and seven of their eight games this season. This has not been an auspicious start for new coach Taylor Jenkins. Over the summer, they lost Giannis Antetokounmpo and got younger, which has resulted in struggles at both ends of the floor. Tuesday’s game will be their first meeting with the Knicks this season. The last time they tussled, back on February 27, was a 127-98 New York win in Milwaukee.

Our heroes should have many chances to run against Milwaukee and plenty of mismatches to pick on. The Bucks don’t necessarily lack talent—Tyler Herro (acquired in the Giannis trade) leads the team at 22.3 points per game—just hope.

Wednesday, November 11 — Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 7:00 PM ET (ESPN)

The Cavs just got a good look at what New York does well, and boy did it make their eyes water. Four nights after beating the Cavs 109-97 in Cleveland, the two rivals square up again at the Garden. Brunson scored 31 in the first tilt, Karl-Anthony Towns added 29 points and 13 rebounds, and New York led by 19 in the third. Donovan Mitchell found his way to 37, fighting to the end; James Harden died of old age; and Evan Mobley melted into a sweaty puddle under the rim.

Cleveland might have been fatigued on Saturday (playing a SEGABABA), and coach Kenny Atkinson will surely try to mix things up in their rematch. We’re curious to see what adjustments are up his sleeve. Jarrett Allen might return from the injured list, so maybe he can keep up with KAT better than Mopey Mobs?

Friday, November 13 — Knicks at Indiana Pacers, 7:00 PM ET (Prime Video)

The Knicks finish the week in Indiana. The poor Pacers can make a mess of things if you give them the ball and a head start. The 3-7 club has had trouble getting stops and closing games, but you can chalk that up to their leader Tyrese Haliburton being injured again. If he returns for Friday’s game, this could be a different contest.

The Pacers can still score in a hurry, especially if you help them with turnovers and lost rebounds. Without Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard have carried the load. Rick Carlisle’s club can turn into layups at the other end, and for as inept as they’ve been at times this season, they can still hit the gas. According to my notes, you’ll watch this one on Prime Video.

Knicks in five.

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Milwaukee Bucks vs. Boston Celtics Preview & Game Thread: Revenge game

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 04: Tyler Herro #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts behind Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden on November 04, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Bucks 109-102. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to halt a five-game slide as they take on Eastern Conference heavyweight Boston Celtics, who beat Milwaukee by seven points without Jayson Tatum on Wednesday. The Bucks and Celtics seem to be moving in entirely different directions. After a slow start to the season, Boston is surging at 7-2 and challenging the Sixers for the No. 1 spot in the conference. Meanwhile, the Bucks are 1-8 and face a daunting schedule that could easily extend their losing streak. On the plus side, Milwaukee’s youth looks strong—Brayden Burries looks great, and Nate Ament is taking exciting developmental steps—and despite the horrible record, we’ve been treated to some really exciting Tyler Herro performances. What else can we look forward to?

The Task Ahead

The Boston Celtics have been on a tear recently. They’ve won their last two—Wednesday’s back-and-forth win over Milwaukee and a blowout Friday win over the Charlotte Hornets—and have claimed five wins in their last six games. They’re second in the East, half a game behind the Sixers, and, with the addition of Paul George, look like an early title contender.

Moreover, aside from some glaring valleys—namely the season opener against the Detroit Pistons—Jayson Tatum has performed at an MVP level so far. His highlights include a 36-point near-triple-double against the Knicks, a 40-point outburst against the Nets (that included a game-winning shot), and a recent 34-point near-triple-double against the Hornets in just 29 minutes. But it hasn’t been all Tatum; Paul George has averaged just under 20 PPG on solid shooting, Derrick White remains the ultimate glue guy, and Neemias Queta anchors one of the league’s best defenses. In three words: Boston is back. In four words: Boston is really back. In five words… you get it.

Injury Report

Bucks:

  • Bogoljub Markovic: Out (G League assignment)

Celtics:

  • Chris Cenac Jr: Out (G League assignment)

Player to Watch

Derrick White is always fun to watch, especially as he eases into a more offensively significant role in Boston. White is a connective guard with a high basketball IQ and solid playmaking, but he is also an elite defender who can shut down on the perimeter. Against Milwaukee on Wednesday, the veteran guard scored 24 points on 7/18 shooting and added seven assists. White scored 18 points on 6/10 shooting with five assists and four boards in Boston’s demolition of the Hornets. He’ll be a key point-of-attack defender who could frustrate a Milwaukee backcourt prone to turnovers. Watching Brayden Burries go up against one of his draft comparisons in White will also be interesting.

Projected Starters

BucksPositionCeltics
Brayden BurriesPGDerrick White
Tyler HerroSGHugo Gonzalez
Jaime Jaquez Jr.SFPaul George
Kyle KuzmaPFJayson Tatum
Myles TurnerCNeemias Queta

Game Details

Who: Milwaukee Bucks (1-8) vs. Boston Celtics (7-2).

When: 7:00 pm CST.

Where: Fiserv Forum—Milwaukee, WI.

Watch: MY24.

Listen: Check local listings.

Prescient Prediction

The Celtics lead by at least 15 points by the end of the first quarter. The Celtics led Milwaukee 28-14 by the end of the first frame in their last meeting, and that was without Tatum. Boston’s aggressive defense could give the streaky Bucks a tough time, and the C’s have the star power on offense to make this a one-sided affair.

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Rockets hit first losing streak of season, fall 102-99 to Suns

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 07: Devin Booker #15 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets during the second half of the game at Mortgage Matchup Center on November 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Houston Rockets hit their first losing streak of the season on Saturday night, as they let the Suns run all over them to start, battled back, but then couldn’t close out the game.

For their last loss against Minnesota, it was a ghost of last season — execution — that was a main culprit. This time, it was shooting. The Rockets couldn’t hit the broad side of the barn, and you have to credit the Phoenix defense. They looked like the fresher team in the fourth quarter, when they shot 11-for-22 from the field, while the Rockets were only 10-for-27. In fact, for the game, Houston shot just 38 percent from the field, while allowing the Suns to shoot 48 percent. You’re not gonna win many that way.

In fact, the only Rocket player with a semi-decent game was Jabari Smith Jr., who continues to break out this season offensively. Smith went for 15 points on 7-for-12 shooting, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and a block, though he was just 1-for-4 from deep. Still, Smith was the only Rockets player who could hit some shots outside of Fred VanVleet. FVV went for 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 6-for-12 from the floor and 4-for-9 from deep. VanVleet mostly played a clean game with zero turnovers, however, you want to see greater assist numbers, and with the offense stuck in the mud most of the game, you also want to see a greater impact from a distribution standpoint. But when no one is hitting shots…

Kevin Durant led the Rockets in scoring with 21 points, and he also had 10 boards and 3 assists, but he shot just 5-for-14 for the game, including 1-for-5 in a decisive fourth quarter that the Rockets lost. Alperen Sengun had 15 points, but he was just 5-for-16 from the field. Houston’s bench also shot just 6-for-25 for the game, including a combined 3-for-16 from Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard. Reed played just 13 minutes in this one, and it is increasingly appearing he is the odd man out in the rotation, especially if the three isn’t falling — and it wasn’t on Saturday at just 2-for-6 from deep.

The Suns were led by Devin Booker’s 24 points, while former Rocket Jalen Green had 16 points and 6 assists, and other former Rocket Dillon Brooks had 11 points and 4 boards while hitting 3 triples.

Houston falls to 7-3 on the season, and after a fast start (just like last year), some warts are starting to appear (just like last year), including late-game execution, overall shooting, and rotation management, again many of the same issues as last season. Nevertheless, the team is currently on a 57-win pace, but with the Western Conference wide open this year, you’d like to see the Rockets looking a little tighter.

The team returns to action Monday night at home against the Denver Nuggets.