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What we learned as Warriors' bench falters in streak-snapping loss vs. Magic

What we learned as Warriors' bench falters in streak-snapping loss vs. Magic originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

For the first night of a back-to-back to close out a six-game road trip, the Warriors traveled their full squad to Orlando.

But the Warriors were outplayed and couldn’t get past the young and rising Orlando Magic in a 121-113 loss Tuesday at the Kia Center. The loss snapped the Warriors’ three-game win streak, falling to 9-7 on the 2025-26 NBA season and 4-7 on the road. 

Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler did all they could. The two combined for 67 points on 56.4-percent shooting from the field (22 of 39), with Curry scoring a game-high 34 points and Butler right behind him at 33. Draymond Green (12 points) was the lone other Warrior to reach double figures. 

That’s half as many as the six Magic players to get to double figures. All of their starters scored 13 or more points, and Anthony Black gave them 21 off the bench. The Warriors as a team scored 22 bench points.

Whenever they wanted, the Magic easily scored at the rim. The Magic scored 64 points in the paint to wipe off their ugly 7-of-31 shooting behind the 3-point line (22.6 percent).

The Warriors now are 1-7 when losing the turnover battle, and 8-0 when winning it this season.

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ loss in Orlando.

Steph’s Love For Orlando

Wearing Reebok Shaqnosis into the arena and a pair of Nike Air Penny 2 Le Sprite during pregame warmups, Curry paid homage to two Orlando legends. Curry then reminded the Magic how much he enjoys shooting the ball inside their gym once the game began. 

It almost has been 10 years since Curry scored 51 points and made 10 3-pointers against the Magic in Orlando while setting a new record of 128 straight games with at least one made three. This past season, in his one trip to Orlando, Curry dropped 56 points and made 12 threes. So yes, Steph enjoys shooting down the street from the Magic Kingdom. 

Curry in the first quarter scored nine points and made two threes, even coming back in for the final few seconds to splash a triple nearly from halfcourt. Jalen Suggs is one of the better defenders in the game. But Curry was toying with him at times, maybe making fun of him along the way, too. He already was up to 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting at halftime, going 5 of 7 from deep. 

Though it wasn’t another 22 points, Curry did score 12 in the second half. Curry came into Tuesday with a 49.8 3-point percentage for his career in Orlando, his best of any road arena, and then shot 46.7 percent (7 of 15) in his one game there this season.

Too Easy

Unless it was right around the rim, the Magic went ice-cold in the second quarter. They took just 16 shots and only made six. They took seven threes, and missed six of them. So, how did the Magic still outscore the Warriors by three points in the second quarter? 

Free throws.

The Warriors were whistled for nine fouls in the quarter, four more than the Magic, and they paid the price. The Magic were a perfect 18 of 18 on free throws in a quarter where they led by as much as 15 points. For context, the Warriors entering Tuesday were allowing 22.1 free throws per game, the second-fewest in the league. 

Free throws, fastbreaks and getting downhill. The Magic never were going to be a threat from downtown. Yet the rest of the court was too easy for them to score from. The Warriors were outscored by five points at the free-throw line, 14 from fastbreak points and 18 in the paint.

Needing Better Buddy

“Put your hands up!” Butler yelled at Buddy Hield as he walked to the free-throw line.

Butler then said to Hield’s response, “I’m never passing you the ball again.” 

“Don’t be like that,” Hield said back.

The two are teammates and great friends. Social media can see it as another funny moment between Butler and Hield. The truth is, the Warriors need more out of Hield. 

And Butler was right. He was hit with a turnover when Hield ran through the paint, yet didn’t expect a pass from Butler that became an errant giveaway. Those are the mental lapses that can crush the Warriors, and they’re only heightened when Hield isn’t playing his best.

Hield played eight-plus minutes in the first half and was scoreless as a minus-10. Seconds into his first stint of the third quarter, Hield caught himself in mid-air and passed the ball to Magic guard Anthony Black for a horrible turnover. He finished as a minus-5 with two points in 15 minutes. 

In the season opener, Hield scored 17 points and made five 3-pointers. He hasn’t reached that point totals since, and has made multiple threes in just four other games.

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Warriors' Steve Kerr ‘very concerned' by trend of lower-body injuries around NBA

Warriors' Steve Kerr ‘very concerned' by trend of lower-body injuries around NBA originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steve Kerr entered the season knowing the Warriors would require considerable handling to have any chance of maintaining the health of a roster with such a vulnerable core.

So far, mostly good for Golden State.

But Kerr also is hoping that the Warriors don’t become susceptible to a disturbing trend around the NBA involving injuries. Rarely does a day go by without a player sustaining a lower-body injury that sidelines him for at least a week. Of the 53 players declared “out” on the injury report Tuesday, 42 fall into one of seven categories: Hip, groin, hamstring, calf, knee, ankle or foot.

“I’m very concerned,” Kerr told reporters before the Warriors vs. Magic game in Orlando. “The pace difference is dramatic. This team tonight (the Magic) has really upped their pace compared to last year. Across the league, everybody understands now that it’s just easier to score if you can beat the opponent down the floor and get out and transition.

“But when everybody’s doing that, the games are much faster-paced. And then everyone has to cover out to 25 feet because everybody can shoot 3s.”

Kerr isn’t the only coach to lay the blame for so many injuries, particularly to hamstrings and calves, on overuse. The Warriors opened the season with 17 games over the first 29 days, including a league-high five back-to-back sets – including two on the current road trip.

Moreover, medical and training staffs, including Golden State’s group led by Dr. Rick Celebrini, are acutely aware of the impact of scheduling and pace.

“We have all the data,” Kerr said. “Players are running faster and further than ever before, so we’re trying to do the best we can to protect them. But we basically have a game every other night and it’s not an easy thing to do.”

“Medical and training staffs believe that the wear and tear, the speed, the pace and the mileage … it’s all factoring into these injuries.”

Among those listed out on the Tuesday injury report were Orlando’s Paolo Banchero (groin), Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas (hamstring), Memphis’ Ja Morant (calf), San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama (calf) and Portland’s Jrue Holiday (calf).

And that doesn’t include four stars caught up in the spate of ruptured Achilles’ tendons sustained last year: Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and New Orleans’ Dejounte Murray.

Kerr has long been a proponent of reducing the regular-season schedule from 82 to the 72-75 range. The problem with that is the loss of revenue. Neither the players nor the ownership groups have thus far been in favor of that.

“I bring it up a lot,” Kerr said of league meetings. “I just think it’s if we’re actually focused on the product, it would be great.”

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Avengers will not reassemble: Stephen Curry says he is 'highly doubtful' for Los Angeles Olympics, LeBron out

The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will not be one last reunion for LeBron James and Stephen Curry. The Avengers of 2024 in Paris will not reassemble.

"I will be watching it from Cabo," LeBron James said on his Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash, part two of a sit-down with Curry. LeBron has competed in four Olympic Games and has three gold medals (and a bronze from 2004) to show for it.

Curry likely isn't suiting up for Team USA either, but he would not completely shut the door.

"God willing, I still have the choice and physical option to be like, I could actually impact the team," Curry said. "I never say never, but I highly doubt it."

"We could never top those last two games," LeBron said, referencing close wins over Nikola Jokic and Serbia, followed by Victor Wembanyama and the French team. "Like, we literally played France in Paris in the finals."

The USA brought home its fifth consecutive Olympic gold in men's basketball from Paris, with LeBron being named tournament MVP. Winning a sixth will require the next generation of American stars to step up — Anthony Edwards, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, Jayson Tatum and others — and face the deepest pool of international teams the Games will have ever seen. A more mature, improved Wembanyama will lead a French team that has a legitimate shot at gold.

The LA28 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony is set for July 14, 2028, and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

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Jimmy Butler threatens Buddy Hield after turnover in Warriors' game vs. Magic

Jimmy Butler threatens Buddy Hield after turnover in Warriors' game vs. Magic originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jimmy Butler was not happy with Buddy Hield toward the end of the first quarter of Tuesday’s game.

During an inbounds play with less than one minute remaining in the opening frame, Butler’s pass intended for Hield was intercepted by Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane. After the apparent miscommunication between the two teammates, Butler shared a not-so-subtle threat to the Warriors guard.

“Put your hands up,” Butler shouted. “I’m never passing you the ball again.”

Yikes.

It appears Hield is on a short leash with Butler.

Of course, the two have a great relationship off the court that has been adored by Dub Nation since Butler was traded to the Warriors in February.

But Butler is a fierce competitor, and perhaps his warning was an attempt to motivate Hield to better lock in as the Warriors seek their fourth consecutive win amid their current six-game road trip.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr has been adamant and overly vocal about limiting turnovers after his team has made some careless mistakes throughout the early part of the 2025-26 NBA season.

Hopefully for the Warriors, Hield is receptive to the constructive — and outspoken — criticism from his teammate.

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Clippers injuries keep piling up: Derrick Jones Jr. out at least six weeks with MCL sprain

It looked bad when it happened: Jaylen Brown lost his dribble then reached out to get it back as he went to the floor, and in doing so his arm hit the Clippers' Derrick Jones Jr. in the knee and bent it sideways. Jones had to be helped off the court.

Following an MRI, the Clippers have announced that Jones has suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain and is out, to be re-evaluated in six weeks. While not ideal, the concern around the Clippers was that this was something much worse, so there was some relief.

Jones joins Kawhi Leonard (ankle/foot sprain) and Bradley Beal (hip surgery, out for the season) as three planned starters in street clothes for Los Angeles. Tyronn Lue had to go to his seventh starting lineup through 14 games on Monday night against Philadelphia, starting two-way player Kobe Sanders in Jones' place.

Don't let the counting stats fool you — 10.9 points and 2.5 rebounds a game in 26 minutes a night — Jones was a key piece for the Clippers, one of their few real transition finishing options, plus one of their best man defenders.

The Clippers are 4-10 on the season but have no motivation to tank, they owe next June's first-round pick to Oklahoma City as the last part of the Paul George trade.

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Steph Curry passes Vince Carter for 22nd place on NBA's all-time scoring list

Steph Curry passes Vince Carter for 22nd place on NBA's all-time scoring list originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Human Torch has vanquished Half-Man/Half-Amazing.

With his 14th point in Tuesday’s Warriors game against the Orlando Magic, Steph Curry passed Hall of Famer Vince Carter for No. 22 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

Curry entered the day with 25,715 career points and trailed Carter by 13 points.

The Warriors star continues to climb up the all-time scoring list, and if he stays healthy this season, he could pass another eight Naismith Memorial Hall of Famers.

Next up for Curry is former Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets great Kevin Garnett, who finished with 26,071 points in 21 NBA seasons.

At his current average of 29.1 points per game, Curry could catch Garnett by mid-December.

Curry has a legitimate chance to finish his career in the top 10 on the all-time scoring list, which would cement his status as one of the greatest players in NBA history.

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Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Daniss Jenkins seizing opportunity with Pistons

We’ve made it through Week 4 and are rapidly approaching the one-month mark of the 2025-26 NBA season.

Injuries have remained a topic of conversation, but they’ve led to some more opportunities for other players to navigate bigger roles. Some have led to fantasy basketball success, and others have not. Nonetheless, there is stuff to analyze. Let’s dig in.

NBA: Golden State Warriors at San Antonio Spurs
Victor Wembanyama Calf Strain: Spurs’ outlook and fantasy impact
The Spurs will be without Wemby for at least 2-3 weeks after he strained his left calf.

→ Watch the NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC and Peacock: The Grizzlies take on the Spurs at 8pm ET, followed by the Suns at the Trail Blazers at 11 pm ET. Both games are available on Peacock. Check your local listings for the NBC game in your area.

STOCK UP

Daniss Jenkins — PG, Pistons

Everything is going right for the Pistons these days. Even with some recent injuries to key players, they’ve reeled off 10 straight wins and gotten production from players who many would least expect. Case in point: Daniss Jenkins. The second-year player out of St. John’s entered his sophomore season with all of seven career regular-season points and 23 minutes to his name. He doubled those scoring totals through the first four games of this season before abruptly posting averages of 21.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 2.0 steals and 2.5 three-pointers over the most recent four games. He’s started in place of the injured Cade Cunningham, but even when the superstar guard returns, it could be difficult to cut too much into Jenkins’ playing time.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker — PG/SG/SF/PF, Hawks

Here’s another player whose stock is on the rise; although this one is a bit less surprising, given what the Hawks offered to get him in the door this recent offseason. Enjoying a career-best season in a newer role, Alexander-Walker has hit the 20-point mark in three of the past five games and continues to post career-highs in assists. More opportunities have presented themselves in Trae Young’s extended absence (knee). Still, NAW has averaged 17.0 points per game in his five appearances this season alongside Young. If Alexander-Walker’s three-point shooting can start to come around, the breakout season will only get better for the two-way guard.

Moussa Diabate — C, Hornets

Diabate has found a home in Charlotte after a couple of forgettable seasons with the Clippers to begin his career. Now part of a young Hornets nucleus, he’s proven to be an important member of the nightly frontcourt rotation. Diabate has mostly come off the bench and attacked the glass hard — he’s recorded at least 10 boards in five of the last eight games while scoring in double figures in four of those five, consistently placing him on double-double alert. Diabate leads the Hornets in rebounding, and with his activity on defense, he could be a reliable streaming option or potentially a roster-worthy player in fantasy leagues if he can grow into an even larger role.

NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Utah Jazz
2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Top 200 Rankings: Wemby injured, Jalen Johnson providing value in Atlanta
The Hawks forward has exceeded the expectations of many fantasy managers this season, especially after Trae Young went down.

STOCK DOWN

John Collins — PF/C, Clippers

Not a lot has gone according to plan for the Clippers early in this season. Injuries to Kawhi Leonard (foot), Bradley Beal (hip), and, more recently, Derrick Jones (knee) have hurt them, but opened the door for guys like Collins to step into greater roles and potentially provide more production. Unfortunately, this has not been the case for Collins. Since moving into the starting lineup, he’s averaging 9.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 0.0 assists on 39.1 percent shooting. Perhaps his fit will be better once Leonard makes his way back to the floor. But until then, Collins is trending in the wrong direction at a time when all of his talent is needed in Los Angeles.

Zach LaVine — PG/SG/SF, Kings

After a strong start to the season in which LaVine had averaged 29.2 points and scored at least 30 points in four of the five games, he’s suddenly become a player whose production is difficult to predict, which isn’t dissimilar to the Kings’ other big-name players. LaVine has failed to make it out of single figures in scoring in two of the last five games and has only averaged 18.0 points per game in November. The interesting part here is that his shooting efficiency has remained high, but he has seen a big decrease in his attempts. It’s hard to get a feel for what exactly Sacramento is trying to do, as the team struggles to find solutions to end this current six-game losing streak. Regardless, this isn’t an ideal situation for those fantasy managers who have LaVine rostered.

Nikola Vučević — C, Bulls

The Bulls’ hot start was a fun early-season story. As they’ve cooled off, so too has Vucevic, whose numbers have dropped from 19.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game in October to a 13.4/8.8/3.3 line across November's eight contests. His 50.0 percent shooting from beyond the arc was always going to be unsustainable, but his 25.0 percent over the last three has led to some rough scoring outings. Can he regain his early-season form? There aren’t many backup center options behind him in the rotation that would eat away at his minutes. Still, it's fair to wonder what level of production the veteran can sustain. Stock down.

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Suns at Trail Blazers predictions: odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for November 18

The Phoenix Suns (8-6) head to the Moda Center to take on the Portland Trail Blazers (6-7) on NBC and Peacock at 11 PM Eastern.

Phoenix had its five-game winning streak snapped in a two-point loss on Sunday to Atlanta (124-122). The Suns started the season 0-4, then proceeded to win eight of the next 10 games.

Portland was the opposite. The Trail Blazers started the season hot with a 5-3 record, but have dropped four of the past five games with consecutive losses. After a five-game road trip, Portland is back at home where they are 3-2 and last beat the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a potential sweat or two! We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff. Odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.

Game Details and How to watch the Suns vs. Blazers live

  • Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
  • Time: 11 PM EST
  • Site: Moda Center
  • City: Portland, OR
  • Network/Streaming: NBC/Peacock

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game odds for the Blazers at the Suns

The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Suns (-142), Blazers (+120)
  • Spread: Trail Blazers -2.5
  • Total: 236.5

That gives the Trail Blazers an implied team point total of 119.5 and the Suns 117.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups for the Suns and the Trail Blazers

Suns

PG Devin Booker

SG Ryan Dunn

SF Dillon Brooks

PF Royce O’Neale

C Mark Williams

Trail Blazers

PG Shaedon Sharpe

SG Toumani Camara

SF Jerami Grant

PF Deni Avdija

C Donovan Clingan

Injuries for the Trail Blazers and the Suns

Trail Blazers

G Scoot Henderson (hamstring) is OUT for Tuesday's game

G Jrue Holiday (calf) is doubtful for Tuesday's game

Suns

G Grayson Allen (quadriceps) is OUT for Tuesday

Important stats, trends and insights ahead of Suns at Trail Blazers on Tuesday.

  • Portland is 0-5 ATS in the last five games
  • Portland is 6-7 ATS overall this season
  • Portland is 0-1 ATS as a home favorite
  • Phoenix is 4-2 ATS in the last six games
  • Phoenix is 1-4 ATS as a road underdog, ranking 2nd-worst
  • Phoenix is 9-5 ATS, ranking tied 7th
  • Portland is 10-3 to the Over, ranking second
  • Phoenix is 6-6 to the Over, ranking tied 6th-worst

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Suns as a live-bet:

"Portland is on a 0-5 ATS streak as the market started to over rate this team. Phoenix on the other hand is 4-2 ATS in the past six games and climbed above .500 with an 8-6 record. My pre-tip pick for this would be the Suns, but there would be live betting opportunities to get a better number than the +2.5 or +3's being offered."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Trail Blazers & Suns game:

  • Moneyline: Suns ML (high confidence)
  • Spread: Suns +5.5 (low confidence)
  • Total: Under 236.5 (low confidence)

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

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Grizzlies at Spurs predictions: odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for November 18

The San Antonio Spurs (9-4) and Memphis Grizzlies (4-10) meet at 8 PM Eastern on NBC and Peacock! The storyline of this game is can the Spurs continue their winning ways against the bottom of the league without Victor Wembanyama or can the Grizzlies snap their four-game losing streak and get a much-need win on national TV without Ja Morant?

San Antonio enters led by De'Aaron Fox who will have more on his plate tonight without super star Victor Wembanyama, plus young up and coming guards, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle. The Spurs beat the Kings, 123-110, without Wemby in their previous game after losing two straight to the Warriors.

The Spurs have been a streaky team this year, putting together two winning streaks of five and three games, plus two losing streaks of two games apiece. Let's see if San Antonio can put together another winning streak as home favorites on primetime.

Memphis is on a four-game losing streak and dropped eight of the past nine as they enter this contest. Not much has gone right and with Ja Morant out, Memphis will rely on Jaren Jackson Jr and a plethora of role players. The Grizzlies have one win against a team with a winning record this year and six of the Spurs' nine games have come against teams with losing records.

Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a potential sweat or two! We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff. Odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.

Game Details and How to watch the Grizzlies vs. Spurs live

  • Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
  • Time: 8 PM EST
  • Site: Frost Bank Center
  • City: San Antonio, TX
  • Network/Streaming: NBC/Peacock

Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Game odds for the Grizzlies at the Spurs

The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Spurs (-230), Grizzlies (+190)
  • Spread: Spurs -5.5
  • Total: 233.5

That gives the Spurs an implied team point total of 119.5 and the Grizzlies 113.5.

Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!

Expected Starting Lineups for the Grizzlies and the Spurs

Grizzlies

PG Cam Spencer

SG Jaylen Wells

SF Cedric Coward

PF Jaren Jackson

C Zach Edey

Spurs

PG De'Aaron Fox

SG Devin Vassell

SF Julian Champagnie

PF Harrison Barnes

C Luke Kornet

Injuries for the Grizzlies and the Spurs

Grizzlies

F Ja Morant (right calf strain) is OUT for Monday’s game
G Ty Jerome (calf) is OUT for Tuesday's game
F Brandon Clarke (knee) is OUT for Tuesday's game

Spurs

C Victor Wembanyama (calf) is OUT for Tuesday's matchup
G Stephon Castle (hip) is OUT for Tuesday's matchup
G Dylan Harper (hip) is OUT for Tuesday's game
G Jordan McLaughlin (hamstring) is OUT for Tuesday's game

Important stats, trends and insights ahead of Grizzlies at Spurs on Tuesday.

  • Memphis is 4-10 ATS, ranking second-worst
  • Memphis is 1-4 ATS as a road underdog, ranking tied second-worst
  • Memphis is 9-5 to the Under, tied for first
  • San Antonio is 5-6-2 ATS
  • San Antonio is 3-6-2 ATS as a favorite and 3-3-1 ATS as a home favorite
  • San Antonio is 7-6 to the Over

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Grizzlies to cover the first half:

“Memphis has been abysmal in the full game ATS (4-10), ranking second-worst, but they have been a better first half team at 6-8 ATS on the season. The Grizzlies are getting +3.5 against a Spurs team that is without VictorWembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper. It's hard to imagine on primetime, Memphis doesn't hang at least for a half with this Spurs team.

Memphis is 3-2 ATS in the last five first halves compared to 1-4 in the full game. The Grizzlies are also 1-9 ATS in the last 10 games overall, so I do lean that way tonight as positive regression should set in, but I'll stick with the first half +3.5 down to +2.5 and live bet if need be."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Grizzlies & Spurs game:

  • Moneyline: Grizzlies ML (low confidence)
  • Spread: Grizzlies +5.5 (medium confidence)
  • Total: Under 232.5 (low confidence)

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

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How to watch Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight's game

Head to Peacock for tonight's thrilling Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA doubleheader. The action starts at 8:00 PM ET when the Memphis Grizzlies take on the San Antonio Spurs. Then, at 11:00 PM, the Phoenix Suns go head-to-head with the Portland Trail Blazers. Live coverage tonight begins at 7:30 PM. See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's game and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

Memphis Grizzlies:

The Grizzlies have lost eight of their last nine games, including the last four straight matchups. Saturday's 108-100 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers delivered an additional blow as Ja Morant left early in the first quarter with a right calf strain. The team announced later on Monday that he is expected to be out for at least two weeks.

Zach Edey's return was one bright spot for the Grizzlies. The second-year center had 13 points and 7 rebounds in his season debut, after undergoing ankle surgery in June.
However, the team is still struggling without its key players.

The Grizzlies announced on Nov. 11 that Brandon Clarke is expected to return from his right knee injury in 6 to 9 weeks. Ty Jerome has yet to play this season since sustaining a right calf injury in the preseason.

San Antonio Spurs:

The Spurs, currently 9-4, are off to their best start since the 2016-2017 season, after defeating the Sacramento Kings 123-110 on Sunday. De'Aron Fox led the team with 28 points and 11 assists. The 2023 All-Star is averaging 22 points per game so far this season, despite missing the first eight games with a right hamstring injury.

Victor Wembanyama did not play on Sunday and is expected to be out for the next two to three weeks after suffering a left calf strain in Friday's loss against Golden State.

Second-year guard Stephon Castle will also be out tonight after sustaining a left hip injury in Sunday's win.

Oklahoma City Thunder v Charlotte Hornets
2025-26 NBA MVP ladder, race: Odds, power rankings, frontrunners including Jokic vs Gilgeous-Alexander
Vaughn Dalzell breaks down the NBA’s MVP race as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stands firm at No. 1.

How to watch Memphis Grizzlies vs San Antonio Spurs:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, November 18
  • Where: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas
  • Time: 8:00 PM ET
  • TV Channel: NBC
  • Live Stream:Peacock

What other NBA games are on NBC and Peacock tonight?

How to watch Phoenix Suns vs Portland Trail Blazers:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, November 18
  • Where: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
  • Time: 11:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock
NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Utah Jazz
2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Top 200 Rankings: Wemby injured, Jalen Johnson providing value in Atlanta
The Hawks forward has exceeded the expectations of many fantasy managers this season, especially after Trae Young went down.

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

Peacock ScoreCard: Grizzlies vs Spurs

Peacock ScoreCard turns the NBA into an interactive experience. Pick from a selection of premade cards based on what you think will happen during the game. Earn leaderboard points and see how you rank against other viewers in real-time. Click here to get started.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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How to watch Phoenix Suns vs. Portland Trail Blazers: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight's game

The Phoenix Suns go head-to-head with the Portland Trail Blazers in game two of tonight's Coast 2 Coast Tuesday NBA doubleheader on Peacock. This is the first of three matchups between the two teams this season. Tip-off is at 11:00 PM ET.

See below for additional information on how to watch tonight's game and follow all of the NBA action on NBC and Peacock. Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

Phoenix Suns:

The Suns' five-game win streak came to an end after falling 124-122 to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. Phoenix led by as many as 22 points with less than 10 minutes left in the game before the Hawks bounced back on a 43-19 run. Dillon Brooks scored a game-high 34 points in the loss, and Devin Booker added 27 with 7 assists and 2 rebounds.

The four-time All-Star guard leads the Suns in points and is on pace for a career-high year in scoring (28.4 points per game) and field goal percentage (49.5%).

Phoenix has won seven of its last nine matchups.

Portland Trail Blazers:

The Trail Blazers have dropped their last two straight matchups, most recently falling 138-133 to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday in overtime. Shaedon Sharpe led the way for Portland with 36 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds, while Deni Avdija — who leads the team in scoring this season — added 29 points with 7 assists, and 6 rebounds.

Portland is led by Tiago Splitter, who took over as interim head coach after Chauncey Billups’ arrest on October 23. This is Splitter's first head coaching role in the NBA. He spent last season as the head coach of the Paris Basketball Club.

Oklahoma City Thunder v Charlotte Hornets
2025-26 NBA MVP ladder, race: Odds, power rankings, frontrunners including Jokic vs Gilgeous-Alexander
Vaughn Dalzell breaks down the NBA’s MVP race as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander stands firm at No. 1.

How to watch Phoenix Suns vs Portland Trail Blazers:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, November 18
  • Where: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
  • Time: 11:00 PM ET
  • Live Stream:Peacock

What other NBA games are on NBC and Peacock tonight?

How to watch Memphis Grizzlies vs San Antonio Spurs:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, November 18
  • Where: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas
  • Time: 8:00 PM ET
  • TV Channel: NBC
  • Live Stream:Peacock
NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Utah Jazz
2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Top 200 Rankings: Wemby injured, Jalen Johnson providing value in Atlanta
The Hawks forward has exceeded the expectations of many fantasy managers this season, especially after Trae Young went down.

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.

Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.

Peacock ScoreCard: Suns vs Trail Blazers

Peacock ScoreCard turns the NBA into an interactive experience. Pick from a selection of premade cards based on what you think will happen during the game. Earn leaderboard points and see how you rank against other viewers in real-time. Click here to get started.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule

Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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Warriors' Draymond Green had NSFW diss for Victor Wembanyama before viral dunk

Warriors' Draymond Green had NSFW diss for Victor Wembanyama before viral dunk originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green is not one to back down from a fight.

Even when his opponent has just about every physical advantage possible over him.

The Warriors forward discussed on the latest episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama’s viral poster dunk on him in Golden State’s 109-108 win over San Antonio on Friday and what he said to the 7-foot-4 big man on the possession before.

“I must tell you, right before the dunk I blocked his shot,” Green said. “When I blocked his shot, I looked at him like, I gave him a crazy look like ‘Yeah, motherf–ker …’ and he was like ‘What? Huh? You too small.’ So I walked up to him like ‘You little, motherf–ker, you’re too little.’ He’s like, ‘I’m too little? Alright.’ “

Yes, Green called Wembanyama, of all people, “little.”

Wembanyama responded with a vicious lob dunk over Green on the following possession, which did not count because Green was called for a foul on the play.

The 6-foot-6 Green really stood no chance against Wembanyama on the play, and as it unfolded, time seemed to move in slow motion for the veteran forward as the Spurs star came crashing down over him.

“By the way, just so we’re clear, that whole conversation happened walking from one block to the other block and then we start fighting for position,” Green added. “And from there, everything else just happened in slow motion. I’m fighting for the position; he’s fighting for the position. I don’t want to pick up a foul — because the whistle was … a whole other issue — I go fight for the position, he goes and fights for the position and he does this spin, and when he spins, he’s still in place.

“He took one step and he’s in front of the rim catching a lob with the left. I thought I could get the lob when I saw it go up, I had no chance of getting it. I thought Jimmy [Butler] could get the lob from the backside; he had no chance of getting it. The only person who had a chance to get the lob was the guy who caught the lob, Wemby.”

Green admitted that he was happy the refs called a foul on him, because had the dunk counted and Wembanyama screamed in his face, as he did, he believes Golden State might not have been able to overcome San Antonio’s momentum at that point in the game.

“So that was a fun ass moment, I love to see guys respond and not back down,” Green added.

“Respect earned. I think the young fella, obviously we all know how special he is, but I think the thing I’m most impressed about is his work ethic and I know his work ethic is insane because I know how much better he’s gotten.”

There is no doubt that Green has the utmost respect for the young star, despite their heated moments on the court, and even believes Wembanyama could sweep all three major NBA awards this season.

However, on Wednesday and Friday, Green and the Warriors got the better of Wembanyama and the Spurs in back-to-back games.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Keegan Murray reportedly could make season debut during Kings' current road trip

Keegan Murray reportedly could make season debut during Kings' current road trip originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Keegan Murray could make his 2025-26 NBA season debut soon.

The young Kings forward was assigned to the Stockton Kings on Monday and cleared for 5-on-5 contact basketball. Murray plans to join Sacramento in Oklahoma City amid its current five-game road trip, per The Sacramento Bee’s Jason Anderson, and “there is hope” he will play before the Kings return home.

Murray tore the UCL in his left thumb during a preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers in October and underwent surgery a few days later.

The former No. 4 overall pick signed a five-year, $140 million extension with the Kings before the start of the season. Murray has averaged 13.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 233 regular-season games for Sacramento.

Sacramento surely misses the two-way wing’s services, as the team has been off to a widely underwhelming start to the season.

The Kings are 3-11 on the season (14th in the Western Conference) and trying to snap out of a current six-game losing streak. Still ahead, the Kings will face the Thunder in Oklahoma City, Grizzlies in Memphis and Nuggets in Denver before returning to Sacramento on Nov. 24.

Murray’s return, whenever that might be, should help with that goal of turning things around.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

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Lakers' LeBron James won't play in 2028 Olympics; Warriors' Steph Curry unlikely

Lakers' LeBron James won't play in 2028 Olympics; Warriors' Steph Curry unlikely originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It appears we have seen Steph Curry and LeBron James playing together on the court in meaningful games for the final time.

After the two superstars and longtime rivals joined forces to help secure a gold medal for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, both were asked by James’ co-host, Steve Nash, on the latest episode of the “Mind The Game” podcast if they intend to participate again at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“You already know my answer,” James told Nash. “Don’t even ask. I will be watching from Cabo.”

“It is the opposite answer of what I told him last year,” Curry said. “It was like, God willing, I still have the choice and the physical option to be like, I could actually impact the team. Never say never, but I highly doubt it. Love to be a part of the movement.”

James will be 43 years old and Curry will be 40 at the time of the 2028 Olympics, and it’s fair to assume that both could be retired by then.

Team USA’s gold medal win in Paris last summer was so special, because the league’s iconic elder statesmen, like Curry, James and Kevin Durant, all joined forces to create a super team with other NBA stars that rivaled, and perhaps exceeded, the talent of the famous 1992 “Dream Team.”

Their heroics last summer, specifically Curry’s, made for some of the most memorable moments in basketball history, and James doesn’t believe it could get much better in 2028.

“We can’t top what we just did,” James added. “How are we going to top those last two games?”

Without James, Curry, and perhaps Durant, who also will be 40 in the Summer of 2028, it appears Team USA will need new leadership at the next Olympics as it looks to secure another gold medal.

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Lakers' LeBron James won't play in 2028 Olympics; Warriors' Steph Curry unlikely

Lakers' LeBron James won't play in 2028 Olympics; Warriors' Steph Curry unlikely originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

It appears we have seen Steph Curry and LeBron James playing together on the court in meaningful games for the final time.

After the two superstars and longtime rivals joined forces to help secure a gold medal for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, both were asked by James’ co-host, Steve Nash, on the latest episode of the “Mind The Game” podcast if they intend to participate again at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

“You already know my answer,” James told Nash. “Don’t even ask. I will be watching from Cabo.”

“It is the opposite answer of what I told him last year,” Curry said. “It was like, God willing, I still have the choice and the physical option to be like, I could actually impact the team. Never say never, but I highly doubt it. Love to be a part of the movement.”

James will be 43 years old and Curry will be 40 at the time of the 2028 Olympics, and it’s fair to assume that both could be retired by then.

Team USA’s gold medal win in Paris last summer was so special, because the league’s iconic elder statesmen, like Curry, James and Kevin Durant, all joined forces to create a super team with other NBA stars that rivaled, and perhaps exceeded, the talent of the famous 1992 “Dream Team.”

Their heroics last summer, specifically Curry’s, made for some of the most memorable moments in basketball history, and James doesn’t believe it could get much better in 2028.

“We can’t top what we just did,” James added. “How are we going to top those last two games?”

Without James, Curry, and perhaps Durant, who also will be 40 in the Summer of 2028, it appears Team USA will need new leadership at the next Olympics as it looks to secure another gold medal.