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Key returns: Jared McCain to make 76ers debut Tuesday; Darius Garland returns to Cavaliers Wednesday

Two teams with Finals aspirations in the East have key guards set to make their season debut in the next couple of days: Darius Garland in Cleveland and Jared McCain in Philadelphia.

McCain will make his debut on Tuesday night when the 76ers take on the Bulls in Chicago, a move the team has confirmed.

McCain joins a backcourt of Tyrese Maxey (playing at an All-NBA level), rookie standout VJ Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes, a trio that has sparked Philadelphia to a 5-1 start to the season despite no Paul George and limited minutes from Joel Embiid. That 76ers backcourt is the future of the franchise and McCain looks to be a key part of that.

McCain, 21, looked like he was going to run away with Rookie of the Year early last season, averaging 15.3 points a game while shooting 38.3% from beyond the arc. Then, 23 games into the season, he suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee that ended his season. That was healed and McCain was set to join Philly in training camp when he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb during a pre-camp workout, which required surgery and kept him out until now.

Darius Garland is set to make his return for the Cavaliers on Wednesday against the 76ers. His return is not yet official, but it was reported by Shams Charania of ESPN and has been expected to come soon.

Cleveland's offense has missed Garland's shot creation, the runaway best offense in the NBA a season ago is now bottom five in the league through seven games, with a 112 offensive rating, nearly 10 points per 100 possessions off last season's level. Garland was at the heart of that offense as a high-level shot creator next to Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt, averaging 20.6 points and 6.7 assists a game, shooting 40.1% from 3-point range, and being named an All-Star.

Garland suffered a turf toe injury just as the playoffs were getting underway last season, and he missed a couple of games in the first round against the Heat and then a couple more games in the team's second-round series against Indiana. Realizing they needed him, Garland tried to play through it against the Pacers but was not near himself, averaging 14 points a game on 34.2% shooting overall and 16.7% from 3. During the offseason, he underwent surgery on his toe and is just now ready to take the court.

And the 4-3 Cavaliers need him and his spark.

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Kings stars Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis questionable with injury vs. Warriors

Kings stars Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis questionable with injury vs. Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Kings could be without two of their top stars when their Northern California rivals visit Golden 1 Center on Wednesday.

Sacramento guard Zach LaVine (back) and center Domantas Sabonis (ribs) are listed as questionable for their upcoming game against the Golden State Warriors, though Malik Monk, who has missed the Kings’ past two games for personal reasons, is available.

Sabonis appeared to be dealing with an injury to his side in the first quarter of Sacramento’s loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday night, but he still played 37 minutes and recorded a 13-point, 17-rebound double-double.

Sabonis, who missed the 2025-26 NBA season opener with a hamstring injury, is averaging 14.5 points on 52.2-percent shooting with 14.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game this season. He historically has turned it on against the Warriors as a member of the Kings, averaging 19.5 points, 14.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists in 10 games vs. Golden State since 2022.

LaVine has been nothing short of spectacular for Sacramento so far this year. He has scored 30-plus points in all but two of the Kings’ first seven games, averaging 27.4 points on 51.6-percent shooting with 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

The Warriors will come to Golden 1 Center on the latter half of a back-to-back, and facing a Kings team without LaVine or Sabonis certainly would make the job much easier for Golden State’s aging roster.

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Kings reportedly to sign veteran big man Precious Achiuwa for frontline depth

Sacramento has an All-Star level center starting in Domantas Sabonis, but when he goes to the bench coach Doug Christie has had to turn to 6'9" Drew Eubanks, who is undersized for the role.

Enter veteran big man Precious Achiuwa, who the Kings are about to sign, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by other Kings writers (Jake Fischer was first in reporting Sacramento’s interest on Monday).

Achiuwa has played for Miami, Toronto and New York in his five NBA seasons, averaging 7.6 points and 5.7 rebounds a night. He is also undersized at 6'8" but plays bigger than that. He was in training camp with the Heat this season, but was never expected to make their already full roster.

The Kings are expected to waive little-used big man Isaac Jones to create the roster spot for Achiuwa, Charania reports.

Sacramento is off to a 2-4 start this season, ranked in the bottom 10 in the league in both offense and defense.

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Kevin Durant claps back at Draymond Green for Warriors offense vs. defense claim

Kevin Durant claps back at Draymond Green for Warriors offense vs. defense claim originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

“Offense sells tickets. Defense wins championships,” legendary football coach Bear Bryant famously said.

Enter Kevin Durant. 

Durant, on Netflix’s “Starting 5” series, argued offense wins championships.  

“You have to score baskets if you want to win a championship,” Durant said. “Playing defense, we can get any one of y’all in here to bend your legs, not touch the basketball, slide left and right, and contest the shot. That’s easy. But when we’re talking about winning at a high level against the best of the best, you cannot just do that and win a basketball game.” 

Enter Draymond Green. 

In an interview with The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Green was asked about Durant’s view on defense. 

Amick: …Then you have the messaging from some of your peers, like when Kevin [Durant] shares his views about defense and how, in essence, he thinks anybody can do it. 

Green: I think when you look at any team that won a championship, they had a great defense. And if you look at most teams that couldn’t quite get over the hump, oftentimes it’s [because] they couldn’t get stops. That fact still remains, and I think that those who don’t believe it, don’t win. It’s very simple. Those who don’t believe defense is as valuable as it is, they simply just don’t win. I don’t think anyone’s ever really been hell-bent on caring about the opinion of those that don’t win, because your opinion equals zero. 

Amick: So I hear you, but Kevin has won. 

Green: He won here, [and] the defense here was… 

Amick: It was incredible. 

Green: Absolutely.

Durant, responding to the quote from Green’s interview on X, clapped back with a follow-up question. 

The offense also was incredible in the back-to-back championship seasons with Durant on the team. The Warriors led the NBA in offensive rating each of the three seasons he played with Golden State from 2016-17 to 2018-19. 

But, the 2016-17 team was a defensive juggernaut as well. Their 101.1 defensive rating that season was second-best in the league. Coupled with their league-leading 113.2 offensive rating, they ended the season with a whopping 12.1 net rating.  

It’s the second-best net rating since the statistic was calculated starting in the 1996-97 season, only outdone by the Oklahoma City Thunder’s championship team this past season (12.6).  

OK, so maybe both offense and defense, together, win championships?  

Green, later in his interview with Amick, noted that he and Durant have different opinions on basketball, and that offense is also highly important in his own play. 

“But me and ‘K’ have had a million basketball conversations. So again, I know how he thinks about the game of basketball. His opinion didn’t surprise me one bit,” Green said. “But like I said, I also don’t view myself as a guy who just defends. I’m great at that — absolutely phenomenal at that — but I know that’s not all I do. Like, I’ll f— your offense and your defense up, and make your coaching staff have to go ponder, like, ‘Huh, how do we figure that out?’” 

So, perhaps the question of “offense vs. defense” is a bit more nuanced. 

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Fantasy Basketball Stock Up Stock Down: Jonathan Kuminga taking a leap to begin fifth season

Welcome back to “Stock Up Stock Down.” Now into November, we’ve got a still-small, but larger sample size of games to react to with Week 2 officially in the books. There have been some pleasant surprises, and also more than a few worrisome trends that are worth discussing.

Let’s talk about them.

NBA: Golden State Warriors at Milwaukee Bucks
Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Ryan Rollins is ready to roll
Milwaukee has found its answer at point guard, and Rollins is a must-add after a monstrously productive week.

→ Watch the NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday on NBC and Peacock:The Magic take on the Hawks at 8pm ET, followed by the undefeated Thunder at the Clippers at 11 pm ET. Both games are available on Peacock. Check your local listings for the NBC game in your area.

STOCK UP

Ryan Rollins, PG, Bucks

Ryan Rollins is one of the hottest names in the NBA, and deservingly so. In his six starts following the Kevin Porter Jr. opening-night injury, he’s scored in double figures each time, including two games with 25 or more points. He’s also tallied at least seven assists in four of the starts, while draining 11 three-pointers over the past four games. Porter Jr.’s Game 1 ankle injury preceded a recent knee injury suffered during a team workout that led to surgery and will sideline him for around another month. Rollins will keep his spot in the lineup for at least the time being, which could make him one of the trendier roster additions in fantasy leagues.

Jonathan Kuminga, SF, PF, Warriors

While we've only reached November, about two weeks of basketball is enough for me to feel confident that this version of Jonathan Kuminga the Warriors are currently getting is not a fluke. The three-point shooting appears to be a real improvement, while the rebounding and slight step forward as a playmaker are nice additions to his game that have provided slight boosts to his fantasy production. More importantly, however, is that it appears his fit with the Warriors is there, which was rarely the case a season ago. He’s one of the younger players in Golden State’s rotation, which is valuable alone when considering the ages and wear on the bodies of a lot of the Warriors’ main guys. I like the path Kuminga has started on and am looking forward to seeing where it can take him. Stock up.

Jrue Holiday, PG, Trail Blazers

Given the age and the usage over the past two seasons in Boston in a complementary role, it was likely very easy (and understandable) for fantasy players to close the book on Jrue Holiday’s time as a productive point guard. But instead of closing the book, he’s turned back the pages and transformed back into a true lead guard with the potential to stuff the stat sheet on a nightly basis. Up until Monday’s loss to the Lakers, the 17-year veteran had tallied the most threes (2.5) and assists per game (8.7) of his career, while averaging his most points per game (18.2) since his time in Milwaukee. He had one of his least productive games of the season on Monday, but the Trail Blazers have been good to start the season, with Holiday’s contributions on the court playing a massive role. If they remain good, there’s a high likelihood he continues functioning as a high-usage guard.

NBA: Atlanta Hawks at Chicago Bulls
Fantasy Basketball Week 3 Schedule Primer: Hawks continue without Trae Young
“Ice Trae” will be sidelined for at least four weeks after spraining his MCL last week.

STOCK DOWN

Trey Murphy, SF, PF, Pelicans

If we’re looking solely at the two most recent Pelicans games, Murphy might not make a ton of sense as a “stock down” player. But even with a slight upward trend of late, those two recent performances aren’t coming close to the type of lines many expected the versatile two-way forward to consistently put forth in his fifth NBA season. His current scoring averages are at their lowest since his sophomore season, while the shooting splits from the field and from beyond the arc are career lows at the moment. Given how the 2024-25 campaign went for Murphy and him still being a young player, it doesn’t seem likely that his production will remain insignificant for an extended period of time. However, the Pelicans are 0-6 as I write this, with negative discourse surrounding the state of the organization and its outlook. Murphy rounding back into form isn’t an inevitability.

Jakob Poeltl, C, Raptors

The start to Poeltl’s 2025-26 season has been an unideal one. He’s dealt with a back injury that’s kept him in street clothes for Toronto’s last three games, but even before the injury, he’d been significantly less productive statistically than he had been a season ago. He’s currently down 8.0 points and over 4.0 rebounds per game while playing fewer than half of the possible 48.0 minutes per game across his four appearances. The good news for those fantasy managers who may have Poeltl rostered is that the four-game sample size is incredibly small for a proven veteran, and he’s remained Toronto’s starting center despite seeing fewer minutes. Still, what to expect moving forward feels hard to predict.

Domantas Sabonis, C, Kings

It’s been a rough start to the season over in Sacramento. The Kings own a 2-5 record, one of the worst defenses in the league, and their best players are failing to make a substantial impact. More specifically, Sabonis is struggling to make land his usual production on offense. He’s scoring his fewest points (14.5) and tallying his lowest amount of assists per game (4.0) since his third NBA season, back when he had yet to become a full-time starter in this league. If it weren’t for his sustained dominance on the glass, the concerns from a fantasy basketball standpoint would be even greater. The season is still young, however, a pessimistic view going forward for a player on a team that doesn’t seem to have a great plan of action moving forward seems fair.

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The Bounce: Giannis flips the boo birds. Plus, college basketball is back!

The Bounce Newsletter  | This is The Athletic’s daily NBA newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox.

If the Denver Nuggets don’t turn this pass by Nikola Jokić that grazed Domantas Sabonis’ lettuce into some kind of barber gimmick, then what are we even doing here? Jokić just won a game of chicken that Sabonis had no idea he was playing.

About last night

Giannis steps up for Myles Turner

The Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers have had bad blood of late. They’ve been involved in a kerfuffle over a game ball during the NBA Cup. They got into each other’s faces in the playoffs. Giannis Antetokounmpo even beefed with Tyrese Haliburton’s dad after Indiana eliminated the Bucks last postseason.

The big storyline on Monday night was Myles Turner coming back to Indy after leaving the Pacers for Milwaukee in free agency this summer.  He still has all the love for Indiana and its fans, but they booed him during the game. Turner didn’t have some big revenge game or anything. He scored nine points, grabbed seven boards and blocked five shots in 32 minutes.

Turner left all the revenge room for his new teammate, Giannis. The Greek Freak had 33 points, 13 rebounds and five assists while making 14-of-21 from the field. The Pacers put up a great fight in this game, overcoming a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to tie it on the final possession. Unfortunately for Indiana, the last shot was in the hands of Giannis. And he calmly hit the game-winner.

That classic Giannis post-up from the left elbow into a fadeaway jumper! It was an incredible shot, and Giannis seemed to have a little extra for the Pacers crowd. He didn’t like them booing his new teammate (Turner, not Thanasis, who is most definitely back). He shushed the crowd and then booed them back. 

The Bucks are 5-2, and the Pacers have fallen to just 1-6.

Rockets 110, Mavs 102: Dallas (2-5) put up a great effort without Anthony Davis, but P.J. Washington’s 29 and 12 just weren’t enough. Amen Thompson got to the hoop whenever he wanted on his way to 27 points. The Rockets (4-2) also received 26-11-6 from Alperen Şengün and 21 from Kevin Durant.

Heat 120, Clippers 119: Kawhi Leonard missed the game-winning shot, and the Clippers (3-3) couldn’t overcome their 20 turnovers. Norm Powell had 21 in his return to the Intuit Dome, and Bam Adebayo had 25 points and 10 boards. Miami (4-3) and its fast pace continue to cause chaos.

Jazz 105, Celtics 103: Keyonte George led the Jazz (3-4) with 31 points, and Jusuf Nurkić (11 points and 11 rebounds) had the winning putback with 0.6 seconds. The Celtics (3-5) got 36 points from Jaylen Brown, but they lost a game in which the Jazz turned it over 19 times. Maybe the Utah rebounding advantage of 55-36 had something to do with it. Somehow this was a no-call! 

Lakers 123, Blazers 115: No Luka Dončić. No LeBron James. No Austin Reaves. But the Lakers (6-2) did have a Deandre Ayton revenge game on deck. He had 29 points and 10 rebounds, while Nick Smith Jr. put up 25 off the bench to give the Blazers (4-3) a pretty bad loss. Deni Avdija had 33 for them, though.

Pistons 114, Grizzlies 106: The Grizzlies (3-5) were down 21 in this game and brought it back to a three-point deficit late in the fourth quarter. However, Cade Cunningham had 33 points and eight assists, while Isaiah Stewart complemented him with a monster game. Beef Stew put up 26 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and four blocks for the Pistons (5-2).

Nuggets 130, Kings 124: Russell Westbrook was looking for revenge against his former Nuggets teammates (lots of that going around Monday) and his 26 points, 12 rebounds and six assists were a great start to that. And the Kings (2-5) had seven players in double figures. Denver (4-2) had Jokić, though, and his 34 points and 14 assists.

Wolves 125, Nets 109: Julius Randle had 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to rack up the triple-double. Donte DiVincenzo led all Wolveswith 25 points. And Minnesota (4-3) climbed back over .500 as it played without Anthony Edwards again. The Nets are now 0-7. Someone asked me if they were going to win before December. I legitimately don’t know.

Knicks 119, Wizards 102: The Wizards (1-6) got off to a great start and led after the first quarter. If I had to put my finger on it, I’d say the Knicks (4-3) outscoring them 76-48 in the second and third quarters combined is probably why Washington lost. Karl-Anthony Towns led everybody with 33 points and 13 rebounds. Alex Sarr had 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

The last 24

Are the Rockets the league’s second-best squad?

📈 New Rankings! Law Murray has the latest Power Rankings, and a bit of a shocking team ranked No. 2. The 3-2 Houston Rockets!

🏀 Top prospects. Sam Vecenie covers the NBA Draft better than anybody. He’s got what scouts are saying about the race for the top pick. And a two-round 2026 mock draft. 

📹 This is just a tribute. What is the bar for a tribute video on a returning former player?Was Turner good enough for one in Indy?

💰 Yoink! A former Hawks executive was charged with embezzling $3.8 million from the team. He bought a Porsche and tickets? 

🎧 Tuning in. The latest “NBA Daily” discusses why Bucks-Pacers is the most fun rivalry in the league right now.

Stream the NBA on Fubo (try it for free!) and catch out-of-market games on League Pass.

Back to college

Men’s hoops primer with Brendan Marks

Last night, we had an epic beginning to the men’s college basketball season with incredible talent taking the court all over the country. No. 13 Arizona took down defending champion and No. 3 Florida thanks to 30 points by Koa Peat. We also saw AJ Dybantsa go for 21 points as BYU beat Villanova.

With so much already happening on the men’s side, I needed to call in an expert to prepare us. The Athletic’s Brendan Marks is one of the best in the business and a college fixture when we need answers at The Bounce.

Zach: Who is a team you feel is underrated going into the season, and who is a team you think is overrated?

Brendan: I’m not sure if the No. 11 team in the preseason top 25 truly counts as “underrated,” but most teams with Louisville’s sheer talent would be top 5 (or even top 3) entering the season. The Cardinals are getting dinged because Pat Kelsey has never won an NCAA Tournament game … but neither had Florida’s Todd Golden before last spring. Louisville retained two starters, signed three top-35 transfers and brought in a lottery pick freshman point guard. Why can’t the Cards win it all?

For overrated, wild as it sounds, give me … the defending national champs. Florida brought back its entire frontcourt but lost all three starting guards from last season, including Final Four MOP Walter Clayton Jr. UF should still be good, but I need to see the Gators’ new backcourt perform before seriously entertaining if Golden’s team can go back-to-back.

Zach: In terms of excitement to watch all season, rank Dybantsa, Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and Duke’s Cameron Boozer and why.

Brendan: Oh, lord. There’s no right answer here, but …

Dybantsa: Narrowly, but his athleticism at 6-foot-9 — plus his arsenal of pro-ready offensive moves — is just mesmerizing. Give him the ball and get out of the way.

Boozer: Possibly controversial, but people 250 pounds are not supposed to move the way Boozer does. His shooting and passing are guard-esque.

Peterson: Putting Peterson third here is like saying Shaq is the third-best center of all time. A stupidly skilled guard with athleticism for days, who should fall somewhere on the scale from Cade Cunningham to Donovan Mitchell.

Zach: Outside of the top prospects, who is a player you think will really surprise people (doesn’t have to be a freshman)?

Brendan: The Big 3 freshmen have (rightfully) stolen most of the headlines, but two other rookie guards — Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr. and Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. — could easily be their respective teams’ best players, too. It wouldn’t be surprising if both emerge as top-10 prospects in their own right. As for older players, casual fans may not know Iowa point guard Bennett Stirtz — who followed new Hawkeyes coach Ben McCollum from Division II to Drake and now to Des Moines — but he’s one of my favorite players to watch. If Iowa is going to make the NCAA Tournament, it’s because Stirtz has an All-America-caliber season.

Back to college, Part 2

Women’s hoops primer with Sabreena Merchant

Sadly, we know we’re not going to see USC’s JuJu Watkins this season. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t poised for an amazing women’s season. Reigning champion UConn return an incredible squad. South Carolina looks to get back to winning it all. And UCLA is loaded.

To break it all down, we turned to The Athletic’s Sabreena Merchant, who always drops basketball knowledge for us.

Zach: Who is a team you feel is underrated going into the women’s season and who is a team you think is overrated?

Sabreena: Is it OK to call a top-10 team underrated? I’ll go for it. Maryland looks Final Four-caliber this year with the additions of Yarden Garzon (a top-five shooter in the country) and ACC tournament MVP Oluchi Okananwa. The Terrapins are deep and balanced, and they have an identity (pace, pace, pace), which is sometimes a rarity in the portal era. On the other end, I’m confused about the Iowa State hype. We did this last year with the Cyclones, and they fell all the way from preseason top 10 to a No. 11 seed in the tournament. Until Audi Crooks proves she can defend the paint, there is a limited ceiling on this team, and it isn’t the 12th-ranked team in the country.

Zach: If I give you Azzi Fudd as the best player to watch this season, can you give me a better answer?

Sabreena: Fudd certainly has an aesthetically pleasing game — there is arguably no one with a purer jump shot in all of college basketball, women’s or men’s. But she’s not even the best player on her team. That would be Sarah Strong, the do-it-all combo forward who seems destined to fall in the lineage of Breanna Stewart as a multi-time champion at UConn. Strong is as smooth as can be and has something in her game for everyone. For those fans with specific stylistic preferences: Lauren Betts (UCLA) is the most fundamentally sound post player in America, Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame) literally never stops moving, and MiLaysia Fulwiley (LSU) has the most ridiculous handle.

Zach: Which incoming freshman are you most excited to watch this season?

Sabreena: The L.A. freshmen lead the list: Jazzy Davidson at USC and Sienna Betts at UCLA. Both starred for Team USA in the U-19 World Cup this summer and have opportunities to play big roles in their first collegiate seasons. If you squint, Davidson is in the mold of Watkins with her playmaking on both ends, and she’ll be assuming a lot of the offensive and defensive responsibilities Watkins took on last season.

Betts is the modern big partner to her older sister Lauren on the Bruins, and she can rack up double-doubles while also stretching the floor, assuming she gets back from a foot injury that will cost her the start of the season.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, Men's College Basketball, Women's College Basketball, The Bounce

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How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Clippers: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight’s game

NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday continues tonight with a doubleheader featuring two conference showdowns.

In the 11 p.m. ET game, the Los Angeles Clippers (3-3), who are coming off their first loss at home, will play host to the Oklahoma City Thunder (7-0), the lone remaining unbeaten team in the NBA. Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose scoring average is slightly up from his 2024-25 MVP season, will face the team that traded him in 2019 to Oklahoma City after his rookie season.

In an 8 p.m. ET tipoff, the Atlanta Hawks (3-4) will begin a three-game homestand by welcoming the Orlando Magic (3-4), which are completing a five-game road trip. It's a rematch of an Oct. 24 game in Orlando, Florida, where the Hawks won 111-107 with a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter after trailing by 12.

Coast 2 Coast Tuesday will begin weekly with a 30-minute studio show leading into the doubleheader.

See below for additional information on how to watch both games and a breakdown of the Clippers-Thunder matchup.

Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season. Click here to sign up and follow all of the NBA excitement.

How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Clippers:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 4
  • Where: Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California
  • Time: 11 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: NBC (check local listings)
  • Live Stream: Peacock

Oklahoma City Thunder storylines

Despite battling through injuries, the defending NBA champions have racked up seven consecutive wins to start the season for the second year in a row — joining the 1963-63 Boston Celtics and 1993-95 Houston Rockets as the third team with back-to-back 7-0 starts. The Thunder rolled to a 137-106 victory Sunday over the New Orleans Pelicans despite the absence of star swingman Jalen Williams (who has yet to play this season while recovering from right wrist surgery), Chet Holmgren (who has missed three consecutive games with a sprained back) and Lu Dort (illness).

It's easier for Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault to juggle the lineup with the presence of league and NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is averaging 33.6 points and 5.9 assists per game. Ajay Mitchell (17.3 ppg), Aaron Wiggins (13.4) and Isaiah Hartenstein (10.9) have also provided double-figure scoring while appearing in every game.

Gilgeous-Alexander and his family had a scare Oct. 30 when their home was burglarized during the Thunder's 127-108 victory over the Washington Wizards. "Long story short, everybody's safe, and that's all that really matters in the whole thing," Gilgeous-Alexander said Sunday after the Thunder's win. "Everything else can come and go, but my loved ones are safe, so I'm OK. I'm happy."

Syndication: The Oklahoman
Thunder’s Jalen Williams has follow-up procedure on wrist, out at least a couple more weeks
Williams has yet to play this season, but the Thunder have started 6-0 without him.

Los Angeles Clippers storylines

The Clippers lost 120-119 to the Miami Heat as Kawhi Leonard missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer Monday. While led by the twin scoring attack of James Harden (29 points) and Leonard (27), ball security has been an issue for Los Angeles, which committed 21 turnovers that led to 37 points for Miami and frustration for Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. "It came down to turning the ball over," Lue said. "Same (stuff) over and over. Same stuff."

Leonard also said he tweaked his right ankle against Miami and could be a game-time decision against Oklahoma, and fellow veteran Bradley Beal also might sit on the second game of a back to back. The Clippers have started 1-1 on a stretch with six of seven games at home.

After Leonard (24.3 points per game) and Harden (23 points per game), Los Angeles relies on scoring from Ivica Zubac (14.2 points per game), John Collins (11.8 points per game) and Derrick Jones Jr. (10.7 points per game).

What other NBA game is on Peacock tonight?

How to watch Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 4
  • Where: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: NBC (check local listings)
  • Live Stream: Peacock

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.

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 and Bravo hits on Peacock for whatever suits your mood.

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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Mikal Bridges' renewed aggression an early-season Knicks trend worth watching

We’re still in the early days of this new NBA season, but one trend Knicks fans are hoping sticks around is the renewed aggression from Mikal Bridges. 

Ahead of Monday's win over the Wizards on Monday, Bridges was averaging 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and six assists on 62.2 percent shooting from two and 46.9 percent from three in six games, a healthy start to the year. 

Against Washington, Bridges had a strong game, notching 10 points, four assists, three blocks, three steals, and two rebounds in 29 minutes. 

Beyond the counting stats, we’ve seen a material departure in style and substance from last season’s performance. This is a welcome development after the Knicks invested most of their draft capital to acquire Bridges in the summer of 2024. 

While he came up huge in the playoffs last season, Bridges spent much of the campaign finding his place, and disappointed with his lack of physicality and impact. He seems to have addressed these concerns head on so far in 2025-26, which bodes well for his team.

Bridges’ scoring average may be virtually identical to last season, but he’s getting there on fewer shot attempts thanks to a reworked shot diet. He’s trading inefficient mid-range attempts for more threes and rim attacks, and it’s working.

Thirty-four percent of Bridges' shot attempts came from between ten feet out and the three-point line last season, compared to 22 percent this year as of Monday. His three-point attempt rate has also jumped from 38 percent of his field goal attempts to 46 percent. 

He’s been much more aggressive off the catch and in transition to use his length attacking the cup, resulting in a free throw rate over double what he recorded last season. For context, he’s attempted 16 free throws in six games, and it took him until December to reach that mark in 2024. 

Oct 24, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) goes to the basket during the first half against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden.
Oct 24, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges (25) goes to the basket during the first half against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

As a result, Bridges’ true-shooting percentage is up to 69 percent -- which would be a career high if it sustains, a full 10 percentage points higher than last season. It helps that he’s knocking everything down, but even if the shooting slows down, the increased rim attacks are a healthy and necessary addition to his game.

Bridges has brought this new aggressiveness not just to his drives but the rest of his game. He’s taken on the role of being more of a secondary playmaker, heavily subscribing to new head coach Mike Brown’s drive-and-dish mentality.

He boasts an assist rate of 23.6 percent, closer in comparison to dribble-heavy guards and by far a career high for Bridges. He’s no elite passer, but is willing, capable, and accurate, historically recording few turnovers.

Leaning on this part of his game has no doubt come at a sacrifice of his scoring, but may be crucial in unlocking this offense for the long haul. The next step will be tightening up his play in pick-and-roll, where he’s got more responsibility.

Bridges is also hitting the boards much harder, with career highs in both offensive and defensive rebounding rates. His length and size at the position has long been a boon to his career, just not in this particular area, a surprising but potentially huge development.

The Knicks have had bigger rebounding questions than in years prior given the roster construction and new identity, but Bridges being more active on that end changes the math. It’s been night and day watching him sprint towards hot spots off a teammate’s shot and use his length to tip the ball out for second opportunities.

Finally, on the defensive end, Bridges has been more active getting his hands into passing lanes and shooting pockets. His steal and block rates are elevated to his “3-and-D” heyday levels, making more use of his frame and IQ.

These returns feel much more aligned to the upfront price the Knicks paid for Bridges. The ultimate Swiss Army Knife next to Jalen Brunson is the type of piece you pay a premium to obtain in hopes it can secure you a championship, and this year feels like Bridges starting to figure out how to be that guy.

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How to watch Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks: TV/live stream info, preview for tonight’s game

NBA Coast 2 Coast Tuesday continues tonight with a doubleheader featuring two conference showdowns.

In an 8 p.m. ET tipoff, the Atlanta Hawks (3-4) will begin a three-game homestand by welcoming the Orlando Magic (3-4), which are completing a five-game road trip. It's a rematch of an Oct. 24 game in Orlando, Florida, where the Hawks won 111-107 with a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter after trailing by 12.

In the 11 p.m. ET game, the Los Angeles Clippers (3-3), who are coming off their first loss at home, will play host to the Oklahoma City Thunder, (7-0) the lone remaining unbeaten team in the NBA. Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose scoring average is slightly up from his 2024-25 MVP season, will face the team that traded him in 2019 to Oklahoma City after his rookie season.

Coast 2 Coast Tuesday will begin weekly with a 30-minute studio show leading into the doubleheader.

See below for additional information on how to watch both games and a breakdown of the Magic-Hawks matchup.

Peacock will feature 100 regular-season games throughout the course of the 2025-2026 season. Click here to sign up and follow all of the NBA excitement.

How to watch Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 4
  • Where: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: NBC (check local listings)
  • Live Stream: Peacock

Orlando Magic storylines

The Magic is trying to close the road trip with a third consecutive victory after a 125-94 win Saturday over the Washington Wizards and a 123-107 victory Thursday over the Charlotte Hornets. Forcing 21 turnovers while allowing a season-low opponent points total to Washington, Orlando's defense has improved after allowing more than 135 points in back-to-back losses to Philadelphia and Detroit (the highest scoring totals in consecutive games yielded by the Magic since 1990). Orlando is also picking up the pace on offense, averaging 1303.29 possessions per 48 minutes after an NBA-low 96.5 last season.

The focal point is Paolo Banchero, who signed a franchise-record five-year, $240.7 million extension over the summer and leads the Magic in scoring (23.3 points per game), rebounds (9.3 per game) and blocks (1.3 per game). "He holds so much gravity and weight when he has that ball in his hands," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said of Banchero, who is averaging 4 assists. "He’s got defenses loaded up to him and he’s looking to make the right play."

Desmond Bane, who was acquired from Memphis before the season, has been slumping from the 3-point line, making only five of his past 25 attempts for a team that was last in 3-point percentage (31.8%) last year. Bane is averaging 14.6 points per game, which ranks third behind Franz Wagner (22.6). Anthony Black (12.3), Wendell Carter Jr. (11.3), Tristan Da Silva ( 10.7) and Jalen Suggs also are averaging double figures in scoring.

Atlanta Hawks storylines

The Hawks are navigating life without four-time All-Star point guard Trae Young, who will miss at least four weeks with a sprained right knee suffered in the first quarter of a Nov. 29 win over Brooklyn. In its first game without Young, Atlanta lost 117-109 to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, allowing 33 points on 23 turnovers while playing their fourth starting lineup in seven games.

"I think that collectively we need to be more connected, and that’ll help us,” coach Quinn Snyder said. “A lot of guys are in kind of new spots, new positions, new roles, and they need to help each other, and they’re aware of that.”

Jalen Johnson is leading the Hawks in points (21.2 per game) and rebounds (9.0), and Kristaps Porzingis (18.2 points per game) also has been effective in his first season since being acquired in a trade with Boston. Nickeil Alexander-Walker (16.9) and Onyeka Okongwu (13.9) also have double-figure scoring averages for Atlanta.

What other NBA game is on Peacock tonight?

How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Clippers:

  • When: Tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 4
  • Where: Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California
  • Time: 11 p.m. ET
  • TV Channel: NBC (check local listings)
  • Live Stream: Peacock

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.

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 and Bravo hits on Peacock for whatever suits your mood.

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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Thunder at Clippers predictions: odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for November 4

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 DraftKingsrecent 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 Thunder vs. Clippers live

  • Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
  • Time: 11 PM EST
  • Site: Intuit Dome
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • 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 Thunder at the Clippers

The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Thunder (-285), Clippers (+230)
  • Spread: Thunder -7.5
  • Total: 222.5

That gives the Thunder an implied team point total of 114.5 and the Clippers 107.5.

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 Thunder and the Clippers

Thunder

PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

SG Cason Wallace

SF Lu Dort (questionable)

PF Chet Holmgren (questionable)

C Isaiah Hartenstein

Clippers

PG James Harden

SG Bradley Beal (questionable)

SF Kawhi Leonard (questionable)

PF Derrick Jones Jr

C Ivica Zubac

Injuries for the Thunder and the Clippers

Thunder

F Jalen Williams (wrist) is OUT for Tuesday's game
C Chet Holmgren (back) missed Sunday's game
G Lu Dort (illness) missed Sunday's game

Clippers

G Bradley Beal (load management) is questionable for Tuesday's game because of back-to-backs
F Kawhi Leonard (load management) is questionable for Tuesday's game because of back-to-backs
G Kobe Sanders (knee) is OUT for Tuesday's game
G Jordan Miller (hamstring) is OUT for Tuesday's game

Important stats, trends and insights ahead of Thunder at Clippers on Tuesday.

  • Oklahoma City is 3-4 ATS and 7-0 on the ML
  • Oklahoma City is 4-3 to the Over
  • Los Angeles is 3-2 to the Over
  • Los Angeles is 1-4 ATS, ranking fourth-worst
  • The Clippers have not been underdogs this season
  • The Clippers finished 21-16 ATS as a underdog last season and 21-15-1 to the Under
  • The Clippers finished 8-5 ATS as a home underdog last season and 7-6 to the Over
  • The Clippers were 14-23 on the ML as an underdog last year and 6-7 as a home underdog.

Rotoworld Best Bet

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 Thunder & Clippers game:

  • Moneyline: Thunder ML (medium confidence)
  • Spread: Thunder -7.5 (high confidence)
  • Total: Under 223.5 (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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Magic at Hawks predictions: odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for November 4

One of the premier matchups of the NBA slate is on NBC and Peacock tonight when two up-and-coming teams take center stage. The Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks link up for the first of four meetings this season, but this one will be missing a common sight in this divisional rivalry.

Atlanta lost to Cleveland, 117-109 on Sunday, and that was the Hawks first game without Trae Young who will miss nearly a month with a knee injury. While Atlanta has had Orlando's number in recent years, without Young, can the Hawks keep that success going?

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 DraftKingsrecent 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 Magic vs. Hawks live

  • Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
  • Time: 8 PM EST
  • Site: State Farm Arena Center
  • City: Atlanta, GA
  • 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 Magic at the Hawks

The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Magic (-162), Hawks (+136)
  • Spread: Magic -3.5
  • Total: 227.5

That gives the Magic an implied team point total of 115.5 and the Hawks 112.5.

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 Magic and the Hawks

Magic

PG Jalen Suggs

SG Desmond Bane

SF Franz Wagner

PF Paolo Banchero

C Wendell Carter Jr

Hawks

PG Nickeil Alexander-Walker
SG Dyson Daniels
SF Zaccharie Risacher
PF Jalen Johnson
C Kristaps Porzingis

Injuries for the Magic and the Hawks

Magic

C Mortiz Wagner (knee) was OUT in Sunday's game

Hawks

G Trae Young (knee) is OUT and will be reevaluated in four weeks

Important stats, trends and insights ahead of Magic at Hawks on Tuesday.

  • Atlanta and Orlando are 2-5 ATS, tied for 5th-worst
  • Atlanta and Orlando are 2 of 8 teams profitable to the Under so far (both 4-3 to the Under)
  • Atlanta is 0-2 ATS and 0-2 ML as home team
  • Orlando is 2-2 ATS and 2-2 ML as road team
  • Atlanta is 5-2 on the ML in the last 7 meetings versus Orlando
  • Atlanta is 5-1 on the ML in the last 6 at home versus Orlando

Rotoworld Best Bet

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 Hawks & Magic game:

  • Moneyline: Magic ML (medium confidence)
  • Spread:  Magic -3.5 (high confidence)
  • Total: Under 227.5 (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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2025-26 NBA MVP ladder, race: Odds, power rankings, frontrunners including Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo

Week 2 is in the books and it'll likely be a weekly theme of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander attempting to hold his throne atop the MVP polls. Luka Doncic returned from a three-game absence and dropped 44 points before sitting again, while Nikola Jokic triple-doubled in four-straight games but cooled off in his last two. There's been plenty of big games from star players to put the heat on SGA like Giannis Antetokounmpo's game-winner over Indiana.

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

Vaughn Dalzell’s Week 3 MVP Rankings

Oklahoma City Thunder Primary Logo
1. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (+190)
Points Per Game: 33.6 (3rd)
Assists Per Game: 5.9 (T-20th)
Rebounds Per Game: 5.1 RPG (T-90th)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder are 7-0 and became the third team in NBA history to start 7-0 in back-to-back seasons and the first since the 1993-95 Rockets. Without Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City hasn't skipped a beat as another example of how valuable SGA is.

SGA is third in usage rate (32.3%) and scored at least 30 points in six out of seven games, including three-straight. The reigning MVP is also getting to the free-throw line 9.6 times per game, which is the most since his 2022-23 season, and 5.9 triples per game — the most in his career.

The "free-throw merchant" as social media likes to call him, continues to find new ways to score while he's in his prime. In reality, SGA has three double-digit free-throw attempt games and four of six or less, so he's not getting to the free-throw line consistently like the world assumes.

San Antonio Spurs Primary Logo
2. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (+300)
Points Per Game: 26.7 (11th)
Rebounds Per Game: 13.7 (2nd)
Blocks Per Game: 4.7 (1st)

The Spurs started off 5-0 for the first time in franchise history (shocking stat) before taking a loss to the Suns on Sunday. Victor Wembanyama was blazing through the first five with 30.2 points, 14.6 rebounds, 4.8 blocks, 3.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

In the loss to Phoenix, Wemby played 34 minutes and went 4-of-14 from the field, 1-of-5 from three with no free-throws for 9 points. The Spurs star added 9 rebounds, four blocks, and two assists, but coming off his worst game of the season means I certainly have to drop him back down to No. 2.

Milwaukee Bucks Primary Logo
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (+650)
Points Per Game: 34.0 (1st)
Rebounds Per Game: 13.3 (3rd)
Assists Per Game: 6.8 (16th)

Giannis Antetokounmpo at the buzzer! The Greek Freak sent the crowd into a disheveled frenzy when he nailed an awkward fadeaway over two defenders at with no time remaining to give the Bucks a 117-15 win over the Pacers in Indiana. Antetokounmpo dropped 33 points and it was his fifth 30-point game in six contests with five double-doubles.

It's early in the year, but point Giannis is averaging a career-high 6.8 assists per game as the main facilitator for the Bucks, while posting a career-high 13.3 rebounds thanks to better spacing thanks to Myles Turner.

The only downfall of Antetokounmpo's awesome season so far once again is his free-throw shooting. Giannis is shooting 61.5% from the charity stripe, which is a career-low. He could lead the NBA in points per game if he was making his freebies, and those time of things make a significant difference come end of the year.

Los Angeles Lakers Primary Logo
4. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers (+500)
Points Per Game: 41.3
Assists Per Game: 11.5
Rebounds Per Game: 8.3

Luka Doncic returned in glorious fashion against the Grizzlies dropping 44 points on 14-of-27 from the field, 6-of-15 from three, and 10-for-13 from the line. Doncic also double-doubled with 12 boards and added six assists over 39 minutes.

Through four games without LeBron James, Doncic averages 13.5 free-throw attempts, 12.0 three-point attempts, 11.5 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. Doncic's 39.3% usage rate leads the NBA with Giannis Antetokounmpo in secluded second (34.3%).

However, Doncic rested against Portland on Monday (Lakers won), which is concerning for his games played mark. Doncic already missed three games and is getting rest seven games in. It's a long season and Los Angeles is without LeBron James, so it makes sense they don't want to push Doncic, but load management hurts an MVP case. We know that SGA, Jokic, and Wembanyama won't have load many, if any load management nights.

Denver Nuggets Primary Logo
5. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (+425)
Points Per Game: 22.7 (22nd)
Rebounds Per Game: 13.2 (4th)
Assists Per Game: 11.3 (1st)

Through five games, Nikola Jokic triple-doubled four-straight, but failed with nine assists, then seven rebounds in his next two games as his streak ended. Denver has started 4-2 with losses to Portland and Golden State — two of the better defensive squads in a league with limited defense.

Two of the downfalls to Jokic's start is his three-point shooting, which rose from 23.8% to 29% after last night's win over the Kings. Jokic was 5-of-21 entering the game with only 4.4 free-throw attempts per game, but last night he recorded 34 points, 4-of-10 from three, and 2-for-3 from the free-throw line.

Jokic's scoring overall is down at 22.7 points per game, but things are looking up after a season-high 34 versus the Kings. He leads the NBA with 11.3 assists per game and fourth in rebounding (13.2), so he's clearly still top five, but five for me.

Stock Up

Philadelphia 76ers Primary Logo
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers (+7000)
Points Per Game: 33.7 (2nd)
Rebounds Per Game: 4.8 (T-103rd)
Assists Per Game: 9.0 (T-5th)

The player saw the highest rise in odds from last week to this week is Tyrese Maxey. The 76ers have started off a hot 5-1, including four-straight to win the season. Maxey exploded for 39 or more points in three of those five games with at least six assists in every contest and 39 or more minutes. I wouldn't put my money on him because there are far too many factors into how the 76ers season can go with Joel Embiid and Paul George dealing with early season injuries and load management.

Stock Down

Minnesota Timberwolves Primary Logo
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves (+8000)
Points Per Game: 25.7
Rebounds Per Game: 2.0
Assists Per Game: 4.0

As stated last week, Anthony Edwards went down with an injury and his odds moved from +2000 to +3500. Now they are +8000 as he missed his fourth consecutive game and likely going to miss the next handful. Minnesota plays New York, Utah, Sacramento, and Utah again until a break between Nov. 11-14. I would target Edwards to come back after that for one of the back-to-back games versus Sacramento and Denver.

Follow my plays for the season on X @VmoneySports, Instagram @VmoneySports_ and Action App @vaughndalzell.

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

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.

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Which NBA star's rise made Steph Curry realize his impact on basketball

Which NBA star's rise made Steph Curry realize his impact on basketball originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

In 2015, former broadcaster and Warriors coach Mark Jackson said that Steph Curry was “hurting the game,” noting that kids learning to play basketball would prioritize 3-point shooting over other areas of development. 

Whether or not Curry’s impact is detrimental can be left for debate, but the existence of that impact itself is clear. The average 3-pointers made per game in the NBA has more than doubled since Curry debuted. 

On the “Mind the Game” podcast with LeBron James and Steve Nash, James asked Curry at what point did he realize his game was transcendent? 

“When [Atlanta Hawks guard] Trae Young came in the league, and that was like the first person they said was the next ‘me’,” Curry said, “even though he’s a different player.” 

Heading into the 2018 NBA Draft, Young often was compared to Curry on account of his 3-point shooting from long range and volume while playing at Oklahoma. The comparison was one of the first times that Curry realized his impact. 

“That might be the first time I thought of it or really experienced what the impact was,” Curry said. “But I got that ‘you ruined the game’ question after Mark said it. Now it’s kind of tongue-in-cheek, just because you understand there is an influence. Now it’s about how can you allow kids to hear the story about the entire journey and not just the finish point.” 

Despite the comparisons solely due to 3-point shooting, Young has not shot at the same volume as Curry in his eight years in the NBA. Young averages 7.5 3-point attempts per game to Curry’s 9.4 3-point attempts per game.  

“When he was a kid, they came to one of our games, I got to talk to him,” Curry recounted. “Next thing you know, he’s getting drafted, like ‘he’s the next [Steph Curry]’. Like no, he’s his own player.” 

Even though the comparison might not be completely accurate, Curry’s impact on the evolution of players like Young is unquestionable. 

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Making sense of the Celtics' early-season slumps, bumps and grumps

Making sense of the Celtics' early-season slumps, bumps and grumps originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The losses were not supposed to sting this much.

We were certain that, with a new-look roster and tempered expectations, the Boston Celtics’ viewing experience would be largely stress free. We were convinced fans wouldn’t feel the bumps in the road as much as they have in past seasons, where every loss in a championship-or-bust campaign felt like a stomach punch. If this new campaign was going to be a bit of a roller coaster, we were prepared with transition-year Dramamine.

We couldn’t have been more wrong. 

The losses still gnaw at you — in large part because, while the team looks different, the losses often look the same.

These Celtics can’t hold double-digit leads. Their play vacillates wildly from quarter to quarter. When their 3-point shots are not falling, they remain a tough watch, particularly given their propensity to let empty offensive possessions impact their defensive effort.

On Monday night, the Celtics should have been eager to dust themselves off after a beatdown from the championship-chasing Houston Rockets at the tail end of a five-game-in-seven-days stretch. That one was easy to chalk up as a schedule loss. But Monday was the ultimate “get right” game against a Utah Jazz team that had gotten pummeled in Charlotte the night before and was missing one of its key bigs in Walker Kessler. 

Yet, somehow, it was Boston that didn’t have enough gas in the tank in the second half Monday night, as offensive rebounds still came back to bite the Celtics.

After a defensive gem of a first half that put the Celtics ahead by double digits, Boston’s defense disappeared in the second half, the team’s effort waning as it repeatedly clanged quality 3-point looks. Keyonte George morphed into Michael Jordan for a stretch, 37-year-old Kevin Love rolled back the clocks, and Jusuf Nurkic’s putback in the final moments lifted Utah to a 105-103 triumph at TD Garden.

The Celtics’ 3-point shooting was historically bad for their volume. The C’s set an NBA record by missing 40 their 51 triples, posting the lowest 3-point percentage (21.6 percent) in league history by a team with 50-plus attempts. 

Would it make you feel any better to know the NBA tracking data suggested all those 3-point looks were pretty good? It probably won’t, right? But 50 of Boston’s 51 attempts came with 4+ feet of space from the nearest defender. The Celtics made just 2 of 21 attempts with 4 to 6 feet of space, and 9 of 29 attempts with 6+ feet of space. 

Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, who both made 3s in the opening minutes when Boston ripped off a 10-0 run, quickly reverted to their season-opening struggles. There are 178 players who qualify on the list of NBA’s 3-point percentage leaders this season. Here’s where Boston players rank:

  • 178th: Payton Pritchard
  • 171st: Derrick White
  • 95th: Anfernee Simons
  • 92nd: Jaylen Brown
  • 69th: Sam Hauser

Pritchard and White were a combined 7 for 19 on Monday night, which is actually progress. Hauser improbably went 1 for 8 from distance. Simons wasn’t much better (2 for 8). Brown missed all nine 3-pointers he attempted, though he kept Boston’s offense afloat by making 13 of 19 shots inside the arc while producing a team-high 36 points. 

It seems impossible that White and Pritchard won’t eventually get on track. But as they struggle from distance to start the season, it only makes the margins that much slimmer for a Boston team with a bunch of new vulnerabilities. And, yet, if the Celtics’ defensive energy didn’t wane in the second half, they very well might have survived a historically bad shooting night.

Spare us all the chatter about the referees’ missed call on a George trip of Brown in the final minute. Yes, it should have been a whistle. No, it’s not a valid excuse for not winning this game. We don’t need a Last 2 Minute report to confirm the referee error.

Our Last 24 Minute report notes the Celtics tripped all over themselves repeatedly in the second half without aid from the Jazz or the referees. 

Brown has been fantastic, and it’s frustrating that Boston’s supporting cast hasn’t been able to help him more. It’s also annoying that, with multiple last-gasp opportunities in tight games against Philadelphia and Utah, the Celtics have been unable to get Brown a clean look at a winning shot. Brown got whistled (correctly) for a push-off before the Celtics’ final possession with 0.6 seconds to play Monday night.

Brown vented about the missed tripping call after the game but, like a good leader, eventually suggested he has to do more to help his team as this group hunts for an identity early in the new season. The truth is the supporting cast has to do more, and Brown’s efforts have been spoiled by the team’s shooting funks.

Neemias Queta will kick himself about a missed late-game free throw and his inability to box out Nurkic on Utah’s winning shot. Josh Minott can’t get in early foul trouble, which limited his floor time. Boston needs more from its bench, where every single player not named Chris Boucher was in the negative for plus/minus Monday night. 

Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that the Celtics are experiencing these growing pains. But it all seems so preventable, which makes it harder to stomach. Boston has all the potential to outkick its tempered expectations and yet hasn’t played with anywhere near the sort of consistency that would allow that.

Chalk it up to early-season growing pains, but the Celtics’ lack of focus and discipline Monday night was inexcusable. The Rockets were simply on a different level on Saturday and the rest disadvantage didn’t help. But much of Boston’s woes in the team’s other four losses this season were largely self-inflicted.

Maybe all this team needs is White and Pritchard to get off the 3-point schneid. Maybe the Celtics just need to be mentally tougher when shots aren’t falling and lean into their obvious defensive potential instead of losing their minds. 

It’s easy to say we should have braced ourselves for these bumps given the roster changes. But there’s too much talent and potential here to be OK with the Celtics losing games the way they did Monday night.

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Jaylen sounds off on late no-call in Celtics-Jazz: ‘It's unacceptable'

Jaylen sounds off on late no-call in Celtics-Jazz: ‘It's unacceptable' originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown was understandably frustrated after officials did not whistle Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George for a tripping foul in the final minute of Monday’s game at TD Garden.

With less than a minute remaining and the Celtics clinging to a one-point lead, George fell to the ground, and Brown tripped over him while trying to drive into the paint. The Celtics star lost the ball as a result of the trip, and the Jazz scored a bucket in transition to take a 103-102 lead with 44 seconds remaining.

“Y’all are going to get me fined,” Brown responded when asked about the play. “You can’t have a mistake like that as an official at that point in the game. It’s fourth quarter. It’s a minute left in the game, or less. And you completely — the whole staff blows the f—ing call. Costs us the game.

“Unacceptable. You can make mistakes at any point in the game, but right there, that wasn’t good. That wasn’t good. It’s unacceptable.

“Then they’re telling me like, ‘We didn’t see it.’ How none of you see it? You can’t trip somebody in the fourth quarter and it just be a no-call. It’s some bulls—,” Brown said.

When asked about the no-call after the game in a pool report, lead official Kevin Scott explained why no foul was called in that situation.

“During live play the crew observed George slip and fall just prior to Brown slipping on the same spot resulting in the ball becoming loose prior to any contact,” Scott told The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach.

“… The crew observed both players slip and fall prior to any contact. That’s why a foul was not called during live play.”

While that explanation likely won’t satisfy Brown or Celtics fans, that no-call wasn’t the only reason Boston this game. The Jazz outrebounded the Celtics 55 to 36 and racked up 15 offensive rebounds, the last of which was a Jusuf Nurkic putback over Neemias Queta with 0.6 seconds remaining that sealed Boston’s fate.

As for Brown, he should expect to be hearing from the league at some point after sounding off on the officials Monday night.