Category: NBA

In this article, we will analyze the Week 4 schedule to plan for ideal roster management. 

Days with fewer than six games

These are dates to target players for streaming options from the following teams: 

Thursday, November 13 - TOR at CLE, IND at PHX, ATL at UTA 

Saturday, November 15 - MEM at CLE, TOR at IND, OKC at CHA, DEN at MIN, LAL at MIL 

Teams with more than three games this week

Make sure to activate players and target weekly pickups from the following teams:

Hawks (4), Hornets (4), Cavaliers (4), Mavericks (4), Warriors (4), Clippers (4), Lakers (4), Bucks (4), Pelicans (4), Magic (4), Suns (4), Trail Blazers (4), Kings (4), Spurs (4), Jazz (4)

Teams with fewer than three games this week

Consider looking for streaming options if your roster includes players from this team:

76ers (2) 

Top teams to target based on favorable matchups

Clippers vs. Hawks, vs. Nuggets, at Mavericks, at Celtics 

The Clippers dealt with some injury trouble last week but may have a chance to get back on tack with a favorable schedule in Week 4. They kick things off against the Hawks, who give up the league's fifth-most rebounds per game. The Clippers then move on to their toughest matchup of the week, against the Nuggets, where their best opportunity may be to look to get to the line, as the Nuggets give up an average of 26.1 free throws per game. Next, a meeting with the Mavericks, who are giving up the seventh-most offensive rebounds and fourth-most points in the paint. Finally, the Clippers close the week with a game against the Celtics, who are giving up the league's fourth-most free throws and fourth-most offensive rebounds per game. The week's matchup advantages favor the Clippers' big men, as there looks to be plenty of opportunity to pad stats on the glass and in the paint. If Kawhi Leonard remains out, Nicolas Batum should also be in line for a continued boost.

Bucks at Mavericks, at Hornets, vs. Hornets, vs. Lakers

The Bucks open the week with a matchup against the Mavericks, who are having trouble controlling interior scoring and who give up the league's third-most rebounds per game, which is a prime opportunity for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner and Bobby Portis to shine. Moving on, the Bucks face a home-and-home with the Hornets, which presents an advantage to shooters, Gary Trent, AJ Green, and Ryan Rollins, as the Hornets give up the league's fifth-most points, sixth-most three pointers and second-highest three-point shooting percentage. To close the week, the Bucks play host to the Lakers, where there should be a chance for players to pad their stats defensively, as the Lakers give up the league's eighth-most turnovers per game.  

Suns vs. Pelicans, at Mavericks, vs. Pacers, vs. Hawks 

The Suns come into Week 4 on a two-game win streak, but the unfortunate news is that Jalen Green suffered a hamstring injury and could miss some time. Nonetheless, the Suns have a good chance to keep the momentum going with a meeting against the Pelicans on Monday, as they give up the league's fourth-most points and fifth-most points in the paint. This will be advantageous for Ryan Dunn and Royce O'Neale, who do a great job taking the ball to the basket and are also likely to be up for more playing time in the absence of Green. Next, the Suns' players should find room to pad their stats defensively against the Mavs, who give up the league's eighth-most turnovers per game. Moving ahead, the Suns take on the Pacers, who give up the league's eighth most points, second-most free throws and second-most rebounds per game, before they wrap Week 4 action with a game against the Hawks, who are giving up the league's most offensive rebounds per game. Both of the final two outings primarily benefit the Suns' frontcourt players by offering opportunities to pad stats on the glass and the likelihood of a few extra trips to the line. 

Trail Blazers at Magic, at Pelicans, at Rockets, at Mavericks 

On Monday, the Trail Blazers clash with the Magic, who are giving up the league's fifth-most turnovers per game, providing a great opportunity for Jrue Holiday, Toumani Camara, and Shaedon Sharpe to pad their stats with steals. Next, a meeting with the Pelicans provides a chance for the aforementioned three, as well as Deni Avdija and Jerami Grant, to get their shots falling, as the Pelicans are giving up the league's eighth-most made threes per game. Looking ahead, the Rockets pose a tougher matchup, but once again, there should be opportunities to pad stats on the defensive side, as they are giving up the league's fourth-most turnovers per game. To finish the week, the Trail Blazers clash with the Mavericks and their lackluster defense, a matchup that could favor Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams, especially if the Mavs' frontcourt injury trouble continues. 

Spurs at Bulls, vs. Warriors, vs. Warriors, vs. Kings 

The Spurs have won two in a row and enter Week 4 with the second-best record in the West. They begin the week with a matchup against the Bulls, who give up the league's seventh-most points in the paint. Up next are back-to-back home games against the Warriors, who boast one of the older rosters in the league and face their second consecutive four-game week, which should be an advantage for a young and fast Spurs lineup. Lastly, a clash with the Kings on Sunday provides another favorable matchup, as they give up the league's third-most points and third-most points in the paint. The week is set up to provide plenty of opportunities for frontcourt players like Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan, and, of course, Victor Wembanyama to prosper with interior scoring and by attacking the glass.  

The Knicks will wake up on Monday with the No. 2 offense in the NBA. But they’ll also have the league’s ninth lowest field goal percentage. 

So where does the efficiency come from? 

For one, the Knicks average nine more field goals per game than their opponent. That’s thanks in part to strong offensive rebounding (Knicks are No. 1 in offensive rebounds per 100 possessions). Head coach Mike Brown’s club also keeps teams off the line (No. 2 in opponent free-throw attempts). 

And then there’s the three-point shooting. 

The Knicks lead the league in made three-pointers per 100 possessions. They are third in attempts per 100 possessions and have the best three-point field goal percentage among teams with at least 40 attempts per game. The returns in the first nine games are good, but players and coaches believe there is plenty of room for improvement.

“I truly believe we can still play better, we can still mix it up. What we have to get cautious of is not settling,” Brown explained after the Knicks’ dominant win over Brooklyn. “We’re moving a lot of bodies around and we want to keep moving bodies around and make it hard on the defense. And if we do, and it becomes just second nature to us, then we’ll have a chance to be a pretty good offensive team.”

What are some of those areas of improvement?

“Our recognition… out on the floor and our pace, getting the ball in bounds on a make, not walking the ball up, getting right to our stuff. If they take (a certain action) away, bam, we’ve got counters. Go to the counter.”

Jalen Brunson and the starters seem to be adjusted well to Brown’s offense. When Brunson, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns share the floor with Mitchell Robinson, the Knicks are plus-30. 

Brunson, as you’d expect, sees much that the Knicks can improve on offense. 

“It’s about not being complacent and being more fluent in the stuff we run where everything is an instinct and we’re not thinking about what we’re doing. Everything’s a reaction and it comes seamless like that,” he said Sunday. “So we’re working towards that… So yeah the ball’s going through the hoop but we can be a lot better.”

Something else you should know about the Knick offense: there are very few plays installed at this point.

“We still like to play out of concepts, read and react. I think our guys are getting a little more comfortable with that,” Brown said before Sunday’s game.

The lack of set plays is somewhat intentional but it’s also circumstantial. The Knicks had injuries to key players in the preseason/early regular season. Those injuries have limited the amount of plays Brown and his staff can put in.

“Trying not to put in too much too quick has been the challenge of us as a coaching staff because we don’t want to overwhelm them and we want to try to catch everybody up before we add too much more,” the coach says.

But also, the read-and-react approach is "mainly by design," Brown says.

“I think at the end of the day, it would be great if they can just play without play calls. So now it’s harder for the defense. Because if I sit there and (call a play from the sideline), well, the other team with the way scouting is and all that, they’re for sure going to have a coach standing up, (calling out how to defend the play.)... If you can play fast but can get to your stuff quickly -- knowing that getting into your stuff you have three or four different options -- that (makes it) hard (for the defense to get settled in). We want to be able to play that way throughout the whole year.”

As you’d expect, Brunson and Towns have the freedom to deviate from Brown’s principles. Anunoby also has the green light to make plays outside of the framework.

“I’m a quick decision guy. Catch it, pass it, shoot it, or snap drive. If Jalen catches it, he dances with it a little bit, he’s got that leeway, that freedom,” Brown says. “If he dances with it two or three times in a row and it’s not working, it’s my job to say, ‘Hey, let’s go quick decision and we’re moving on.’ But those types of guys have the freedom.”

Brown feels Towns has gotten more comfortable in the offense "each time he steps on the floor". The key for the coaching staff is to help Towns operate from different areas of the floor.

“We want to keep trying to move him around so teams can’t just sit at the top of the floor. If we can do that, then I think eventually the game’s going to be a lot easier for him,” Brown said. “He’s going to be in places where teams aren’t used to doubling. One time he’s here, now he’s (in a different location), now he’s (in a different location). So that’s what we plan on doing with him.”

So far, all of Brown’s plans have yielded a strong offense. It’s early and plenty can change between now and mid April, but the Knicks offense is on pace to score a lot of points.

“I think everything we're doing is still a work in progress and we're trying to -- all of us are trying to figure out how we can impact in the system most efficiently,” Towns said Sunday. “I'm glad we're learning through wins.”

DEFENSIVE FREEDOM

Brunson, Towns and Anunoby have freedom on offense to break away from Brown’s principles. On the other side of the ball, several Knicks have the green light to improvise outside of Brown’s defensive plan.

“OG is a special player, Mitch is a special player. Mikal is a special player. Josh (Hart) is a special player. Deuce (McBride). So these guys have the freedom to do some things defensively that you kind of let it go,” Brown said. “And if it happens too much and it’s not working, then you have to correct it. Even same thing on the glass. Josh is a special rebounder. And if we have crash zones where we want our guys to crash the glass from; the reality of it is, as special as Josh is, when it comes to second opportunities, he’s going to have a lot of freedom, no matter where he is on the floor.”

TRACKING THREE-POINT DEFENSE

The Knicks track several elements in each game. One of those elements? Contested three-pointers.

“We want to be 100 percent but I’m OK at 75 percent or higher. And we had a lot of guys that were below 75 percent when it came to contesting (in recent games),” Brown said before Sunday’s game. “We want them to do the best they can and no more. We want them to be the second jumper, do the best they can and no more.

"We believe that you can shift -- or make that floor look smaller -- because we’re long... But sometimes we have a knack of shifting and then when it comes to closing out, sometimes we don’t even put a hand up so we can do a little bit better job in that area.”

The Knicks obliterated the Nets, 134-98, in a battle of the boroughs at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Entering play in the midst of a three-game winning streak and putting up impressive offensive numbers in the process, it didn't take long for New York to get going. After missing their first shot of the night, the Knicks made four straight baskets, including two three-pointers, to go up 10-3 before Brooklyn's head coach Jordi Fernandez called a timeout. From there, New York was off and running.

-- The Knicks were making it rain from deep all game long. It started in the first quarter when they went 7-for-11 from downtown with six of the triples coming from the corners, something New York has been extremely good at so far this season. When they weren't draining it from deep, the Knicks were going to the line or scoring underneath the basket with relative ease to put up 40 points in the opening quarter, compared to Brooklyn's 22.

-- New York moved away from the deep ball in the second quarter, focusing more on scoring inside the paint. Karl-Anthony Towns imposed his will around the basket and got contributions from reserve players such as Jordan Clarkson and Josh Hart who both had good games off the bench. The biggest difference in the second quarter, in which the Knicks dropped another 37 points, was the Nets' shots started to fall as well. 

-- Brooklyn matched New York's first quarter output and put up 40 points in the second quarter thanks to an avalanche of three-pointers headlined by Michael Porter Jr. The two teams went into the locker rooms at halftime with the Knicks leading 77-62.

-- Following the break, New York came out firing from deep once again and continued to see them go in. Six different players made a three-pointer in the third quarter en route to a 35-point period. Even more impressive, defensively the Knicks completely clamped down on the Nets and held them to 17 points in the third. This right after allowing 40 in the second quarter.

-- New York's defense forced Brooklyn's offense to shoot a ton of threes and to no avail. The Nets went 3-for-13 from downtown and only attempted four shots from inside the arc (going 2-for-4) in the quarter.

-- Basically over since the first quarter, the Knicks put the Nets completely away in the third and fourth quarters and were able to get some of their younger players some valuable minutes at the end of the game while resting their starters. Guys like Tyler Kolek (three assists), Pacome Dadiet (two points, one rebound) and Mohamed Diawara (five points) were able to see the floor with Diawara sinking his first career three-pointer.

-- Towns led all scorers with 28 points and reeled in a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with two assists and two steals. Mikal Bridges had the most efficient night (6-for-8) and nailed down four threes on five attempts. OG Anunoby joined Bridges with four triples and also added eight rebounds (four offensive), three assists and one steal to his ledger.

-- Mitchell Robinson got the start once again and finished with eight points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 17 minutes of action. 

-- The Knicks shot 53.3 percent from the field and 45.9 percent from deep, while the Nets struggled in the second half and only shot 40.2 percent from the field and 31.1 percent from deep. 

-- Drake Powell had a good game with 15 points off the bench for Brooklyn.

Game MVP: Karl-Anthony Towns

In a game with so many stars, we'll go with the only player to record a double-double.

Highlights

Jalen Brunson + the foul 💪 pic.twitter.com/U9v65WilcN

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 9, 2025

What a pass from Jordan Clarkson to KAT 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VUmj7p0Lvt

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 10, 2025

MITCHELL ROBINSON COMING THROUGH pic.twitter.com/TPhItGz44w

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 10, 2025

Landry Shamet for three! pic.twitter.com/Qn8QHB3ZYH

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 10, 2025

Mitchell Robinson getting it done at both ends 💪 pic.twitter.com/1Rm1pzMp96

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 10, 2025

What's next

The Knicks are back in action on Tuesday night when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies at home. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

Observations after Sixers come just short of 2-win weekend, lose tight game to Pistons originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers scrapped until the final buzzer Sunday night but couldn’t complete a two-win weekend.

They dropped a 111-108 game to the Pistons at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Tyrese Maxey missed a game-tying three-point attempt at the final horn.

The Sixers are now 6-4 and Detroit is 8-2. 

Maxey led the Sixers with 33 points and seven assists. Andre Drummond scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

Pistons star Cade Cunningham had 26 points and 11 assists. Jalen Duren recorded 21 points and 16 rebounds.

The following Sixers were out on the second night of the team’s back-to-back:

• Joel Embiid (left knee injury management) 
• Paul George (left knee surgery recovery)
• Dominick Barlow (right elbow laceration) 
• Johni Broome (right ankle sprain) 

Tobias Harris (right ankle sprain) was among the sidelined Pistons.

The Sixers will host the Celtics on Tuesday night. Here are observations on their loss to Detroit:

Drummond’s 1st start 

The Sixers used a starting frontcourt of Trendon Watford and Andre Drummond. 

The day after his first NBA triple-double, Watford turned 25 years old. He posted seven points, three rebounds and two assists.Drummond started his first game of the season.

The veteran center remained a very willing jump shooter. He sunk a corner three-pointer in his first stint and another in the third quarter. Drummond now sits at 4 for 10 beyond the arc on the season. 

Duren is one of a few players in the NBA with physical strength anywhere near Drummond’s. He made a couple of early driving layups and tallied eight points in the first quarter. Drummond did the same.

The Pistons went up 37-32 on a Caris LeVert three with 0.7 seconds left in the first quarter. Remarkably, Cunningham had none of those 37 points. He played through two early fouls but opened 1 for 9 from the floor. Meanwhile, Maxey started 2 for 9. 

Walker steps up, finds his shot 

The Sixers’ bench was quite impactful in the first half. 

Head coach Nick Nurse’s rotation was not what anyone would’ve predicted. Eric Gordon got his first playing time since Oct. 28. Jabari Walker received backup center minutes over Adem Bona, although Bona entered late in the first quarter and Walker then slid down to power forward. 

Walker canned a three to give the Sixers a 42-39 edge. He was certainly due for some long-range success. Until that shot, he’d been 0 for 7 as a Sixer from three-point territory.

The 23-year-old continued to crash hard for offensive rebounds and helped the Sixers hold their own on the glass with a tough, physical Pistons team. Walker scored a put-back layup and then nailed a heat-check three on the Sixers’ next possession. 

Before Sunday, his season scoring high was eight points. He had a dozen by the midpoint of the second quarter. 

Nurse brought Jared McCain in with 8:29 to go in the second and the second-year guard heard loud cheers from the home fans. Injury misfortune had kept him out 11 months. 

McCain contributed to a highlight soon after coming in, picking up a steal and then passing ahead to Maxey for a fast-break triple. With just two games under his belt, he’s obviously still rusty and growing accustomed to playing with a brace on his left knee. In nine minutes, McCain had zero points on 0-for-3 shooting.

Cunningham and Maxey duel in the clutch

Kelly Oubre Jr. built the Sixers’ lead to 62-51 with a three late in the second quarter. Oubre gave a strong, resolute defensive effort against Cunningham, staying tight to his body and making him work for everything off the dribble.

However, Cunningham snapped into a higher gear in the second half.

He led a Pistons charge late in the third quarter and hit a free throw that put Detroit up 82-81. The Sixers again had a hard time with Maxey on the bench and trailed by three points after three quarters. A Paul Reed reverse dunk was the final basket of the third period.

Cunningham expertly orchestrated Detroit’s offense early in the fourth quarter and looked plenty confident in his ability to steer the Pistons to victory. The Sixers eventually blitzed Cunningham and tried to force the ball from his hands in the closing minutes.

After two Sixers offensive rebounds, Maxey drained a three to lift the Sixers to a 101-100 lead. He and Cunningham traded huge plays in the clutch.

Cunningham’s monstrous and-one slam put Detroit up 109-104. Maxey then scored the next four points, jamming in a fierce dunk of his own and hitting two free throws.

Ultimately, Cunningham had the last word. He navigated into the paint and made a difficult fadeaway jumper to give the Pistons a three-point lead with 16.9 seconds to play.

The Sixers couldn’t generate a good look on their final possession and ended up having to hope that Maxey’s tightly contested shot would send the game to overtime. He couldn’t force five extra minutes.

What we learned as Warriors' team effort gets job done in win vs. Pacers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

• BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO – Boring can be beautiful. That sure wasn’t the scene Sunday night at Chase Center. 

The Indiana Pacers’ injury report was longer than a receipt from CVS. Their only win of the 2025-26 NBA season was a short-handed victory against a Warriors team looking for revenge. Plus, the Pacers were on the second night of a back-to-back after playing the Nuggets in Denver the previous night. 

The Warriors’ response was sleepwalking in front of their home fans until the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth. 

While the final score was a 114-83 Warriors win, the results weren’t pretty. The Warriors outscored a run-down Pacers squad 39-18 in the fourth quarter.

Jimmy Butler was the Warriors’ offense, and he nearly put together a triple-double. Butler was a plus-19 in 30 minutes, scoring 21 points with nine rebounds and seven assists.

Steph was loving Jimmy's crossover 👏 pic.twitter.com/YifQ72Qpji

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) November 10, 2025

Al Horford had his best game with the Warriors. The 39-year-old center hadn’t made a three in the first week-plus of November, going 0 of 7 in his last game and 0 of 2 in the Warriors’ loss to the Pacers to open the month. Sunday night against the same team, Horford finally found a rhythm. 

He missed his first attempt but made his final four of five, scoring 12 points – all threes – in 18 minutes off the bench. Horford also had four rebounds and blocked three shots. 

You can call him Al 🕺 pic.twitter.com/3ujdl1rEoQ

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) November 10, 2025

Steph Curry missed his third straight game due to an illness. He went through a workout on the Warriors’ practice court and will have another Monday morning before the team’s flight to Oklahoma City in hopes of playing the Thunder on Tuesday night to start off a tough six-game road trip.

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ win to snap a two-game losing streak.

Where’s The Offense? 

Sitting on the bench in street clothes. 

It was a good sign to see Curry back around his teammates after not traveling to Sacramento or Denver. But it was a bad sign to once again see the Warriors look lost without him. The first quarter was a hard watch, and it didn’t get much better as the game went on. 

The Warriors opened the game on a 13-4 run, but once coach Steve Kerr called on his bench, the tides began to turn in the Pacers’ favor. From the 7:34 mark of the first quarter when Brandin Podziemski made a 3-foot floater, the Warriors didn’t make another shot until an Horford three with a minute and a half left. The only other points they made in that span were two free throws from Jonathan Kuminga.

There were signs of life when the Warriors went on an 11-0 run at the end of the second quarter before the Pacers closed it with the final five points of the first half. For the most part, that was largely because of Butler getting the ball in his hands and taking over for spurts.

A scrappy Pacers team that never lacks fight took the lead from the Warriors in the third quarter, and Golden State didn’t get it back until two Buddy Hield free throws with under three minutes left sparked a 10-0 run. The Warriors never trailed again. 

Give The Ball To Jimmy 

Speaking of offense, the Warriors’ best game plan was simple and straight to the point. Give the ball to Butler and get out of the way.

There were far too many possessions where he wasn’t involved in multiple trips down the court. Especially in another game without Curry. The system doesn’t have to drastically change. Understanding what’s needed from said game does. 

This was a game where it needed to be Butler and Co., and mostly just him. Butler in the first half was the only player to score in double digits (10 points). He then dropped seven points with five rebounds in the third, and had four points and three assists in the first three and a half minutes of the fourth to put the Warriors ahead by 14 points. 

Butler’s 21 points came on 10-of-15 shooting, dominating around the rim at his own pace. The longest shot Butler took was a 19-foot turnaround in the final second of the second quarter that got blocked. Everything else was a layup, floater or short jumper in the paint. 

His seven assists also led to 19 points for the Warriors.

Podz, JK Struggle Again

At least Moody brought the required effort and energy needed for a get-right game ahead of the impending road trip. Moody’s outstretched arms on defense disrupted the Pacers, and he scored some highly important points in the third quarter. 

Moses Moody from deep 🔥 pic.twitter.com/bTpmbanjFg

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) November 10, 2025

Coming out of halftime, Moody only had two points off the bench as a minus-4 in nine minutes. He then was a plus-9 with eight points and two steals in the third quarter, highlighted by a wild four-point play. He also made a three earlier in the quarter with four minutes remaining that put the Warriors back ahead by two points. 

This Moses Moody four-point play 😱 pic.twitter.com/zpXFrA1v5Y

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) November 10, 2025

Moody’s plus-22 with 13 points had a much different feel than Podziemski being a plus-22 with 14 points, even though they each were 4 of 11 from the field. 

Through three quarters, Podziemski was a plus-5 with seven points on 2-of-8 shooting and was 0 of 4 from 3-point range with one assist and two turnovers. He then scored seven points in eight minutes in the fourth quarter. Kuminga, however, was the lone Warriors player who didn’t see any action in the fourth. 

It wasn’t his night, again. Kuminga did grab eight rebounds, a continued improvement for him. But he scored just five points on 1-of-9 shooting and missed all five 3-point shots. In the past two games, Kuminga has scored 11 points on 4 of 19 from the field, and has missed all seven of his shots from deep.

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Steph Curry out for third consecutive game with illness as Warriors host Pacers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry will miss his third consecutive game when the Warriors host the Indiana Pacers on Sunday at Chase Center.

The 37-year-old has been out due to an illness, and not coincidentally, Golden State has lost the past two contests without its best player.

Curry has been playing at an elite level this season, averaging 26.8 points on 45.4 percent shooting from the field and 38.9 percent from 3-point range.

The Warriors, with Curry in the lineup last Saturday, lost to the injury-ravaged Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

A week later, the Pacers have a staggering 10 players listed as out for Sunday’s game, including forward Pascal Siakam (rest).

Curry’s illness came at a bad time for the Warriors, who are trying to build consistency and good habits.

The Warriors hope Curry will be well-rested as they brace for a grueling six-game road trip to Oklahoma City, San Antonio (twice), New Orleans, Orlando and Miami.

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With the Lakers down by 20 in the third quarter at Atlanta, the only sound coming from their bench was Nick Smith Jr.’s hollow claps of encouragement. The rest of the Lakers sat with slumped shoulders on the bench or loitered with blank faces in a semicircle waiting for their coaches to join.

There wasn’t much that could be said.

The Lakers’ five-game winning streak ended in a blowout as the Hawks dominated 122-102 on Saturday at State Farm Arena.

Playing a third consecutive game without Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic tried to keep the Lakers (7-3) in it with 22 points, 11 assists and five rebounds, but all his points came in the first half and he came out after only 27 minutes as the Hawks built a 25-point lead by the middle of the third quarter. Forward Jake LaRavia had 13 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Jarred Vanderbilt had 18 rebounds, one shy of his career high.

“This isn’t the identity of this team,” LaRavia said. “This game was an outlier of the first 10 games that we played. [We have to] just not let it break us and be ready to play the next game.”

The Lakers, who won their first four road games, started their five-game trip on a sour note and now need to bounce back when play Charlotte on Monday. 

Read more:Bronny James shows his improvement for shorthanded Lakers

The Hawks (5-5) were playing the second game of a home back-to-back after losing to the Toronto Raptors on Friday. They had four of five starters sidelined, including Trae Young (knee), Kristaps Porzingis (rest) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (back).

The Lakers should know the dangers of a desperate, shorthanded team. Only five days ago they ended Portland’s three-game winning streak without Reaves, Doncic or LeBron James. Coach JJ Redick said he would reiterate the lesson before Saturday’s game to avoid a letdown.

Then the Lakers fell behind by 13 in the first quarter. Their deficit ballooned to 26 after three quarters. Redick began sitting his starters by the middle of the third.  

“Just not a lot to like tonight,” Redick said matter-of-factly.

Facing a cross-country trip, the Lakers arrived in Atlanta on Thursday and scheduled a practice Friday with a team-bonding activity that night. They held a shootaround in the arena Saturday morning. 

Yet even with the extra time to prepare, Redick could tell within the first two minutes that the team didn’t have the necessary energy to win. What did the coach see during that fateful stretch? 

“Nothing,” Redick said. 

It was the final word of his news conference, which lasted 100 seconds. 

Doncic helped lead a quick third-quarter surge, assisting on three consecutive baskets in a 7-0 run that cut the lead to nine, but the Hawks responded by scoring seven unanswered points and forcing two turnovers. Center Deandre Ayton subbed out for the last time with 8:49 to go in the third. 

“They played phenomenal,” said Ayton, who had 11 points on five-for-five shooting and five rebounds. “But us not even damn near competing in a sense, it looks bad on paper and it looks bad on film. This is one of them games where yeah, food's going to taste bad tonight.”

Doncic and Marcus Smart, another veteran leader, were not made available to reporters after the game. 

Atlanta’s Mouhamed Gueye torched the Lakers for 21 points on eight-for-12 shooting and made four three-pointers. The Lakers, who had credited their connection and chemistry for carrying them through long stints without their stars, suddenly fell silent when faced with a large deficit in front of a rowdy crowd.

With most of Atlanta’s fans streaming toward the exits in the final two minutes, the Hawks' most dedicated fan group, the “404 Crew,” echoed through the mostly empty arena with a final chant: “Where is LeBron?”

The superstar has yet to play a single minute this season because of a bout with sciatica.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The play brought the entire Lakers bench to its feet. Austin Reaves’ sky-high lob pass and Bronny James’ two-handed dunk brought a roar from the crowd.

The emphatic dunk against Miami was James' first points of the season, but he saw them as just two more in what he hopes will be a long NBA journey.

“It was just a regular moment for me,” James said, not even having to conceal a smile after the Lakers’ shootaround Saturday, almost a week after the highlight. “... I want to continue to do that, but I just have to keep giving my all, keep playing hard, running in transition and getting stops on the defensive end for my team.”

James is trying to make his contributions, both big and small, regular occurrences for the shorthanded Lakers as they continue to dig into their bench.

Reaves will miss his third consecutive game Saturday as the Lakers begin a five-game road trip against the Atlanta Hawks. Imaging revealed a mild strain in Reaves’ right groin, coach JJ Redick said Saturday, but the guard’s pain is “really low,” and the team continues to hold him out as a precaution. Reaves is with the team on the road — and has a golf outing planned with James and Redick for an upcoming off day — and could return during the trip. 

James has played in each of the last three games with Reaves out, including 19 and 20 minutes in wins over Miami and Portland, respectively. He was trusted in pressure fourth-quarter situations in both victories and finished with three steals against the Heat. He delivered six assists with no turnovers the following night against the Trail Blazers while also scoring five points as the Lakers won without Reaves, LeBron James or Luka Doncic.

Read more:How the Lakers use Japanese slideshow presentations to build chemistry

“Ready to take advantage of the times that I get when our guys are out,” James said. “I'm going to stay aggressive.”

Each appearance is a step as the 21-year-old fights to become a regular rotation player. To get there, Redick said the former USC guard needs to start by pushing himself physically, being a disruptive defender and developing as a confident spot-up shooter.

James said his main focus is on “going out until I’m dead tired.” He earned Redick’s approval for playing hard.

When James first joined the Lakers last year as their second-round pick, Redick recalled the rookie would receive a pass during pickup games, pause, dribble or attempt unnecessary moves. It was “the opposite of point-five mentality,” Redick said, referencing the idea that players should decide to shoot, dribble or pass within 0.5 seconds of receiving the ball.

“He's now developed where he's got a great point-five mentality,” Redick said before the Lakers played Portland Nov. 3. “He's catch-and-shoot ready at all times.”

James made a critical three in the fourth quarter against Portland to put the Lakers up by five. He credited his time with the South Bay Lakers and working with player development coach Ty Abbott for helping him get comfortable with split-second decisions.

With fellow point guard Nick Smith Jr. on a two-way contract, it’s likely that Smith will handle more on-ball responsibilities during G League assignments this season, Redick said, giving James chances to develop his off-ball game.

That’s only if James, who is on a standard contract, ever goes to South Bay. The injured Lakers might need him more on their bench.

Guard Gabe Vincent has missed seven games because of a sprained ankle, but is progressing during on-court work with assistant coach Lindsey Harding. Vincent has not worked through contact or one-on-one drills; he was projected to be out for two to four weeks, but Redick estimated he will be out for closer to three, which could put him on track to return after the five-game trip wraps in Milwaukee on Nov. 15.

LeBron James will be reevaluated in one to two weeks after progressing to contact activity, beginning with one-on-one work with coaches. The 40-year-old did not join the team on the road for the start of the trip that next winds through Charlotte, Oklahoma City, New Orleans and Milwuakee.

South Bay roster set

The Lakers' G League team set its roster Saturday for opening night, featuring two-way players Smith, who scored 25 points in the victory over the Trail Blazers last week, Christian Koloko and Chris Mañon. Also on the squad are Jace Carter, Jarron Cumberland, RJ Davis, Luke Goode, Tevian Jones, Arthur Kaluma, Augustas Marčiulionis, Drew Timme and Anton Watson.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Observations after Watford's 1st triple-double helps Sixers top Raptors  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers brought back their black jerseys and returned to winning ways Saturday night. 

The team earned a 130-120 victory over the Raptors at Xfinity Mobile Arena in the debut of its throwback uniforms honoring the 2000-01 Eastern Conference champion team.

The Sixers now sit at 6-3. Toronto is 5-5. 

Six Sixers scored in double figures. Trendon Watford recorded his first career triple-double with a tremendous performance, putting up 20 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists. Tyrese Maxey had 31 points and seven assists. Joel Embiid tallied 29 points in 26 minutes.

The Sixers remained without Paul George (left knee surgery recovery) and Dominick Barlow (right elbow laceration). Johni Broome was unavailable because of a right ankle sprain. 

The Sixers will host the Pistons on Sunday night. Here are observations on their win over the Raptors:

Watford shines as starter 

Watford made his first start as a Sixer and scored the team’s first basket on a slam assisted by VJ Edgecombe. 

The Raptors and Immanuel Quickley were ultra-hot out of the gates. Toronto started 6 for 6 from floor and took a 15-7 lead on Quickley’s pull-up three-pointer.. 

The Sixers replied with a 13-0 run spurred by forced turnovers and open-floor attacks. Edgecombe and Maxey nabbed early steals. Watford jammed in a put-back dunk and assisted a Maxey corner three. 

Watford had been excellent as a backup point guard Wednesday in the Sixers’ loss the Cavs. He was awfully strong as a very versatile starting forward against Toronto. 

The Sixers ran tons of pitch actions with Watford on the court in the first quarter. Their perimeter players were often able to get a downhill head of steam off of both dribble handoffs and fake handoffs. Watford’s ability to read the defense and react sharply was a major help.

He posted 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting, three rebounds (two offensive) and two assists in the first period. 

Stars lead Sixers’ push back 

Despite that big run, the Sixers still had a rough overall start defensively. Toronto poured in 43 first-quarter points and had a 10-point advantage after 12 minutes.

The Raptors went up 51-37 early in the second quarter on a Ja’Kobe Walter corner three. They began a scorching 10 for 12 beyond the arc. 

Ultimately, Toronto’s shooters cooled off and the Sixers’ defense was much better in the second quarter. Embiid also played good, aggressive basketball in his second stint. A Watford high-low feed set Embiid up for a layup that cut the Sixers’ deficit to two points. Eventually, a short jumper from Kelly Oubre Jr. (19 points) gave the Sixers a 58-56 edge. 

With Embiid sitting, Maxey was stellar late in the second quarter. His lefty scoop layup with 1.9 seconds left in the first half put the Sixers up 68-63. 

Saving Embiid for the home stretch

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse used five players off the bench. Surprisingly, Jared McCain was not among them. The second-year guard was available to play (with limited minutes) for the second time since returning from a right thumb UCL tear. 

The Sixers’ starters had a few defensive lapses early in the third quarter. Brandon Ingram’s mid-range jumper knotted the game at 78-all. 

Watford and Maxey then fueled a fantastic stretch. Both played zealous defense, hustling back into plays to contest and block shots. They were also in the middle of fluid, highly effective offense. Watford dished a between-the-legs assist to Maxey, whose three put the Sixers up 94-82.

The Sixers fared badly with Maxey out late in the third quarter. Edgecombe had his third consecutive subpar shooting game, going 5 for 15 from the floor. A Quickley runner early in the fourth trimmed the Raptors’ deficit to 102-101.

Although the Sixers made an immediate 7-0 run, Toronto hung around. Nurse saved Embiid for the final minutes, calling timeout and subbing him in with the Sixers up 119-116 and 3:16 to go.

The tide swiftly turned.

Edgecombe converted a driving layup, Oubre slammed in a second-chance dunk and Embiid tipped in his own miss. Handling Embiid’s minutes restriction is often tricky, but having him on the floor down the stretch tends to make plenty of sense.