The early-season injuries in the NBA keep piling up as the Utah Jazz announced that forward Lauri Markkanen was set to miss at least a month with a non-displaced fracture in his right hand.
Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen has sustained a non-displaced fracture in his right hand and will be sidelined for at least one month, sources tell me and @BannedMacMahon. pic.twitter.com/UcXV8E9H4y
It's a brutal blow for a Jazz team that looked ready to contend for a playoff spot in the Western Conference after four straight losing seasons. Last year, the Jazz traded for Jaren Jackson Jr., but he played just three games before getting shut down with an injury. They had also lost starting center Walker Kessler to injury after just five games, and Markkanen himself was limited to just 42 games.
Yet, there was optimism building around the Jazz heading into this season. Even with Kessler now on the Lakers, the Jazz had Markkanen and Jackson Jr. healthy to pair with breakout guard Keyonte George and dynamic rookie Darryn Peterson. Ace Bailey and Isaiah Collier were likely to be impactful young options off the bench, and the play-in seemed like a bare minimum in Utah.
But things went south quickly.
Jackson played four games before tearing the MCL in his right knee. Jusuf Nurkic, who was set to replace Kessler at center, hasn't made his season debut yet as he battles a foot injury, and Keyonte George sprained his ankle over the weekend. Both George and Markkanen sat out Utah's game on Tuesday before it was revealed how serious Markkanen's injury was.
The 29-year-old has played in eight of the Jazz's 11 games this season and was averaging 18.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting a disappointing 38.9% from the field. With his struggles and the mounting injuries, the Jazz have put together just the 21st-ranked defense and 29th-ranked offense, which has led to the 26th-best net rating in the league. With a record of 1-10, it's not at all the start the team envisioned.
With Markkanen sidelined for the next month, the Jazz might continue to start Josh Green at small forward, but Markkanen's usage will likely be spread to shooting guard Darryn Peterson and power forward Ace Bailey. In Tuesday's loss to the Heat, Peterson scored 25 points on 10-of-19 from the field with four rebounds and four assists, while Bailey scored 23 points on 10-for-15 from the field to go along with seven rebounds and two assists. Their development will be a silver lining amidst all the injuries for the Jazz.
However, by the time Markkanen and Jackson Jr. return, the improvement of Peterson and Bailey may not be enough to save what looks to be another lost season.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 2: Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz looks to shoot the ball during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on November 2, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Another day, another addition to the injury report for the Utah Jazz.
Shams Charania reported that Lauri Markkanen “has sustained a non-displaced fracture in his right hand and will be sidelined for at least a month”
Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen has sustained a non-displaced fracture in his right hand and will be sidelined for at least one month, sources tell me and @BannedMacMahon. pic.twitter.com/UcXV8E9H4y
According to MacMahon, Markkanen suffered the injury in the loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Initial X-rays didn’t reveal the fracture but additional scans in Utah showed cracks.
It’s a blow to the Jazz’s depth that has obviously derailed their season. Utah was without four starters in their game against the Heat and they’re struggling each game to overcome it.
Utah’s bench hasn’t stepped up as much as they’ve needed in the wake of injuries to Markkanen, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Jusuf Nurkic, plus not having Keyonte George last night. The play of Svi Mykhailiuk, Isaiah Collier, and Brice Sensabaugh has been nowhere near good enough. It’s hard to criticize the Jazz too much this season. Had they not signed Jaxson Hayes, Josh Okogie, and Josh Green, the team would be embarrassingly bad. Utah’s record is horrendous, but they’ve had two overtime games and multiple single-digit games.
All the Jazz can hope for now is for Keyonte George to come back soon from his ankle sprain and grind out some wins. It’s a long season, and the play-in is still in the picture.
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 9: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dunks during the first half against the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Center on November 9, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After an impressive Rookie of the Year campaign in the 2025-2026 season, Cooper Flagg entered this year looking to polish his offensive game and bring the Dallas Mavericks back to relevance. So far, he’s exceeded expectations in both.
Through 11 games, the Mavericks are 7-4 and have faced one of the league’s tougher schedules. Flagg has played in 10 of those games and is averaging 25.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. He’s 19 years old. He joins a short list of only Luka Doncic and LeBron James as one of the youngest players in NBA history to average at least 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game. At 20 years old, Doncic averaged 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game, while James, at 20, averaged 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.2 assists.
What’s been most impressive about his leap is Flagg’s shooting. He’s knocking down 50.0% of his shots, on 61.2% true shooting. He’s also been excellent at the free-throw line, shooting 90.3% there. Put those numbers together, and you get a player whose scoring efficiency is looking much more advanced than you might expect from a 19-year-old. Let’s take a deeper dive into the numbers.
He’s getting into the paint
Flagg has attempted 42 shots at the rim (in the restricted area), making 28 of them for 66.7%. That’s roughly 22% of his total attempts. It’s not an enormous portion of his shot diet, but he can get there whenever he wants. Flagg often uses his size and athleticism to his advantage. At 6-foot-9, he can finish with ease over smaller defenders but also has the finesse to finish around larger ones. That combination makes his drives difficult to contain. Unlike some young perimeter players who settle for difficult jumpers when their initial attack gets cut off, Flagg has multiple ways he can beat you off the dribble.
Flagg has taken 47 shots in the portion of the paint outside of the restricted area, the most of any zone on the floor. He’s made 27 of them, giving him a 57.4% shooting percentage. That’s roughly 26% of all his field-goal attempts. The non-restricted-area paint has become something of a sweet spot for Flagg because it allows him to use his size and touch without having to completely beat the defense to the rim. It’s also a shot that can be available when a defense successfully cuts off his initial drive. His comfortability to get to this part of the floor and shoot over defenders has proven to be his bread and butter.
Nearly half of Flagg’s shot attempts come inside the paint, and he’s incredibly efficient, shooting 61.7% on those attempts, 55-89. A teenager being this comfortable living in the paint is pretty rare, especially in today’s NBA, where outside shooting rules. Once Flagg expands his game beyond the three-point arc, he’ll be unstoppable.
He loves the midrange
Flagg has Kevin Durant-like capabilities in his mid-range game. He has attempted 43 mid-range shots, second only to his 47 attempts in the non-restricted-area paint. He’s made 21, good for 48.8%. That’s an important number because the mid-range is often treated as something players should eliminate from their offensive diet. For Flagg, that’s not necessarily the case. Use Durant as the example, who is currently fifth on the all-time NBA scoring leaders list, as he approaches 33,000 points.
At nearly 49%, Flagg is making enough of these shots to justify taking them — particularly because many of them are self-created. If a defender backs up to protect the drive, Flagg can shoot. If the defender presses up, he can attack. If the help defender steps into the lane, he can stop short. That puts a lot of pressure on the defense and leaves them with no real solution in guarding him.
There’s a tendency in modern basketball analysis to look at a player’s shot chart and immediately identify mid-range attempts as something that needs to be reduced. That isn’t necessarily true for Flagg. An efficient mid-range shooter who can also get to the rim, shoot threes and create for teammates is a completely different proposition than a player who lives in the mid-range because he can’t do anything else. Flagg is not that player. The mid-range is one part of his offensive toolkit, and right now, it’s a pretty good one.
One blemish: 3-point shooting
Now for the part nobody needs to sugarcoat – 29.2% from three isn’t good, making 14 of 48. The shot-chart data shows that almost all of Flagg’s three-point attempts are coming above the break. He has attempted 42 above-the-break threes and made only 10, good for 23.8%. That’s the biggest blemish on his shooting profile. The good news is that he’s actually been excellent from the corners. Flagg has attempted just six corner threes, but he’s made four of them for 66.7%. Obviously, that’s an extremely small sample, but worth noting. But it does reinforce an important point: the problem isn’t that Flagg can’t physically make a three. It’s consistency, particularly on higher-volume, above-the-break attempts.
One thing not to lose in the discussion about his three-point percentage is the fact that Flagg is willing to take them. He’s attempted 48 total threes. That’s enough volume to matter. He’s not hiding from the shot. He’s not passing up every open look. He’s taking the shots defenses are giving him. If he can get this percentage to 34-36%, Flagg will enter 30 points per game territory.
The verdict through 11 games
It’s too early to call Flagg a great shooter, but at 19 he is a great scorer. Shooting wasn’t his calling card coming into the NBA, but it’s evolving. Being an efficient scorer in today’s NBA without a reliable three-point shot (yet), bodes well for Flagg. As he continues to work on his outside shooting and that three-point percentage creeps northward, he will become one of the most unstoppable forces in the NBA. The three-point shot isn’t the foundation of Cooper Flagg’s offensive game. It’s the potential multiplier.
Flagg arrived on the heels of Luka Doncic’s departure to Los Angeles. And despite the weight of seismic expectations and a tumultuous situation when he arrived, Flagg has largely exceeded expectations. These numbers aren’t normal for a teenager. They point to something much larger – the next generational superstar.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 10: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Mitchell Robinson #4 of the Boston Celtics go up for a rebound during the game on November 10, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Tuesdays’ big-stage matchup between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers saw no shortage of storylines. Buried beneath the Jaylen Brown vs. Jayson Tatum, Celtics vs. Sixers rivalry, and the battle of the uncs, Mitchell Robinson quietly entered his first real measuring stick game.
What did he have for Boston as they matched up against Joel Embiid (alongside four other massive names)?
Adding Robinson over the summer came with plenty of luxrious hypotheticals. That’s all great. More than anything, Boston clearly needed some extra frontcourt help after their previous rotation of Neemias Queta, Nikola Vucevic, and Luka Garza had no answer for post-appendectomy Embiid in the playoffs last spring.
Queta spent much of the series in foul trouble, while neither Vucevic nor Garza was strong enough to keep the former NBA MVP away from the basket. Buckets came easy for The Process and so did the wins.
Embiid dominated the Celtics in Games 5-7 to help lead the Sixers to a 3-1 comeback in what was their first playoff series win over Boston in 44 years.
Big Mitch hasn’t quite met the expectations surrounding his arrival just yet. He hasn’t been the same nuisance on the offensive glass as he was seemingly everytime he’d play Boston as a member of the New York Knicks. He’s looked out of shape. His quickness and defensive playmaking have remained hidden talents.
Plus, the “Sheets FC” analytics nerd portion of the fanbase would tell you that those numbers don’t favor Celtics Mitch just yet.
You wouldn’t have been able to guess all that if you just watched him for the first time on Tuesday. Robinson clearly understood the assignment.
It’s not always easy to notice defense when you watch a game live. Sometimes you’re just watching the ball. Others, the fundamental, non-highlight-worthy defense doesn’t jump off the screen at you. The experience is a little different when Embiid catches the ball in the post and you get war flashbacks to the spring.
You just kind of expect him to take a few power dribbles and work his was to the rim.
That didn’t happen.
Instead, Robinson consistently held his ground and forced the longtime 76er to work further from the basket. He also remained under control while getting physical — an important skill when guarding one of the league’s most profound grifters. Like, Embiid averages more free-throws per game this season than field-goal attempts.
Look it up.
So, the fact that Mitch was able to defend him without fouling (except for when he decided to sloppily closeout on a three-point attempt for some reason, despite Embiid shooting 10% from deep entering the game) was huge.
The Louisiana native guarded the seven-foot-two center on 24.3 partial possessions, held him to five points on 1-3 from the field, and forced a turnover. Embiid couldn’t move him. It was like watching him try to back down one of Mitch’s monster trucks.
For perspective, Queta guarded Embiid on 18.1 partial possessions in Boston’s Game 7 loss to Philly back in May. Embiid scored 14 points on Queta while shooting an efficient 6-11 from the floor.
The Portuguese big man was much better Tuesday, in fairness. Queta limited Embiid to just three points on 17 partial possessions.
Both his play, and Robinson’s as his backup, were a clear step in the right direction. There’s a lot of season left. Robinson has to continue to uphold a defensive standard. But, if he looks the way he did against Embiid and the 76ers, then Boston will have aptly plugged the hole that sank their ship last spring.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics controls the ball against LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 123-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They say hindsight is 20/20, but was there anything more obvious — or perhaps anything more Sixers — than the night that was supposed to centered around Jaylen Brown vs. Jayson Tatum being dominated by the salary the Sixers sent out to Boston to acquire Brown?
Paul George’s 36 points led a Celtics three-point onslaught that allowed them to defeat the Sixers by 22 points in Brown’s first game against his old team since the blockbuster trade in the summer. While emotions were running high for a lot of the night’s participants, George didn’t feel any extra need to make a statement against the team he spent the last two seasons with.
“My job was just to come in and support JT and be the best version that I could be for him,” George said after the game. “That was my only focus.”
There really doesn’t get much better support than going 6-of-11 from three-point range. The Sixers were frustrated with their inability to stop George getting open from behind the arc, especially his former teammates who know him well.
“He played within the game too, that’s what Paul does. He plays within the game, he takes what the defense gives him, and we gave him too many open looks tonight,” Tyrese Maxey said. “For him to even be able to get up 11 threes, that’s the issue. We know what PG does, we shouldn’t even been allowing him to get up 11 threes, and that’s on us.”
Maxey, along with several other Sixers, were happy to reconnect with a teammate they got along with well during his time. The sting of what PG had just done to them on the floor was still on their minds when asked what it was like to see him again though.
“It’s good to see Paul,” Maxey said. “I didn’t want to see Paul get six threes, 30 points. I love him, love his family, I didn’t care less, I wanted him to score zero points.”
As someone who went through similar injury struggles, Joel Embiid always seemed to have a good relationship with George. He detailed that while in classic Embiid fashion, trolling Tatum a little bit in the process.
“Off the court, we have a special relationship. Families are close, especially both of our kids,” Embiid said. “I’m extremely happy for him. You know, he’s healthy. He’s playing well. He’s been … the start of the season, you see what he did tonight. You can kind of say he’s been the best player on some level.”
George seemed happy to reunite with old teammates as well, referring to them as brothers throughout the night, but his return was never going to elicit the same emotion as lamb chops and gravy. That might have been different if he had been a Sixer longer, but as he told reporters at shoot around before the game, he was only in Philadelphia for two years.
The Sixer crowd didn’t give him the same level of venom that’s typically gone to star players since departing, James Harden in particular has really heard it from Sixers’ crowds each time he’s come back. Most of the crowd’s animosity was aimed at Tatum, but George still had to deal with some rotten fan behavior. Towards the end of the game, the Sixers called a timeout after another Celtics three and George was seen giving the middle finger towards the crowd.
Looks like Paul George may have also flipped out a fan (or someone) after that three pic.twitter.com/LecXldKldE
It turns out that despite being a Celtic, George was pretty justified in that response.
“There was a fan being an asshole. Ball rolled to him, he looked me dead in my eyes, dropped the ball on the ground as if, I’m a dog to go fetch or go get it, instead of passing the ball to me like a normal fan would do,” George said, “so then I rolled him a middle finger in return.”
Despite all the new exciting parts of this team, a max player coming back to light up the Sixers in his return to South Philadelphia is a story all too familiar.
At least George isn’t the type of guy to scream “Jaylen Brown over me??!!” down the tunnel after doing so.
The Jazz have had terrible injury luck to start the season. Jaren Jackson Jr. should miss about another 4-6 weeks due to an MCL tear. Lauri Markkanen has missed their last two games with a right wrist sprain. Keyonte George missed Tuesday’s game with an ankle injury, though both George and Markkanen could end up returning to play on Wednesday. Of course, Jusuf Nurkić still hasn’t made his season debut due to a toe injury.
That has left Utah shorthanded early on this year, which has contributed to their 1-10 start. However, especially recently, that has allowed others to thrive. Darryn Peterson has stepped up in a big way lately, with the first three 20-point games of his career coming over Utah’s last three games. The hot starts of other rookies have overshadowed Peterson, but if he continues to produce to this level, he’ll quickly remind everyone why he was the No. 2 overall pick and will be one of the best rookies in fantasy basketball.
Ace Bailey has also gotten the chance to shine, though not in the way that many expected when he was drafted. He was supposed to just be a shot-creating scorer, but he has done more as a playmaker and as a defender, which has worked out well for fantasy managers. That doesn’t mean he can’t score, which he proved on Tuesday by scoring a season-high 23 points. Isaiah Collier didn’t start in place of George, with Josh Okogie getting the nod instead and Peterson playing point guard. However, Collier was productive off the bench with a 17/5/5 line that included four triples. Even if he’s coming off the bench, Collier can continue to be streamed, assuming George remains out.
Thankfully, there aren’t too many other injury updates around the league. Hopefully that’s a trend that continues.
Knueppel made his return last week, but he checked back out after playing just five minutes. Unfortunately, he’s gonna be sidelined for at least another few weeks. Grayson Allen, who was excellent to start the year with Knueppel out, moved into the starting unit after coming off the bench to open the season. Allen was horrendous in his first start, but he had 27 points, six assists, two steals and six triples in the last one. Allen should be considered a must-roster player for at least the next month until Knueppel returns.
Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons
Duren is still sidelined with a hamstring injury, and while he has progressed to on-court work, he is set to be out until at least Nov. 22, which will be his next evaluation. Paul Reed had been the starter in place of Duren, but head coach J.B. Bickerstaff opted to bump Reed to the bench in favor of Daniss Jenkins, who has been on fire as of late. That allowed John Collins to start at center, which resulted in his best game of the season after struggling mightily early on. Hopefully that will help Collins get going, while Reed's value will take a hit as a reserve.
Kawhi Leonard, F, Toronto Raptors
There still isn’t much clarity on Kawhi’s timeline, but he will miss at least one more week due to swelling in his left knee. At this point, the swelling has been addressed, and he’s just ramping up. Ja’Kobe Walter continues to start, and while he began the year shooting the ball well, he has shot below 40 percent in five straight games. Walter is still worth hanging on to for now as a source of three-pointers and steals. Hopefully he’ll start knocking down shots at a better rate, but a rough shooting stretch isn’t enough for him to be dropped.
Scottie Barnes, F, Toronto Raptors
Barnes is set to miss a third straight game on Wednesday due to a left groin strain. His absence has allowed Jakob Poeltl to return to the starting unit, which has resulted in his best two games of the season. He has averaged 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 2.5 blocks over the last two games, with Collin Murray-Boyles starting alongside him in one of those. Poeltl struggled to stay on the court last season, which severely limited his production. However, he has played well lately and should continue to be rostered, at least until Barnes returns.
Jaylon Tyson, F, Cleveland Cavaliers
Though he is listed as questionable to play the Knicks on Wednesday, Tyson has missed the last six games for Cleveland. He wasn’t great to start the year, but he could have had a few starts when Peyton Watson missed a couple games. HIs absence allowed Meleek Thomas to take on a larger role and even start two games. Thomas has shown some fun flashes, including an 18/3/3/2/2 line with four triples in Monday’s loss. Tyson’s absence has opened the door for some streamers, but there hasn’t been a dramatic impact in standard leagues.
Kristaps Porziņģis, C, Golden State Warriors
In some rather sad news, Porziņģis announced that he is stepping away from basketball due to the ongoing medical issues that have plagued him over the last few seasons and have prevented him from suiting up this season. While this doesn’t guarantee that his NBA career is over, it is certainly trending in that direction. Porziņģis can be safely dropped in redraft leagues and doesn’t need to be rostered in dynasty formats.
Philadelphia 76ers' Jaylen Brown guards Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum on Nov. 10 at Xfinity Mobile Arena. (Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)
Two days before playing his former team for the first time since being traded this summer, Philadelphia 76ers star Jaylen Brown told reporters he had “nothing to talk about” with ex-teammate Jayson Tatum.
Apparently he meant it — and it might have had something to do with lamb chops. Figuratively speaking.
Before Tuesday’s game at Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena, Tatum approached Brown and gave him a tap on the arm and a few on the chest. Brown wouldn’t even look in the direction of the player with whom he won an NBA championship, made two NBA Finals appearances and played in five Eastern Conference championship series during nine seasons as Celtics teammates.
The pregame moment between Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
After the game, a 123-101 Celtics win, Brown implied to reporters that he didn’t notice Tatum’s attempt to interact with him.
“I’m just focused on coming out and doing what’s best for my team,” Brown said when asked about the apparent snub. “Everything else was just — to be honest, I wasn’t paying attention. But credit to Jayson, he played well tonight. Credit to the Celtics, they executed, they shot the hell out of the ball, and they were the better team tonight.”
Tatum also dismissed the pregame non-encounter as no big deal.
“No headlines about anything like that,” Tatum told reporters. “I was just getting ready for the game, ready for jump ball, go out there and compete, have some fun and try to get a win.”
Still, things have been a bit frosty between the two players in the aftermath of a July 6 trade that sent Brown to Philadelphia — after spending his first 10 NBA seasons in Boston — in exchange for Paul George, two first-round draft picks and two second-round picks.
Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown share a laugh during a 2025 game against the New York Knicks in Boston. (Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
In October, Bleacher Report posted a clip on Instagram of Tatum saying he was “caught off guard” by the trade. Brown responded in the comment section of that post with a blue hat emoji, which is often used to represent the word “cap” when being used as slang for “lie.”
Asked about the situation during an Oct. 23 news conference, Tatum insisted “there’s no beef” between the two players.
“I think he’s right. There’s no beef,” Brown told reporters. “Jason comes from a wonderful family. We’ve accomplished some great things. He’s a hell of a basketball player. He’s got a great PR team. There’s no beef but, you know, it might be a little lamb chops and some gravy, you know what I mean? He should stay ready at all times.”
Asked why he would say that, Brown responded: “Just, you know, that’s what it is. No beef. It should never ever be that. It’s just basketball. We’re both blessed, but it might be a little lamb chop. We’ll be all right.”
Brown was then asked if he had been suggesting that Tatum was being untruthful about the trade situation.
“Hey, look, like I said, it’s no beef,” Brown said. “The PR and all that type stuff is it is what it is, but I think we’re just both focused on what’s in front of us.”
George was the leading scorer in Tuesday’s game, with 36 points, while Tatum added 21 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots. Brown netted 13 points, his lowest output in 11 games with the 76ers.
“I was looking forward to this,” Brown said after the game. “I was looking forward to playing well, but you know, s— happens. You just get ready for the next one, I guess.”
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 10: Paul George #13 and Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics high five during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on November 10, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
TORONTO — The Celtics and Raptors will each miss key players as they meet on Wednesday night.
For the Celtics, Paul George is out with an illness; the star is just a day removed from a 36-point performance against his former squad, the Philadelphia 76ers. Everyone else on the Celtics will play on the second night of a road back-to-back; the team flew from Philadelphia to Toronto late Tuesday night, and Mitchell Robinson and Jayson Tatum, both of whom have gotten one rest game this season, are among them.
George has been the Celtics’ second-leading scorer so far this season; he’s averaging 22 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. He’s also been the team’s most efficient scorer, shooting 48.8% from the field and 44% from three. The Celtics are 0-1 without him so far this season; they lost by 16 to the Houston Rockets last Monday.
The Raptors could be significantly shorthanded; Scottie Barnes (left groin strain) and Kawhi Leonard (left knee injury management) are both out, while Trayce Jackson-Davis (illness), Colin Murray-Boyles (illness), and Immanuel Quickley (right hamstring injury management) are all questionable.
After blowing out the 76ers on Tuesday night, the Celtics lead the Eastern Conference at 9-2. The Raptors have the 6th-best record in the East at 5-5. The Celtics have won four straight; the Raptors are coming off a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Jayson Tatum will once again play on the second night of a back-to-back
The Celtics are in the middle of their third back-to-back of the season, and Jayson Tatum has played in every single back-to-back game so far.
But last week in Charlotte, he said he’s receptive to conversations around his rest management.
“It’s my 10th year, so I understand the balance of wanting to play every game, and rest, and back-to-backs, three-in-fours, five-in-sevens,” Tatum said. “It’s always a conversation. We talk about it. We have a plan. I don’t really like sitting out on away games, but we just kind of figure it out as we go.”
Tatum said he does not like missing road games, and that has factored into his decision to play on the second nights of multiple back-to-backs this season.
Jayson Tatum explained that part of why he played in the back-to-backs was to go through the mental process:
"I used to always play back-to-backs… it was an opportunity for me to test myself out, to see how I felt."
“[That’s] part of it, and just kind of the mental aspect of it,” he said. “I used to always play back-to-backs, and obviously health is most important, and how I’m feeling physically. But it was an opportunity for me to test myself out, to see how I felt playing the back-to-backs, traveling, getting in at a certain time, and see how I felt after that. I kind of just really wanted to go through that for myself, and I felt really good.”
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 10: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz handles the ball during the game against the Miami Heat on November 10, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz have officially lost 9 straight games. The team is getting close and closer to a win, but that still eludes them. 1-10 overall and 1-5 at home, Utah may be able to pull this one out after a gutsy comeback against the Miami Heat last night.
The good news is that Darryn Peterson is slowly breaking out. After scoring 25 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists yesterday, Jazz fans expect to see even more continue growth from their 2nd overall pick. He truly does look like a future star, with Ace Bailey very much looking the part of a do-it-all forward that is sorely needed in SLC.
But this team just can’t seem to get a win. Although it was an okay 4th quarter for both Svi and Isaiah Collier, the bench overall has been having a horrific season. Brice Sensabaugh has yet to show up, Kyle Filipowski continues to struggle with a back injury, and the injuries are mounting for this team. Once a promising season, this year has gotten out of hand quickly. The Jazz NEED a win and tonight against the Orlando Magic is a great chance.
The Orlando Magic are having a rough season themselves, sitting at 3-7 and seeing numerous injuries themselves. Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs have been out, Tristan de Silva missed last game, and a few of their younger guys in Izaiyah Nelson and Noah Penda have been struggling with injuries as well.
Much of the season has been placed on the shoulders of Franz Wagner, who has yet to truly find his outside shot, shooting 22.9% on the year. Desmond Bane has shot inconsistently, but Anthony Black has been a bright spot. It could be a competitive one tonight at the Delta Center.
Start Time and TV Schedule
Who: Utah Jazz vs Orlando Magic
When: November 11, 7:00 MT
Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT
How to watch: KJZZ, Jazz+
Injury Report
Jazz Injury Report (as of 11/10)
OUT – Trey Alexander (G League – Two-Way)
OUT – Keyonte George (Right Ankle; Sprain)
OUT – Harrison Ingram (G League – Two-Way)
OUT – Jaren Jackson Jr. (Right Knee; MCL Tear)
OUT – Jusuf Nurkic (Right foot; 2nd Plantar Plate Tear)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 5: Mitchell Robinson #23 and Assistant Coach Mark Bryant of the New York Knicks talk before during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When the Knicks lost Mitchell Robinson in the offseason, there was not only a sense of mourning for losing the services of the longest-tenured Knick right after a championship, but also in the sense of what he provided on the court.
Even with his injury-prone nature, Robinson was a premier rim protector and an anchor for the Knicks’ defense whenever he was on the court, which would be enough of an asset on his own, but the biggest asset he provided was something entirely different.
As we all came to know and love, he is simply the best offensive rebounder of this generation and one of the best rebounders, period, in the NBA. His innate ability to gobble up boards helped turbocharge an offense that already had plenty of offensive weapons, but would sometimes struggle with inefficiency.
For several years now, the Knicks have built their offense around the expectation of extra possessions. They’ve game-planned to win games by simply getting more opportunities to score than their opponents by grabbing more rebounds and committing fewer turnovers. With Robinson gone, the former was in serious danger, even if the team signed Andre Drummond to bandage it.
Through 10 games this season, though, they seem to have not missed a beat.
The Knicks are impressively the No. 1 rebounding team in basketball so far. That’s powered by Drummond not missing a beat with his usual rebounding prowess, but also an elevation in the team’s process and scheme.
Karl-Anthony Towns, historically a great rebounding center, leads the NBA with a staggering 13.8 rebounds per game. While his defensive strides have been the most encouraging part of the start of this season, he’s been a huge part of winning the possession battle by hitting another level with a 36.6 DREB%, which also leads the league.
As a team, the Knicks have hauled in 55.5 percent of available rebounds, 73 percent of defensive rebounds, and 38.8 percent of offensive rebounds, all leading the NBA. They’ve done this despite routinely having smaller lineups on the court.
Over the last two years, the Knicks were an elite rebounding team, especially thanks to double-big lineups and versatility. They’ve gradually gotten smaller as a team, have played zero minutes with more than one player taller than 6’8” on the court, and are still dominating on the glass.
Towns, Drummond, and Josh Hart have combined to do a bulk of the rebounding on both ends, but it’s also been a group effort. OG Anunoby has been much more active on the glass, averaging 1.7 OREB/g. Mikal Bridges and Jordan Clarkson are grabbing more rebounds on a rate basis. Even Jalen Brunson is averaging a career high in offensive rebounds.
Everyone is feeding off each other. Of the Knicks’ 10 most-used lineups, nine of them have an elite rebounding percentage, with the lone exception being a shocker: the starting five (47.5%).
Their early-season struggles, particularly on offense, are worth monitoring, but some positive regression is due whenever Hart returns from his ankle/illness ailments, especially in the rebounding department. The team as a whole played poorly through five games and has only started to pick it up recently.
The synergy has allowed them to just take the soul out of teams in recent games, something that’s been pivotal to their success in recent years. Just look at last night’s game against Milwaukee, where, despite the plucky Bucks chopping a 26-point lead down to 11, they couldn’t overcome a 59-32 rebounding disadvantage.
Against Cleveland on Saturday, the Knicks took advantage of no Jarrett Allen to outrebound the Cavs, 49-40, to help stretch their second-half cushion. In the blowout of the Bulls last week, it was another 57-34 bludgeoning.
It even makes you think: was it the system that made Mitchell Robinson who he was, or was he just a superpowered cog in the wheel?
Let’s slow down. Robinson was always a generational rebounder, as evidenced by his work under previous head coaches, but his early struggles in Boston are notable.
As long as Towns continues to be consistent defensively and the team keeps rebounding like this… will they even miss him that much?
While Thursday’s contest isn’t part of a back-to-back, it’s the sort of situation in which the Sixers have load management matters in mind for the 32-year-old Embiid and 41-year-old James. They’ll host the Pacers on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET and then visit the Nets the following night.
James logged 29 minutes Tuesday in the 9-3 Sixers’ loss to the Celtics and Embiid went 31. Embiid said postgame that he rolled his ankle late in the second quarter, but he was fine to play the second half.
Adem Bona (cervical spine sprain), Dominick Barlow (lower back stress reaction) and Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tendon tear) will all remain out for the Sixers against the Raptors.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 04: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors goes up for a shot on Ryan Dunn #0 and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Chase Center on November 04, 2025 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
About every 10 games this season, I’ll pulse my top-3 candidates in each of eight categories. This one comes on the heels of an easy Suns win, their third in the last four games, as they continue to work on undoing a rough 1-5 start. All of these will be debatable, so have at it in the chat.
Most Valuable Sun
Devin Booker
Luke Kennard
Oso Ighodaro
Booker has had a key role in each of the Suns’ wins thus far. The losses may be more about the pieces around him not fitting, or playing well enough. Kennard has provided much-needed shooting and playmaking with incredible efficiency (see below) and is second in net rating. Oso has been far from perfect thus far, but his presence in the starting lineup provided significantly better flow to the offense and smarter defensive rotation.
Rising Suns
Ryan Dunn
Khaman Maluach
Jordan Goodwin
Dunn’s stock is on fire. He has a true shooting percentage of 63%; see more below on his defense. Maluach is developing and getting valuable experience reps. Shows occasional flashes, be it a dominant block or hitting a three. The hands and defensive rotation need to improve to keep him on the rise. After last night’s game, I moved Goodwin up to the third slot. He’s becoming much more than hustle, rebounding and defense. He’s hit 3 or more three-pointers in each of his last three full game appearances, hitting 13 of 22 (59%) over that span.
Setting Suns
Jalen Green
Rasheer Fleming
Backup point guards (Jamaree Bouyea, Pat Spencer)
Green has been a lightning rod for frustration so far. He gives good effort most of the time, and seems to be trying to do his assigned role – assists up slightly in recent games – but it seems unnatural. As a result, his value is declining. Fleming has battled health issues, but fell out of the rotation before that. Bouyea and Spencer are just not getting any minutes; I thought there was a role to be had here, on occasions when a change of pace is necessary.
Suns Scorers
Devin Booker
Luke Kennard
Dillon Brooks
Booker’s overall ability to get shots, draw fouls (34% free throw rate), and make free throws (94%) has him leading the team at over 25 points per night. He also plays his usual facilitation role with a 23% assist%. Kennard has a 74% true shooting percentage at 49% from three-point range, and has a 6.5 assist-to-turnover ratio. Brooks is at 42% from downtown, and still has that mid-post game.
Nov 7, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (15) speaks with members of the media after the end of a game against the Houston Rockets at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Sun Blockers
Ryan Dunn
Oso Ighodaro
Collin Gillespie
Disclaimer on this category: the team’s defense has been subpar. Dunn’s defensive rating of 99 is 10 points better than the second-best Sun, Ighodaro, who provides defensive versatility. Gillespie is third in the NBA at 3.0 steals per 36 minutes.
Outworking the Sunrise
Ryan Dunn
Jordan Goodwin
Collin Gillespie
Dunn also shows up here, seemingly going all-out during his limited minutes. Goodwin is so good at hustling that I have him on here despite playing only 5 ½ games of the 10 games due to a calf injury. Gillespie is always hustling, moving the most distance per minute of any Phoenix player and at a team-topping average speed of 4.73 mph.
Most Likely to Leave Suns’ Orbit
Jalen Green
Rasheer Fleming
Dillon Brooks
Despite his athleticism, Green has not met the expectations of his contract thus far in Phoenix. He is a popular fan target for a trade shakeup. I hope not right now, as his value is at a low. I’m hoping they get him into a sixth-man-type role where maybe he could cook. Fleming has size and a skill set that showed flashes last season. I could see other teams wanting him as part of a deal. The wild card: Brooks. If the season spirals, a contender desiring a toughness element may value him, and the Suns should consider it for the right younger piece.
Best Suns Win
Nov 7 – Houston 99, Phoenix 102
Nov 10 – LA Clippers 110, Phoenix 133
Nov 5 – Orlando 104, Phoenix 117
Saturday’s win over the Rockets easily tops this list now. Positive signs began to show in the Magic win, but last night’s dominant win over the Clippers moves into the #2 slot.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 123-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Sixers got their asses handed to them by the Celtics on Tuesday night, to put it bluntly. They fell into a double-digit hole early in the second quarter, managed to claw their way back to tie the game late in the third, then got buried by an avalanche of three-pointers and called it a night.
While the beef and/or lamb chops and gravy between Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum took center stage Tuesday night, the real story of the game was that the Sixers and Celtics came into it with the two best records in the Eastern Conference. This was the first of four matchups between two legitimate title hopefuls, one with no shortage of bad blood on either side (as much as the Celtics try to deny it).
The result raised two glaring red flags for the Sixers, ones which have been prevalent throughout this early start to the season. Their lack of three-point shooting and lack of rim protection behind Joel Embiid once again came back to bite them, and this time, they weren’t able to muster a second-half rally via lockdown defense.
The Celtics have been one of the NBA’s highest-volume three-point shooting teams under Joe Mazzulla, and that hasn’t changed this year. After Tuesday’s avalanche of triples, they’re now second in the league in three-point makes, fifth in attempts and third in long-range shooting percentage.
Even though the Sixers drew 28 free-throw attempts compared to only five for the Celtics, they weren’t able to overcome the math advantage from Boston’s three-point barrage.
“We weren’t aggressive enough defensively, and they got loose,” Tyrese Maxey said after the game. “For them to get up 50 threes is, you know… the way they got them up, too. The catch-and-shoot threes, the open threes. We know their game plan is to get up threes. But we can’t give up the catch-and-shoot threes to this team because the result is this right here.”
Three-point shooting loomed as a legitimate concern for the Sixers heading into the season. Maxey is the only plus long-range shooter in their starting lineup. All four of their other starters can knock down triples as well, but they aren’t particularly reliable from deep. Opponents will happily concede those shots, particularly if they’re contested, if that allows them to wall off the paint and prevent easy looks at the basket.
The one silver lining to Tuesday’s game is that Joel Embiid, who was mired in a brutal 0-of-19 three-point slump over his previous seven games, finally knocked one down at the beginning of the second half.
“I think you can see it, as soon as I made a three, the next shot that I had in the short corner on the right side, I didn’t even think about it, I just shot it, let it fly. And I made it,” Embiid said after the game. “Probably if I hadn’t made a three, I probably would have been in my mind and would have thought about it.”
Head coach Nick Nurse doesn’t seem particularly concerned about the Sixers’ three-point woes in the early going.
“I think that we’ve got some guys that are obviously shooting much lower percentages than their last season or their career average, almost a handful of guys,” he said after Tuesday’s game. “And I don’t think it’s because they’re shooting fall-away, totally contested ones. I think they’re shots that we want them to take. So I think we’re going to continue to take them, and I’m pretty sure those will even out into their career averages.”
In particular, Nurse highlighted Dean Wade—a low-volume, above-average three-point shooter—as someone who can help fix the problem.
“We certainly feel like there are shots that he turned down in the first half-dozen games, for sure,” Nurse said. “But again, I don’t think he’s quite in the mindset to take them. We just keep showing him. We need his spacing. It’s obviously why we signed him. He’s a spacing big, and we need that, for sure.”
Too-small small-ball?
Ariel Hukporti is out for the year with an Achilles tear. Dominick Barlow has yet to make his season debut because of a back injury. And Adem Bona suffered a cervical spine sprain against the Detroit Pistons and has missed the Sixers’ past three games. That’s left the Sixers woefully shorthanded in the frontcourt behind Embiid.
Jabari Walker has been filling in as the nominal backup 5, but he’s only 6’7″. When Embiid has been off the floor in recent games, opponents have started attacking the basket with aplomb knowing the Sixers don’t have a rim protector lurking to swat their shots away.
After the Celtics game, Nurse told reporters that he might have to switch up their defensive strategy whenever they go with a small-ball 5.
“I think we need to just check on it schematically to see if there isn’t something we can do different when we’re small,” he said. “Maybe we can do a little more switching, maybe we can do a little more blitzing, things like that. As you know, we kinda used to use certain coverages, and when Bona would check in, we’d go to some other coverages. We haven’t gotten to as much of that this year, but that’s probably where we’re heading.”
On a related note: What’s the point in having Tacko Fall signed to a two-way contract if he can’t get on the floor even with the frontcourt this depleted? That isn’t to suggest that he would have stemmed the bleeding against the Celtics—if anything, they likely would have picked him apart in drop coverage—but the Sixers may need to reevaluate how they’re using their two-way spots to add more frontcourt insurance until they get healthier.
The Sixers’ schedule considerably softens up over the next few games, which should help deter any Chicken Littles from screaming about how much the sky is falling. But despite their early-season success, the Sixers are still clearly a ways away from being a legitimate title threat this year. The loss to Boston underscored two glaring weaknesses that opponents will happily exploit in the playoffs if the Sixers can’t fix them before then.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 07: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks shoots over James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Rocket Arena on November 07, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Knicks defeated the Cavaliers 109-97. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Remember when the Knicks started 0-3, and people thought that the sky was falling? Turns out talks of the team no longer being good were exaggerated after all.
New York has now won six of their last seven games and are now winners of four straight after Tuesday night’s thrashing of a Bucks team that has been maybe even worse than expected. Part of that can and should be attributed to a lighter schedule over the last couple of weeks. The Knicks have played the 1-8 Bulls twice, the 2-8 Nets, and the aforementioned 1-10 Bucks. Of their two quality wins during that stretch, one was against the 7-3 Pistons and the other came against the Cavaliers, the latter perhaps not that great a deal given the interesting season they’ve had and the fact they were playing on the end of a back-to-back.
Up until the Bulls game last week, I would’ve called the Knicks’ season a roller coaster ride. But whatever early-season turbulence and disappointments the Knicks experienced, the Cavaliers might have surpassed it. At 5-6, they are just 1.5 games behind the Knicks. And it’s only been 11 games. But the Cavaliers have lost two in a row, have lost four of five and five of seven.
A lot of it starts with the starting lineup, which is ironic given the ceaseless talks surrounding the Knicks’ very own starters. Coming into Wednesday night, the Cavaliers’ preferred starting lineup of James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen has an abysmal net rating of -18.9 in 84 minutes together. That number is a lot better when one of Mobley, Watson, or Allen is off the court, with the net ratings in those minutes all being positive, suggesting that the talent is there, but the synergy may not be.
There are three players in particular who deserve a closer look. Harden is currently averaging 15.3PPG and 5.7APG both of which are the third and fourth lowest of his career, respectively. He’s currently shooting just 35.5% from three, 37.5% from two, and shooting just 4.8FTA/G. Given how little he provides as a defender, he’s been a tough watch this season, and the numbers back it up. In the 359 minutes with Harden on the floor, the Cavaliers have had a -6.0 net rating. In the 174 minutes with him off the floor, they have a +16.5 net rating. That’s a 22.5-point swing.
He isn’t the only one that has been a disappointment, though. Watson, the Cavaliers’ major off-season trade acquisition, was looked to be the athletic shooting wing with size that could finally lock down the small forward position. Critics of the move were cautious given how much he benefitted from Nikola Jokic’s gravity and passing, but also given his relatively small sample size of being the kind of player the Cavaliers were hoping to get. While it’s unfair to judge Watson on just nine games in a new city and situation, he’s been a subpar player. Watson is currently averaging just 11.4PPG and 4.6RPG while having an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.7:1.8 and is shooting a putrid 21.6% from three and barely hovering above 40% from the field. And like Harden, he’s been a negative when on the floor. The Cavaliers have a -5.2 net rating in the 250 minutes with him on the floor. Some of that may simply be due to the fact that he has to share a large chunk of his minutes with Harden. But it also doesn’t fully explain why the Cavaliers have a +7.1 net rating in the 283 minutes without him or why the starting lineup sans Watson actually has a +30.4 net rating in 23 minutes.
Maybe the most interesting case study, though, is Mobley. His individual stats look fine for the most part. He’s averaging 17.5PPG and 7.5RPG while shooting 55.8% from the field and 50% from three. But the Cavaliers are a -2.4 in his minutes. And even when he shares the floor with Mitchell and Allen, the trio is a -20.5 in 87 minutes. Meanwhile, the duo of Mitchell and Allen without Mobley is a whopping +26.1 in 67 minutes with Mitchell being a +7.0 in his minutes and Allen being a +5.0 in his.
The team can still turn things around. As Knicks fans were told to do after 144 regular season minutes, Cavaliers fans should be reminded to relax because it really is a marathon. But as you can see, there are some very clear holes in this team. Some have pointed to Kenny Atkinson’s inability to fully get this group to gel. I do think there is some validity to that. He’s either not making the requisite changes or his players aren’t listening. And either can be a fireable offense. But he can’t bear all of the blame.
The team has very little depth. And at the end of the day, it comes down to his players simply playing better. Harden can’t shoot this bad if he’s going to give close to zero effort defensively. Watson needs to shoot better. And Mobley, despite putting together a solid campaign statistically, needs to continue becoming much more of an aggressive force both offensively and defensively.
All that being said, the Knicks are in prime position to extend their winning streak to five. They took care of business against the lowly Bucks last night, which allowed their starters to rest. Not a single player played more than 29 minutes, so they should be ready tonight. It can be difficult to beat a team twice in such a short span, but given the Cavaliers’ recent struggles and how well the Knicks have played them as of late, New York should be favored.
When you play a team with expectations, such as the Cavaliers, that has underperformed the way they have, you run the risk of running into a hungry and sometimes even angry team. Cleveland has the talent on paper to beat anybody on any given night. But we saw last Saturday that this team doesn’t have a single player that can defend Jalen Brunson or Karl-Anthony Towns, and they just do not have the depth, especially at the center position, to reliably stay physical with a team like the Knicks.
With New York finally finding their groove and Cleveland slipping, I expect a closer game than the last one, but the Knicks to hold them off, improving to 7-4.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (6-4) vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (5-6) Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM ET Place: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY TV: ESPN Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
INGLEWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 8: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives to the basket during the game against the LA Clippers on November 8, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images INGLEWOOD, CA – NOVEMBER 8: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives to the basket during the game against the LA Clippers on November 8, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Not much to say, really. The Brooklyn Nets faced a tough task on the road Sunday night against the Dallas Mavericks. Back-to-backs are never easy and going from Atlanta to Dallas is especially difficult. However, the Nets didn’t give the people at home much to enjoy. The team was never really in it after the first quarter and got trucked, losing 130-93. You’ve got to give people something worth holding on to at some point.
The opponent tonight is still searching. The New Orleans Pelicans don’t figure to be competing for a playoff spot this year, but they’ll try to figure out how they can build a brighter future. They were in San Francisco to face the Golden State Warriors on Monday night and got embarrassed, losing 138-87. Yeesh.
Out – Yves Missi (left knee contusion/bone bruise)
Probable – Trey Murphy III (bilateral patellar)
Out – Trendon Watford (right ankle sprain)
The game
Herb Jones is here, but not playing the minutes one would expect for a player of his stature. He’s at a career low 22.6 minutes per game and it looks like Pelicans management might be gearing up to trade him later in the season. If you’re a team desperate for wing defense, it might be worth a shot.
Speaking of things being worth a shot, we might get our first extended look at Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr playing together. So far this year, they’ve only been limited to four minutes together on the court, but that should change in a hurry. Brooklyn’s guards have shown glimpses of excellence thus far, and we’ll see how the vision for them continues to develop as the season progresses.
On a team level, they have to be more careful with the ball. Too many of their games have gotten out of control due to ill timed turnovers, inability to rebound, etc.
“I know the guys are not trying to turn it over, so put less pressure on yourself when you make those decisions,” Jordi Fernández said. “It’s more about our spacing and then how we do from there because we’re pretty unorganized early and then that doesn’t help. So I don’t want them to play tentative; I want them to play aggressive, and making their decisions and playing very hard.
Fortunately for the Nets, they are playing a Pelicans team that is allowing 116.8 points per 100 possessions, fifth worst in the NBA. Unfortunately for Brooklyn, they allow 114.8 points per 100 possessions, seventh worst in the NBA. This one figures to be sloppy and frantic.
Player to watch: Zion Williamson
I think two things are true when discussing Zion Williamson. The first is that he’s had what we can consider a successful career. He’s gotten to the All-Star game a few times, has made over $150 million and counting, and is likely due to cash in on another big contract before his career ends. This season, he’s averaging 21 points on a career best 62.8 percent from the field and has taken some more three pointers than you’d expect out of him.
It’s also true that we expected a LOT more from the former number one pick. Numerous issues and controversies have dulled his impact in the league and instead of being a transcendent star, is merely a good player and potential trade chip this winter. If you told me eight years ago that’s how things would go for him, I would have called you a liar. But alas.
Williamson would be helping himself immensely if he were a better rebounder. He’s never been great at it and his rebound rate is at career lows to start the season. From Chris Lambert at Pelicans Debrief:
“There is zero reason for a player with his frame and athleticism to not be jumping up and snatching boards like they’re going out of style. Then you factor in he still gets lazy defensively and lets his man blow by him way too often, and I ask: what value do his defensive playmaking numbers even bring?
Honestly, I would rather he average one steal and block zero shots but give this team six-plus rebounds and actually provide a consistent effort when guarding on the ball. That would provide more value for this group than starting a few fast breaks. Well, actually, maybe not because the half-court is putrid, so maybe I take that back.“
Indeed.
Another lefty All-Star will look to put a good outing on the board. Like Williamson, Julius Randle has to be the best player on the court in order for his team to win. It hasn’t happened enough this year and it makes life more challenging for his teammates. Not that single-game plus minus tells the entire story, but the Nets were -33 in Randle’s minutes on Sunday. He’s the guy who’s out there the most and the player the team expects the most out of. With an extra day-off to recuperate and fine tune some things, Fernandez is hoping Randle gets off to a strong start and builds on it throughout the evening.
From the Vault
So we got word that former World Championship Wrestling executive Jim Herd passed away a few months ago. Herd’s time in charge wasn’t especially good, but during his run, we did get one of the greatest matches of all time, so let’s watch that!
Raphielle Johnson
