Category: NBA

James Harden flipped the script on the Knicks.

It was trending in the direction this matchup has so often taken, with the Knicks looking like they would steal another win over the Cavs with a late-game comeback.

Trailing most of the night, the Knicks cut their deficit to seven points with a layup from Karl-Anthony Towns with 7:33 left in the game. Kenny Atkinson called a Cavs timeout.

The Knicks then went on a 9-2 run and tied the game with 5:35 left, as the Cavs took another timeout. It felt like another moment in which the Cavs were melting with the game on the line.

But Harden drilled a jumper to reestablish a two-point Cavs lead with 5:22 left. A minute later, he hit a 3-pointer to put the Cavs up by three with 4:22 left.

This time, it was the Knicks who wilted in crunch time, as they fell 115-107 Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden to snap their four-game winning streak.

“We were in it,” Jalen Brunson said. “But just timely stops and timely buckets were needed.”

Harden took over late and finished with 32 points, while Donovan Mitchell hurt the Knicks with 23 points.

“MVP, scoring champ,” Miles McBride said of Harden. “He’s a tough matchup for anybody in this league. You gotta tip your hat to him.”

Brunson and Towns’ own two-man effort couldn’t overcome a three-way disappearing act around them. They combined for 48 points, while the three other starters — OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart — combined for just 22 points on 7-for-20 shooting.

And that’s with Anunoby padding those numbers with a big fourth quarter. Through three quarters, Bridges, Anunoby and Hart had just nine points on 4-for-16 shooting.

It’s hard to win when Anunoby and Hart offer so little, and Bridges offers almost nothing.

Bridges’ waning playing time continued as a result, as he finished with just 17 minutes of action — fewer than both Landry Shamet (28) and McBride (27), who were far more effective. Bridges did not play at all during the fourth quarter. It was McBride — who finished with 19 points — on the court instead down the stretch.

Hart looked rusty in his return from a three-game absence and also took a backseat in the fourth quarter, with Shamet largely taking his place.

“It’s gonna be hard to find minutes at times for Mikal,” Brown said. “And maybe even at times for Josh. Because those two guys [McBride and Shamet] are playing at a pretty high level.”

Interestingly, Brown kept Brunson on the bench in favor of Tyler Kolek until 4:20 left in the fourth quarter, with the Knicks trailing by three.

And when Brunson reentered the game, Towns went to the bench for Andre Drummond for the next two minutes.

It continued Brown’s early-season experimenting, but was perhaps a factor in the Knicks’ late-game struggles.

Mitchell provided the final dagger with an assist, setting up a wide-open Jarrett Allen with a layup that put the Cavs up seven with 1:41 left in the game. The Knicks, as they had all night, double-teamed Mitchell on the play — something Brown later regretted.

“I kept us in the blitz a little too long,” Brown said. “I should have taken us out of the blitz. So that part is on me and I gotta be better helping our group in that area.”

Brown also rued the free-throw discrepancy — the Cavs took 25 compared to the Knicks’ 11.

Starting with last year’s Eastern Conference finals, the Knicks had won five straight against the Cavs before Wednesday. But on the second leg of a back-to-back, the Knicks took a momentary step back after winning six of their past seven games.

“We’ll learn from this game,” Brown said, “and keep it moving.”

The Golden State Warriors have dealt with their fair share of injuries early in the 2026-27 season, and it hasn’t stopped them from winning. But there’s one injury they can’t afford to have, and unfortunately, they got a scare on that front on Wednesday.

Just a few minutes into their game against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets — a game that kicks off a five-game road trip — Warriors superstar Steph Curry started to look a little uncomfortable, and was seen grabbing at his side and hip area. About halfway through the quarter he left the game, and headed straight to the locker room with trainer Drew Yoder, while visibly in discomfort.

Curry took a few hard falls and collisions in the opening minutes of the game before exiting.

At the start of the second quarter, the Warriors announced that Curry had been ruled out for the rest of the game with a right abdominal soreness. His status going forward is not yet known.

The Cleveland Cavaliers picked up a feel-good win over the New York Knicks.

Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Player of the game

James Harden

32 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 2 steals

Harden delivered his best half of the season by ripping off 17 points on 3-of-5 three-point shooting in the opening quarters. The Cavs have missed this production from their starting point guard. But if he can generate clean offense like this on a consistent basis, then there’s a real runway for them moving forward.

The Cavs’ offense was steady all night in large part due to Harden’s isolation scoring. Few players have been able to create one-on-one like Harden, and even at 37 years old, he’s proven he can still turn up the heat and take over games.

Grade: A+

Grades

Donovan Mitchell

23 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists

Last week, after the Cavs lost to New York, Mitchell told me he feels he’s taken strides as a playmaker. That manifested itself tonight in a way that’s bigger than his 6 assists.

Mitchell showed maturity in the fourth quarter. After scoring steadily throughout the game, he allowed the Knicks to take him off the board by trapping him. By accepting the double team and then passing the ball to one of his release valves, the Cavs were able to consistently create advantages at the end of the game.

Grade: A-

Jarrett Allen

11 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block

Allen made the most of his opportunities tonight. He shot 4-of-7 from the floor and hammered (literally) the nail in the coffin with his and-one dunk.

More importantly, Allen gobbled 14 boards and helped the Cavs win 40-34 on the glass.

Grade: A-

Evan Mobley

10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block

This was a quiet night from Mobley. In some ways, his lack of aggression, particularly when drawing a mismatch against a smaller defender, was frustrating.

That said, I do think there’s value in pointing out that the flow of this game never channeled his direction. This was a perimeter-oriented game with Mitchell, Harden, Proctor, and Thomas attempting 52 shots (out of 85 total attempts from the team).

I wish Mobley were capable of dictating that flow for himself more often. But I’m starting to wonder if we all need to just accept that as something that doesn’t come included.

His grade skews positive for his mostly impactful defensive effort.

Grade: C+

Peyton Watson

7 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks

Watson did not find his shot at any point tonight. He finished 2-for-12 from the field. However, he made a gigantic impact on defense, swatting multiple three-point attempts and blocking Deuce McBride in transition to help Cleveland close the door.

The Cavs still need to figure out where he fits offensively, but the vision for his defense is coming into focus.

Grade: B

Mario Hezonja

0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 7 minutes

Hezonja couldn’t hang tonight as New York’s off-ball movement left him stuck in the mud. He’s too slow for either of the Knicks’ wings, and Karl-Anthony Towns isn’t your usual five. This will be a difficult matchup for Hezonja to establish himself.

Grade: F

Jaylon Tyson

3 points, 0 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block

Tyson played his first game since October after missing the previous six with an ankle injury. There’s not much to take from this, other than Tyson needs to find his jumper and become a more helpful defender. All of this could come as he gets his feet back under him.

Grade: D+

Tyrese Proctor

15 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist

Proctor was everything the Cavs needed tonight. He had it going offensively (6-for-12 shooting) and was one of their best perimeter defenders. He stayed attached on screens and kept the Knicks from getting loose away from the ball. This was the best game of his young career and another sign that the Cavs have a nose for finding talent on the margins.

Grade: A

Meleek Thomas

14 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals

Thomas nailed a half-spin fallaway jumper during his first stint of this game. The type of stuff that only an immensely confident rookie could pull off. But that confidence has made Thomas a difference-maker for Cleveland, and his ability to create for himself was a big help tonight.

Grade: A-

The Golden State Warriors are already down one of their stars. Now they await word on their biggest one.

Twelve-time All-Star guard Stephen Curry, the greatest shooter of all-time, walked off the floor Wednesday, Nov. 11 during a game against the Houston Rockets, clearly grimacing. Curry, who appeared to be favoring his right side, then walked to the locker room, with a trainer following. The Warriors announced minutes into the second quarter that Curry would not return for the rest of the game with right abdominal soreness.

The sequence took place just 5:35 into the game. Curry had scored 3 points on 1-of-3 shooting by that point. Curry did not return to the floor for the rest of the first quarter, and he was not back at the bench area to start the second period.

More: Stephen Curry fires back after Gilbert Arenas calls Ayesha a ‘blemish’

Curry did have a collision with Rockets forward Amen Thompson earlier in the game, when Curry had driven to the hoop on an attempted layup. Then, Curry had been fighting off a screen against Rockets center Alperen Şengün. As soon as that sequence ended, Curry once again grabbed his side.

Finally, just moments before he left the game, Curry curled around a screen and put up a 3-point shot. As soon as he landed and stepped backwards, he grabbed at his right side, near his hip.

Stephen Curry headed to the locker room with an apparent right hip injury. pic.twitter.com/1zVrNz00bH

— ESPN (@espn) November 12, 2026

Curry has been in the midst of a renaissance and has been elevating the play of the Warriors, who entered the night 8-3, which was tied for the third best record in the Western Conference.

Curry has been averaging 30.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game across nine appearances so far this season. He’s converting 3-pointers at a blistering 45.7%, which would mark a career-high. His scoring total ranks second in the NBA, behind only Luka Dončić’s historic 39.3 points per game, for all players with at least five games played.

Steph Curry goes straight to the locker room @NBCSWarriors

There’s something clearly wrong with his right side. Looks like oblique area. He’s visibly angry about it pic.twitter.com/V0VK2GJMlL

— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) November 12, 2026

The Warriors were already without Jimmy Butler, who has missed the start of the season as he rehabs the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in January 2026.

Steph Curry injury update

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the game that Curry said he "tweaked something in his abdominal area," which Curry told his longtime coach he had never done before.

Kerr said Curry left the arena to get an MRI.

"Concern is high but I have no idea the extent of the injury," Kerr said.

What does Stephen Curry injury mean for Warriors?

This is stating the obvious, but it will depend on the severity.

While Curry was in clear discomfort when he left the floor, he did try to tough it out for a few possessions. That alone is not enough of an indicator to provide a tangible assessment, but it could hint to the degree of severity.

Either way, abdominal or oblique injuries can be complicated. Because they are part of the core muscles, many basic athletic movements can become painful.

They can also take time to heal, especially if there’s a muscle tear. Magic forward Paolo Banchero, for example, missed 34 games during the 2024-25 season with a torn oblique. If it ends up being a strain, however, any Curry absence would undoubtedly be far shorter.

Regardless, if Curry is forced to miss time, the Warriors will face the impossible problem of making up for the loss of a player who’s irreplaceable.

Curry is playing at an MVP-caliber level, and Golden State simply does not have any options who come close. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg has been sensational in his first month in the NBA, and surely he will be forced to take on more offensive responsibility. Same goes for starting guard Brandin Podziemski, though to a lesser extent.

What the Warriors won’t be able to replace is Curry’s perimeter shooting and the way that opens up space on the floor. Curry is the best off-ball player in the NBA and tirelessly bounds around the floor, looking for small gaps. Those alone are enough for him to get shots off.

And, considering he entered the night making field goals at 50.3% and 3-pointers at 45.7%, that efficiency will be sorely missed.

The Warriors haven’t issued an update on Jimmy Butler’s status, but if Curry is forced to miss extended time, that could potentially put some pressure on Butler to lead the team as soon as he returns, should the timing coincide.

Either way, if Curry misses extended time, it’s tough to see Golden State remaining as competitive as it has been to start the season.

Stephen Curry stats

In nine games, Curry is shooting 50.3% from the field and is averaging 30.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.  A two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, Curry’s scoring this season represents a significant jump from his career average of 24.9 points per game.

This story will be updated when we have more information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steph Curry injury update: What we know as Warriors star's night ends early

MILWAUKEE — One of the Lakers’ star players left the team’s game against the Bucks due to an injury Wednesday. 

And there’s uncertainty about his status moving forward.

Austin Reaves subbed himself out and limped to the back of Fiserv Forum with team personnel because of an apparent lower-body injury midway through the third quarter of the Lakers’ eventual 123-112 victory over the Bucks.

He motioned to the bench around the 5:20 mark of the quarter, with the Lakers making multiple subs while Reaves walked to the back. 

The Lakers ruled Reaves out for the remainder of the game midway through the fourth quarter, saying he had a heel injury.

Coach JJ Redick said Reaves’ X-rays were negative and that he’d get imaging on Thursday. Redick ruled out an Achilles injury.

“He’s Austin,” Redick said of Reaves’ demeanor postgame. “I mean, he’s pretty much like this all the time.”

Reaves appeared to initially hurt his heel during a dunk attempt earlier in the third but stayed in the game coming out of the timeout with the Lakers up 69-56 with 8:13 left in the quarter.

Reaves recorded 18 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals in 25 minutes before leaving the game with the heel injury.

The 6-foot-5 guard entered Wednesday as the league’s No. 15 scorer, averaging 25.3 points (50.8% from the field, 41.3% on 3-pointers), 4.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds in the team’s first nine games.

Among players averaging at least 20 points per game, Reaves and Warriors star Steph Curry were the only ones to reach that scoring threshold while also shooting at least 50% from the field, 40% on 3-pointers and 90% on free throws.

While the Lakers didn’t know Reaves’ status beyond Wednesday immediately after beating the Bucks, they’re preparing for other players to step up in a potential absence from the former Oklahoma guard.

“We just gotta have next man up mentality,” Luka Dončić said. “Obviously, we [lost] a very, very good player. Hopefully it’s nothing. We gotta have next-man-up mentality.”

Austin Reaves' night ended early after he checked himself out midway through the third quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers' road win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The Lakers star was seen walking back to the locker room with a limp accompanied by team training staff after subbing out at the 5:20 mark in the third. Reaves had attempted a fast-break dunk three minutes earlier but was blocked from behind and looked uncomfortable from that point on after landing awkwardly.

The team eventually ruled Reaves out for the rest of the game with a left heel injury. Head coach JJ Redick told reporters postgame that X-Rays came back negative and Reaves will undergo imaging on Thursday. Any kind of Achilles injury has been ruled out.

Austin first appeared to tweak something on this dunk attempt but stayed in the game coming out of the timeout: https://t.co/EiW4MyKrc4pic.twitter.com/6Nq9dFzwdE

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) November 12, 2026

Reaves exited the game with 18 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals on 60% shooting in 25 minutes.

Among his highlights of the game included a no-look and-1 in the first quarter.

HOW, AUSTIN REAVES?!

HE WASN'T EVEN LOOKING AT THE HOOP 🤯 pic.twitter.com/8UOVG9xoCP

— NBA (@NBA) November 12, 2026

Reaves wasn't the only injury on Wednesday; Collin Sexton also went into the locker room in the fourth quarter after taking a headbutt on defense. No foul was called on the play. Redick said Sexton received sutures on his temple.

This story has been updated with new information.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Austin Reaves injury update: What we know after Lakers star hobbles to locker room

Four nights ago, in Cleveland, the Knicks beat the Cavaliers by 12 points thanks to dominant second and third quarters. Tonight, as we saluted our veterans, the two teams squared up once more, this time at Madison Square Garden. Yet again, our heroes dropped the first frame, but won the second, tied the third, and managed to tie the game midway through the fourth. The Cavs were determined not to let this one slip through their fingers, and with season-highs for two of ’em, James Harden (32 PTS, 9-14 FG) and Tyrese Proctor (15 PTS), they sealed the win in the final minutes, 115-107.

With his eleventh double-double, Karl-Anthony Towns (21 PTS, 11 RBS, 7-11 FG) tied Willis Reed for the longest double-double streak to start a Knicks season. They shot better from the floor and in the paint, but the guests attempted 14 more free throws. It didn’t help that New York surrendered 19 points off turnovers.

Last week, Peyton Watson (7 PTS) took most of Cleveland’s shots to start the game. This time, Kenny Atkinson’s club leveled its attack. Their defense hummed, too, with Evan Mobley (10 PTS, 5 RBS) and Watson swatting down shots, and Donovan Mitchell (23 PTS) and Harden picking pockets. Benchman Proctor led the team with eight points in the quarter, while Watson crashed the boards and spread out dimes. Jarrett Allen, who missed last week’s contest, cleared five early boards and finished with an 11-14 double-double.

Josh Hart (6 PTS, 26 MIN), back in the lineup after missing three games (ankle, illness), surely had nothing to do with the Knicks’ starters dragging their heels. Jalen Brunson (27 PTS, 12-23 FG) and OG Anunoby (14 PTS) were the only Knicks with points until Mohamed Diawara checked in midway through the frame and scored. Mitchell picked on the sophomore, dribbled around him, and burned him with a fadeaway.

The hometown club converted 25% of its first eight longball tries and attempted no free throws in the first frame. Strange but true. Towns, Brunson, and Shamet had the hot hands early, while Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and Andre Drummond combined to shoot 0-for-6 in the first half. Bridges would usually defend Mitchell, but Brown assigned Shamet to him. You can feel the coach’s confidence waning, no?

The Ohio Players hit nine straight shots, led by as many as 12, and won the quarter, 33–23.

We weren’t sweating the first quarter. New York dropped the first period by one in their previous matchup. Tonight, they opened the second on a 9–1 run behind Towns, Shamet, and Tyler Kolek. The latter hit two buckets and was a team-high plus-eight as the good guys climbed back into the game. Towns was cooking, too, scoring 13 points in his first 13 minutes, grabbing seven boards, and stuffing Allen’s shot. Miles McBride hit three threes in under two minutes, including the one that erased the last of a 12-point deficit and knotted the game at 43.

Brunson splashed a go-ahead three, but Harden answered with two of his own, Mitchell hit his freebies, and Mobley dunked to push Cleveland’s lead back to six. Mike Brown tried to give Towns a breather and watched the Knicks’ progress evaporate without him. KAT jumped back in and dunked with authority.

During the period, Brunson reached 11,000 career points, 3,000 assists, and 1,000 three-pointers. He’s one of seven active players in that club, along with LeBron James, Harden, Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, Luka Dončić, and Trae Young. Congratulations, Cap!

At halftime, the guests were ahead 59–53. Harden led all scorers with 17 (5-of-7 FG), while KAT topped the Knicks with 15. Bizarrely, New York took a single free throw all half, and Cleveland’s seven extra points at the line more than covered the margin. Both teams made 22 field goals (52% for Cleveland, 51% for New York) and grabbed 17 boards apiece. Cleveland had a 26–20 edge in the paint, but New York shot 40% from three to the Cavs’ 37% and scored one more point from the field.

Cleveland opened the third on a 10–5 run, with threes from Watson, Mitchell, and Harden stretching the lead to 69–58. Spida missed his next two threes and picked up a charge. From there, the hosts got serious. Brunson scored five of his eight points in the stretch during an 11–0 run that tied the tilt at 69, while the visitors blanked on eight consecutive attempts. Towns helped fuel the run by setting up Brunson and Shamet for buckets and blocking Watson at the cup. Hart later found McBride for another tying three at 74. Cleveland closed the quarter on an 8–2 run to take an 82–76 advantage into Q4.

Rough stretch for Bridges. He sat at the eight-minute mark of the third and came back with under two minutes left in the quarter. Allen blocked him on a layup, then took the ball away. Somehow, New York had attempted just five free throws through 40 minutes, all by Towns. The Cavs had taken 19 by then, eight by Harden alone.

Deuce scored the first five points of the fourth to pull the Knicks within one, but Mitchell answered with two layups, the second an and-one, and Proctor capped a 7–0 Cleveland run. Spida had two turnovers that led to McBride baskets, but he also set up Maleek Thomas for two buckets. With Brunson on the bench, McBride and Kolek ran the backcourt. Kolek fed Shamet for a three and KAT for a dunk that cut the deficit to seven with 7:35 left. Anunoby went on a tear with two freebies, a longball, a steal, and a breakaway feed to Hart for a bunny. Tie score at 99 with 5:36 to go.

Out of a timeout, Harden, Mobley, and Brunson scored to make it 106–103 with 2:18 on the clock. The game was still within reach, but Drummond fouled Mitchell and Allen scored four straight points, capitalizing on Brunson’s long brick. The deficit reached five with a minute to go. Brunson missed on a contested drive, Watson blocked McBride from behind on the fast break, and Harden hit his free throws. Ball game.

Up Next

A Cup game in Indiana on Friday. Mo is tightening the bolts on his recap. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

The Celtics took on the Raptors on the second night of a back-to-back in Toronto Wednesday night. The Raptors had the lead at halftime after an explosive shooting display to start the game. It wasn’t pretty and it went down to the wire at Scotiabank Arena with the Celtics hanging on to win a tense game on the road, 98-93. Neemias Queta was big late, 11 points and 13 rebounds in the game including a game-winning block. Jayson Tatum had 24 points and 8 assists. The Celtics move clear to first place in the Eastern Conference with 10 wins and counting.

Boston rested Paul George after a tremendous performance against his former team in Philadelphia last night. The Celtics went double big in this one, with Derrick White, Baylor Scheierman, Jayson Tatum, Luka Garza, and Neemias Queta. The Toronto Raptors are currently beset by a slew of injuries to the squad, including Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard. The hobbled Raptors started Jamal Shead, RJ Barrett, Ja’Kobe Walter, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Jakob Poeltl.

Derrick White in the Celtics’ green road uniforms got the Celtics on board early with a three-pointer, and Neemias Queta followed that up with a triple of his own, with Jayson Tatum credited with two early assists. Toronto was letting it fly early; they went 3-8 on three-pointers in the first 4 minutes of action.

Toronto was up for the challenge forcing 3 early turnovers; they had a 14-13 lead after six minutes of play. Mitchell Robinson, Sam Hauser, and Payton Pritchard were the first players off the bench for Boston.

Both teams traded baskets throughout the first quarter, with Toronto keeping the C’s at arm’s length throughout. The story of the first quarter was the Raps’ stunning 3-point barrage. The Toronto Raptors would finish with 10-18 from deep, matching a franchise record with zero turnovers. They took a 9-point lead into the second quarter, 29-38.

Garza and Queta had 5 points, and Pritchard had 4 points in the first quarter for the C’s. As he has done for most of the season, Jayson Tatum played the entire first quarter, orchestrating the action for Boston with 9 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds.

With Paul George resting this game, Boston would need someone to step up and fill the scoring void. Unfortunately, it was Toronto who outscored the C’s 8-3 to start the quarter before head coach Joe Mazzulla called a timeout before things got out of hand.

Boston only scored 6 points as Tatum sat on the bench to start the second quarter. The Raptors were in the midst of a 14-3 run before JT returned to the action. The Raptors managed to extend their lead to 19 points, with Boston not taking care of the ball at all in the first half, with 8 turnovers.

Neemias Queta fed Jayson Tatum for a loud tomahawk dunk, cutting the Toronto lead back to 15 points. On the next possession, Tatum nailed a three-pointer over Colin Murray-Boyles. Murray-Boyles fouled JT on the play, and the call was upgraded to a flagrant. The possession resulted in 7 points for Boston as Baylor Scheierman nailed a no-dip three-pointer.

Boston finally came alive late in the second quarter outplaying the Raptors. The C’s managed to get back into the contest despite shooting just 41% from the field and having more turnovers. Boston was down by just 7 points at halftime after the Raptors pushed the Celtics.

Derrick White hit the first two shots of the third quarter as Toronto fans were still finding their seats. Boston cut the Toronto lead to a point, White drilling a three-pointer for his 16th point of the night. Derrick White was doing it on both ends, blocking RJ Barrett’s layup attempt for his third of the game.

Toronto missed 11 straight three-point attempts after a stellar first half shooting display. Payton Pritchard hit his twelfth point of the game with a pullup jumper over Jamal Shead. Toronto were outscored by just two points in the quarter as they held a 5-point lead, 75-80.

Boston came into the game winning 11 of the last 12 meetings against the Toronto Raptors, which looked in jeopardy after three quarters. Pritchard, Scheierman, Walsh, White, and Queta started the fourth quarter for Boston.

Payton Pritchard snapped a 10-0 Toronto scoring run with a baseline two-point jumper. A Baylor Scheierman trailing three-pointer cut Toronto’s lead to 2 points. But the Raptors kept coming at Boston with 13 offensive rebounds, giving Toronto plenty of extra possessions.

The Raps stretched the lead back to six points before Derrick White drained a stepback three. Jayson Tatum returned to the court after a decent break with 6 minutes to go in the game, Toronto up by just 3 points, 83-86.

Boston would need to dig deep against the fresher legs of Toronto as both teams traded missed baskets late in the fourth. Tatum bounced a pass into Queta on the low block with the much smaller Shead defending him and drew a shooting foul. Queta only hit one of two free throws to cut the lead to one point, 88-89.

The game would go down to the wire, with Barrett fouling Tatum on a drive with 25 seconds to go in the game. Tatum hit both free throws to give Boston a one-point lead, 94-93, and Toronto handed a chance to close it out at home. Queta blocked an RJ Barrett drive and hit both free throws to give Boston a big 3-point lead, 96-93, and the win.

The Celtics now have three days off before a two-game home stand in Boston; they host Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, and the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday at 6 pm EST.

The Cleveland Cavaliers finally got a win over the New York Knicks after five straight losses dating back to last year’s Eastern Conference Finals.

That felt good.

James Harden, who has been a lightning rod for criticism, put together the best half of basketball he’s played this season. Harden scored 17 points on 3-for-5 three-point shooting in the first half, surpassing his season average of 15 points per game in just the opening quarters.

The second half was more of the same from Harden, who finished with a season-high 32 points. His isolation scoring kept them from falling victim to any dry spells against New York’s defense.

The Cavs have needed this type of production from their point guard. Harden’s slow start hasn’t been the only issue for this team — but it was one of the non-negotiables that would need to be addressed if the Cavs were ever going to get back on track. This was an encouraging step in the right direction for the 37-year-old star.

Rookie Meleek Thomas gave quality minutes off the bench. Thomas found a rhythym early in the second quarter, snaking around pick-and-rolls and burying fall-away jumpers. His smooth shooting and defensive intensity have put Thomas ahead of schedule in his development.

Thomas wasn’t the only young guard who impressed tonight. Tyrese Proctor continues to take steps forward in his sophomore season, scoring 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting. He’s a steady shooter who fights hard on defense and played a key role in Cleveland’s best runs tonight.

Both Thomas and Proctor made big plays in the fourth quarter by feeding off of Donovan Mitchell’s gravity. The Knicks began trapping Mitchell aggressively, and it was Proctor and Thomas who served as release valves for this critical stretch of the game.

The Knicks were led in scoring by Jalen Brunson with 27 points. Karl-Anthony Towns chipped in with 21 points while Deuce McBride added 19 points off the bench.

New York’s off-ball movement is something the Cavs still struggle with. They conceded a handful of wide-open layups as a result of this. But Cleveland’s overall effort and connectivity were much higher than they had been in either of their last two games.

Donovan Mitchell helped close the game by showing patience against pressure. He accepted New York’s double teams in the fourth quarter and got the ball out of his hands to allow his teammates to play with an advantage. The execution wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to win the game.

Finally, Peyton Watson’s 4 blocks pushed Cleveland over the top. He shot just 2-of-12 from the floor, but wreaked havoc defensively and recorded the game-sealing block by hustling back in transition to save a score.

The Cavs improve to 6-6 on the season and play the Miami Heat on Friday.

The Toronto Raptors fell to the Boston Celtics 98-93 in front of an electric home crowd on Wednesday.

Here are six defining moments from a thrilling showdown that was decided in the final seconds.

The wild west in the east

The Raptors have struggled to shed their reputation as a poor three-point shooting team for years, but against the Celtics, for at least 12 minutes, they were as elite as a squad could be. Toronto matched its franchise-high in three-pointers made in a single quarter with 10.

“I think the film is really going to show us the standard of play that we’re going to play,” said Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic.

Toronto made six triples in the first four minutes alone. Combined with Celtics big man Neemias Queta knocking down a rare corner three, there was enough foreshadowing to suggest the shootout that awaited both teams.

Overall, they finished the quarter 10-for-18 from beyond-the-arc. By comparison, the Celtics shot 3-for-7.

Entering the contest, the Raptors ranked 27th in threes made (11.2) and three-point percentage (31.8 per cent).

“We took 43 threes, that’s a good number,” said Rajakovic. “I still think there were a couple more situations that we could make better decisions.”

Gritty defence during even grittier moments

Nearly midway through the second quarter, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla called a timeout to draw up a play. More often than not, especially against the Raptors, the Celtics thrive in these ATO sequences. But on this specific play, the Raptors broke up the action. This was because of Murray-Boyles’ tenacity and quick feet. He stonewalled Jayson Tatum, forcing him to pick up his dribble.

“I thought the whole team did a really good job defensively against them,” said Rajakovic. “We did a good job of containing the ball.”

When Toronto took away the passing lanes, Tatum threw up a turnaround fadeaway jump shot. Murray-Boyles responded by both contesting the shot attempt and corralling the defensive rebound.

The Raptors were here to play.

A classic Raptors drought

Despite how brilliant the first quarter was, a comfortable win was far from a foregone conclusion. In the past, particularly against the league’s best teams, Toronto has often been plagued by a classic scoring drought. On this night, it started at the 6:27 mark of the second quarter.

For the next 4:07, Toronto failed to record a field goal until Jakob Poeltl hit a push-shot from the baseline.

They certainly tried though. Earlier in the quarter, when the Celtics had cut their deficit to 15 points, Raptors head coach Rajakovic called a timeout. On the ensuing possession, Toronto attempted to get Ja’Kobe Walter open for a three with an off-ball screen on the weak side. The result? An offensive foul was called on Poeltl. Seconds later, Jayson Tatum hit a three while being fouled.

Awkward electricity

With those in attendance at the Scotiabank Arena clearly sensing a shift in the air, there was an unusual moment at centre court after a foul on Immanuel Quickley was overturned (Boston’s really good at challenges). It took forever – or maybe a minute, which is still too long – for the ref to toss the ball. It looked like the official wasn’t happy with Poeltl and Queta’s positioning. The extended delay earned a few groans and boos from the crowd.

When the ball was finally thrown, a Raptor hit the deck before Celtics guard Derrick White came up with the possession. White drove to the basket, and dramatically, Poeltl swatted the attempt. As if the script called for it, it was Queta who came up with the offensive rebound before getting fouled. Queta went on to make his free throw before missing the second, much to the crowd’s joy.

That sinking feeling came early

There may not have been a more sluggish start to a second half than the one that transpired between Toronto and Boston. Every possession looked difficult for the Raptors. Credit to the Celtics’ defence, they mostly forced the Raptors into awkward push-shot opportunities late in the clock. Several push-shot attempts came from Quickley, Poeltl and RJ Barrett. They mostly (and frustratingly) rimmed out.

Toronto’s three-point prowess also disappeared. After shooting 12-for-26 from three in the first half, the Raptors shot 3-for-9 in the third quarter.

Learning something about the rookie

Up to this point, Allen Graves has had a mostly questionable start to his first year in the NBA. It’s reasonable to grant an extended runway for young players to acclimate to the speed of the league, but they should still show flashes of brilliance or examples that they belong.

Those moments finally materialized for Graves against the Celtics.

“This whole organization, they just build my confidence game by game, and just continue to trust me,” said Graves. “That belief is what fuels me.” 

Graves finished with 13 points and five rebounds. He also shot 62.5 per cent from the field and 75.0 per cent from three. He set a new career-high in points and three-point makes.

“He just goes after every rebound, he has a really good feel,” said Rajakovic.

But it wasn’t just about the numbers. It was more about the environment.

With the Raptors backed into a corner and desperately yearning for a momentum boost, Graves authored a solo 8-0 run. His strong play carried over into the fourth quarter. Graves hit another three and secured several offensive rebounds, including one where he teleported from the opposite corner to the left wing.

This was an encouraging performance and one that hints at Allen’s role in a playoff sandbox.

There’s a term I use quite often when discussing player performances and whether they’re living up to expectations: price for value paid.

My former general manager used it often when we discussed the experiences we were providing to guests staying at our resort. The idea was simple. You want people to feel like they’re getting bang for their buck, that every dollar they’re spending is being returned in the form of a worthwhile experience. Because when price for value paid exists, people rarely think about it. They’re satisfied with what they’re receiving. But when it doesn’t? It becomes the poster child for a negative experience.

I apply that same philosophy when evaluating NBA players because, ultimately, isn’t that what every fan and organization wants? Someone who lives up to their contract. Someone whose production and contributions reflect the compensation they’re receiving. And in the NBA, we’re talking about some pretty substantial compensation.

The absence of price for value paid was one of my primary frustrations after Deandre Ayton cashed in on his lucrative contract. It’s also at the heart of my current frustrations with Jalen Green. I actually like much of what Green brings to the table, particularly his athleticism and ability to generate offense. If he were making somewhere between $16 million and $20 million annually, I’d probably feel considerably better about his contributions. But when the financial investment increases, so do the expectations. Conversely, I never had much of an issue with the value Jusuf Nurkic provided during his time in Phoenix. He was a big body who could rebound, provide physicality, and occupy space in the paint. At roughly $16 million annually, that was reasonable compensation when compared to what other centers around the league were earning.

I’m not sure there’s anyone on the current Suns roster who embodies the concept of price for value paid better than Jordan Goodwin.

Goodwin returned to the lineup last night after missing four games, and his impact was immediate. He brought the connectivity, defensive swagger, and relentless energy that have become synonymous with his presence on the floor. There’s something infectious about the way he plays, an intensity that seems to elevate everyone around him and reminds his teammates that basketball requires a little more than simply going through the motions.

And boy, did Phoenix need that reminder.

The Suns were sleepwalking through the opening quarter, struggling to generate anything resembling offensive rhythm until Goodwin entered the game and provided the spark they desperately needed. He finished with 18 points in only 13 minutes, shooting an absurd 6-of-7 from the field, including 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. His true shooting percentage? A ridiculous 126%.

“We talk about just his energy and his general enthusiasm for life in basketball is always at a high
level,“ Suns head coach Jordan Ott said of Goodwin following the Suns’ win on Wednesday. ”And tonight on top of it, he made shots, so he’s definitely improved in that area. It feels like every time it leaves his hands, it’s going to go in.”

“Both sides of the ball, he always knows the right spacing to be in and he makes teams pay for overcrowding,” Devin Booker added. “He had some pretty good looks that will knock you down.”

Goodwin’s value extends beyond the box score. It’s the defensive intensity, the willingness to compete for every possession, and the energy he injects into a lineup that occasionally needs someone to remind it there’s a basketball game taking place. When you consider what the Suns are paying him relative to the impact he provides, it’s difficult to find a better example of price for value paid.

I know many people point to Dillon Brooks as the player responsible for changing the culture in Phoenix, and that’s an entirely fair assessment. That’s where much of Brooks’ value lies. He’s intense, he cares, and he holds himself and those around him accountable in a manner that his teammates appear to embrace. The officials aren’t particularly receptive to his version of accountability, but that’s a different conversation entirely.

While Brooks might be the culture changer, Jordan Goodwin has become the culture amplifier.

Brooks is the guy who can intimidate you on the basketball court, whose intensity demands that everyone around him elevate their level of play. Goodwin is the guy you want playing alongside you because his energy is infectious, his enthusiasm is genuine, and the joy with which he approaches the game makes everyone around him want to compete a little harder.

When we return to the concept of price for value paid, the numbers make Goodwin’s contributions even more impressive. He’s earning $5.9 million this season, and although we’re working with a sample size of only six games, he’s averaging 9.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 steals in 17.8 minutes per game. His true shooting percentage ranks in the 86th percentile, while his 48.4% shooting from beyond the arc places him in the 84th percentile.

That’s some remarkable production for a player whose primary responsibility isn’t necessarily to score.

And when you begin digging into his on/off numbers, the value becomes even more apparent. The Suns perform better in nearly every meaningful category when Goodwin is on the floor, including plus/minus, offensive rating, net rating, effective field goal percentage, offensive rebounding percentage, assist percentage, and steal percentage.

In other words, Phoenix becomes a more effective offensive team while simultaneously playing with greater aggression and purpose. The Suns attack the glass more effectively, generate more turnovers, move the basketball with greater consistency, and create better scoring opportunities when Goodwin is part of the rotation.

It’s the kind of impact that reinforces what your eyes are already telling you. Goodwin brings an energy that changes how the Suns operate collectively, and the statistical production supports the influence he has on the game. And for $5.9 million? That’s some pretty exceptional price for value paid.

Perhaps that’s what makes Goodwin such an important piece of this roster. On a team burdened by expensive contracts and questions about whether certain players are worth their salaries, he represents everything you hope to find in a complementary contributor. He understands his role, embraces it, and consistently makes the players around him better.

You can’t put a price on that kind of influence. Well, apparently you can. And at $5.9 million, the Suns are getting one hell of a bargain.

This is the defense that fueled the championship. 

The one that got less attention but was just as important as the offensive transformation by the Knicks in the postseason last year. The one that remained strong despite 0-3 and 2-4 starts to this season. 

The Knicks entered Wednesday’s game against the Cavs at Madison Square Garden with a defensive rating of 107.3 — fifth best in the NBA. During a stretch in which they won six of seven games, they held opponents under 100 points five times. 

“Just our level of physicality,” coach Mike Brown said about what they’re doing well on that side of the ball. “Our level of physicality without fouling. Because you can be over the top, grabbing and pushing and holding, but our guys, they’re doing their work early. They’re doing their work early and they’re being real physical about it without putting their hands on guys. When you do that and you do that for close to 48 minutes, you usually get good results. And our guys are doing it.” 

Point-of-attack defense was a talking point all year last season, as the Knicks struggled in that department before a dramatic improvement in the postseason. 

Mikal Bridges, despite his struggles on the offensive end to start the year, has been a big reason it has remained strong this season. Miles McBride and Landry Shamet, too, have been earning playing time by how they defend opposing ball handlers. 

“I think our physicality on the defensive end of the floor is at a pretty high level,” Brown said. “And they [are doing] it the right way. They’re doing it without fouling, which is a lot of fun to watch. The point of attack with Landry and Deuce, especially, on the ball, is unbelievable.” 

And the Knicks on Wednesday got one of their best perimeter defenders back in Josh Hart, who had missed the previous three games due to ankle soreness and an illness. 

“He’s tremendous on the ball,” Brown said. “In pick-and-roll situations, we always want our point of confrontation, especially against guys that shoot the ball at the 3-point line, Josh is really good at that. He’s really good at leading with his chest. And he’s strong. He’s a strong guy that knows the league, he knows the players very well. 

“His impact when it comes to guarding the ball, on the perimeter especially, is something that you always miss.” 

Karl-Anthony Towns is defending at a high level in the paint as well. According to Cleaning the Glass, the Knicks entered Wednesday allowing 5.2 less points per 100 possessions when Towns was on the floor. 

Strong perimeter and interior defense has resulted in an elite overall unit. 

“Their level of communication is high,” Brown said. “Their ability to box out is high. Their ability to get back in transition is high. We were hurting in the pick-and-roll game defensively, but we’ve done a better job because the point of attack has been good and our guy guarding the screener has been great, too.”

The Golden State Warriors are rolling, but things are about to get difficult. They’re bringing their eight-game winning streak to the road for a brutal five-game trip that features a date with the defending Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs, a rematch with the New Orleans Pelicans, a trip to Cooper Flagg’s Dallas Mavericks, and a visit to the surprisingly-good Memphis Grizzlies.

But first? A matchup against old friend Kevin Durant and the ultra-talented Houston Rockets. Houston had a whole bunch of injury concerns last year, but have been fairly healthy so far this season, which is certainly more than the Dubs can say. Here’s the full injury report for both teams.

Warriors

Out — Brandon Williams (left hamstring strain)

Williams played less than two minutes during Monday’s win over the Pelicans before leaving with an injured hamstring. We’ll get a bigger update next week, but the spark plug bench option is likely out for a few weeks.

Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL repair surgery)
Out — Moses Moody (left knee inflammation)
Out — Kristaps Porziņģis(not with team)

No new news with any of these three … other than Butler’s new foray into assistant coaching.

Probable — Will Richard (left thumb UCL tear)

When the Warriors announced that Richard had a torn UCL in his thumb on Sunday, I thought he’d be out at least a few weeks, and possibly a few months. And yet, it looks like the injury will only cost him a single game … for now, at least. There’s a good chance the thumb will require surgery at some point, and it’s possible that Richard is hoping he can play through the discomfort and put off surgery until the summer.

Rockets

Out — Steven Adams (right soleus strain)

Adams suffered a season-ending injury in the first half of last season, so it was great seeing him healthy when the year kicked off. Unfortunately, he suffered another injury (albeit a much milder one) in just the second game of the season, and hasn’t played since.

Out — Clint Capela (right ankle sprain)

With Adams and Capela out, you might think the Rockets are lacking in size … but they still have Alperen Şengün, Jabari Smith Jr., and Oscar Tshiebwe, to make no mention of large forwards Durant and Tari Eason. So I think they’ll be fine on that front.

Enjoy the game, everyone! It tips off at 6:30 p.m. PT on ESPN.

Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors

November 11, 2026

Location: Toyota Center —Houston, Texas

Time: 8:30 PM CST

TV: ESPN

Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español)

Probable starting lineups

Rockets: Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun

Nuggets: Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Yaxel Lendeborg, Gui Santos, Draymond Green

Can the Rockets start a new win streak? Tune in tonight and come chat with us at TDS or on the SB Nation App!

Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.

The Spurs are on a nine game winning streak and have a pretty good shot to make it 10 in a row with a victory over the struggling Bulls. The Spurs have been so dominant the last couple of games, you begin to wonder if they’re that good or they’re just playing bad teams. That question will not be answered by tonight’s game, but Friday’s NBA Cup game against the Warriors will definitely provide some data to test that hypothesis. The team that wins that game will be unbeaten in the group, and will have an inside track on advancing to the knockout rounds since all of the other teams in the group will have at least one loss.

It’s important not to take games against bad teams lightly, because anything can happen if you don’t prepare properly and take the opponent seriously. It’s the last night of a four game road trip for the Spurs, and they can’t afford to look forward to Friday’s home game against the Warriors. Chicago is well rested, not having played since Sunday when they lost a 127-121 game to the 76ers. Caleb Wilson, the fourth overall pick this year, is starting for them and playing really well. Josh Giddey is holding down the point, and they have a lot of young talent, it just hasn’t come together yet under new head coach Tiago Splitter. Hopefully, that doesn’t happen tonight. Devin Vassell is out tonight, and should be replaced by Julian Champagnie in the starting lineup. Hopefully we will see a lot of Tarris Reed and Jordan McLaughlin, too. I always look forward to seeing the game thread reactions when Jordan gets into the game before the Bear.

It’s Veteran’s Day, and today we honor the men and women who dedicate their lives to defend our country and way of life. Please take a moment to reflect on their sacrifices, and thank them if you get a chance. As always, GO SPURS GO! Lets go Spurs, and Mitch must dominate Tiago.

Game Prediction:

Caleb Wilson challenges Victor Wembanyama at the hoop and it does not go well for the rookie.

San Antonio Spurs at Chicago Bulls
November 11, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT
Streaming: DAZN, League Pass
TV: DAZN
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