That’s where Kerr took issue with the rookie running his mouth.
Golden State Warriors guard Yaxel Lendeborg defends against Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. Getty Images
“Who the eff cares?” Kerr said of the one-on-one matchup. “He did a good job on Luka 1-on-1, but we got torched by Luka as a team. I don’t care. … It’s like, they scored 120 on us. That stuff’s all bulls–t. It’s our defense. He knows that. I talked to him the other day. Our defense was not good regardless of him individually when he guarded the ball.”
Lendeborg finished with 12 points, four personal fouls and one technical in 29 minutes. He has another emotionally charged matchup Friday in the Warriors’ home opener against the Grizzlies.
It will be the first NBA showdown between Lendeborg and the No. 3 overall pick out of Duke, Cameron Boozer, which the Michigan man drafted eight slots later said he circled on his calendar. But Kerr wasn’t too concerned about the rookie’s mindset.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr calls a play during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. Getty Images
He had more concrete feedback from Lendeborg’s NBA debut.
“He’s a little bit of a coaster,” Kerr said. “I want to see him run the floor harder. I think that will open up a lot of opportunities. He’s so skilled and big that if we get him to run the court — both ways — a little harder, a little faster, he’s going to end up finding the ball more and be more of a threat.”
Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors looks on during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center in San Francisco, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Kerr agreed with Steph Curry that Lendeborg will have to back up his talking with his play on the court. He won’t have to wait long before he sees Doncic again.
The Lakers visit Chase Center next Friday, and Lendeborg is sure to have a target on his back.
“I love the young guy. He’s really talented. I love his competitiveness,” Kerr said. “Like I said, I didn’t mind the stuff the other day. But as Steph said, you’ve got to back it up. That’s the thing.
“We play the Lakers again next week, so, OK, here you go.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: Anthony Davis #23 of the Washington Wizards reacts during the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on October 08, 2026 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play the Chicago Bulls tomorrow. Let’s go.
Game Info
When: Saturday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: United Center
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network
Injury Report
Wizards: Jamir Watkins and Tristan Vukcevic are out. AJ Dybantsa is day to day.
Bulls: Nic Claxton is out.
What to watch for
The Wizards are about to go on their first road trip where they will be out for three straight games. They began their first game of the season last Wednesday against the same Raptors team Washington is hosting and lost 135-92. Today, they played the Milwaukee Bucks and won 132-25.
Tomorrow should be winnable despite the loss to the Raptors tonight, but the Bulls will be pumped of their own home opener.
Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) looks for an opening as Charlotte Hornets guard Christian Anderson (5) defends during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, at Barclays Center in New York. The Charlotte Hornets defeated the Brooklyn Nets.
But the former Louisville stars won’t share the court for much — if any — time Saturday night in Cleveland.
The minutes restriction placed on the No. 6 overall pick in his NBA debut will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.
“It’s how it is until we change it, and right now we know the sample size is going to be way bigger,” Nets coach Jordi Fernández said after Friday’s practice. “It’s not just, ‘Oh, one game, he’s good to go.’ … I mean, if you guys think about it, he played [21 games last season]. This season is 82, right? Is he gonna play all 82? No.
Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) looks for an opening as Charlotte Hornets guard Christian Anderson (5) defends during the fourth quarter on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, at Barclays Center in New York. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post
“We feel like he can take steps. Obviously, at some point he’ll be able to play more games and be able to play back to backs, but it’s not right now or anytime soon.”
Brown — who could sit against the Cavaliers or for Sunday’s home game against the Pacers — missed the Nets’ first three preseason games with an ankle injury. The 20-year-old was then limited to 18 minutes in the preseason finale and just under 20 minutes in the season-opening loss to the Hornets, in which he finished with six points, three rebounds and three assists while shooting 2 of 8 from the field.
In his lone season at Louisville, Brown missed 14 games due to a lower back injury, but Brooklyn felt comfortable enough with his recovery to make the 6-foot-4 guard the franchise’s highest draft pick in 16 years.
“We’re gonna build him to be healthy and to be a strong NBA player,” Fernández said. “We have a plan for him. Obviously, we’re not gonna disclose every step of the way, but the No. 1 thing is to build him up and build up his body to be able to sustain the minutes that can help the team win games.”
Louisville was 16-3 with Brown in the lineup before he suffered the back injury that sidelined him for the postseason. He scored 29 points in his third college game in a win over rival Kentucky. He tied a school record and set an ACC freshman single-game record with 45 points in February.
Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez speaks with Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. during the fourth quarter of on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post
The need for Brown’s explosiveness was evident in Game 1 in Brooklyn, when the Nets had only two double-digit scorers (Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr.).
But patience is required.
His ceiling won’t be seen anytime soon.
“I’m really excited for Mikel to continue to grow and play and get more minutes and be out there with us,” Porter Jr. said. “There’s been practices where he’s completely dominated, played with the second group and won the day because he was killing it. He has so many tools to be elite offensively and defensively in the future.
“But offensively, for sure he’s a high-level scorer, he’s a high-level shotmaker, he can get others involved, so there’s not a lot of weakness in his game. As he gets more minutes, it’ll slow down for him. He has a very bright future. He has already shown that.”
A team that has had abysmal injury luck with its best players, the Magic may have another issue on their hands. Star forward Paolo Banchero left Orlando’s game Friday, Oct. 23 against the Minnesota Timberwolves with an ankle issue; the team later declared him doubtful to return with a sore right ankle designation.
Banchero tweaked his ankle early in the third quarter, prompting him to get subbed out and head to the locker room. The issue appeared to happen after he and Magic guard Jalen Suggs were going for a rebound. Banchero landed awkwardly and immediately grabbed his ankle as he fell to the floor.
The positive news was that Banchero not only returned to the bench, but also returned to action.
Yet, Banchero was subbed out at the start of the fourth quarter, which might be precautionary, as the Magic were getting blown out and down by 26 points at the time.
Both Banchero and fellow Magic forward Franz Wagner had injury issues over the past two seasons. During the 2024-25 campaign, an oblique injury limited Banchero to only 46 games. Wagner battled a similar injury the same season and played only 60 games that year; last season, he played just 34.
Banchero scored 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting Friday night, adding 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - OCTOBER 23: Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks drives by Brandon Miller #24 of the Charlotte Hornets during the first half of basketball game at Spectrum Center on October 23, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks were in Charlotte on Friday evening to face the Hornets. Both teams are coming off wins in their season opener, with the Hawks defeating the Orlando Magic and the Hornets defeating the Brooklyn Nets.
The Hawks and Hornets had a few battles last season, but the latter has made several changes to its roster since then. Outside of those moves, they actually have injuries to some key players, such as Kon Knuppel and Coby White. As for the Hawks, they’re fully healthy outside of Mouhamed Gueye, who’s still recovering from his injury in the offseason.
Onyeka Okongwu was able to get the Hawks on the board with his first 3-pointer of the season.
CJ McCollum got off to a fast start for the Hawks, scoring 11 points in the first quarter with a few 3-pointers. The Hawks were active on defense as well, leading to steals and deflections, and it worked in their favor as they built a double digit lead.
Lu Dort was the first player off the bench for the Hawks, and he came in knocked down a 3-pointer.
The Hawks’ second unit was able to maintain the lead strictly off their defense, but they were able to get some easy shots, like this one from Aaron Wiggins.
The Hawks found themselves up by as much as 21 points in the quarter. The Hawks’ second-unit defense was also strong through that stretch, which helped them gain a bigger lead.
It wasn’t just the second unit that was doing work on that side of the ball, but even the starters kept that same level of intensity.
The Hornets made a small run to cut down their deficit, but the Hawks responded in a huge way, which led to them going into halftime with a 68-43 lead.
The Hawks continued their strong defense to start the second half, and it was Daniels who made life hard for the Hornets. He had four steals in the third, and it felt like the Hornets were just willingly giving him the ball. He wasn’t just making an impact on defense either.
Just when you thought the Hawks played their best defense in the first and second quarters, they held the Hornets to just 19 points in the third and went into the fourth with a 97-62 lead.
The Hawks kept the pressure on the Hornets in the fourth, and the Hornets didn’t have an answer. With how lopsided the score was, the Hawks were able to put in their end of the bench guys around the seven-minute mark, giving the main guys a much-needed rest with a back-to-back tomorrow.
Flemings made his first career 3-pointer in the quarter.
Johnson finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and eight assists; Wiggins finished with 19 points, Daniels finished with 11 points, nine rebounds; and Nickeil Alexander-Walker finished with 14 points.
The Hawks will be back in action tomorrow night against the Houston Rockets.
Drake Powell appeared in 63 games (24 starts) as a rookie, averaging 21 minutes per game. Danny Wolf made 57 appearances (15 starts) for the Nets, averaging nearly 21 minutes per game. Ben Saraf also played nearly 21 minutes per game across 44 games (11 starts) in his first season.
But none of them — three of the Nets’ five 2025 first-round picks — were among the 10 players who saw the floor for Brooklyn in its season-opening loss to Charlotte.
“Nobody has guaranteed minutes,” head coach Jordi Fernández said Friday.
Brooklyn Nets guard Drake Powell (4) moves the ball against the Miami Heat during a game on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, at Kaseya Center in Miami. NBAE via Getty Images
Minutes are harder to come by in a season that doesn’t begin with a focus on the next NBA Draft, especially following the acquisition of Julius Randle, the selection of Mikel Brown Jr. and the signings of Keon Ellis and Mo Wagner.
And Fernández wants to see what this group can produce before he bails on the rotation he’s envisioned.
“I gotta give them enough consistency,” Fernández said. “I gotta be a little bit patient with what I want to see. But then at the same time, if I feel I have to make changes because of the benefit of the group, I will. It’s a process. It’s [one] game. If I [was] changing things right now, it would be a sign of freaking out, and I think we’re not there.
“This group is great. The guys in rotation have done a great job. The guys that are not in rotation are working hard, and they’re working because when their number is called, they gotta take advantage of the minutes, and that’s how competition within the group works.”
Danny Wolf (2) of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York. NBAE via Getty Images
Michael Porter Jr. wants to make the most of his 6-foot-10 frame.
The 28-year-old forward has averaged 6.5 rebounds per game in his career, topping out at 7.3 per game during his second season (2020-21) in Denver.
But Porter believes he can still become one of the best rebounders in the league.
“I had seven rebounds [against the Hornets and] I need to be closer to the 10-rebound range,” Porter said. “I think I can really help the team in that area. … As far as being a good rebounding team, I know a lot of that is on me.”
Ellis returns to Cleveland for Saturday’s game against the Cavaliers.
The fifth-year guard spent his entire career in Sacramento before being traded to Cleveland for the final 29 games of last regular season and the Cavs’ run to the Eastern Conference finals.
Ellis, 26, tied Porter Jr. for the second-most minutes (34) played on the team in the season opener, including the entire fourth quarter.
“He played with a lot of composure, steady, did his job,” Fernández said. “That’s why he’s more of a veteran even though he’s still very young.”
Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks were in the process of spoiling Tyrese Haliburton’s return in front of the home fans when the 19-year-old forward exited the game with injury. Flagg has been ruled out after sustaining a shoulder injury on a Flagrant-1 foul by Indiana Pacers wing Aaron Nesmith on a fastbreak. The injury happened in the final minute of the first half, and the Mavericks were already up 33 points when it happened.
Flagg raced down the floor in transition following a bad turnover by Indiana forward Pascal Siakam. Nesmith charged after him and challenged the play from behind. The two sides scuffled after Flagg went down, and the refs reviewed the play before assessing a Flagrant-1 on Nesmith. Flagg stayed in the game to make both free throws, and then headed the locker room. He didn’t start the second half, and wasn’t even on the Dallas bench.
Nesmith remained in the game. Players are only ejected for Flagrant-2 fouls, which Nesmith didn’t get because he hit Flagg in the arm while going for the ball, not his head.
Here’s the injury announcement from the Mavericks. The team called it “left shoulder soreness.”
Cooper Flagg (left shoulder soreness) will not return to tonight's game against the Indiana Pacers.
The Mavericks shocked the league by trading franchise star Luka Doncic to the Lakers in February 2025.
Dallas reportedly ran a smear campaign to justify the shocking blockbuster deal, according to The Athletic’s Sam Amick. Reports about Doncic’s weight, work ethic and other slanders surfaced about the superstar upon his arrival to Los Angeles.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on October 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena. NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers have profited greatly from the trade as Doncic has kicked off a new era for the storied franchise.
Doncic has worked incredibly hard to negate any of the speculation surrounding his tenure in Dallas, including his weight. He has transformed his body, sporting the cover of Men’s Health with a new-and-improved form.
This season, Doncic has a lot to prove to Lakers fans and to the rest of the league.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the Golden State Warriors on October 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena. NBAE via Getty ImagesFormer Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison looks on before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Dickie’s Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
NBA general managers voted anonymously in a survey predicting the league’s Most Valuable Player. Doncic received zero votes for the prestigious award, a sign that while he is extremely talented his greatness has recently been overlooked by many.
If Doncic can continue competing how he did on Opening Night against the Warriors, the Lakers have a chance of emerging as a top contender in a loaded Western Conference. The Lakers superstar has made his intentions extremely clear, penning a heartfelt letter to the city of LA ahead of the season opener.
Oct 21, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (23) and Phoenix Suns forward Miles Bridges (22) battle for control of the ball during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It’s been nearly 48 hours since the Phoenix Suns tipped off their season, and boy did that opener get a reaction out of me. It wasn’t what we wanted, it certainly wasn’t what we expected, and it was absolutely cause for concern.
Now that some time has passed and emotions have settled, combined with taking a broader look at the NBA landscape in its entirety, I’m feeling a bit calmer. I’m no less frustrated by what transpired Wednesday night, but I’m more willing to trust the process and find some hope where it felt completely absent just two nights ago.
The season opener is something I’m sure none of us are going to forget anytime soon, primarily because it was the season opener. It was our first opportunity to see what all that continuity was supposed to bring. And when you enter a game with that much pent-up excitement, only to be unbelievably disappointed without experiencing a single moment of joy, you’re going to walk away frustrated, upset, and concerned.
If the Phoenix Suns want to be successful this season, knowing that championship aspirations aren’t necessarily part of the equation, they’re going to have to earn it with the way they play. They’re going to have to earn it through the development of their young players, and it certainly wouldn’t hurt if one or two of them took a significant leap toward becoming more than rotational pieces. They’re going to have to earn it by generating extra possessions and rebounding collectively as a team. Because shooting isn’t going to be this team’s forte, at least from an efficiency standpoint, and rebounding is going to be a struggle.
Every opposing team is going to key in on Khaman Maluach, knowing he’s Phoenix’s biggest rebounding threat. That means players like Miles Bridges and Dillon Brooks are going to have to produce some of the best rebounding seasons of their careers if the Suns want to be effective in that aspect of the game.
Know that the Suns aren’t alone in brain farting their way through the beginning of the season. The Bulls lost by more than Phoenix did, although I recognize that comparing yourself to Chicago isn’t exactly where you want to be. The Denver Nuggets scored only one more point than the Suns in their season opener, although they were on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder. So anomalies happen.
Wednesday night also served as a reminder that sometimes being so close to a team, constantly analyzing and overanalyzing who they are and what they can become throughout the offseason, can be a disservice. You start talking yourself into the buzzwords you’ve heard. You begin believing that every transaction the organization makes is another step toward becoming a better basketball team. I’m certainly not alone in doing that, and I recognize there are plenty of you who never bought into any of it.
But at the end of the day, there’s one thing we have to accept as an undeniable fact: that was the first game of the season. There are 81 more to go. And I can guarantee you this team isn’t going 0–82. I can guarantee you they’re not going to start every game trailing 21–0. They were overwhelmed by an avalanche of Trail Blazers momentum, and if this team truly possesses the attitude, grit, connectivity, and continuity we’ve heard so much about, they should’ve been better equipped to handle it. Quite simply, they weren’t. They had an off night collectively, and there’s no getting around that.
It’s too early to dissect statistical trends or draw conclusions about individual performances, as there simply isn’t a meaningful sample size yet. If what we witnessed Wednesday night becomes a recurring theme, that’s when the cause for concern becomes legitimate. That’s when difficult conversations need to happen, and decisions need to be made.
At this point, overreaction is human nature, even if it isn’t necessarily warranted. And that’s coming from somebody who certainly overreacted to what transpired in that first game. But much like the complimentary hardware used to watch Suns games, our antennas are up. The rose-colored glasses have come off, and I think we’re all going to be watching this team with a much more critical eye. We’re wary of how quickly things can unravel because we’ve already witnessed exactly what that looks like.
In the same breath, perhaps it’s a good thing the Suns got punched in the mouth right out of the gate. They’ve tasted the blood in their mouths. They’ve experienced what happens when they fail to execute, communicate, and compete at the level necessary to win in this league.
Now the question becomes how they respond. And more importantly, whether they can respond consistently. We’ll learn a little more Saturday night against the Golden State Warriors.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 7: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the 2025-26 Emirates Cup on November 7, 2025 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 2025 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
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 rule against trolling also applies to members of this site that visit other fan sites.
After a couple of days off to ponder what went wrong in their season-opening loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder — poor three-point shooting (duh), coming out too hyped (according to Mitch Johnson), mind elsewhere (which Victor Wembanyama seemed to admit about himself after the game), or any other reason under the sun — the Spurs have a chance to get the sour taste out of their mouths tonight against another heated rival in the Houston Rockets.
They probably couldn’t have asked for a more disappointing way to start the season, with Wemby having the worst offensive game of his career while Chet Holmgren got a dose of revenge for the playoffs and rookie Aday Mara gave Thunder fans glimpse of a possible future as a Wemby adversary. They also had one of their signature terrible quarters (in this case, the 2nd), sinking them into too deep of a hole to dig out of.
Still, there were some positives to take away: they played much better after halftime, cutting what had been a 26-point deficit to single digits a few times, and the guard trio for the most part pulled their weight on offense (although I’m not sure how much longer it should continue being the starting line-up). The Spurs played about as bad as they could have while the Thunder hardly could have been better, and yet they still stood a change until the waning moments of the game. We know what this team is capable of — they made the Finals, after all — they just need to get right, and now is as good of a time as any.
As for the Rockets, after losing Fred VanVleet and playing their first season with Kevin Durant without a point guard last season, they flew under the radar to 52 wins last season before quietly bowing out in the first round to a Lakers team that was missing Luka Doncic. Now, they too will look to get back on track and prove that even if they aren’t quite on the same tier as the Spurs and Thunder, they have the potential to be top 4 team in the West and a force to be reckoned with.
Pre-game rant
You’ll probably see this again in the Final Score (which I have tonight), but I have mixed opinion about this being one of the Austin games. (Don’t tell Mark!) I don’t like giving up a true home game to an in-state rival, making it easier to bring the crowd closer to a neutral site, and Longhorn Durant having a homecoming of his own may bring in some extra non-Spurs fans as well. But hey! It’s a nationally televised streamed game, so at least I don’t have to listen to those awful Rockets announcers! (Although here’s to hoping Prime’s announcers are better than Noah Eagle and Grant Hill were for NBC/Peacock on Tuesday. Woof.)
San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets (in Austin) October 23, 2026 | 8:30 PM CT TV/Streaming: Prime Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 23: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Indiana Pacers on October 23, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Aaron Nesmith rose to challenge Cooper Flagg’s transition dunk attempt, even though he was clearly beaten to the rim late in the second quarter on Friday as the Dallas Mavericks were putting the hurt on the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The arm he went up to contest with didn’t come within a foot of the ball as Flagg extended it toward the rack, but Nesmith followed through anyway on a hard foul, sending Flagg to the hardwood with one minute left before halftime and the Mavericks up 73-40.
Flagg stayed on the ground for a minute while a shoving match escalated between Naji Marshall and Nesmith after the play. It looked like the hard landing was what hurt the shoulder, more so than the initial contact in the air with Nesmith. Flagg was with a member of the training staff for a few minutes while the officials sorted out what ended up being a double-technical foul situation, but did shoot and make the two free throws that resulted from the play.
But Flagg did not start the third quarter against the Pacers. Marshall took his place in the starting five for the second half after scoring five points and coming to his teammate’s defense late in the first half.
The officials’ debate in the extended review after the foul was called was most likely between a flagrant-1 and a flagrant-2 penalty. A flagrant-1 penalty is called when contact is made that is deemed unnecessary or outside of a normal, legitimate basketball play, such as a reckless closeout, tripping, or a hard shoulder check. A flagrant-2 is called when a player commits contact that is deemed both unnecessary and excessive, carrying a high potential for injury.
Flagg made both his free throws after the play to give him 14 points for the game. He was on his way to another big game to open his second season, also filling out the stat sheet with six first-half assists and five rebounds before the hard foul.
The team was slow to update the second-year star’s injury status throughout the halftime break, and mum was the word for the first half of the third quarter.
With about five minutes left in the third, the Mavericks PR team announced that Flagg would not return to the game. They officially designated the injury as “ left shoulder soreness.”
Cooper Flagg (left shoulder soreness) will not return to tonight's game against the Indiana Pacers.
The play had all the markings of sour grapes against the young stud that was tearing the home team apart. The situation felt dirty, even if there were arguments to be made either way as to whether the play was dirty.
Tempers flared again late in the third quarter between Mavericks guard Marcus Sasser and Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, when Sasser fouled Nembhard inside on a broken play.
Mavericks fans the Metroplex over now hold their collective breath in anticipation of further announcements on how long Flagg might be out. The good news is that the team initially termed the shoulder issue as “soreness” rather than a sprain.
Oct 10, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla during the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
BOSTON — Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla doesn’t anticipate a clear pathway to coast through the Eastern Conference this season.
Unlike last season, the conference is in much better shape. The return of Tyrese Haliburton plus the upgrade-filled offseason executed by the 76ers are merely a few challenges the Celtics will need to navigate this season. Mazzulla understands this and is prepared to construct his outlook with a much more nuanced perspective.
“This year, in particular, I would say 50 wins is a marker of a good team,” Mazzulla said before Friday night’s home opener against the Knicks. “I don’t know if a record will be a reflection of how good a team is in the East this year.”
The Celtics are among those in the East rolling out a new-look group. They’ve re-added Tatum, joined by veterans Paul George and Mitchell Robinson, which gives Boston a depth upgrade in comparison to last season’s Jaylen Brown-led Celtics. But that’s on paper, and it’s without consideration for the rest of the conference.
Brown, now in Philadelphia, has joined forces with LeBron James, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Giannis Antetokounmpo is now in Miami with Bam Adebayo and the Heat, and Kawhi Leonard is once again a member of the Raptors, pairing with two-time Toronto All-Star Scottie Barnes.
DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 20: Jayson Tatum #0 and Head Coach Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics talk during the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Mazzulla isn’t looking at Boston’s competition through the simplicity of a black-and-white lens. He not-so-subtly referenced last season’s Celtics as a prime example of a team’s win total only meaning so much.
“You could have a 41-win team and still be a matchup nightmare in the playoffs,” Mazzulla said. “There was a team I once (coached) a long, long time ago. They were a 56-win team, and they lost in the first round of the playoffs. So it could go either way.”
Just one game into the schedule, the Celtics have work to do.
Boston coughed up a 22-point third-quarter lead in Tuesday’s season-opener against the Pistons by allowing second-half shooting woes to aid Detroit to a 23-0 run and eventual 121-113 Celtics collapse.
Sloppy late-game execution came with a dreadful price in Detroit for the Celtics, although Mazzulla doesn’t view the loss as a reflection of the team’s determination.
“It’s not an effort thing,” Mazzulla said. “There’s a ton of data that goes into it. There’s a ton of a particular mental training that you have to have for that. I think when people look at leads, they automatically think you are the sole reason why a team is up big when in reality the other team is just as much as culprit of why they’re down 22 as to why you’re up 22. So I think it’s a dual relationship to a lead.”
Detroit dropped a 76-point second half on Boston’s defense after shooting just 38.6 percent going into halftime. Tatum’s 1-for-10 shooting through the remaining 24 minutes of regulation, combined with a red-hot 52.4 percent Pistons shooting turnaround, doomed the Celtics for their first humbling defeat of the campaign.
“Our analytics team provided us with some great insight and perspective on things that you can try to combat in those moments,” Mazzulla revealed.
The conversation surrounding double-digit leads is one Mazzulla challenges. There’s the expectation to preserve or build on huge leads, which Mazzulla understands — to a degree — but doesn’t subscribe to.
“There’s a natural tendency to say, ‘We’re up 20, get it to 30,’ and I don’t think that’s realistic. I don’t think that’s possible,” Mazzulla said. “I think you have to work on winning the transitions of it. So if you’re up 20, analytically it’s really only a 15-point lead. So you have to know that. You’re really only up 15. You’re not really up 20 because of the variance of that game.”
It’s about time for the housewarming party, Dub Nation. The Warriors come home tonight after getting run off the floor 127-105 in LA, with Walker Kessler going 12-for-12 in his Lakers debut and Luka dropping 28 in three quarters. Chase Center should be the cure for that. But in 17 seasons with Steph Curry, the Warriors are just 8-9 in their first home game of the year, and the building has a habit of letting other teams have the party.
Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors When: Friday, October 23, 2026 | 7:00 PM PT Where: Chase Center TV: NBC Sports Bay Area Radio: 95.7 The Game
Let’s do a quick recap of how home openers have treated the Warriors during the Curry-era.
2009: Rockets 108, Warriors 107
Steph’s first home game was also his first NBA game, and he posted 14 points, seven assists and four steals in a one-point loss. Oracle didn’t know it was watching the start of everything.
2010: Warriors 132, Rockets 128
Monta Ellis matched his career high with 46, and Curry added 25 and 11 assists. Keith Smart got a win in his first game as head coach.
2011: Clippers 105, Warriors 86
The lockout-delayed season opened on Christmas at Oracle, and Chris Paul’s Clippers debut ruined Mark Jackson’s. The Warriors led at halftime before a 34-point Clippers third quarter buried them.
2012: Grizzlies 104, Warriors 94
Tonight’s opponent has been here before. Marc Gasol and Mike Conley combined for 42 points to spoil the home opener, and Brandon Rush hurt his left knee on a first-quarter foul by Zach Randolph. It’s still the only time Memphis has visited for a Warriors home opener, and the Warriors are 0-1 in those games.
2013: Warriors 125, Lakers 94
Klay dropped a then career-high 38 in a franchise-record opening-night rout, and the Warriors shot 53.5 percent against a Lakers team without Kobe. This was one of the first signs that Klay was going to be a supreme problem for the league.
2014: Warriors 127, Lakers 104
Kerr’s first season opened in Sacramento, so the Lakers got the Oracle opener again and it went even worse for them. Klay, in his first game after signing his extension, broke his career high again with 41, and Curry added 31 points and 10 assists. Kobe scored 19 of his 28 in the third quarter to make it interesting for about 12 minutes. Then the Lakers collapsed in the fourth, and the 67-win season was off and running.
2015: Warriors 111, Pelicans 95
The first banner went up in a pregame show with fire and glow sticks, and then the MVP went to work. Curry scored 24 points in the first quarter alone and finished with 40 on 14-of-26 shooting. Anthony Davis went 4-of-20. Luke Walton was on the bench with Kerr out recovering from back surgery, but the team didn’t miss a beat.
2016: Spurs 129, Warriors 100
Kevin Durant’s Oracle debut was a 29-point embarrassment, with Kawhi scoring 35. The Warriors got outrebounded 54-35 and this was the game that pundits universally decried the KD addition. How wrong they would be.
2017: Rockets 122, Warriors 121
Ring night number two ended with a one-point loss to Houston. The Rockets were already telling everyone what kind of spring it would be. HOW WRONG THEY WOULD BE.
2018: Warriors 108, Thunder 100
The final season at Oracle opened with a third banner and 32 points, nine assists and eight rebounds from Curry. Russell Westbrook didn’t play but it still was pretty funny watching Durant get ring night against his former OKC teammates.
2019: Clippers 141, Warriors 122
Chase Center’s first regular-season game started with the Warriors down 14-0 before they scored a point. Kawhi, who had also spoiled the last game at Oracle in the Finals, scored 21 in three quarters. Curry put up 23 but went 2-of-11 from three without the injured Klay Thompson.
D’Angelo Russell scored the Warriors’ first ever points at Chase in 2019.
The pandemic pushed the home opener to New Year’s Day, the Warriors’ first home game in 297 days. Oakland’s own Damian Lillard scored 34 and reached 15,000 career points.
2021: Warriors 115, Clippers 113
Fans were back in the building for a full home opener for the first time in two years, and Steph took the mic before tipoff to thank them. Then he went 9-for-9 in the first quarter for 25 points, matching his career high for a quarter. The Clippers clawed back to lead in the fourth. Curry hit a 31-footer and then a go-ahead three with 56.8 seconds left, finishing with 45 points on 8-of-13 from deep, and Draymond sealed it with a bucket in the final seconds. A title team announced itself that night.
2022: Warriors 123, Lakers 109
Banner four went up and Curry and LeBron traded 33 and 31. The Warriors handled the Lakers again, though LA got the last word in May.
2023: Suns 108, Warriors 104
The Warriors rallied from 15 down but couldn’t finish against Phoenix. Devin Booker scored 32, Curry had 27, and Draymond sat with an ankle sprain.
Aaron Gordon scored 50 and hit 10 threes, tying the NBA record for a season opener, and Denver still lost. Curry scored 17 in the final seven minutes of regulation, including 13 straight capped by a 34-footer to force overtime. He finished with 42, with 35 coming in the second half and OT. Jimmy Butler hit the three that put it away, and Steph did the “night night” after it. It snapped a two-year skid in home openers, and for one night Chase Center felt like Oracle.
Memphis already knows the way in
Add it up and Chase Center is 3-4 in home openers since it opened, and the Kerr-era Warriors are 6-6. Tonight, Memphis brings No. 3 pick Cam Boozer back to the only building where the Grizzlies have ever crashed a Warriors home opener. Brandin Podziemski has been upgraded to probable, which helps, but Charles Bassey is out and Butler, Moody and Porzingis are still in street clothes. The Warriors have spent 17 years learning that a home opener doesn’t guarantee a warm welcome, and tonight they’re hosting with a frontcourt held together by hope and athletic tape. If Memphis finds the door open again, the Warriors will be sitting at 0-2 and still waiting for the party to start.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 23: Jaime Jaquez Jr. #24 of the Milwaukee Bucks and Tyler Herro #11 high five during the game against the Chicago Bulls on October 23, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
For the first time since the 2015-16 season, the Milwaukee Bucks start the year 0-2 after dropping a (very) winnable home opener to the Chicago Bulls 132-125. Tyler Herro continued his strong start in a Bucks uniform with 34 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Seven Bulls scored in double figures, led by Norman Powell (25) and Caleb Wilson (21).
The new-look Bucks made a strong first impression on the Fiserv crowd against their I-94 rivals. Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyler Herro got hot early, scoring five and four points each as Milwaukee jumped out to a 16-6 lead. However, the two young squads then got very sloppy, combining for seven turnovers, and neither team scored for a long while until Norman Powell hit an eight-foot bank shot. Still, the Bucks led by a lot at that point (26-13). Milwaukee added another triple from AJ Green and went into the second quarter up big, 32-17.
Chicago responded well out of the break, starting with a 10-4 run. As the Bulls crept back in, second-year guard Kasparas Jakučionis flashed some high-level offensive potential; he threw a great lob pass to Ware, drained a corner three, and then found a wide-open Ryan Rollins for another bomb. That stretch put the Bucks up 13, forcing Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter to call a timeout. And man, Chicago came back with a vengeance after the timeout, going on a ridiculous 21-7 run to take the lead, capped by a Leonard Miller triple; it was their first lead since they were up 2-0. Kyle Kuzma, of all people, helped right the ship for the home side, scoring five points in the final minute to put Milwaukee back in front at the half, up 62-61.
Tyler Herro carried his strong start into the second half, adding five more points and an assist on a three by Kuzma in the opening minutes. Both sides were cooking on offense: at one point, the Bucks shot 8/12 from three, while the Bulls hit 8/11. Both offenses kept humming with little resistance, but a nice pass from Jakučionis to Brayden Burries for three, followed by a hook shot from Ware, gave the Bucks a five-point lead with under three minutes left. The two divisional rivals largely kept pace for the rest of the third, but the Bucks closed poorly. After Jaquez hit a fadeaway jumper with eight seconds left, Milwaukee allowed Chicago to score at the buzzer as Jalen Smith slipped the pick and slammed it home. That final basket gave Milwaukee a razor-thin lead heading into he fourth, up 104-102.
The Bucks’ offense hit a wall in the fourth; five minutes in, they were just 2/10 from the field. That rut let the Bulls pull away, and they went up by eight after another three from Hield. However, hometown kid Tyler Herro refused to give in, going on an electric run to score 10 of Milwaukee’s next 12 points and put Milwaukee back up by one with just under four minutes remaining. The Bulls responded with two consecutive buckets to regain the lead, but Myles Turner cleaned up a Rollins miss on the offensive glass to put the Bucks back up 123-122. Then, in a controversial call, the officials called a blocking foul on a retreating Jakučionis when he appeared to be in legal guarding position. Wilson proceeded to hit both free throws with 1:16 left to give his team a one-point lead, and the Bucks overthought their final few possessions, losing a very winnable game.
Stat That Stood Out
In a close loss, missed free throws are often what do you in. The Bucks left 12 points at the line, going 14/26, while the Bulls went 26/28. That is rough.
Obscene Overreaction
Kasparas Jakučionis has already made the Bucks win the Giannis trade. Whenever the Bucks struggled on offense, Jakučionis settled things down and made crucial plays. Crucially, KJ wasn’t just scoring; he had five assists too! #ExtendKasparas
