Category: NBA

First off, I am working a music festival this weekend and missed last night’s game in Austin. Don’t spoil it for me. I hope to watch the game after this evening’s festivities.

In the meantime, there was an interesting post on social media. Got to give it up to the algorithm. This came across my daily feed recently.

Reminded me of Rick Berry’s underhand free throws:

Of course Spurs can’t forget Jeremy Sochan’s attempt to raise his free thorw shooting percentage:

No matter the style, every player has a distinct form to their shot. Well, almost every player.

Spurs are in Dallas tonight for their third rivalry match in a row. First OKC, then Houston, and finally their I-35 rival. I’ll miss this one too, so hopefully there will be lots of good to talk about tomorrow.

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The Lakers appeared to be on their way to almost being whole Friday night when guard Collin Sexton returned to play for the first time this season. Then word came that key role player Jake LaRavia was out because of an ankle injury.

Still, the Lakers pressed on in their second game, against the crosstown rival Clippers, a game with meaning for both teams.

Though the Lakers were sloppy with the ball in the fourth quarter, having six players score in double figures helped them pull out a 125-117 win over the Clippers at Crypto.com Arena.

Austin Reaves led the way with 28 points and nine assists, but he had six turnovers. Luka Doncic had 23 points, seven assists and six rebounds, but he had 11 of the Lakers’ 21 turnovers.

Walker Kessler was a force again, scoring 22 points on 10-for-14 shooting, grabbing eight rebounds and blocking six shots.

The Lakers led by 15 points in the second half after the score was tied at halftime, but kept turning the ball over and saw the lead sliced to six with three minutes and 18 seconds left on a basket by Darius Garland, who finished with 26 points.

Read more:How the Lakers' Luka Doncic went from 'Wonder Boy' to 'The Man'

But Kessler played big in the final few minutes, making two free throws and blocking a shot late in the game.

Kessler opened the game with his defensive presence. He stole the basketball and took it the length of the court for a two-handed dunk in the first quarter.

Kessler blocked a shot by Derrick Jones Jr., leading to a three-pointer by Reaves for an 89-77 Lakers lead in the third quarter.

Kessler then went to work on the boards, grabbing an offensive rebound and scoring on a reverse layup while being fouled by Brook Lopez. Kessler flexed and yelled. He missed the free throw, but his basket had given the Lakers a 91-77 in the third quarter and it kept their momentum going.

Kessler kept up his fantastic play in the fourth quarter, challenging a shot on defense by Rui Hachimura and then running on the fast break to catch a lob from Reaves for a two-handed dunk and a 15-point Lakers lead.

It was also the return of Hachimura, who spent 3 ½-seasons with the Lakers before joining the Clippers this summer on a two-year, $28-million deal. The well-liked Hachimura was shown just how much when the Lakers played highlights from when he played with them.

Hachimura had 12 points at the half, doing his part to help the Clippers stay at 64-64.

Before the game, Lakers coach JJ Redick spoke glowingly of how Hachimura played during the preseason for the Clippers.

“They’re running a lot of the same stuff for Rui that they ran for PG [Paul George] and at times Kawhi [Leonard],” Redick said. “He’s playing free and he’s playing ultra-aggressive right now.”

With three minutes and 52 seconds left in the first quarter, Sexton checked into the game, and his first play was a steal.

Sexton missed the first regular-season game and five exhibition games because of lower leg injury. He played 16 minutes and had five points and three steals.

Etc.

LaRavia didn’t play because of a sprained right ankle. LaRavia played in all 82 games last season for the first time in his career. His goal was to play in all 82 this season, but he’s already missed his first game and might not be available to play until Sunday at Utah or Tuesday at home against the Portland Trail Blazers.

“We talked last week and mentioned that was one of his goals for the season. He had the same goal last year and he was able to do that,” Redick said. “Play through some stuff at times last year. Wanted to play. We talked to him this morning before shootaround and I was going to try to give it a go and went to the treatment room and just it’s not there, but he’s hopeful he could be back Sunday, if not Tuesday.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

For a significant chunk of Friday night at Crypto.com Arena, it looked like ghosts of the Lakers’ past – in the form of Clippers forward Rui Hachimura and center Brook Lopez – were going to be the reasons for their first loss.

Especially with their superstar guard Luka Doncic struggling to find an offensive rhythm.

But fellow star guard Austin Reaves showed why the franchise invested the big bucks in him over the summer, providing his team with a spark en route to a 125-117 victory to put the Lakers at 2-0 early in the season.

With the game tied at 64 at halftime, and the Lakers struggling to create separation, taking a small 73-72 lead early in the third, Reaves took matters into his own hands, sparking a 16-4 run that was the difference in the game.

The run started with Reaves converting a tough, physical layup over Isaiah Jackson before assisting Walker Kessler for an alley-oop dunk and Matisse Thybulle on a corner 3-pointer. 

From there, Reaves took over, scoring the game’s next nine points to put the Lakers up 89-76 after a pull-up 3 for the team’s largest lead of the game at the time. 

Reaves scored 13 points in the third, in addition to 3 assists, for nearly half of his scoring total (28 points). 

The Lakers nearly squandered Reaves’ run, allowing the Clippers to cut their lead to 120-113 late in the fourthm but they never relinquished the lead.

Kessler had 22 points, 8 rebounds, 6 blocked shots, 3 steals and 3 steals. 

Doncic finished with 23 points (8-of-21 shooting), 7 assists, and 6 rebounds. 

Reaves was once again ultra-efficient, shooting 10 of 13 from the field (3 of 5 on 3s, 5 of 6 on free throws) to go with 9 assists for the game. 

Lopez had 22 points and 4 rebounds off the bench, while Hachimura had 16 points and 6 rebounds against his former team. 

Darius Garland led the Clippers with 26 points and 6 assists.

After leading by double digits for much of the second half, the Lakers had to hang on late for a win over the Clippers on Friday, 125-117.

The purple and gold took control of the game in the third period and looked set to cruise to a win before the other team in Los Angeles used its defense to make a run and get back into the contest.

Some timely points from Walker Kessler and Austin Reaves down the stretch helped fend off the visitors as the Lakers picked up their second win of the season.

Both teams got off to a slow start with turnovers and missed shots, until Reaves got the Lakers on the board first with a floater down the lane. Kessler had an impressive sequence in which he stole the ball and took it all the way for a dunk. 

Kris Dunn had five of the Clippers’ first seven points. 

Everyone in the starting lineup for the Lakers, except for Luka Dončić, scored in the opening minutes. Former Laker Rui Hachimura drained his first triple of the game. It was followed by Reaves knocking down one of his own. 

Luka was on the receiving end of an alley-oop and laid it in for his first points of the quarter, forcing a Clippers timeout. Collin Sexton checked in for his first minutes as a Laker. The Clippers ended the first on an 11-3 scoring run, to give them a four-point lead. 

Brook Lopez entered double figures with 15 points to start the second period. The Lakers had no answer for him as he scored eight easy points early in the quarter. Kessler was now also in double figures with 10 points.

At the 9:38 mark, the Clippers were up by eight. 

Quentin Grimes drained two triples, helping the Lakers erupt for an 11-2 scoring run. Ziaire Williams was fouled from behind the arc and converted on all three free throws. After a midrange jumper from Luka, the Lakers were up by one. 

Hachimura and Luka had a fun exchange of triples for their teams. The rest of the half was very evenly matched with their offense and turning the ball over. 

It was a tied game at halftime. 

Darius Garland converted on a jumper for the Clippers early in the third period. Matisse Thybulle responded with a layup on the other end for the Lakers. After Hachimura nailed another triple, the purple and gold exploded with seven straight points, putting them up five.

Reaves was up to 17 points and Kessler now had 14 points. Thybulle drained yet another 3-pointer, pushing his point total to 10 points. The entire Lakers starting lineup was in double figures. 

Reaves then proceeded to score four in a row, leading to a Clippers timeout. 

Out of the break, the Clippers turned the ball over. On the other end, Reaves scored on a midrange jumper. He also knocked down a triple, giving him 26 points to lead the team in scoring. 

Lopez once again helped make the game a close affair, adding to his big night of 22 points. The Lakers, though, still had the upper hand and were leading by 13 at the end of the third.

The final frame began with Gradey Dick scoring on a layup for the Clippers. The Lakers were turning the ball over and struggling to find shots until Sexton scored on a triple. Keaton Wagler started heating up for the Clippers, scoring five points.

Sexton and Kessler then scored a combined four points to put the Lakers up by 15 with 8:12 left. Garland cut into the deficit with five points. After a layup by Derrick Jones Jr., it was an 11-point game.

Both teams struggled with turnovers, the Clippers having 24 and the Lakers 17. The Clippers nearly had an opportunity to cut the deficit to single digits, but they turned the ball over.

At the 4:21 mark, the purple and gold were up by 10. 

The Lakers were suddenly in nervous time as the Clippers scored four in a row, inching ever so closer. With 2:36 left, it was a six-point game. The Lakers were on a two-minute scoring drought. 

Kessler was fouled and converted on both free throws, putting the team up by eight. Both teams fumbled two possessions before Reaves scored off the backboard for two to snap a long drought.

The Clippers then scored four in a row, making it a six-point game with 53 seconds left. Grimes was fouled and converted on both free throws. The Lakers were able to get enough stops to hold on for the win. 

Key Player Stats

Luka finished with 23 points and seven assists. Reaves ended with 28 points and nine assists. Kessler pitched in with 22 points, eight rebounds, three steals and six blocks.

Williams had 14 points with five rebounds. Grimes logged 13 points with eight rebounds and four assists. Sandro Mamukelashvili notched seven points with five rebounds and two assists.

In his Lakers debut, Sexton scored five points, grabbed three steals and dished two dimes. Thybulle ended with 13 points. 

The Lakers’ next game will be against the Utah Jazz on Sunday at 2:00 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

The Spurs looked better in their second game of the regular season than they did in the first, but it was still not good enough against a Houston Rockets club that is whole and healthy again. It was a physical game with a playoff atmosphere throughout. The Rockets led by as much as 11 while the Spurs stayed close but never could go on any kind of game-changing run or make their free throws. Despite only leading by one a few times and usually ceding it on the next possession on their way to a 110-114 loss, they still had a chance to tie or send it to overtime, but Amen Thompson blocked Victor Wembanyama’s game-tying attempt to end any hope.

Wemby had a decent bounce-back game with 25 points and 13 rebounds on 9-21 from the field, but he can still be much better. All four other staters scored in double figures for the Spurs, led by 20 points from Dylan Harper and 19 from De’Aaron Fox. Alperen Sengun was a force down low on his way to 29 points, and Kevin Durant and Thompson added 20 apiece.

Observations

• If you visited the Game Thread you saw this already, but I’m not a fan of one of the Austin games being against an in-state rival. It feels like lost revenue for a surefire sellout at home, a homecoming of sorts for Kevin Durant, and an invitation for something closer to a neutral crowd. Sure enough, when Sengun hit the first bucket of the game, the roar was relatively loud for the “away” team. Not as loud as the home crowd, obviously, but louder than it probably would have been in San Antonio.
• Another game, another scuffle involving Fox, although this time he did nothing to warrant it. In the first quarter, he went flying by and fouled Durant to prevent a lay-up. Durant held his face before getting up and angrily walking towards Fox, but replay showed nothing malicious. If anything touched Durant’s face, it was the ball as Fox blocked it. Ultimately nothing happened — no techs, no video review, just normal free throws — but Durant may look back and realize he overreacted.
• It didn’t take long for Wemby to double his total number of field goals from Game 1, hitting 2-3 in his first stint on the floor: an alley-oop from Stephon Castle and a tip-in dunk. He also hit two of his first four threes. He admitted after the season opener that he was thinking and trying too hard, and he looked looser in this game.
• The Spurs almost never led in the first half and appeared headed towards another second quarter meltdown when they quickly got down by 11 points with the Rockets owning all the momentum, but the defense kept them in it while the offense recomposed itself and gradually chipped away at the lead. A flurry from Wemby got them their first lead of the quarter on an and-one alley-oop with 23 seconds left, but a VanVleet buzzer-beater three gave it back to the Rockets at halftime, 61-59.
• The entire game was physical, but the Spurs started growing visibly frustrated with the officiating in the second and third quarters, as the refs seemed to be allowing a lot more contract from the Rockets defense than the Spurs’. But that wasn’t why the Spurs briefly found themselves down by double digits again in the third. Turnovers were a problem, especially for Fox, who had two of his five getting stripped at the top of the key for open Rockets lay-ups.
• The non-Wemby minutes were mostly rough, especially with Luke Kornet struggling to contain Sengun, but the Spurs still managed to go on a run with him resting midway through the fourth quarter to briefly retake the lead riding the momentum of Castle. Wemby re-entered with 4:30 left and the Rockets up 2, and by then Sengun had found a rhythm and was pounding inside for buckets and fouls no matter who was guarding him. He even managed to draw a foul on Wemby by heading him in the mouth (it’s always amusing when the bleeding player is the one who committed the foul, but the Spurs were out of challenges).
• The Spurs still had a chance to win or send it to overtime with the ball out of a timeout with 5 seconds left. Whether by design or otherwise, Fox faked the fadeaway three before heaving it Wemby near the basket, but with his momentum taking him low and away from the basket, his attempt was blocked by Thompson, and VanVleet hit two free throws to seal it for good with 0.6 sec left. Free throws were ultimately the Spurs’ downfall in this game, with the Rockets hitting 28-31 compared to their 18-25.
• The Spurs drop to 0-2 to start the season, but at least they’re joined by the defending champions. When was the last time the two finalists started the next season 0-2? (I tried asking Google, and it called it “rare”, which to me implies it has happened before, but it only gave 2026 as an example, and it’s too late for me to care enough to dig deeper.)

Up next: Saturday at Dallas Mavericks, 7:00 PM CT

(It doesn’t feel right having a back-to-back with travel with tip-off times less than 23 hours apart no matter how close the games technically are to each other.)

When the Rockets started the game with consecutive three-point makes from Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, it felt like a good omen.

As it turned out, it was, as the Houston Rockets squeaked out a 113-110 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

The Rockets led for most of this contest, but it got hairy in the fourth quarter. Luckily, they found their way out of the woods:

And Alperen Sengun led the charge.

One thing is clear: This man is not afraid of Victor Wembanyama. Sengun was hyper-aggressive down the stretch, looking to score inside whenever he could, against whoever was there, and found tremendous success. He finished the game with 29 points on 10/20 shooting, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds.

Oh, and he hit 50.0% (2/4) of his threes, as did Amen Thompson (1/2). Chip Engelland’s deal with the devil continues to pay earthly dividends.

Speaking of Thompson…

Yes, he had 20 points and 10 rebounds. More importantly, he blocked the soul out of Wembanyama’s body to secure the win on the last play of the game.

One of the highlights of this game was Kevin Durant’s (relative) inactivity. The less Houston relies on him in the regular season, the better. He had a modest 20 points on 5/10 shooting from the field, although one of those shots was a massive triple in the closing moments that defined the game’s outcome.

What else? Tari Eason was great in his first (real) game of the season with 12 points, six boards and four steals, although he should probably dump off a pass or flush it with two hands instead of going for The Chocolate-Thunder-Flying, Glass-Flying, Robinzine-Crying, Babies-Crying, Glass-Still-Flying, Cats-Crying, Rump-Roasting, Bun-Toasting, Thank You-Wham-Bam-I-Am-Jam in a two-on-one fast break.

Another quirk in this game that’s maybe a non-sequitur here (if this is at all poorly written, please note that it is 1:50 AM and I have been up since 6:00 AM): It felt like Wembanyama was unstoppable at the rim. So many lobs, right? I wrote a whole paragraph about how Houston couldn’t stop him at the rim, but he was 9/21 in the game, so that couldn’t be true.

Ultimately, this was a game that was decided in the clutch. The team stats are nearly identical across the board. Sengun’s relentless inside scoring, Durant’s big triple, and perhaps the best play of Amen Thompson’s young career were the whole story. The Rockets improved to 2-0:

In mere hours, they’ll see if they can stay perfect against a talented Atlanta Hawks squad.

In a game where no Timberwolf scored more than 15 points and collectively shot 43% from the field, Minnesota routed the Orlando Magic with second efforts that stymied any attempts to close the gap. From the start, the Wolves were determined to pester the Magic. They forced turnovers, gang rebounded, and looked to pass the ball to teammates in transition. It was so impressive even older brothers were doling out compliments to their younger siblings.

Through two games, the Timberwolves showed that, make or miss, they are playing for each other. If one part of a player’s game isn’t working, they redouble their efforts on defense, rebounding or looking to pass. Despite their opponent’s rough and sometimes flagrant attempts to unsettle them, they kept their cool.

Speaking of the Orlando Magic. They boast a big, talented, and brutish team that lopes toward the basket with dribble penetration and some crafty pivots when they can get a one-on-one matchup. When they do kick it out for a three-point shot, prayers fill the Kia Center that the shot variance gods are in their favor.

Tonight, they were not.

Goldfish Mentality

In the midst of the first half, the Magic attempted to close the gap. Paolo Banchero hit a number of free throw line turn-around jumpers and chewed away at the Wolves lead. No Minnesota player hung their head for a moment. The inbounders quickly took the ball out of the net to go the other way, giving the Magic less time to breath, less time to set their defense, and less time to feel a sense of confidence grow.

The roiling sea of moodiness the Wolves navigated last year has calmed and it is reflective in their next play mentality. They play so fast that there is no option but to bring a constant energy. I don’t know if head coach Chris Finch got around to watching Ted Lasso, but Minnesota is playing with the ten second memory that allows them to brush off an opposing make.

In the fourth quarter, amidst a small surge from Orlando, the Wolves got creative. They beat the Magic’s full court press with a series of hit-ahead passes that created opportunities at the rim. Orlando soon gave up that approach.

If there is a thing that every Wolf always remembers, it is to celebrate any three-point make in front of the opposing bench.

Kuminga Up to the Challenge

Jonathan Kuminga has been given the most difficult defensive assignment in the past two games. In both, he has performed as well as any could have hoped. Despite Banchero injuring his ankle early in the third quarter, returning for a short stint before exiting for the night, Kuminga largely contained the All-Star when he was on the court. More than that, by taking the toughest challenge, he is allowing Jaden McDaniels to spread his wings more. While soaring to new heights, Slim is finding a few more rebounds a game. In the second game in a row against the bigger opponent, the Wolves ended the night with a +24 rebounding advantage.

Kuminga is feeling the full force of a team that believes in him and he is using it to make aggressive plays. In transition, Kuminga has been so forceful on the attack he was able to drive into Wendell Carter Jr., miss his shot, and get his own rebound as his drive sent WCJ reeling back into the basket stanchion. He connected with Ayo Dosunmu on a fast break and laid in a finger roll alley-oop.

Moments later he stole the ball and was fouled on his missed breakaway dunk attempt. Upset at the missed highlight, he slammed his fist against the stanchion. McDaniels was there right away to praise the steal and maybe to impart wisdom about punching inanimate objects.

Dos Unit

Led by Ayo Dosunmu, the Wolves bench ran rampant over any Magic player in front of them. Every bench player with double-digit minutes ended the game with a double-digit positive +/- numbers. Ayo, or Dos as he’s known by, filled up the stat sheet with a little bit of everything; 14 points, seven boards, nine assists, two stocks, and no turnovers. He was quick to run the break and brought the rest of the pack with him, getting the Wolves into early offense. The Magic closed out hard on Ayo on the perimeter, allowing him to drive into the paint, collapse the defense, and open up shooters. Again and again number 13 made the right play.

The rest of the bench followed that energy to extend the Wolves lead. Terrance Shannon Jr. hit above the break threes and drove with his usual panache, seeming to relish the Magic’s aggressive defense. After a rough game against two of the best bigs in the league, Joan Beringer found his place in the chaotic scrum under the basket. At the mere head fake of a shot, he quickly found someone to box out. He had one ferocious dunk and got a few more off of under the basket feeds and offensive rebounds (Seven!). Even Trey Lyles found ways to contribute on the glass, dishing out an assist to Rudy, and hitting a few threes of his own.

Ant Out of Rhythm

It wasn’t all good. After his 45-point explosion over Miami, Anthony Edwards’ shot appeared to abandon him. Attempt after attempt from outside clanked off the rim. When he tried to get to the basket, he met a well set wall of Magic players who nudged him off his spot and into a miss. He was at his worst when LaMelo Ball was off the court, falling back into old habits of iso-ball while his teammates sat waiting for a grenade should Ant’s attempt at finding his shot fail.

Edwards did find other ways to contribute, though. He snagged four steals and impressively outjumped WCJ. for a jump ball. As he chirped at the big man down the court, he buried a shot and scored again on the next possession. If there is a beef to be had on the court, then Ant will eat.

Free Points Left Behind

You got to make your free throws. The Wolves cannot afford to have a team free throw percentage worse than Rudy Gobert’s career average (63.3%). Minnesota left 13 free ones out to dry on 30 trips to the line. It’s a sign of respect for an opposing team to circle the matchup against you on the calendar. It’s a warning sign when fans circle the day after their team plays Minnesota for a free lunch courtesy of the Wolves missing both in the fourth.

Game Highlights

Next Up

The Timberwolves return home to Minnesota for their home opener. They take on their Neighbors to the North (technically south) in the Toronto Raptors. Catch the game on Sunday, October 25th at 6:00 PM CT on DAZN-MIN.

82-0.

Emotions ran high at the Pacers’ home opener in an unexpected way.

The 2025 Eastern Conference champions, who welcomed back Tyrese Haliburton for his first home game since he tore his Achilles during Game 7 of the NBA Finals 16 months ago, found themselves on the receiving end of a dominant Mavericks performance.

But during the contest, as the Mavericks, who won 121-105, continued building a monstrous lead, Pacers wing Aaron Nesmith delivered a hard foul to rising star Cooper Flagg on a dunk attempt shortly before halftime.

Things immediately got chippy after the hard foul as Flagg subsequently went to the locker room with a shoulder injury.

Nesmith was tagged with a flagrant foul, and he also received a double technical foul for his involvement in the subsequent skirmish, as did Mavericks wing Naji Marshall, who inserted himself into the action in defense of his injured teammate.

Two Mavericks players also appeared to leave the bench though Mavericks head coach Dusty May said he thought both went to check on Flagg, perhaps avoiding any disciplinary action from the league.

“Look, Nesmith is a great guy, a heck of a player. I’ve known him since he was in high school,” said May, who reached two NCAA Final Fours and won last year’s national championship just a few blocks away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. “Obviously, an unfortunate play. Hopefully, Coop’s fine.”

Flagg continued to nurse his injured shoulder as he walked to the locker room area before the end of the first half and did not return.

May later said Flagg would be evaluated over the next couple of days.

“Cooper has left shoulder soreness, he’ll be evaluated in the next couple of days,” May said before addressing whether Flagg needed an MRI exam. “I really don’t know. I saw him in the locker room, he’s in good spirits. We’ll know in the next couple days what’s next.”

Flagg did not speak to reporters following the game.

With the win, the Mavericks improved to 1-1, dropping Indiana to the same record.

Flagg, who began the season with 32 points in 33 minutes in Houston, finished his two quarters in Indiana with 14 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals in just 17 minutes.

The Mavericks fly to Dallas and will play the second of a back-to-back on Saturday against the defending Western Conference champion Spurs.

The Pacers head to Brooklyn to take on the Nets on Sunday.

— with AP

Over the last few days, as fans awaited the NBA season’s tip-off (which we are all trying to forget), the Phoenix Suns tweaked their roster to ensure they were ready for Wednesday Saturday night. This included an extension for a solid centerpiece of their bench, along with minor moves on the edges to fill out the roster from top to bottom. With these recent moves, the front office has once again signaled that it’s willing to adjust on the fly and push for the best chance to win on the court.

We saw this last year with some late roster moves, and it truly paid off for this team. Claiming Jordan Goodwin off waivers was the first swing, and it paid off tremendously for the team, as he proved to be a spark off the bench and earned himself a nice payday because of it. They also added Jamaree Bouyea to a two-way spot when the Milwaukee Bucks waived him in the first half of the season. Bouyea proved his worth in that two-way spot, showing he could contribute with injuries at the guard position. This earned him a roster spot and kept him on the roster through the end of the season, a sign of their belief in him.

Coming into this season, the Suns did the same thing I mentioned above, and it really looks like these moves, even if minor, set them up for a better-than-expected outcome. First off, let’s discuss the biggest news, and probably the most impactful: extending homegrown talent Oso Ighodaro. They gave him a three-year, $29 million extension, which is a solid deal. For starters, an average annual value (AAV) under $10 million for someone who’s been a key piece is great. Then you add that it doesn’t kick in until the 2028-29 season, which makes it even better. That means Ighodaro is still on his rookie-scale deal for two more seasons (this and next) before the Suns have to shell out that money, giving them financial flexibility leading up to the 28-29 season. Ighodaro also makes only $2 million on his rookie contract, which will be well worth it for the team given his expertise.

By the time this extension kicks in, he will be on a scam contract, in my eyes, because he will be worth more than what he will be paid then. For the skeptics out there, this deal will be cheaper than many backup bigs, including one of Neemias Queta or Mitchell Robinson on the Celtics, Robert Williams III, Daniel Gafford, John Collins, Daniel Gafford, and Wendell Carter Jr. Now, some of these guys may not be backups now or in their roles play similar to the Suns with two startable bigs but not a true number one center.

Personally, I think he has a chance to be better than all these players by the 2028-29 season, proving he can be the best-valued backup center in the association if he can keep up the pace. That is some good company to be in, and this contract extension reminds me of the one that Payton Pritchard took a few seasons back, when he was making around $7 million annually.

These later moves are all smaller, but they still affect the team’s direction. Sadly, the Suns waived Haywood Highsmith again, cutting their roster from 15 to 14 players. This is now allowed under the new CBA, giving teams ultimate flexibility at the trade deadline to take in more players in a deal, depending on which apron the team you trade with is under.

Highsmith was waived earlier in the offseason and brought back to a non-guaranteed deal. Unfortunately for him, with the Suns seeing some brightness from Ryan Dunn in preseason and drafting two forwards, Rasheer Fleming and Koa Peat, in back-to-back drafts, he has very little opportunity in Phoenix. The Phoenix front office knew he wouldn’t contribute and had to make the most sensible business decision. For Highsmith, a solid veteran wing who can contribute off the bench, I hope he finds a spot by the end of the year.

Then the Suns adjusted their two-way room: they waived both Koby Brea and C.J. Huntley and brought in two new faces, Drew Timme and Duop Reath. By losing Huntley and Brea, the Suns signaled they would rather go with veteran-ready guys over developmental pieces. The Suns brought both in last year: they drafted Brea in the second round and signed Huntley as an undrafted prospect. They had opportunities with the Valley Suns last year, as neither saw much burn with the main squad. At this point, neither has signed with a new team, so both could return to the Valley Suns to develop in the G League, or be plucked by other G League squads.

Brea was one who confused me, as the Suns seemed to value his shooting ability highly, and it felt weird to give up on a second-year player. Unfortunately for him, the Summer League was not his best showing this year, and the preseason did not help, as he did not get much opportunity. With Huntley, he had been waived off a two-way roster before (for Bouyea), so I expected that.

Now, for the new faces, this explains why they were brought in. Reath signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the team to play in training camp and compete for a spot. With Mark Williams suffering a shoulder injury, the Suns’ center room is already thin, with just Ighodaro and Maluach, so that some insurance would be nice, and that is what Reath is. He’d be the third big man who can shoot and add utility the team has lacked. Reath has been someone I have had my eye on for this team, so I am intrigued to see how he fits and whether he can work his way to a contract spot by the end of the season.

Lastly, but certainly not least, is the newest name and the one that came as the biggest surprise to most: the addition of Drew Timme. Timme, who has spent time with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers, looks like the newest splash and adds some versatility. The forward will add more size to this frontcourt, something they could use with Williams’s injury and Peat as a rookie. Then you see he can also shoot the ball pretty solidly, something the team lacks at forward without Royce O’Neale. With the Lakers, he shot 44% from three, which is a definite boost they can add. Not to mention that, once again, he was claimed from the Lakers, just like Goodwin was last year. Could this be another steal the Suns get off the Lakers? I think so, especially when you compare who was in his spot before.

No offense to Brea or Huntely, but Reath and Timme have more NBA experience and seem more ready for that action. The Suns have made that abundantly clear with their two-way room, especially after adding Pat Spencer earlier in the season. They want to use the two-way to potentially contract growth, build around the edges, and define their culture. A smart move for a front office that has found success with this in the previous two years and still hopes it can work for a third straight year.

Center Brook Lopez is the oldest member of the Los Angeles Clippers, but he's leading the charge against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on Friday, Oct. 23.

Lopez came off the bench for eight minutes in the first half, producing 15 points on 6-for-6 shooting while hitting down both of his 3-point attempts. He also went 1-for-2 from the free-throw line.

Lopez was enthusiastic about the season ahead, speaking highly of his team after the Clippers’ season-opening victory over the Sacramento Kings.

The 38-year-old began his 19th season in the NBA with a double-double off the bench in that win over the Kings, recording 17 points with 10 of his 11 rebounds coming on the defense end.

LA RIVALRY: Rui Hachimura looking forward to playing on other side of Lakers-Clippers

“I was just trying to change the game like I always do,” Lopez said after the season-opener on Oct. 21. “I was excited for the home opener, obviously, with great energy, but we are just trying to take it one game at a time and help my team win.”

Lopez is not the only former Laker to have a productive first half against his former team Friday.

Rui Hachimura added 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the field. The Lakers and Clippers were tied at 64 after two quarters of play.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Veteran Brook Lopez producing strong start to season for Clippers

Rui Hachimura is all too familiar with Crypto.com Arena.

The forward spent three-plus seasons with the Lakers before signing with the Clippers on a two-year, $28 million deal this summer. Hachimura kept things lighthearted in his return for the crosstown showdown as he jokingly attempted to enter the Lakers locker room pre-game.

Hachimura eventually wandered into the visitors’ locker room where he joined his new Clippers teammates.

Hachimura and the Lakers shared mutual interest in a reunion this offseason, but the wing ultimately decided to join the crosstown rivals amid a summer filled with scandal for the Clippers.

The NBA punished the Clippers for circumventing the salary cap, stripping the team of five first-round picks, issuing a $30 million fine, and suspensions for owner Steve Ballmer and president of baseball operations Lawrence Frank.

Hachimura, however, has expressed full confidence in the organization and revealed he joined the Clippers because of their outstanding treatment of players.

The 2026-27 campaign marks an important year for both Los Angeles franchises. For the Lakers, Luka Doncic must prove he can shoulder the load as the team’s leader and help the franchise win a title in the near future.

For the Clippers, the organization must prove it can bounce back from one of sport’s biggest scandals.

Rui Hachimura was back at Crypto.com Arena on Friday night – but this time as an opponent.

Hachimura made his return to the Lakers’ arena after 3 ½ seasons with the franchise when the Lakers hosted the Clippers for both team’s second game of the regular season.

And despite being an opponent, the Lakers made sure Hachimura knew they appreciated his contributions to the organization with a customary tribute video during the first quarter of Friday’s game.

During the Clippers’ first timeout, midway through the first, the Lakers played the near minute-long video, which ended with a replay of the 6-foot-8 forward knocking down a buzzer-beating, game-winning 3-pointer in the Lakers’ win over the Raptors on Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto.

The No. 9 pick in the 2019 draft was all smiles before Friday’s game, greeting his former teammates and coaches.

He even jokingly acted like he was going to go inside of the Lakers’ locker room pregame before eventually going to the visitor’s locker room.

The Lakers acquired Hachimura from the Wizards in January 2023.

He was a vital part of their run to the 2023 Western Conference finals, and was a full-time starter during each of their playoff runs from 2024-26.

Hachimura averaged 12.3 points on 51.6% shooting (41.5% on 3-pointers) and 4.3 rebounds in his 228 games with the Lakers. 

He shot 50.7% on 3-pointers in the 36 playoff games he played for the franchise. 

Hachimura signed a two-year, $28 million contract with the Clippers in July in free agency.

These are not the same Detroit Pistons. Off the back of their let it fly by any means offense, Detroit ran through the Miami Heat 128-111. Detroit ranked 29th in 3-point attempts last season, shooting 31 a game. They shot 40 against Boston and 38 tonight. The offseason buzz about upgraded shooting is coming to fruition. They shot a sizzling 47 percent from range tonight.

Jalen Duren could not be a part of the offensive success as he went down with a hamstring injury in the second quarter. Duren was on his way to another complete game. He did more than hold his own in matchups with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Duren pinned Giannis’ shot like a piñata and beat him to the punch to swipe the ball away right before he went down.

Paul Reed filled the Duren void as only Bball Paul could. He sank a trey ball with Giannis sagging, forcing Giannis to look at the Heat’s bench like, “that wasn’t on the scouting report, coach.” Reed needs an update on the know your personal reports. He’s flat-out one of the most impactful role players. Reed had 19 points and 11 boards. Hoopers love his game because of his sneaky craft. Stat heads love his impact numbers. Everybody loves Reed because of his heart and hustle.

Ausar Thompson had Bad Boys sequences before he exited the game with a lower body injury. He rejected Giannis at the cup and threw an on-target lob to Cade Cunningham on the break. He gave Pelle Larsson a get-out-of-here shove after arguing why he was fouled (he was). And Ausar had a mean corkscrew lob finish. Watching him contort his body 3,000 feet in the air never gets old. He went down, but others kept their foot on the gas.

Hello John Collins, nice of you to join the party. Collins rained triples, ragdolled smalls, drew charges, and had his hard hat on the glass. His Pistons coming-out party took place in the Miami streets.

Collins finished with 23 points and seven boards. He was nearly perfect from deep, going 5-for-6. Collins was a great addition to the Pistons’ shooting, but an old shooter reminded the Heat what they are missing. Duncan Robinson got his string music going early in a building he once called home. Robinson scorched Miami shooting 5-for-10 from way downtown.

Detroit’s bench did Miami the same way, outscoring the Heat’s bench 64-39. Everybody got in on the action. Ron Holland made top-of-his-class decisions, Kevin Huerter continues to be an underrated defender, and Isaiah Joe’s shot creation is the two-eyes emoji. He’s going to get going as he gets more comfortable.

I got this far without mentioning Cade on an individual level, as he was impactful too. Consistently drawing two and shooting efficiently works. The seven turnovers aren’t ideal, but you know he’s doing everything in his power to chase those turnovers down like 2009 LeBron.

Giannis is the Heat’s first year-in, year-out superstar since LeBron played in South Beach. Giannis rim ran for 36 points, shooting 15-for-26. He was a one-man army again.

Miami needs way more from Bam Adebayo offensively, but the Heat’s defense has been super disappointing. Daniss Jenkins waltzed to the rim a few times (he was solid all around, honestly). For a defense that’s supposed to be top-fiveish, Miami has a ways to go before they sniff that level. They get another chance to get in the win column tomorrow night versus the Charlotte Hornets.

The Pistons get a look at the radio talk show leading Philadelphia 76ers Sunday night. LeBron. Cade. The Pistons’ blend of clamps and shooting. Philly’s star power. Sunday will be a fun one.

The Knicks' championship defense has gotten off to a slow start, dropping their first two games after Friday's loss to the Celtics, but not as slow as the play of Mikal Bridges.

After scoring just four points on 2 of 8 shooting in 33 minutes during New York's series opener against the 76ers, Bridges was held scoreless in 22 minutes on 0 of 8 shooting -- including 0-for-5 from three -- versus Boston. 

"For the most part, most of his looks... I mean, he had three or four wide open threes. And we want them to make half of them if they're open," head coach Mike Brown said of Bridges after the loss. "But he's got to keep shooting them. And hopefully, they'll eventually go in sooner than later, but he's getting the looks that he needs to get. He's just gotta knock them down now."

Bridges' offensive ups and downs date back as long as he's been a Knick. Last season, he averaged 14.4 points per game, his lowest since the the 2021-22 season when he was with the Suns. 

While the offensive inconsistencies Brown can manage, he can't go too long without Bridges' defense. 

Searching for offense against the Celtics, Brown rolled with Miles McBride, who scored 20 points in 30 minutes off the bench. That left Josh Hart in charge of guarding Jayson Tatum, a task that even Hart had trouble with. Tatum finished with a game-high 36 points and made some clutch buckets down the stretch when the Knicks threatened to steal the win in the final moments.

Perhaps the game result could have been different with Bridges guarding Tatum. But Brown won't put it all on missing Bridges, as the Knicks head coach pointed to how Boston was more physical than the Knicks.

"He's got to make sure that he's physical on the defensive end," Brown continued on Bridges. "And he, as well as everybody else because it was all of us, are laying on screens when we get hit, and that when we do switch, there's a level of physicality to the switch so that they're not able to take advantage of us."

The Knicks will look to get their first victory of the season when they return home to host the Magic on Sunday. Perhaps Bridges' offense and defense will be a factor in that one.

The Detroit Pistons are on their way to a 2-0 start this season, but may be contending with an injury to one of their All-Stars.

Center Jalen Duren, who is fresh off of a $200 million contract extension signed earlier this month, suffered a right thigh injury Friday, Oct. 23 in a game against the Miami Heat. The Pistons won 128-111.

The injury occurred midway through the second quarter. Duren attempted a spin move past Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Duren appeared to tweak something, as he abruptly pulled up and grabbed his leg in apparent discomfort. Duren immediately went to the locker room.

The Pistons declared him questionable to return, but Duren did not play the remainder of the game, which Detroit dominated from the opening tip.