Category: NBA

Warriors' 20-game report card to begin 2025-26 NBA season: Very average originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Getting through 82 games before the playoffs even begin always is a marathon for every team in the NBA. The first 20 games of the 2025-26 season for the Warriors, though, were a full-on sprint. 

The Warriors, in their first 17 games as they ended a six-game road trip, already had gone through five back-to-backs before anybody else played three. The Rockets hadn’t been hit with any back-to-backs yet. On the day the Warriors played their 12th road game, the Rockets played their 13th game overall. 

Houston also served as Golden State’s 20th game of the season Wednesday night. For the Rockets, it was just their 16th game. 

Context is required to grade what the first 20 games have been for the Warriors. There also is no point in sugar-coating the product. The Warriors now are 10-10 after a bad loss against a Kevin Durant-less Rockets, making them the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. 

“I’ll tell ya after tonight,” Steve Kerr said Wednesday during his pregame press conference when asked about assessing his team.

His answer after the loss was much more revealing. 

Offense

In the Warriors’ three combined wins against the Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs, Steph Curry averaged 45.7 points per game. He totaled 137 points. Those are more examples of what Curry still is capable of.

And they also are more examples of how reliant the Warriors’ offense remains on Curry. But Curry only scored 25 total points in the Warriors’ losses against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Rockets. 

Jimmy Butler continues to show what a great complement to Curry he is. Butler ranks second on the Warriors in points per game (20.0), assists per game (4.9) and field goal percentage (53.1 percent), and leads in 3-point percentage (45.9) and offensive rebounds per game (2.2).

As a whole, though, the Warriors’ offense has been littered with issues. They rank first in 3-pointers made per game (16.1) and are eighth in assists per game (27.4). Everything else is average or below after that. That includes a 113.2 offensive rating that ranks 22nd in the league while being 21st in points per game at 115.1. 

Shooting hasn’t been good enough. The Warriors rank 23rd in field goal percentage (45.3 percent), 13th in 3-point percentage (36.4 percent) and 13th in true shooting percentage (58.8 percent) as Buddy Hield shoots a career-worst 31 percent on threes. It’s not like the Warriors own the paint either (29th, 41.1 points in the paint per game) and are 20th in offensive rebound percentage (29.3 percent). 

A team that clearly has way too many leaks and cracks offensively has committed the most turnovers in the game, ranking 25th in turnovers per game (16.6).

*All stats are through Nov. 26 and current as of Thanksgiving morning.

Grade: D+

Defense

More often than not, players are salivating at taking the Warriors’ defense to work. Here’s a list of players who already have scored career highs against the Warriors this season: Ryan Rollins (32 points), Reed Sheppard (31 points), Aaron Nesmith (31 points), Caleb Love (26 points) and Quenton Jackson (25 points). 

The numbers have the Warriors with the 10th-best defensive rating (112.2), and rank 12th in opponents points per game (114.5). Opponents are shooting 46.7 percent against them (15th) and 34.7 percent beyond the arc (seventh). Watching the game and how disconnected the Warriors’ defense feels tells us something different.

“Our defense is s–t,” Draymond Green said Wednesday night. “Because it’s not necessarily the numbers. How do you feel when you’re out there? And if it’s just letdown after letdown, it’s bigger than numbers.”

His comments came right after Butler let the Warriors’ defense have it, too.

“We don’t box out. We don’t go with the scouting report. We let anybody do whatever they want. Drives, get into the paint, free throws – it’s just sad,” Butler said.

*All stats are through Nov. 26 and current as of Thanksgiving morning.

Grade: C-

Stars

The numbers and eye test tell the same story. 

Curry is playing 31.1 minutes per game, which would be a career low for a full season, and he’s still averaging 27.9 points per game with a 64.1 true shooting percentage. He has played 16 games and scored 30 or more points in seven of them, including three 40-plus games. Curry isn’t the problem.

Butler is back to averaging 20 points per game and is doing so incredibly efficiently. From all three levels – 2-pointers, 3-pointers and free throws – Butler has been methodically picking apart defense. He is making 54.7 percent of his twos while shooting the best he ever has from deep, and Butler is shooting a career-best 87.1 percent at the free-throw line on 7.7 attempts per game. 

He also isn’t the problem, and neither is Green. The Warriors have a 107.2 defensive rating with Green, and a 118.3 defensive rating without him. Their offensive rating is 117.3 when he’s on the floor, and it’s just 111.2 when he’s off it.

Grade: A-

Additions

Let’s first run through who the additions to this season’s Warriors team are. 

Gary Payton II was re-signed, so he can’t be considered one. Jonathan Kuminga’s restricted free agency eventually ended with him remaining a Warrior, so he isn’t part of the list. Neither is Alex Toohey, the Warriors’ top draft pick who hasn’t played any games because of an ankle injury and likely will spend the entire season in the G League anyway. 

That essentially leaves three players: Al Horford, Will Richard and De’Anthony Melton. Yes, Melton played for the Warriors last season, but only for six games and he technically was traded to add Dennis Schroder last December. We’re adding him to the list, but he still hasn’t played a game this season while continuing to rehab from ACL surgery. 

As a late second-round draft pick, Richard already has been better than expected. Richard has started eight games and is playing 18.3 minutes per game, which ranks eighth on the Warriors. Seventh is Horford, who mostly has been bad all season. Horford has looked his age, 39, and is only shooting 32 percent from 3-point range. 

Adding a healthy Melton should be huge for the Warriors. Seth Curry’s eventual signing will help with shooting as well. But Horford’s disappointing start has hurt the Warriors, and this grade would be even lower if it weren’t for Richard.

Grade: C-

Youth

Can Kuminga and Moses Moody still be here in Year 5? Since the Warriors are so dependent on three players that are 35, 36 and 37 years old, and because Kuminga and Moody still are only 23, this will be their last as part of the category.

The start to the season was about as perfect as could be for Kuminga after what was a tough offseason in restricted free agency. Kuminga showed improvements in all the areas the Warriors wanted and averaged 16.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game during the Warriors’ 4-1 start. But as the Warriors started to slide and Kuminga reverted to some old habits, he was back on the bench by the 13th game.

There have been signs of Moody taking the leap. A big game can be followed by a handful of inconsistent performances, which is what other young players like Brandin Podziemski and Quinten Post have been. Trayce Jackson-Davis is at the bottom of the rotation, and Richard might be the most trusted of the bunch. 

To keep it blunt, the youth of the Warriors haven’t shown they can propel the veterans enough to be taken seriously as a threat around the league.

Grade: C-

Health

Everything changes when Curry limps down the tunnel and to the Warriors’ locker room. That was the scene Wednesday night, and Curry officially has been diagnosed with a quad contusion and muscle strain. He’ll be re-evaluated in one week and will miss at least three games.

Payton in the same game exited in the first half because of a sprained ankle. Kuminga has missed seven straight games because of knee tendonitis, and Horford is shelved right now with right sciatic nerve irritation.

The bumps and bruises haven’t been big enough to threaten an entire season. However, they’re starting to pile up already and Rick Celebrini is guaranteed to be a busy man all season long.

Grade: C+

Overall

Now it’s time for Ker’s honest answer when I asked him about the identity of the team as it currently stands. 

“The identity? Well, what did Bill Parcells say? You are what your record says you are. We’re 10-10, we’re an average team,” Kerr said. “I think we have the potential for much more, and it’s my job as coach to help these guys find that rhythm that can give us some juice, some separation, some confidence. I believe in them. 

“I believe in our guys. I believe in our continuity that we’ve got from not only last year, but with Steph and Dray for 14 years. So I believe in the guys. We’ve just got to keep working and we’ll get there.”

The Warriors through 20 games have two two-game win streaks and one three-game win streak. Simultaneously, they have two two-game losing streaks and one three-game losing streak. They’ve also pulled out more worrisome losses than impressive wins. 

“When we’re making shots, oh man, we’re celebrating, we’re cheering, we’re doing all those things. When we’re not, and when the game’s not going our way, we put our head down and we mope,” Butler said. “And then we don’t box out, we don’t get back and we foul. … Some people call it frontrunning.” 

It has been an average product, and that shouldn’t be the case with who Curry, Butler and Green still have been. This is who the Warriors are, for now. But first, they’ll have to overcome at least a couple games without Curry.

Grade: C

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Despite the season still being relatively young, we are deep enough into things for managers to have an idea of where they sit in comparison to other teams. Taking a look at your depth and whether there are any expendable pieces, could open up opportunities for you to narrow your focus. As always, the waiver wire is the place to be, providing managers with bargain players who could be about to ascend in the fantasy basketball rankings.

Identifying players who are benefiting from expanded roles—whether it's an offensive threat delivering points and threes or a defensive-minded player boosting your blocks and steals—is vital as you navigate the season.

Let's dive into nine key NBA sleepers whose current stats suggest they are poised for significant value and are currently rostered in fewer than 40% of Yahoo leagues.

Yahoo High Score Leagues

Collin Gillespie, Phoenix Suns (31% rostered)

Thrust into a sizeable role this season, Gillespie has taken advantage of the fact that Jalen Green has been mostly absent due to an ongoing hamstring injury. He had been coming off the bench prior to Wednesday's game, during which he made his first start of the season, tallying 48 fantasy points. He has scored double-digit points in seven straight games, amassing at least 30 fantasy points in six of those seven appearances. Whether he continues to start or is moved back to the bench, Gillespie has been a big part of what Phoenix has been able to do and should be rostered in all formats, including High Score Leagues.

Noah Clowney, Brooklyn Nets (24% rostered)

Another player who is playing the best basketball of his career, Clowney finally appears to have carved out a consistent role in Brooklyn. He has played at least 30 minutes in five of the past seven games, tallying double-digit points in all seven. He has averaged 37.3 fantasy points per game over the past three games, providing the Nets with a secondary scoring option behind Michael Porter Jr. If his defensive contributions can stick, we could be looking at a player who has rest-of-season value.

Keldon Johnson, San Antonio Spurs (19% rostered)

Johnson continues to step up in the absence of Victor Wembanyama, having scored in double digits in five straight appearances, while also adding 42 total rebounds. Although he is still coming off the bench, he has closed a number of games recently. He has at least 28 fantasy points in four of those five games, and while his value likely has a shelf life, he is certainly worth adding until Wembanyama is back in the fold.

Standard 9-Category Leagues

Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs (23% rostered)

Harper returned to action Wednesday, back in the lineup after suffering a calf strain earlier in the season. While his playing time was clearly limited in his return, we saw enough from Harper to begin his rookie campaign to know that he is going to have fantasy value at some point. While De'Aaron Fox has also returned to the lineup in recent times, Stephon Castle has replaced him on the sideline after succumbing to a hip injury. There is obviously an element of risk associated with Harper, given the very small sample size we have. However, if you can absorb some risk, he makes sense as an add, just to see if he can push back to 26 minutes per game.

Daniel Gafford, Dallas Mavericks (22% rostered)

It's been far from smooth sailing for Gafford this season, with an ankle injury costing him five games to begin the campaign. However, he has since missed just one game, starting in 12 of his 13 games. He has logged at least 25 minutes in seven straight and should be able to maintain his recent momentum after it was announced that Dereck Lively would miss 7-10 days due to a foot issue. Anthony Davis appears to be edging closer to a return, but as we know, he would prefer to play at the forward spot, alongside Gafford. A top-60 player over the past two weeks, averaging 10.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 2.0 blocks, Gafford simply needs to be rostered everywhere right now.

Peyton Watson, Denver Nuggets (25% rostered)

It's been a roller coaster ride for Watson this season, playing a much larger role than anticipated following injuries to both Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun. In six games over the past two weeks, Watson has been a top-60 player, averaging 16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 three-pointers and 2.0 combined steals and blocks in 34.0 minutes per game. Gordon and Braun are likely to be sidelined for at least a month, meaning the starting spot is Watson's to lose. Although the scoring could fluctuate, his defensive floor and ability to rebound at a high rate make him a clear must-roster player.

Standard Points Leagues

Anthony Black, Orlando Magic (21% rostered)

Black has seemingly been able to add an element of consistency to his game, scoring double digits in six straight games. In fact, in seven appearances over the past two weeks, he has averaged 15.6 points, 3.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.3 three-pointers in 28.4 minutes per game. The imminent return of Paolo Banchero is obviously going to have an impact, although there will likely be some sort of ramp-up period. However, Black was flirting with value even before Banchero went down, making him a viable, yet slightly risky pickup, even in points formats. 

Brandon Williams, Dallas Mavericks (14% rostered)

Williams has been playing through what appears to be a minor back issue, potentially limiting his overall production. With that said, he has still been able to contribute on both ends of the floor and appears to have the starting point guard role locked down. The return of Anthony Davis could actually help Williams, with Davis drawing a lot of attention on the offensive end. This could, in turn, see Williams' assist numbers go up, while his shot selection could improve. The back issue is something we need to monitor, but until we hear otherwise, he makes for a viable points league target.

Vince Williams Jr., Memphis Grizzlies (24% rostered)

Memphis continues to deal with multiple injuries to its backcourt, affording Williams an unexpected opportunity to start at the point guard position. His scoring has been wildly inconsistent and figures to be less of a priority for him moving forward. However, in five games since assuming the starting role, Williams has averaged 6.5 rebounds, 10.8 assists and 1.4 steals. His ceiling is somewhat capped due to his lack of scoring upside, but he remains an elite source of assists and out-of-position rebounds, making him a sneaky asset, at least until Ja Morant returns to the lineup.

The Bucks are listing Giannis Antetokounmpo as questionable for Friday’s NBA Cup meeting with the Knicks. 

Antetokounmpo has missed Milwaukee's last four games due to an abductor strain. 

He was also questionable heading into Wednesday's meeting with the Heat, but ended up remaining sidelined. 

It's looking like he may come down to a game-time decision again, but if the All-Star were to miss another game, it would be a nice boost for New York as they look to secure their third consecutive win. 

The Bucks, on the other hand, now sit at 8-11 on the season and have dropped six straight.  

Wednesday’s Knicks win guaranteed that they control their own destiny heading into Friday’s group play finale.

They will advance to the quarterfinals with a win Friday, but will have to do so as a Wild Card with a loss. 

Antetokounmpo had 37 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists in a win over the Knicks earlier this season.  

Warriors expect injured Steph Curry to miss ‘week or a little more,' per report originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors will have to navigate the next week or so without superstar guard Steph Curry.

Golden State expects Curry to miss “a week or a little more” because of a quad contusion he sustained in Wednesday night’s loss to the Houston Rockets, ESPN’s Shams Charania and Anthony Slater reported Thursday, citing sources.

The Golden State Warriors anticipate Stephen Curry will miss around a week or a little more with a quad contusion suffered Wednesday night, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater. He's believed to have avoided any serious issue. Return will depend on how quad responds to treatment. pic.twitter.com/m1QwFXhhVc

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 27, 2025

The good news for the Warriors, per Charania and Slater, is that Curry appears to have avoided a serious injury.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters after Wednesday’s game that Curry was scheduled to undergo an MRI.

Curry sustained the injury late in the fourth quarter against the Rockets, and while he initially played through the injury, he was forced to head to the locker room in the final seconds of the loss.

Bottled up by the Rockets’ defense, Curry finished with 14 points on 4 of 13 shooting from the field and 2 of 9 from 3-point range.

If Curry misses exactly one week, he won’t play in the Warriors’ next three games — at home against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, at home against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, Dec. 2 and on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, Dec 4.

Beyond that, the Warriors have a road back-to-back against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, Dec. 6 and the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, Dec. 7.

Because the Warriors didn’t qualify for the 2025 NBA Cup quarterfinals, they won’t play again until Thursday, Dec. 11 or Friday, Dec. 12.

So if Curry needs more than a week to recover, he could eye the unannounced regular-season game.

The Warriors went 1-2 when Curry missed a three-game stretch earlier this season due to an illness.

Sitting at 10-10 ahead of Saturday’s game against the Pelicans, Golden State appears to be at an inflexion point, with Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler calling out their teammates following Wednesday’s loss.

Wins already are hard to come by for the Warriors right now, and that task will be even tougher without Curry for the next few games.

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Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, nearing breaking point, sound alarm about Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – After the Warriors faded down the stretch Wednesday night, trudging into the locker room wearing a 104-100 loss to the Houston Rockets, Jimmy Butler III cleared his throat and spat out flames.

“We don’t box out,” Butler said. “We don’t go with the scouting report. We let anybody do whatever they want. Open shots, get into the paint, free throws. It’s just sad.”

A few minutes later, Draymond Green came along, throwing another level of heat directed at the play of the Warriors this season – again directed at the defense.

“Our defense is s—t,” Green said. “Because it’s not necessarily the numbers. How do you feel when you out there? And it’s just letdown after letdown. It’s bigger than the numbers, you know what I’m saying? Defense is about demeanor. If there’s letdown after letdown, then it kills your demeanor, it kills your bravado, then you’re just a soft team.

“It’s bigger than the numbers. Like, what does the other team feel when you’re defending them? And right now, they don’t feel no force. Even if you’re getting stops. Yeah, we got great coaches, we gon’ have a good scheme. But what about the force? We don’t have that.”

The Warriors, at least the accomplished veterans, don’t like the product they’re delivering to themselves and their fans. They came to training camp with visions of making one more run toward a championship, coming together to earn a fifth ring for Stephen Curry and Green, a first for Butler and a second for first-year Warrior Al Horford.

But 20 games into the season, the Warriors keep circling the block instead of marching toward their goal. Progress, regression, progress, regression. They return to the same place, profoundly displeased with their inability to cross the street and make real strides.

Standing in the locker room, Butler pointed at the cloth covering the board where the game plan and scouting reports are posted and defended the work of coach Steve Kerr and his staff, blowing off the notion of Kerr pointing the finger at himself.

“I just think we need to do what we’re supposed to, be out there doing as players,” Butler said. “I don’t care what Steve says. It’s not on him, and it’s not on the coaches. Y’all can’t see (the board), but it’s back there somewhere. Yeah, they write everything up there for us to do, and they put us in the position to be successful. We go over it the day before, the day of. We got to go out there and execute, man.

“So don’t listen to Steve. And he said, ‘This is on me,’ and he got to be better. Nah, it’s on these guys around this locker room.”

This is not the first time this season that Butler and Green have pointed out the team’s recurring inadequacies. They raised similar issues 16 days ago after the Warriors were blown out by the Thunder in Oklahoma City. Golden State’s record was 6-6 after that loss, and it is 4-4 since.

Circling the block.

Some of Golden State’s defensive statistics seem which seem acceptable, ranking 10th in defensive rating. Other statistics, not so much. The Warriors are 15th in field-goal percentage defense and 22nd in rebounding, both of which are central components of defense.

Butler and Green look beyond the numbers, and peer into the team’s overall disposition. How does it respond to even the slightest adversity? They don’t like what they see.

“When we’re making shots, we’re celebrating, we’re cheering,” Butler said. “We’re doing all those things. When we’re not and when the game’s not going our way, we put our head down and we mope. And then we don’t box out, we don’t get back, we foul, we do all the bad things.

“When it’s going good – you know, some people call it front-running – but when it’s going good, it’s all smiles.”

There were no smiles among the Warriors late Wednesday night. The locker room, rollicking on Monday, was dissatisfied and somber, partly because they lost a home game in which they held a 12-point lead at the half and partly because Stephen Curry left in the fourth quarter with a right quad contusion.

The Warriors have been better with Curry (9-7) than without him (1-3), but five weeks into the season, they’ve yet to sustain the slightest whisper of momentum.

How do the Warriors break this chain of futility?

“It requires individuals, all of us, as individuals, to take on your challenge,” Green said. “If you take on your challenge, then we can make the team thing work. The only way the team thing works is if we take on the individual challenge.

“And right now, we are individually – and I know everybody likes to twist words – we are individually f—ing awful.”

The Warriors are not bleeping awful by NBA standards; 17 teams have better a record, 12 are worse. They are, in certain aspects, deeply awful by the standard set by Curry and Green and expected by Butler.

When the vets spoke up two weeks ago, there was a welcome response. The Warriors won three in a row. And now, once again, the vets are speaking up, this time a bit louder.

Is anybody listening?

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 points to help the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 10th successive NBA win.

Listed as ill on Thunder's injury report, Gilgeous-Alexander starred in a 113-105 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Cup at Paycom Center.

The 27-year-old has registered at least 20 points in 91 consecutive games - the third longest streak in NBA history.

Anthony Edwards recorded 31 points and eight rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have lost three games in a row.

Oklahoma are only the fifth team in NBA history to begin a season with 18 wins and one defeat, while they have won all three NBA Cup games to lead West Group A.

The NBA Cup is an in-season tournament where teams compete for a trophy, but results also count towards the overall season standings.

The Thunder host the Phoenix Suns on Saturday, while the Timberwolves welcome the Boston Celtics.

The Toronto Raptors qualified for the quarter-finals with a 97-95 home win against the Indiana Pacers.

Brandon Ingram scored in the last second to seal the Raptors' ninth victory in succession.

Reed Sheppard put in a career-best 31-point performance as the Houston Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors 104-100 in San Francisco.

The Detroit Pistons missed out on a franchise record 14th straight win as Jaylen Brown scored 33 points and made 10 rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics to a 117-114 home victory.

• Latest NBA results

The Knicks had an offensive explosion on Wednesday night, beating the Charlotte Hornets, 129-101.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Things got off to a fast start as both offenses came out firing and shot the ball extremely well in the first quarter. Josh Hart, in particular, had a fantastic opening quarter in what was his second start of the season after he logged 38 minutes in a win against the Nets last time out. 

The 30-year-old looked like a man inspired and scored 11 points on a perfect 4-for-4 from the field in eight minutes on the floor. He also had a steal and an assist in what was a fast-paced and entertaining back-and-forth first quarter.

-- It wasn't just Hart, though, as every starter saw at least two baskets go through in the opening frame. Jalen Brunson (9), Karl-Anthony Towns (6), Mikal Bridges (6) and Miles McBride (5), along with Hart, combined to score 37 points and shoot 15-of-20 (75 percent) from the field. 

-- Mitchell Robinson led everybody with three rebounds in four minutes off the bench, while Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele also saw some minutes. 

-- The Hornets had a similarly successful first quarter with Collin Sexton leading the scoring charge with seven points off the bench. LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges each had five and after 12 minutes, New York was up 37-31.

-- Scoring slowed to start the second quarter as both teams began the period 3-for-11 from the field. Nevertheless, the Knicks continued to add to their lead and were up by 15 after Brunson completed an and-one with 3:35 remaining in the half as Charlotte struggled mightily on offense. 

-- Things exploded from there with New York ending the half on a 15-2 run to take complete control. The two daggers came in the final minute when Brunson and Hart each splashed deep three-pointers, with Hart's coming with 1.2 seconds left. The last-second triple was Hart's third of the half as he led all scorers with 19 points (7-for-9 from the field, 3-for-3 from deep, 2-for-2 at the free throw line) heading into the locker room with the Knicks up, 72-47.

-- Essentially over from there, New York did well to not let the Hornets get back into the game in the second half as Brunson carried the load offensively by scoring 16 points in the third quarter. It wasn't his most efficient night, shooting 14-for-28 from the field and 2-for-6 from three, but Brunson ended with a game-high 33 points.

-- After his incredible first half, Hart took a backseat to Brunson in the second and let the point guard cook. Still, Hart finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals in a do-it-all type performance. Towns had a double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds), Bridges had 18 points and McBride added 19 to round out most of the Knicks' scoring.

-- New York shot an incredible 57 percent from the field, 52 percent from deep and 89 percent from the charity stripe in one of its most impressive offensive showings, especially on the road. It was enough to capture just the team's third road win of the season and they are now 3-5 away from MSG. 

-- The Knicks are now 2-1 in NBA Cup group stage play.

Game MVP: Josh Hart

Hart was everywhere in the first half and was a big reason why the Knicks got out to such a big lead at halftime.

Highlights

Josh Hart to the basket 💪 pic.twitter.com/I2kN3v7nnq

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 27, 2025

Josh Hart steal & score! pic.twitter.com/hd2b2sCsJg

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 27, 2025

19 first-half points for Josh Hart 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xlSly0WZ2b

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 27, 2025

What's next

The Knicks return home after a five-game road trip to take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night in their final NBA Cup group stage matchup. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.

Doug Christie, Kings haunted by appalling first quarter in NBA Cup loss to Suns originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – Keegan Murray was fairly pleased with how the Kings played defense over the final three quarters on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center when they limited the Phoenix Suns to 71 points despite their 112-100 loss.

The problem for Sacramento came in the first quarter of the night, when the game got out of hand before many fans had a chance to settle into their seats comfortably.

It was 12 minutes of absolute dysfunctional play on both ends of the court for Sacramento, a complete 180 from Monday’s game against Minnesota when the Kings rallied to stun the Timberwolves.

“Obviously when you lose a quarter 41-16, it’s hard to come back,” Murray told reporters. “We just dug ourselves too big of a hole. It was rough. It wasn’t our brand of basketball at all. The next three quarters, we started to figure it out a little bit, but it was just too late.”

That was the general sentiment everywhere in Sacramento, where fans, in evident frustration, booed the hometown squad for most of the night before heading for the exits with more than two minutes still on the clock.

An apparent disturbance with a Kings fan put the game on hold 😳 pic.twitter.com/1djfk3f1JR

— Kings on NBCS (@NBCSKings) November 27, 2025

Kings coach Doug Christie echoed sentiments of disappointment.

“About as disappointing as it gets,” Christie told reporters. “Probably should have called a timeout within the first six seconds with the very first turnover. You can’t dig a hole like that.

“Not only digging a hole that way, but it’s the confidence that you give another team that is just out of control. You can’t give NBA players that type of confidence. Just man for man. It can’t happen.”

The hole was dug, and, as a result, the Kings played from behind all night. The Suns got away with too many easy baskets inside, a result of star big man Domantas Sabonis not playing.

Sacramento was also without its backup point guard and one of its top defensive stoppers in Dennis Schröder.

Regardless of the situation, the first quarter was as bad as it’s been this season for the Kings.

“I guess we were just stuck in the mud tonight,” guard Malik Monk said. “They were hitting shots, we were letting them get open shots, but they were knocking them down. It’s hard to win, man, when you got a big deficit like that.”

It would be easy to shrug this off as one game, but Monk said it’s been a pattern for the Kings ever since he signed with the team before the 2022-23 NBA season.

“I wouldn’t say it’s surprising to me, because that’s been the story of my seasons (since) I’ve been playing here,” Monk added. “We start kind of flat sometimes, and sometimes we don’t. Super disappointing, man, because we know what we can do when we come out, play hard and compete for four quarters.”

The first quarter fiasco against Phoenix was definitely one for the books.

Sacramento scored just 16 points, its fewest in any opening quarter this season. The Kings shot 6 for 17 (1 for 7 on 3s), committed seven turnovers and failed to record a single assist.

For a squad that has been preaching about team identity all season, the Kings really don’t have one yet. If they do, it definitely was missing Wednesday.

“I don’t think we’re showing it right now,” Murray concluded. “I think you saw more in the Minnesota and the Denver game, but we just want to try and disrupt teams. Play fast, be the aggressor, have the other team be on their heels, and just keep punching them. But tonight, obviously, I think we only did that for one quarter.”

It was also just one quarter that proved to be the Kings’ downfall against the Suns.

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Watford sidelined, Bona eyeing return for Sixers' Black Friday game in Brooklyn  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers’ revolving injury door keeps swinging.

A team official said that an MRI confirmed Trendon Watford suffered a left adductor strain in the second quarter of the Sixers’ 41-point loss Tuesday to the Magic. He’ll be re-evaluated in two weeks. 

After missing the start of this season with a left hamstring injury, Watford had played in 14 consecutive games and averaged 8.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists. The highlight of his season has been a first career triple-double in the Sixers’ Nov. 8 win over the Raptors. He wasn’t too far from a second on Sunday, posting 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in a loss to the Heat. 

“We were just getting ready to get used to him,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said Wednesday afternoon. “That he’s going to be a Swiss Army knife kind of guy that probably plays anywhere from one to four for us. I think he had a good knack of getting us some timely buckets, a good knack of setting up things for people. He can guard multiple positions. That’s a lot of stuff, right?”

Nurse had Adem Bona back at practice. The second-year big man told reporters he aims to return Friday against the Nets.

Bona’s been out the past five games because of a right ankle sprain. With Joel Embiid also sidelined by a right knee injury, the Sixers have needed to lean heavily on Andre Drummond at center. 

“I think we need that position manned by two people,” Nurse said. “And I think Drum’s done a great job, but you can see as the games stack up, it gets to be a lot for one guy. And the other guys have tried to fill in, but it just gets a little small certain nights. So that’s the biggest thing, that he can help shore up that position over 48 (minutes). We certainly need what he brings us — energy, rim protection, some shot blocking. 

“You think back to what he was giving us, it was maybe not 20 minutes of amazing play, but there was always that spurt of three or four minutes that got you to the next part of the game or sparked you on a momentum run. He looked pretty good today, so hopefully things go OK and he makes it back by Friday.”

VJ Edgecombe (left calf tightness) and Paul George (right ankle sprain) also practiced. Embiid (right knee injury) had “an individual strength and conditioning session,” according to a team official. 

“I would say they looked pretty good,” Nurse said of Edgecombe and George. “They did everything all the way through. Again, it wasn’t a ton of stuff coming off last night, but they did both make it through. We’ve got a couple days yet (before the Nets game), so hopefully we can get at least one — hopefully both of them — back.”

Regardless of who’s available, the 9-8 Sixers will expect a bounce-back performance when they face the 3-14 Nets. The team’s one blowout win so far is a 24-point victory on Nov. 2 in Brooklyn.

“The amount of effort and work they’ve put in has been as high as it can be,” Nurse said. “Even though you got punched in the mouth last night — repeatedly — you’ve got to be able to come back and do it again. Keep that mindset and that process going.”

Steph Curry sustains quad injury in Warriors' loss to Rockets, will undergo MRI  originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – A banged-up Steph Curry limped down to the locker room alongside director of sports medicine and performance Rick Celebrini with 35 seconds left in the Warriors’ 104-100 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night at Chase Center. 

Steph exited the game and went to the Warriors' locker room in apparent pain pic.twitter.com/R0DqX7jL7j

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) November 27, 2025

Curry has a right quad contusion and will receive an MRI, per the Warriors. The time and date of the MRI were not announced after the loss.

As Rockets center Alperen Şengün set a screen on Curry late in the fourth quarter, his left knee hit the Warriors superstar directly on his right quad. Curry had a noticeable limp that only worsened as the game went on. 

Curry at the 2:47 mark took a charge with Amen Thompson lowering his shoulder and barreling straight into him. But Rockets head coach Ime Udoka challenged the call, and upon review it was overturned as a blocking foul on Curry. 

After a Rockets challenge, Steph was called for a blocking foul on this play pic.twitter.com/Fnyp2yOwJ5

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) November 27, 2025

Exactly one minute later, Curry again found himself on the ground diving for a loose ball. His lower legs were taken out, and it was deemed an out-of-bounds turnover on Curry. 

After Rockets guard Reed Sheppard made one of his two free throws with 35 seconds remaining to push the Warriors’ deficit to five points, coach Steve Kerr called timeout and Curry had an extended conversation with Celebrini. In the end, Celebrini pointed to the bench as a gesture that Curry could no longer play. 

Angrily staring straight ahead while limping, Curry didn’t say a word down the tunnel and back to the Warriors’ locker room. 

Curry came into the game having scored at least 30 points in three consecutive games. But the Rockets’ physical defense held him to 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting and 2 of 9 from 3-point range. Curry also committed a season-high seven turnovers, and his 14 points were his third fewest this season.

“It obviously changes everything,” Kerr said in response to what happens if Curry has to miss any time. “Our rotation, how we’re playing, who we’re playing through – so, we’ll see.” 

Curry missed three consecutive games because of an illness earlier this season, and one because of an ankle issue.

“When I heard it was a quad I was actually kind of relieved,” Kerr said. “Better than an ankle or knee. Hopefully he can recover quickly and be OK, but we got to hold down the fort.” 

The Warriors are 1-4 without Curry this season, and have a 92-155 record all time when he doesn’t play.

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What we learned as Steph Curry exits late in Warriors' NBA Cup loss to Rockets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors were pushing toward a wire-to-wire victory Wednesday night, but the wire began fraying late in the third quarter and snapped in the fourth.

As the Warriors began fading, the Houston Rockets came back to own the second half and slap a 104-100 loss on the Warriors, sending their record back to .500 at 10-10. 

To make matters worse, Stephen Curry, attempting to take a charge in the fourth quarter, fell to the floor and came up limping. He tried to play through it but was subbed out with 35.2 seconds remaining.

Steph exited the game and went to the Warriors' locker room in apparent pain pic.twitter.com/R0DqX7jL7j

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) November 27, 2025

Six Warriors scored in double figures, led by 21 points from Jimmy Butler III. Rookie Will Richard scored 18 points, Curry and Brandin Podziemski each finished with 14, while Draymond Green and Quinten Post each had 12.

The loss is the fourth in five games for Golden State, which is 1-2 on the homestand it hoped would be a source of recovery.

Second-year pro Reed Sheppard scored a game-high 31 points to lead the Rockets (12-4).

Here are three observations from a game that the Warriors are hoping won’t force their best player to the sidelines:

Warriors punished by Sheppard

With leading scorer Kevin Durant, averaging 24.3 points per game, unavailable while attending to a family matter, it figured Houston’s offense would be somewhat crippled.

It was, as No. 2 scorer Alperen Sengun was held to 16 points, six below his average, on 7-18 shooting from the field, including 0-of-4 from distance. No. 3 scorer Amen Thompson, averaging 17.9 points, was limited to 10.

The Rockets were saved by Sheppard, who averages 13.1 points but poured in a career-high 31 on 12-of-25 shooting, including 4-of-12 from deep. He added nine assists and five rebounds.

sheeeesh Reed 🥶 pic.twitter.com/eecYMZHnrv

— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) November 27, 2025

Sheppard got a few open looks, but also torched several defenders, including Brandin Podziemski and Moses Moody. Sheppard was the best player on the floor when it mattered most.

And Golden State’s point-of-attack defense continues to be a weak component.

About that third quarter

After a mostly impressive first half in which they led throughout, the Warriors’ offense sputtered to only 17 points, recording only five assists, in the third quarter.

The Warriors shot 7-of-19 from the field, including 0-of-8 from beyond the arc, in the quarter. They went from shooting very respectably to chucking up rocks.

Meanwhile, the Rockets rang up 27 points, trimming Golden State’s 12-point halftime advantage to two (76-74) and sending a wave of restlessness through the sellout crowd. 

It was as if the Rockets remembered they are the league’s best rebounding team in the NBA and went to work on the glass while also turning Warriors’ turnovers into fast-break buckets. Moreover, the Warriors got the worst of the whistles, sending the Rockets to the line for 10 free throws, which gave them time to set up their fourth-ranked defense.

Warriors make early statement but can’t finish 

The Warriors wasted no time in making it clear this would be a battle despite Houston being three games ahead of them in the Western Conference. They made their first five shots and went up 20-11 on a Curry layup with 6:16 left in the first quarter.

Will Richard adds to the Dubs' perfect start from deep ☔ pic.twitter.com/VcQ3nZHPoM

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) November 27, 2025

Playing solid defense and holding their own on the glass (25-25) against the league’s premier rebounding team, Golden State never trailed and went into the locker room holding a 59-47 lead.

Green not only frustrated Sengun but also outscored Houston’s talented young center 10-8 before intermission. While Sengun was minus-21 over 17 minutes in the first half, Green posted a plus-16 over 16 minutes. The biggest blemish in the first half was Golden State’s seven turnovers, which gifted the Rockets with 12 points – nearly one quarter of their total.

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