All good streaks are supposed to come to an end. In Friday's 98-93 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Knicks guard Tyler Kolek's stretch of perfection ended.
In the game's early stages, he turned the ball over for the first time this season. Kolek coughed up the rock one more time, finishing with four assists and two points in 13 minutes.
It was a departure from Kolek's first three appearances this season, in which he recorded 21 assists and zero turnovers over 44 minutes.
The reserve is playing some of his best basketball right now, steadying the offense when Knicks star Jalen Brunson rests.
Kolek is taking advantage of an opportunity given to him because of an ankle injury to guard Jose Alvarado.
Kolek entered this season on the outside of New York's regular rotation. But his play has been impressive and could make Knicks coach Mike Brown think twice about taking him out of the rotation when Alvarado returns.
In Kolek's 57 minutes this season, the Knicks are assisting on 76.5 percent of their baskets, according to NBA Stats, a team high and one that would rank first in the entire league. The club's assist rate drops to 66.3 percent in the minutes he sits.
Kolek's careful playmaking comes at a time when the Knicks are in need of good decision making.
As of Saturday night, New York ranked 15th in turnovers per 100 possessions.
Over the past few years, the Knicks have regularly been one of the better teams at taking care of the ball, ranking 11th in the category last season.
The turnover problems have been a factor in New York’s slow offensive start and 2-4 record through the first six games.
Kolek has created scoring opportunities for his teammates with ease. Many of Kolek's minutes have been shared with starters Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby.
Towns is averaging 5.81 more points per 100 possessions when he shares the floor with Kolek, according to PBP Stats.
Anunoby's scoring increases by 9.85 points per 100 possessions in the same scenarios.
Since being drafted in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, Kolek's role has been inconsistent with New York.
Last season, due to a Miles McBride injury, Kolek emerged around the NBA Cup and played a significant role in the Knicks' Cup championship win.
He saw regular rotation minutes until the middle of January.
The Knicks acquired Alvarado in a trade deadline deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, pushing Kolek further down the depth chart.
Crowded backcourt
Though it is unclear when Alvarado will return from his injury, he will be back eventually. It creates a competition at the backup point guard slot.
With Brunson averaging 35 minutes a night through the last four seasons, there's very limited space to find time for both guards.
Add in a small-ish backcourt contributors like McBride, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson, and it seems like a crowded backcourt.
Kolek and Alvarado are very different players. Kolek is a floor general with crafty passes and creative finishes around the basket to make up for his lack of athleticism. Alvarado is more of a defensive playmaker, creating havoc with steals.
Despite his diminutive stature, Alvarado can situationally guard players larger than him. Both players are inconsistent as three-point shooters but have proven to be capable enough to garner some respect from defenses.
It's a good problem to have. The Knicks have relied on the bench to step up in key situations. Last year's run to the championship saw several reserves have individual moments in specific games or series.
Brown said in training camp that outside of the starting five, players would be fighting for minutes. Kolek and Alvarado will see some time on the floor this season. Who plays the best will likely earn more time.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 26: Tyler Herro #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers in the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on October 26, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Winners & Sinners, where we reflect on the week that was for the Milwaukee Bucks. Week 2 saw the Bucks go 1-2, with the team getting its first win of the season by defeating the arch-rival Indiana Pacers, before being forced into concussion protocols by the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers. But who’s deserving of the hardware?
MVB
Tyler Herro collects his first MVB of the week on the back of efficient shooting in two out of three games and a best-on-court performance against the Pacers: 23 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. The shooting was expected, the poise has stood out, and, more importantly, he was Milwaukee’s best when they were at their best, leading the team to its only win of the season thus far.
Defensive Belt
Defending Champion: Kyle Kuzma.
The Contenders: N/A.
The Decision: Outside of the win against the Pacers, the Bucks haven’t exactly stopped anyone this week. Myles Turner had some moments in that game, then got mauled by Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley against the Cavaliers, who combined for 52 points on 23/32 shooting (72%) in just 48 minutes. Consider the belt vacated until someone shows enough to earn it.
The People’s Champ
retired janitor’s wisdom is always appreciated, but this comment—in a quality back-and-forth with naveed2000s—is too good to overlook:
Please do go deeper into the early-second-round versus late-first-round draft returns, rj! In the meantime, who’s up for marshmallows?
Run That Back
This one was simple, or so I thought. Kasparas Jakučionis gets the ball off the swing from Kel’el Ware and thinks like any good point guard does: Return the favour. First, he jabs sideline; buys some space and forces the switch. Then he curls middle, casts the line: one dribble, two dribbles—just enough line to hook Larry Nance, reel him closer. A third follows, a beat to let the water settle. Then it comes, the left-handed spear between rocks. Right to the chest. And before you know it, the catch is in the net.
Then, in the week’s waning moments, Brayden Burries does this:
Gravity-defying stuff—and enough vertical to lift our collective spirits!
Sinner(s)
Myles Turner: You hate to kick a bloke when he’s down, but Myles Turner has just not been good enough. Not close to it. He was better to start this week against the Pacers, but that game actually proves the point. Turner has been so bad for the Bucks that a six-point, nine-rebound, four-assist, four-block performance, which also came with 29% shooting, three turnovers, and some “efforts” that would lead to a benching for Kel’el Ware, was lauded as a standout night. Following that, he put up just four points and two rebounds against the Rockets before being abused by Allen, Mobley, and whoever else cared to venture into the Bucks’ defensive paint against the Cavaliers.
Second Quarters: Against the Pacers, the Bucks hit just 8/24 shots in the second quarter as a two-point quarter-time lead became an 11-point halftime deficit. Against the Rockets, the Bucks hit just 6/24 shots in the second quarter as they let a two-point quarter-time deficit explode to 22 by halftime. Against the Cavaliers, the Bucks hit just 7/28 shots as they let a one-point quarter-time lead transform into a 26-point deficit. This. Is. Not. Going. To. Get. The. Job. Done.
For more on the Bucks second-quarter woes, check out their shot charts, courtesy of NBA.com:
If… Then…
If Nate Ament has already overtaken Ousmane Dieng in the forward rotation, then the 2026 trade-deadline darling has some serious work to do. Dieng’s offseason deal—three years, $17.5m—seemed surprisingly good for the Bucks, but maybe they knew his play down the stretch was more mirage than oasis.
That’s all for Week 2. Share your winners and sinners in the comments!
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 30: Daniel Gafford #21 and Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates during the game against the Houston Rockets during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on October 30, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (4-2) picked up a huge 116-111 win over the Houston Rockets (5-1) on Friday night in their first NBA Cup game of the season. The road to victory was paved with a slew of clutch plays, with Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving and Daniel Gafford leading the way when it mattered most. The NBA defines the “clutch” as the final five minutes of a game when the score is within five or fewer points. Here we break down that exact scenario from the huge win Friday.
4:21: Tie score, 96-96
The Mavericks entered the clutch with a three-point lead. They forced two stops around a Rockets’ offensive rebound but could not convert on the other end. Again they forced a stop, but yielded another offensive rebound to the Rockets, setting up Fred Van Vleet for a game tying three-point shot.
3:28: Mavs up four, 100-96
Flagg began asserting his clutch-time dominance with an immediate answer to Van Vleet’s three-pointer. At the 4:07 mark, Flagg hit a floater for his 25th point of the night. After a stop and a rebound, Flagg was at it again with a finger roll that was counted as a score after being goaltended.
2:26 Tie score, 100-100
Zaccharie Risacher committed a shooting foul on the following possessing, giving Kevin Durant a chance to drain two free throws. After an Irving missed three-pointer, Van Vleet connected on a bucket to once again tie the score.
1:40 Mavs up 105-100
With the score tied, it was Irving’s turn to respond. Off a Flagg assist, Irving broke the 30-point threshold with a nice 16-foot shot to put the Mavericks up by two points. Caleb Martin committed a shooting foul on Durant, but the 82.7% free throw shooter missed both attempts. Then it was Flagg’s turn to join Irving as a 30-point scorer as he hit a floater, was fouled and connected on the free throw to extend the lead to five points.
Durant hit a shot to quiet the excitement for a moment, but Irving was not deterred. Dribbling up the court, Irving surprising launched a three-point attempt only seven seconds later. The shot was errant, setting up Gafford for an offensive rebound and put-back. Above the rim, his mini hook shot was on a downward trajectory as soon as it left his hand, warranting a goal tending call on Clint Capela to sustain the five-point lead.
1:00 Mavs up two, 107-105
The next sequence of events may find you shining up your tinfoil hat. On a Rockets’ inbounds pass, Durant cut to the rim, then thrust himself backwards onto Caleb Martin who grabbed a handful of Durant’s jersey. The play was reviewed by officials to determine if it was an away-from-the-play foul (a foul committed on court prior to the ball being inbounded, which gives the offended team a free throw and the ball). Replay seemed to clearly show the contact was initiated and followed-through on by Durant, with Martin grabbing him to brace his fall after absorbing contact, but somehow this was not a factor in the review. Instead, Durant hit the free throw and then immediately connected on a jump shot after the inbound. This turn of events could have been foreboding; just a season ago it may have been. The Mavericks were flying high with a five-point lead, but a questionable call made it a one-possession game in a matter of seconds.
0:24 Mavs up four, 109-105
Following the strange away-from-the-ball foul, things got more tenuous. P.J. Washington got sped up, prompting him to pass the ball toward Irving at half court. The pass was off the mark and Amen Thompson collected in stride heading for what would have been a game-tying layup. Irving stepped in for a charge! What again seemed an obvious call, especially due to Thompson’s unquestionable arm extension push-off, was challenged by the Rockets who had nothing to lose in doing so. Improbably, the charge was overturned on the basis Irving did not have legal guarding position prior to Thompson’s slightly lowered shoulder and arm extension. If karma is your thing, the Mavs were beneficiaries of a “ball don’t lie” moment, as Thompson missed both free throws he received by way of the overturned charge. Flagg had enough at this point, extending the game to a two-possession affair with a slick turnaround jumper for a four-point lead.
Following Flagg’s heroics, the Mavs were a stop away from all but ending the game, but Jabari Smith nailed a three from the top of the arc to bring the Rockets within one point. With an obvious free throw shooting contest ready to ensue, the Mavericks got the ball to Gafford who was fouled by Durant for a trip to the foul line. Surely, the Mavs did not want to put Gafford in this position, but the Rockets’ on-ball defense after the Mavs inbounded left them no choice. Gafford was unfazed. He calmly stroked both free throws to give Dallas a three-point lead.
0:06 Mavs up three, 113-110
We learned that Dusty May is inclined to foul the opponent when the Mavs are up by three points with mere second remaining, rather than give the opposition a chance to attempt a three-point shot for the tie. Flagg fouled Durant who hit both free throws to cut the Mavericks’ lead to one point. The Rockets had to return the favor, fouling Irving on the other end. Irving hit both of his free throws to maintain the three-point advantage after the exchange.
0:04 Mavs up three, 114-111
With the three-point advantage, Dallas once again fouled to prevent a Rockets’ three-point attempt. This time, Thompson split his pair, hitting the first and intentionally missing the second. Thompson got the rebound off his own miss, but it was because he entered the lane well before the ball hit the rim, resulting in a lane violation and turnover. On the next possession, the Mavs got a measure of away-from-the-ball revenge. Marcus Smart mauled Flagg before the ball was inbounded, giving Flagg the chance to increase the lead to three points, which he calmly did by hitting his free throw.
0:00 Mavs win 116-111
Irving was fouled once again, giving him a trip to the line. The veteran leader put the game out of reach and ended the free throw shooting train by once again hitting both of his attempts to extend the lead to five, leaving the Rockets with no further options. As he iced the game, Irving was serenaded with chants of “MVP” from the home crowd.
In the clutch, Flagg scored 10 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting and 2-of-2 from the line. Irving had six points despite missing two three-point attempts. He hit one shot from inside the arc and drained all four of his free throws. This was a dynamic performance by the pair, showing just how poised beyond his years Flagg is and how important Irving is to the success of the team. Flagg was perfect, answering the bell every time with big plays. Irving, while slightly less than perfect, had it where it counted. Giving himself up for what likely should have been a charge and hitting free throws that effectively ended the game demonstrated how lethal the duo can be. Not to be forgotten, Gafford got in on the fun with an offensive rebound off one of Irving’s missed three-pointers and a putback for two points. He then hit two free throws that were absolutely critical in the win.
Kyrie: 35 PTS (26 in 2H) 9 AST Coop: 33 PTS (18 in 2H) 6 AST
The Atlanta Hawks were unable to follow their impressive victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, falling to a one-sided defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night at Smoothie King Center; 121-99. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 14 points as seven Hawks scored in double-digits but could not crack 100 points for the first time this season. For the Pelicans, Saddiq Bey scored 25 points while Jeremiah Fears added 20 points.
The Hawks were dealt a bonus (on paper, at least) as Dejounte Murray and Jordan Poole were ruled out prior to the game, while the Hawks were riding high after a narrow victory against the Cavaliers. Naturally, the Pelicans ran out to a double-digit lead and then threatened to run away the latter stages of the first quarter to extend their lead to 15 points by the end of the opening frame.
From there, the Hawks would never get the lead below 10 points, while the Pelicans lead stretched as high as 19 points in the second quarter, 20 points in the third quarter, and a game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter. That’s it, that is essentially this game in passing. The Hawks never made a run to get this game into single digits, never cracked the code offensively, and no Hawk scored more than 15 points as they shot 38.5% from the field as a team.
To put a finer lens on this game, the first quarter was definitive not just for the Pelicans to create their separation, but the themes that would carry on for the entire game. The Pelicans played with physicality last night, displacing the Hawks often, led initially by Zion Williamson (guarded by Dyson Daniels to begin this game before Lu Dort took this assignment) and then Bey, who was able to carve space for himself and hit his runners inside. This physical edge carried the Pelicans, who shot 7-of-17 from three, and had no need to rely on the three when they excelled as they did inside the paint:
The Pelicans scored 66 points in the paint, and the Hawks were unable to slow the Pelicans down inside the arc as the game continued.
The Hawks shot 2-of-11 from three in the first quarter, and this lack of shooting touch would stay with the Hawks for the remainder of the game, shooting 8-of-46 from three for 17%. The Hawks got some good looks from three but failed to convert with consistency.
A couple of examples, as Onyeka Okongwu misses an above the break three, a shot that is more than in Okongwu’s wheelhouse:
The Pelicans didn’t make life easy for Johnson, and threw bodies when he got the ball on the block, such as this possession where three Pelicans are in place to converge on Johnson, whose pass is intercepted for a turnover:
Johnson was able to get down the lane and finish at the rim a couple of times but was unable to make a big impact scoring, finishing with 13 points. This is possibly more disappointing in context as the Pelicans committed 23 turnovers on the game, with Johnson scoring just two points off of those turnovers — an area of the game Johnson can have a commanding presence.
While the Hawks scored 32 points off of those New Orleans turnovers, the Hawks committed 19 turnovers leading to 34 Pelicans points. To credit New Orleans, their hands were active all game long and they did really well to disrupt drives and send bodies in the right directions to come up with steals:
The Pelicans were just better in almost every way last night: they found a successful avenue inside the paint and kept going to it, they were active defensively, they were moving the ball and making the extra pass, they shot efficiently from the field on the 15 fewer shots they attempted than the Hawks, they attempted 35 free throws (making 28), four Pelicans outscored the highest scoring Hawk (McCollum), and despite committing more turnovers than Atlanta, New Orleans scored more points off of turnovers. They were just the significantly sharper team last night and the winning margin was most definitely a fair reflection of how the two sides respectively played.
Postgame, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder acknowledged the Hawks did not execute to begin the game, citing Atlanta turnovers which made life difficult defensively and communication issues which led to breakdowns.
“We haven’t started the game well from an execution standpoint,” said Snyder postgame. “I think we’re putting ourselves in tough positions offensively, and tonight that resulted in turnovers which were really tough to defend against. I thought we picked it up on the defensive end and were able to generate some things, but I think our collective focus on the ball changing sides of the floor, making better decisions offensively, and then defensively our communication when we were coming back, we had some breakdowns that I think we can clean up if we’re more connected and talk.”
In addition to getting hammered, the Hawks were dealt injury blows to Jock Landale (who played one minute before being ruled out with a left hip injury) and Jalen Johnson (left ankle) which impacted the rotation. Snyder’s focus was less so on who was on the floor and how the Hawks were connecting on it.
“Hopefully both those guys are going to be okay and not be out for too long, we’ll know more about that tomorrow and beyond,” said Snyder of Landale and Johnson. “No matter who’s on the floor, us being more connected as a group, that’s been something we’ve talked about as a strength. Tonight, it was not only not a strength, it was something that we didn’t do well. Again, this team, as I’ve said, I think we want to be the best version of ourselves. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes games like this for you to really focus on the things you need to do to be successful.”
In Landale’s place, Asa Newell finally got to see some rotation minutes. Newell’s stint in the first half was a disaster; his first three shots were bricks, and that’s not an exaggeration — they were bad misses. The second half stint was considerably better, and Newell finished with 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting and 1-of-6 from three in 18 minutes. Depending on Landale’s injury and if he’s to miss time, Newell seems set to see some more minutes coming up, important minutes to try break into the rotation.
All in all, a poor game all around not just from a team perspective but from a player perspective too. You won’t win many NBA games shooting 8-of-46 from three while also committing 19 turnovers.
“I’d like to get in the gym and practice, our schedule hasn’t really allowed for that,” said Snyder postgame. “But we’ve got to just keep working. The good thing about the NBA is you get a chance to play again pretty quickly, so we’ve got a good night for the end of the day.”
The Hawks (3-4) are back in action on Monday night as their three-game road trip continues in Indiana (2-4).
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 28: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz on October 28, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs had their first encounter with last year’s second-round opponent and were able to take control in large part by running the simple play: giving it to Victor Wembanyama. He had a dazzling 43 points and six blocks, helping elevate the defense in the second half.
De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper were big-time as well, helping takedown the short-staffed Minnesota Timberwolves and they made three baskets apiece in the fourth quarter. If anyone missed the game because they went out for Halloween and has access to a replay, do not deprive yourself of the surplus of highlights.
Screen-roll defense is one of the most important areas a team must thrive in to win since most teams run them so much or variations of it . Check out how Victor Wembanyama stays in between two offensive players, guarding them together and taking away the angle for the inside pass.
The acceleration is not the same, but this move reminds me of vintage Kevin Durant. Notice how Jonathan Kuminga is in the best position to help out, but quickly decides he wants no part of this. I get it. Imagine being on a poster and it ends up making the top 10 dunks of the season.
This was like watching a kid unsuccessfully try to score on their older sibling on a six-foot practice hoop, and Wemby’s grab makes it hilarious, while moving him up to fourth all-time in team blocks. He only needs 49 more to pass Artis Gilmore for the next spot .
It almost seems like Wemby improvised this in a half-second and it could’ve been a foul since Trey Lyles is in the restricted area, and he moved slightly to the side instead of vertically. This move was worth the price of admission by itself and it wouldn’t be a surprise if many of the children who saw this up close remember it forever.
I’ve seen enough and fully endorse Wembanyama isolating opposing big men on the perimeter when the team is in need of a bucket. There is not a big man with the size and foot speed to deal with this, so most of these misses would be on Wemby, similarly to how tons of hook shots Kareem Abdul-Jabbar missed had nothing to do with the defender.
The Spurs have not been a fast team through six games, but they are effective when they get in transition. A good example is Devin Vassell hitting Dylan Harper in stride, yet the best part is watching Joan Beringer try to speed up as the ball zips up the court.
Exhibit 647 of “there’s nothing to do about this.” Both Minnesota’s defenders covering this screen roll are in good position yet helpless against the vertical spacing. The most underrated part of this play is how Kuminga is locking-and-trailing Julian Champagnie, which is what one must do when the opponent is shooting 47.6 percent from 3-point range for the season.
Harper’s game has a lot of sauce, and he is a cultured young man, bringing out the Michael Jordan shrug. Notably, Fox comes to set the screen on Kuminga, but then he realized that Harper doesn’t need the help and bails at the last moment.
That’s a sweet left-handed finish for Vassell, who shoots out of the orthodox stance. Vassell mostly stayed out of the way as his teammates were balling, logging two baskets and two assists, yet one of each were on Saturday’s highlights.
The game was up for the taking, then Kuminga wasted time with his behind-the-back dribble, letting Wemby catch up to him and keep in mind that most blocks happen at close range. The coolest part about the play is how the break was executed without a dribble, which was common when NBA players wore shorter shorts and converse dominated league footwear.
PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 29: Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies handles the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 29, 2026 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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 Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Over at CBS’s Eye on College Basketball podcast, Gary Parrish, who lives in Memphis, has really taken to Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer. On the most recent episode, he raved about Boozer being the second-youngest NBA player to record a triple-double, and in just his fifth game, which is remarkable.
Using his typical hyperbole, he said that Boozer could come back to college basketball in his spare time and help his team to win there, too.
While that’s a bit silly, his sentiment is not far off. In fact, we could start to call it the Boozer Effect. What’s the Boozer Effect?
That’s simple: his teams usually win.
Memphis, projected to be in a rebuilding year, is instead off to a 6-0 start, and is the only NBA team still undefeated after knocking off Sacramento Saturday night, 136-105. Boozer finished with 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists (on the downside, he had 7 turnovers).
Memphis’s primary rotation players, aside from Boozer, are journeyman Ty Jerome, Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells, Jerami Grant, Zach Edey, Cam Spencer, Isaiah Stewart, Scotty Pippen, Jr., GG Jackson, and Quinten Post.
Coward is a promising young player, and Edey is massive, but the other guys are basically role players. And now, Jerome and Pippen are both having back issues, while Edey is on a minutes restriction as he continues to work his way back from last season’s injury.
Look at it this way: if you took Boozer out of this group, where would they be?
It’s impossible to answer, but this seems obvious: they sure as hell wouldn’t be 6-0.
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 31: The Houston Rockets huddle up during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 31, 2026 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets rebounded from their first loss of the season Saturday night, crushing the Oklahoma City Thunder 119-98 at the Toyota Center. Jabari Smith Jr. had 30 points and 9 rebounds; Marcus Smart added 24 points. Houston took advantage of one of the Western Conference’s top teams with a strong start, balanced scoring, and great defense for a 21-point victory.
Smith shot 10-of-18 from the field, including 6-of-12 on 3-pointers. Smart was 7-of-10 on 3-pointers as the Rockets shot 46% as a team and were 18-of-41 from behind the arc.
Jabari Smith Jr. was in his bag tonight in Houston's victory:
Alperen Sengun, who returned to the lineup after missing the last two games with lower back soreness, finished with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists, and Kevin Durant scored 14 points.
The victory was a strong comeback for Houston after it lost 116-111 to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. The Rockets didn’t let the setback linger as they came out with vigor and took an early lead against Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City couldn’t slow the onslaught since the club was able to share out the scoring burden. Houston also got a boost from its effort on defense, making the Thunder struggle for good shots.
The Rockets’ opening quarter set the tone for the rest of the night. Houston led Oklahoma City 35-26 after the first quarter. In the second quarter, the defense really tightened up, holding the defense to just 10 points and carrying a 55-36 lead into the half.
Oklahoma City couldn’t find its offensive rhythm in the first half. The Thunder were also without many key players in Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Alex Caruso, resulting in a less experienced lineup against Houston.
The Thunder tried to adjust, but Houston held on and avoided a late-game meltdown like the one it had in the previous night’s game against Dallas. The Rockets played good offense and did a good job of not letting Oklahoma City get anything going to threaten the advantage.
The victory was an especially encouraging one, since Houston made progress in a needed area. The Rockets gave up 40 points in the fourth quarter, squandered an 11-point lead, and struggled on defense against Dallas. Saturday’s performance was a lot better defensive effort and greater control of the game.
The win lifts Houston to 6-1 on the season and continues an amazing start that has the team looking like an early contender in the Western Conference. The Rockets hope to carry that energy into their next game against the Boston Celtics on Monday, November 2, in Houston. As always, be sure to check back at The Dream Shake for post- and pre-game coverage.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 31: Brayden Burries #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Craig Porter Jr. #9 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum on October 31, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks lost badly, 136-11, to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Halloween. For three of four quarters, the Bucks played decently, but losing the second by [checks notes] 27 points cooked their goose. Milwaukee just couldn’t get shots to fall, and although Cleveland’s defence was solid, I thought the Bucks got decent looks. Still, there were certainly positives to take out of the game, as I’ll get to. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Rollins’ game looks worse on the stat sheet than it truly was. Yeah, he’s still struggling to find his own offence, but he did a solid job of distributing the ball without turning it over. It’s also not as if Rollins was shot-chucking. As I alluded to in Kasparas Jakucionis’ section, the Cavs can be really tough to figure out in terms of scoring when you’re being funnelled into two velociraptors inside. In short: it certainly wasn’t a good game by Rollins, but it also wasn’t as bad as some others he’s played this season.
Herro’s first stinker of the season. I thought he got some solid looks in the first half and just missed them, but in the second half, it felt like Cleveland was much more in control of his shot quality. It got to the point where Herro was trying to foul-bait to get something going. I also wasn’t in love with his body language.
Weird game for Jaquez. I thought he was solid as a defender on Harden and did his best when he had to match up with Mobley, but like a few others, he struggled to find ways to score because of Cleveland’s size.
Kuzme was excellent in the third quarter, scoring 12 of his 14 points and keeping the Cavs’ lead from getting too large. Over the whole game, I appreciated the effort Kuz showed defensively as one of the few wings who could at least try to match Mobley physically, but ultimately that made little difference.
Honestly, my analysis of Turner’s game last night is similar to what I thought of the Rockets game: on balance, he was pretty solid, but his shooting struggles continue. I will say that, whether it is age or a blatant athleticism deficit, Turner just cannot score over athletic centres with any regularity anymore (even when he catches it with an advantage). Had a play where he set a good screen and caught it with a window to the rim, but when Evan Mobley rotated over, his only hope was to catapult himself into Mobley and hope for a call; he did not get the call, and promptly flung the ball onto the top of the backboard.
I didn’t love Ware’s game, to be honest. 13 of his 19 points came in garbage time, and he should be doing that against third units. The trend of him failing to match it with these upper-echelon bigs is somewhat concerning. Ware was just no match on either end for the Mobley-Allen combo, and if he is to be Milwaukee’s centre of the future, that needs to change.
After a run of good games, this was a come-down-to-earth one for Jakucionis. He did his best to knife into the lane, but the two rangy seven-footers definitely gave him trouble.
Obviously, the headline from Burries’ game was that insane dunk, but overall, I loved how he made stuff happen in transition. Burries really has some heft, and he knows how to use it. Also had some solid possessions guarding Donovan Mitchell, I must say.
Ament’s first efficient shooting night. He’s looking more and more comfortable with each game, especially finishing around the rim and slowing down on his three-point shots. Loved the craft he showed on the break with that Euro-step around the defender for the dunk; I’d love to see more of that moving forward.
Grade: B
Taylor Jenkins
Deciphering whether Jenkins “coached well” in these types of games is a task I find difficult for a range of reasons. First, the clear experience and talent gap between the Bucks and the NBA’s top teams; second, the fact that Milwaukee’s first priority appears to be development, then winning (which I think most fans would agree with). At the very least, we can see that Jenkins has instilled a culture where the players will keep fighting no matter how much they’re down by; that’s been shown across the last two blowouts. That said, maybe something needs to change in the game plan, rotations, etc., to prevent these second-quarter fadeouts we have seen for two straight games now (they lost the second quarter 34-14 against the Rockets). We know this is when the likes of Ware, Burries, and Ament will be getting their time, so understandably there would be somewhat of a drop-off, but maybe Jenkins needs to get one of the vets out early so they can come back and anchor these units at the start of the second. It’s a trend I’m monitoring.
The team might have a second-quarter problem and, as I (and Jenkins) alluded to, changes in rotation and possibly even game plan might be needed.
Bonus Bucks Bits
“Our guys played great in the first quarter, but the second quarter got away from us,” Jenkins said. “We missed open threes, we missed layups… and that had an impact on our defence. We fought in the second half, but the hole we dug ourselves in was a little too deep. So, [we will] go back and watch the film to see how we can sustain better over 48 minutes.”
The Bucks shot 7/28 (25.0%) to the Cavs’ 18/22 (81.8%) in the second quarter. To their credit, Milwaukee did a great job winning the possession battle—largely by grabbing eight offensive rebounds—but just couldn’t get anything to go. As for Cleveland, 15 of their 18 makes were assisted, and as I mentioned in the Rapid Recap, they closed the period on a 21-3 run. Insane.
The Bucks lost the paint battle 60-46; they did win bench points 55-51, however.
Just a stray thought, and I don’t want this to come across the wrong way after just six games, but if I were Horst, I’d be listening (listening) to trade offers for Kel’el Ware at the deadline. His continued underperformance in these measuring-stick games concerns me. And to be clear, I’d also be content with keeping Ware, but if another team believes more in his upside and makes an enticing offer, I’d seriously consider it. Is it risky? Yeah. But it’s also his third year in the NBA after two years in college; this may be the last chance to “sell high” before a bad reputation sets in and you need to pay him.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, a deep-dive analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team in which the Fantable — a roundtable of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: How long are you willing to wait (in terms of games played) to give the Suns’ starting unit time to (hopefully) gel before pronouncing it DOA and demanding changes?
zenzino: The wording of this question cracks me up. ‘Demanding changes’. Like we have any actual say in what happens.
Blow it up now! Just kidding. So much impatience. The NBA season is a marathon, not a sprint. And the starting gun just went off. What’s worse than the Suns’ play is the Suns’ schedule. 11 days into the season, and the Suns have played 3 games. Leaves us lots of time in between to contemplate the sky falling.
I’d give it 15-20 games if there were some kind of progress along the way.
All this talk about continuity seems to make us forget that the starters have a distinct lack thereof. 2 of the 5 are new to the lineup, and even the returning 3 starters of Book, Brooks, and Green had only played 10 games together before this season. This should be considered a brand new starting lineup.
While the starting 5 have not yet gelled, I think there are bigger issues throughout the lineup. As Tom wrote earlier this week, the Suns’ culture and ‘alignment’ are in question. As Keratosis pointed out in the comments, everyone is talking about trading Green, and he’s the only one who has been consistent on both ends of the court.
Of course, the players need to act like highly paid professionals. However, as I’ve maintained since the KD days, the leadership has to start at the top with the head coach. This is a huge test of Ott and probably BG because he’s so involved.
The culture and standards have to be consistently maintained and nurtured, not just given lip service. You don’t just get to pick up where you left off last season… or maybe you do, and that’s what the Suns are doing.
Ashton: Rod is setting this whole series of questions up as a chance to throw shade at the Suns. I am going to take the high road and throw shade at the Suns.
Good question? Coach Ott has now had four days to try to get his team on the same page between games. I really hope film review with the players was part of it. Coach Ott says it was a communication issue between him and the players. I am not so sure. It seems like a chemistry issue or at the very least a preparation issue.
I am just not optimistic about the Suns turning this around anytime soon, but I guess I am willing to give them four weeks to show improvement and two months before pronouncing them “DOA”. There are not many changes to demand as the starting four is basically set, but I am willing to climb on board with CG possibly starting as Green still seems to seek the ISO plays. If Booker goes off for another three points, I may seriously consider bringing in Goody’s defense in place of Booker minutes.
Rod: I’m close now, but the absences of both Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro and the total reliance on Khaman Maluach as the starting center makes me believe that I shouldn’t be too hasty. Duop Reath as the primary backup hasn’t worked out well either, but I also can’t reasonably blame all of the starters’ problems on this.
At this point, I’m kind of in a holding pattern until Oso gets healthy and we can get a look at how well things work out before giving the starting lineup the last rites. I don’t expect a miracle turnaround, but if I don’t see some evidence of better play after 10 games (following his return), then I’ll be fully on board with trying just about anything that has a chance of improving.
Starting Gillespie and moving Green to a 5th man bench role is the obvious 1st move to try. After that, I’m game with just about any other lineup experiment that has any kind of a shot at improving things.
Q2: Three games into the season and the Suns have THE worst-ranked defense in the NBA. What are your thoughts on why they’ve been so bad on D?
zenzino: It would be easy to blame it on the addition of Bridges and the absence of Williams and Oso. Maluach was supposed to have time to ease into the main rotation, and now he’s been thrust into the starting lineup. On the aforementioned fact that even the returning starters haven’t had much time playing together before this season. Those are factors to be sure, but something else just isn’t right. It’s not just the starters.
While the 2nd is better than the starting unit, they still aren’t what we are used to from them. As the ‘look on the bright side’ guy in this, I still have to wonder whether the first half of last season was an anomaly and the post-All-Star-break version is who they actually are.
I might conclude that Mark Williams is the most underrated Suns player. He wasn’t fancy or flashy, but he got the job done in a myriad of ways and was a defensive anchor for this team.
All that talk on media day about how they worked all summer together and are chomping at the bit to get the season started… I got excited.
And now it rings hollow.
All that being said, it’s only been 3 games. Anyone who throws in the towel after 3 tries at anything will never win. Again, from my perspective, this needs to get fixed from the coaching side. The players also need to hold each other accountable, but that starts with the coach.
Ashton: It appears that Miles Bridges is missing multiple assignments and may make the list for worst trade of the year. Booker is visibly frustrated at the defense (and his own shooting). And teams know that the “Center can not hold”. That is a shoutout to poet William Butler Yeats, and as dark as it is, it remains one of my favorite poems. It easily sums up the early Suns games, as I am not sure if there is a “Second Coming”. However, Oso was upgraded to questionable for Friday’s game against Denver.
This comes back to team unity on both sides of the floor, and that is lacking. Suns were universally expected to suck last season and took defense to a chip-on-the-shoulder level. I would have liked to be able to evaluate the Denver Nuggets’ game Friday night, which Jokic has already called “their defense sucks,” but let’s see which team wins that award.
Still, the Suns being last in so many defensive metrics in three games is beyond concerning; it is condemning.
Rod: I honestly believe it’s a combination of things, roster additions/subtractions and injuries being the top 2. I mostly see the effort on the court, but one blown assignment, one offensive rebound given up because you’re out of position, one missed switch can undo all the effort put in. Having two of your top rotation players at the same position (Williams and Ighodaro) has got to hurt both units, especially when your 4th guy in line at that position (Reath) has never been considered even a fair defensive player.
Looking at the numbers, the starting unit has actually been the worst defensively (29th), while the bench has been at least marginally better (20th), though not enough to make a big difference. We’re just three games into the season, though, and hopefully things will improve as the team gets more accustomed to the new additions (Bridges & Kennard), Oso returns to stabilize the rotation, and perhaps some lineup changes are made that give the starting lineup some more defensive muscle.
Q3: With Oso Ighodaro out for the GSW and OKC games, Jordan Ott has mostly played “small ball” lineups when Khaman Maluach is on the bench, with backup center Doup Reath averaging only 5 minutes per game in those two outings. If Oso is going to miss much more time, what backup center options (other than Reath) should the Suns consider?
zenzino: Unlike most people here, the term ‘small ball’ doesn’t make me angry or fill my heart with dread. It is a viable strategy that I’ve watched win championships. The Suns just need to get better at it, and you can only get better at something with practice. Bring it on!
It really depends on how ‘much more’ time we are talking about. If we’re talking a week or two, I don’t think the Suns should strain themselves to find another backup. A month or two? Maybe something needs to be done.
However, we haven’t seen Timme yet. He’s a lighter version of Oso, so maybe they can get by with center by committee. I believe someone more familiar with college basketball than I am said that Sheer used to play small-ball 5 in college. If so, add him to the committee.
I just don’t know that there’s anyone out there for the vet min who could make a difference compared to what we have now. Everyone mentions Olynyk, but he’s playing in Europe now. I wouldn’t hate Bismack Part II, but I don’t think that would move the needle.
Addendum: Oso has been practicing with the team. Ott says that it just depends on how Oso’s body responds to the workouts. So, we’re probably talking days and not weeks.
Oso haters, skip this part. Everyone else, we’re going to see a big difference in this team with Oso. He is the connector. On defense and offense. Adding a passer and playmaker can only help the offense starving for it. While not a rim protector, his on-ball and team defense are key. Everything will work better with him on the court.
Ashton: It is political season. There is more lying than ever, and only sports can match it when it comes to injury reports. I think Oso will be out for more than two games, but that statement may not age well. Also, my favorite day in November is not the fourth but the fifth. That is when all the unwanted ads, calls, and texts shut the hell up.
The cupboard is bare when it comes to backup center options. So, Ott is forced into small-ball for what could be a while. The only answer I have to this is to maybe roll the dice on Koa Peat and see what Drew Timme (who is also out) can do as a little bigger unit off the bench without a center. I really have no idea why Doup Reath is averaging five minutes per game. I thought that stat was startling. He needs more minutes.
Rod: First off, I believe that looking at signing a free agent center to fill that open 15th roster spot is not something the Suns should try…at least not yet. Anyone who is still a free agent at this time of the year, well, there’s usually a very good reason why, and not a good one. If Oso was definitely going to be out for a long stretch of the season, then I’d give it some serious thought, but only then.
At this point, Oso is going to be back on the court before a new guy has had enough time to learn the Suns’ offensive and defensive schemes to be more than an obstacle to cohesive team play, let alone a positive addition. Frankly, I think that’s why Timme actually hasn’t been active yet. He wasn’t around for training camp or any of the preseason games and needs some time to actually learn how things work before being thrown into the fray.
Some have suggested giving Fleming a try, but the guy’s still not playing instinctively at PF, so I doubt he’d really be very effective playing out of position at center.
Playing small ball with Bridges at the 5 spot isn’t the answer, but at least he’s a big body with several years of NBA-level experience who won’t react like a deer in headlights when thrust into a changed role.
All things considered, I’m fine with rolling with things as they are for now, with Reath getting at least a few minutes a game to see if he’s not having a good night before going small. Hopefully, Oso will be back very soon, and we won’t have to have this conversation again… for a while, at least.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Quotes of the Week
“It’s early. Can’t expect to be perfect right now.” – Jordan Goodwin
“We need to play faster. I think we have an opportunity when we do that. If we get stops, we get rebounds, we’re able to push the pace offensively and just create a lot of different things on the offensive end.” _ Luke Kennard
“Overall, we have to stick with some of things that we’ve talking about all camp because we did see success before the regular season started. We’ve got to give this a little bit of grace of couple more games just in general, both sides of ball. I think we have higher standards for what we want to do.” – Jordan Ott
“We’re just figuring each other out. It’s third game of the season. We’ve been figuring each other out. Once we do, I think we’re going to be a really good team.” – Miles Bridges
Suns Trivia/History
Book closes his 20s with the 11th-most career points in @NBA history by a player before turning 30 📚
The list of players he's in company with: LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, Kevin Durant, Michael Jordan, Carmelo Anthony, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Oscar Robertson,… pic.twitter.com/HKhOOZHr6t
On November 1, 1996, 8-time All-Star Steve Nash made his NBA debut for the Phoenix Suns in a 96-82 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. In his first game, Nash racked up zeros in points, assists, rebounds, steals, etc. in 5 minutes of court time.
It was not until his 2nd game on the following night (Nov. 2) that Nash recorded the first assist and the first basket of his Hall of Fame career in a 110-95 loss to the Houston Rockets. Nash’s totals in that game were 9 points, 1 assist, 1 rebound, and 1 steal in 12 minutes. Although Steve played the fewest minutes of any Sun in this game, he led the team in trips to the free-throw line and shot 6-for-7 for the night.
On November 2, 1999, 4-time All-Star Shawn Marion made his NBA debut for the Phoenix Suns in a 107-102 loss to the Denver Nuggets. Marion recorded his first NBA double-double in the game with 14 points and 14 rebounds. He would get 6 more double-doubles during the rest of his rookie season plus 1 more in the first round of the playoffs.
On November 2, 1990, the Suns defeated the Utah Jazz 119-96 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium in Japan, in the first regular-season game played outside North America by any major professional sports league. Tom Chambers led the Suns with 38 points and 10 rebounds while Kevin Johnson scored 29 with 10 assists. 1-time All-Star Cedric Ceballos made his NBA debut in this game, scoring 2 points and grabbing 1 rebound in just 2 minutes of court time.
On November 7, 1992, the Suns celebrated their 30th Anniversary season by moving into the America West Arena where they opened their season with a 111-105 win over the LA Clippers. Charles Barkley (acquired by trade after the end of the previous season) wowed the Phoenix home crowd with a near triple-double (37 points, 21 rebounds and 8 assists) in his first regular season game as a Sun.
The Week Ahead
Monday: Phoenix Suns @ Golden State Warriors, 7:00 pm AZ time Wednesday: Phoenix Suns vs Portland Trail Blazers, 7:00 pm AZ time Thursday: Phoenix Suns vs Orlando Magic, 7:00 pm AZ time Saturday: Phoenix Suns vs Houston Rockets, 7:00 pm AZ time
Important Future Dates
Nov. 6 – NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament begins Dec. 15 – Most players signed to new contracts can be traded Jan. 5 – 10-day contracts may now be signed Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season Jan. 15 – All players signed to new contracts can be traded Feb. 11 – Trade Deadline Feb. 19-21 – NBA All-Star 2027 March 1 – Playoff Eligibility Waiver Deadline April 11 – 2026-27 Regular Season ends (All 30 teams play) April 12 – Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2027 (3 p.m. ET) April 13-16 – SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament April 17 – NBA Playoffs 2026 begin
Inglewood, CA - October 28: Forward Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 of the Los Angeles Lakers passes against center Brook Lopez #11 of the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The Raptors’ road trip begins with an LA double feature against the Lakers and the Clippers, starting with the boys in the gold and purple this Sunday, November 1st.
This will be Toronto’s first look at either of the Los Angeles teams this season, with both organizations boasting former Raptors under contract — on the Lakers, the beloved Georgian forward Sandro Mamukelashvili, and on the Clippers, former All-Star Brandon Ingram. While Ingram is unfortunately still facing injuries that are keeping him off the court, Mamu will be there to greet his old teammates in full force; this time, looking to topple the red and black.
Walking into Crypto.com Arena means not only saying hello to old friendly faces, but staring into the face of some serious adversaries, no one more prominent among them than Luka Dončić. Dončić has won four of his last five contests against the Raptors, and remains a part of a team that has an even more prominent winning streak against Toronto: the Raptors haven’t won against the Lakers since December of 2022, and will be going into this matchup looking to end this longstanding history.
In many respects, the Toronto Raptors have matured this year, even beyond the acquisition of Kawhi Leonard. The Raptors are neither a “young” team nor an “old” team at this point. Scottie Barnes is 25 years old, RJ Barrett is 26, and Immanuel Quickley is 27. But beyond age, the Raps are playing with a maturity unlike anything they’ve displayed in previous years, most prominently among them Scottie Barnes.
TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 28: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors speaks with Raegan Subban after the game against the Orlando Magic on October 28, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Still early in the season, Barnes has demonstrated that his offensive game has developed exponentially over the offseason, and since the 2026 playoffs, he has looked able to shoulder a massive two-way load, defending, facilitating, and creating his own looks. His midrange game has looked to be on-par with the greats this season, something all the more important when facing off against a team with a premiere centre. With Kawhi Leonard still out, Scottie and his teammates have stepped up to fill the void left by his phantom scoring and clamping defence, and will need every bit of paint-pounding bucket-getting and hard nosed D against the Lakers.
With a record of 4-2 on the season, the Lakers are off a three game winning streak and are equipped with weapons the Toronto Raptors will be hard-pressed to manage. Walker Kessler at 7’2” is a nightmare matchup for the Raptors, clogging the paint for RJ and Scottie, that Jakob Poeltl will need to step up in a big way for on the defensive end. Kessler can score and rebound, but is swatting shots at a disgusting rate, with 17 blocks in five games, including a 9 stock performance that made the Lakers look like they got more than their money’s worth for the big man.
Poeltl, who had a double double in a comeback game against Orlando, will likely split minutes at centre with Collin Murray-Boyles and Trayce Jackson-Davis, but as the Raptors’ starter, getting in the paint and banging with the other team’s seven-footer is going to be his primary responsibility. Yak has a chance tonight to continue his path back to the up-and-up, and the success of tonight’s game will rest in large part on his shoulders.
Containing Luka Magic and Austin Reaves is no easy feat either, but one which the Raptors are moderately more equipped to do. Scottie will likely take the Dončić assignment himself, as he matches up with with the big man’s stature and abilities the best, but to see how Ja’Kobe Walter handles Austin Reaves will be of interest as well, with the young guard suddenly thrust into the starting lineup.
Throughout the season, Barnes and Barrett have both shown that they’re capable of taking over offensively when necessary, and tonight will be a game where they will likely have to do just that. Surviving these rough matchups without Kawhi is the name of the game when making him a big part of the team, and tonight will be a chance for the Raptors to further distance themselves from the collapse in Minnesota against another top-5 guard in the league.
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 30: Zaccharie Risacher #10 of the Dallas Mavericks grabs the rebound during the game against the Houston Rockets during the Emirates NBA Cup on October 30, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When the clock struck triple zeroes on Friday night, I could only lean back on my couch and smile.
The Dallas Mavericks (4-2) had defeated the previously undefeated Houston Rockets; Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving combined for 68 points. It continued a three-game winning streak in which the Mavericks vanquished three playoff contenders, and their second game in a row knocking-off an undefeated team.
The Mavericks, after a year-and-a-half of absolute misery (save for winning the lottery), are seemingly back to bringing fans joy.
This team is really, really, fun. They play fast and aggressive on both ends, often passing up a good shot to create a great one. They may not have elite personnel on either end, but the players know their roles, and they play to their strengths.
Instead of playing a static defense that relies on individual efforts from great defenders, they relentlessly swarm and scram ball-handlers into making mistakes, using their absurdly lengthy wings to disrupt opponet ryhthym.
On offense they simply attack the rim no matter what, using this constant rim pressure to set up open looks from long range. All of this starts with a 19-year-old superstar who simply doesn’t understand that 19-year-olds are supposed to be in college, not dominating the best league in the world.
But it isn’t just Cooper Flagg’s play. It’s his relentless, unyielding energy on both sides that feeds the rest of the team. He’s constantly attacking the basket with the force of a runaway mustang, using this gravity to get his teammates involved. But it isn’t just force, it’s the unexplainable floater touch that appeared out of thin-air last season.
Put simply, Flagg refuses to let this team lose, and he will be dammed if they repeat last season’s catastrophic play.
But unlike last season, he isn’t alone; a New Jersey basketball wizard has his back.
Kyrie Irving was relatively quiet until Friday night’s showcase, which is understandable given the near 19-month layoff after ACL reconstruction, but he was anything but quiet in the second half against the Rockets.
Irving scored 26 points in the final two quarters on only 13 shots. This included multiple patented Kyrie Irving transition pull-up 3-pointers that set the arena into a frenzy. His ability to feel the ebbs and flows within a game is special; knowing when to attack and when to let someone else take the reins. The Mavericks made their fourth-quarter run without Flagg on the court, and much of that is due to Irving’s mastery.
But let’s not forget the other number one overall pick on the roster. Zaccahrie Risacher exemplifies what makes this team special. He was cast aside by the Hawks. Written off by most of the basketball world, including me. Instead of letting the dire circumstances torpedo his career, he’s embraced what is necessary to succeed in the NBA.
He is ruthless on defense, constantly attacking the basketball to the tune of almost 4 combined steals and blocks per game this season. His offense is far from perfect, but there hasn’t been a Maverick wing who attacks the glass like he does in a long time.
Before the season there was only one thing that I wanted to see from the Mavericks team, watchable basketball. It’s truly hard to put into words how terrible they were to watch last season. It was a constant swirl of frustration, anger, spite and stubbornness.
Now?
Not only are the Mavericks are must-see TV, they’re also pretty damn good.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 31: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 31, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs have not outgrown Halloween. Before the holiday, members of the Spurs of the team discussed the player most likely to go all out.
The team did not diasppoint.
Victor Wembanyama walked in as Geralt from The Witcher.
Historically, Wemby has embraced the holiday and stepped into the arena in costume.
Carter Bryant came in as Ace, Wood Harris’ character from Paid In Full.
Spurs draftee Tarris Reed, Jr. showed a more comedic side stepping in as the three-hole punch Jim dressed as from Season 5’s Halloween episode of The Office.
And of course De’Aaron Fox got the whole family involved in an homage to Toy Story. They were voted the best dressed on a poll that play-by-play announcer and color analyst Sean Elliott hosted during the DAZN airing.
To infinity, and beyond! Happy Halloween from Woody, Jessie, Buzz and Bo Peep🎃 pic.twitter.com/NVmwvOsnO0
In addition, Julian Champagnie dressed as Shrek and visited patients at Methodist Children’s Hospital on Friday. This NEWS4 article shares multiple photos from the visit:
During Saturday night’s Spurs Live pregame show, Julian Champagnie sat with Dan Weiss and discussed the visit. Knowing there were children that were missing Halloween due to health concerns, he took time to visit and offered a trick-or-treat experience in the hospital. He never ceases to amaze. His dedication to the community and his passion for children is evident throughout the season as he attends and hosts multiple events.
Of course, the most famous Spurs Halloween story has got to be 2009, when Manu Ginobili single-handedly took out a bat.
Spurs are back in action for a Dia De Los Muertos matchup against the Utah Jazz on Monday.
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BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 30: Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the game against the Chicago Bulls during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on October 30, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I’ve been a Celtics fan most of my life. For the first time, I had to be something a bit more than that.
On Friday, October 30th, I had the incredible honor of making my debut as a credentialed media member for CelticsBlog when the Celtics faced the Bulls in the NBA Cup.
Growing up in Massachusetts, I’ve been all about Boston sports since I was a kid.
Me at 13 for my first Celtics Game
My love for basketball and the Celtics intensified as I got older, and I’ve spent the last 10 years studying the game hard, finding a relationship between improving my own skills on the court and understanding the intricacies of NBA hoops.
At some point along the way I had more opinions, and needed room to share them without bugging everyone in my life. I took to Twitter, finding community among like-minded fans who loved the game and a good argument. Over time, that sharpened my ability to understand what I was seeing and articulate it to others.
Flash forward to now, this voice I’ve found — boosted by several seasons writing for CelticsBlog — has allowed me to fulfill a dream, and it was honestly surreal.
From receiving the notice that my credential request was accepted on Tuesday, to driving into Boston on Friday, I felt a sense of jitters that have only really been exceeded by my wedding day.
It wasn’t nerves based around fears, rather it was about passion and the fulfillment of something that I care deeply about. I wanted to do a good job, and make the most of this opportunity.
From the moment I walked up to the arena, I had to embrace the uncertainty. I immediately asked for guidance from a parking attendant on where I could find the media entrance.
Once I made my way inside, I asked for more directions and was pointed toward the desk to pick up my credentials. I clumsily walked through the metal detector with my backpack on, laughing at myself for the mistake — one I had just read that my colleague Grant Burfiend made as well.
With Grant’s other cautionary tale in mind, I made sure to ask for the appropriate floor in the elevator. Once I reached my destination, I tentatively followed the labyrinth of hallways until I found the media dining room.
I plopped my bag down at a table, poured up a hot coffee and tried to take stock of where things were at, looking around occasionally to see if there were any familiar faces. I downed the coffee and decided it was probably time to find the press conference room for the pregame availability.
I’d like to preface this by saying that I generally think my navigation skills are pretty solid, but I needed the assistance of about three people to get me through the maze of hallways and toward the conference room.
My welcome to the NBA moment came during this time when a large voice offered a polite “Excuse me”. I moved to the side, now a little less confident about where I was going, and watched as the colossal Mitchell Robinson strolled past me.
Eventually, I ended up in what clearly looked to be the press conference room. Though as I took my seat and waited for several minutes as the only person seated in there, I questioned if I was in the right place. Fortunately my initial instincts were correct, and people started filing in over the next 10 minutes or so.
Where is everyone
There were a ton of people I recognized, but didn’t quite have the right level of ease to start introducing myself before the availability kicked off. I listened as Tony Dobbins filled in for Joe Mazzulla, answering questions about their big man group, and Mitchell Robinson’s performance so far.
Once the questions concluded, I followed the herd out of the room and found a moment to introduce myself to Noa Dalzell and Jack Simone. They both offered a bit of insight, and led the way to the room for the visiting team’s availability.
While waiting for Tiago Splitter to enter, I said hello to the wonderful Sam LaFrance. Sam gave me some more valuable info, including the important fact that dinner would be $10, cash only. With no cash in my wallet, he graciously offered to cover it for me and would not accept my Venmo offer later on. That was a great gesture, and one I hope to pay back at a game in the future.
Meeting those three helped me feel more relaxed, and I shared my dinner with another introduction to the great First to the Floor trio of Ben Vallis, Jake Issenberg, and Wayne Spooney. I spoke with them for a while, along with CelticsBlog’s Gio Rivera, who I relied on for more guidance on getting from the dining room to the court for warmups.
I spent time taking it in court side and chatting more with the First to the Floor lads. As we watched different players get warmed up, a chaperone with the Boston Children’s Hospital spotted our press passes and commented that being this close must feel regular for us.
Not quite. With it being my first game with a pass and the freedom to roam the perimeter of the court, I mentioned that it felt just as exciting for me.
With about 40 minutes before tip, we made our way up to the press seats, again navigating through curtained entrances and unclear corridors. Once in my assigned seat, I took another moment to appreciate the gravity of the evening. This was something I’ve thought about for a long time, and my goal was to just be present and enjoy.
My view from press row before tip-off against the Bulls.
As the game got underway I locked into analysis mode. The press seats are in the highest perch of the arena, but several of us agreed that the vantage point is actually great for seeing everything unfold during a possession.
In press row, my lens had to change. There’s no cheering, just observation and objectivity. I found accepting that really helped me focus on the finer points of the game, and analyze the trends worth writing a game piece about.
Occasionally I could feel my inner fan rising. It’s hard to watch Payton Pritchard drain a three after making Norman Powell stumble without having some type of reaction.
I spotted a lot of aggressive defensive coverages that resulted in deflections and turnovers — a trend that I’ve been tracking since preseason. As the game carried on I settled on that being the direction I wanted to take, with the hope that I could get a question or two answered in post-game availability.
After the final buzzer, the group in the balcony trekked down the stairs after the freight elevator refused to arrive. We made it down three floors, and walked into the great migration of fans leaving through the main stairwell. We accompanied that group for a few flights before exiting into the loge level. From there we walked down through the court and into the tunnel.
We made it back to the press conference room and took our seats to wait for Mazzulla.
I spun my question around in my head for a while, trying to land on the right words that could garner some level of interest from Mazzulla. Before I found the right combination, all questions had been asked, and the coach was on his way out the door. I missed the window, but fortunately there were responses that hit the right notes for me to work with.
After a few minutes Pritchard stepped into the room. He was introspective about meeting the standards Mazzulla holds him to, highlighting his defense as a point of emphasis against the Bulls.
Payton Pritchard’s postgame availability
I was still getting a feel for the etiquette of question asking. From my perspective, it was a discreet and well practiced dance of eye contact, head nods and half-raised hands to make it known that you’d like the microphone. I hadn’t found the rhythm of that yet and went 0/4 on the night for chances to ask a question.
While slightly disappointing, it’s hard to feel that bad about it. I was basically an undrafted rookie in a room of established vets. The answers given were enough, and I was able to complete my piece on their defensive impact in good time.
I walked 12 minutes to the parking garage, reflecting on the evening as I passed endless streams of costumed Bostonians celebrating Halloweekend.
I felt grateful to CelticsBlog for helping to facilitate this, and a reassuring sense of confidence that with a lot of the unknowns now understood, I could come back in the future focusing on the most important parts of the job.
It was great to meet and watch many of the journalists I respect, and to get to know them a bit. It’s given me a greater appreciation for the machine that is game day coverage.
Hopefully with enough reps I’ll manage to learn the secrets of securing a microphone and can break my current streak of unasked questions. For now, I’m glad to have stumbled my way through an unforgettable evening with occasional spurts of grace.
Inking the contract was a no-brainer for Santos, though it quickly looked like a steal for the Warriors. Santos will always believe signing instead of hitting restricted free agency was an easy decision.
A little more than four months later, Santos is even more sure he made the best decision of his life by marrying his longtime girlfriend Julia Lawrenz last July in her hometown of Curitiba, Brazil.
“Julia, she’s a real partner,” Santos said after Warriors open practice, days before the start of the regular season. “She really understands me really well. There’s days where you don’t want to do nothing, you just want to chill, she’s there with me. But there’s days where for some reason you have a bad practice or bad game, she’s the one that helps me leave that behind and think about the next game or next practice.
“It’s been really good, she’s been helping me a lot.”
Santos has never second-guessed his forever commitment to Julia, and the Warriors feel they’ve struck gold in their commitment to him.
He was one of the breakout NBA players last season. The key to his encore isn’t so much about a single skill like shooting. Santos’ next steps center around what he has been best at the past few months off the court: Decision-making.
Santos was inactive for the game last season when Jimmy Butler tore his ACL against the Miami Heat on Jan.19. The Warriors’ season came to a halt when Butler held his knee on the Chase Center floor. They had to move on as quickly as they could, and Santos soon found himself in a much different role.
Instead of being mainly an energizer, Santos was relied upon much more as a scorer with the ball in his hands. Santos averaged 14.3 points per game the rest of the regular season, starting 28 of the 35 games he played, and shot over 50 percent from the field. But Santos also averaged 2.2 turnovers per game in the span, including nine games of at least four turnovers.
He averaged just 0.8 turnovers per game in his first 33 games of the season, starting just twice and scoring only 3.7 points per game.
“I’ve talked to him about this,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said at practice, the day before the final preseason game. “I thought late last season was great for him to have to take on that playmaking responsibility without Jimmy, without Steph. He made a lot of mistakes, but he made a lot of great plays. So this year is more about improving the assist-to-turnover ratio. Make the plays that you have to make, but be more cautious. You don’t need to be wild.”
With a healthy Steph Curry scoring a combined 75 points in the Warriors’ last two games, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg having the ability to score 20 and even 30 points, and Brandin Podziemski continuing to progress as a scorer, Santos now can complement them while sliding into a role that better serves his style.
“Last year you had to be a little wild at times to try to force things because we didn’t have enough. We have enough now,” Kerr says, regarding his message to Santos. “… We can’t force the issue, and I think sometimes he is forcing the issue, but he’s perfectly cut out to play the style we’re playing, because he’s got a lot of skill.”
Kerr’s message came after a preseason game in which Santos had three turnovers, and five the previous game. He didn’t commit any in the preseason finale after Kerr’s talking points.
Though the Warriors didn’t yet know what they had in Lendeborg, they knew Santos’ being free with the ball needed to be reigned in. That was the message relayed to him going into the offseason, and it translated into how he took on his training.
Santos has considerably changed his body from when he weighed less than 200 pounds before being drafted to now being a strong 225 pounds on his 6-foot-7 frame. His 3-point shot is now part of his arsenal, and his footwork around the rim can be ranked among basketball’s best. Each drill training in Brazil centered around what to do next, what decision was best for himself and the team.
“First thing was my decision-making,” Santos says of his offseason focus. “Every time I was doing some drill, the goal of the drill was to make sure I get into the paint and have control of the game. I need to know where I’m going to pass the ball next, how I’m going to go up, how I’m going to use my step-through and footwork to get around guys so I can finish. That was the thing I worked on most during the offseason.”
When asked how he felt about his game going into the season, Santos’ answer was hardly about himself. It was a reflection of still being the player who provides energy, and now refining the little things that lead to wins.
“I’ve got to take care of the ball and help on the defensive end,” Santos said. “We need to keep Steph 100 percent on offense, so I will be the one to run always on defense. I’m the guy who will do whatever they need me to do.”
Santos, however, isn’t feeling 100 percent healthy. He’s closer to 85 percent as he deals with left knee tendinitis, but told NBC Sports Bay Area that he’d much rather play at less than full strength and give his team everything he has than have them be more hampered as a short-handed team.
That’s his decision to make, and the Warriors’ medical staff clearing him. Golden State is hungry for wins after turning around a 0-3 start, and Santos is an essential puzzle piece. The key to his encore season after his breakout isn’t about massive leaps.
It’s about him honing in on who he had to become last season through smart decisions this season, and continuing to represent a Portuguese phrase he prides himself on: vontade de vencer.
Two weeks into the 2026-27 NBA season, Acuff leads all rookies, averaging 26.3 points per game. The Chicago Bulls’ No. 4 overall pick, Caleb Wilson, is second at 21.2.
But while Acuff looks like a budding superstar, the Kings are 0-6 after a 136-105 drubbing at the hands of the 6-0 Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night at FedExForum.
Kings coach Doug Christie didn’t waste any time after Saturday’s loss identifying what needs to change.
“Man, we have to help him,” Christie told reporters in Memphis. “It’s an absolute must. The kid is special. He’s highly competitive. He wants to win. I truly enjoyed coaching him and watching his growth already in just these games. I think the opponent, a lot of times, tells you what they think about your players and last time we faced these guys, I think they put seven people on him.
“So in his third game, that’s telling you who they think he is and that’s what we already know, management, obviously, and myself, is, he’s special, continues to develop, continues to compete. We put him in position to win ball games and he’s going to win a lot of them.”
Acuff scored a career-high 38 points in Saturday’s loss, two days after scoring a then-career-high 34 points in the Kings’ 12-point loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. He has scored at least 33 points in three of his six NBA games.
Against the Grizzlies, only three other Kings players scored in double figures: De’Andre Hunter had 19 points, while veterans Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis finished with 11 apiece.
Sacramento’s bench, led by veteran guard Malik Monk, scored 20 total points in Memphis and is averaging an NBA-worst 19.5 points per game.
On defense, the Kings are giving up 128.3 points per game, second-worst in the NBA behind the Bulls, who are allowing 129.3 points per game.
But Sacramento is scoring just 109.3 points per game, leading to an NBA-worst 19.0-point differential.
“Yeah, it’s good to have a flow going but we got to hang our hat on the defensive end, just try to come up with more stops, we’ve got to keep communicating and just try to stay together,” Acuff told reporters when asked about his performances so far as a rookie.
Pushed to talk about making an NBA-rookie record-tying nine 3-pointers against the Grizzlies, Acuff still wasn’t in the mood to talk about himself.
“It’s good, personal-wise, but it don’t matter because we’re losing, so them two don’t go well together. So it doesn’t really matter,” Acuff said.
Christie and Acuff know the rest of the Kings’ roster needs to step up. Maybe injured players like Maxime Raynaud, Keegan Murray and Dylan Cardwell will help when they return.
But until they do, Sacramento needs more from LaVine, Sabonis, Hunter and Monk.
Otherwise, Acuff might be on an island for a while.
