SACRAMENTO — More than nine years ago, De’Aaron Fox entered the Kings’ facility as a 19-year-old rookie after Sacramento selected him with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Fast-forward to the present day, and Fox was standing in the visitors’ locker room inside Golden 1 Center after being traded to the San Antonio Spurs in February 2025 following an eight-year stint in Sacramento.
Standing down the hall in the Kings’ locker room was Darius Acuff Jr., also a 19-year-old Kings rookie, selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Fox shared advice to the young point guard as he navigates the early portion of his NBA career.
“Just be patient,” Fox said after San Antonio’s 124-109 win over Sacramento on Friday night. “I think that was a big thing. We turned it around for a bit. Obviously, it wasn’t long-lasting, but you try to find that consistency. Obviously, when you have coaching changes and things like that, it’s hard to find that. But at some point, you want to have that type of stability.”
Fox played for five different coaches and three different general managers during his eight-year tenure in Sacramento.
And despite the Kings’ 1-8 start to the 2026-27 NBA season, several reports indicate coach Doug Christie’s job is secure — for now — as the front office wants to give him time to figure things out with injury absences and other obstacles.
Like Fox, Acuff played college hoops for coach John Calipari. Of course, Fox played at Kentucky before Coach Cal’s transition to Arkansas, where Acuff played one season.
Fox is a fan of Acuff’s game for a while, and is excited to see his growth in the NBA.
“Yeah, I watched him a lot at Arkansas. I mean, he can put the ball in the basket,” Fox said. “That’s the big thing about him. He can score the ball in various ways. Once he becomes more efficient, he’s going to see all types of coverages. See two guys being thrown at him and he’ll be able to get guys any shot that he wants.”
I asked De’Aaron Fox if he has any advice for Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. and how familiar he was with his game.
“I watched him a lot at Arkansas. I mean, he can put the ball in the basket.”
It took a little while for Fox to be given the keys to the Kings’ franchise, as he served as the backup point guard behind George Hill for the first several games of the season. Ultimately, it became Fox’s team and remained that way for the next seven years.
Meanwhile, Acuff undisputedly became the new face of the franchise ever since he was drafted in late June.
And since then, he has averaged 25.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists through the first nine games of his NBA career. The biggest concern with his game thus far is the high volume of his shot attempts. He entered Friday’s game third in all of the NBA in field-goal attempts, only behind Brandon Miller and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
He also ranked in the top 15 in assists.
Finding that balance as a playmaking point guard who also can score whenever he wants is the next step for Acuff.
“I think that helps whenever you touch the paint; when teams know you’re willing to pass the ball, then they start to fan out a little bit more, and that makes scoring that much easier,” Fox said. “Obviously, he’s already making tough buckets, but when you’re doing that, when you’re able to kind of balance both, I think that was a big thing for me, was learning how to balance both of those things.
“When you do that, especially at a high level, even looking at guys like Luka [Dončić], LeBron [James], Shai, when their playmaking got better, their scoring got better. It makes the game a lot easier when you’re able to do both.”
On Friday, Acuff finished with a team-high 22 points on 9-of-20 shooting from the field and 3 of 9 from 3-point land, with three rebounds, eight assists and two turnovers in 33 minutes.
Just like Fox did, Acuff is in the midst of figuring it out.
But hopefully for the Kings, Acuff’s tenure in Sacramento ends much differently.
Nov 5, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (15) dribbles against Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Suns finally exhaled. One win, and a lot left to prove.
Thursday’s 117-104 win over Orlando snapped a four-game losing streak, and after weeks of struggle, this fan base needed it just as much as the team did.
Now the hard part. Phoenix is 2-5, and the win came against a Magic team missing Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs and coming off two straight games under 100 points. Credit Phoenix for handling it on the second night of a back-to-back, but nobody is booking a playoff run off that.
This is the middle of a four-games-in-six-nights homestand that could make or break the season before it started. Portland, Houston, and San Antonio are three of the top six teams in the West. Orlando was supposed to be the “easy” one. Phoenix is 1-1 through the stretch, and the bar was 2-2. That means stealing one from the Rockets on Saturday or the Spurs right after. Easier said than done.
So forget the box score for a minute. The real value of the Orlando game is that Phoenix showed, for 48 minutes, what a winning version of this roster looks like. The question for this week is how much of it carries over.
Suns got killed on the glass (by 15!) and shot 11 less free throws, yet still won by double digits.
Winning the turnover battle (25-14) and shooting 50% from three compared to Orlando’s 34% outweighed those first two stats and then some. https://t.co/pTZnTBPIcf
Defense first, and it showed up in the turnover column
Orlando gave it away 25 times. Phoenix gave it away 14. That 11-turnover swing was the single biggest reason the Suns won. They pressured the ball, jumped passing lanes and turned stops into transition looks. Booker had 3 steals and Dillon Brooks had 2. When the defense gets set and forces mistakes, the offense gets easy shots and the whole night snowballs in the right direction.
Phoenix went 17-of-34 from deep. Orlando went 13-of-38. That is 12 extra points from distance on four fewer attempts. Those made up a 15-rebound deficit and 11 fewer free throws.
Everybody took a turn
Devin Booker set the tone with 12 in the first quarter and 23 by halftime, finishing with 30 on 11-of-22 shooting, 8 assists, and a +16. Luke Kennard rescued the bench in the second quarter with 12 points on 3 threes. When Phoenix opened the third with sloppy turnovers, Brooks took the baton and finished with 24 points, 4 threes and a +12. Miles Bridges did the dirty work with 18 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists.
Devin Booker went 8-of-13 in the first half against Orlando.
Fun stat:
When Booker attempts 13+ shots in the first half, the Suns are 64–46 (.582) in his career.
When he shoots 60% or better on 13+ first-half attempts? That winning percentage jumps to .727.
What travels: the effort and the defensive intent. Ball pressure works against anybody. The Suns looked more engaged on that end than at any point during the losing streak, and that does not depend on who is across from them.
What probably doesn’t: 50% from three. Phoenix is not shooting that every night, and a healthy, disciplined opponent will not hand over 25 turnovers. Strip those two numbers back toward normal and the Orlando game gets a lot closer.
What got exposed: the Suns were outrebounded by 15 and took 11 fewer free throws. Orlando went just 13-of-24 at the line and wasted the gap. Better teams will cash it in from the charity stripe.
It will take a complete, 48-minute effort to win these games. They had positive flashes that lasted 12-15 minutes in the previous three games leading up to the Orlando game, but were unable to put it all together and pull out wins.
Devin Booker said tonight's win was the closest to playing a complete game for the Suns. #Suns
The recipe is simple. Being active defensively, communicating relentlessly, and staying connected are the keys to winning games you aren’t supposed to.
They won’t beat Houston or San Antonio if they get killed on the glass or in the interior again. You get that leeway against Orlando. But the concept of winning a complete game like Orlando is a building block they can take into these next two games.
They may have to do it in a different way, but staying locked in for 48 minutes is the only way they stand a chance.
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 04: Kingston Flemings #4 of the Atlanta Hawks handles the ball against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on November 04, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks (5-4) kick off their NBA Cup campaign with the home portion of a two-game set against the Washington Wizards (4-4) in what figures to be Trae Young’s first time playing in State Farm Arena as a Wizard.
Jalen Johnson will miss a third consecutive game with a left ankle sprain.
A player health update presented by @emoryhealthcare for tonight’s game vs. Washington:
Keshon Gilbert (left knee inflammation): Out Mouhamed Gueye (left foot fracture): Out Jalen Johnson (left ankle sprain): Out Jock Landale (left hip strain): Out Asa Newell (left great toe… pic.twitter.com/fFB06UBxiU
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Bron AI’s CEO, Anish Gupta, shared a video on social media teasing a name change after drawing the NBA superstars’ ire because of an ad from earlier in the week.
The company that drew the ire of LeBron James’ attorneys have desisted. AP Photo/Paul Sancya
“We heard y’all loud and clear, so we went back in the arena,” Gupta wrote. “Any guesses? Open to suggestions.”
The post was accompanied by a video of an AI-generated man saying, “the Internet was loud, and we heard you. It’s time for a new name.” The video ended with the man reading a sheet of paper saying, “And the name is” before being cut off.
Bron AI, which markets itself as the “TikTok for betting,” is an AI sports betting app.
The company posted an ad on social media on Wednesday showing a person meant to resemble James — wearing a No. 23 basketball jersey with the name “Bron” on it — flipping through the app.
Luka Doncic was one of several athletes whose name, image and likeness was used in the ad. NBAE via Getty Images
Dončić was one of the athletes whose name, image and likeness was also used in the ad.
The social media posts amassed over 900,000 views in less than 24 hours before being removed from X after Front Office Sports first reported the cease-and-desist. The post was also taken off Instagram.
Bron AI’s ad featured several other athletes, including NBA players Giannis Antetokounmpo, Donovan Mitchell and Dillon Brooks.
Adam Mendelsohn, James’s longtime media adviser, said in a statement to the California Post that Bron AI’s ad is “another example of the decline and lack of originality in sports media.”
“It’s all about cheap clicks and aggregation,” Mendelsohn said. “A lot of pundits do it, too. I’m sure their intent all along was for us to send a cease and desist in order to play the social media game. You would prefer not to respond but you don’t have a choice in a situation like this.”
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 7: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls and Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks talk after the game between the Chicago Bulls anb the Dallas Mavericks on April 7, 2023 at the 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 2023 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As Luka Dončić sets the league aflame with an unparalleled scoring run to open the season, he’s leaving a trail of awestruck opponents in his wake.
“When you have a guy like Luka, obviously he’s one of the best scorers to ever play this game, if not the best,” Giannis said before a reporter added a “right now” at the end of his statement. “Not right now, not right now. Of all time. I feel like some people are scared to say that but it’s gotta be up there.”
"Luka's one of the most talented players of all time. I don't think people actually give him enough credit for how good he really is. He one of the best scorers of all time" pic.twitter.com/F1J7iRHawh
As a brief aside, LaVine had also had a funny interaction with Austin Reaves during his postgame presser after Reaves accidentally walked into the wrong room.
Austin Reaves accidentally walked into Zach LaVine’s postgame press conference, giving the two a chance to clear the air after an elbow during the game. pic.twitter.com/NZ4hbtK5bC
As for Luka, his performances are hard to properly describe at this point. He’s putting up numbers that we haven’t seen in a long time. The only way to properly qualify what he’s doing is to put it in an all-time context, because no one in the league has done this before.
And that’s how both Giannis and LaVine framed it. Granted, NBA players often aren’t the best at putting things in proper context — look no further than their All-Star voting — but they’re also the only ones with firsthand experience.
If Luka is leaving them repeating a similar sort of sentiment, then it’s hard not to agree.
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 04: Trae Young #3 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball in front of Dyson Daniels #5 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at Capital One Arena on November 04, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards (4-4) have struggled against relentless ball-pressure, most recently succumbing to the Atlanta Hawks’ stout defense two days ago. Crazy enough, as former Hawk Trae Young put it, Washington faces the same opponent again on Friday.
Young, who spent eight seasons in Atlanta before a trade to Washington last January, returns to State Farm Arena for his first game as the opposition. The four-time All-Star is averaging 19.6 points and 9.6 assists through eight games.
The Wizards’ rebounding issues, mainly on the defensive end, have plagued them all season — including a 57-41 rebounding deficit in Wednesday’s 120-105 loss to the Hawks (5-4). Brian Keefe said his group’s rebounding hasn’t been good enough. We’ll see Friday if his team improves on the glass.
Anthony Davis (ankle sprain) is OUT Friday. It’s the first game he’s missed this season.
Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis, who has not been with the team as he addresses long-term health concerns, announced he will step away from basketball.
“This season I was really looking forward to running it with this group, but as I ramped up, my body didn’t respond the way I anticipated,” Porziņģis wrote Friday, Nov. 6 in a statement posted to social media.
“I’m doing good, but I know what it takes, and I’m not where I want to be to perform at the level that I expect from myself. At this point, I’ve made the decision to prioritize my health and step away from the game I love.”
It’s worth noting that Porziņģis didn’t outright mention retirement in the statement, which could potentially leave a return to the sport down the road, should his health improve.
Porziņģis, 31, has been dealing with an undisclosed illness that has prevented him from joining the Warriors. He had missed all of training camp in late September and has been away from the team. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said last month that Porziņģis would be in the team facility for a check-in with Golden State’s sports medicine and performance team.
Previously, stretching back to Porziņģis’ final season with the Celtics in 2024-25, he had expressed frustrations over repeated absences that were caused from an undiagnosed condition that prevented him from having the energy and stamina to play.
Eventually, Porziņģis disclosed that he was dealing with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) autoimmune symptoms, though he has not offered specific updates in recent months.
A one-time All-Star, Porziņģis is known for stretching the floor with his shooting range, while providing a rim-protecting presence on the other end. Across his 10-year career, Porziņģis has averaged 19.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game in 533 appearances.
“In this situation, I want to show the utmost respect for the Golden State Warriors and work with them to find a solution that makes sense,” Porziņģis continued in his statement. “I’m thankful to my family and close ones for always being there. Much appreciation to all of you for the support. Onwards and upwards.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 5: Giannis Antetokounmpo #7 of the Miami Heat looks on during the game against the Golden State Warriors on November 5, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welp, another season, another chance for someone to go 82-0 squandered. Both the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets saw their unblemished records add blemishes over the past week. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings got off the snide to nab their first wins of the season.
The Philadelphia 76ers are 8-1 atop the East. The Portland Trail Blazers are 6-1 atop the West. The Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs have each won six in a row. The New Orleans Pelicans have bounced back from an 0-4 start to sit .500 at 4-4. Luka Dončić and Victor Wembanyama keep making history and leading their teams to victory.
Here are a handful of the best stories from the past week as well as key news you may have missed.
Kristaps Porziņģis has reached a decision about his basketball future.
The 31-year-old released a statement via his social media on Friday that clarified what his future holds after he has been away from the Warriors while navigating health issues.
Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Will Richard #3 after a 3-point basket against the Washington Wizards on March 27, 2026. Getty Images
“This season I was really looking forward to running it with this group, but as I ramped up, my body didn’t respond the way I anticipated,” Porziņģis wrote in a post to his X account on Friday.
“I’m doing good, but I know what it takes, and I’m not where I want to be to perform at the level that I expect from myself. At this point, I’ve made the decision to prioritize my health and step away from the game I love,” his post continued.
Kristaps Porzingis of the Boston Celtics reacts on the floor during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on May 16, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“In this situation, I want to show the utmost respect for the Golden State Warriors and work with them to find a solution that makes sense. I’m thankful to my family and close ones for always being there. Much appreciation to all of you for the support.
“Onwards and upwards. — Kristaps Porzingis,” it concluded.
Porziņģis posted it to his X account with the caption, “”.
Porziņģis was diagnosed as POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) in 2025. He has been absent from the Warriors this entire season, and said several weeks ago that he was considering stepping away from basketball.
Golden State had not been paying him his $20 million contract for this season, as the team ruled that, “he is not rendering services” while being absent.
Golden State Warriors’ Kristaps Porzingis drives against Los Angeles Clippers’ Bennedict Mathurin during an NBA game in Inglewood, Calif., April 12, 2026. Getty Images
It will be interesting to see what the next steps are for Porziņģis as he navigates this crossroads in his life.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 25: Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors pauses during a break in play against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Chase Center on March 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kelley L Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Kristaps Porziņģis saga has followed the Golden State Warriors around since the very first day of training camp. And while it seems like it will stay in the news cycle for quite a while, on Friday it took another step towards resolution, with the one-time All-Star posting a statement on social media, which seemed to suggest that he is retiring.
The statement, which he signed and labeled “official statement,” reads in full as follows:
This season I was really looking forward to running it with this group, but as I ramped up, my body didn’t respond the way I anticipated.
I’m doing good, but I know what it takes, and I’m not where I want to be to perform at the level that I expect from myself. At this point, I’ve made the decision to prioritize my health and step away from the game I love.
In this situation, I want to show the utmost respect for the Golden State Warriors and work with them to find a solution that makes sense.
I’m thankful to my family and close ones for always being there. Much appreciation to all of you for the support.
Onwards and upwards.
Porziņģis’ statement is in line with all the reporting in recent days. Earlier today, our Marc Delucchi wrote about the reports that Porziņģis had played his last game with the team, and all that was left was to handle a trade for a player who was unlikely to ever play again. That came after news earlier in the week that Golden State was withholding payments towards Porziņģis’ $20 million salary, and that neither Porziņģis nor the Players Association had plans to contest that.
So now what? It appears that Porziņģis is set to retire, but first wants to help out the Warriors. By remaining an active player — even an unpaid one — Porziņģis retains his cap hold which can be used to facilitate a trade. The Warriors can now attempt to trade Porziņģis’ contract to a team in search of an expiring deal, and willing to offer a longer-term contract in exchange, such as the Milwaukee Bucks with Myles Turner, to name one of the many players the Dubs have been linked to.
After Porziņģis’ contract is used to facilitate a trade — likely sooner rather than later — he can formally announce his retirement.
Friday afternoon, Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porziņģis announced that he has decided to step away from basketball as he continues to address the autoimmune disorder postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) that has kept him off the court this season.
Traded to the Warriors at the February deadline, Porziņģis appeared in 15 games last season, averaging 16.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks in 23.7 minutes per appearance. Optimism that the 7-foot-3 center's health would cooperate led the two sides to agree to a two-year, $40 million deal in the summer.
Unfortunately, Porziņģis' case of POTS, which initially became an issue late in the 2024-25 season with the Celtics, flared up and has kept him from returning to the court.
On Wednesday, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that the Warriors were withholding payment from Porziņģis and considered his absence unexcused. It was also reported that the team was looking to move him via trade, either immediately or after December 15, when most players will be trade-eligible.
Porziņģis said in his statement on Friday that he hopes to "work with (the Warriors) to find a solution that makes sense."
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Naz Reid #0 of the Charlotte Hornets handles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 14, 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
Boston Celtics (6-2) at Charlotte Hornets (3-6) Friday, November 6, 2026 7:00 PM ET Regular Season Game #9 Road Game #4 Emirates NBA Cup Game #2 TV: NBCSB, WSOC TV64, NBA-LP Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, Sirius XM Spectrum Center
The Celtics begin a 4 game road trip with a stop in Charlotte to take on the Hornets. This is the first of 4 games between these two teams this season. They will play again in Charlotte on February 4 and they will play twice in Boston on December 3 and January 23. The Celtics won the series 2-1 last season, winning one game in Boston and one in Charlotte and losing one game in Boston. The Celtics are 83-47 overall all time against the Hornets and they are 39-26 all time in Charlotte.
This is the second NBA Emirates Cup game for both teams. They are part of East Group C, which also includes Chicago, Atlanta and Washington. The Celtics beat Chicago in the first Cup game while the Hornets lost to the Wizards in their first game. The Celtics will visit Washington on November 24 and will host Atlanta on November 27 to complete group play. If they win the group, they will advance to the quarterfinals on December 4 and 5. The Semifinals are December 8 and 9. The Championship is December 11. The Celtics have only made it out of the group stage once, back in 2023.
The Celtics are 3rd in the East with just Philadelphia (8-1) and Detroit (6-2) ahead of them. The Hornets are 10th in the East, 5 games behind 1st place Philadelphia. Celtics are 5-0 at home and 1-2 on the road. The Hornets are 2-3 at home and 1-3 on the road. Their 2 wins at home were over Miami and Washington. They have lost their last 5 games.
The Hornets have several new players this season. They signed Coby White as a free agent. They got Naz Reid in a trade from Minnesota. They got Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale in a trade from Phoenix. And, they got Dennis Schroder in a trade from the Wizards. They drafted Hannes Steinbach (14th) and Christian Anderson, Jr (18th). They also lost several players from last season. LaMelo Ball, Josh Green , Miles Bridges and Tre Mann were all traded. Antonio Reeves and Xavier Tillman both left as unsigned free agents.
After this game, the Celtics will continue their road trip through Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Toronto. They play Dallas and Orlando at home before a West coast trip that takes them through Denver, Sacramento, Golden State, and Washington. They then play one game at home against Atlanta before playing at San Antonio and Dallas. Then it’s home against Charlotte before a game at Brooklyn. They play 8 of 12 games on the road in the month of November.
After this game, Charlotte will play Cleveland at home before a 4 game road trip through Phoenix, LA Clippers, LA Lakers, and Atlanta. They they have a 4 game home stand against Memphis, Chicago, Brooklyn and Washington. Then they play at Boston before the NBA Cup tournament. Then they play at Washington before hosting Toronto, Clippers, OKC, Portland and Philadelphia.
The Celtics have been changing their starting lineup with Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Baylor Scheierman, and Neemias Queta getting starts along with Derrick White, Paul George, Jayson Tatum and Mitchell Robinson. The starting lineup is a work in progress for the Celtics and so it’s hard to predict who Joe will go with from game to game. I’m just guessing that White, Gonzalez, George, Tatum and Queta will start. For the Hornets, I’ve listed the starters from their game notes which are Coby White, Brandon Miller, Sion James, Naz Reid and Ryan Kalkbrenner.
The Celtics still have Devin Carter on the injury report due to illness. After missing the final 3 games of the preseason, Carter was diagnosed with mononucleosis and is without a timetable for a return. However, he is practicing with the Maine Celtics and should return soon. Payton Pritchard was originally questionable with a right eye abrasion after getting hit in the face 3 times against the Bucks. He is now listed as available. Chris Cenac, Jr is out due to G-League assignment.
For the Hornets, Kon Knuepppel returned to the court for the first time this season on Wednesday but left after just 6 minutes and will be out for this game. Former Celtic Grant Williams is out with a hamstring injury. Dennis Schroder is out with a thigh injury. Moussa Diabate is out with a quad injury. I’m guessing that Ryan Kalkbrenner will get the start at center in his place.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Coby White
Derrick White | Getty ImagesCoby White | Getty Images
SG: Hugo Gonzalez vs Brandon Miller
Hugo Gonzalez | Getty ImagesBrandon Miller | NBAE via Getty Images
SF: Paul George vs Sion James
Paul George | NBAE via Getty ImagesSion James | Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Payton Pritchard Mike Conley, Jr Luka Garza Jordan Walsh Ron Harper, Jr Sam Hauser Baylor Scheierman Mitchell Robinson Two Way Players Devin Carter Dillon Mitchell Amari Williams Injuries/Out Devin Carter (illness) out Payton Pritchard (eye) available Chris Cenac, Jr (G-League assignment) out
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Hornets Reserves Royce O’Neale Christian Anderson, Jr Grayson Allen Hannes Steinbach Tidjane Salaun Liam McNeeley 2-Way Players Michael Ajayi PJ Hall Kylan Boswell
Injuries/Out Grant Williams (hamstring) out Kon Knueppel (leg) out Moussa Diabate (quad) out Dennis Schroder (thigh) out
Head Coach Charles Lee
Key Matchups Hugo Gonzalez vs Brandon Miller Miller is averaging 22.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He’s shooting 35.9% from the field and 26.7% from beyond the arc. Although he is struggling from beyond the arc so far this season, he is capable of hitting threes and so the Celtics shouldn’t leave him open or he could make them pay.
Jayson Tatum vs Naz Reid Reid is averaging 16.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. He is shooting 42.3% from the field and 35.0% from beyond the arc. Jayson Tatum should be rested and ready to go in this game and needs to keep Reid out of the paint and off the boards.
Honorable Mention Payton Pritchard vs Grayson Allen Allen is averaging 15.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. He is shooting 47.1% from the field and 49.2% from beyond the arc. He is coming off a game where he shot 54.5% from the field and 71.4% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to stay with him on defense, especially on the perimeter as he is the Hornets best 3 point shooter and can score in bunches.
Keys to the Game Defense – Defense is always the key to winning. The Celtics are 7th the league with a defensive rating of 109.2. The Hornets are 18th in the league with a defensive rating of 112.7. The Hornets are 30th with an offensive rating of 101.5 while the Celtics are 8th with an offensive rating of 115.8. The Celtics are capable of playing lock down defense but there are times when they lose focus and allow their opponents to score way too easily, especially after building a big lead. They need to continue to make defense a priority and play lock down defense in this game for all 4 quarters.
Rebound – Rebounding is also a key to winning every game. It is important to give the Celtics extra possessions and to limit possessions for their opponents. Rebounding takes effort and the Celtics need to give extra effort to beat the Hornets to rebounds. The Celtics are 14th with 43.9 rebounds per game and the Hornets are 10th with 46.1 rebounds per game. The Hornets are 15th with 15.6 second chance points per game and the Celtics need to limit those for the Hornets by putting more effort into grabbing rebounds.
3 Point Shooting – The Celtics are 8th in the league, averaging 40.4 three pointers per game. The Hornets are 3rd, shooting 43.9 threes per game. The Celtics are shooting 35.3% as a team from beyond the arc (13th) while the Hornets are shooting 29.6% from beyond the arc (28th). The Celtics make 14.3 threes a gamem while the Hornets make 13.0 threes a game. The Celtics need to work to get open and move the ball to find the best shots. If the 3’s aren’t falling, they need to take the ball inside. And they need to defend the perimeter or the Hornets will bury them in threes.
Play Hard 48 Minutes – The Celtics need to start out strong and play hard to build a lead. They need to play hard throughout the game, with no let up. Often teams that hustle and play harder can beat teams that try to coast. The Celtics should not underestimate the Hornets and they need to be aggressive on the boards, on defense, in taking the ball to the hoop, in fighting for loose balls and just play harder overall throughout the game.
X-Factors On The Road – The Celtics are facing the distractions of travel and a hostile crowd and they can’t allow those distractions to take away from their focus on the game. The Hornets are home with the home crowd behind them and their own familiar court. The Celtics are just beginning a 4 game road trip and are playing 8 of 12 games on the road this month. They are just 1-2 so far on the road and so they need to figure out winning on the road.
Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus from playing the game. The Celtics also have to be aware of the new points of emphasis for this season and try to avoid flopping, off‑arm push‑offs, reckless closeouts, delays before free throws, and illegal screens. They have been especially calling flops and push offs and so the Celtics need to avoid doing both.
Green was ejected from the Warriors’ 116-113 win over the Suns on Monday night. Brooks said immediately following the game that he was trying to “de-escalate” the situation, which began when Green wrapped both arms around Khaman Maluach and threw him to the floor.
Addressing the situation for the first time with reporters after Golden State’s 120-100 win over the Heat on Thursday night, Green called out Brooks’ point of view on their latest altercation.
“He was talking. He came in talking. Putting his chest on my shoulder. That ain’t how you de-escalate,” Green said. “So I just wish he stood on the type of business he was on, instead of running to y’all. Like, ‘I was trying to de-escalate!’ No you wasn’t, bro.”
Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green (23) and Phoenix Suns’ Jalen Bridges (15) get into an altercation on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO/Bay Area News Group via APGolden State Warriors’ Draymond Green, left, throws down Phoenix Suns’ Khaman Maluach in San Francisco, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026. JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO/Bay Area News Group via AP
Both players like to play the villain, with their rivalry going back to Brooks’ time with Memphis. A year after their antics gained national attention during the heated 2022 Western Conference semifinals, Brooks took it to the next level, telling ESPN, “I don’t like Draymond at all.”
Green this week, however, said that he “had started to turn a corner” on his view of Brooks.
“Ah, man, he may be who he say he is,” Green said. “But he not.”
Brooks’ actions and response to the altercation only confirmed Green’s initial belief — that Brooks’ tough-guy persona only exists so long as the cameras and microphones are on.
“The words you said on the side of me and walking up to me like that,” Green said. “When you’re de-escalating you usually go to your teammate. But your teammate’s there [on the ground]. So you’re not de-escalating anything.
“By the way, there’s nothing going on. He’s there, I’m standing there. There’s nothing really to de-escalate.”
It depends on your point of view. The scene underneath the basket was reasonably docile until Brooks ran toward Green and shoved him in the back. Green responded by turning around and grabbing Brooks by the jersey near the neck. But Brooks’ teammate had already been thrown down by Green.
But Green gave an even more telling look into his worldview with his explanation.
“You’ve heard of people having short man complex? What’s it called–Napoleon? I got a little bit of that when I’m playing basketball,” said Green, listed at 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, “because I’m always smaller than the guys I’m going up against.”
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green argues a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. AP Photo/Tony Avelar
Despite his size disadvantage, at age 36, Green has more or less played shutdown defense while primarily playing the five this season, a result of Yaxel Lendeborg’s emergence at the four.
Matched up against Green Thursday night, Giannis Antetokounmpo (6-11, 250) struggled to steamroll into the paint and finished 4-of-9 from the field. When matched up against anyone else, Antetokounmpo converted 3 of 4 attempts from the field and got to the foul line twice.
Green has similarly more than held his own against Rudy Gobert (7-1, 258), Walker Kessler (7-2, 245) and Nikola Jokić (6-11, 284). He’s got to find an edge somehow.
“I’m usually outweighed by anywhere from 20 to 60 pounds. I’m usually outsized from a height perspective, anywhere from 5 to Wemby,” Green said, eliciting laughs. “With that, In order to do what I do, you have to have that certain nastiness to you. …
Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors helps up Stephen Curry during a game against the Miami Heat at Chase Center in San Francisco on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“I have to have that tenacity. There’s certain things you cannot allow to happen because if you allow it to happen the next game you play, it’s gonna happen again. Somebody’s gonna try it again.”
And, so, that’s why Green felt compelled to do more than just prevent Maluach (7-2, 250) from converting the entry pass he received in the paint. He had to send a message.
Brooks, then, had to send one back.
And, like the Warriors’ hopes that night, the rivalry was rekindled, just like that.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 26: The sneakers worn by Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
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