NBA – Page 20 – Worldwide Sports News

The Golden State Warriors registered their first win of the season on Monday, surprisingly blowing out the Denver Nuggets 134-114 on the road. And now, after the Minnesota Timberwolves suffered a devastating injury to Anthony Edwards, the Dubs are in prime position to post a winning record on their three-game winning streak.

Needless to say, Edwards is not the only player who is injured in this game, as neither team is particularly healthy right now. Here’s the full injury report.

Warriors

Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL repair surgery)
Out — Moses Moody (left patellar tendon repair surgery)
Out — Kristaps Porziņģis(not with team)

No new news on Butler and Moody. Not much new news on Porziņģis, either, other than an ESPN report today that suggested that Golden State doesn’t expect the former All-Star to play another game for them. For the foreseeable future, these three will remain on the injury report.

Questionable — Yaxel Lendeborg (left foot inflammation/soreness)

Lendeborg, who is off to a dream start to his career (he’s averaging 21.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game) got a little banged up during his dominant performance on Monday. You know it’s going to be hard to keep him off the court, and the Warriors aren’t in a back-to-back, so hopefully he’s able to play. It will be fun to see Lendeborg and Jonathan Kuminga play against each other, both for the basketball itself, and for the narrative.

Timberwolves

Out — Anthony Edwards (right knee injury management)

Edwards’ injured knee requires arthroscopic surgery, which should keep him out until sometime around the new year. It’s a bummer for him, for the Wolves, and for NBA fans. In the meantime, it should mean an increased role for Kuminga, who becomes Minnesota’s secondary scorer behind LaMelo Ball.

Out — Donte DiVincenzo (right Achilles tendon repair surgery)

The former Warrior played all 82 games for the Wolves last year, then tragically tore his Achilles during the playoffs. He has expressed confidence that he’ll be able to make it back on the court at some point this season but, if so, it would surely be towards the end of the year.

Enjoy the game, everyone. It tips off at 5:00 p.m. PT on NBC Sports Bay Area.

October 28, 2026

How to watch Warriors vs. Timberwolves

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 14: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball against Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter in Game Five of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Target Center on May 14, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Golden State Warriors wrap up their first road trip of the season with Wednesday night’s matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 PM PT in Minneapolis and can be watched on NBC Sports Bay Area.

Matchup in Minneapolis ⚔️

🏀 GSW at MIN
🕔 5 pm PT
📺 @NBCSAuthentic
📻 @957thegame
📱 https://t.co/6fWWQpq2o1 #DubNation pic.twitter.com/jztVUL6g2P
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 28, 2026

Previously with the Warriors:

The Warriors finally broke into the win column Monday night, earning their first victory of the season with an impressive 134-114 win over the Denver Nuggets. Stephen Curry led the charge with a flawless shooting performance, finishing with 24 points on a perfect 8-of-8 from the field. Meanwhile, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg continued his impressive start to the season, pouring in a game-high 31 points. It was a much-needed offensive breakthrough for Golden State, delivering their best scoring performance of the season against a Denver team expected to be among the top contenders in the Western Conference.

WARRIORS DYNAMIC DUO GET THEIR FIRST WIN OF THE SEASON ⭐

Steph: 24 PTS | 8-8 FG
Yaxel: 31 PTS | 12 REB pic.twitter.com/OOKtZ0om8l
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 27, 2026

What to watch for tonight:

The Warriors will look to build on Monday’s momentum against a Minnesota team that has gotten off to a strong 3-1 start. The Timberwolves have been led by their dynamic All-Star backcourt of Anthony Edwards and offseason acquisition LaMelo Ball, however, Minnesota will be without Edwards for tonight’s matchup after ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the star guard will undergo surgery on his right knee, which is expected to sideline him for up to two months.

Just in: Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his ailing right knee and miss up to two months, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/HenrAY2APs
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 27, 2026

While Edwards’ absence takes some star power out of tonight’s matchup, there will still be a familiar face on the floor for Golden State.

Former Warriors lottery pick Jonathan Kuminga will face his old team after being dealt at last season’s trade deadline in exchange for center Kristaps Porziņģis. The former No. 7 overall pick signed a two-year deal with the Timberwolves during the offseason and has since carved out a productive role in Minnesota’s rotation, averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds through the first four games of the season.

With Edwards sidelined, Kuminga could see an expanded offensive role against the team that drafted him, adding another intriguing storyline as Golden State looks to build on Monday’s win and secure its second consecutive victory.

Enjoy the game Dub Nation. GO WARRIORS!!!

Projected Starters

Warriors: Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Yaxel Lendeborg, Gui Santos, Draymond Green

Timberwolves: LaMelo Ball, Ayo Dosunmu, Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, Rudy Gobert

How to watch Regular Season Game 5

Who: Golden State Warriors (1 – 3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (3 – 1)

When: Wednesday, October 28th, at 5:00 p.m. PT

Where: Target Center — Minneapolis, Minnesota

TV and Streaming: NBC Sports Bay Area

October 28, 2026

Former Laker Malik Beasley agrees to plead guilty in federal court over gambling ring involvement

Malik Beasley, in a suit without a tie, walks outside a courthouse. — Former NBA player Malik Beasley arrives outside of Brooklyn federal court building in July. (Heather Khalifa / Associated Press)

Former NBA player Malik Beasley has agreed to a plea deal months after initially pleading not guilty to federal charges tied to his alleged involvement in a gambling ring.

Beasley is expected to enter a guilty plea during a Dec. 9 hearing, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York confirmed in an email to The Times.

The NBA journeyman, who spent half of the 2022-2023 season with the Lakers, and several others were charged this summer with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bribery in sporting contests, honest services wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Beasley entered a not guilty plea to all charges on July 1.

It is not clear the charges to which Beasley will be entering a guilty plea.

Beasley has been accused of illegally manipulating his performance in NBA games to ensure gamblers won prop bets on at least four occasions while he was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023-2024. According to the indictment, he and co-defendant Ed Davis, also a one-time Laker who was teammates with Beasley on the 2020-2021 Minnesota Timberwolves, conspired for Beasley to under- or overperform during certain games relative to specific statistics on which others involved in the scheme would place bets.

Beasley had previously borrowed money from Davis after accumulating millions of dollars in gambling losses. In exchange for fixing his performances, the indictment says, Beasley’s debts to Davis were “reduced or paid off.”

Also indicted were Paolo Zamorano, William Brown, Robert Gorodetsky and Ernesto Plascencia. All six defendants initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, but Brown has since pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and Gorodetsky and Plascencia also both scheduled for change of plea hearings in November.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

October 28, 2026

New AI-powered technology will totally change how fans watch sports — and it starts with the Nets

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows A scoreboard inside the Barclays Center showing a basketball game at halftime with the score 54 to 48, Image 2 shows A person adjusts camera equipment overlooking an arena

Angela Pennyfeather, born and raised in Bed Stuy, has been going to Brooklyn Nets’ home openers for just about as long as the Nets have played in Brooklyn. But this year was different.

For the 2026-27 Nets’ season, the Barclays Center debuted a revolutionary AI-enhanced replay system that gives fans something totally new: a near-perfect 3D-recreation of the on-court action.

Alibaba and the Brooklyn Nets collaborated on a new AI-powered 360-degree replay system that debuted at the Barclays Center the night of the Nets 2026-27 home opener. Courtesy of the Nets

The tech was on display throughout the game to highlight dunks, blocks and steals. Replays were broadcast on the jumbotron and published across the team’s social-media channels.

“It was pretty phenomenal,” Pennyfeather said. “We’ve never seen anything like it.”

Even her teenage son was impressed — “and he’s always trying to keep it cool,” she said.

An engineer with Peripheral, a spatial intelligence company based in Toronto, works to install a camera at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, home of the 2026 NBA Summer League. Courtesy of Peripheral

In the not-so-distant future, AI-powered replay systems will allow fans anywhere in the world to interact with the game from perspectives never before possible — say, directly under the hoop at a basketball game, or from inside the batter’s box at a baseball game — and edit their own replay packages.

“One of our big goals is building the next generation of Brooklyn Nets fans,” Keia Cole, Chief Digital Officer of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (BSE), the parent company that owns the Nets, told The Post. “This is a tool built to wow them.”

The Nets’ 360-degree replay system was created by a set of 64 cameras placed all around the arena near the suite level. Each records the game from its unique angle, then sends its data to the cloud, where an AI-model built by Alibaba sews the footage together. Nets owner Joe Tsai is the cofounder and chairman of Alibaba Group.

Alibaba’s new replay system uses 68 cameras from all around the arena to stitch together a 360-degree perspective of the game’s top highlights. Nets

Peripheral is a spatial intelligence company based in Toronto that captures basketball games with 18 cameras placed around an arena and then recreates the scene in three-dimensions. Toronto Raptors

The process takes only 15 to 20 seconds.

And the final product — “it’s kind of like art,” Pennyfeather said.

The Alibaba Group has shown off the technology before, including at the Milan-Cortina Olympics with set-ups around 17 sports.

“[Basketball] games move so quickly, it’s hard to understand the mechanics and the complexity of a move,” said Cole. “This is a nuanced way to slow down the game.”

Kelvin Cui (left) and Mustafa Khan (right) are the co-founders of Peripheral. They come from the autonomous vehicle division at Tesla and the artificial superintelligence arm of Huawei, respectively. Courtesy of Kelvin Cui/ Peripheral

As of now, you can only see the 360-degree replay system on the arena’s jumbotron or via the Nets social-media channels, but a Toronto-based startup is working to bring similar views to every screen in America.

Peripheral was founded in 2024 by Kelvin Cui and Mustafa Khan, then 21 and 22 years old. The following year, their company was selected to be a part of the NBA’s incubator program, Launchpad.

Their work in the incubator culminated in Las Vegas at the 2026 Summer League, where Peripheral unveiled their product to league executives.

“We were able to show off our full videos for the first time. The Raptors [shared] some clips that went viral on X, fans really liked it, and the NBA invested,” Cui said. “So, yeah, it was sick.”

Peripheral demoed their spatial intelligence capabilities to NBA executives at the 2026 Summer League and are currently working with multiple teams on permanent installations. Courtesy of Kelvin Cui/ Peripheral

Peripheral’s technology works largely the same way as Alibaba’s — but Peripheral’s model will allow viewers more freedom. With an Xbox controller, the operator can ‘fly’ to any point on the court or around the arena to see what a play looks like from that point of view. They can even lock into an individual player and replay the game from their perspective.

Peripheral’s cameras capture not just the volumetric data of how the game is unfolding, but also biomechanical data of how players are moving — down to individual finger joints.

Cui, who previously worked on self-driving cars at Tesla, sees applications well beyond broadcasts. Teams could use the technology to better understand their players’ physical tendencies and develop protocols to prevent injuries. Coaches could use it to show their team how a play unfolded from the other side of the court. The league could use it to help with officiating.

“The goal is to have all of these applications out this season,” Cui said.

Inside Barclays Center, where the Nets debuted a revolutionary AI-powered replay system on opening night. Courtesy of the Nets

And the technology is only getting better. Less than a year ago, Peripheral was working with a 32 camera set-up, but that number is now down to just 18. The AI-model is trained on real games, and the more it records, the faster, cleaner and more efficient it becomes.

Peripheral is currently working with multiple NBA teams on permanent installations, though the company can’t yet say which ones. In the future, the company wants to get the controllers into fans’ hands so they can watch their favorite team in a video game-like environment.

“There’s a lot of creative opportunities here for people who are producing the game for [television] or on the jumbotron,” Cui said. “[But also], this is how we get younger audiences back into live sports — give them an interactive experience closer to what they’re used to in 2K.”

October 28, 2026

Preview: Kuminga wanted the ball, now he gets it vs Warriors

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 25: Jonathan Kuminga #24 of the Minnesota Timberwolves walks off the floor after the home opener against the Toronto Raptors at Target Center on October 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Raptors 117-94. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Big game coming up tonight Dub Nation, as the Minnesota Timberwolves welcome the Golden State Warriors to Minneapolis. The Warriors started off 0-3 for the season before punching the Denver Nuggets in the mouth for their first win. Their reward is a flight to Minnesota to see a revamped Wolves team that added LaMelo Ball and GSW’s former #7 overall pick Jonathan Kuminga.

Jonathan Kuminga’s road from the Bay to Target Center played out like a slow, grinding breakup we all watched live together. The 2021 lottery pick won a ring as a rookie. In 2025, he took a two-year, $46.8 million deal over a three-year, $75 million framework the Warriors put on the table. He got shipped to Atlanta for Kristaps Porziņģis at last February’s deadline, and the Hawks declined his option in June. Minnesota landed him on a two-year deal worth about $13 million, roughly half of what one year of that Warriors framework would’ve paid.

Golden State Warriors at Minnesota Timberwolves
When: Wednesday, October 28, 2026 | 5:00 PM PT
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis
TV: NBC Sports Bay Area
Radio: 95.7 The Game

Warriors Injuries:

Moses Moody: Out (Knee),

Jimmy Butler III: Out (Knee),

Kristaps Porzingis: Out (Illness),

Yaxel Lendeborg: Questionable (Foot)

Timberwolves Injuries:

Donte DiVincenzo: Out (Achilles),

Anthony Edwards: Out (Knee)

Just in: Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his ailing right knee and miss up to two months, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/HenrAY2APs
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 27, 2026

Four games in, Kuminga looks more like the guy Steve Kerr spent five years asking for. Kuminga is averaging 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds, he’s shooting 47% from three, and Chris Finch keeps praising him for guarding, hustling, and letting the offense come to him. Warriors assistant Kris Weems told the Chronicle he used to preach doing the dirty work first, and that JK’s response back then boiled down to “Just give me the ball, man.”

Well, Minnesota is about to give him the ball. Anthony Edwards dropped 47 on Cleveland Monday in an overtime loss. On Tuesday, news broke that he needs an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee that could keep him out up to two months. Ant was averaging 33.3 points a night. LaMelo Ball will get first crack at a lot of those possessions. Still, some of those shots are going to land with the most motivated man in the building, who’s wearing a Wolves jersey against the team that drafted him.

The Warriors finally showed up for the season Monday in Denver with a 134-114 beatdown. Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg led the way with 31 points and 12 rebounds, and Steph went a perfect 8-of-8 for 24.

Lendeborg is where this matchup gets delicious. He’s a month older than Kuminga, and he logged 37 minutes in his second NBA game, something JK didn’t do until his second season. The kid got the runway Kuminga always wanted. He’s also questionable with a sore left foot, which would be a cruel twist on a night JK will likely spend some possessions guarding him.

Yaxel Lendeborg is listed as questionable for tomorrow's Warriors game in Minnesota with left foot inflammation/soreness @NBCSWarriors
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) October 27, 2026

Then there’s the Porziņģis heath situation. He’s the return for the Kuminga trade but is out with an illness, joining Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody on the sideline.

Don’t pop the champagne over Ant’s absence, either. Minnesota went 12-9 without Edwards last season. They still have Ball, Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels. This is also the franchise that ended the Warriors’ 2025 run in the second round, a series where Kuminga had one of his best scoring stretches in blue and gold.

Draymond is healthy and available. At some point Wednesday night, JK is going to catch it on the wing with the ball finally his and Draymond squared up in front of him, and Dub Nation’s five years of arguments are going to come down to one possession.

October 28, 2026

How long could Tyrese Haliburton be out after latest injury setback?

The Indiana Pacers could be without star Tyrese Haliburton again and the NBA might have lost another star player to an injury.

The 26-year-old Haliburton is listed as questionable with "left hamstring tightness/soreness" on the team's latest injury report and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said that Haliburton will meet with an outside specialist before Indiana hosts the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 28.

Haliburton had only just made an emotional return after missing the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. He played in the Pacers' first four games of the regular season this month, including a back-to-back on Oct. 25-26, and nearly averaged a double-double (21.8 points, 9.5 assists).

Here's the latest on Haliburton's injury situation and how it could affect the Pacers season:

How long is Tyrese Haliburton out?

Haliburton's status moving forward, beginning with Wednesday's game against the 76ers, is "uncertain," according to Carlisle, due to a hamstring injury that surfaced during the first week of the NBA regular season.

Carlisle told 107.5 The Fan in Indianapolis that the Pacers guard is consulting with "a hamstring expert" used by the team and will learn more about a potential timetable for his return during a 4:15 p.m. ET meeting that will also involve team management and trainers.

"We'll hope this hamstring thing is not a big deal or not any kind of a long term thing," Carlisle said during the interview.

Haliburton was seen riding an exercise bike during break in the action in Monday's loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, according to the Indianapolis Star, and said afterwards he felt "banged up."

Tyrese Haliburton injury history

Haliburton is making a high-profile comeback from his dramatic injury suffered during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. He did not play during the 2025-26 season while recovering from the Achilles injury. During that process, his progress was slowed by a frustrating case of shingles.

Haliburton has also missed time with hamstring issues in the past, including in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

But he was in the midst of a successful return through four games this month, emerging again as the Pacers' second-leading scorer and top playmaker. Carlisle had been impressed by the improvements his star had seemingly made in his first appearances since the major injury.

"He's got a lot of bounce. He's energetic. He's definitely in an attacking mode and defensively, he's made gains," Carlisle said. "He's gotten stronger and he's battling at a higher level against guys ... A lot of good signs."

How Tyrese Haliburton's latest injury impacts Pacers

Haliburton's hamstring issues come at an inopportune time for the Pacers.

Indiana will already be without center Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain), backup point guard T.J. McConnell (hamstring strain), guard Ben Sheppard (torn left meniscus) and forward Johnny Furphy (ACL tear) against the Sixers on Wednesday. Guard Andrew Nembhard is listed as questionable with neck stiffness and soreness after missing Monday's game.

This would be easier to manage if Indiana were closer to whole. If Haliburton's absence is a few games or a few weeks, the Pacers should still be able to stay afloat and within striking distance of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. But if this turns into another extended absence, Indiana's aspirations to be a contender again become more complicated.

The Pacers can survive a short-term setback, but a team built around Haliburton got them to the NBA Finals before and gives them the best chance to do so again in a deeper Eastern Conference.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How long could Tyrese Haliburton be out after latest injury setback?

October 28, 2026

NBA legend tells Yaxel Lendeborg to ‘shut the hell up’ for Luka Doncic comments

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers hushes the crowd after sinking a three pointer against the Utah Jazz during the second half of their game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, Image 2 shows Yaxel Lendeborg (1) of the Golden State Warriors during an NBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, Image 3 shows Yaxel Lendeborg of the Golden State Warriors plays defense against Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers

Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg talked trash to Luka Doncic unrelentingly on Opening Night.

Lendeborg has the chance to do it again Friday night when the Warriors and Lakers square off for their second meeting of the season.

Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors plays defense on Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images

There’s been much discourse surrounding the rookie’s chatter toward Doncic, but Hall of Famer Charles Barkley said he doesn’t have a problem with Lendeborg chirping at the Lakers superstar.

“I think rookies get excited to play against great players and I have no problem with that. When you’re a great player, you’re everybody’s big game. Those kids grew up watching you, so it’s a big deal,” Barkley said.

Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 21, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena. NBAE via Getty Images

While the trash talk by Lendeborg was Barkley approved, the former NBA player turned analyst wasn’t a fan of the 24-year-old’s comments after the game.

“I don’t have any problem with him coming for Luka. I didn’t like the stuff after the game because number one when you get your ass kicked by 30 you probably should shut the hell up,” Barkley said.

"When you're a great player, you're everybody's big game. Those kids grew up watching you, so it's a big deal." — Charles Barkley says he doesn't have a problem with Yaxel coming for Luka. pic.twitter.com/4tQKgh0z64
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) October 28, 2026

Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers hushes the crowd after sinking a three pointer against the Utah Jazz during the second half of their game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Getty Images

Lendeborg admitted he probably went overboard with his comments after the Opening Night loss.

“I feel like I did kinda take it overboard in the media, but it is what it is,” he said.

However, fans will see whether the Warriors rookie took the learning lesson to heart. Lendeborg continuing the trash talk on the court with Doncic seems likely, but if Golden State loses, will he comment on the Lakers superstar afterward?

October 28, 2026

Ernie Johnson retiring from ‘Inside the NBA’ as he reveals health issues

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Sportscaster speaking into a microphone during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four, Image 2 shows Ernie Johnson Jr. interviews New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson during the trophy ceremony after the Knicks won the NBA Championship, Image 3 shows Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley on set before the Eastern Conference Finals game between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks

Ernie Johnson is making a significant career move.

The star sportscaster for TNT Sports announced Wednesday that he will be hosting “Inside the NBA” for the final time during the 2026-27 season in what is a decision made completely on his own.

It will be his 37th year hosting the show and he will sit beside Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal for one final run.

Johnson noted a “contributing factor” to his decision, which is that he has dealt with heart issues over the past two years, which included bypass surgery 14 months ago.

TNT college basketball analyst Ernie Johnson appears on air before the National Championship game of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament between the Michigan Wolverines and the Connecticut Huskies at Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday, April 6, 2026, in Indianapolis. Getty Images

“Still trying to get this thing to beat in exactly the way it should, and we are getting there,” Johnson said in a video posted to X. “I feel great. So, this isn’t a case where my doctor said ‘You need to stop working.’ It’s nothing like that, but here’s the deal. Going through that has made me treasure even more every second with my amazing wife of 44 years Cheryl and being Poppi to our five grandchildren.

“So, I just want to slow down a bit and spend more time enjoying that.”

Johnson, 70, added he is “not retiring” but rather “cutting back.”

He will still be a part of March Madness among other projects for TNT and CBS. Johnson also said he started a production company, 32 Bowties, that will highlight feel-good stories in sports.

“This is by no means the end. It’s just a turning of the page,” he said.

Ernie Johnson Jr. interviews New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the trophy ceremony after the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs to win the NBA Championship in Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, Saturday, June 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / NY Post

Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley talk after Game 5 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Thursday, May 29, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images

One of his favorite parts of the job has always been the hours logged in preparation for the night ahead throughout his career. He said that has now become “more of challenge than it is a joy,” and was an indicator to step away.

Johnson had a fun conclusion to last season, hosting the Knicks’ championship ceremony after their Game 5 win over the Spurs in San Antontio in June. He also interviewed the NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson on “Inside the NBA” following the champagne celebrations.

“It’s just time,” Johnson said. “It’s been an honor to share so many nights, decades actually at the desk with my brothers — Kenny, Charles and Shaq — and with our production crews who are so talented and devoted. I so appreciate the leadership at TNT and ESPN for allowing the show to continue.”

October 28, 2026

Ziaire Williams defended himself after receiving flopping technical foul

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 25: Ziaire Williams #11 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz on October 25, 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 Alex Goodlett/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Midway through the fourth quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 136-129 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday night, three flopping technicals were doled out in a 90-second span. The first culprit was Toumani Camara while he guarded Luka Dončić on an inbounds play. Then, Ja Morant ricocheted off of Austin Reaves as he recovered around a screen. Thirteen seconds later, Ziaire Williams wobbled in retreat after forcing Deni Avdija away from his preferred right hand and received a forearm to the sternum.

The refs called THREE flopping technicals in 2 minutes 😭 pic.twitter.com/eAeeSN9Prz
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) October 28, 2026

Among the three infractions, Williams certainly has the clearest case for frustration. Avdija absolutely pushes him and is already a much stronger player than Williams. Williams flailing his arms doesn’t do him any favors in the officials’ eyes. But that’s much more about him trying to stay upright and on his feet rather than convincing anyone of an offensive foul and he immediately darts right back into the play to defend Avdija.

After the game, Williams took exception to the tech and explained his perspective.

“I mean, if the dude was pushing off me, my body is naturally going to waver back,” Williams told reporters. “I don’t know. I didn’t think I flopped. I don’t know, man. I don’t know.”

On Monday, Williams received a $2,000 flopping fine for a similar play to Tuesday’s event. Against the Utah Jazz on Sunday, he cut off a Keyonte George drive and took a forearm to the hip, which sent him stumbling backward. That time, George was called for an offensive foul but Williams “was assessed a postgame Flopping fine of $2,000 upon league office review.”

LAL’s Ziaire Williams was assessed a postgame Flopping fine of $2,000 upon league office review for https://t.co/gJPymw7mOP on Oct. 25 vs. UTA. Flopping is among the NBA’s Areas of Focus for the 2026-27 season.
— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) October 27, 2026

Williams maintains he is not flopping, and it’s hard to really contend otherwise. He’s a pretty slight-of-frame defender moving backward against players extending their arms into him. He does not want to fall over and miss out on the play, so he uses his arms to keep on his feet. That’s simple physics.

“They’ve just been calling it. I haven’t heard anything from anyone,” Williams said. “Like I said, I don’t think I’m flopping. If I was flopping, I’d be on the floor. But it is what it is. Nothing I can do about it now.”

Despite the recent, frustrating flopping incidents, Williams is off to an excellent start with the Lakers. Through four games, he’s averaging 11.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals while shooting 69.2% on 2-pointers and 46.7% beyond the arc. He’ll look to continue his rhythm and avoid any harsh flopping calls Wednesday night as the Lakers take on the Clippers at 7:30 p.m.

You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.

October 28, 2026

Lakers’ defensive flaws threaten to spoil their championship dreams

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Portland Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija shoots the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during an NBA basketball game, Image 2 shows Ja Morant #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots the ball during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers have aspirations of becoming a championship-level team.

The first week of the season showed that they already have the recipe to be an elite offensive team.

But it also proved that they have plenty of progress to make before their defense is at a championshiop level, too.

Deni Avdija (8) was among the Trail Blazers who made the Lakers pay with his drives and shooting. NBAE via Getty Images

The Lakers’ defensive struggles led to their first loss of the season on Tuesday night, a 136-129 defeat to the Trail Blazers at Crypto.com Arena.

“We have to be able to rely on our defense every night,” coach JJ Redick said. “And if we score 129 points at home, we should be able to get enough stops to win.”

The Lakers’ defensive struggles were all over the court, even though Walker Kessler took responsibility for not leading the team on that end of the floor like he’s expected to.

Their ball containment was subpar, leading to breakdowns around the perimeter.

Ja Morant carved up the Lakers’ defense in their first loss of the season. NBAE via Getty Images

The Blazers’ shotmaking was elite, which wasn’t surprising considering the talent on their roster.

But the Lakers weren’t disciplined enough with their defensive game plan execution.

“I don’t think there [were] any adjustment that [had] to be made,” Austin Reaves said. “It was more so us not doing what we were supposed to. We got to talk more on the defensive end and just be sharper in our base coverages.”

The Lakers’ defensive struggles weren’t limited to Tuesday – which is why they went from being ranked No. 19 in defensive rating to No. 22 after the loss.

The Trail Blazers just made the Lakers pay more than any other team was capable of during the season’s first week.

The Lakers’ ball containment has been subpar. NBAE via Getty Images

The loss to the Trail Blazers was the third straight game the Lakers allowed their opponent to score at least 117 points.

“We’ve been relying on our offense a lot,” Kessler said. “And we have a very, very good offense and a lot of great scorers. But that’s not gonna be the only thing that gets us to win a championship here. So it’s a good reminder. We’ll learn a lot from it.”

The Lakers didn’t have to wait long to use the lessons from Tuesday against another opponent.

The loss to the Trail Blazers was the first night of a back-to-back set, with the Lakers playing the Clippers for the second time this season on Wednesday, but this time at Intuit Dome.

“Coach pointed it out and now it’s up to us to respond,” Sandro Mamukelashvili said. “Everybody will watch [the] film, I’m sure. Everybody is going to see what mistakes they had. We all have great player development coaches who are going to work with us, make sure we kind of fix the mistakes we made.

“We got to be better and we will. I’ll be better. I got to communicate more, be more physical. Just got to play hard.”

October 28, 2026

Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton to miss a couple of weeks with strained hamstring

UPDATE: Pacers coach Rick Carlisle gave an update on Haliburton.

Tyrese Haliburton has a mild strain in his left hamstring and is considered week-to-week, according to Coach Carlisle. pic.twitter.com/uog2vb7mZ6
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) October 28, 2026

Carlisle also told reporters that two weeks was the target time to ask him for an update, implying Haliburton would be out that long. That's the expected return timeline from a low-end Grade 1 hamstring strain. However, the Pacers may be cautious with their star and hold him out longer, hamstrings are easy muscles to re-injure.

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Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton is joining a frighteningly long list of NBA stars missing time with injuries in the first week of the season.

Haliburton has suffered a left hamstring strain and will miss time, a story first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. How much time will depend on the severity of the strain. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle added this in an interview on 1075 The Fan, via Tony East:

"We'll hope this hamstring thing is not a big deal or not any kind of a long-term thing. But as I said, we'll know more about that later this evening."

It's worth noting that teams are cautious about bringing back players from hamstring strains, as they are particularly susceptible to re-injury.

Haliburton had returned to the Pacers this season after missing all of last season with a torn Achilles suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Through four games this season, Haliburton was averaging 21.8 points and 9.5 assists a night.

Indiana has dealt with a rash of injuries at the start of the season — four of their five ideal starters are on the injury report. For Wednesday night's game, Ivica Zubac (ankle), Ben Sheppard (meniscus tear), T.J. McConnell (hamstring), and Johnny Furphy (ACL) are out, and Andrew Nembhard is questionable with neck stiffness.

Haliburton joins a too-long list of NBA stars missing time with injuries to start the season: Jalen Williams, Anthony Edwards, Cason Wallace, Kawhi Leonard, Jalen Duren, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, and Jaren Jackson Jr., just to name a few. That's not counting guys such as Kon Knueppel or Tobias Harris, who have yet to play due to minor injuries. At least No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa will make his debut Wednesday.

October 28, 2026

MMBets Game of the Week: Dallas returns to the National TV spotlight against undefeated OKC Thunder

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - DECEMBER 05: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket around Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first half at Paycom Center on December 5, 2025 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks make their primetime debut Wednesday evening against the suddenly beaten and battered Oklahoma City Thunder squad. Dallas (2-2) won a thriller against the Miami Heat on Monday evening, as Cooper Flagg (29 points, six boards, 11 assists and eight stocks) and two-way guard Walter Clayton Jr. (15 points, four rebounds and four assists in just 17 minutes off the bench) led the way in a four-point victory.

Flagg and Clayton spearheaded a fantastic effort on Monday against the Heat. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

For Oklahoma City (4-0), things have been held together by smoke, mirrors, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ajay Mitchell. The duo, who are playing without Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace and Jalen Williams, combined for 56 points in Monday’s 125-114 win over the Phoenix Suns. The Thunder played nine guys at least 20 minutes in that contest, and it’s clear that for the foreseeable future, this thing is going to be a group effort to support the two guards.

Before we dive into the handicap, lets recap last week’s results.

Last week

Houston 128, Dallas 110

Tyler: 3-1 (+$165)

David: 3-1 (+$181)

Overall: 6-2 (+$346)

On $100 flat wagers, we are sitting in the black after one week. Let’s ride the high!

Game intangibles

Oklahoma City Thunder (4-0) at Dallas Mavericks (2-2)

Tipoff: It’s a late one, as tipoff is scheduled for just after 8:40 p.m. from the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

How to watch: Dallas makes their season debut on National TV, as Dave Pasch, Jeremy Lin and Jorge Sedano will have ESPN’s coverage of the game.

Game lines as of 12:30 p.m. CT

Spread: Oklahoma City -6.5 (-105)

Total: Over/Under 228.5 (-110)

Moneyline: Dallas is +188 to pull off the home upset

David’s plays

Cooper Flagg to score 25+ points (-104)
Mavericks ML (+188)
Ajay Mitchell to score 20+ points (+114)
Mavericks first quarter spread +1.5 (-113)

I think the Mavericks follow up Monday’s big win with a statement win tonight on ESPN. The Thunder have absolutely nobody that can guard Cooper Flagg or defend the rim at the level you need to to prevent him from getting to his spots. On the other side, Ajay Mitchell has now been thrust into a bigger role and I think he provides a lot of problems for the Mavericks perimeter defenders. Despite that, Dallas will ride a good first quarter to a huge win.

Tyler’s plays

Under 228.5 points (-110)
Dallas +6.5 (-115)
Cooper Flagg 8+ rebounds (+124)
Isaiah Hartenstein under 9.5 rebounds (+112)

I do like the under here quite a bit. Dallas has been held to 110 points or less twice already this season, while OKC has also been held under 110 twice. That includes a 96-point effort against Denver, who isn’t exactly sparkling on the defensive end. And in these low scoring affairs, I typically lean to the dog, especially at home. The rebound props feel correlated to me. Flagg has had many chanced to grab rebounds, but has failed to capitalize at times. In this matchup, OKC will not be positionally as big as the teams Dallas has faced to date, so I like his over. Hartenstein, meanwhile, is going to see a lot of attention, given OKC’s injuries. I like his under and I think Flagg will pick up the loose change.

Other games on the card

October 28, 2026

Steve Kerr coins new NSFW nickname for NBA amid early season flopping epidemic

Steve Kerr coins new NSFW nickname for NBA amid early season flopping epidemic originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors coach Steve Kerr did not mince his words when asked to share his thoughts on the early season flopping epidemic that has plagued the NBA.

“We should be the No Bulls–t Association,” Kerr told reporters before Golden State’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday at Target Center. “Anything that is B.S. should just be banished.”

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“Every bit of bulls–t the players try to pull, we should just say, ‘No, no. We’re not doing that,'” Kerr said. “It’s a better game when guys aren’t flopping… [and] running into screens and looking like they got hit by a car.”

Kerr was asked to share his thoughts on the sequence in Tuesday night’s Trail Blazers vs. Lakers game in Los Angeles where the officials called three technical fouls for flopping in a two-minute span.

The refs called THREE flopping technicals in 2 minutes 😭 pic.twitter.com/eAeeSN9Prz
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) October 28, 2026

“I feel like we’re constantly, as a league, behind the players,” Kerr said. “The players are grifting, and we’re chasing them and we’re never getting ahead of it.”

Kerr also clarified that he believes the onus to solve the issue does not fall on the officials.

“I think our officials do a great job and I think they work their butts off. It’s such a hard job. I’m not complaining about the officiating,” Kerr said. “What I’m saying is we need to stay ahead of all the player grifting. Easier said than done, I get it. But we’ve consistently been behind it for a decade.”

Kerr already has spoken on the issue several times this nascent season, particularly after the Warriors’ home opener against the Memphis Grizzlies.

“It’s a really, really hard thing to police,” Kerr said. “Can we have a general, sort of, philosophy of ‘No bulls–t’?”

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October 28, 2026

Pistons' physical identity makes them a great team, but does it also hurt their title chances?

Before the Detroit Pistons took on the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff talked about the team's dedication to playing "Pistons basketball." Then, seated in the same folding chair only a few hours later, after the Pistons fell to the Knicks 111-97, Bickerstaff wondered if the NBA was unfairly penalizing the Pistons for being who they are.

"It is extremely frustrating. To see it happen the way that it happens. There is a discrepancy," Bickerstaff said, about the way his team is officiated. "There's a physicality that we play with and play with every night, and the League should be accustomed to it by now. We've been doing it for three years, and it's not going to change."

That physicality is part of what Bickerstaff referred to pre-game as "Pistons basketball." Since being hired by the team in the summer of 2024, Bickerstaff and his staff have created an identity that is not only tied to physicality but also defensive pressure, contested shots at the rim, and turnovers. Before Bickerstaff took over the Pistons, they had a defensive rating of 118 in 2023-24. That was 25th in the league. In his first season at the helm, the Pistons had a rating of 112.5, which was good for 10th-best, and last season, they had a defensive rating of 108.9, second-best. Last season, they also averaged 10.4 steals and 6.4 blocks per game, both of which were best in the league. The season before Bickerstaff arrived, the Pistons were dead last in the NBA with 6.5 steals per game and were 20th in the league with 4.7 blocks per game.

While some of that improvement can be tied to personnel, many of the key players on the Pistons were in Detroit before Bickerstaff arrived. Cade Cunningham played three seasons in Detroit before Bickerstaff was hired, but he had never made an All-Star Game and had only averaged a steal per game in one of those seasons. Jalen Duren played two seasons in Detroit prior to Bickerstaff being hired, and Ausar Thompson played one. Their evolution as players can be attributed to increased experience and maturity, but it would be foolish not to give some credit to the identity created in Detroit over the last two seasons.

“We play Pistons basketball. It doesn't matter who our opponent is or what the rest of the league is doing," explained Bickerstaff. "We're built a certain way, and if we're trying to change because of what everybody else is doing, we're not going to be as good at it, and we're not going to be as true to ourselves. That's the most important thing. All the changes that have happened [in the Eastern Conference], your identity matters, right? Your style of play is second to your identity, and if you're playing true to your identity every single night, that gives you an advantage when you're playing against teams that are trying to figure out who they are or what they do. So our aim is just to be who we are, right? We play Pistons ball every single night.”

Having that built-in identity has also made it easier for new players to adapt to what the Pistons are doing. Guys like Paul Reed, Duncan Robinson, John Collins, and Isaiah Joe can become integrated into the team quickly because the identity is so clear-cut.

"I think the way the league is going to be is you're going to have some overhaul with a lot of teams just because of the new salary structure and all that stuff," said Bickerstaff. "I think the more simple you can make it, the more quickly you can get guys to buy into it, and the more you get to maintain your identity by seeking new players that kind of fit, and I think that's what we've been able to do. Give the front office a ton of credit; they found guys that fit our identity and the way that we play."

The way the Pistons play has worked too.

Last season, they finished the regular season 60-22 and were the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The season before, they were 44-38 and finished as the 6th seed. That was after a season in which they were 14-68 and were the worst team in the Eastern Conference. It was a pretty quick rise to title contention, and much of that has to do with style of play.

Yet, "Pistons basketball" also does come with some negatives.

Since Bickerstaff took over and instilled his more physical brand of basketball, the Pistons have been among the leaders in the NBA in fouls. In his first season, they committed 20.7 fouls per game, the fourth-most in the league. Last season, they led the league with 22 fouls per game. Now, the Pistons also had the third-most fouls per game the season before Bickerstaff was hired, so this is not strictly an issue tied to his style of play, but it is something he has embraced as a head coach.

"We're physical within the rules and have gotten really good at it," he declared after the loss to the Knicks. "We've been one of the top defenses over the past two, three years, whatever it's been. We play a certain style, and fans want to see the style that we play. That's what Detroit wants, and that's what our fan base enjoys about this team, so we'll continue to do what we do."

The issue the Pistons will need to reconcile with is that their approach may make it harder to reach their ultimate goal of an NBA title.

While the league has continued to assert that games are not called differently in the regular season and the playoffs, recent data has shown that games are officiated much tighter in the postseason. Last season, referees called 11% more fouls per game in the playoffs than in the regular season. While that was one of the largest gaps in league history, and only the sixth time in 60 years that the foul gap between regular season and playoffs topped 10%, the NBA has had an increase in foul calls from the regular season to the playoffs 66 times in its 80-year history. The 2025 season saw the biggest gap between regular-season and playoff fouls in over a decade, and 2026 increased that gap.

It's also not a gap that the league is running from.

In that ESPN article linked above, NBA senior vice president of referee development and training Monty McCutchen said, "It would be very difficult on our players, on our coaches, most certainly on our referees, if the intensity of a seven-game series that we see in the playoffs exhibited itself over 82 games. "NBA playoff basketball is one of the great spectacles of all sports in my opinion. You get the combination of the passion and strength of our players and coaching staffs in tight spaces over a seven-game series. And I think that that absolutely makes for a different game."

Even though the NBA acknowledges that playoff basketball is inherently more physical, it seems likely to still use the whistle more often in the postseason. That was one bugaboo for the Pistons last season. While they allowed 27.2 free throws per game to their opponents in the regular season, they allowed 29.2 per game in the postseason. Cleveland averaged 30 free throws per game in their victory over the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. Those may seem like minor disparities, but every point matters in the postseason, especially since the pace is slower, which means fewer offensive possessions and shot attempts per game.

The bigger issue at play may be that Detroit's edge in physicality, which helps so much in the regular season, becomes less pronounced in the playoffs. Playoff games are slower and more physical by nature. Most of the teams that make the playoffs are strong defensive teams. Scoring overall in last year's playoffs fell, with teams averaging about 117.8 points in the regular season and just 105 points in the postseason.

Sportico’s 2025 study of NBA Playoff basketball suggested that the slower pace and stingier defense in the playoffs make it "more difficult for teams to generate open shots close to the basket." As a result, "paint touches have consistently declined in the postseason throughout the player tracking era since 2014." That means offenses have to settle for more three-pointers, but three-point percentage decreases in the postseason: "Of the 224 playoff squads since 2010, excluding those in the 2020 playoff bubble, nearly three-quarters (72%) shot worse from behind the 3-point line during the postseason than the regular season." That means teams that take more three-pointers give themselves more opportunity to overcome the worse shooting.

The Sportico report also mentioned that the more aggressive postseason defense "limits transition opportunities and shots around the basket while forcing teams out of their offensive sets." That's detrimental to a Pistons team that creates so much offense through their defense creating transition opportunities. Last season, they were 1st in turnovers forced, 2nd in fast break points per game, and 2nd in points in the paint per game in the regular season. However, their offense really struggled in the paint against the interior defense of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley in that loss to the Cavaliers.

So even if the physical nature of the Pistons' defense hasn't been detrimental to their playoff success in the past two years, their physical, transition-oriented offense has made it harder for them to score points in the postseason. In order for them to make a deep run in the playoffs, they will need to modify a little bit of what "Pistons basketball" means on the offensive end.

So far, through four games of the 2026-27 NBA season, we are seeing them start to make a few of those changes. While the offensive rebounding and strong interior offense have remained, the Pistons appear to be playing a little bit faster and spacing the court better than they did last season.

Last year, they were 17th in the NBA in three-point shooting at 35.6% on 30.9 attempts per game, and 28% of their points came on threes, which was 29th in the NBA. This season, Detroit is 9th in the NBA in three-point shooting at 37.6% on 37.3 attempts per game, and 37.2% of Detroit’s points have come off threes, which is 10th-most in the NBA. That's a major difference.

This season, the threes the Pistons are getting are also based mostly on pace and ball movement. Through four games, 29 of the Pistons’ 37.3 three-point attempts per game are on catch-and-shoot chances. That’s the 9th most in the league, and they have a 56.2% effective field goal rate on those attempts, which is 11th-best in the NBA. Last season, just 22.5 of their 31 attempts per game were on catch-and-shoot threes, 26th-most in the league.

A big part of that increase has been Coach Bickerstaff changing how he uses sharpshooter Duncan Robinson, using him more as an on-ball screener to free him up to get open looks when defenders help on the screen. Using Duncan as a screener “just puts defenses in tough decisions,” explained Bickerstaff. “Especially when you get him in some of those rip screens for John [Collins], who has the lob threat ability. Do you want to switch a smaller guy onto him? Do you have to bump him? Then Duncan's so intelligent. He does a great job of reading those screens and what the defenders do, and he's a step ahead of them. He knows when to slip out, he knows when to set it, he knows what route to take to get to the next screen quicker. So all those things just make it easier for him to create those opportunities and put defenses in tough situations.”

Collins himself is also a 37% shooter from deep in his career, and Isaiah Joe, who was acquired from the Thunder this offseason, has shot 40.5% from beyond the arc in his seven seasons. All of that seems to be an acknowledgement that, offensively, "Pistons basketball" needs to adapt. The physicality and aggression can remain, but when teams rise up to meet that level of play in the postseason, Detroit needs to have another wrinkle to throw at teams if they want to reach the ultimate prize.

We're only four games into the new season, but this version of "Pistons basketball" may just be the most playoff-friendly version we've seen in years.