It's just two games, but LeBron James looks comfortable in a Philadelphia uniform. He's playing a facilitator role and has averaged 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and six assists a game, and the team is 2-0, having beaten each of last season's Eastern Conference Finalists.
The second of those wins, a 29-point comeback to knock off Cleveland, pitted LeBron and the 76ers against a team many around the league expected him to choose this summer, the Cavaliers. LeBron said he seriously considered it, as Tony Jones at The Athletic reported.
"The nature of the meeting, I probably won't discuss much," James said on Thursday night. "But it was in consideration for sure. I mean, obviously, as a team trying to build towards a championship and things of that nature, I was trying to decide where I wanted to go with the rest of my career, to finish my career, or the next step. So, they had a lot of consideration for sure."
LeBron's choice stung a little in Cleveland, something Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson laid out before the teams met, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
"We were anticipating and excited [to land James] and then you have that [news]," Atkinson said pregame when asked about James going to Philadelphia. "Having gone through free agency a lot, when you're expecting something to happen and it doesn't happen, that first day or two, you're just like, you're depressed, quite honestly. That's the emotions of it."
Whether he thought the 76ers were closer to contention, wanted to live in New York (part-time, and commute by helicopter), or for some other reason, LeBron chose Philadelphia and isn't looking back now.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 16: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball against the Portland Trail Blazers during their preseason game at Chase Center on October 16, 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors return to the Chase Center for their home opener Friday night as they host the Memphis Grizzlies. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM PT in San Francisco and can be watched on NBC Sports Bay Area.
Golden State’s season got off to a rough start Wednesday night with a 127-105 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. While the Warriors managed to keep pace in the first quarter, the game quickly got out of hand, largely due to their lack of depth. Starting shooting guard Brandin Podziemski was ruled out prior to the game with a back injury, while an already thin frontcourt missing starting center Kristaps Porzingis was further depleted by the absence of Charles Bassey.
As a result, the Warriors had no answer for new Lakers big man Walker Kessler, who dominated the paint with 26 points on a perfect 12-of-12 shooting from the field, including 11 dunks. Golden State’s defensive struggles were on full display as Los Angeles built a lead as large as 35 points before ultimately handing the Warriors their first loss of the season.
Hell of a debut for Walker Kessler. The game looked so easy for him with Luka and Reaves generating shots.
Kessler has never played with guards as good as them, and they've never played with a big that fits as well as Kessler.
The Warriors will look to bounce back Friday night against the Grizzlies, with one player worth keeping an eye on being rookie forward Yaxel Lendeborg. The 11th overall pick made headlines during his NBA debut Wednesday night after exchanging words with Lakers superstar Luka Doncic, who finished with a game-high 28 points. Lendeborg’s willingness to challenge the five-time All-Star drew support from his veteran teammates after the game, and the rookie backed up his confidence with a solid debut outing of 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Draymond Green on Yaxel Lendeborg going at Luka Doncic: “Everyone will say the rookie learned his lesson. What he learn? The next time he see him, go at his ass again.”
Now, he’ll look to build on that performance in his home debut against a Grizzlies team featuring a highly touted rookie of their own in big man Cam Boozer, the third overall pick in this year’s draft.
If you liked Yaxel Lendeborg vs. Luka Doncic, you're going to love Yaxel Lendeborg vs. Cam Boozer: "I'm always gonna circle that matchup." https://t.co/8S3eoyKFrM
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 21: Tyrese Haliburton #0 and Obi Toppin #1 of the Indiana Pacers celebrate a 123-120 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on October 21, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Sean Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (0-1) stay on the road to start the season, matching up against the Indiana Pacers (1-0) on Friday night. The Mavericks are looking for a win after getting throttled by the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. Indiana held off the New Orleans Pelicans to start the season, winning 123-120 in Tyrese Haliburton’s return to the court after missing the entire 2025-26 season due to injury. Here’s the main things to know:
WHO: Dallas Mavericks at Indiana Pacers
WHAT: Staying on the road for the second game of the season
The injury report remains the same for Dallas: Dereck Lively and Santi Aldama are out, same as they have been since the start of training camp. Tarik Biberovic is missing the game with heel bursitis. Caleb Martin is missing the game with a thumb sprain. Jett Howard is doubtful with a right calf issue.
The Pacers are without TJ McConnell, due to a hamstring injury. Aaron Nesmith and Ben Sheppard are questionable as of this writing.
This will be the home debut for the Pacers and Haliburton’s first game since going down with the Achilles tear in game seven of the 2024 NBA Finals. Dallas will battle both the emotions in that building as well as a very solid Pacers team. The Mavericks must play better transition defense or the Pacers may quickly put this one away. Dallas, particularly their big men, need to rebound the ball better than they did against the Rockets.
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - OCTOBER 30: Isaiah Joe #11 of the Oklahoma City Thunder shoots a three point basket during the game against the Washington Wizards on October 30, 2025 at Paycom Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards play their 2nd game of the season at Capital One Arena against the Toronto Raptors. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. tonight. Watch the game on Monumental Sports Network.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 21: Dyson Daniels #5 of the Atlanta Hawks goes up for a shot against Tristan da Silva #23 of the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Kia Center on October 21, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Hawks look to keep their start perfect with another road contest at a Southeast Division foe, the Charlotte Hornets, who are missing Hawks killer Kon Knueppel.
Hawks starting lineup:
G CJ McCollum
G Nickeil Alexander-Walker
F Dyson Daniels
F Jalen Johnson
C Onyeka Okongwu
Please join in the comments below as you follow along.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 22: LeBron James #23 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Update, 1:25 p.m.: LeBron James has officially been ruled out Saturday night vs. the Milwaukee Bucks.
And now we get our first glimpse of how the Sixers will manage back-to-backs this season.
Philadelphia released their injury report ahead of their matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday and they’ve listed LeBron James as questionable with back management. Joel Embiid was not listed at all, indicating those two will be staggered across the weekend. Embiid said after their home opener win that he was only going to play in one of them, and it’s safe to assume that will be the case for LeBron as well.
The Sixers should be able to dispense of the Bucks without James’ services. Milwaukee is playing on short rest themselves, having hosted the Chicago Bulls on Friday. How the Embiid-less Sixers fare against the size of the Detroit Pistons on Sunday will be a much harder challenge.
The rest of the injury report remains the same as it was for the first two games of the season. Dean Wade is again listed as questionable with an ankle sprain. He has yet to make his Sixers debut since rolling his left ankle in the team’s final preseason game. Dominick Barlow remains out, still over a week a way from his next evaluation, and Tacko Fall is out as well with his quad injury.
The Sixers have an injury report for tomorrow's game vs. Milwaukee:
Jake LaRavia’s “Iron Man” streak with the Lakers will come to an end on Friday night.
The fifth-year forward will sit out of his team’s home game against the Clippers at Crypto.com Arena because of a sprained right ankle that he suffered during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s season-opening win over the Warriors.
Jake LaRavia will miss his first game because of an injury or illness since joining the Lakers. NBAE via Getty Images
It’s LaRavia’s first missed regular season game because of an injury or illness since he signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Lakers in July 2025 after having played in all 82 regular season games in 2025-26.
He was one of 18 players to play in 82 regular season games last season.
LaRavia played in 90 straight games, the 82 regular season games and eight playoff games, in 2025-26 before being a DNP-CD (did not play, coach’s decision) for the Lakers’ final two playoff games of their four-game second round sweep against the Thunder.
Jake LaRavia’s impressive preseason carried over into the regular season before his injury. NBAE via Getty Images
The 6-foot-8 forward suffered the ankle injury midway through the fourth quarter, with the Lakers up by 33 points, when he attempted to drive into the paint with LJ Cryer guarding him.
Cryer impeded the drive, with the 2022 first-round draft pick awkwardly twisting his right ankle/lower leg before hobbling and falling to the floor.
LaRavia laid on the court and writhed in pain before team trainers helped him back to the bench.
He was able to put weight on the leg before going back to the locker room after subbing out of the game.
While coach JJ Redick didn’t have an update on the veteran forward immediately after the game, he was encouraged about his status compared to how it felt in the immediate aftermath of the injury.
Jake LaRavia (12) was having a strong season opener before leaving with an injury. NBAE via Getty Images
“I’m probably more positive than when it first happened,” Redick said.
LaRavia was having a strong game before going down with the injury, scoring 10 points on 4 of 5 shooting off of the bench.
“I saw him being himself,” Redick said. “Again when he is shooting with confidence and making catch-and-shoot 3s, that’s an added bonus. We have a group of guys that do a lot of things to impact winning that don’t necessarily show up in the box score, certainly won’t show up in a highlight reel on Instagram. He’s a winning player.”
The former Wake Forest Demon Deacon was seen on an exercise bike alongside Adou Thiero, who’s also sidelined because of left knee swelling, at shootaround Friday morning before being ruled out.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 10: Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors moves the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the second half of the preseason game at Chase Center on October 10, 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 Godofredo A. Vásquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors are set for their home opener tonight, as they host the Memphis Grizzlies. The Dubs are hoping to collect their first win of the season, but, needless to say, it won’t be easy given how many improvements they need to make following Wednesday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
It also won’t be easy because the Warriors are once again dealing with some notable injuries and absences, though they’re hopefully getting some reinforcements as well. Here’s the full injury report.
Warriors
Out — Charles Bassey (right patellar tendinopathy)
Bassey, who was injured in last week’s preseason finale, missed Wednesday’s opener and will miss today’s game as well. The Dubs will certainly be hoping that Bassey makes some significant improvements in the next 24 hours, because they’ll be deeply undermanned at center on Saturday in Phoenix, as Al Horford won’t be available in the second half of the back-to-back.
Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL repair surgery) Out — Moses Moody (left patellar tendon repair surgery)
No new news for either of these two. The team is likely targeting a return around the All-Star break for each of them.
Out — Kristaps Porziņģis(not with team)
Also no new news for Porziņģis, who seems likely to have played his final game for the team … and possibly in the NBA.
Probable — Brandin Podziemski (bilateral low back soreness)
And finally some good news! Podziemski looks primed to make his season debut, after some late-occurring preseason back soreness kept him out of the opening night loss. Playmaking and shot creation beyond Steph Curry was a huge concern on Wednesday, and Podziemski should really help there.
Grizzlies
Doubtful — Cedric Coward (left wrist sprain)
Last year’s 11th overall pick figures to build on a successful rookie campaign, when he started over half of Memphis’ games, averaged 13.6 points, and finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting. He’ll be in the Grizzlies’ starting five when healthy, but suffered a mild wrist injury in Wednesday’s opener.
Questionable — Isaiah Stewart (left ankle sprain)
After spending his first six seasons with the Detroit Pistons, Beef Stew is now on the Grizzlies, where he’ll provide a veteran presence at center next to young bigs Cameron Boozer, Zach Edey, and former Warrior Quinten Post. He didn’t play in Memphis’ season-opening victory over the Utah Jazz, and is questionable to debut tonight.
Enjoy the game, everyone! It tips off at 7:00 p.m. PT from the Chase Center on NBC Sports Bay Area.
He felt “pretty close” to playing on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena as he worked his way back from a strained right soleus (calf) that sidelined him for the entire preseason.
Lakers guard Collin Sexton spoke with reporters after the team’s shootaround ahead of his season debut against the Clippers. Khobi Price
But the 6-foot-3 guard needed a little bit more time before he was ready to make his season debut.
The wait will end on Friday night when the Lakers host the Clippers in their second game of the regular season, with Sexton set to make his debut for his new team after being removed from the injury report.
“I’m super excited,” he said after Friday’s shootaround. “Look forward to it. Just ready to get out there and get it to the guys and be back playing some basketball again.”
The 6-foot-3 Collin Sexton, who the Lakers signed to a two-year, $19.2 million contract in July, has career averages of 18.3 points and 3.6 assists. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Sexton expects to be on a playing time restriction when he makes his season debut but wasn’t sure how many minutes he’d be allowed to play as of Friday morning.
“I haven’t talked to [coach JJ Redick] just yet, but we’ll go over it after shootaround,” he said.
The No. 8 pick in the 2018 draft said it was “definitely disappointing” to sit out of the season opener.
But it allowed him to apply his focus elsewhere.
“One thing I was able to do is just stay present, just continue to be a leader, and continue to use my voice as much as I can,” Sexton said. “Just continue to come in with the right attitude and the right approach. Sometimes those are things – the only thing you can control, so that’s how it goes.”
Collin Sexton of the Los Angeles Lakers has recovered from his calf injury. NBAE via Getty Images
The former Alabama guard was also able to witness Walker Kessler, who he was teammates with in Utah from 2022-25, have a historic performance in his Lakers debut.
The 7-foot-2 center scored 26 points on a perfect 12-for-12 shooting performance in the Lakers’ dominant win over the Warriors.
He became just the second player in Lakers franchise history to make at least 12 field goals without missing, joining Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 34 points on 14-for-14 shooting in 1969.
And his 10 dunks were the most by a Laker since Shaquille O’Neal in 2003, according to ESPN, and the most dunks by a player in the league’s play-by-play era (since 1996-97)
“Walker had a great game,” Sexton said. “It was one of those games where [he] just let the jitters out. So, it was pretty cool to see him start his Laker debut like that. I was super excited for him.”
Jaylen Brown isn’t buying ex-teammate Jayson Tatum’s reaction to his trade over the summer.
In an interview posted to his YouTube account, Tatum explained that he was “just as caught off guard as the rest of the world” when Brown was traded to the 76ers over the summer. Tatum claimed he was told personally about the trade by ESPN insider Shams Charania following a pickup game in Las Vegas.
“Shams walks over, he hands me the towel,” Tatum said. “He’s like, ‘Yo, put this over your face. Don’t react. They just traded him.’
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons. NBAE via Getty Images
“I said, ‘We traded him down the street?’” Tatum explained.
Brown commented a cap emoji on a clip of the interview, insinuating that he doesn’t believe that was Tatum’s reaction to the blockbuster trade.
Tatum also discussed his and Brown’s relationship after nearly a decade together on the Celtics.
“Every time I stepped on the court, that’s when it was time to go to war,” Tatum said. “I looked to my left and my right, and No. 7 was over there, I knew that he was going to do everything it took for us to try to win.
“The way we pushed each other, I definitely made him better, and he made me better. And we made our team better, we made the organization better. We won a championship. We are forever stitched in stone in NBA history. We held up that trophy. It won’t ever be forgotten.”
Knicks guard Mikal Bridges defends against 76ers Jaylen Brown. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
After news of the Brown trade broke, Charania reported on the state of Brown and Tatum’s off-the-court relationship.
“It is a tale of two different people,” Charania explained. “On the court, they were great, but over the last year or so, that personal relationship, it was as close to non-existent as you could have.”
At his 76ers introduction, Brown seemed unhappy with how the Celtics handled the trade and said he and Tatum had “not really” spoken since the trade went through.
Brown and Tatum won the 2024 title together, their second Finals appearance after losing to the Warriors in 2022. They never missed the playoffs in nine seasons spent together in Boston.
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 20: The sneakers worn by John Collins #20 of the Detroit Pistons during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 09: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks to pass the ball past Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden on April 09, 2026 in New York City. 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 Pamela Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
New York Knicks (0-1) at Boston Celtics (0-1) Friday, October 23, 2026 7:00 PM ET Regular Season Game #2 Home Game #1 TV: Prime Video Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub, Sirius XM TD Garden
The Celtics home opener brings the reigning NBA Champion New York Knicks to the TD Garden. This is the first of 4 games between these division rivals this season. They will play at Boston once again on January 13 and then two times at New York on March 14 and April 4. The Celtics were 1-3 against the Knicks last season, winning one game at home. They are 309-193 overall all time and 167-69 all time in games played in Boston.
The biggest story of the Knicks roster is that Mitchell Robinson, who was a key member of last year’s championship team, was signed as a free agent by the Celtics. They also lost Jeremy Sochan to Portland and Ariel Hukporti to Philadelphia. They signed Andre Drummond to replace Robinson as a back up center. They also drafted Tyler Nickel with the 49th pick in the draft.
The swap of Jaylen Brown for Paul George makes the Celtics a very different team from last season. They have Jayson Tatum back after missing most of last season with the torn Achilles. They added Mitchell Robinson, and Mike Conley as free agents. And they drafted Chris Cenac, Jr and Dillon Mitchell and signed Devin Carter as a 2-Way player.
The Celtics went 4-0 in the preseason, winning with both starters in 2 games and reserves and Exhibit 10 players in 2 others. They beat Cleveland, Charlotte and Philadelphia twice. The Knicks went 0-4 in the preseason, losing to Philadelphia, Washington, Minnesota, and Toronto. Both teams lost their opening night game and are looking for their first win of the season.
After this game, the Celtics will play home games against Chicago, Brooklyn and Chicago again. They will then play at Orlando and Houston and then home against Milwaukee before a road tripp takes them through Charlotte, 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.
The Knicks will host Orlando and Detroit before playing at Chicago and Philadelphia. They then play at home against Brooklyn and Chicago before a game at Cleveland and then back home to host Milwaukee and Cleveland. Then they have a 4 game road trip through Indiana, 2 games at Toronto, and Minnesota. They finish the month with a 5 game home stand against Portland, Indiana, Cleveland, Miami and Atlanta.
The Celtics started White, Walsh, George, Tatum and Mitchell against the Pistons. I have listed the same starters for this game, but I could see Joe switching things up for this game and possibly starting Hauser, Scheierman or Queta in this one. For the Knicks, I expect the Knicks to start Brunson, Bridges, Anunoby, Hart, and Towns once again.
Both teams are mostly healthy for their second regular season game. The Celtics have only Devin Carter listed as out with an illness. After missing the final 3 games of the preseason, Carter was diagnosed with mononucleosis and is without a timetable for a return. Mitchell Robinson turned his ankle in Tuesday’s game but is expected to be ok to play in this one. The Knicks have no one listed on their injury report.
Probable Starting Matchups PG: Derrick White vs Jalen Brunson
Derrick White | NBAE via Getty ImagesJalen Brunson | Getty Images
SG: Jordan Walsh vs Mikal Bridges
Jordan Walsh | Getty ImagesMikal Bridges | NBAE via Getty Images
SF: Paul George vs OG Anunoby
Paul George | NBAE via Getty ImagesOG Anunoby | Getty Images
PF: Jayson Tatum vs Josh Hart
Jayson Tatum | NBAE via Getty ImagesJosh Hart | NBAE via Getty Images
C Mitchell Robinson vs Karl-Anthony Towns
Mitchell Robinson | NBAE via Getty ImagesKarl-Anthony Towns | NBAE via Getty Images
Celtics Reserves Chris Cenac, Jr Mike Conley, Jr Luka Garza Hugo Gonzalez Ron Harper, Jr Sam Hauser Payton Pritchard Neemias Queta Baylor Scheierman Two Way Players Devin Carter Dillon Mitchell Amari Williams Injuries/Out Devin Carter (illness) out
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Knicks Reserves Jose Alvarado Jordan Clarkson Pacome Dadiet Mohamed Diawara Andre Drummond Tyler Kolek Miles McBride Landry Shamet James Wiseman
Key Matchups Jayson Tatum vs Josh Hart Hart finished Tuesday’s game with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block and 1 steal. He shot 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. The Celtics will need to defend him well. On the other side, Hart is a good defender and will look to make it harder for Tatum to score. Tatum needs to have a good game while not forcing things as he looks to come back from a poor showing against the Pistons.
Derrick White vs Jalen Brunson Brunson is key for the Knicks. He finished the first game against the 76ere with 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 31.6% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need to defend him especially well because he is capable of having a big game both scoring and distributing. Against the Pistons, Derrick White shot the ball well and hopefully that continues.
Honorable Mention Mitchell Robinson vs Karl-Anthony Towns Assuming that Robinson starts once again, he will likely want to have a big game against his former team. Towns will do his best to keep him from doing so. Against the 76ers, Towns finished with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks and 1 steal. The Celtics will need to keep him off the boards and out of the paint.
Keys to the Game Defense – As always, defense is the key to winning this, and every, game. In the preseason, the Celtics were tops in the league with a defensive rating of 98.6. In the second half of Tuesday’s game the Celtics allowed the Pistons to score 78 points. The biggest problem in the Celtics collapse against the Pistons was their failure on the defensive end. The Celtics must make defense their priority and the offense will feed off of that.
Rebound – As with defense, rebounding will always be a key to winning. The Celtics have to crash the boards as a team and go after every rebound. In the preseason, the Celtics were 1st with 55 rebounds per game and 3rd with 16.8 offensive rebounds per game. The Knicks were 25th with 42.4 rebounds per game. Against the Pistons, the Celtics had just 39 rebounds while the Knicks had 53 rebounds against the 76ers. Robinson and Queta are 2 of the best rebounders in the league but they struggled in the first game. They need to get back to what they do best and win the rebounding battle against the Knicks. Effort and Focus for 48 Minutes– The Celtics have to play with extra effort overall for all 4 quarters. In the first half against the Pistons, the Celtics played hard and stayed focused, taking care of the ball and taking and making good shots. In the second half, the Pistons were the team that played harder and the Celtics lost focus on both ends of the court. The Knicks play hard and the Celtics must match that effort and they need to stay focused on playing the right way.
Move the Ball Carefully – The Celtics need to move the ball to get the best shots. The Celtics are much better when they move the ball and don’t lapse into iso ball. hopefully this season we will see much less iso ball than in the past. But, they have to be careful with the ball and avoid turnovers. They turned the ball over 14 times against the Pistons. They need to make the extra pass to find the best shot but they also need to stay focused and make careful passes.
X-Factors Home Opener – The Celtics need to take advantage of home court and the boost their fans can give them. The Knicks will face a hostile crowd and an unfamiliar arena along with travel which will hopefully give the Celtics the edge. If the Knicks had one crack in their armor last season, it was playing on the road. They were just 22-19 on the road last season. The Celtics need to play hard and with focus and take advantage of playing at home.
Mitchell Robinson Revenge Game – After 8 years with the Knicks and helping them win a championship, they allowed him to walk in free agency in order to stay under the tax. Robinson is going to want to show them that they made a mistake and will want to beat his old team. The Knicks, on the other hand, will want to show him that they are fine without him. Hopefully Mitch will play well and not try to do too much.
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. Paul George was already fined for a flop in the first game.
The conversation surrounding the NBA, perhaps more than any other North American professional sports league, is usually driven as much by transactions as the games themselves. Trade rumors, contract negotiations and free agency decisions can alter championship races and reshape the landscape of the entire league.
From superstars weighing extensions worth hundreds of millions of dollars to veterans trying to secure one final payday, these seven contract situations could play a major role in determining where some of the NBA's most impactful players play next and how the 2026-27 season unfolds.
It's easy to assume Antetokounmpo's long-term future is settled after the blockbuster trade that sent him from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Heat this offseason. But Antetokounmpo only became contract extension-eligible on Oct. 1, and the size of his contract remains unresolved. He could make significantly more by waiting to come to terms on a new deal with the Heat.
Antetokounmpo, who has a $62.8-million player option for the 2027-28 season on his contract, is currently able to sign a three-year, $194-million extension. That figure jumps to four years, $276-million on Jan. 6, according to ESPN, and five years, $357 million next offseason. Antetokounmpo told reporters last month at Heat media day that he wasn't taking extension questions because "it's too early." There's an expectation throughout the league that the two sides will eventually agree on a long-term extension, but Antetokounmpo had an intriguing response while discussing his future and the move to Miami.
"I want when this chapter is over, if I'm only going to be here a year or two, whatever it's going to be, I want to leave my mark," Antetokounmpo said.
Negotiations between Towns and the Knicks grew increasingly contentious this offseason, and the team paused talks earlier this month after Towns publicly expressed frustration with the process. Whether they can settle those differences carries major implications for how long the Knicks can keep their championship core together after last year's title. Towns is set to make $57 million this season and holds a $61 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign. He is eligible for a four-year, $276 million extension, though ESPN reported the Knicks' most recent offer was closer to $200 million.
The gap is especially notable since Towns says he's willing to accept less than a max deal to help preserve the roster moving forward. But neither side has been able to agree on a number, and the dispute continues to linger over the franchise.
After arriving in Houston last season, Kevin Durant enters his 20th NBA campaign facing one of the more intriguing contract decisions in the league. The Rockets can offer Durant an extension, but both sides may benefit from waiting to see whether Houston emerges as a legitimate championship contender this season.
Durant has a $46-million player option for the 2027-28 season after a rockier-than-expected first year with the Rockets. But Durant remains an offensive force who averaged 26 points on 52% shooting and earned second team all-NBA honors last season. If this season goes well, an extension could make Houston the city in which Durant retires. If this season falls short of expectations, contenders around the league would undoubtedly monitor Durant's availability.
Jokic erased any lingering doubt about his future in Denver when he told reporters (and assured Nuggets fans) during media day last month that he will sign a new long-term contract with the team next summer. Jokic will make $59 million this season and has a player option for the 2027-28 season worth $62.8-million in his current deal. He'll be eligible for a five-year supermax contract that could exceed $350 million depending on the NBA's future salary cap projections next summer. Jokic appears set on minimizing any unnecessary drama and distraction related to the situation.
Anthony Davis enters his first games with the Washington Wizards facing a pivotal stretch that could shape the remainder of his career. While Davis remains one of the NBA's best two-way big men when healthy, questions about his durability could dictate whether the Wizards, or another team, are willing to commit substantial cap space to him beyond his current contract.
Davis will make $58.4 million this season and holds a $62-million player option for the 2027-28 season. But given the 33-year-old's extensive injury history, his availability will be just as important as his production in determining value. Washington has been non-committal about its plans with Davis beyond this current deal, which could make Davis a player mentioned frequently around the NBA's trade deadline in February if another contender is willing to give him contract security. The first few months of this season will be an audition of sorts for Davis to prove he's durable enough to be a difference maker again rather than a high-risk gamble.
After missing all of last season while recovering from the knee injury that also cut short his 2024-25 campaign, Irving enters the season faced with a prove-it year. Irving is extension-eligible and set to make nearly $39.5 million this season. His contract also includes a $42.4 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign.
At 34 years old, Irving must demonstrate to the Mavericks and the rest of the league he remains an elite player in order to merit another multi-year contract. Though his pairing with Cooper Flagg could be dynamic, their partnership also raises questions about the franchise's long-term direction. With Flagg expected to be the centerpiece, Irving's performance alongside him this season could help determine if Dallas sees him as part of that future or a veteran asset to be dealt elsewhere.
Porter is playing on an expiring deal this season, which makes him one of the NBA's most fascinating contract situations. The 28-year-old could emerge as a coveted player around the trade deadline if the Nets determine they can't agree on an extension. Porter is eligible to sign a four-year contract worth as much as $243 million with Brooklyn and said at media day last month his preference would be to remain with the Nets.
Porter averaged a career-best 24.2 points per game as the lead option for a struggling team last season and his size, shooting and championship pedigree on the wing would be valuable to a contender. Brooklyn's decision may ultimately hinge on how competitive the team proves to be after adding veteran forward Julius Randle this offseason. If Porter can replicate last season's production and help push the Nets into the Eastern Conference playoff race, he could significantly strengthen his case for another lucrative long-term deal.
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After dropping their season-opener against Philadelphia, the New York Knicks are back in action tonight against another team looking for their first win.
The Boston Celtics host the Knicks tonight, Oct. 23, for the first NBA on Prime game of the season.
On Tuesday, the Celtics opened the 2026-27 NBA season with a road loss against Detroit.
New Celtics center Mitchell Robinson will face his old team tonight, too; Robinson signed with the Celtics in the offseason after winning the NBA championship as a Knick.
When do the Knicks play again?
The Knicks are back in action tonight, Oct. 23, against the Boston Celtics.
Knicks vs. Celtics start time
Knicks vs. Celtics will tip off at 7 p.m. ET.
How to watch Knicks vs. Celtics for free
Tonight’s Knicks vs. Celtics matchup streams exclusively on Prime Video nationwide, so you’ll have to be an Amazon Prime subscriber to watch the game.
If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.
TRY PRIME VIDEO FREE
All 18- to 24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership as well, with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you’ll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price of $14.99/month — just $7.49/month — for up to six yearsand get all the perks.
NBA on Prime: 2026-27 Knicks schedule
The Knicks have 10 scheduled NBA on Prime games for the 2026-27 season, not including any potential NBA Cup knockout games.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
