Category: NBA

An unexpected combo is stepping up to fill Celtics' frontcourt void originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

In the aftermath of the Celtics’ offseason roster overhaul, the question got asked ad nauseam: How would Boston rebuild its frontcourt after the departures of Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet and Al Horford?

Now we know the answer: A whole lot of Neemias Queta and Josh Minott.

The Celtics are 4-2 since Minott elevated to a starting role alongside Queta, and even when the team has struggled to put together a complete 48 minutes, the numbers for the Queta-Minott combo have leaped off the page.

The Celtics have a +31.8 net rating in the 96 minutes that Minott and Queta have shared the floor this season. That includes eye-catching ratings on both the offensive (122.5) and defensive (90.7) ends of the floor. Of the 386 two-man lineups that have played at least 95 minutes this season, only the Miami frontcourt combo of Bam Adebayo and Jaime Jaquez Jr. has a better net rating (+32.4) than the Minott/Queta duo.

Boston has launched the 26-year-old Queta and the 22-year-old Minott into roles far beyond what’s been asked of them to this point in their NBA careers.

With 180 minutes played already, Minott soon will surpass the career-high 276 minutes he logged last season in Minnesota, and likely before his 23rd birthday arrives on November 25. Queta went from fourth on the Boston big-man depth chart last season to the clear-cut No. 1 big after the summer changes.

And while neither player has been perfect, they’ve thrived when paired together. Even as Celtics core starters Derrick White and Payton Pritchard have struggled to find their perimeter shots, the Minott version of Boston’s starting five has been among the most efficient combos in the NBA.

Of the 14 five-man lineups with at least 60 minutes together this season, the Celtics’ combo of Pritchard, White, Minott, Queta, and Jaylen Brown are outscoring opponents by a league-best 24.3 points per 100 possessions. That’s 3.5 points better than the next closest five-man combo (Minott’s old friends in Minnesota are at +21.7). Third on that list is the Orlando team that Boston will joust with twice this weekend.

Queta and Minott have had their rough patches. On Monday night, Queta didn’t just miss a key late-game free throw, he watched Jusuf Nurkic secure a rebound over him in the final seconds and produce a putback that lifted the lowly Utah Jazz to a 105-103 triumph at TD Garden.

Minott got in early foul trouble in that game, and the absence of his energy on the floor was palpable. He didn’t help matters when he picked up his third infraction almost immediately after returning to that game.

But they both bounced back Wednesday. Queta produced a double-double, putting up 15 points on perfect 7-for-7 shooting to go along with a team-high 12 rebounds. He also dished out five assists as the Celtics outscored Washington by 23 points in his 24 minutes of floor time.

Minott added a career-best 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting. When he wasn’t soaring for alley-oop lobs or trying to posterize Wizards defenders on baseline drives, he was knocking down the above-the-break 3-pointers that have evaded him to start the season.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla further leaned into Minott’s energy by playing him as a small-ball center in some of Boston’s reserve pairings. The Celtics could get away with that against a team like Washington, and it will be intriguing to see how Mazzulla leans on that small-ball look moving forward.

The Celtics loved to play double-big last season with their robust big-man depth, but have found that energy and skill has often produced their best basketball this season.

Queta has been on the floor for some of Boston’s most inspiring play this season, with a +19.3 net rating in 206 minutes of floor time. Among the 186 players logging 20+ minutes per game with at least five appearances, Queta ranks second in the NBA in net rating. He’s one spot behind Jaquez Jr. (+19.7) and directly in front of a pair of Western Conference superstar big men in Denver’s Nikola Jokic (+19.2) and Houston’s Alperen Sengun (+19.0).

If Queta and Minott can distinguish themselves with energy and defense, then it’s intriguing to think how successful Boston’s starting five might be once Pritchard and White start knocking down 3s again. Despite his perimeter woes, Pritchard has found ways to positively impact winning, overcoming two early fouls on Wednesday to finish +36 in 24 minutes of floor time.

The Queta and Payton Pritchard combo has a +27.2 net rating in 156 minutes together. Of the 157 two-man combos that have logged 150+ minutes this season, Queta and Pritchard are 3.5 points better than the next closest duo (Houston’s Sengun and Amen Thompson at +23.7). A Derrick White-Queta combo is fifth on that list at +19.7.

You see the theme here: Good things happen with Queta and Minott on the court. They both have strides to make as individual players and they’ve only scratched the surface of their potential. The Utah game showed just how important it is for them to be laser focused.

The Celtics, too, have a long way to go to fill the void left behind by the departures of Porzingis, Horford and Kornet. The frontcourt depth is still razor thin, and even the Queta/Minott combo must show they can hold up against elite frontcourts. We’ll learn a lot more about this group with back-to-back games in Orlando, including an NBA Cup tilt on Friday night.

But it’s clear that Queta and Minott have been key in getting Boston on track this season. And they should be vital in getting the Celtics to where they want to go next.

Draymond clarifies offense vs. defense championship debate with Kevin Durant originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green vs. Kevin Durant: Pt. 5,431.

As the two former Warriors teammates continue their back-and-forth debate regarding whether offense or defense wins NBA championships, Green shared another in-depth response to clarify his initial stance.

“KD was responding to me saying teams that play defense win championships. I wasn’t saying that teams that play defense don’t play offense. No, the fact of the matter is you have to be top 10 offensively and top 10 defensively to win an NBA championship,” Green said on his “The Draymond Green Show” podcast, which was published Thursday morning. “That’s just the facts of the matter. When KD says the offense was [question mark], well, the offense was incredible. Just like their offense was incredible in Brooklyn, and just like their offense was incredible in Phoenix. It was incredible! Great offense. Very tough to stop.

“But, offense with no defense, we’ve seen that in the NBA in years past, we’ll see that in the NBA for years to come. Teams with offense and no defense. My point was you show me a team that don’t play defense, I’m going to show you a team that don’t win championships.”

The ongoing debate began when Durant, on Netflix’s “Starting 5” series, argued offense wins championships.

“You have to score baskets if you want to win a championship,” Durant said. “Playing defense, we can get any one of y’all in here to bend your legs, not touch the basketball, slide left and right, and contest the shot. That’s easy. But when we’re talking about winning at a high level against the best of the best, you cannot just do that and win a basketball game.”

Green, a defensive mastermind, of course had to respond.

But the Warriors forward re-emphasized that his comments never were targeted directly at Durant, later clarifying that on his podcast.

“My statement was that I mentioned people who believe you don’t need defense to win championships simply don’t win. Kevin Durant has two championships. So I don’t even know why he took my statement as a hit on him when I said people that don’t win championships. You won two championships, so that shouldn’t include you unless you feel that that statement includes you.”

Green also made one more thing clear: despite the back-and-forth, “there ain’t no beef” between him and Durant, rather just a playful debate between two competitors passionate about the game of basketball.

Finally, Green ended his argument on one final note.

“I think the proof speaks for itself. You look at teams that have great defenses and great offenses, and they win championships. Teams that have great defenses and no great offense, they usually get to the playoffs and lose. Teams that have great offense and no defense, they usually get to the playoffs and lose, or don’t even make the playoffs at all.

“So fact of the matter is you need to be top 10 in both.”

There you have it.

At least, until Durant responds.

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Jaylen Brown leaves his mark vs. Wizards with historic performance originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jaylen Brown came out with his hair on fire Wednesday night at TD Garden.

After a frustrating finish for Brown in Boston’s loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday night, the Celtics star was a man on a mission Wednesday against the Washington Wizards. He poured in 24 first-half points — including 16 in the first quarter — and added 11 more in the third quarter to help the C’s pull away from the Wizards in a 136-107 rout.

Despite not sitting the entire fourth quarter, Brown racked up 35 points on 8 for 12 shooting to go along with five rebounds and five assists in just 25 minutes and 53 seconds of playing time. In doing so, he became the first Celtics player ever and just the fifth player in NBA history to post a 35/5/5 line in fewer than 26 minutes.

The only two players who reached 35/5/5 in fewer minutes? Michael Jordan and Luka Doncic.

“We just needed to come out a little bit more focused,” Brown told NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin after the game. “We got off to a slow start, but we’ve just got to come out and play basketball. We’ve got to come out like we’re ready to fight. And if we do that, we’ll be all right.”

Brown’s stat line wasn’t the only part of his game that turned heads, however. In the third quarter, Brown was call for an offensive foul when he barreled head-first into Wizards forward Kyshawn George — and left a bit of “residue” on George’s white sleeve.

That wasn’t the first time Brown’s hair product ended up on an opponent’s jersey, as the All-Star wing was roasted on social media after leaving a dark spot on OG Anunoby’s jersey during a Nov. 24 loss to the New York Knicks.

Brown took that incident in stride, even jokingly calling up LeBron James for hair care advice on a recent Twitch stream. And after leaving his latest mark Wednesday night, Brown kept the same energy, joking on X that “AI is getting out of hand.”

Regardless of how Brown chooses to deal with his hair situation going forward, he shouldn’t change what he’s doing on the court: He’s shooting a career-best 53.5 percent from the floor while averaging 27.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

The Celtics are back in action Friday night in Orlando, where they’ll face the Magic in an NBA Cup game at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston.

How Buddy Hield had ‘out-of-body experience' playing for Steve Kerr, Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

In Buddy Hield’s first season with the Warriors, his best performance came when his team needed it most.

The veteran sharpshooter erupted for 33 points on 9-of-11 shooting from 3-point range, leading Golden State to a Game 7 win in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs.

That key showing was a product of the way coach Steve Kerr and the Warriors have accepted Hield and allowed him to play freely and authentically, as he explained to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Bonta Hill and Monte Poole on a new episode of “Dubs Talk.”

“Being connected with the Lord and just being locked in,” Hield said when asked what contributed to his massive Game 7 outbreak. “Steve called it my out-of-body experience. I just think the Lord was just with me. Just something I was capable of doing, too, and that’s the reason why Steve put me in the starting lineup to create that spacing for Steph [Curry] and Draymond [Green] and Jimmy [Butler]. And he knows that when I get my chance to do that, he knows what I’m capable of doing.

“I appreciate him a lot. He gave me the opportunity to, like, be myself. I feel like every team has not allowed me to be Buddy, and [the Warriors] have embraced me for who I am. As a basketball player, you just want to be yourself and be embraced the right way. … I just love being here. It’s been a blessing.”

Hield was up and down throughout his first Golden State campaign, but the team’s success often correlated with how he performed on a given night. During the 2024-25 regular season and playoffs, the Warriors were 15-0 when Hield scored at least 19 points.

Now in the second season of his four-year, $38 million contract signed last summer, the Warriors hope Hield can continue to succeed within the freedom they have given him.

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The Portland Trail Blazers fought back to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder and halt the NBA's last remaining unbeaten record.

The defending champions won their opening eight games of the new NBA season but their streak ended as Portland came back from 22 points down to win 121-119.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 35 points for Oklahoma City and last season's Most Valuable Player has now scored 20 or more in 81 consecutive games, extending the third-longest streak in NBA history.

Luka Doncic got the better of Victor Wembanyama as the Los Angeles Lakers claimed a 118-116 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Elsewhere, the Brooklyn Nets became the last team to claim their first win of the season, beating the injury-hit Indiana Pacers 112-103.

Nikola Jokic registered a triple-double to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 122-112 win over the Miami Heat, while the New York Knicks scored 83 points in the second half to claim a 137-114 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

• Antetokounmpo beats buzzer as Bucks edge out Pacers
• Latest NBA Scores & Fixtures

Buddy Hield reveals Klay Thompson got him tickets to iconic 2016 Warriors game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Buddy Hield and Klay Thompson, two sharpshooters who have worn Warriors uniforms, never shared an NBA court as teammates. 

But they share a common pride: Bahamian roots. 

Amid the Warriors’ 2015-16 NBA season, Hield was in the middle of an electric senior season with the Oklahoma Sooners. That caught Thompson’s attention, leading him to invite the emerging college star to what turned into an epic game between the Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder, Hield revealed to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Bonta Hill and Monte Poole on “Dubs Talk.”

“I think he hit me up one day and he said, ‘Man, yeah I got two tickets for you come to the game,’ Hield recounted. “I was like, hell yeah, I’m coming to the game.” 

Hield started watching the Warriors, particularly in the midst of their 2014-15 championship run, after he discovered Thompson also was Bahamian. 

“You don’t know anyone is Bahamian until they get big time, you know. And somebody back home said, ‘You know, Klay Thompson’s dad is Bahamian.’ And I say ‘Who’s his dad?’ Mychal Thompson. I say ‘No way, it’s not his son,” Hield said. “And then I started looking it up, and I say, ‘Oh s–t it is…'”

“…And then after that I started watching him and …. that 2015 year Steph [Curry] goes on the rise. I was in my junior year in college and I was like, ‘Man, this all makes sense.’ And that’s watching where they shoot, watching their movement.” 

After studying Golden State’s revolutionary offense, Hield got to see it in person the next year. He said he got the full treatment, getting to meet Thompson, Curry, Steve Kerr and other Warriors in the locker room. 

“I’m thinking, ‘You know, I’m about to be with these guys soon,” Hield said. “So I’m just like studying and watching how they do stuff. And I was just eager to get there, you know? It was a fun experience.” 

Aside from the eye-opening experience, Hield got to see an all-time Warriors classic. 

“I thought they were about to lose,” Hield recounted. “That’s when I knew how crazy the NBA is…” 

“… and that’s when [Kevin Durant] and [Russell Westbrook] and everybody, they were on their game, they were just hard to guard you know.  But [Curry’s game-winning] three, in the game Steph was just doing some crazy stuff and it all made sense.” 

Nearly a decade removed from Curry’s all-time highlight, Hield shares the backcourt with the future Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer in place of his Bahamian brother. 

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Mike Brown was shocked when he looked at the final box score on Wednesday night. 

He looked at the blocks category and thought someone must have made a mistake. 

“I was shocked (Mitchell Robinson) only had three,” Brown said with a laugh. “Mitch was all over the place, guarding everybody, blocking shots, contesting shots.”

There aren’t many players in the world who can do what Robinson did on Wednesday. He had nine offensive rebounds and three blocks in just 16 minutes. The Knicks in the second half outscored Minnesota by 17 in Robinson’s nine minutes. 

He wrecked the game for Minnesota. And the box score doesn’t entirely encapsulate it. The Knicks had 21 offensive rebounds as a team. Many of those were thanks to the attention the Timberwolves had to pay to Robinson. 

“Whenever he’s out there doing that, it makes us really comfortable shooting shots because we might get a second chance,” Jalen Brunson said. 

The issue, of course, is how often Robinson is "out there" for New York. 

He has been hidden for most of this early season. He’s missed three preseason games and three regular season games as part of the Knicks’ workload management plan. 

His appearances have been sporadic. But nights like Wednesday remind you why the Knicks have held on to Robinson for so long. 

Nights like Wednesday remind you why VP of Sports Medicine Casey Smith and his group are managing Robinson’s workload. 

Given his significant injury history, the Knicks are willing to sit Robinson during the regular season with the bigger picture in mind. 
Because if the Knicks have a healthy Robinson in the postseason, they are a different team. It’s probably easy to forget how good Robinson can be because he’s been out of the lineup so often. But nights like Wednesday serve as a reminder: Robinson can dominate a game when healthy. 

The Knicks used an 83-point second half and a constricting defense to snuff out the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 135-114 win on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

After an even first half, Jalen Brunson took over in the third, with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists, and OG Anunoby owned the start of the fourth quarter with eight fast points as the Knicks turned a two-point halftime deficit into a 15-point lead with seven minutes to play in the contest and put the game on ice from there.

Anunoby led the Knicks with 25 points on 10-for-17 shooting (3-for-5 from deep) with eight rebounds and a plus-14 in 32 minutes. Brunson finished with 23 points on 9-for-20 shooting, 10 assists, seven rebounds, and was a plus-16 in 33 minutes.

Julius Randle, in his second game back at MSG after the trade, led the Timberwolves with 32 points on 12-for-21 shooting with five rebounds, four assists, but was a minus-16 in 38 minutes.

New York improved to 5-0 at home to start the season, winning a third straight after three straight losses on the road. 

Here are the takeaways...

- On the night, New York was just faster to the basketball for all but the first few minutes of the game: out-rebounding the visitors 56-38, with a 31-14 edge in second-chance points, and a 62-40 edge in points in the paint. The Knicks had four starters in double figures and got 53 points from the bench, led by Josh Hart, pouring in 18 on 7-for-12 shooting (4-for-5 from three) with five rebounds, four assists for a plus-12 in 27 minutes. 

Karl-Anthony Towns scored 15 points with 10 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks in 31 minutes and was a plus-15. Mikal Brides had 13 points on 5-for-12 shooting with five assists and was a plus-13 in 33 minutes. In just 16 minutes, Mitchell Robinson had eight points (4-for-5 shooting) with 10 rebounds (nine offensive) with three blocks, and was a plus-7.

Anthony Edwards, back in the lineup after missing four games due to a hamstring injury, started slow with just five points (2-for-5) in the first half. He was blocked twice in the opening moments of the third as he didn’t look himself. He finished with 15 points on 5-for-13 shooting (3-for-7 from deep) and was a minus-25 in 29 minutes. Donte DiVincenzo, in his first game back since the trade, had spurts of good play and scored 21 points on 7-for-15 shooting (5-for-11 from deep) but was a minus-14 in 36 minutes.

- The Knicks' offense did not start smoothly, with four turnovers and 0-for-5 from the floor in the first four minutes. Mike Brown had seen enough, calling for time with his side down 13-4. Bridges finally got the Knicks’ first field goal with a three, which started a 10-2 run, including two run-outs, as the home side finally turned defense into offense. 

After an 0-for-6 start, the Knicks finished the quarter converting on 10 of 15, capped by Robinson scooping his fifth rebound (fourth offensive) and laying it in before the buzzer for a 28-26 lead.

Brunson made just 2 of 6 to start with four points and two turnovers, but added four assists and two rebounds. Hart knocked down his first two threes of the game and added a good assist to Guerschon Yabusele for a corner three. Anunoby added four first-quarter points on three attempts, but put on a defensive clinic with effort across the board.

Randle had his typical good first quarter, scoring 11 points on 4-for-7 shooting. And he added seven more in the second, to go along with three assists, two rebounds, and a block, and was plus-10 in 20 first-half minutes.

- A pair of emphatic Towns dunks – first over Rudy Gobert and then over Edwards – helped New York build an eight-point edge early in the second, but Minnesota's ball movement continued to be good and got them a pair of back-to-back open threes. But a 7-0 Knicks spurt built the lead up to nine, with Miles McBride scoring five of his first-half seven and Jordan Clarkson grabbing a dunk off a nice backdoor cut from a Towns feed. McBride finished with 14 points (6-for-10 shooting) with four assists and three boards and was a game-high plus-26 in 21 minutes. Clarkson finished with seven off the bench in 16 minutes.

But that lead was quickly erased by 14 unanswered points from Minnesota, with DiVincenzo connecting twice from three and Randle walking into an easy one as Towns left him wide open, forcing another Brown timeout. Brunson put a stop to it as the Knicks ran a good play for him to get a three, as they got back into things to level the score, but Randle scored four in the final half-minute to give Minnesota a 58-54 lead at the break.

New York was outrebounding the visitors 21-17 at the half, but Minnesota was 20-for-38 from the floor (52.6 percent) and 12-for-23 from deep (52.2 percent) compared to 21-for-46 (45.7 percent) and 8-for-18 (44.4 percent) for the home side.

- New York’s offense didn’t start clicking immediately after the break, but the defense began to tighten the screws, highlighted by a 13-2 run powered by a Towns block, Anunoby steal, Hart charge with Anunoby and Brunson each scoring five to match their largest lead of nine.

The Knicks finished the third with 40 points on 17-for-28 shooting (60.7 percent) as the Wolves went just 9-for-24 from the floor, building an eight-point lead. The hottest hand belonged to Brunson, who turned it on in the third, scoring 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting. Not to be overlooked, Robinson added three dunks, three rebounds, three blocks, and a steal in the third.

In the second half, the Knicks shot 60.7 percent (34-for-56) and held the visitors to 44.4 percent (20-for-45). As a unit, New York was 55-for-102 (53.9 percent) from the floor and 19-for-42 from three (45.2 percent).

Highlights

OG to Brunson back to OG for the alley-oop! pic.twitter.com/wXDBC7ShMY

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 6, 2025

Brunson buckets 💰 pic.twitter.com/wBmWx1Gjd1

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 6, 2025

Jalen stepback middy pic.twitter.com/qbtySvqhgG

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 6, 2025

Mitchell Robinson is EVERYWHERE pic.twitter.com/ZomEhiq0vo

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 6, 2025

OG 🔥 pic.twitter.com/5146dvjlB7

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 6, 2025

What's next

The Knicks have a few days off before they host the Nets on Sunday, with the tip set for 6 p.m.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Michael Porter Jr. had 32 points and 11 rebounds, and the Brooklyn Nets overcame the loss of leading scorer Cam Thomas to claim their first victory of the season in a 112-103 road win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.

Porter made 10 of 20 shots, including four three-pointers, as the Nets pulled away in the fourth quarter in a game of spurts that featured 12 lead changes and 10 ties. His final three-point play pushed the Nets ahead 110-103 with 22.1 seconds remaining.

Porter’s extra scoring was needed after Thomas, who entered with a 24.4-point scoring average, exited midway through the first quarter with hamstring tightness. It’s the same hamstring that limited him to 25 games last season.

The Nets, who had lost the first seven games this season, got four other double-digit efforts as Nic Claxton scored 18, Noah Clowney had 17, Tyrese Martin 16 and Terance Mann 15.

The Pacers, who are also now 1-7, were led by Pascal Siakam’s 23 points and nine assists. Ben Sheppard scored 18. Backup center Jay Huff added 16 with four three-pointers.

Up next

The Nets host the Detroit Pistons on Friday.

The Pacers visit the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

Approaching 37th birthday, Russell Westbrook displays ‘beautiful' game for Kings originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – Just a few weeks ago, Russell Westbrook was jobless following the completion of his 17th NBA season.

On Wednesday night, just days before his 37th birthday, he recorded his 204th career triple-double with 23 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in 35 minutes to help lead the Kings to a thrilling 121-116 win over the Golden State Warriors.

“Honestly, it’s just a blessing,” Westbrook said postgame. “I don’t take this game [or] opportunity to be able to go out and compete for granted. So I’m just super grateful and thankful to be able to go out and still compete.”

Approaching age 37. In season 18. Through 1,244 career games.

How?

Kings guard Malik Monk, 27, wanted to know the same thing.

“I asked him [Westbrook] what he do,” Monk said Wednesday night. “I need his off-the-court [routine]. What are you doing in the summer? I need everything. How you eat. It’s crazy. 

“How you that old and still doing this and dominating the game at a high level?”

Preparation is the key for Westbrook, as well as taking good care of his body, he said.

The nine-time NBA All-Star added that he takes the game “very seriously” as he continues to make the most of his opportunity with Sacramento.

To Kings coach Doug Christie, it’s less about the physical and more about Westbrook’s mental approach to the game that allows him to still play at such a high level.

“First, he’s a Hall of Fame, incredible talent,” Christie said. “But the passion and desire that he plays with is crazy. That’s really what the game is about. It’s about a kids’ game that you still play with that type of effort, energy and enthusiasm. 

“It’s beautiful to watch.”

A “Vintage Russ” performance in the year 2025 had fans wondering, “How was this guy unsigned one month ago?”

Even after his recent “they didn’t want me back” comments referring to the Denver Nuggets, the team he was a part of last season, Westbrook maintains his motives in Year 18 aren’t to prove anything to another team or person, but rather to himself.

“To be honest, I don’t live up to anybody else’s expectations that they put on me,” Westbrook said. “I have my own personal goals and aspirations, things I want to do. So to be honest, I have nothing [to prove]. 

“I know what I’m capable of doing when given the opportunity, and now my job is to go out there and do it.”

Part of that job, and one of the reasons the Kings signed Westbrook, is due to his 1-of-1 rebounding ability as a point guard.

He had 16 boards on Wednesday. No other player on either team finished with double-digit rebounds. The next players closest were Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, another guard, who had nine apiece.

 “I mean, humbly speaking, I’m the best rebounding guard ever,” Westbrook said. “So when the ball comes across the rim, I’m going to get it.”

Westbrook’s 16 rebounds on Wednesday gave him a career total of 8,734 and helped him surpass Jason Kidd for the guard with the most career rebounds in NBA history. Kidd finished his career with 8,725.

That postgame exchange, from the playful banter to the meme-worthy moments, is the type of presence the Kings have needed. Westbrook’s confidence off the floor translates on the court and even rubs off on his teammates.

While Westbrook is happy to have found a home in Sacramento, he knows the Kings can also benefit from the mental edge he brings night in and night out.

“It’s needed. Every night, teams are getting better. Teams are loading up. Every night is a dogfight. Our schedule is pretty rough right now, but I do think if we knuckle up, compete at a high level, and that’s something that I want to bring as a part of my leadership and making sure that us as Kings, we come out and compete at the highest level, and we can live with the result at the end of the game.”

Before signing Westbrook, the Kings added veteran guard Dennis Schroder to the mix this offseason.

Christie has made it clear that Schroder is the starting point guard and the team’s floor general. But Schroder hasn’t quite found his rhythm with the starting unit thus far, granted it’s constantly changed due to injuries and absences, which likely has played a factor.

With Keegan Murray out as he rehabs from UCL surgery, Westbrook has started alongside Schroder. But could Westbrook’s performance on Wednesday keep him in the starting lineup even when other players return? His energy is something Monk believes the team needs in the starting unit, given the way they’ve started games in the past. Christie shared his thoughts.

“Once players come back, I think, you know, we brought Russ in to be the backup point guard, but he has so many gifts,” Christie said. “He played the four, so he’s going to play all over the floor because of his physicality, his downhill nature. He rebounds the basketball at a high level. But I think when we’re fully healthy, he even makes us better, because Russell Westbrook playing against second unit players is like, it’s a cheat code.

“But I mean, he’s going to find his way into closing games, to every aspect of what it is for us to be a winning basketball team, because he’s a winning basketball player.”

Not a yes. But also not a no …

If patience runs out for the Kings with Schroder as the lead man, they could turn to the Triple-Double King.

Why Not?

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Will Richard's 30-point game serves as silver lining in Warriors' loss to Kings originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – Steve Kerr tried to find a pregame silver lining to Wednesday’s game at Golden 1 Center, noting that the Warriors missing their three best players offered a chance for the coach to get an extended look at different combinations and some of Golden State’s younger players.

Will Richard was exactly what Kerr was hoping to see.

Making his first NBA start, the Warriors rookie put on the type of show that should have fans licking their lips in anticipation of what the future potentially holds for the 22-year-old from Georgia.

There was plenty to like, too.

Richard dropped a season-high 30 points on the Sacramento Kings in the Warriors’ 121-116 loss on Thursday at Golden 1 Center with five 3-pointers to move into rarefied air.

He became the first Warriors player drafted in the second round or later to score 20 or more points in his first career start since Eric Paschall in 2019. He also matched the second-most points scored by a Warriors player in his first career start with the Warriors. John Lucas also had 30, while Anthony Morrow has the record with 37 points.

All of those stats are pleasing to the eye, but it was the way Richard played that was most pleasant to watch. He played steady, albeit unspectacular, defense and had one steal – something he has done in each of his first six NBA games.

Richard shot 10 of 15 (5 of 8 on 3-pointers), snatched seven rebounds and had three assists.

This all came after being a healthy scratch due to coach’s decision in each of Golden State’s previous two games.

“Will was amazing,” Kerr said. “This guy, from the beginning of camp, has shown he’s an NBA player. The experience, the poise, he doesn’t turn it over, he makes the right play. He can handle the ball under pressure, he makes the right pass.

“This guy’s a hell of a player.”

That clearly was evident against the Kings.

After Sacramento pulled within 72-71 midway through the third quarter, Richard made a clutch 3-pointer but missed a shot at the four-point play when he shanked the free throw.

Richard made a pair of deep threes in the fourth quarter, but by then, the Kings had grabbed momentum and the Warriors spent the rest of the evening trying to catch up.

“Just trying to keep it simple but make an impact on the game,” Richard said. “I’m a big believer in controlling what you can control. Whatever role I’m in, I want to do whatever it takes to help the team win. Whether playing or not playing, I just want to see us win.”

While the Warriors failed to get the win, they head back home to the Bay with a much better vision of who Richard can be.

“Will is a great player,” Jonathan Kuminga said. “I’m always trying to talk to Will, especially as a rookie. There’s a lot of expectations, there’s a lot of eyes on you.”

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Even in loss, Jonathan Kuminga shows he can carry load with Warriors' stars out originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – For one night at least, Jonathan Kuminga had the type of game that Warriors fans have been expecting ever since he entered the NBA as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Kuminga put together a very respectable stat line in the Warriors’ 121-116 loss to the Kings at Golden 1 Center – 24 points and game-high-tying nine rebounds in 25 minutes – but it was the way the night went down that stood out most.

The Warriors were without their three best players and needed someone, anyone, to step up and take over.

Kuminga pretty much did just that for most of the evening. Like his Golden State teammates, though, everything went haywire in the fourth quarter.

Until then, however, Kuminga was all that and a bowl of grits.

“Jonathan attacked, he was aggressive,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “We got him the ball quite a bit. He helped us get off to a great start. Really gave a fantastic effort.”

The best part was that there was no indication beforehand that Kuminga would have this type of night.

It came 24 hours after a dreadful showing in a win over the Phoenix Suns when Kuminga had nine points in just over 24 minutes. Three nights before that, Kuminga had 17 points and five rebounds but was minus-20 in a road loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Additionally, the Warriors played without Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, who are all nursing injuries or sickness.

That put more pressure on the Warriors’ other players to pick up the slack, though Kuminga claimed nothing changed in his mind.

“My mindset is always the same no matter (with or without) Steph, Jimmy and Draymond,” Kuminga said. “Every time I play with them they want me to be aggressive. My mindset is always the same. Just come in, find a way to win.”

Kuminga did all of that except for getting the W, something Kerr said was part of a team-wide issue.

“The lesson for him and for our team is just how important every possession is,” said Kerr, whose squad committed 19 turnovers leading to 30 points for the Kings.

For Kuminga, however, the game was another important step forward in his NBA evolution.

“I think we came out with great energy,” said Kuminga after notching his third 20-point game of the season. “In the third quarter, we just started turning the ball over. That took the energy out of all of us. We just gotta find a way to execute certain plays.”

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What we learned as Russell Westbrook's triple-double fuels Kings' thrilling win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SACRAMENTO – The Kings kicked off their five-game homestand on the right foot, as a late rally allowed them to defeat the Golden State Warriors by a final score of 121-116 on Wednesday night at Golden 1 Center.

A vintage Russell Westbrook masterclass helped the short-handed Kings stay alive against their NorCal neighbors, as the new Kings point guard finished with a 23-16-10 triple-double.

Malik Monk’s return was a welcome sight after missing the last two games. He added 21 points in 25 minutes off the bench. Rookie Nique Clifford had a career-high 12 points.

Without Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler, Golden State’s role players stepped up behind a demanding performance from rookie guard Will Richard, who finished with a team-high 30 points, six rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes.

Jonathan Kuminga, who was tied to trade rumors with the Kings this offseason, somehow proved his value to both Sacramento and Golden State in the same game. The high-flying wing contributed 24 points.

Even without some of the game’s biggest and most entertaining stars, both teams still put on a thrilling show in front of a crowd divided by fans of both teams inside Sacramento’s home arena.

The Warriors regained the lead midway through the fourth after a 12-2 run, but only for a few seconds before the Kings responded with their own run to close out the game and ultimately pull out the victory.

Here are the takeaways from the Kings’ win.

The Triple-Double King

The Kings signed Westbrook for his energy, rebounding ability and veteran leadership.

All things that were on full display for Sacramento on Wednesday night.

Westbrook, like most Kings, got off to a slow start but quickly found his rhythm. And that’s all it takes for the future Hall of Famer.

The 18-year pro had just five points in the first quarter, then was on triple-double watch by the third. He finished with his first triple-double as a King, with 23 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in 35 minutes. His last triple-double was recorded on March 18, 2025, when he was with the Denver Nuggets, against the Golden State Warriors.

Sacramento doesn’t need Westbrook, who turns 37 next week, to drop 20-plus every night. But when short-handed like the Kings were Thursday, missing three of their typical starters, Westbrook rose to the occasion and vintage Russ took over.

Through seven games (three starts) with the Kings thus far, Westbrook is averaging 13.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

Shining without the stars

Fans who purchased tickets to this game months ago might have been upset when they realized several stars on both sides were ruled out.

But they got their money’s worth during the thrilling NorCal showdown.

Golden State was without its triple-threat trio of Curry (illness), Butler (back) and Green (rib). Meanwhile, Zach LaVine (back) and Domantas Sabonis (ribs) were ruled out for Sacramento, and Keegan Murray (thumb) still is rehabbing from his UCL surgery.

But with absences come opportunities for others, and some take advantage of it more than others. Richard, the rookie who’s played just six NBA games, did exactly that for the Warriors. The second-round draft pick finished with a team-high 28 points, six rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes.

For the Kings, the vets acted like vets as DeRozan, Westbrook and Schroder, who share a combined 45 years of NBA experience, stepped up for Sacramento.

The show went on Wednesday night, and it didn’t disappoint.

A needed boost 

Monk has been Sacramento’s Energizer Bunny for the past four seasons.

When he’s on the floor, you feel his presence. The fans embrace it. The team thrives off it.

And when he’s not, you feel that, too.

Monk missed the last two games for Sacramento due to personal reasons. In those respective contests, which the Kings split 1-1, Sacramento often lacked the energy that Monk provides.

The 27-year-old returned to the court on Wednesday and didn’t miss a beat with what he does best. In an arena taken over by Warriors fans who didn’t have to travel far to watch their favorite team, Monk gave Kings fans a reason to outshout them throughout the course of the NorCal showdown. 

15.6 points on 54.7 percent shooting from the field and 52 percent from 3-point range, with 1.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 25.2 minutes through five games this season.

Monk led all bench players on Wednesday, finishing with 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting, with four rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes.

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