INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 08: Brook Lopez #11 of the LA Clippers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Intuit Dome on November 08, 2026 in Inglewood, 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 Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers are riding a high right now, winners of six in a row and sitting atop the league looking down. But there’s always the question of how it can get even better.
This week’s mailbag saw questions based on potential trades for backup centers as well as prospects to watch with Coachella Valley in the G League.
Let’s dive in!
The backup center position is going to be arguably the top priority for the Lakers between now and the trade deadline. While the Jarred Vanderbilt-Sandro Mamukelashvili pairing has done a suitable job as a short-term solution, it doesn’t feel like one that will work when the games really matter.
The pairing offers spacing offensively, but can they hold up enough defensively in the playoffs? And if they don’t, then who can you target that will?
I still worry about Brook Lopez defensively in the playoffs because the last time we saw him in the postseason, it was really rough. But depending on the price, there could be value there.
Similarly, Jericho Sims will likely remain a name on the Lakers’ radar until the deadline. He has played in six games this season, but he has played more than eight minutes only twice. Do they try to get really frisky and try to get Kel’el Ware from Milwaukee, another player they were linked to? The asking price will probably be too high, but it’ll be worth a question.
There could be a buyout market to find someone, but it’s hard to determine what that’ll look like in November.
As for Looney, I think he brings value as a leader and on this team. He’s been around the block more than anyone else. And there are a couple other guys I’d have higher on the list to waive before him.
I don’t think this start really changes the team’s approach at the trade deadline. For one, the team is still going to prioritize having the ability to use the mid-level exception next season, so I can’t imagine they’ll take on long-term contract without sending out long-term money.
PJ Washington, for example, would cut into that room next season. Daniel Gafford, who I did not mention in the last section, creates similar issues depending on the outgoing players. It’s why I predict they’ll make a small move, then use their MLE in the summer and look to move an expiring Vando contract for another piece.
Coachella Valley has now played three games this season. Chris Mañon had a career-high 32 points in the second game while Cole Swider had 22 and 21 points in the first two games.
For now, Mañon and Kaluma are the obvious players to watch for obvious reasons. AK Okereke returned to Coachella Valley, so he’s another one to look out for. William Kyle was an interesting prospect in Summer League and could be a sort of Kaluma-esque candidate for a breakout season after a year in the G League.
As for Swider, I get the rationale of wanting to play younger players with more potential, but I also think there’s value in simply having talented players on the court. Swider is your typical AAAA player who won’t stick around in the NBA but will be good in the G League.
Having him around helps space the floor for Kaluma or Mañon to drive or gives Kyle room to operate as an athletic finisher. He gives Mañon a target to find coming off screens. He complements the players on the roster, which is valuable. Having a handful of guys like that on the roster isn’t a bad thing, plus he’s a player the organization is familiar with, too.
This is probably a longer piece that we may dive into at some point, but the teams have changed quite a bit.
One of the biggest differences is that the March 2026 Lakers were buoyed by finishing at a very high level on drives to the rim. They were also a different team defensively as one that didn’t create as much chaos but also had a better defensive rating, partially because they could clean the glass to end defensive possessions.
This team’s defense is built around turning teams over and blocking shots. They’re still working on the ending possessions with a rebound part, though. Offensively, they’re a more prolific and efficient offense from range so far.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics embrace after the game at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Celtics defeated the 76ers 123-101. 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
The Boston Celtics are 9-2, and 2-2 against teams that came into the season with realistic expectations of finishing at the top (or near the top) of their respective conferences. Boston’s latest win, a 123-101 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers, certainly came with a sizeable amount of fanfare and media attention.
Of course, that attention was inevitable. This was the first time Jaylen Brown was facing off against his former team since her was unceremoniously shipped out earlier this summer. It was also the first time we’d seen Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown go toe-to-toe in a competitive setting.
You never forget your first time.
Just eleven games into the season, and we were already treated to a playoff-style game. Boston’s ability to impose its will against a staple of the Sixers’ defense gave it a leg up en route to an impressive win.
Winning the perimeter battle
Before Tuesday’s game against the Sixers, Philly was among the better teams in the NBA at limiting opposing teams’ three-point attempts. Before the game against Boston, Cleaning The Glass had Philadelphia ranked 9th in the NBA for defensive three-point frequency.
More importantly, though, they were ranked third for defensive three-point percentage, limiting opponents to 31.8% from deep.
On the other side of this battle, the Celtics were coming into the game ranked sixth in both offensive three-point frequency and offensive three-point accuracy.
Simply put, the Sixers denied a lot of threes and held teams to a below-league-average clip on the threes they did allow. Boston takes a lot of threes (although not as many as in previous years) and makes a lot of them, too.
One of these two sides was going to lose this battle. Either the Sixers were going to implement their will and force the Celtics to beat them on the interior, or the Celtics were going to stare into the Sixers’ souls, giggle, and make their shots anyway.
This is a Joe Mazzulla roster, so of course they chose violence, and giggle into the Sixers’ souls they did.
Today, the Sixers have fallen from 9th in the NBA for defensive three-point frequency to 12th, and from third in the NBA for defensive three-point accuracy to eighth.
For the Celtics, their three-point shot is akin to their jab. They use it to size you up, to score points, and to set up the bigger blows. Philly came in looking to slip those jabs and hit the Celtics with the counterpunch in transition.
Instead, the Sixers allowed, well, more so witnessed, the Celtics having one of those nights where their threes are falling from everywhere. Boston ended the game shooting 44.9% from deep, on 22-of-49 shooting.
Peppered.
The Sixers got peppered with jabs, and in turn, the Sixers’ biggest defensive strength looked penetrable. From there, the Celtics have a platform to build on, even when the whistle went cold against them.
14 Points
That’s how many Paul George scored in the fourth quarter. Eight more than anyone else on Boston’s roster in the final twelve minutes of play, and two more than Anfernee Simons, who was the Sixers’ only legitimate source of offense as they tried to keep pace with a Celtics team that surged out of the gates for the final round.
George has been way better than advertised to begin the season. Sure, there are still questions and/or concerns regarding his ability to stay healthy. Still, you can’t deny the impact he’s making when he steps onto the court for Boston, both offensively and defensively.
“I thought he was great,” Joe Mazzulla said during his postgame news conference. “That’s just what we need. We need him to play two-way basketball and be great. And you kind of saw that there, especially at the start of the fourth quarter.”
George was a catalyst for the Celtics last night, in a game where his involvement in the Brown trade had become an afterthought.
That’s how you remind people not to forget what you’re capable of.
Speaking of a reminder
How many of us threw Sam Hauser’s name into the trade machine this summer? How many times did you come across someone saying Boston needed to move on from him in order to strengthen other areas of the roster?
How wrong we/they/some of us were.
Hauser had another great night from the perimeter against the Sixers, going 4-of-6 from deep, along with snagging five rebounds and putting in a solid shift defensively.
This was just another game in a solid start to the season for Hauser. More importantly, he played a key role in unlocking the Sixers’ perimeter defense early, hitting two of his four treys in the second quarter and proving that Philadelphia’s point-of-attack defense wasn’t the impenetrable wall the numbers would have you believe.
Hauser is knocking down threes at a 43.1% clip over his first 11 games of the season. If he keeps this up, it will be the best shooting season of his career since his rookie year. Of course, when you factor in volume (he took 1.7 threes per game as a rookie compared to 5.3 per game this season so far), I think it would be fair to say this is the best he’s been as a straight-up perimeter bucket-getter.
A difference in defense
Dean Wade and Brown split the lion’s share of defensive responsibilities on Tatum. Wade totaled 3 minutes and 40 seconds paired up with Tatum, while Brown clocked 2 minutes and 30 seconds.
However, how each defender looked to play Boston’s superstar was interesting. When Brown was matched up on Tatum, he was face guarding or top-locking, looking to freeze Tatum out of Boston’s offense – which is a smart call. In fact, Tatum only took two shots with Brown as his on-ball defender, making both of them.
Now, part of the reason Brown didn’t defend too many of Tatum’s buckets is that the Celtics were more than happy to force Brown into a switch on the perimeter, as Tatum looked to punish Joel Embiid’s mafia-style bricks for feet. For the most part, the Celtics were successful in hunting those switches, although sometimes that led to Tatum pairing up with VJ Edgecombe or Tyrese Maxey.
Either way, a quick pass to Tatum followed by a screen ensured we weren’t seeing the two former teammates going at it possession after possession – as we did in 2023 when the pair were on opposite sides for the All-Star game.
Never forget when Tatum and Brown were going at each other in the All-Star Game 😮💨
Wade, on the other hand, appeared more than happy to guard Tatum on-ball and look to impact his scoring opportunities. In fact, Wade held Tatum to 1-of-5 shooting in their matchup, forcing Tatum into some tough spots, both on the perimeter and from two-point range.
When it comes to trying to shut down an elite talent like Tatum, you have to keep throwing things at the wall to see what sticks. Brown was undoubtedly motivated to pair up with his former running mate, but the truth is, placing Brown in an off-ball defensive role limits his value on that side of the ball. Boston knew that, which is what once Tatum got the rock in those matchup minutes, screens were only a few seconds away (mostly).
Well, at least that is out of the way
I’m sure that most of us are done with the constant Tatum and Brown reporting. We lived through it when they were teammates, and since Brown was traded, the media cycle has been relentless. Naturally, that reporting shifted into another gear heading into Tuesday’s matchup.
I mean, it was a major storyline that added juice to a regular-season game in November; I get why that was the case. Fortunately, though, the game is over. Tatum and Brown have faced off. It’s done. We saw it. It was cool. Now, can we please move on?
Actually, if I don’t hear about the Tatum and Brown situation until we get closer to Brown’s first return to the TD Garden (we’re not counting a preseason game where he didn’t play), then that would be fantastic.
It’s time to move on. It’s been time to move on. Hopefully, last night was the closure everybody needed to put this whole situation on pause and ultimately in the rearview.
For anyone looking to dine out on this win, I got some bad news for ya…The Celtics are back in action again tonight.
They’re facing off against the 5-5 Toronto Raptors. As it’s the second night of a back-to-back, it’s fair to wonder whether Mitchell Robinson, George, or even Tatum will be present in the rotation. Right now, we don’t know the answer to that. However, I’m sure it won’t be long until the injury report is out and we see who, if anyone, is getting the night off to rest.
My problem with this matchup is that it has the potential to be a trap game. Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard will not be participating. Immanuel Quickley is listed as doubtful, as is Collin Murray-Boyles.
When facing an injury-hit team, it’s easy to think you can take your foot off the gas. In recent years, the Celtics haven’t fallen victim to that mindset as much; in fact, it’s been quite rare recently. Still, the risk is there, and when coupled with the tired legs from two games in two nights, it could make for a tough outing.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on against Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 10, 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
PHILADELPHIA – The last time Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown shared the floor was in late April, in Game 6 of the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Neither knew it then, but that lackluster game, a Philadelphia 76ers blowout, became their last as teammates. Tatum missed the subsequent Game 7 with a leg injury, and Brown was stunningly traded just a few months later to the very Northeast rival that ended their nine-year run as teammates.
Four months later, Brown turned a cold shoulder to Tatum moments before tip-off of Tuesday’s highly-anticipated game between the 76ers and the Celtics.
Looks like Jayson Tatum tried to dap up/hug Jaylen Brown but it wasn’t reciprocated pic.twitter.com/6iMOrpvmmD
With cameras and reporters flooding Xfinity Mobile Arena, the two stars never spoke or embraced, at least not publicly. Tatum punted Brown-related questions postgame, and Brown denied any ill intent behind the viral pregame exchange.
“To be honest, I wasn’t paying attention,” Brown said.
“No headlines about anything like that,” Tatum said when pressed on the interaction. “I was just getting ready for the game, ready for the jump ball, go out there and compete, have some fun, and try to get a win.”
Still, despite Tatum’s best efforts to downplay the storyline, the coverage leading up to Tuesday’s game between the 76ers and the Celtics centered on a now-fractured, highly publicized relationship between two superstars, one that has been analyzed and debated for nearly a decade. So many media members attended the game that Tatum said it felt like an NBA Finals game — and joked he didn’t expect to see most of us in Toronto the next day.
As someone who has covered dozens of Celtics playoff games, I can say the atmosphere felt heightened. The Celtics bench rose to its feet after nearly every play. Payton Pritchard and Paul George let out screams after back-to-back 3-pointers. Tatum jumped up emphatically and clenched his fist when Neemias Queta secured a putback over Joel Embiid.
The game pitted the East’s top two teams against each other, but more than anything, it was billed as a showdown between two former teammates turned foes. Brown struggled: he finished with a game-worst -27, four turnovers, four fouls, and a season-low 13 points. Tatum had the much better night, with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, including a throwdown dunk on LeBron James that sent Hugo Gonzalez and the Celtics bench into a frenzy.
But ultimately, despite all the hype, neither player fittingly ended the night as the top performer on their team.
That morning, at Celtics shootaround, “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” blasted as players warmed up. Perhaps it was a coincidence, but the song was a fitting backdrop for the night and commotion ahead.
Why couldn’t they be friends?
Much of the reason the Tatum-Brown storyline has captivated the basketball world is that fans are so eager for players on their team to be friends.
Were they ever actually friends? Does it even matter?
A decade in the spotlight
For much of the past decade, the questions followed Tatum and Brown everywhere they went:
Do they actually like each other? Do they hang out? Do they secretly want the other one gone?
Every pregame dap-up and high-five seemed to prove they got along. Their (relatively) limited on-court synergy suggested otherwise. Every postgame answer about the other, and there were many, was scrutinized. Some left more room for interpretation than others, but hardly any felt completely satisfactory, at least not to the heaviest Brown-Tatum skeptics.
In 2024, when Brown won Eastern Conference Finals MVP and Finals MVP, all eyes were on Tatum’s reaction.
Was Tatum happy for Brown? Was he envious?
In the 2023 offseason, the duo made headlines with a joint, on-camera workout in Los Angeles, a rarity in their tenure. For those in the ‘Brown and Tatum are friends’ contingent, the moment felt like a victory lap. That contingent reached the mountaintop when the Celtics won the 2024 championship, and Brown earnestly credited Tatum in his Finals MVP speech.
“I share this with my brothers and my partner in crime, Jayson Tatum,” Brown said as confetti fell. “He was with me the whole way. So, we share this shit together.”
Jaylen Brown on winning the Finals MVP:
“I share this with my brothers and my partner in crime, Jayson Tatum. He was with me the whole way. So we share this sh*t together." ✊
But even at that peak, Brown and Tatum were not particularly close friends, according to multiple sources. They were certainly in a better place than they were on Tuesday night; there’s no question about that.
But the notion that the two All-Stars were great friends was misguided.
So, for those who viewed the ice-cold exchange before tip-off as the punctuation mark on a public breakup, as the final act for body-language doctors and psychoanalysts to dissect — the reality is more complicated, more nuanced, and far less exciting, at least in my view.
NBA friendships differ sharply from the teammate friendships most of us know from middle and high school sports and other non-professional settings. NBA players have egos, money, and fame that are hard for the average person to relate to. They are surrounded by their own ‘camps’ – the people in their inner circle who look out for them and their careers, whether that’s family members, friends, personal trainers, podcast co-hosts, photographers, agents, or publicists.
Those are the people players, especially the highest-profile ones, often get closest to: people whose job, by definition, is to look out for their best interests. On Tuesday night, key members of both players’ camps were in Philadelphia, watching the two face off from the sidelines.
The incessant media coverage and fanfare are rooted in an assumption rarely challenged in sports coverage and discourse: that the guys on your team should be friends, that the best players should be particularly close, and that a championship comes as the end result when a group of talented people who love each other plays basketball together.
But the people who actually manage NBA locker rooms will tell you that’s not how it works, at least not the vast majority of the time.
“I’ll tell you right now, all 30 teams, it’s not Boy Scouts. We’re not all just sitting there getting along, and everyone’s happy-go-lucky,” Joe Mazzulla said before tip-off. “I mean, that’s just not how the world works… We’re going after something that’s highly competitive and stressful, and there’s things at stake, and with that comes conflict. Doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing; you work through things together.”
Mazzulla noted how much differing lifestyles play a role, too.
“You got people that are single, there are married, divorced, kids, no kids,” he said. “People have been traded four times; people haven’t been traded at all. You just have a plethora of experiences from on and off the court that you have to mix together into a group of guys, and you have to leave space for that.”
So, it’s important to note that Mazzulla and other NBA coaches are not striving to build a team of best friends, though those friendships do naturally blossom on occasion. Instead, he’s aiming to build a team that understands each other well enough to chase the same thing and set its issues aside for a common goal, a locker room filled with guys who respect one another, even if they don’t always see eye to eye.
“I think the one thing I’d like people to understand is this isn’t supposed to be summer camp where we all just get along all the time,” Mazzulla said. “There’s plenty of times within a great culture, good culture, where you have disagreements… That’s just a part of the competitive journey and going after greatness together.”
“How can we get to the point where we just go after greatness together, but at the same time appreciate each other’s life?”
Joe Mazzulla on what people don’t understand about NBA player relationships:
“This isn’t supposed to be summer camp where we all just get along all the time…that’s just a part of the competitive journey and going after greatness together.” –@CLNSMedia | Q: @NoaDalzellpic.twitter.com/kucWlqlqqw
“The players usually understand, first and foremost, it’s a business, right?” Nurse said. “And almost no matter where they’re at in these relationships, these things can happen where they get separated because of the business aspect of it.”
Nurse suggested the friendships that fans picture belong to an earlier stage of sport.
“Obviously, you kind of hope sports bring a lifelong friendship in those kind of situations,” Nurse said. “I’m not sure that’s the case in professional nearly as much.”
NBA players describe the same gap from the inside; different family structures and lifestyles make genuine, long-term friendships rare.
“I think it’s just the stages of life,” former Celtics-turned-76ers center Tacko Fall told CelticsBlog. “When you are in high school, for example, you’re young, right? You don’t have a family to go back to and everything like that. As you get older, you become a professional. You have guys that have wives. You have guys that have kids.”
Payton Pritchard, who was teammates with Tatum and Brown for six seasons, added that managing egos plays a role, too.
“There’s a lot of egos in it, and people need an ego to get to the NBA. And so it’s definitely a balancing act,” Pritchard said. “Not to say that we’re not all buddies, but everybody’s got families. They’re trying to make it. They got things to prove, so it’s different.”
None of this means NBA friendships don’t exist – they certainly do.
Brown and Fall, now teammates in Philadelphia, have been very close since their days together in Boston, for example. Brown is the godfather of Fall’s youngest daughter, and the two often travel together in the offseason.
“Jaylen’s basically become family,” Fall said. “We started hanging out so much, and we’re just very similar in the way we are as people, in the way we think as well. And then, obviously, the more you hang out with someone, you kind of build those connections. Then our families kind of start to know each other even more, and that relationship just gets better and better.”
In New York, it’s well-known that Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges are close friends, though that friendship originated when they were teammates in college.
But those genuinely close off-court bonds are more of the exception than the norm. In my experience covering the team, players don’t hang out off the court nearly as much as fans think. The goal isn’t friendship; it’s professionalism, respect, and a willingness to set differences aside to win. It’s role acceptance. It’s discipline.
For the majority of their tenure, Tatum and Brown did that as well as any duo in this league.
“It’s working relationships,” Pritchard said. “Some people are closer than others, but find a way to win and keep going.”
Still, though real friendships aren’t all that common, camaraderie is crucial
Paul George, fresh off a 36-point outing on Tuesday, said the most fun part of the Celtics season so far wasn’t going off against the team that traded him — it’s been the team bonding off the court.
“Sorry to give you the most cliché answer ever,” he said, “but the most fun is just the camaraderie, being around these guys, the locker room, the flights. That’s the most fun that I’ve had in a while. It’s just, again, a good group of guys out there competing together, and then it transfers on the court. You see how much fun we have off the court by how we play on the court.”
Pritchard echoed that sentiment, and credited Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens for building a roster of guys who are easy to get along with.
“I just think it starts from the top, and got to give credit to Brad,” he said. “He picks really good people to be a part of it, and it’s not just about basketball. It’s the type of person they are. They’re hardworking. They’re good locker room guys and stuff like that. So we have a great group, and everybody enjoys being around each other. So that makes a difference. You want to see the next man win. We want to see PG kill. We want to see JT go off. It really matters. So everybody’s gonna have their nights, and we love to see it.”
And, Tatum’s enjoying the good vibes, too.
“We’ve really kind of bonded really, really well off the court, and I think it’s translated on the court,” he said. “We got a great group of guys, a bunch of funny individuals. It’s been cool.”
What’s next for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown?
Maybe one day, Tatum and Brown will sit side-by-side on a podcast, years removed from their playing days, and talk about what went awry in their final act. Maybe one day, they’ll return to TD Garden for a marquee game as fans, just as members of the 2008 Celtics team have so many times.
Though their tenure as teammates has ended at long last, it feels inevitable that all eyes will be on their relationship moving forward, regardless.
Will they sit together?
Will they hug next time?
The scrutiny and questions will likely follow them forever.
But for now, it should be understood that what Brown and Tatum did for 9 seasons was co-work as well as almost any duo in modern basketball.
They played in a whopping 107 playoff games as teammates. They reached five Eastern Conference Finals and two NBA Finals.
Most importantly, they won it all, bringing the Larry O’Brien back to Boston for the first time in 16 years.
By the time Tuesday’s game ended, Tatum had already shifted his focus to Wednesday’s game against the Toronto Raptors.
“They all count as one,” Tatum said, as he has so many times in his years.
That was Tatum’s message to his team, too.
“Tonight in the locker room, he said it means nothing if we don’t play the way we need to play tomorrow,” Mazzulla said. “That’s just the nature of the business.”
And Jayson Tatum — and Jaylen Brown, for that matter — have both been very good at that business.
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 21: Jakob Poeltl #19 of the Toronto Raptors high five before the game against the Chicago Bulls on October 21, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When the Toronto Raptors take the court against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, it’ll mark their most challenging test yet.
The issue for the Raptors – and their fans – is that they are neither ready to solve the problem ahead nor will it serve as an accurate reading of where they sit in the self-healing Eastern Conference.
Toronto is stuck in a hellish .500 landscape due to injuries to several key players like Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and Collin Murray-Boyles.
Meanwhile, Boston has won four in a row and five of its last nine contests.
Here are three storylines to consider ahead of the scheduled 7:00 p.m. tip-off on TSN:
This team needs to get healthy fast
According to the team, Leonard will remain out due to the continued reconditioning process following treatment for left knee swelling. The next update is scheduled for a week from now. When it was initially announced that Leonard would be out on Oct. 25, there wasn’t a clear timeline for his potential return. Later that week, NBA Insider Chris Haynes reported on Oct. 29 that Leonard would miss three to four weeks. It appears that report will be the likely outcome.
Toronto is 3-5 without Leonard in the lineup. The team is 5-5 and currently sixth in the Eastern Conference.
The goal seems obvious: stay afloat until reinforcements arrive.
Barnes remains out against the Celtics, but Quickley and Murray-Boyles are listed as questionable.
The Jakob Poeltl situation
On the topic of Quickley, it’s worth investigating how his absence affects the rest of the lineup.
Albeit on a minuscule two-game sample size, the player who has seen the most noticeable uptick in numbers is Jakob Poeltl.
In two games without Quickley, Poeltl is averaging:
Points: 18.5
Rebounds: 9.0
Assists: 2.0
FG%: 69.2 per cent
Steals: 2.0
Blocks: 2.5
In six games with Quickley:
Points: 5.2
Rebounds: 5.7
Assists: 1.0
FG%: 59.1 per cent
Steals: 0.5
Blocks: 0.3
By default, this also puts a spotlight on Jamal Shead, who has done an admirable job of filling in for Quickley in the starting five. This isn’t surprising considering how great Shead was as an emergency starting point guard in the playoffs last year against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Despite Shead’s areas for improvement, he’s grown into an excellent set-up man. The numbers back it up. Since Quickley’s injury, Shead is averaging 13.5 assists, with many of those coming in the pick-and-roll with Poeltl or on dump-offs.
Obvious chemistry aside, Poeltl may also just be finally getting healthy. The Raptors are also better together as a whole. Quickley’s shooting is severely missed (33.3 per cent). If Quickley and Poeltl can find a similar synergy, it’ll help boost Toronto’s firepower ahead of a nightmare set of opponents that lurk around the corner.
An Eastern Conference gauntlet awaits
After their game against the Celtics, the Raptors’ next three games are against the Philadelphia 76ers and a back-to-back set with the New York Knicks. Considering the team’s health, it’s entirely plausible that Toronto could be 5-9 after this stretch.
Finding a way to split the next four contests should be considered a massive success.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics looks on against Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers in the second quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 10, 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
Those lamb chops did not come out as well as hoped.
In the most highly anticipated game of this young regular season, Jaylen Brown finally took on Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics after thinly veiled barbs had been tossed by both sides since the summer. It did not go Brown or the Sixers’ way.
Brown played just 25 minutes thanks to a combination of foul trouble and a waving of the white flag, finishing with 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting along with five rebounds, two assists and four turnovers. The Sixers trailed the majority of the night and lost 123-101. After Philly tied the game at 76 late in the third quarter, the Celtics outscored them 47-25 over the final 16 minutes of the game.
To pour salt in the wound, Paul George, the player the Sixers sent to Boston in return for Brown, dropped a game-high 36 points. After the game Brown was asked if he was relieved that this game is behind him now.
“I guess you could say that,” he said. “I’m a bit frustrated, honestly. I wanted to perform better for my team. Foul trouble kind of derailed me a little bit, but it happens. It’s unfortunate, but now we got to just move on to the next [game].”
Brown was ready to take his medicine. He said multiple times that the Celtics outplayed and out-executed the Sixers. On top of the foul trouble, he thought the Celtics did a good job game planning for him, pointing out that he got double teamed on every drive. His coach felt similarly.
“It started really tough for him in the beginning by getting in foul trouble right from the start, and then he gets another early one in the second half, so he really had no chance to get going and [it] made it tough,” said Nick Nurse. “I think they did a pretty good job of swarming him and sending multiple defenders. I really think that, especially in the first half, we were generating really good shots out of their swarming defense.”
The Sixers once again struggled to make open jumpers, finishing the night making 29% of their 37 three-point attempts. Even as the team’s performance turned the nationally televised game into a dud, there were still plenty of eyeballs on Tatum and Brown. Would they interact and if so, how much?
The answer was not very much. Right before tip-off Tatum went over to dap-up Brown as well as a couple other Sixers and Brown completely no-sold it.
“I’m just focused on coming out and doing what’s best for my team. Everything else was just, to be honest, I wasn’t paying attention,” Brown said of the interaction. “Credit to Jayson, he played well tonight. Credit to the Celtics, they executed, they shot the hell out of the ball, and they were the better team tonight.”
Brown also insisted that there weren’t any extra emotions for him coming into this game. He said he was locked in and focused, and had his rhythm derailed by picking up those two early fouls. At the same time, he admitted that this was a game he wanted to play well in.
“I was looking forward to this, I was looking forward to playing well,” he said, “but shit happens, you just get ready for the next one I guess.”
While this game was the most anticipated around the league so far, it won’t be the last game that has, for lack of a better term, external noise. It was even the second game of that nature the Sixers had played in their last five days, with LeBron James making a return to Cleveland just a few days prior.
Tyrese Maxey explained how the team deals with those games as a group. It’s important for the group to do so because he doesn’t think those types of games are going to stop coming for this team.
“I think the biggest thing was just trying to be there for him. It is going to be emotional no matter how the game,” Maxey said. “I think he did a good job of just, hanging in there. I know it was tough, he got into foul trouble early, and it’s a difficult situation, but it’s OK.”
The good news for Brown is that Maxey is right, these games won’t stop coming this season. He’ll have at least three more chances to get his revenge against Boston and after the Sixers performance in this one, the noise will only be getting louder.
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 10: Jordan Clarkson #00 of the New York Knicks looks on during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 10, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As everybody knew before tip-off, the Knicks ended up beating the Bucks on Tuesday.
Wednesday, however? That’s an entirely different beast, as New York hosts Cleveland.
A different beast, I mean, as they wear red threads instead of green ones. Other than that, this one’s also ending in yet another easy Knicks’ dub.
"I think those types of struggles throughout the course of the year build character if you handle it the right way for when the real season happens, which is in April, May and June."
Mike Brown talks about the Knicks bouncing back from their 0-3 start to the season: pic.twitter.com/vXiHy8ZDQP
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ rebounding instincts, positioning and physical advantages:
“He’s just got a nose or a knack for the ball. You know he doesn’t jump real high, but he’s long, and he understands angles.
“KAT’s in that category when it comes to rebounding. We emphasize it quite a bit, and we tell guys, ‘You gotta put bodies on bodies.’ So if our small is on other people around him or putting bodies on bodies, it’s a one-on-one contest for KAT, and he’s gonna win most times.”
On Towns recording a double-double in each of the Knicks’ first 10 games:
“He continues to be a double-double machine at a high level.”
On the Knicks’ defensive physicality against Milwaukee:
“Our group, they were pretty efficient tonight. I thought our physicality on the defensive end of the floor was at a pretty high level, and they did it the right way. They did it without fouling. Which was a lot of fun to watch. The point-of-attack defense, with Landry [Shamet] and especially Deuce [McBride] on the ball, was unbelievable. Deuce was our defensive player of the game. Could have gone to Landry as well. But just a fantastic job at the point of the screen in pick-and-rolls. [The Bucks] had two 13-point quarters and I’m sure they missed some shots, but I thought we also impacted their shots with our play.”
On Josh Hart’s ankle recovery and whether he could have played against Milwaukee:
“From what they’ve told me, correct me if I’m wrong, if he was not sick, he would (have played).”
On Jose Alvarado’s rotation fallout:
“We’ll go with who we go with until we feel that it’s time to go to the next guy. So again, it’s not anything negative right now on Jose or even Tyler when he’s out. They just got to be ready to play when their number’s called, and both of them are trying to do that.”
On Tyler Kolek earning the edge over Alvarado in the backup point guard competition:
“Right now, Tyler’s played pretty good basketball. You know, we’ve strung some games, and, you know, again, those guys are close.
“The reality is Jose got hurt. Tyler gave us some good minutes, but at the end of the day, I sat them both down and I told them: ‘Jose, you’re our backup because you ended the season as the backup, but both you guys helped us win last year. Jose in the Finals. Tyler in the Cup Finals. So I feel like both you guys can play and contribute at a high level. So both you guys got to be ready because a change can happen at any time.’”
On sticking with Kolek unless his performances warrant another change:
“And so I’m gonna go with Tyler, and if I think I need to make a change because Tyler’s not getting it done in my eyes, then I’ll go back to Jose.”
On Alvarado and Kolek supporting their teammates despite fluctuating playing time:
“So they just have to both stay ready and make sure that they continue to do what they’re doing. They both, when they’re not playing, they both have done a heck of a job cheering for their teammates and trying to uplift everybody.”
On the Knicks’ offensive rebounding on Tuesday:
“Obviously our players, they’re trying to compete most times when it comes to going after a shot attempt. So I give our players a lot of credit.”
On why the Knicks don’t need extraordinary individual performances from their starters:
“With the way our team is built we don’t need anybody to do anything extraordinary. Just go, like Landry said, be yourself, play hard. It’s not necessarily always how you start games. It’s how you finish.”
On allowing the flow of games to determine his rotation:
“The game will dictate it. I go in with a minutes sheet. I don’t know if we’ve followed the minutes sheet once so far this year or let alone even last year. It’s just a cheat sheet of different lineups that you think you can run at the right time based off who’s out there to defend, who’s out there handling the ball, who’s out there setting screens and all that other stuff. We let the flow of the game dictate what’s gonna happen.”
"Shoutout to Willis Reed man. I didn't know that"
–– Karl-Anthony Towns now 1 double-double away from Willis Reed for longest streak to start a Knicks season:
🏀11 – Willis 1970 🏀10 – KAT 2026 🏀9 – Charles Oakley 1989 🏀7 – Zach Randolph 2007 🏀6 – Patrick Ewing 1990 pic.twitter.com/iD2GPG9ORF
On the Knicks returning to their fundamentals and improving defensively:
“I just think that we’re doing a great job of getting back to the basics. We started off slow, and now we’re picking it up. While the shooting isn’t doing great — I could be the first one to tell you about that tonight — but I think we’re doing a great job of executing right now at a high level, and our defense is there. At the end of the day, the offense will catch up. The defense is something you got to establish. We’re doing a great job of that right now.”
On approaching Willis Reed’s franchise record for consecutive double-doubles to start a season:
“I didn’t know that. I just know that this team right now, we’re on a good winning streak, we’re playing good basketball, and that’s the most important thing. That’s what the fans really want to hear about.”
"Just doin what I do. Whenever my number's called. Being ready to play. Doing what I'm best at––which is getting us rebounds"
–– Andre Drummond (singlehandedly outrebounded Bucks bench 14-11 in 16 minutes) to @BillPidto after Knicks win 117-85 pic.twitter.com/Wuvx7SIPKs
On maintaining the same approach whether starting or coming off the bench:
“I try to keep things as consistent as possible. In the past in my career, if it was a spot start or a stretch of them, I think I made the mistake of trying to change too much. Or think I had to change a lot. Or do something differently. Or be something different. Just because I’m starting the reality is it’s the same basketball game. You can create different reasons as to why it’s different. But for me, and I think the whole goal for anybody, is setting yourself up for success and for me that just looks like keeping things as standard and concise as possible.”
On the Knicks’ constantly changing roles and the responsibility to contribute wherever needed:
“Like we’ve always said, with this team, that’s the kind of special benchmark of our group is it could, that could change from night to night. from person to person. There might be something required of me differently, tonight versus tomorrow night, might be making shots, might be guarding this guy. It might be being a great teammate on the bench and picking up somebody who’s struggling, or, whatever the case may be, all these roles are constantly evolving and rotating. And it’s all of our jobs collectively to just fill the voids that need filling when needed.”
"That's just our culture here- no matter if it's one minute, 30 seconds, 30 minutes during the game. That's what we focus on."
Jordan Clarkson talks about focusing on the little things to help the Knicks win: pic.twitter.com/gg1VSjglPK
On embracing the Knicks’ team-first culture regardless of how many minutes he plays:
“That’s just our culture here. No matter if it’s one minute, 30 seconds, 30 minutes during the game. That’s what we focus on. That’s what Mike has preached to us since he’s got here and that’s just a big thing all of us hold our hat on.”
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics in the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 10, 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
In the weeks leading up to the first Celtics-Sixers matchup of the season, Jaylen Brown had been hyping up the reunion. But just six minutes into Tuesday night’s game, his long-awaited rivalry debut began to unravel.
Brown admitted it himself after Philadelphia’s 123-101 loss to Boston, acknowledging he and his Sixers teammates didn’t do enough to match up to the Celtics during the marquee matchup.
“I’m a bit frustrated, honestly,” Brown told reporters, per CLNS Media. “I wanted to perform better for my team. Foul trouble kind of derailed me a little bit, but it happens. It’s unfortunate. But now we gotta just move on to the next.”
Brown established himself as the aggressor from the jump. He nailed Jordan Walsh’s throat before flushing a two-handed dunk, bulldozed Derrick White and was called for an offensive foul, then intercepted a pass intended for Jayson Tatum. He also missed his first two shot attempts and picked up two fouls before checking out with 5:33 remaining in the first quarter.
In his first attempt to attack Tatum, Brown pump-faked a three, dribbled into a spin move and lost control of the ball, sending it out of bounds. Paul George and Neemias Queta followed Tatum’s lead, pointing toward the other end of the floor in reaction to Brown’s turnover.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics look on during the game on November 10, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Brown was forced to Philadelphia’s bench, where he watched the Sixers struggle to keep pace.
Boston’s bread-and-butter — 3-point shooting — came in handy throughout the night, and it began early. In the first quarter, the Celtics nailed four of their first 11 threes while the Sixers only converted one of their first seven attempts. The disparity carried over into the ensuing quarters, as both teams continued firing.
Brown, usually an above-average, reliable 3-point shooter, went just 1-for-4 himself. He played just over 25 minutes, well below his 35:48 average and his lowest total of the season so far. Brown’s four personal fouls, three of which were accumulated by halftime, forced Sixers head coach Nick Nurse to play him less than four minutes in the third quarter.
Crucial minutes in which Brown could’ve used to turn the tide were wasted as he battled foul trouble.
He turned in an underwhelming performance by his standards, as Brown finished with a season-low 13 points along with five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. On Sunday, he told reporters in Philadelphia he had nothing else to tell Tatum or the Celtics except “check the ball up.” And on Tuesday, Brown was overshadowed by Tatum’s second-career poster dunk over LeBron James and George’s 36-point outburst.
Needless to say, things didn’t go as planned, which left Brown with no choice but to tip his cap to his adversaries.
“Credit to Jayson. He played well tonight,” Brown said. “Credit to the Celtics. They executed. They shot the hell out of the ball, and they were the better team tonight.”
Brown helped stir the pot moments before tipoff. As both teams greeted each other at center court, Tatum approached Brown and gave him a friendly, one-handed pat on the chest. Brown, meanwhile, spun the game ball on his finger without even acknowledging Tatum’s presence — a moment reminiscent of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen’s icy exchange in 2012.
It seemed clear Brown had no interest in dapping up Tatum.
His explanation?
“To be honest, I wasn’t paying attention,” Brown responded.
Once the game ended, Brown continued to keep his distance from Tatum. He shook hands with nearly every Celtics player before heading back to Philadelphia’s locker room, once again leaving his former co-star out of the postgame exchanges.
For those keeping track at home, that’s twice Brown ghosted Tatum on the court (three times if you include their preseason warm-up session at TD Garden on Oct. 10).
And for the Celtics, their trip to the City of Brotherly Love was a success.
They checked all the boxes needed. All the boxes they could’ve hoped to check.
Tatum and George combined for 57 points. Boston responded to Philadelphia’s game-tying 20-7 run with a 12-2 spurt that carried into the fourth quarter. And Payton Pritchard also caught fire, giving the Celtics 18 points off the bench, while knocking down four consecutive 3-pointers in the second half to fuel the team’s runaway victory.
For Brown, even 10 seasons spent with the Celtics, including years alongside many of the team’s current players, couldn’t provide much of an advantage.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics on November 10, 2026 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Brown dismissed the idea that familiarity with Boston’s personnel made any difference.
“Does it make it easier? No. It’s basketball at the end of the day,” Brown said. “It’s five-on-five. You gotta come out and execute, and they were better than us tonight. They executed better than us tonight, and they outplayed us. So that’s on us. We gotta improve. They’re one of the top teams in the league, and they’ve been together for a while, so we got a lot to work on over here. So we gotta get to work.”
The Celtics leaped over the Sixers as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night.
The high-intensity, playoff-like duel between Brown and Tatum never materialized. Instead, Brown and the Sixers were forced to settle for a classic Boston beatdown, similar to the many Brown experienced plenty of times throughout his decade spent with Tatum by his side.
Philadelphia got outclassed. They allowed George to score more points than any opposing player has scored against them, dropped to 21st in the league in 3-point percentage by shooting 29.7 percent against Boston, and gave Sixers legend Allen Iverson, who sat in attendance, little to celebrate.
When George drained his game-leading sixth 3-pointer of the night to put the Celtics ahead 111-87 and force a Sixers timeout, Joel Embiid hung his head and grabbed his hair in disbelief.
At that moment, everyone in the building knew that was all she wrote.
Brown only needed three words for his blunt, honest assessment.
“Tonight was humbling,” Brown said. “We got outplayed, outexecuted. So we go back to the drawing board and get ready for the next one.”
For the Celtics, Sixers, Brown and Tatum, the next one won’t be until their Jan. 21 rematch at TD Garden.
Milwaukee Bucks' Kyle Kuzma C breaks through against Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic R and Deandre Ayton during the 2025-2026 NBA regular season game between Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks in Los Angeles, the United States, Jan. 9, 2026. (Photo by Ringo Chiu/Xinhua via Getty Images)
After a brutal thrashing by the New York Knicks, the Milwaukee Bucks are back at home tonight to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the second game of a back-to-back. For the Bucks, there is little to build on from last night in New York beyond the games of Nate Ament and Kasparas Jakucionis, who should both see more of the floor after strong performances. The Lakers, meanwhile, are 10-2 and first overall in the Western Conference. This will be the toughest test of the year, and it couldn’t come at a worse time for the Bucks, who are still looking for their second win of the season.
The Task Ahead
There is no gentle way to say this: the Bucks will be outmatched at home unless someone can make a stand in the frontcourt. The Lakers’ offense is relentless and currently the best in the NBA, scoring 122.4 points per 100 possessions. Much of that comes from their two-headed monster in the backcourt: Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Reaves, who inked a big extension this off-season, is averaging 25.3/3.4/4.6, and with those numbers, could only be second fiddle to Doncic, who is off to an absolutely torrid pace of 39.3/7.8/7.9 on nearly 68% true shooting. For years, this is what it felt like to run into Giannis, and now the Bucks find themselves on the other end, hoping to make it a game—a task that proved too big in New York.
As if the dynamic duo in the backcourt wasn’t enough, the Bucks will have their hands full in the paint with Walker Kessler. Kessler is making an early-season push for an All-Defense team as opponents are currently shooting just 47.1% against him at the rim and 41.1% overall. Couple that with 2.5 blocks per game and a double-double average, and you have an elite starting centre (something that feels so distant for Milwaukee). Given how bad the night was in New York, it feels like the only way the Bucks will stand a chance in the frontcourt is with an injection of youth and energy. Kel’el Ware looked more competent on defense and had a couple of close shots roll out, while Nate Ament looks more comfortable by the minute. Despite all this, the Lakers are not exactly running away with games, with five of their wins by single digits. This can be blamed in large part on the defensively challenged Doncic and Reaves; if the Bucks want a chance, they will need to attack that duo early and often.
Injury Report
Bucks:
Milwaukee’s injury report hasn’t been submitted yet because the team is on a back-to-back, but Tyler Herro will be the one to watch.
Lakers:
Quentin Grimes: Questionable (finger)
Player to Watch
Matisse Thybulle has been asked to guard many players on the perimeter all season long, and so far has been incredibly effective. The Bucks will need to be firing on all cylinders if they want a chance to beat the Lakers, but if Thybulle can be a disruptor, the Bucks could be in for another long night.
Projected Starters
Bucks
Position
Lakers
Brayden Burries
PG
Luka Doncic
Ryan Rollins
SG
Austin Reaves
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
SF
Ziaire Williams
Kyle Kuzma
PF
Matisse Thybulle
Myles Turner
C
Walker Kessler
Game Details
Who: Milwaukee Bucks (1-10) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (10-2).
Milwaukee needs a shot in the arm, so let’s look to Big Nate Ament to deliver against the Lakers and bring some life to the team. Ament will get his first double-double of the season and reinvigorate the Bucks as they go for the upset win at home!
HOUSTON – After sweeping a six-game homestand to extend their win streak to eight straight, the Warriors on Wednesday will begin a strenuous five-game road trip without one of their most important bench pieces.
Backup point guard Brandon Williams scored four points on three shot attempts in only one minute and 39 seconds during the first quarter of the Warriors’ 51-point blowout against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night. But he exited the game as quickly as his speedy first step because of feeling something wrong in his left hamstring. Luckily for him and the Warriors, the worst-case scenario was avoided.
An MRI on Tuesday revealed Williams has a mild left hamstring strain and will be re-evaluated in one week.
Williams is averaging 10.4 points in 16.1 minutes per game. He scored 14 points in his team debut and has reached double figures in five of the nine full games he has played. Without Williams, the Warriors will turn to another undersized point guard, LJ Cryer, who is in his second season on a two-way contract.
But, the two are much different players.
“A little bit of maybe less layups, more threes,” Cryer said Wednesday during Warriors shootaround at the Toyota Center ahead of their game against the Houston Rockets. “But at the end of the day, he puts the ball through the basket driving, and I put it through on the perimeter. So it’s a different dynamic, but as long as the ball is going in, it’s all good.”
Williams can put the ball on a string, blow by you and jelly a highlight reel layup in a flash. He’s shooting 50 percent at the rim this season (7 of 14) and 47.9 percent overall within 10 feet of the hoop (23 of 48). Listed kindly at 6-foot-1, his game is in the paint and not beyond the arc, where he’s shooting 30.4 percent (7 of 23), which is an improvement from his 23.2 3-point percentage last season with the Dallas Mavericks.
The opposite can be said for Cryer, who is generously listed at 6-foot.
Cryer has appeared in eight of the Warriors’ 11 games for a total of 50 minutes this season. The 25-year-old has taken 25 shots and 16 of them have been 3-pointers. He has taken just one shot at the rim, two within 10 feet and four inside of 16 feet from the basket.
Despite their differences, Cryer says he has learned a lot watching Williams this season. He isn’t trying to be him, but he is trying to impact the second unit like Williams has now that he will be given a bigger opportunity.
“He has a really good burst, and I feel like I have a good burst too,” Cryer said. “I may not be as fast as him, but it’s just about using my speed as a more of an advantage to get to the paint a little more than I usually do.”
In 20 minutes Monday night, Cryer scored 10 points off the bench in place of Williams, including two threes and two floaters to showcase his all-around game as a scoring spark plug.
Starting the road trip in Houston will be special for Cryer, too. He starred at Morton Ranch High School 27 miles from the Rockets’ home court and finished his college career at the University of Houston his final two years, where he was a First Team All-Big-12 selection and Wooden All-American as a fifth-year senior.
Cryer’s immediate family and a handful of close friends will be in attendance for Wednesday night’s game, and he plans to be the same player he always has been in front of them.
It has been three weeks since the 2026-27 NBA regular season opened and there have already been three different teams to top this list.
That has been the state of play thus far, as no team has begun to separate itself as a dominant force – at least not yet.
But if there is one theme that has emerged, it’s that potent offenses are ruling the day, and no player has been leading his team’s scoring more than Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić, who is putting up Wilt Chamberlain-like numbers.
Here are the Week 3 USA TODAY Sports NBA power rankings:
As they have most of the season, the Bulls remain dead last in net rating and it’s not even close, with an abysmally poor mark of -16.2. In fact, they’re ranked dead last in several major metrics.
Practically all of their impact veterans are injured, and coach Will Hardy even appeared to mouth to himself on the sidelines during a recent game about how bad Utah has been.
Losers of seven consecutive, the Bucks have faced tough competition recently. Either way, the offense, which ranks 29th in points per game with 106.3, isn’t capable enough to compete with below-average teams, either.
It looks like that four-game win streak in the middle of the second week of the season was a mirage; the Pels have now lost three consecutive and allowed 138.5 points per game over their last two.
No team has a worse shooting percentage in the NBA than Charlotte, which is converting baskets at just 40%, a full 10 points lower than the Lakers (50.7%), the squad leading the category.
There had been some promise – AJ Dybantsa has flashed some nifty moves at times – but a four-game losing skid has zapped any juice from these new-look Wizards.
It has been a wildly inconsistent start of the season for the Suns, who are suffering from the dip in scoring by Dillon Brooks. He’s averaging 14.9 points per game, down from 20.2 last season.
In a recent game, the Hornets were missing three starters, two of whom are their best scorers: Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller and Moussa Diabate. The full-strength Cavs lost by 12.
Things have certainly been better since that horrid start, and they have had some tough defensive luck, but defensive rebounding, consistency with their 3-point shooting and finding a secondary scorer to complement Giannis Antetokounmpo are still issues.
After essentially alternating wins and losses, it appears the Raptors may be getting some good news, as Kawhi Leonard (knee swelling) is due to be reevaluated soon.
They’re continuing to share the ball, leading the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.10) and assists per game (31.7), and they’ve won four of their last five.
After topping this list last week, Houston went just 1-2 and the common thread was a starting five that lacked the scoring pop it had in the first two weeks of the season.
After dropping their first three games of the season, the Warriors have ripped off eight consecutive and Stephen Curry, at 38 years old, has played his way into the (very, very early) MVP conversation.
They had a brutal stretch of games against the Lakers, Spurs and Thunder. They went 1-2 and now have Oklahoma City, the team Portland toppled Tuesday, in a two-day back-to-back.
With all their injuries, there are just going to be nights like Tuesday, when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander simply didn’t have enough to outgun the shot-happy Trail Blazers.
Even with Anthony Edwards (knee) out for an extended period, the Timberwolves have remained competitive and Ayo Dosunmu, who’s averaging 23.8 points per game over his last five, has stepped up nicely.
Perhaps Jaylen Brown allowed emotion to dictate his approach Tuesday against the Celtics. One other key issue in that loss: the Sixers uncharacteristically allowed turnovers to snowball into 21 points off of those giveaways.
They may not be generating a ton of assists relative to their made field goals, but Luka Dončić (39.3 points per game) is on a historic start and overseeing the NBA’s best offense, which is averaging 121.5 points per 100 possessions.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 10: Nate Ament #15 of the Milwaukee Bucks brings the ball up the court during the second quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 10, 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks flashed some nice stretches, but simply weren’t on the same level as the New York Knicks, going down 117-85. Without Tyler Herro, the Bucks struggled to get open looks against a slew of elite Knicks defenders, which let the Knicks play freely and get whatever they wanted. There’s really not much more to it; at times, the teams looked like they were playing a different sport. Shrug. We move. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Rollins played one of his best games of the season, frankly. Shot the ball with confidence when he was open, and I loved his ability to probe off pick-and-rolls and get deeper into the paint. There has been some criticism of Jenkins, saying he should have played Rollins more, and I agree; Rollins should have gotten around 30 minutes, given how well he was playing. Now, garbage time starting early may have impacted that, but still.
Jaquez was solid. He got off the chain in the third, scoring 12 of his 16 points in the period, including an instinctual backcourt steal after he sensed Karl-Anthony Towns was going to casually drop it off to Brunson without looking. Too many turnovers, though, which has been a theme lately.
Just a dud game from Kuzma, who made very little impact on either end and, at times, looked like he wanted to be anywhere else. Namely, there was a play where the shot clock was winding down, and he had multiple chances to at least chuck something at the rim, only for the shot clock to expire while the ball was in his hands. And to be clear, the defender wasn’t smothering him and making it impossible to shoot; he just… chose not to. Very odd.
Unfortunately, it was the same old story with Turner. He nailed the game’s first bucket on a pick-and-pop three, but could not get his jumper to fall from that point forward. When I watch Turner, I see him doing a lot right in terms of positioning, but he seems to have lost a considerable amount of mobility, so guys can jump over and around him. That said, not having Herro there as a reliable pick-and-roll partner (and someone who demands attention) did Turner no favours.
An encouraging performance from Ware. He looked more active and “into the game.” I thought it was notable that he didn’t take a three; it seemed like there was a directive to roll instead of pop, since his jumper hasn’t been going in recently (or at all, really). Needs to build on that now.
Still not shooting the ball terrificly, but there was a lot to like from Jakucionis’ game. He made consecutive great reads in the third quarter getting downhill, drawing multiple defenders and, without getting too deep and risking a turnover, throwing cross-court dimes to Ament and Jaquez for threes. Had a few nice finishes in that same quarter as well. I also thought KJ’s defensive intensity, especially guarding Brunson, was solid.
An off game for Burries, which are going to happen. He really struggled to navigate New York’s long, tough defenders. This grade may seem harsh, but my expectations for Burries have risen considerably.
Grade: D+
AJ Green
8 minutes, 0 points, 0/1 FG, 0/1 3P, -14
Respectfully, I don’t remember one thing Green did.
The rook just keeps building. Ament is clearly trusting his three-ball on offence—and he’s already started using the Pat Connaughton “catch-high, keep-high” shooting form—but the headline from this game was his defence. I mean, they put him on Brunson and, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but he did a really good job! Basically, if Ament could prevent Brunson from getting his shoulders past him—which did happen a few times—he was able to get great contests on the Knicks superstar’s shots. That said, Ament did mess up on two switches in the first half; his off-ball awareness remains a work in progress.
Dieng is starting to trust his jumper, which is good to see. Frankly, he could be a bit more aggressive at the rim. Try to use his size more effectively.
Grade: C+
Taylor Jenkins
I do think Jenkins needs to work on his rotations a little bit, and he said as much postgame. I’ve seen some folks go a bit over the top about this, but yes, there’s merit to the argument that seemingly as soon as guys find a rhythm, they can often end up on the bench. And in general, few units play consistently together for long stretches. For example, the Bucks’ starters played a total of 10:47 together last night and posted a net rating of +18.0 in those minutes, per Hoops Junkie. At the same time, the point of this season isn’t necessarily to max out on veterans playing together; it is to discover which pieces are worth keeping for the future.
Grade: D+
Garbage Time: Bogoljub Markovic, Gary Trent Jr., Jericho Sims
DNP-CD: Caris LeVert
Inactive: Kam Jones, Cormac Ryan, Pete Nance, Tyler Herro
What We Learnt
The Bucks badly, and I mean badly, need Tyler Herro to look like a functioning team.
Bonus Bucks Bits
The Bucks lost the second and fourth quarters 64-26 combined. They also got destroyed on the boards, 59-32, and lost the possession game, 89-79.
Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t shoot well from the field (5/14), but he attempted an absurd 14 free throws. Myles Turner’s inability to provide any resistance was a major reason for that.
Jenkins does seem to have quite a short leash with Ware. He had a stint last night where he came in, made a defensive mistake on Towns, and got taken right back out, with Jenkins deep in conversation with him after he was pulled. I don’t really know what to think of that, quite honestly. You could argue it’s unfair that Turner seemingly gets way more leash despite playing “equally as bad.” That said, I do think Turner does a lot of intangible things that don’t show up on the stat sheet and that, despite his poor form, he is needed for 25-30 minutes per game for the Bucks to look like a functional basketball team. I do not necessarily feel that way about Ware.
Not sure if it’s even worth mentioning, but did anyone else catch Ament stay on the ground a little longer after his and-one in the first quarter? It looked like he might have tweaked his ankle a bit. Clearly, it wasn’t too bad since he played the rest of the game, but I guess there could be some lingering soreness. I’ll be monitoring the injury report over the next week.
A nice dime from Bogi to end the game:
Bogoljub Markovic tips it to himself and throws the no-look pass to Dieng for the dunk pic.twitter.com/I9RL8ApkPV
Taylor Jenkins said "what we're doing right now is not working" and "I got to find something that's going to build consistency for us… starters, off the bench, sub patterns." On rebounding: "we've had this struggle the last couple of games. It's really hurt us."
ATLANTA — As Collin Sexton tries to find his groove with the Lakers, coach JJ Redick has reiterated a sentiment during conversations with the veteran guard.
Patience.
“He can want it so bad,” Redick said of Sexton.
Collin Sexton brings intensity to the Lakers. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
That competitive fire, and sense of urgency, is what drew the Lakers and the 27-year-old guard to each other during the offseason when Sexton signed a two-year, $19 million contract with the franchise.
But Sexton is learning that it’s going to take time for him to get where he wants with the Lakers.
Especially when factoring in the time he missed during the preseason and training camp as he recovered from a strained right calf.
The Lakers are starting to get a better, healthier version of Collin Sexton. NBAE via Getty Images
So after having one of his best games of the season in the Lakers’ win over the Hawks on Monday, the former Alabama guard was once again reminded of the importance of patience.
“That’s one word I’ve been using each and every day,” Sexton said. “I’ve been praying to God every day to give me patience and allow me to continue to work my way into a role that I like but also work my rhythm and get back to where I feel like you know what I’m back. So I would say each and every day is going to have its ups, have its downs but I’m blessed to be able to go out there and healthy enough to go out there.”
Sexton’s been up more than down lately as he gets his rhythm back.
He had 18 points and 6 assists in the win over the Hawks, which marked the first time he scored in double figures and finished with a positive plus/minus in back-to-back games this season after having 17 points in Sunday’s win over the Pistons.
“Maybe another week and a half, two weeks and I’ll be back [to normal],” Sexton said. “Right now, these last two games felt really good. So I’m moving in the right direction.”
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick has emphasized patience with Collin Sexton. Getty Images
It’s notable that Sexton’s best games of the season have come when with either Luka Dončić or Austin Reaves sidelined.
He scored a season-high 21 points in the Oct. 28 win over the Clippers, which Dončić was sidelined for.
“He gets a little sped up, or defensively for us right now he’s kind of just everywhere,” Redick said. “And not like in a good way. So that’s just some stuff going back to being able to practice and show film and just clean some stuff up at the end of the week. But clearly, we won two road games [now three after Monday’s victory] with him having a big role. We we wouldn’t have won those games if he wasn’t part of that. So he’s been great for us.
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Whatever Jaylen Brown and the Sixers dreamed up for their first matchup against the Celtics soon flew out the window on Tuesday night.
Brown was whistled for two early fouls, the Sixers fell behind and their early-season flaws were on full display in a 123-101 loss at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
“We’ve just got to get better,” Brown said. “Tonight was humbling. We got outplayed, out-executed. So we go back to the drawing board and get ready for the next one.”
Over 26 minutes, Brown had 13 points on 4-for-9 shooting and five rebounds against the team that traded him away this summer.
As for the endless dissection of his relationship with former co-star Jayson Tatum, Brown didn’t have much to add Tuesday. There was no public reconciliation, no obvious on-court animosity and generally nothing to satisfy fans hoping for some kind of fireworks on that front.
The pregame moment between Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
“I’m just focused on doing what’s best for my team,” Brown said. “Everything else … to be honest, I wasn’t paying attention. But credit to Jayson; he played well tonight. Credit to the Celtics. They executed, they shot the hell out of the ball and they were the better team tonight.”
Tatum scored 21 points, two of which came on a third-quarter slam over LeBron James. Paul George continued his fantastic start as a Celtic by dropping 36 points and draining six three-pointers.
The Celtics dominated from beyond the arc, shooting 22 for 49 (44.9 percent). The Sixers went just 11 for 37 (29.7 percent) on another night of underwhelming offense. The team sits 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating, 24th in three-point makes per game and 21st in three-point percentage.
“I think that we’ve got some guys that are obviously shooting much lower percentages than their last season or their career average — almost a handful of guys,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. “And I don’t think it’s because they’re shooting fallaway, totally contested ones. I think they’re shots we want them to take. So I think they’ll continue to take ‘em and I’m pretty sure those will even out into their career averages.”
Joel Embiid is at 37 percent from the floor and 4 for 33 from three-point range (12.1 percent).
The Sixers’ seven-time All-Star center got through an injury scare when he rolled his ankle late in the second quarter and hit a three early in the third. It was his first long-range make since the Sixers’ home opener back on Oct. 22.
“It’s a work in progress,” Embiid said. “I think the biggest thing is just not thinking. I’m probably overthinking it. The rhythm of the game is different. I’m so used to having to create for myself, so it’s a little bit different.
“But I think I’m slowly getting better. You could see as soon as I made a three, the next shot in the short corner … I didn’t even think about it. I just shot it and let it fly, and I made it. … I think it’s just about taking what’s in front of you. Make or miss, keep working on your game. It’s going to get there at some point.”
Even with the Sixers second in the Eastern Conference standings at 9-3, Embiid believes the team’s defense has “slacked off a little bit” in recent games.
“I don’t really look at the record,” he said. “I just look at the process of, ‘Are we getting better every day?’ We can always do a better job at all phases of the game.”
Boston’s now first in the East at 9-2.
“They’re one of the top teams in the league and they’ve been together for a while,” Brown said. “We’ve got a lot to work on over here, so we’ve got to get to work.”
The Sixers will face the Raptors on Thursday night in Philadelphia.
They’ll have to wait until Jan. 21 in Boston to see the Celtics again.
“I was looking forward to this,” Brown said. “I was looking forward to playing well, but s— happens. Just get ready for the next one.”
San Antonio TX, - SEPTEMBER 15: San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembanyama, Keldon Johnson, David Robinson, and George Gerivin attend the Red McCombs Community Court reveal on September 15, 2025 at Town Park at Hemisfair in San Antonio Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA is known for its ties to community service. In each city where a team resides, numerous non-profits, businesses, and youth organizations receive support via the local franchise. When it comes to supporting local entities, the San Antonio Spurs go above and beyond. From the contributions of individual players (talking about you Harrison Barnes) to the Spurs organization as a whole, there is a balance of year round outreach and support.
Per a Spurs press release:
“Spurs Give and Frost Bank (Frost) are inviting local organizations to apply for the 2026–27 Operation Renovation grant program, which supports facility improvements that create safe and inspiring spaces for youth to learn and play. Online applications for the 2026-27 Operation Renovation Grant are now open through Friday, Dec. 18 at 11:59 p.m.”
Julie McCarty, Associate Vice President of Community Investments for Spurs Sports and Entertainment stated,
Spurs Give and Frost have awarded over $1.3 million since 2018-2019. Every year, applicants are eligible to receive up to $100,000 for facility renovations.
Applications can be accessed HERE. Deadline to apply is Friday, December 18th. 2026.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics in the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 10, 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
In the City of Brotherly Love where Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum last played together as teammates in Game 6 of last year’s first round, all eyes were locked in on each player warming up on opposite ends of the floor.
Not a look back, not a glance, just a focus on the basket in front of them.
Only in the waning moments before the opening tip did we finally see the first interaction between the 9-year teammates. Brown, in the process of his pre-game ritual of spinning the ball on his finger, was approached by Tatum, who gave him a pat on the arm and a sort-of-but-not-really hug from behind. Brown was left unfazed by the gesture.
It was brief, cold, barely an acknowledgment at all, a fitting interaction for the pair whose lack of communication has been a talking point leading up to the primetime event.
And both competitors maintained that mentality. Nothing spilled outside of the game itself, no words were exchanged that were caught on a hot mic. The focus was on the intensity of the game itself, which even Tatum admitted held an atmosphere that felt different than your usual November contest.
“I made a joke when I walked out. I couldn’t tell if it was November 10 or June 10. It felt like a f***ing Finals game,” Tatum said.
For Tatum, this November night ended with 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting, 4 assists, 6 rebounds, a loud dunk on LeBron, and a 123-101 win. For Brown, it was a shorter than expected appearance due to foul trouble and a dominant Celtics fourth quarter, ending his night in just under 26 minutes with 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting with 5 boards and 2 steals.
And for Paul George, who had his own reunion, one where he received the same bitter crowd response as the rest of the Celtics starting five, it was a display of vintage excellence, finishing with 36 points on 64% shooting.
Most notably, the first true head-to-head matchup between the duo formerly known as the Jays favored Jayson, who hounded and stripped Jaylen of the ball 2 minutes and 30 seconds into the game, then got fouled by Brown on the other end.
It was an early sign of an arduous night on Brown’s new home floor.
“I’m a bit frustrated, honestly,” Brown said. “I wanted to perform better for my team. Foul trouble kind of derailed me a little bit, but you know, it happens.”
A minute later, Tatum shook past Brown with a baseline cut, finishing on an easy layup as part of an 11-point opening quarter.
It became less and less about highlighting every interaction between the two, and more about how Tatum steadied the ship with a smooth-operating offense. Joe Mazzulla credited Tatum for the maturity he showed in his preparation and execution in the highly-anticipated matchup.
“He doesn’t get enough credit for his emotional stability, his emotional intelligence, and his maturity,” Mazzulla said. “He just has an ability to stay focused on the things that he can control, and the things that matter most. And I think it’s unfair to him because sometimes his quietness comes off as if he’s aloof, doesn’t pay attention, doesn’t care, but it’s the opposite.
“It’s so easy for him to handle stuff like this because it’s just who he is.”
And when Tatum was off the court, the Celtics crushed the Sixers, outscoring them 41-25 with a strong night from the bench unit, led by Payton Pritchard’s 18-point effort.
A night of quiet command then ended with bang, when Tatum traveled back in time to his 20-year-old self, once again detonating a furious, downright hurtful dunk on LeBron James.
In the strangest and most unpredictable way, this wasn’t quite the night where Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum ignited the spark to this storied rivalry’s next great chapter. It was certainly a big partof it, the part we all wanted and needed to see after a long and strenuous offseason filled with debate and post-trade fallout.
But with the dust settled, it became a night that reminded us once again that Paul George, at 36 years old, can still score at an elite level. It became a night where Boston’s strength in numbers overmatched Philly’s abundance of star power.
It’s those things that Tatum believes should be at the forefront of their 22-point win.
“It’s not about that,” Tatum said when asked about his relationship with Jaylen. “Tonight was a good team win. PG was incredible. That’s all that there is really to talk about.”
On Tuesday night, Tatum slowly and methodically sucked the life out of Xfinity Mobile Arena, as he pieced together a balanced, efficient night while playing against both his former right-hand man, and one of the franchise’s greatest individual rivals.
It’s a performance we’ll remember as a statement, one made not with a whisper, but a loud, chest-pounding dunk over an aging monarch.
