SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 16: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball during their preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center on October 16, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
During the Golden State Warriors’ open practice on Sunday afternoon, Stephen Curry hobbled off the floor and into the locker room, which sparked some uncertainty for his status in Golden State’s season opener Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Steph Curry limps off the court at open practice and he just went back to the locker room @NBCSWarriors
Although the scene itself suggested Curry might’ve injured the same knee that kept him out for roughly a third of the 2025-26 season, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr clarified Curry tweaked his ankle and is “fine.”
Steve Kerr said he talked to Steph after practice and said “he’s fine.” Kerr said it was an ankle tweak, not the knee. pic.twitter.com/i0UPFZdYsw
Kerr said Curry practiced Monday morning and is expected to play Wednesday against the Lakers.
Steve Kerr told reporters that Steph Curry went through practice this morning and the Warriors expect him to play in the opener in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.l vs Lakers.
While Curry is not the MVP supernova of a decade ago, he remains a surefire All-NBA-caliber player. Last season, he averaged 26.6 points, 4.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals while shooting 39.3% beyond the arc and 58.4% on 2-pointers, the latter of which was the third-highest mark of his career. He’s still the league’s preeminent shooter whose vast long-range talents, movement, quick decision-making and motor constantly stress defenses like nobody else around the league can.
Assuming he plays, his presence will certainly test a revamped Lakers defense, with the likes of Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams all presumably getting chances to try and slow Curry down.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Lakers dole out all their defensive assignments Wednesday night. The Warriors are not a big team but the forward tandem of Draymond Green and Yaxel Lendeborg will still be beefier than whoever Los Angeles starts alongside Grimes. I imagine Al Horford starts at center but the Lakers may prefer to keep Walker Kessler inside as much as possible and let him roam off of Green, though that comes with risks, given Curry and Green’s two-man connection.
Nonetheless, the Warriors should have their own challenges figuring out how to adequately slow both Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, so the entire chess match between Kerr and JJ Redick could be quite fascinating throughout Wednesday’s matchup. And the NBA is always more fun when Curry is healthy doing his preposterous Curry things, so it’s nice to hear he should be available, even if it makes the Lakers’ lives harder.
DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 19: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons plays defense during the game against Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics on January 19, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
DETROIT — The Celtics will start Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Jayson Tatum, Paul George, and Mitchell Robinson in their Opening Day game against the Detroit Pistons.
In the Celtics’ two full-strength preseason games, Joe Mazzulla started the same five-person squad. The team went 4-0 in the preseason and finished first in net rating, defensive rating, and rebounding percentage.
The Pistons, meanwhile, will start Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, and Jalen Duren.
Joe Mazzulla stressed pregame that he thinks too much stock is put into the starting lineup
“In all honesty, I think people care about it too much — it lasts five minutes,” Mazzulla said. “There’s still 43 minutes left in the game. end-of-quarter lineups are important, start-to-quarter lineups are important, end-of-game lineups are important. So I think it just gets overblown.”
Mazzulla explained that he gameplans lots of different lineups for different in-game situations, and that all are equally important.
“I put in just as much thought as I do as an end-of-line-up as I would a starting lineup, versus an end-to-half lineup, versus a lineup when you’re winning, a lineup when you’re losing, a need-three lineup,” he said. “There’s 10 different lineups, so they all carry the same weight to me.”
Mazzulla also noted that the starting lineup on Opening Night rarely holds throughout the entirety of the season.
“The year is 82 games,” Mazzulla said. “It’s a long year. I guarantee you tonight’s won’t be the same one for 82 games. But, I put just as much stock in the other 9 lineups that we may or may not need to go to within a particular game.”
Payton Pritchard, for one, isn’t worried about coming off the bench
At practice on Monday, Payton Pritchard, the 2025 Sixth Man of the Year, made it clear he wasn’t concerned about starting.
“To me, a starter is the amount of minutes you play,” he said. “Do you finish games? Are you playing 30-plus minutes? Then you are a starter.”
“How you impact the game is what really matters to me. I don’t really care. This might be an ego thing — like I don’t really care to hear my name called at the beginning of the game. The first five minutes of the game really have no effect on the game.”
Last year, when at full strength, the team started Derrick White, Sam Hauser, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Neemias Queta. Hauser started 49 games, but Jordan Walsh (25 games), Baylor Scheierman (20 games), Ron Harper Jr. (3 games), and Hugo Gonzalez (3 games) also got opportunities to start at the wing spot.
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The road to “Knicks in 5” Pt. II starts tonight.
A little over three months after their historic NBA Finals victory, Jalen Brunson and the defending champion New York Knicks will launch their 2026-27 NBA season at Madison Square Garden this evening.
At 7 p.m. ET, they’ll take on LeBron James’ new-look Philadelphia 76ers who, in addition to King James, added Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown over their busy offseason.
They join the club’s already-solid nucleus comprised of perennial All-Star Joel Embiid and young guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
Half an hour before tip-off, New York will bask in the glory of their summer ’26 championship run one last time before the next season officially gets underway. Players and coaches will receive rings, a banner will be hoisted to the rafters and a video commemorating their journey to owning the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy for the first time in 53 years will play.
“It’s gonna be a great night,” Brunson said, with a smile.
If you want to tune in to today’s primetime Knicks vs. 76ers opening night showdown, here’s what you need to know.
76ers vs. Knicks game time
Today’s (Oct. 20) 76ers vs. Knicks game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. ET.
As noted above, the pregame ceremony starts a half hour before at 6:30 p.m. ET.
How to watch 76ers vs. Knicks for free
If you don’t have cable, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the 76ers vs. Knicks game for free.
DIRECTV is our favorite service for trying live TV for free. Right now, you can take advantage of a five-day free trial before payment kicks in. We recommend the MySports Genre Pack ($49.99/month) or the MyNews Genre Pack ($39.99/month). Both include NBC among their 20+ sports-focused channels.
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
The Washington Wizards have officially ruled out No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, AJ Dybantsa, for their regular season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, Oct. 21, after he suffered an ankle injury during the team’s final preseason game.
On Tuesday, Wizards head coach Brian Keefe confirmed that Dybantsa will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.
Wizards HC Brian Keefe says AJ Dybantsa is out for Wednesday’s regular season opener vs. MilwaukeeDybantsa remains day-to-day after suffering an ankle injury in the preseason finale vs. New Orleans https://t.co/ZI5czBHh08
The injury occurred in the preseason matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans. While attempting a mid-range jump shot, Dybantsa landed awkwardly on his right ankle, immediately collapsing to the court in visible pain. Medical staff quickly attended to him as he grasped his ankle before he managed to get up and limp off the floor to the locker room for further evaluation. Keefe said that Dybantsa had suffered a mild ankle sprain
Before the injury, Dybantsa tallied 12 points in just 15 minutes of action.
While the team has ruled him out for the season opener, Keefe did not provide further details regarding the severity of the injury or a potential timetable for Dybantsa’s return, leaving his status uncertain.
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 14: Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets moves the ball against the Miami Heat on October 14, 2026 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Eric Espada/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Is Michael Porter Jr. a short-termer in Brooklyn. Brian Windhorst of ESPN thinks so. As he noted on his Hoop Collective podcast Monday:
“I would just say that one player to watch this year just in general is Michael Porter Jr. There’s been a lot of attention paid to whether Karl-Anthony Towns got a contract extension which naturally why wouldn’t there be, the man’s a champion. Porter has not gotten a contract extension, he’s in the last year of his contract and he had a pretty good year last year after getting traded there by Denver and you know if a guy’s not in the contract extension you think about you see a possible trade candidate.”
Brian Lewis in the New York Post’s season preview thinks so too. As he wrote over the weekend in Nets season preview.
“Acquiring Porter (and Denver’s unprotected 2032 first-round pick) for Cam Johnson is a home run deal by any measure. The sweet-shooting small forward led Brooklyn in scoring last season, and could again. But Porter is on a $40.8 million expiring contract and still hasn’t signed an extension since becoming eligible for one on July 6. Is he a building block or asset? If Porter isn’t extended, he’s going to have his name bandied about in trade rumors right up until the Feb. 11 deadline. And if the Nets do move him, is it going to be for future assets? Or do they kick in draft picks of their own for an upgrade?”
Neither Porter Jr. nor Sean Marks has expressed any level of panic about an extension. After all, the Nets have until June 30 to proffer him a contract and Marks has spoken about how much he likes Porter Jr. as a player and as an individual. In return, MPJ has continually expressed his desire to stay, praising his young teammates and being the first Net to publicly suggest off-season moves and internal improvements could take the franchise from its third worst win total ever — 20 — to its second highest — 50.
As everyone knows, Porter Jr. had his best season ever last year, delivering 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists. On the other hand, he missed 30 games and admitted that after he was snubbed for his first All-Star berth and with all that tanking, he lost interest. Not to mention the steady stream of controversies engendered by his “Curious Mike” podcasts
“One thing I regret is that once I didn’t make that All-Star game, I kind of let my foot up off the gas because there was really nothing we were playing for anymore,” Porter said on “Curious Mike” last month. To which Draymond Green responded on “The Draymond Green Show,” his podcast, “You weren’t snubbed! If you finish the rest of that year strong, everybody’s now on the top of their mind coming into the season like, ‘Yo, we got to watch Michael Porter Jr.’ Now, because he didn’t finish the year strong, then people’s just like, ‘Oh man, he’s just out there playing on a bad team to make an All-Star game.’”
The implication was that not only did he hurt himself, he hurt his reputation around the league. Indeed, a lot of what MPJ has said on his “Curious Mike” and others’ podcasts has done that. Last season, in fact, the Nets had to take him aside and let him know he’s in New York now and his comments will get magnified, often to the detriment of him and his team.
Specifically, the organization was offended, as were many of its fans, by his comments on misogynist Andrew Tate — saying he would “test girls” on “their beliefs” by playing them audio of Tate, whose entire persona revolves around toxic masculinity. Tate is currently fighting extradition from the U.S. to the U.K., where he and his brother face a total of 59 criminal charges, including rape and human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
Since then, Porter Jr. said he’s opposed to gay sex but admitted that he “kicked it” with a transsexual woman in Taiwan a couple of years ago adding he didn’t realize she was trans because gender-altering surgeries in Asia ”are so good.” Indeed, Porter’s podcast controversies have become so common that no one in the media (including us) even asked him about it at Media Day.
Of course, he’s not required to tow any line or avoid others. His speech is protected as is every American’s and he often takes on subjects that no one else will. The players’ union contract offers more protections. However, as the Tate commentaries attest, your employer is also within his or her rights to condemn you or simply ask that you understand there are boundaries.
Most recently, Porter Jr. decided to interview SNEAKO, another in the long list of right-wing social media activists born out of the gaming community. His views have been identified as homophobic, antisemitic, misogynist and violent, getting him banned at one point or another from YouTube, Twitch, TikTok and Instagram. Like his controversial ally, Nick Fuentes, his views on Jews have been deemed particularly hateful. He’s wished Adolf Hitler a happy birthday, said “I’ll be the Nazi and I’ll shove you in the oven like a dirty Jew.”
A lot of the criticism of the interview revolved around giving SNEAKO a forum, While much of the interview was a discussion of various conspiracy theories, the presence of demons in American life, the afterlife, Jeffrey Epstein, and other topics popular with his mostly young male audience, there was commentary on the power of the Jewish community.
After SNEAKO suggested that Jews as a people have outsized influence throughout the world — a trope used by the Nazis to justify their antisemitic laws and ultimately the Holocaust — Porter responded. “That community specifically, you can call people this name, that name, you can use any slur you want. You start talking about the Jewish community, that’s a completely different animal. That’s the only group you literally cannot say anything derogatory towards. or it can ruin your entire life. your entire image… They band together for sure.”
SNEAKO noted at one point that forty percent of NBA owners are Jews. Porter did not endorse SNEAKO’s positions and after the interview criticized him.
In the same interview, Porter also expressed frustration about how so many fans at Barclays Center are rooting for other teams, citing the Nets recent preseason game against the Philadelphia 76ers which was LeBron James first appearance in a Sixers uniform.
“We just played a preseason game the other night against Philly. You would’ve thought we were in Philly. We gotta get the Brooklyn Nets fans back in there and actually be louder than the opposing team. When we play (New York) Knicks, (Boston) Celtics, Philly, (Los Angeles) Lakers, it’s mostly their fans. It’s crazy,” said Porter.
How much of all of this affects negotiations, how much is used by Nets? It’s hard to know and again, free speech matters. But, it’s difficult to imagine how it helps. And how far apart are they on money, on years? Also hard to tell. The final year of his five-year, $170 million deal signed will pay him $40.8 million.
Last season, even after the first round of controversy, the Nets didn’t bite on trade packages reportedly offered at the deadline. Then, there’s the key question: what would the Nets want in return? They already have 13 first round picks, second to the OKC Thunder’s 15. Stay tuned. Maybe you’ll find out on “Curious Mike.”
An international audience will see a Pistons team led by star Cade Cunningham and coming off its first 60-win season in two decades face the Celtics, who will be playing their first game since the offseason trade of Jaylen Brown left Jayson Tatum as the team's undisputed franchise centerpiece.
It's a compelling matchup of two teams with Eastern Conference title aspirations, and USA TODAY Sports will be chronicling all of the opening-day festivities to start a new NBA season. Follow along here for live game updates and analysis, highlights and reaction from Little Caesars Arena and downtown Detroit.
Both the Pistons and Celtics have altered their lineups after playoff runs a year ago, and a few of those new additions have contributed immediately. Celtics veteran Paul George, acquired in the Jaylen Brown trade, hit his first two shots with Boston, including a 3-pointer. Pistons forward John Collins, who Detroit traded for this offseason to replace Tobias Harris, is the team's leading scorer early with four points. The two teams are tied at 13 at the first timeout of the first quarter.
Celtics vs Pistons starting lineups, injury report
03:00 PM ET, October 20 2026, Mark Giannotto
The official starting lineups and final injury report for the Oct. 20 NBA season opener between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons are out. Take a look:
Why Celtics vs Pistons will open NBA season in afternoon daytime game
02:49 PM ET, October 20 2026, Mark Giannotto
The first game of the 2026-27 NBA regular season will officially tip off in the middle of the afternoon, and NBC hopes it can become an annual addition to the league's traditional opening night schedule.
The Detroit Pistons are set to host the Boston Celtics at 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Oct. 20, with "College Gameday-style activations," a "Blue Carpet" experience, a marching band rendition of "Roundball Rock" and other special festivities planned around Little Caesars Arena and downtown Detroit throughout the day, according to NBA league officials. The afternoon tip is an experiment conceived by the NBA and NBC entering Year 2 of their massive 11-year, $27-billion media rights partnership, with the goal of turning opening night into an all-day event.
"We kind of challenged the NBA," NBC Sports Executive Vice President Justin Byczek told USA TODAY Sports. "We think opening day should be expanded, and we'd love to be the network that gets behind it, and over the course of the next decade, let's try to understand where opening day can get to."
How to watch Celtics vs Pistons: TV, live streaming for NBA opening game
02:40 PM ET, October 20 2026, Mark Giannotto
The opening game of the 2026-27 NBA regular season between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, Oct. 20, will be broadcast nationally on NBC. It can also be watched via live stream on Peacock and Fubo.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 11: Jaylon Tyson #20 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks to the media after the game against the Orlando Magic during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 11, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers announced on Tuesday that they have “exercised their fourth-year team option on guard Jaylon Tyson” for the 2027-28 season. Tyson is expected to make $5.64 million in the final year of his rookie contract.
We have exercised the fourth-year team option on Jaylon Tyson. #LetEmKnow
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This news is far from a surprise, as Tyson has shown real growth over his two seasons. Entering the league as the 20th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft from California, Tyson spent the majority of his first season toggling between NBA reserve and G League play. However, last season, Tyson really stepped into his own.
Tyson suited up for 66 games, including 42 starts, for Cleveland and put up 13.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, averaging out to 26.9 minutes per game. Not only that, but the shooting splits averaged out to an impressive 49.3% field goal percentage and 44.6% three-point percentage, which was fourth-best in the NBA.
Tyson has a development path that could see him earn more minutes and an expanded role this season. He has also emerged as a fan favorite as well as a locker room favorite. Both Donovan Mitchell and James Harden have mentioned taking Tyson under their wing as someone to mentor.
“I was just trying to build a relationship with Jaylon because he does have the skills and tools to make a lot of money in this league,” Harden said. “Anything where I can see I can help him at, I try to be there for him.”
Mitchell has been cultivating a relationship with Tyson dating back to last season. Mitchell earlier in camp stated, “Him (Jaylon) and I constantly talk. If I’m ever tired, he’s always talking to me, and vice versa.”
Having relationships and backing from two superstars like Harden and Mitchell only emphasizes the belief the team has that Tyson has untapped levels to his game. The Cavaliers clearly agree as they have optioned the fourth year.
The NBA attracts the top basketball talent from around the globe.
As proof, there are 125 international players on NBA rosters to open this season, the league announced. That's 27.8% of the available NBA roster spots going to international players
The NBA today announced that opening-night rosters for the 2026-27 season feature 125 international players from a record-tying 43 countries across six continents.
All 30 teams feature at least one international player.
It's not just the number of players, which is down slightly from last season (135), it's the quality and impact those players have on the league. Four international players have won the last eight NBA MVP Awards: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2025 and 2026), Nikola Jokić (2024, 2022 and 2021), Joel Embiid (2023) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019 and 2020). More than that, last season also was the fifth consecutive year that three international players filled out the top three in MVP voting. Last season it was Gilgeous-Alexander (No. 1), Jokić (No. 2) and Victor Wembanyama (No. 3).
More than that, a record 19 international players on opening-night rosters have been NBA All-Stars. At least three international players have made the All-NBA teams every season since 2019.
If you're wondering why a lot of people — *raises hand* — believe France as a genuine threat to the USA winning another gold in Men's Basketball at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, consider this: France has a league-high 17 international players on NBA rosters, the most of any country (Canada is next with 16). France can field an entire roster of NBA players, led by Victor Wembanyama, who alone should strike some fear in American hearts.
The NBA's representation of players from, or with direct ties to, Africa — a continent where the NBA has worked hard to grow the game of basketball — continues to grow. Including both international and American players, more than 60 players were either born in Africa or have at least one parent born on the continent, a new record. Among those players are seven-time NBA All-Star Joel Embiid (Cameroon), NBA champion and four-time NBA All-Star Pascal Siakam (Cameroon), three-time NBA All-Star Bam Adebayo (ties to Nigeria), Antetokounmpo (parents born in Nigeria), two-time NBA champion OG Anunoby (ties to Nigeria) and 2026 No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa (ties to the Republic of the Congo).
NBA opening-night rosters also feature 70 European players, the second consecutive season with at least that many.
The Knicks will be raising their championship banners and collecting their rings during a heavily anticipated pregame ceremony ahead of their season-opener against the 76ers Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
For a 76ers team – now with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown as part of a core that already had Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe – with their own championship expectations, it will be a gauntlet of Knicks emotions and celebrations.
Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson (00), guard Jalen Brunson (11) and center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) react off the bench late during the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors at MSG on Oct. 15, 2026. Jason Szenes for NY Post
“The environment is gonna be tough,” Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said Tuesday morning during 76ers shootaround at MSG. “There’s gonna be a lot of people in here, it’s their ring ceremony night. It’s gonna be a long night for us. But just gonna be competitive. I know they’re gonna come out ready but we just gotta be ready as well.”
Embiid has already said that he plans to stay in the locker room during the ceremony.
But once the game starts, are the 76ers relishing the opportunity to spoil the festivities? To make a statement of their own?
“We’re not looking at it that way,” Caldwell-Pope said. “But it’s always fun competition when you can. I’ve had a few ruin my [ring] nights before, it’s not fun. But my team, we want to start off great as well. So if it’s their ring night, they gotta take the first loss.”
Caldwell-Pope has won two championships – with the Lakers in 2020 and with the Nuggets in ‘23.
He knows what banner and ring night entails.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the Boston Celtics on October 16, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“You have to just focus on one thing at a time,” Caldwell-Pope said.
“It’s gonna be a lot of emotions going on. They get their rings, it’s gonna be so much emotion. Their families are gonna be here. The atmosphere is gonna be crazy.”
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 16: AJ Dybantsa #4 of the Washington Wizards is defended by Jeremiah Fears #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of a preseason game at Smoothie King Center on October 16, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Washington Wizards forward AJ Dybantsa is out for tomorrow’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to an ankle sprain he suffered in the preseason. He is day-to-day, per our own Greg Finberg.
NEWS: AJ Dybantsa (ankle) is officially OUT for Wednesday's season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Dybantsa remains day-to-day, which provides some optimism for a return in the very near future.https://t.co/xlzMFS8KZO
It stinks that the Wizards’ star will not be able to play on the season opener, but we should see him play many games this season and in the weeks ahead. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 04: Nae'qwan Tomlin #35 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket against Jaden Ivey #23 of the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Rocket Arena on January 04, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will be tipping off their season on Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers without one of their rotation players. The team announced on Tuesday morning that Nae’Qwan Tomlin was “diagnosed with a lower back stress reaction following an evaluation by the Cavaliers medical team.”
Per the Cavaliers’ statement, the team’s medical group identified this injury during an evaluation. Tomlin will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks.
I wouldn’t assume that this timeline is definitive, especially with something like this that could vary in severity. It is also fair to note that, with the physical and athletic style of play Tomlin utilizes, the recovery not be as straightforward as other, more standard injuries.
Without Tomlin, the Cavs are left with Mario Hezonja and Thomas Bryant as the two established backup bigs. That is far from an ideal group, as Hezonja is still an unknown at this point, while Bryant is a volatile option.
This is definitely a missed opportunity for Tomlin to flash. Tomlin hasn’t been able to show much growth in areas of need for his game thus far, and the Cavaliers’ bench feels far from concrete at this point. The start to this season could have been one of the last chances Tomlin had to show he’s deserving of a steady role going forward.
With at minimum a month to be missed to start the year, this injury is far from ideal both for Tomlin and the Cavaliers.
Last season, Tomlin averaged 5.8 points and 2.9 assists in 64 outings and 15.2 minutes per game.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 26: The sneakers worn by Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 26, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA General Manager Survey, which consists of 48 questions answered by all 30 NBA general managers, came out this past Thursday and there are many things to react to when you look at the responses with a Timberwolves centric lens.
*Keep in mind, GMs could not vote for their own players/team
Some of the best in the league
The GMs named Anthony Edwards the best shooting guard in the league by a wide margin. Meanwhile they named Jaden McDaniels as a top five perimeter defender, and the team as a whole was tied with the San Antonio Spurs as the team that will be the most fun to watch in the league. What I find most interesting is the fact that there seems to be a clear oxymoron in the way that the GMs voted when regarding the season outlook for the Timberwolves.
When asked to rank the teams in the Western Conference, the Wolves were ranked as the clear cut number three team, receiving 53% of the third place votes which was 23 points higher than the next team. What I found odd was the next category. When voters were asked about which team’s success will be the toughest to predict, Minnesota ranked second with 17% of the responses. That doesn’t make a ton of sense to me, as why would they be ranked as the third best team in the west when they’re going to be tough to predict?
Most of the questions pertaining to a potential successful season for Minnesota revolve around LaMelo Ball, Jonathan Kuminga, and the bench unit. I understand those uncertainties, but at what point can those just be explained away?
The LaMelo Ball mystery
LaMelo Ball will play in a true winning environment for the first time in his career, a phenomenon that most pundits don’t know what to do with. I’ll just tell you from my basketball experience, there is a noticeable bump in quality of play when you’re in a winning environment compared to a losing one. It’s easier to make the extra pass, make multiple efforts on defense, or actually attempt to box out when you feel like you have a chance.
Look no further than LaMelo’s last year in Charlotte when he was actually surrounded with some talent. They won 40 out of their last 64 games, not including a technical postseason play-in game. No offence to Kon Knueppel or Brandon Miller, but his supporting cast this year will be undoubtedly better.
Another concern about LaMelo is his potential fit as a ball dominant guard next to Anthony Edwards, who certainly will have the ball in his hands plenty. To the doubters of that fit with Ant, I want to pose a question to you: What was LaMelo’s first competitive basketball experience?
Well, it was being a facilitator for his brothers Lonzo and LiAngelo, of course. I see no reason why he can’t take those skills he learned in his basketball infancy and apply them with his new teammates, most notably Ant and Jaden McDaniels.
Kuminga conundrum
Let’s now move on to Jonathan Kuminga.
I understand the questions. I truly do. I know it didn’t work out in Golden State, and I know his time in Atlanta ended with a whimper. What I also know is that Steve Kerr had it out for him in Golden State, and that Atlanta never really committed to him. At a baseline, he’s a microwave scorer with major athletic upside, shows an affinity to run the floor, and is a big enough body to be able to match up physically. When you look at the other four Timberwolves starters, JK’s archetype is exactly what they need in a four-man. A fourth scorer behind Ant, LaMelo, and Jaden McDaniels, and a capable defender next to Rudy Gobert and Jaden.
Kuminga is even a capable shooter, but I don’t worry about that as much. Minnesota will have plenty of shooting in the starting lineup, though it’s nice to know that there is some ability there. There is also some need for scoring with the second unit (more on that later) but JK could easily be appeased with some offensive opportunity when on the floor with the second unit.
Depth pieces to prove
The last of what could be called one of Minnesota’s main concerns is the quality of the bench guys. Ayo Dosunmu got paid, but behind him there’s not a ton of proven commodities, just some potential. Guys like Joan Beringer, Terrence Shannon Jr., Bones Hyland, and Jaylen Clark all have plenty to prove.
But prove what, exactly?
Needing someone to spell Rudy Gobert? Even with his fouling problems, Beringer is more than capable of that right now as a rim runner, rebounder, and shot blocker, to say the least. Need some ball handling? Bones Hyland can and will play with the speed this team wants to play at and TSJ can be a menace attacking with his left hand above the break. Jaden is in foul trouble and you need a point of attack defender? As the warden of Clark County Jail, the former college Defensive Player of the Year can handle it, and has shown some shooting improvement in the preseason.
We don’t exactly know what we’re going to get from Cody Williams this season, but anything Finch can get from a trade piece that came back from a salary dump is an automatic plus. His shot is a work in progress, but he can defend in rotation and has shown the ability to punch gaps to get to the rim with good ball movement.
I’m not saying there aren’t genuine concerns about the Minnesota Timberwolves this season, what I’m saying is that the NBA GMs who voted for the Timberwolves to finish third in the Western Conference are probably more on the nose than those who voted them as the team whose success is most difficult to predict.
What do you think? Are the Wolves a clear cut three seed or are they more hard to predict? Sound off in the comments below.
Dec 30, 2019; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) defends Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
The Phoenix Suns may be benefiting from their opening night’s opponents’ roster construction.
When the Portland Trail Blazers, who the Suns play on opening night, signed Damian Lillard in the 2025 offseason, they knew that, barring injuries, they were set for a guard controversy. Rostering NBA champion and defensive guard Jrue Holiday, 2023 third overall pick Scoot Henderson, young scorer Shaedon Sharpe, and Lillard, Portland set themselves up to have a starting guard controversy once the 2026-2027 season rolled around and Lillard recovered from his torn Achilles. Then they traded for Ja Morant this summer, who, despite his recent decline and injury concerns, is another mouth that needs to be fed on offense.
Portland’s starting backcourt for opening night is still in question, according to Portland’s head coach, Micah Nori, so which of Portland’s guards are the Phoenix Suns most likely to face in their starting lineup?
Let’s take a look at the five and see who the two most likely are.
The Unlikely
Shaedon Sharpe
Off the bat we can eliminate Sharpe, who is expected to be out until at least late February with a torn meniscus. While unfortunate injury news, this comes as a defensive relief for the Suns, who saw Sharpe average 24 points per game on 48% shooting from the field against them last year.
Scoot Henderson
Henderson finished the 2025-2026 campaign strongly, with multiple 20+ point playoff games against the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the Western Conference Finals, including a dominant 31-point outing in Game 2 that saw him hit five threes.
Being sidelined for most of last season due to a hamstring injury, he played in just 30 games last regular season and started in just a third of them, with nearly all of them coming after Sharpe suffered an injury that kept him out of the starting lineup for the rest of the season, with Henderson taking his place.
Eligible for his first contract extension, Henderson and the Blazers have not come to an agreement, a potential sign they want to see him prove himself after an injury-ridden season. Considering the veteran presence on the roster, expect when opening night comes around to see Henderson in a reserve role.
The Favorites
Jrue Holiday
The team’s most consistent point guard last season, after a few down offensive years in Boston taking a back seat to Derrick White, Holiday showed that he can still play the point guard position at a high level, averaging 16 points and six assists per game on 38% shooting from three. Entering the 18th year of his career, he’s started in at least 90% of his team’s games since the 2015-2016 campaign and is known as one of the strongest and best defensive guards in the NBA, helping the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics win titles in 2021 and 2024, respectively.
Holiday didn’t start in the team’s preseason opener, and while he may not be the most dynamic or best scorer out of the five, he’s the best defender, has the most experience in the NBA, and knows what it takes to win at a high level. Suns fans know the type of defender Holiday is better than almost any fanbase…
Ja Morant
The newest member of the five, the Blazers bought low on Morant this offseason after multiple suspension and injury-riddled seasons since he was an All-Star in 2023. A dynamic scorer and passer, Morant has played more than 60 games over the past five seasons and averaged his lowest points per game since his rookie year, along with the worst shooting percentages from both the field and three, over 20 games last season.
While he said he’s open to coming off the bench, he started in the team’s first preseason game, playing just 19 minutes and scoring eight points.
Considering his recent rough seasons, three-point struggles, and defensive concerns with his thin frame, Morant is a true wildcard to start.
A Surprise if He Didn’t Start
Damian Lillard
After being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023 and fully recovered from his torn Achilles, Lillard is set to take back the starting role he once donned in Portland for 11 seasons. An All-Star in the three previous years before he sat out all of last year rehabbing, he’s arguably the greatest Blazer of all time, and the last time he was healthy, he averaged 25 points and seven assists per game.
Starting in the preseason opener, like Morant, Lillard is a defensive liability. However, he’s been one of the most productive and high-volume three-point shooters in league history, and considering his leadership, what he means to the organization, and the last time we saw him healthy, he was playing at a high level, at the very least, expect Lillard to be one of the starting guards opening night against the Suns. Most reports have come out signaling that he’s the most likely person to be in the starting lineup out of anyone else in contention.
Who do you want to see Portland suit up in the backcourt against Phoenix on opening night?
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 27: Jalen Brunson #11 and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks go through their pre-game routine prior to the game against the Orlando Magic at the Kia Center on December 27, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. The Knicks defeated the Magic 108 to 85. 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 Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It doesn’t matter if it’s been 53 years or your whole life.
The wait is over, and we’ll all see the Knicks put up another banner this evening.
Here’s the latest from your New York Knickerbockers heading into Ring Night. Enjoy!
"There's a part of you that wants to keep celebrating, but you have to turn it off"
On the challenge of celebrating the Knicks’ championship before their season opener:
“It’s hard because they’re human, and there’s a part of you that wants to keep celebrating, but we’ve got to turn it off. The challenge is to try to get them enjoy the moment, but not fully. You have to try to supress all that early, before the ceremony, so that you can quickly get not just your body, but your mind and your emotions into the task in front of you.”
On how he’ll try to keep the team focused after the ring ceremony:
“It’s a challenge. I mean, it’s hard because they’re human, and there’s a part of you that wants to keep celebrating. But you got to turn it off. So the challenge is trying to get them to enjoy the moment, but not fully. I guess, if that makes sense.
“Because you have to try to suppress all that early, before the ceremony, during the ceremony, so that you can quickly get, not just your body, but your mind and your emotions into the task in front of you.”
On avoiding complacency after winning the NBA championship:
“It is a little tough, even for me as a head coach. You have people patting you on the back, telling you how good you are. It’s good, and you want people to be able to do that with you and for you and all that stuff. But in the same breath there always has to be a part of you — and I know this from experience — that says, ‘OK, Don’t listen to this, don’t read this, don’t watch this.’ Because it’s hard to stay even-keeled in situations like that.
“You’ve got to embrace it. You’ve got to enjoy it with others, especially your family. But try to come back to earth as soon as possible. And I think our guys have done a good job with it. There have been times when we think we know [what it takes], which is natural, and there’s going to be more times like that during the course of the season.
“But at the end of the day, we have a pretty sharp group. And if they don’t know, we’ll definitely help them know that this is not last year. This is a new season and we can’t just think we’re going to switch that light on and get after it.”
On James Wiseman facing less pressure with the Knicks than he did with the Warriors:
“It was a different situation with the Knicks. You come in as No. 2 pick in the draft with Golden State and you’re talented and skilled as he is and it can be tough on you because of expectations. Not just from the media and fans but sometimes your teammates and coaches and rest of the organization and if it’s hard for certain individuals to live up to. … With this situation, it’s — OK, he’s been around the block, he’s experienced adversity. We’re not looking for him to start or fight for a starting position. We’re not necessarily looking for him to come in and be a backup. He has the luxury of growing at his own pace without much pressure.”
Malika: "You're willing to take less (money)?"
KAT: "Oh yeah, because I want this team to stay together. That's always been my main priority was to keep everyone here, to keep this core, this special team that we have. So it was the first thing on my mind as soon as it was. And… pic.twitter.com/hU6kaIrwiC
On his willingness to take a paycut to re-sign with the Knicks:
“Oh yeah, (I’m willing to do that), because I want this team to stay together. That’s always been my main priority: to keep everyone here, to keep this core, this special team that we have. So it was the first thing on my mind as soon as it was. And there was nowhere in my mind a max was even thought of.”
"Every year is a new year to attack something. When people say we're 'defending the title'…that's one way to look at it. It's something we've won, we've put it in our past, and now we're just trying to attack another."
On his message to KAT amid the Knicks contract stalemate:
“Sign the contract.”
On approaching the new season as a fresh challenge rather than defending a championship:
“Every year, it’s a new year to attack something. When people say we’re defending the title — I mean, that’s one way to look at it, but it’s something we won. We’ve put in our past, and now we’re just trying to attack another.”
On the importance of retaining the Knicks’ championship-winning core:
“[It’s] very valuable. For us to come back, it’s good to have our chemistry continue to grow, understanding that we’ve done it, but are we still hungry, are we still satisfied? Do we continue to get better every single day, or are we just content? That’s our big question that’s going to be answered within the first couple weeks of the season. However we answer it, we’re going to attack it and get better every single day after that.”
On wanting to share the Knicks’ championship ring ceremony with the fans:
“Definitely special. They deserve it. This is something that’s been brewing for a long time and to share this moment with them is definitely going to be special.”
On moving forward after winning the championship:
“It’s about how quickly you turn a page and how quickly you understand that the egos have to be checked at the door.”
On whether the Knicks have already moved past last season’s championship:
“I would say most of, if not all of us, have kind of turned the page already. I think tomorrow is just something we can reflect on and understand what we did. But for the most part, we all turned the page . . . There is no relaxation.”
"None of us are satisfied with just this championship. We've got things we're still striving towards. 0-0 starting tomorrow."
On why last season’s championship will no longer matter once the new season begins:
“I think the fascinating part about sports is that starting tomorrow, no one cares [about the championship]. After the ceremony’s over, it’s 0-0. We’re a competitive bunch, and by no means is anybody expecting to just coast or anything like that. That’s definitely not the tone of our group.”
On the challenge of celebrating a championship and immediately returning to competitive basketball:
“I think that’s maybe some of the challenge that I’ve read about and seen in the past that championship teams have. How do you take the high in the celebration at the beginning of the game, and still go out and perform, play the brand of basketball that you’d want to play?”
On spending three consecutive seasons with the same NBA organization for the first time:
“It’s not lost on me. I feel like I try and do a good job of not taking much for granted. [I’ve] never spent three consecutive training camps with the same organization, so feels really good … to be here and have a familiar group and feel comfortable and confident with the people I’m around. I feel like they feel the same way about me, so I don’t take that for granted at all.”
On the Knicks remaining motivated after winning the championship:
“I don’t think any of us are ready to sign off and be done playing basketball. I don’t view it as a contentment thing. I think obviously you’re super grateful and appreciative, and I know I am, to have all that work to pay off. But I think the fascinating thing about it is starting tomorrow nobody cares. The ceremony is over. It’s 0-0. We’re all a competitive bunch and by no means is anybody expecting to coast or anything like that. Definitely not the tone of our group.”
Hello everyone! This is Sandra Brunson, @jalenbrunson1’s mom. Usually, I send my son a text message before every game.
On repeatedly being congratulated for the Knicks’ championship throughout the offseason:
“You’re fully into the swing of working out in the summer and it’s tough to turn the page. Because you’re sitting there, you turn the page, you’re like ‘I got to work and then somebody says, ‘Congrats, we did this, my family did this, we watched it together,’ and you just keep getting brought back to the championship.
“You move on, you get brought back. That’s also why I can’t wait for that opening night tip, to really put all that stuff behind us.”
OG Anunoby
On how to navigate the ring ceremony and playing right afterward after experiencing it in Toronto:
“You celebrate with the ring, take pictures, then the game started. It was kind of weird. Then the game goes on, first quarter and second quarter, it gets back to normal. You get used to it. But initially, yeah, it was kind of weird.”
When I try to describe Mike Brown, my mind keeps coming back to J.K. Simmons in those Farmers Insurance commercials.
“At Farmers Insurance, we know a thing or two because we’ve seen a thing or two.”
Brown knows a thing or two because he’s seen a thing or two — and that’s why he… pic.twitter.com/wg8Jd3BUpq
On Mike Brown’s coaching career and why he is prepared to lead the Knicks’ championship defense:
“Mike’s kind of seen it all. Coaching LeBron [James] and coaching Kobe [Bryant] and high-profile teams like the Lakers to all of a sudden going to Sacramento and becoming Coach of the Year in a small market and then getting fired a year later. It was just really fun to see a guy who has literally seen it all in his coaching career get a championship and validate everything.
“And he was here with us as we went through our process trying to repeat. Mike has seen it all. He’ll do a great job.”
Brian Windhorst says LeBron’s dream to get drafted by the Knicks instead of the Cavs:
“ There was this dream, and in fact, it was kind of LeBron‘s dream too. Literally the night before he agreed to his Nike contract, in his Nike contract he got a 20 or 30% bonus if he got… pic.twitter.com/8EFl3LNO0U
On LeBron James’ original Nike contract including a bonus if he was drafted by the Knicks:
“There was this dream, and in fact, it was kind of LeBron’s dream too. Literally the night before he agreed to his Nike contract. In the Nike contract, he got like a 20 or 30 percent bonus if he got drafted to the Knicks. They agreed to that the night before the Lottery. That’s why it was so important to get it done before the lottery, because they wanted to pay him. When the envelope opened and showed the Knicks at number nine, there was an audible sound in the room because people wanted LeBron to go to the Knicks.”
Alan Hahn
On LeBron James’ longstanding interest in joining the Knicks:
“He has always flirted with the idea of the Knicks for years. I always felt like there was going to be a connection at some point. And that’s what kind of makes me laugh now, like you were just saying, it’s like now that it was finally time, the Knicks were like, ‘No, we’re good. We got what we needed. We won our championship, so we’re all set.’ Now, he flies a helicopter to New York instead.”
