Category: Basketball

The NBA publishes injury reports every 15 minutes.

It may seem excessive, but that provides the very latest updates to be processed, as teams file them to the league office.

As of the one that went live Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. ET — about two hours before the day’s games tipped off — a staggering 108 players appeared on the list with either injury or illness designations.

Considering that each team is allowed 15 players to be carried on an active roster, that injury report means that 7.2 full teams could be constructed from the banged up players.

The 2026-27 NBA regular season is but a week old, and yet it seems almost like each squad is already contending with some serious injury issue. Some, however, like Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams breaking and dislocating his ankle, are far more serious than others. So, naturally, some teams will be in a better position to deal with them.

Here’s a look at which teams can weather these new injury issues, from most to least capable.

Detroit Pistons

It helps that it’s just one key injury, a right hamstring strain All-Star center Jalen Duren is dealing with, and it also helps that his backup, Paul Reed, is plenty serviceable. In the three games Reed has been forced into extended action (two of which were starts), he has been excellent on both ends. Reed is averaging 16.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game over his last three. Reed isn’t quite the rim protector Duren is, but he’s more than adequate there. Detroit should be just fine.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Had they not acquired LaMelo Ball this offseason, they would be further down the list. But Ball and backup guard Ayo Dosunmu should at least help the Timberwolves maintain a competitive and productive offense while star Anthony Edwards recovers from his arthroscopic procedure. But there’s no replacing Edwards, who is the best two-guard in the world.

Orlando Magic

The good news for the Magic is that Paolo Banchero’s high ankle sprain is considered a low grade one, and he shouldn’t miss much time. But Orlando will also be without Jalen Suggs (right knee contusion/bone bruise) for some time. The Magic have had awful injury luck the past two-and-a-half seasons, particularly to their stars. And as rookie coach Sean Sweeney looks to revamp this offense, at some point, he needs continuity and his stars to be available.

Toronto Raptors

The thing about Kawhi Leonard’s knee swelling is that it’s unclear how much time he’ll miss. That does leave the door open that it can clear with some moderate rest. But the other thing about his knee swelling is that knee issues have been a recurring problem for Leonard throughout his career. Now 35, Leonard is expected to be out at least one week, though possibly more. Without him, the Raptors lose a bit of their identity, as Leonard is a dominant two-way player; in just two games, he already totaled 7 steals. In their first game without him, a 23-point loss to Minnesota, the Raptors scored just 94 points.

Indiana Pacers

This is a little tricky to project because it’s unclear exactly how serious Tyrese Haliburton’s left hamstring issue is. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said the team would visit with a specialist, but hamstring injuries can linger. The concern here, though, is that Haliburton is the catalyst that maintains the Pacers offense. Without him last season, as he recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon, the offense collapsed. Indiana has the talent and pieces to stay competitive in the East, but it will struggle to do that if Haliburton is forced to miss extended time.

Utah Jazz

This was a team already looking to incorporate new players, so time on the floor was paramount. Yet, Jaren Jackson Jr.'s right medial collateral ligament tear should force him out for six-to-eight weeks. Lauri Markkanen also suffered a wrist injury, though he appeared to avoid a long-term sprain. Utah already started the season 1-3 and does have Jaxson Hayes as a viable backup to Jackson, but Hayes is dealing with right shoulder soreness and Jusuf Nurkić should be out for an extended period. This Jazz team was going to need some time to come together. Now that project is delayed.

Oklahoma City Thunder

They’re the deepest team in the NBA and still have the reigning two-time Most Valuable Player in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, so the Thunder should still be competitive. But the issue for Oklahoma City is twofold: it’s already dealing with a rash of injuries and many of them are severe. The biggest blow is to star forward Jalen Williams, whose broken and dislocated ankle may end his season. Guard Cason Wallace is dealing with a torn labrum and will require surgery. Center Chet Holmgren has right knee patellar tendinitis. Those are three starters. Alex Caruso, a key backup guard, is also out with a right ankle sprain.

Thankfully for Oklahoma City, Ajay Mitchell’s sprained ankle doesn’t appear to be serious. But Williams is a key offensive engine when Gilgeous-Alexander is on the bench; Williams can handle the ball, create for himself and for others and has a dependable shot. Without him, much more pressure falls on Gilgeous-Alexander to carry the burden of playmaking. Holmgren also helps stretch the floor and is an elite defender. His issue should heal, though knee injuries do need to be treated with some caution, especially with so much season left. The Thunder are still one of the best teams in the league, but that’s quite a lot to manage.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Injuries are wrecking the NBA season already: Which teams can survive star absences?

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be looking for their third straight win as they take on the Washington Wizards.

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Now that it’s clear the Golden State Warriors will likely get zero on-court contributions from center Kristaps Porzingis this season, the front office appears to be scouring the trade market looking for potential deals. According to a report by Shamit Dua of In the N.O., the Warriors are among teams that have reached out to the New Orleans Pelicans with interest in acquiring center Yves Missi. However, Dua reports that the team has rebuffed inquiries, with new head coach Jamahl Mosley championing the young big man.

“Teams have also continued to call on Pelicans center Yves Missi, and sources say the Golden State Warriors have recently made inquiry,” Dua wrote. “The Pelicans, like with Jones, continue to rebuff offers, which have mostly been based around second round picks. Mosley is a big advocate of Missi and wants the young center to be the focal point of the Pelicans defense. Missi is currently out with a left knee bone bruise that he sustained in Utah.”

While Dua does not mention the Warriors as a specific suitor for Herb Jones, the Dubs have been previously linked to him. Moreover, Jones would help solidify Golden State’s wing depth with Moses Moody and Jimmy Butler sidelined. A lockdown defender, Jones would also be an obvious potential target to try and help the Warriors improve from a horrendous start to the season defensively.

Missi have averaged 7.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in his young career and the 22-year old has averaged 9.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game across two games so far this season (Missi has been sidelined for multiple games with a toe injury). A 2024 first-round pick, Missi is only making about $3.5 million this season and has a guaranteed $5.6 million salary next season. While Missi’s salary would be far from enough to match Porzingis’ $20 million, it could be paired with Jones to make a trade work. The Dubs could also pair Porzingis with Moody to send out enough salary to receive Missi and wing Trey Murphy III.

Presumably the Warriors would have to add significant draft compensation to get any of those deals done though, something the front office has seemed hesitant to do in the past. Perhaps with Porzingis sidelined, rookie Yaxel Lendeboorg looking ahead of schedule, and head coach Steve Kerr desperately needing a trustworthy big man, the Dubs will have more urgency to get a deal done.

Houston Rockets vs. Milwaukee Bucks

October 28th, 2026

Location: Fiserv Forum — Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Time: 7:00 PM CST

TV: Space City Home Network

Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español)

Probable starting lineups

Rockets: Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, Tari Eason

Bucks: Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner

Can the Rockets stay undefeated? Tune in tonight and come chat with us at TDS on on the SB Nation App!

CLEVELAND — The difference between good players and all-time great players often comes down to things that we on the outside don’t see. Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden is an all-time great player. He’s revolutionized how the sport is played, was a perennial MVP candidate in his prime, and has consistently played at an All-Star level for a decade and a half.

Those who’ve been around Harden the longest aren’t surprised that he’s been able to keep up this level of play.

“There’s a reason he’s been doing this as long as he’s been doing it,” Washington Wizards coach Brian Keefe said of Harden. “You don’t do that without being diligent about how you go about your work every day.”

Keefe and Harden go way back. Keefe was on the staff with the Oklahoma City Thunder when they drafted Harden in 2009, and was with him until he was eventually traded to the Houston Rockets. Then, Keefe was with him again as an assistant when Harden was with the Brooklyn Nets.

Anyone who’s developed a reputation for a prolific nightlife — as Harden has — is often assumed to not be dedicated to their craft. That stereotype isn’t true with Harden. Anyone who’s been around him will tell you that he’s one of the hardest workers they know.

“He would come back early in his career, when we had him in Oklahoma, he would come back at night and just shoot and get some extra run in,” Keefe said. “This is not an accident why these guys are good players, and there was no accident why James has become a consistent player for all these years.”

That hard work has gone along with someone who sees and processes the game at a high level. There’s no stat or one thing that shows a player thinks the game well, but it has allowed them to continue being effective into his 18th season.

“He was always such a high IQ basketball player, and he was like that from the very beginning,” Keefe said. “He just saw the game so well. I think that’s what has always stood out to me about him is his ability to see all the angles, see all the passes. That was there from the very beginning.”

The Cavs are hoping that the high IQ and the work that he puts in will allow Harden to continue to play at a high level for at least the next three seasons. The guaranteed three-year, $97 million deal shows that they believe that he will, and that he has the capability to get the most out of Cleveland’s front court of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.

Time will catch up to Harden eventually, as it does with every single athlete, but Harden has done his best to stave off Father Time as much as possible. And there’s one main reason behind that.

“You don’t do that without putting the work in,” Keefe said. “He was like that since day one.”

The injury bug is here, and it’s hungrier than ever. Roughly 15% of the league was on tonight’s injury report, with everyone from stars to role players going down.

79 players have been listed on the INJURY REPORT for today's NBA games 🤕

That's approximately 15% of the whole league 🏥

With the rise in injury count over the past few seasons, is it time for the NBA to consider shortening the season?

(h/t Keerthika Uthayakumar) pic.twitter.com/PaYUgvhtzM

— Basketball Forever (@bballforever_) October 28, 2026

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson shared his explanation for why the NBA has been hit with this recent wave:

“We as coaches are asking a lot about it,” said Atkinson. “Intensity is raised, there’s no doubt about it, there’s been tactical shifts, pressure on defense is up a lot, the average distance of pick-up, no one’s talking about the offensive rebounding… when you go to the boards, there’s contact, so there’s an exertion there.”

In this week alone, All-Stars such as Jalen Williams and Anthony Edwards have gone out with long-term injuries. Other standout names like Kawhi Leonard and Tyrese Haliburton are out with indefinite timelines. Some of these are freak injuries, while others seem emblematic of a larger trend across the NBA.

Are NBA injuries going up? pic.twitter.com/ceQCrOpGmC

— Brian Sutterer MD (@BrianSuttererMD) October 28, 2026

“Imagine bringing the ball up with no pressure, versus now you have a guy picking you up at the free throw line, and he turns you eight times; imagine the physical [toll], and then do that over time and multiply it,” said Atkinson.

Teams have become more aggressive than ever. The possession game is everything, and forcing turnovers begins in the backcourt. Attacking the offensive glass gets you another advantage. Going 110% on every play is the difference between winning and losing throughout 82 games.

“You have accelerations and decelerations, closeouts are longer, people shooting deeper,” said Atkinson. “So we’re aware of the physical toll, but it’s very complex because you got to keep up with the intensity of the other team… they’re going at you.”

It’s increasingly difficult to keep up in a league that is demanding an unsustainable pace. Atkinson believes the key is knowing when and where to apply pressure.

“It’s up to the coaches to figure out what is the right dose,” said Atkinson. “You can’t ask for everything; that’s my personal view.”

Reeling it in comes with a cost. The right opponent can run you off the floor if you aren’t ready to match their intensity. But in viewing this as a marathon instead of a sprint, the Cavs are at least taking advantage of the one thing they can control.

How Yaxel Lendeborg joined Victor Wembanyama in NBA history during Warriors' win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg is stuffing the stat sheet early in his NBA career, joining elite company in the process. 

With 26 points and eight rebounds in Wednesday’s win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Lendeborg joins Victor Wembanyama as the only rookies since 1993 to tally 100 or more points and 40 or more rebounds in their first five career games, per SportRadar.

YAX JAM 💥 pic.twitter.com/sm3AljZQwU

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 29, 2026

The Warriors rookie now has 112 points and 44 rebounds through five games. Wembanyama tallied 103 and 40 rebounds through the same mark. 

Previously, Orlando Magic center Shaquille O’Neal had a whopping 129 points and 82 rebounds through his first five career games in the 1992-93 NBA season. 

On Monday, Lendeborg led the Warriors to their first win of the season over the Denver Nuggets, notching a game-high 31 points and 12 rebounds. 

Lendeborg now has scored 25 or more points in three consecutive games. Steph Curry was the last Warriors rookie to achieve the feat, doing so in five consecutive games (April 4 – April 11, 2010), per SportRadar. 

The only Warriors rookie to reach that feat in their first five games is Wilt Chamberlain, who scored 25 or more points in each of his first 10 games. 

Yaxel. Three. Splash. 💦 pic.twitter.com/6A5gWPmGP1

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 29, 2026

After notching their first two wins of the season on a three-game road trip, the Warriors return home Friday to host the Los Angeles Lakers in their first NBA Cup matchup of the 2026-27 season. 

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

CLEVELAND — AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft, will make his NBA debut against the Cleveland Cavaliers after missing the first four games with a sprained left ankle.

Brian Keefe said Dybantsa will be on a minutes restriction. He wouldn’t reveal the exact minutes allocation. The 19-year-old forward hasn’t played since he injured his ankle on Oct. 16.

“I’m just excited for him to be on the court,” Brian Keefe said pregame. “This is his first game. I just want him to enjoy it. It’s obviously a great milestone for him and his family. So just excited for him.”

The Wizards are coming off a frustrating loss to a depleted Charlotte Hornets squad that dominated the glass. Washington must improve its rebounding effort against a Cavaliers team that features Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen down low.

With Justin Champagnie sidelined with a fractured right foot, Keefe mentioned Washington’s deep roster as something it’ll lean on.

“We got a deep roster. Different guys will step up,” Keefe said. “Not going to reveal the rotation, but this is what the NBA is about. Guys will get opportunities, and our guys are prepared to step in.”

Injury Report

WAS: Tre Johnson (right achilles soreness), Justin Champagnie (foot fracture), Tristan Vukcevic (hip impingement) and Jamir Watkins (ACL tear) are OUT.

CLE: Khalifa Diop (G League), Nae’Quan Tomlin (back) and Ernest Udeh Jr. (G League) are OUT.

Johnson felt some discomfort in his achilles during his pregame warmup, which is why he’s out tonight, Bullets Forever has learned.

Game information:

Opponent: Cleveland Cavaliers

Tip-off: 7 p.m. ET

Location: Rocket Arena

TV: Monumental Sports Network

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

You can chat about the game in the comments below!

Damian Lillard had been in this situation many times before. 

With 43.1 seconds remaining and the Trail Blazers up, 132-129, his teammates wanted the ball in his hands. It was Dame Time. It was the type of moment he lives for.

But this shot meant something different.

Lillard had missed all of last season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Bucks’ first-round playoff series against the Pacers in April 2025. A few months later, he was stunningly waived by Milwaukee. It was the lowest point in his career.

Through all of that, Lillard learned something about himself. 

“That I am who I think I am,” Lillard told the California Post in an exclusive interview. “Not as far as status, but the way that I operate, how I answer the call. I rise to whatever comes my way. It just showed me that’s really who I am.”

So, when Deni Avdija passed the ball to Lillard, he didn’t hesitate.

He made a pump-fake, shaking Matisse Thybulle. He then stepped behind the 3-point line and fired a 25-foot jumper. The ball swished through the net, sealing a 136-129 win over the Lakers on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old Lillard’s resilience was deeply tested over the last few years. 

After requesting a trade from the Trail Blazers, where he spent the first 11 years of his career, he had hoped to land in Miami. But he was unexpectedly dealt to Milwaukee in September 2023.

Lillard was shocked but decided to shake off the disappointment and embrace playing alongside two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on a Bucks team that had championship aspirations.

But things didn’t go as planned.

The injury-riddled Bucks never got past the first round of the playoffs. Antetokounmpo and Lillard only played in four games together over two postseasons.

Lillard’s final game with the Bucks was disastrous. Midway through the first quarter of Game 4 against the Pacers on April 27, 2025, he fell to the floor, grabbing his left lower leg and ankle. It was obvious he had suffered a torn Achilles tendon, an injury infamous for altering stars’ careers. 

That’s a scary prospect for any athlete, especially one of the NBA’s top-75 players, who’s a nine-time All-Star and is widely considered one of the best point guards of all time. 

When asked if he were worried he’d return as a lesser version of himself, Lillard didn’t hesitate.

“Never a moment I thought that,” Lillard told The Post.

For Lillard, things got worse before they got better. He was cut by the Bucks three months later with two years and $113 million left on his contract. He had suffered one of the most dreaded injuries in the NBA and was without a team.

He had no idea what was next. Would need to wait until he was healthy to workout for teams? Would someone come knocking before then? The uncertainty of it all was dizzying.

But everything came full circle for Lillard. After 2 ½ weeks as a free agent, he re-signed with the Trail Blazers. Lillard was going home. And the franchise was getting back its superstar.

Through everything, Lillard never lost faith in himself.

And so far this season, he has proven himself right. 

He’s averaging 21.7 points on 45.2% shooting from the field and a career-high 42.9% from beyond the arc for the Trail Blazers (3-0).

“Pretty much every time he shoots, I think it’s good,” Ja Morant said Tuesday. “I’m pretty much bracing for a celebration every time he shoots. But in the fourth quarter, I’m for sure doing it.”

Things are working out for Lillard. 

His team is already turning heads this season. 

The Trail Blazers added Morant over the summer to a roster that includes Lillard, two-time champion Jrue Holiday, reigning All-Star Avdija, Scoot Henderson, Donovan Clingan and Toumani Camara. 

If things keep trending in this direction, Lillard could eventually have a shot at winning his first championship. He’s healthy. He’s with his three children, whom he deeply missed while he was in Milwaukee. He’s happy. And he’s looking like himself on the court. 

So, when Dame Time struck Tuesday, it was as though no time had passed.

Muscle memory took over.  

And all of the angst of the last year seemed like nothing but a distant nightmare, reminding him of how far he has come.

“It’s not like I was looking forward to a Dame Time moment,” Lillard told The Post. “I’m prepared. I’m prepared to do what I’ve got to do. I just want to keep building. I know those moments are going to come. I know those opportunities are going to come. It’s just a matter of me being ready for it.”

Observations after Sixers battle back in 4th quarter to top Pacers  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers emerged victorious from a back-and-forth battle with the Pacers on Wednesday night. 

They overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to notch a 114-109 road win and improve to 4-1 on the season. Indiana fell to 2-3. 

The Sixers had four players reach the 20-point mark in Tyrese Maxey (27), Joel Embiid (21), Jaylen Brown (20) and Anfernee Simons (20).

LeBron James added 13 points and 10 assists.

Pacers star Pascal Siakam posted 26 points and 11 rebounds. Andrew Nembhard had 18 points and 14 assists.

The Sixers were down Dominick Barlow (lower back stress reaction), Jabari Walker (left knee soreness), Tacko Fall (left quadriceps strain) and Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tendon tear).

The Pacers’ absences included Tyrese Haliburton (left hamstring tightness/soreness), Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain) and T.J. McConnell (right hamstring strain). 

The Sixers will return home to face the Knicks on Friday night. Here are observations on their comeback win over the Pacers:

Offense doesn’t click right into top gear 

The Sixers entered the night with the NBA’s worst offensive rating outside of garbage time, per Cleaning the Glass. They ranked 27th in half-court points per play.

The team’s offense did not have an especially crisp start on Wednesday. The Sixers committed seven turnovers in the first quarter. Kelly Oubre Jr. drew an early offensive foul against Maxey, getting a whistle for off-arm contact that displeased his former teammate. 

Every Sixer got on the scoreboard in the first four minutes besides VJ Edgecombe, who returned after sitting out the Sixers’ loss Sunday to the Pistons with an abdominal contusion. Embiid’s efficient scoring was an early bright spot. He moved to 3 for 3 from the floor with a smooth fadeaway jumper and looked very comfortable against a shorthanded Pacers center group that featured Jay Huff and Larry Nance Jr. 

However, he subbed out after being called for his second foul with 3:21 left in the first quarter. Backup big man Adem Bona also picked up two first-quarter fouls, which led to Dean Wade and James sharing a frontcourt to begin the second period. 

Simons breaks out of brief slump

The Sixers missed their first five three-point tries. Simons knocked down their first long-range shot late in the first quarter and followed it up with another triple on the Sixers’ next possession to put his team up 22-17.

He added two more three-balls in the second quarter and finished the game 6 for 10 from deep. After missing the preseason with a hamstring injury and faring well in the Sixers’ opening-night win over the Knicks, Simons had gone just 2 for 13 beyond the arc over his past three games. When he’s on, the 27-year-old combo guard is a serious shooting weapon. 

Speaking after the Sixers’ practice Tuesday, Simons didn’t sound concerned at all about his jumper. 

“For the most part, I think they’ve been good (looks),” he said. “You can see now how not playing in the preseason has held me back a little bit. … I think it will come with time.”

A Sixer not named Simons finally made a three late in the second quarter when Brown drained a corner jumper. Edgecombe connected from extremely long range to wrap up the first half, sinking a half-court buzzer-beater to give the Sixers a 62-52 lead. 

Sixers raise their game in the fourth

The Pacers were vastly superior to the Sixers at the start of the third quarter. Indiana opened the second half with a 17-0 run. 

The Sixers dealt with a few unfortunate bounces and ice-cold shooting. Their offensive woes bled into diminished defensive energy. Remarkably, the Sixers had zero points in the third quarter until a James three with 6:05 to go. 

Third-quarter trouble was a familiar theme for the Sixers last season. The team’s minus-10.6 net rating in the third was 30th in the league.

The Sixers trailed by 13 points entering the fourth quarter but soon wiped out that deficit. They defended hard, attacked the basket and created a comeback surge.

Simons and James drilled threes and Embiid converted an and-one lefty layup. A pair of Maxey free throws gave the Sixers a 96-94 edge.

The game stayed close in the final minutes. Embiid canned a key turnaround jumper to push the Sixers’ lead to 103-100 and Maxey then snagged a sneak-attack steal.

Maxey took over the game down the stretch. He nailed a clutch step-back three and then buried a catch-and-shoot jumper that essentially sealed the Sixers’ win.

Already, the Sixers have shown the ability to ramp up their collective level of play and battle back into games with heightened second-half urgency. They’d prefer four strong quarters, but the Sixers will be happy with a 4-1 start that’s contained stretches of brilliance.

The Atlanta Hawks (2-2) are hoping to not be the first victim of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat (0-4) in this home matchup.

Starting lineup:

G CJ McCollum

G Nickeil Alexander-Walker

F Dyson Daniels

F Jalen Johnson

C Onyeka Okongwu

Please join in the comments below as you follow along.

Where, When, and How to Watch and Listen

Location: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA

Start Time: 7:00 PM EDT

TV: Peachtree TV (WPCH), Atlanta News First (WANF)

Radio: Sports Radio 92.9 the Game (WZGC-FM)

Streaming:Amazon Prime, NBA League Pass (out of market), Youtube TV (NBA League Pass out of market)

Steph Curry's 44 points vs. Timberwolves remind Warriors what could have been originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

From the outside looking in, the Warriors’ 119-114 win Wednesday night at Target Center was billed more so as Yaxel Lendeborg vs. Jonathan Kuminga than Golden State vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

On the one hand, there’s Lendeborg, a 24-year-old playing the role of co-star alongside Steph Curry as a rookie. On the other hand, there’s Kuminga, who’s on his third team in his sixth NBA season, is a week younger than Lendeborg and never was on the type of timeline his counterpart now is for the Warriors. 

The two matched up against one another much of the game and had different levels of success. Lendeborg scored 26 points, and his nine rebounds were tied with Draymond Green and Joan Beringer for a game high. But his seven turnovers were a game high, too. 

When Kuminga played his first game against the Warriors last season as a member of the Atlanta Hawks, he scored just two points on a lowly 1-of-9 shooting. Kuminga in his second contest against the Warriors, and first in a Timberwolves jersey, scored a team-high 20 points. 

Neither was the real story of the night. Curry was for the umpteenth time of his historic career. 

His signature Curry Flurry occurred in the third quarter Monday night in Denver when he scored 17 points in eight minutes against the Nuggets. It came a quarter earlier two nights later. Curry in the second quarter against the Timberwolves dropped 19 points in just under nine minutes, going 6 of 10 from the field and 5 of 7 behind the 3-point line. 

Steph went off for 19 points in the second quarter 😤 pic.twitter.com/4qLStipCRA

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 29, 2026

What made his fingers turning to flames even more impressive was that this stretch came after Curry missed his first four threes and scored only four points in the first quarter. He missed his first 3-point attempt of the second quarter, and then made four straight shots – including three 3-pointers – in about 100 seconds of play. 

“The first three threes I shot, all of them felt good,” Curry said to Bonta Hill, Chris Mullin and Festus Ezeli on “Warriors Postgame Live.” “I got my feet underneath me, and all you need to do is see one go in. Shooters know that. I kept finding good looks. Got one from deep. It’s just staying in it, staying next-shot mentality. It’s what I pride myself on as well. You got to have a short memory as a shooter, and thankfully got it going.”

Steph dances for the triple 🎯 pic.twitter.com/DMSIiXJrDr

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 29, 2026

Steph had to admire that three 👀 pic.twitter.com/PiyuawdrFC

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 29, 2026

Curry is TAKING OVER ☔️ pic.twitter.com/sq3mftvGpG

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 29, 2026

Steph from the logo for his fifth straight make 🤯 pic.twitter.com/H0hRJPFja6

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 29, 2026

A 23-point first half was followed by a 21-point second half for Curry to give him a season-high 44 points. Curry let it fly from long distance and made six threes on 16 attempts. He was 11 of 27 overall, but in unique and unusual fashion, Curry kept getting to the free-throw line. 

Curry took 16 free throws and made all 16, giving him his most free throws in a single game without a miss. He’s now a perfect 39 of 39 on free throws this season, and the Warriors are 5-0 all time when Curry shoots at least 16 of them. Speaking of history, Curry set another milestone in Minnesota. 

At 38 years old, Curry now has 15 40-point games after turning 35, tying him with LeBron James for the most in NBA history. Michael Jordan is next on the list with 12. 

“It’s a blessing, man,” Curry said of his latest feat. “I got reminded today how fortunate I am to still be playing this game at the level that I expect, and when you have nights like these where the body’s feeling good, the ball starts to go in, all the joy comes back and all the work that you put in. 

“It’s an incredible list, and the longevity is something that I’m trying to pride myself on, and it’s going well right now.”

What Curry did to the Timberwolves was a reminder of what could have been, and what is still possible with him in a Warriors jersey. 

It was a reminder of May 6, 2025, the date that Curry sustained a strained hamstring on this exact court in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals after torching the Timberwolves for 13 points in just under 13 minutes.

The Warriors always have felt they would have won the series with a healthy Curry, and then who knows what happens after that. Facing the Oklahoma City Thunder would have been a daunting task, but OKC needed seven games to beat a hobbled Denver Nuggets team in the semifinals, and seven to beat the Indiana Pacers in the NBA Finals, in which Tyrese Haliburton went down with a torn Achilles in the first quarter of Game 7. 

Playing the what-if game is a waste, and the Warriors have moved on. But watch how Curry was moving and scoring on the Timberwolves defense, and take a look around the league. 

The Warriors won this game without Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody, Gui Santos and Kristaps Porziņģis. Their opponent, the Timberwolves, didn’t have their best player in Anthony Edwards, and they won’t for up to two months. 

The Thunder now are without Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace for the foreseeable future. Jaren Jackson Jr. is out for six to eight weeks for the rejuvenated Utah Jazz, the Nuggets look like a mess, and the Western Conference all the sudden isn’t the gauntlet everyone has become accustomed to. 

In the East, Haliburton is hurt again, Kawhi Leonard is back on the Toronto Raptors but is out with swelling in his knee, and the Orlando Magic are down two of their top players because of injuries to Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs. 

The NBA season is in its second week, and the landscape already is turning upside down. For the Warriors, their timeline is being expedited by the emergence of Lendeborg, and Curry continues to make all possibilities feel plausible. 

There’s what could have been, and in Year 18, Curry just reminded everyone what could still be as long as he’s a Warrior.

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In need of center depth after an underwhelming start from Kevon Looney, the Lakers have gone the route of a two-way signing for potential help.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Lakers have agreed to a two-way contract with Lawson Lovering, a big man who spent last season with the Grizzlies, splitting time with the parent club and their G League affiliate.

To free up a two-way roster spot, the team is waiving AK Okereke.

Just In: The Los Angeles Lakers and Lawson Lovering have agreed to a two-way deal, agent Drew Kelso of @OneMotiveSports told @hoopshype. The 7-foot center averaged 7.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in two games with the Memphis Grizzlies last season. pic.twitter.com/SlxuL6oKo0

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) October 28, 2026

The Lakers have added C Lawson Lovering on a two-way deal and are waiving AK Okereke. Team desperately needed another C in the building. @MikeAScotto was first on this

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) October 28, 2026

Lovering played just two NBA games with the Grizzlies, the better of which being an 11-point, 11-rebound showing in a late-February win over the Jazz. That came while on a 10-day contract which the Grizzlies did not re-up after it expired.

In 30 games with the Memphis Hustle, Lovering averaged 7.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 59.2% from the field. He did not take a three and was 25-61 (41%) at the free throw line.

Lovering signed a training camp deal with the Grizzlies before being waived. The Lakers swooped him up before he could rejoin their G League roster.

Okereke was always the likeliest of the Lakers’ two-way signings to be cut. A project player, he didn’t flash nearly as much in Summer League or during limited preseason minutes. Lovering also has the makings of being a project player, but he also fills more of a need.

While the Lakers need a backup center, the trade market likely won’t offer a solution in the near future. Signing him doesn’t mean he’ll automatically play, but it wouldn’t be a surprise for the team to try something.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

After a stingy showing to open the year against the Golden State Warriors last week, the Los Angeles Lakers have increasingly struggled defensively and reached an early season nadir Tuesday night when they allowed 136 points to the Portland Trail Blazers, good for a 132.0 defensive rating (fourth percentile among all 2026-27 performances, per Cleaning the Glass).

Following the team’s dismal performance, its interior anchor, Walker Kessler, held himself accountable and didn’t think he set the tone necessary for everyone else.

“I got to personally be a lot better on the defensive side. I pride myself on kind of being the leader on the defense and I didn’t perform tonight,” Kessler told reporters. “But we’ll figure it out … It’s a good learning point because our offense looks good. Scoring almost 130 points is pretty efficient, but we shouldn’t have lost scoring 130. Giving up almost 140 is not acceptable.”

While Kessler occasionally struggled with his pick-and-roll positioning and rotations against Portland’s dynamic attack (No. 1 in offensive rating thus far!), plenty of other Lakers labored in their efforts to contain the ball on the perimeter or properly execute help responsibilities. More often than not, the Blazers broke through the initial line of defense and thrust Los Angeles into rotation for open 3s or finishes inside.

Head coach JJ Redick recognized these issues and believes it’s something everyone involved can learn from to be better.

“We just got broken down a lot. I thought the game plan discipline, [know your personnel] discipline wasn’t where it needs to be,” Redick said postgame. “I think sometimes, early in the season, these are good learning lessons that we can all apply both as coaches and as players. How can we teach the scheme better?”

Although the back-to-back nature of Wednesday’s game may complicate things, the Clippers’ 20th-ranked offense shouldn’t present as grueling of a test for the Lakers. Regardless, this matchup is still a chance to bounce back and rectify some of Tuesday’s recurring problems that ultimately sunk them in their first loss of the season. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

You can follow Jackson on Twitter at @jackfrank_jjf.

Washington Wizards wing Justin Champagnie underwent surgery to repair a fracture in his right foot, The Athletic’s Joshua Robbins reported Wednesday.

Wizards wing Justin Champagnie underwent surgery today to repair a fracture in his right foot, @TheAthleticNBA has learned. The Wizards are hoping that Champagnie will be able to return by the All-Star break. Champagnie suffered the injury during Monday's game in Charlotte.

— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) October 28, 2026

The Wizards hope Champagnie will return by the All-Star break, according to Robbins. The All-Star break is scheduled for Feb. 19-24, 2027.

Pacers forward Obi Toppin fractured his right foot on Oct. 31 last season. He underwent surgery and returned on Feb. 26. Former Lakers forward Maxi Kleber fractured his foot on Jan. 25, 2025, and returned April 30, 2025 — 95 days after suffering his injury.

Champagnie injured his foot late in the first quarter of Monday’s 110-103 loss to the Charlotte Hornets. He attempted to play through it, but the injury overruled that determination. The 6-foot-7 wing intentionally fouled to stop the game and hobbled to the Wizards bench, where Khris Middleton and a team staffer helped him to the locker room.

“[Justin] is going to recover, and whatever he’s going through, we’re going to be right there with him, and he’s going to be right there with us throughout his recovery,” Trae Young said. “We’re going to make sure he’s right. We’ll hold down the fort while he’s gone.”

The Wizards quickly ruled him out with a right foot injury. Champagnie was one of Washington’s best players through the first three games.

Washington was a +36 with him on the floor and a -30 with him off. through the first three games He tallied 11 points and 14 rebounds and was a +18 in the team’s win over the Bulls.