Category: Basketball

After a blinding start in which they led by 14 early, the Milwaukee Bucks ultimately succumbed to the Boston Celtics, losing 117-97. Put simply, the Celtics were the more physical team, and they dictated the game for most of it. A key reason for this was that Milwaukee’s primary big men were both horrendous, so much so that Jenkins turned to Jericho Sims in the second half over Kel’el Ware. I will say that the C’s made a bunch of tough shots—Paul George in particular—and you can’t really do much about that. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.

Player Grades

Ryan Rollins

20 minutes, 7 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 3 turnovers, 2/4 FG, 2/3 3P, -7

Rollins wasn’t horrible, but like Jakucionis, he just couldn’t find any separation to attack. And when he did try to attack, he was swallowed up and turned the ball over, or he threw a grenade to someone else. I also didn’t feel like Rollins’ point-of-attack defence was any great shakes.

Grade: C-

Tyler Herro

26 minutes, 13 points, 2 assists, 1 turnover, 5/12 FG, 1/5 3P, -3

The Celtics seemed much more prepared for Herro than they were for the last matchup, picking him up higher on the floor and waiting more intently in the gaps. They wanted to squeeze the floor on Herro, make him a passer, and bet they could recover to shooters, which they did for the most part. Again, Herro is not a real number one option, and when he comes up against teams who can send guys in waves at him, this can be the result. Not sure how much the knee injury—which he did come back and play with—impacted his performance.

Grade: C-

Jaime Jaquez Jr.

22 minutes, 4 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1/3 FG, 0/2 3P , 4/4 FT, -6

Jaquez just made no impact whatsoever. Had no ability even to generate shots, let alone make them. At least he wasn’t just chucking for the hell of it, though. Jaquez was tasked with guarding Paul George and got lit up, but honestly, I thought a lot of PG’s shots were well contested.

Grade: D+

Kyle Kuzma

31 minutes, 27 points, 4 rebounds, 0 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 1 turnover, 10/17 FG, 6/13 3P, -4

Kuzma started like a house on fire with 16 points in the first quarter, then scored 11 for the rest of the game. I liked his shot selection to start the game, which helped him get hot and then make a few tough ones. However, once you miss your second heat check, it’s time to put the cue in the rack and run real offence. Kuzma didn’t do that; he took like three or four horrendous shots in the first quarter while the floor wasn’t set, which is exactly what allowed the Celtics to get back into the game so quickly. To be clear, Kuzma was far from the biggest issue, but his recklessness late in the quarter sullied his terrific start. On the plus side, his defence on Tatum was excellent for majority of the game.

Grade: B

Myles Turner

24 minutes, 3 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 1/8 FG, 0/3 3P, -3

I mean, while he contributed in other areas—including getting four of his seven assists in the first quarter—this was, by and large, another horrendous game from Turner, who once again looked like a boy among men. And it’s not like he was matching up with Hakeem Olajuwon; this was Neemias Queta, who, with all due respect, is a low-end starter. Turner had some truly horrendous sequences where he looked a step late on every decision. I hate to get into these areas, but Turner doesn’t look fit to me; he looks out of shape and is moving worse than he did even last year.

Grade: D-

Kel’el Ware

9 minutes, 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0/2 FG, -15

I’ve seen some online chatter about whether Ware should start over Turner, and honestly, I’m not on board because he’s been even worse! Struggling to catch basic passes, poor drop defence in the pick-and-roll, and no rebounding presence. Didn’t play in the second half, and rightfully so.

Grade: F

Kasparas Jakucionis

7 minutes, 1 point, 2 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 0/1 FG, 0/1 3P, -11

Jakucionis struggled to get anywhere; he looked outmatched by the Celtics’ physical guards, which is exactly what happened when they last played Boston.

Grade: D+

Brayden Burries

28 minutes, 13 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 1 turnover, 5/11 FG, 1/4 3P, -12

As usual, Burries made an impact as a rebounder, with four of his eight boards coming on the offensive glass. Also got to some great mid-range looks against a bevy of tough defenders. Remains a struggle from three, but that will come. Yet again, Burries was one of the biggest cheerleaders from the bench; doesn’t go unnoticed.

Grade: B+

AJ Green

18 minutes, 5 points, 2/6 FG, 1/5 3P, -21

Made a nice up-and-under move, but otherwise nothing all that noteworthy from Green in this one.

Grade: C-

Nate Ament

23 minutes, 12 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 5/9 FG, 2/4 3P, -14

Another solid game for Ament, who punished the Celtics for helping off him. I said before the season that Ament had to find his niche as an NBA player, and the path of least resistance was to build from the outside in; well, he seems to be doing that. I’ve also noted that I wanted to see Ament make teams feel his presence more, and he’s starting to do that. Showed some great stuff as a rebounder, grabbing two O-boards and putting shots back in around the rim, along with a nice finish in traffic and more great wing defence possessions guarding Tatum.

Grade: B

Ousmane Dieng

15 minutes, 10 points, 3/3 FG, 2/2 3P, -2

A nice get-right game for Dieng, who finally saw the ball go through the hoop in this one. He didn’t show much of the enticing creation ability we saw toward the back end of last season—mainly because the ball wasn’t really in his hands—but it was a nice starting point for Dieng to build confidence.

Grade: B-

Jericho Sims

15 minutes, 2 points, 1/3 FG, -2

I thought Sims gave them a defensive boost; he also set solid screens to get guys open and moving downhill. Shot a three, which was interesting. Other than that, nothing much to report.

Grade: C

Taylor Jenkins

Let’s move off the bigs and talk about the guard rotation. They’ve struggled to get multiple of the four guards—Herro, Burries, Rollins, and Jakucionis—working well together. I understand starting Herro and Burries for a range of reasons, but neither is a true point guard, and there seems to be a weird push-and-pull where neither feels like they can play their natural game. I don’t love the fit, but I also don’t know that I’d mess with it; after all, the team has started great in each of the last two games. That said, I do think that getting Rollins more minutes alongside one or both of these players would have a net positive effect on the team (even if their individual scoring numbers might go down). Of course, they’re also trying to play Jakucionis, whose minutes are dwindling by the game. Honestly, I might sit KJ completely for a few games, give his minutes to Rollins, and see if that works. The other option would be sitting Green, but he’s been largely quite good, so that feels undeserved (plus, I think they’d like to keep Green in the rotation for trade value purposes). In any event, Jenkins needs to find answers for the lack of overall guard production in recent games, even though, yes, there’s no panacea staring him in the face. I would also look at incorporating more sets to get the guards going downhill more and playing one-on-one less; things have felt pretty stagnant at times over the last few games.

Grade: C-

DNP-CD: Caris LeVert,

Inactive: Kam Jones, Cormac Ryan, Pete Nance, Bogoljub Markovic, Gary Trent Jr.

What We Learnt

A key reason the Bucks can struggle to rebound—despite being a good rebounding team overall—is personnel. Turner seems to have lost much of his athleticism, Sims is undersized, and Ware’s attitude can wax and wane. When they’re not relying on their team-wide concepts (gang crashing, tagging up), they can get found out.

Bonus Bucks Bits

• Jenkins said they will evaluate how Tyler Herro feels today after a Celtics player landed on his knee. They don’t think it’s anything serious, but it sounds like missing a game or two is possible.
• Jenkins was much more subdued at last night’s presser than at the last game’s, highlighting the good things his team did to build the initial lead rather than the bad things they did to give it up.
• Jenkins also backed Turner, pointing out his non-scoring contributions: “He’s just going through a rough patch right now… Two games ago against Boston, he had a heck of a game. He’s just got to stay the course.”
• Jakucionis’ minutes over his last three games: 12, 10, and seven.
• From the end of the first to the start of the second, Boston went on an 18-0 run.
• Interior defence was an issue yet again; the Celtics destroyed the Bucks 44-28 in that area.

Up Next

The Bucks travel to the Big Apple today to face the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. Watch at 6:30 p.m. CST on MY24.

This season’s Washington Wizards are better than the previous editions. They’re 4-6, the vets have been good, a couple young guys look close to being good-to-really-good, and with the exception of the absolute dud against Oklahoma City, they’ve been fun to watch this season.

“The vets” in this case refers to Anthony Davis and Trae Young. While I have quibbles with how each of them are playing, it’s more in the realm of nitpicking than major critiques. They’ve both been about as good as the Wizards could have reasonably expected.

Davis has anchored an improved defense — upgraded as much by his stellar communication as his rim protection capabilities. When he’s on the floor, the team seems well organized and solid on the defensive end. In the two games he’s missed, the Wizards defense essentially collapsed. That could partly be due to a step up in opponent quality, but I suspect not having Davis on the back line calling out actions is a big reason why.

Note: this is not a criticism directed at Alex Sarr, who has at times reminded me of Davis — in terms of positioning and movement — or even of Deandre Ayton. To say they’re not as good as Davis at communicating on defense feels the stuff of Captain Obvious. Davis is an all-time defender, who has excelled at that aspect of a big man’s defensive chores. In the case of Sarr, he’s getting a crash course in being great on defense, and he has appeared more vocal than he was in previous seasons when Davis has been off the floor.

With Davis, my chief concern (aside from health) is on the offensive end, and it’s really more about how they’re using him than it is about Davis himself. Specifically, Davis leads the NBA in post-ups, and a hot game on the block got him all the way to 47th percentile in efficiency. The last time Davis was above average in post-up efficiency was 2023-24.

While I think it’s possible to have a high-efficiency offense that leans heavily on a big man posting up — yes, even in this economy — I think that big man needs to be both efficient at scoring the ball and an effective passer. I don’t think that description fits Davis.

As for Young, he’s been a little above average in offensive efficiency despite shooting just 28.6% on threes so far this season. He’s been a stellar set up man, and the combination of Young and Davis has helped make Washington a league leader in free throw attempts. Trips to the free throw line are second only to rim attempts in overall efficiency.

One of the good things about Young has been his defensive effort, which is dramatically improved from his days with the Atlanta Hawks. He still has lapses, and he’ll always be a target because of his lack of size and strength, but he’s competing on that end, and he’s contributing with a handful of steals, deflections or well-timed traps per game.

Had I been writing an article like this after six games, I’d have been fretting about how none of the young guys looked like they were making The Leap. A couple terrific games from Kyshawn George gives Washington a candidate. He’s still undermining his own value with rampant turnovers and excessive fouling, but he’s big, physical, tough, competitive, and skilled. And he plays crazy hard, which is at once a strength and a potential weakness (to the extent that it leads to turnovers and fouls).

While I’ve had a vaguely disappointed feeling about Sarr’s performance this season, the reality is he’s been fine — about the same overall level of production as last season. That’s not bad considering he missed most of the offseason with a broken foot and feels like he still needs some conditioning work.

Justin Champagnie was off to a terrific start before his foot injury. The Wizards definitely should want him to come back and stabilize their forward rotation before the postseason.

After missing the first four games with an ankle injury sustained in the preseason finale, AJ Dybantsa has been everything the Wizards could have hoped for. He’s defended with intensity, and played with aggression on offense. One of my favorite plays from him so far this season was when he waved Davis out of the post so he could attack a mismatch.

Putting on my Shot Doctor coat, I think there’s something off with Dybantsa’s three-point shooting stroke, though I could be reaching. He hasn’t hit threes yet, and his two-point percentage has been subpar, but both of those things are normal for rookies — even when they’re going to be great in the future. He’s shooting 79.3% from the free throw line, which suggests his shot isn’t exactly broken.

The rest of the Wizards have varied between fine (Ayton) and not-so-good (Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, Will Riley, Khris Middleton). Brian Keefe and the coaching staff wisely dropped Middleton from the rotation.

Carrington has hit half his threes so far, and his defense is a lot better. He’s also shot 2-12 on twos, and his non-three-point shooting contributions have been pretty minimal.

Coulibaly is a stellar defender who has utterly disappeared on offense. Teams are happy to let him shoot threes — they routinely leave him alone. So far this season, he’s rewarded them with bricks. Last season, it seemed like he had an emergent driving game. Opposing defenders were having a tough time staying in front of him, even when they gave him a cushion. This season, he doesn’t attack, even when he has a matchup advantage.

The most worrisome Coulibaly-related play of the year t0 my eye was when he got the ball in the dunker spot with Atlanta’s CJ McCollum guarding him. Coulibaly was in great position, and he had a height and athleticism advantage on McCollum. He never looked to attack — just passed it back to Young on the perimeter. The possession cratered and the Wizards ended up with a turnover instead of a close-in shot in a mismatch.

My biggest concern is that the early returns suggest that the Wizards are weaker than their record indicates. The best indicator of relative team strength is strength of schedule adjusted scoring margin. The Wizards currently rank 27th in this metric. They ranked 24th before they got blown out by Oklahoma City.

So far this season, Wizards opponents have been outscored by 6.7 points per game. That group of opponents has outscored Washington by 4.7 points per game. That’s not good.

For benchmarking purposes, here’s where Washington ranks through 10 games in key statistical measures:

• Offensive rating (points scored per 100 possessions): 22
• Defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions): 18
• Effective field goal percentage: 24
• Turnover percentage: 10
• Offensive rebound percentage: 28
• Free throws made / field goal attempts: 11
• Defensive efg%: 8
• Defensive tov%: 27
• Defensive rebounding percentage: 27
• Defensive FTM/FGA: 2

On the offensive end, Washington is not shooting or rebounding well, but they’re doing a good job avoiding turnovers and getting to the free throw line.

On defense, opponents are missing shots, which is the foundation of a good defensive team in the NBA. The Wizards are also doing a good job overall of not fouling. They’re also not forcing turnovers, and they’re getting beat on the boards.

One other key stat: 24.6. That’s the Wizards’ minutes-weighted average age so far this season — second lowest in the NBA this season.

Player Production Average

Below is a first look at season-to-date scores in my Player Production Average metric. PPA accounts for each player’s statistical contributions — each category weighted by how much it contributes to winning and losing. PPA is a per possession metric, which includes accounting for position, quality of competition while on the floor, and defensive impact. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better, and replacement level is 45.

In most seasons, a PPA of 150 would put a player at least in the All-Star conversation. All-NBA level performances are typically 170 and above. It typically takes a score of 200 or better to merit MVP consideration.

ORTG is offensive rating — individual points produced per possession x 100. League average so far this season is 113.1.

Start your week off with a feel-good story.

As posted by News 4 San Antonio’s Don Harris, Spurs draftee Tarris Reed, Jr. was recently baptized by Ed Newton, senior pastor at Community Bible Church here in San Antonio. The CBC as it commonly known, has a system of campuses and services throughout San Antonio. A sect of the Church of Jesus Christ, founded on the Day of Pentecost, serves an estimated 20,000 members across the city.

Reed, originally from St. Louis, Missouri, has only been in San Antonio a short time. The CBC, which offers baptism regularly, welcomed him and in late October, the Spurs new center joined the congregation through the symbolic spiritual cleansing ritual.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

As I sit back and reflect on the third week of the NBA season, I find myself pondering the same question I ask every week: What did we learn? 

The Phoenix Suns went 2-2 this week, and my biggest takeaway is a reminder that, despite the rocky and occasionally frustrating path they’ve taken to get here, this team is ultimately performing relatively close to what we expected from an overall perspective. Think about it. Las Vegas projected the Suns to win 38.5 games this season. Based on our polling here at Bright Side of the Sun, the majority of respondents believed Phoenix would finish somewhere between 44 and 47 wins. What does that tell us? Regardless of which projection you subscribe to, we’re talking about a team expected to hover somewhere around .500.

And what does a team hovering around .500 look like? Inconsistent. There are going to be lapses in execution, questions about schematic philosophies, frustrating rotations, and stretches where the team struggles to establish any semblance of consistency. There will be games you believe Phoenix should win, only for one of those deficiencies to rear its ugly head and derail the evening. Conversely, there will be nights that appear to be scheduled losses, only for the Suns to exceed expectations and deliver a performance that reminds you why you were optimistic about them in the first place. That’s the nature of a team living somewhere in the middle.

Yet because we experience the season one game at a time, dissecting every possession, rotation, adjustment, and coaching decision, our reactions tend to swing wildly from one extreme to the other. One night we’re questioning the direction of the franchise, and the next we’re convincing ourselves that perhaps this team has figured something out. It’s an emotional roller coaster, and when you’re invested in every outcome, it’s difficult to avoid getting caught up in the moment. But when you pull back and examine the bigger picture, the trajectory of this team remains relatively aligned with what we believed it would be before the season began.

Granted, I don’t think many of us anticipated this particular path. We might have expected different strengths, different weaknesses, or a more predictable formula for success. That’s the beauty of an NBA season. There is no predetermined route to reaching your expectations. The journey reveals itself through the games, the adjustments, the unexpected contributions, and the opportunities that emerge along the way. And that’s what makes watching it worthwhile.

The frustrations of one night and the elation of the next are all part of the experience. We can scrutinize the minutiae, debate what needs to change, and celebrate the moments when things finally click, but ultimately, the Suns are navigating a season that, so far, looks an awful lot like the one we anticipated.

It’s also worth remembering that Phoenix hasn’t exactly been handed an easy opening stretch. According to ESPN, the Suns have faced the toughest schedule in the NBA to begin the season. That context matters, particularly for a roster still developing chemistry, establishing rotations, and learning how to execute consistently within its systems.

Perhaps as that continuity develops, players accumulate more minutes together, and the schedule begins to soften, the Suns will find themselves moving closer to the winning percentage we expected when the season began.

Because while a 3-5 record might feel disappointing in the moment, it doesn’t necessarily indicate that this team is falling short of its projected destiny. It might simply be the early turbulence that comes with being exactly the kind of team we thought it was. And that is what I learned this week.

Week 3 Record: 2-2

@ Golden State Warriors, L, 116-113

vs. Portland Trail Blazers, L, 132-119

vs. Orlando Magic, W, 117-104

vs. Houston Rockets, W, 102-99

Malu-Watch

We’re beginning to see some progress from Khaman Maluach as the season continues. Much like our overall expectations for the Suns, inconsistency is going to be part of the equation, and that’s perfectly understandable for a young player still learning how to navigate the NBA. His hands aren’t always reliable, his positioning can be questionable, and there are moments when his inexperience is painfully evident. But his effectiveness, combined with his desire to compete, is creating opportunities, and he’s beginning to capitalize on them.

When we look at his restocks per 36, the combination of rebounds, steals, and blocks, Maluach posted a total of 16.6 this past week, his highest weekly mark of the season. Much of that production came against the Houston Rockets, when he delivered a stellar performance in 18 minutes off the bench, grabbing 10 rebounds, blocking two shots, and recording a steal. That performance translated to an impressive 25.5 restocks per 36 minutes.

Now, you can certainly point to the fact that Houston was without Steven Adams and Clint Capela, which created a favorable opportunity for Maluach to make an impact. And you’d be correct. Their absence opened a door that might otherwise have remained closed. But here’s the important part. Maluach walked through that door.

His rebounding percentage is gradually improving as well. Among NBA players who averaged at least 15 minutes per game this past week, Maluach ranked 22nd with a 16.6% rebound percentage. That same 16.6% mark leads the Suns for the season, further illustrating how valuable his presence can be on the glass for a team that desperately needs help in that department.

I  like the adjustment Jordan Ott has made by bringing Maluach off the bench. Do we ultimately want to see him become the starting center? Absolutely. But there’s value in allowing him to develop in a role that better suits where he is right now. Oso Ighodaro provides greater offensive stability with his ability to facilitate and operate within the flow of the system, while his defensive versatility gives Phoenix more flexibility when switching assignments.

After all, the Suns’ starting lineup with Maluach has posted a troubling -21 net rating. That’s a significant indicator that the original configuration wasn’t producing the desired results, regardless of how much we want to prioritize the rookie’s development.

Ott deserves credit for recognizing that and making the adjustment. Bringing Maluach off the bench allows him to continue gaining valuable experience, capitalize on favorable matchups, and build confidence without the immediate responsibility of anchoring a starting unit that’s still trying to establish its identity.It’s an adjustment that benefits both the team and the player, and as Maluach continues to develop, those opportunities should only become more meaningful.

Stat Me, Dave

I used up my Ryan Dunn stat yesterday, and that was a good one. So I’ll have to dig and find a different one…

Let’s do this one: Devin Booker is 5th in the NBA in high-leverage points per game.

We know clutch, right? 5 minutes, 5-point margin. “High leverage” goes a bit beyond that. Per HoopsJunkie, “high leverage possessions are the moments in a game where the outcome hangs in the balance. These are the plays that can meaningfully swing a game’s win probability and they tend to occur in close games as time winds down.”

I recommend delving into their metrics to how they determine it, but the fact that Booker is 5th in the NBA in the metric is of note.

Next Week

Four more games are on the slate for the Phoenix Suns in Week 4, beginning tonight against the San Antonio Spurs. This is a team that has won seven consecutive games after dropping its first two contests of the season, with its most recent victory coming against the Portland Trail Blazers. San Antonio is beginning to look like a machine, particularly with its three-guard combination of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper. That trio, alongside Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama, has produced a staggering +30.3 net rating in 100 minutes together. It’s a lineup that presents problems on both ends of the floor, and Phoenix will have its hands full trying to slow it down.

After that, the schedule begins to lighten up a bit as the Suns host the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. The Clippers appear to be heading in the opposite direction of San Antonio, struggling to establish any meaningful momentum early in the season. And while Phoenix will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back, this is hopefully one of those opportunities where the Suns can take care of business without making things unnecessarily complicated.

Thursday brings a matchup against the Charlotte Hornets, along with an opportunity to welcome Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen back to the friendly confines of Phoenix. Despite the impressive individual performances we’ve seen from Allen, Charlotte has lost six consecutive games and currently sits at 3-7. A team that reached the Play-In Tournament last season appears to be heading in the wrong direction, making this another matchup where Phoenix should have an opportunity to capitalize.

The week concludes next Sunday when the Suns face the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time this season, closing out their current seven-game homestand. And the Lakers, led by Luka Doncic, have been absolutely eviscerating opponents offensively. Los Angeles leads the NBA in scoring at 122.0 points per game, while also ranking third in steals at 10.7 and third in blocks at 6.5.

So while much of the attention surrounding the Lakers understandably centers on Luka and their offensive firepower, their defensive production deserves recognition as well. They possess the ability to overwhelm opponents with their scoring while generating enough defensive disruption to create additional opportunities on the other end.

It’s an interesting week ahead for Phoenix. The Spurs and Lakers present significant challenges, while the Clippers and Hornets offer opportunities to build momentum. If the Suns can continue developing the defensive identity we’ve witnessed over their past two victories, there’s a chance to turn a difficult opening stretch into something that begins to resemble the team we expected entering the season.

Last week, the majority of the community voted that the Suns would finish 2-2. Where do they finish this week?

That’s it for this week, Bright Siders. Stay frosty.

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla had a heartfelt conversation with Kristaps Porziņģis on the team’s flight to Milwaukee. Their chat left Mazzulla with plenty to reflect on, and he shared those thoughts before Sunday night’s game against the Bucks.

“I talked to him on the plane. I reached out to him,” Mazzulla told reporters pregame, per CLNS Media. “I had a good conversation with him. Also, some of my other guys on the staff did as well. I think it’s just a good reminder of what we go through in an NBA season. When you look at these guys as athletes and as basketball players, they’re a lot more than that.”

On Friday, Porziņģis announced he would “step away” from basketball to focus on his health as he continues battling postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition that has sidelined him since the start of the season. Porziņģis’ symptoms first emerged during his final season with the Celtics in February 2025, and continued lingering during his follow-up stints with the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors.

Porziņģis signed a two-year, $40 million deal with Golden State this past summer, making the 31-year-old’s search for a “solution,” as he described it, all the more pressing.

His 57-game debut season with the Celtics, which culminated in the 2024 NBA championship, was the last time we saw Porziņģis in his ‘unicorn’ form. Acquired via trade with the Wizards in exchange for Marcus Smart, Porziņģis needed little time to win over the Boston crowd. He averaged 20.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game before delivering an electric performance in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Mavericks, scoring 20 points, grabbing six rebounds and recording three blocks in just 21 minutes.

He left Boston a champion and cemented his Celtics legacy, although Mazzulla wasn’t focused on any of that.

Instead, Mazzulla opened up about his broader perspective, stressing the importance of connecting with the person behind the jersey rather than simply the player. With health concerns reminding everyone — including professional athletes — that there’s more to life than basketball, Mazzulla values the moments he shares with his players away from the court just as much as their accomplishments on it.

“Their platforms, their life, their careers are so much more than what happens on the court,” Mazzulla said. “So it’s a good reminder of that. We’re able to talk to him about it, but he’s in a pretty good space. Whatever we can do to help him, we will. And I’m grateful for the time I got to spend with him on and off the court.”

The pressure was immediate when Porziņģis arrived in Boston. Not only had the organization parted ways with Smart, a beloved fan favorite, to bring him aboard, but the expectations were immediately championship-or-bust as he joined forces with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, and Jrue Holiday to form an all-time great Celtics roster.

Porziņģis seamlessly connected with both the fanbase and his new teammates. He even lived in the same apartment building as Brown, as the two would frequently carpool to games and sit side-by-side on flights together.

“Just a guy, when he comes into a room, he lights the room up, lights the locker room up,” Mazzulla said. “I thought the years he was [in Boston], he was like the icebreaker. He brought a sense of joy to the rigors of the season and playing for the Celtics, and he brought a joy to that. I think he had a positive impact on the locker room.”

For everything Porziņģis accomplished in Boston before his time with the Celtics came to an end, Mazzulla remains grateful. But he’s also mindful. He understands that Banner 18, the performances and the unforgettable moments that will forever live in the organization’s history, represent only part of what Porziņģis meant to him and the team. Their relationship extends well beyond basketball — something Mazzulla made clear.

The Dallas Mavericks (6-4) have suddenly found some momentum again. Monday’s game against the Indiana Pacers (3-7) gives the Mavericks a chance to keep it going on the second night of a back-to-back set against a team they’ve already beaten once. Dallas enters at 6-4 after blowing out the Brooklyn Nets 130-93 on Sunday, while Indiana comes to town at 3-7 after falling 114-102 to Denver on Saturday. The Pacers are still without Tyrese Haliburton (left hamstring), and Dallas should have a real opportunity to finish the homestand with a third straight win.

Here are three things the Mavericks need to do to make that happen.

Keep Kyrie hot

Kyrie Irving has started to look much more like himself, and Dallas needs that to continue.

He scored 21 points against Brooklyn and looked comfortable getting to his spots without needing to dominate the ball. That balance is important. Dallas is at its best when Cooper Flagg controls possessions as a playmaker while Kyrie picks his spots, attacks mismatches, and gives the Mavericks a reliable scorer whenever the offense stalls.

The Pacers have some capable perimeter defenders, but this is still a matchup Kyrie should be able to attack. Indiana is already missing the guard who normally controls so much of its offense, and Dallas has a chance to put even more pressure on them if Kyrie gets going early.

The Mavericks do not need him taking 25 shots every night. They just need this version of Kyrie, efficient, aggressive, and capable of completely changing a game when Dallas needs a bucket.

Do it again

Dallas already knows this matchup can work.

The Mavericks scored 44 points in the first quarter and took a 77-43 lead into halftime the first time these teams met before eventually winning 121-105. Flagg played only 17 minutes before leaving with a shoulder injury, but Dallas had already taken complete control of the game.

Indiana should be better prepared this time, but the same advantages remain. Without Haliburton, the Pacers lose the player who normally runs the offense and pushes the pace. Pascal Siakam remains their biggest threat, while Ivica Zubac gives them size inside, but Dallas should feel good about its ability to create better shots.

The Mavericks have to avoid assuming the first meeting means anything automatically, but if they move the ball and defend with the same energy, this should be another favorable matchup.

Keep attacking the paint

The best part of the Brooklyn win was how easily Dallas generated offense around the rim.

The Mavericks scored 64 points in the paint, with Flagg repeatedly getting downhill and finding cutters or Daniel Gafford once the defense collapsed. Gafford finished with 18 points, and Dallas looked much more dangerous offensively when it was creating inside-out rather than settling for jumpers.

That should be the goal again Monday.

Indiana has size, but Dallas has enough creators to keep putting pressure on the defense. Flagg getting into the middle of the floor opens everything else, especially when Washington and the guards are ready to shoot, and Gafford is available as a lob threat.

When Dallas gets consistent paint touches, the offense looks completely different.

Avoid the back-to-back letdown

This is probably the biggest concern.

Dallas played Sunday night and now has to turn around and play Monday again, while Indiana had Sunday off. The good news is the Brooklyn game was basically over early enough for Dusty May to avoid running his starters into the ground.

Flagg played fewer than 30 minutes, and the bench handled much of the fourth quarter.

That should help, but Dallas still cannot come out sleepwalking. Indiana has enough veteran talent to punish a flat start, and Siakam can carry the offense if Dallas lets him get comfortable.

The Mavericks have looked much better over the last few games. Monday is a chance to prove the momentum is real, not just the product of playing Utah and Brooklyn.

How to watch

The Mavericks and the Pacers will tip at 7:30 p.m. on Monday from American Airlines Center. The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29 and on sister stations throughout the Mavericks’ regional viewership area. You can catch the stream on MavsTV or on NBA League Pass where available. The radio broadcast can be heard on KRLD 105.3 The Fan.

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Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-football sports, you name it. As long as it’s allowed by the site’s ToS, it’s fair game here.

This is now an open thread

One Possession: Derrick White is so back for Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

NBA Games don’t typically boil down to just one possession. But one possession can often tell the story of a game. This is “One Possession,” a recurring series where we highlight one notable sequence from every Celtics game during the 2026-27 season.

Derrick White wasn’t even on your television screen when Baylor Scheierman went up with a fastbreak layup attempt early in the second quarter of Boston’s visit to Milwaukee on Sunday night.

White was just nearing the midcourt stripe when Scheierman lost control of the ball trying to go up as AJ Green defended. The ball bounced once on the floor near the blocks and seemed destined to trickle out of bounds. Instead, White covered 45 feet in the blink of an eye and launched himself over the end line.

Somehow, White managed to corral the ball, float long enough to drift past Milwaukee’s Kasparas Jakucionis outstretched arms, and zip a pass to a wide-open Paul George underneath the basket. George finished the layup as White floated into the first row of photographers.

If you needed confirmation that White has got his groove back, there it was.

White entered the new season with endless questions about whether his poor shooting last year was simply an outlier, or a more troubling trend for a guard who turned 32 this offseason. And while that shot defied him a bit out of the gates this year, the more bizarre aspect was that White wasn’t doing all the sort of White things that typically impact winning.

The blocks disappeared (just one swat in Boston’s first 7 games). The Celtics didn’t dominate his minutes the way they typically do (Boston was a minus-12 overall in White’s first 90 minutes of court time and he failed to be a positive in plus/minus in Boston’s first four games). White just couldn’t seem to get himself rolling.

Until the last three games.

White saw some shots drop — and blocked two shots on the other end — while Jayson Tatum rested in Boston’s first tilt against Milwaukee last week and it seemed to unlock him. The last three outings, White is averaging 17 points, 6.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks over 29.3 minutes per game. The Celtics are plus-38 in his court time in those games and have stacked three straight wins, albeit against two struggling Eastern Conference teams (Milwaukee and Charlotte).

White looked a lot more like himself on Sunday. He piled up four STOCKS (two steals, two blocks). He handed out a team-high seven assists leading to a game-high 19 assist points, including five 3-point makes by teammates.

White is averaging 8.1 potential assists per game this season. His 5.3 helpers have led to 13.5 assist points per game, which ranks 33rd in the NBA this season.

White is up to 2.4 steals per 100 possessions (86th percentile for his position). He’s drawing 1.2 offensive fouls drawn per 100 possessions (91st percentile). The blocks, his calling card from the guard position, are starting to pile up again.

The 3-point shot is stuck at the same 32.7 percent he shot last season. His overall field goal percentage is back up to career-average levels (43.9 percent, after plummeting to 39.4 percent last year). White has found his floater a bit in recent games.

But it’s White’s ability to create positive chaos that truly distinguishes him. He could have never made it across the center stripe as the Celtics broke out in transition on Sunday night. But his hustle — and his ability to levitate beyond the end line — delivered maybe his signature moment of the young 2026-27 season.

Running through one of the weaker parts of their schedule, the Spurs have been stacking up wins while largely walloping the competition.

Barring a one-point win over the Mavericks in which the Spurs couldn’t buy a shot from downtown, they’ve largely run roughshod over the competition, with 4 double-digit wins in the last five contests.

Next up on this list is a Suns team that gave the Spurs some real trouble early last season (splitting the season series) but has been pretty inconsistent out of the gate.

Last season, the Suns’ deep roster made things difficult with a combination of shrewd passing, long-distance marksmanship, and sturdy defensive play.

The savvy passing (5th in assists) and shooting (12th in 3pt%, 8th in FG%) have remained hallmarks, but the defense and depth look rough without Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, who were traded to Charlotte for Miles Bridges, who is struggling to fill the void left by two important contributors.

The Suns are 27th in Defensive Rating, and 23rd in Net Rating, and while they’re on a two-win streak themselves, the Spurs have been a buzzsaw, ranking 2nd in Offensive Rating, 3rd in Defensive Rating, and tied for 1st in Net Rating over the last eight games, narrow win over the Mavericks included.

Provided the Spurs take the game seriously and/or refrain from shooting 5-36 from three again, this should be another double-digit smack-down.

It certainly doesn’t hurt that Wembanyama is averaging 37 points per game over the last three games on 60/40/80 shooting. Barring collective brain-farts, I like San Antonio in this one.

San Antonio Spurs (8-2) at Phoenix Suns (3-5)

November 9th, 2026 | 8 p.m. CT

Watch: DAZN | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Tobias Harris: Out (Calf), Jayden Quaintance: Out (Knee), Devin Vassell: Questionable (Hip)

Suns Injuries: Jordan Goodwin: Questionable (Calf), Mark Williams: Out (Shoulder)

Progress Report No. 1: Six key objectives for Warriors to earn NBA playoffs bid originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

There are many reasons behind the Warriors becoming one of the early-season surprises in the NBA, but the most meaningful is simple. They are playing well enough to exceed initial projections.

After looking largely unready while dropping their first three games, the Warriors have won seven in a row, their longest streak since a seven-gamer in March 2025, shortly after trading for Jimmy Butler III.

While Butler — along with Moses Moody — continues rehabbing, the Warriors have taken advantage of a somewhat exploitable schedule to post a 7-3 record and begin discovering what they can be. They are profoundly imperfect but capable, relatively small but sometimes play big.

As they wake up Monday morning, they sit in fifth place in the Western Conference.

Shortly before the Oct. 21 season opener, we described six objectives that, if met, should result in the Warriors finishing among the top six teams in the West. This is the first of six scheduled progress reports during the season:

1) Curry and Porziņģis combine to play 120 games

This goal never had a heartbeat, as Porziņģis has not suited up, has not been with the team and is much closer to retirement than stepping onto an NBA court for tipoff.

So, we adjust. And so does coach Steve Kerr.

The biggest casualty of losing Porziņģis is that it has forced Kerr to scale back his desire for more “five-out” offense. KP’s deep-shooting ability made him the No. 2 asset, behind Curry. The outcome has non-shooter Draymond Green returning to center.

Curry, meanwhile, has been phenomenal. He has played eight of 10 games, which projects to 65 over the 82-game season. If all goes well, he’ll at least meet the 65-game threshold required for postseason awards. He could push closer to 70.

Curry’s 31.3 points per game is the second highest of his career and places him second in the NBA this season, while averaging fewer than 30 minutes per game.

Quote: “As long as I’ve got my health and this (home) crowd and this team, I’m going to keep giving it everything I’ve got.” – Curry after a 41-point performance on Saturday

Progress Report grade: B. Curry gets an A, but losing Porziņģis robs Golden State of a significant offensive dimension.

2) Butler and Moody return before the All-Star break

All signs, according to team sources, point to this being possible, if not probable.

With three-plus months to go before the break, both players are on schedule, if not slightly ahead. Their regular workouts include putting up shots from all spots on the court and individual work is becoming more intense.

Moody is feeling confident enough to step onto the Chase Center floor and work on his 3-ball before fans during halftime of games. Butler’s workouts have been increasingly intense.

Quote: “I watch Moses do his workouts on the court either before or after our practices, and I saw Jimmy in full uniform the other day getting a workout. It’s great to have them in the building and training. It’s a good reminder of what’s coming.” – Kerr last weekend

Progress Report grade: Incomplete. Projection is leaning heavily toward A.

3) Lendeborg makes the All-Rookie first team

We expected Yaxel Lendeborg to be good, but the 6-foot-10, 247-pound rookie forward has been better than objectively envisioned.

The Warriors and their fans don’t want to even think about where this team would be without the contributions of the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA draft.

Lendeborg is averaging 21.2 points per game while shooting 50.4 percent from the field, including 40.4 percent beyond the arc. He’s also averaging 7.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

Moreover, the 24-year-old has established himself as the team’s second-best player, generally running the offense when Curry is off the floor. Lendeborg’s on-ball defense has been good, and his off-ball defense is striding toward needed improvement.

Lendeborg looks like a pillar for Golden State’s post-Curry phase and a future NBA All-Star.

Quote: “We’ve been able to see (Lendeborg’s) consistency of effort and aggressiveness, and then the composure to make solid plays. It’s incredible to watch.” – Curry last weekend

Progress Report grade: A. Lendeborg has been sensational. If he maintains his current trajectory, he’ll meet the objective and be a leading contender for Rookie of the Year.

4) Finish among the top 10 in defensive rating

After an ugly start, the Warriors are building a defense that shows considerable promise.

Associate head coach/defensive coordinator Frank Vogel’s goal is to finish as one of the league’s 10 best defenses. Golden State at this point ranks 14th in defensive rating.

But a deeper look reveals an encouraging trend. The Warriors through their first five games were 27th. Over the last five games, they are sixth in the league, and behind only Oklahoma City and San Antonio in the West.

Green, the centerpiece of the defense, is playing very well for an undersized 36-year-old “big man.” His work against two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (Heat) and three-time MVP Nikola Jokić (Nuggets) were crucial in wins over those teams.

Quote: “We’re competing, trying to do everything that I’m asking them to do. We have a base coverage system of how we want to defend certain things. There are a lot of pillars to great defenses, like protecting the paint first, transition defense, one-shot defense. Those types of things that are uniform no matter who you’re playing.” – Vogel to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke last weekend.

Progress Report grade: B. There have been lapses in transition defense, donating points off turnovers. The only teams giving away more points off turnovers are the cellar-dwelling Hornets, Bulls and Clippers.

5) Shoot above 37.5 percent from deep

Through 10 games, the Warriors are draining 3-pointers at a league-leading 39.5-percent rate, ticking up to 41.9 percent during their win streak.

Five players are above 40 percent, led by Curry’s 44.7 mark. Will Richard is at 42.9, while Al Horford and De’Anthony Melton are at 41.7, and Lendeborg is at 40.4. Close behind them is Brandin Podziemski at 39.2 percent.

Curry, shooting 48.5 percent from deep during the win streak, is amid one of the best stretches of his career, behind February 2016 – including the “double-bang” game-winner – and April 2021.

The biggest surprises have been Melton and Lendeborg. Both are competent deep shooters, but they’ve been exceptional. Among rotational perimeter players, only Brandon Williams (30.4) and Gui Santos (33.3) are below 35 percent.

Quote: “The general thing is less random basketball and offense. Trying to get more organized and more pattern-based, so everybody feels comfortable out there. At times we’ve relied on chaos to find good shots or get me off ball, with Draymond being able to run the offense that way. We still have bits and pieces of that, and there are moments where it needs to happen.” – Curry last week.

Progress Report grade: A-plus. Such accuracy might not last, but it’s a splendid start, particularly considering the offense has been a mix of old and new schemes.

6) Conquer their consistent turnover habit

Turnovers have been discussed ad nauseum for years, were highlighted in the offseason by general manager Mike Dunleavy, and 10 games in, continue to be an area of concern.

The Warriors are averaging 17.0 giveaways per game – even more than their 15.7 per-game average last season.

The larger issue is that they are being punished by opponents, who are averaging 21.3 points off the charity.

Lendeborg, learning in real time what it takes to be a catalyst at this level, leads the team with 35 turnovers, 3.5 per game. He is trending in the wrong direction, committing 24 over his last six games, including at least four in three of those games.

Behind Lendeborg is Green, with 26 turnovers over eight games, with a season-high of five (twice). Curry, who along with Green has lost the privilege of allotted allowable turnovers, is heeding the hopes of Kerr and Dunleavy, committing 15 turnovers in eight games. Podziemski has been excellent, committing one turnover per 22.5 minutes.

Quote: “After getting off to an 0-3 start and ending up 7-3 is pretty good. I’ll give us a B, B-plus. We have a lot of things we can get better at. We’re still not quite where we want to be as far as turning the ball over. We’re executing better, but the execution isn’t where we want it to be.” – Green over the weekend

Progress Report grade: D. The only positive is that the Warriors are forcing slightly more turnovers (176) than they are committing (170).

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Austin Reaves and the Los Angeles Lakers earned a 121-116 victory over the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday, Nov. 8.

The Lakers improved to 9-2 on the season and remain in first place in the Western Conference. The team also moved to 2-0 in games in which Luka Doncic does not play.

Doncic has positiioned himself as the early favorite for the NBA’s MVP after leading the league in scoring and averaging 40.1 points per game.

The point guard was ruled out with lower back tightness, allowing for more scoring opportunities for Reaves.

“I was a lucky basketball player tonight,” Reaves told reporters after the game.

Reaves produced a game-high 43 points on 14-of-27 shooting from the field, against one of the league’s best defenses. He also went 4-for-6 from the three-point line and a perfect 11-for-11 from the free-throw line.

The Pistons were not surprised by Reaves' abilities, having pursued the shooting guard with strong interest during free agency in the offseason.

“Luka is an incredible player, and I think there are times when he's playing that A.R. kind of has to take a secondary role,” Lakers center Walker Kessler told reporters after the game. "But you could see tonight that he's a very capable player.

Kessler contributed to the victory, putting together a double-double performance with 12 points and 16 rebounds.

The Lakers offense as a unit also created a fast start and built a strong lead in the first quarter, outscoring the Pistons 38-14.

When do Lakers play next?

The Lakers will travel to play the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, Nov. 9 in the second game of a back-to-back at 7 p.m. ET.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Austin Reaves lead Lakers past Pistons with Luka Doncic out

DALLAS — Usually Julius Randle feasts on home cooking. But Sunday the Dallas native’s return to Big D couldn’t have gone much worse.

The Nets took a 130-93 beating at the hands of the Mavericks on the tail end of a back-to-back.

Though Randle had averaged 23.5 points, nine rebounds and 4.8 assists in his trips back here, the veteran forward struggled with just 13 points, four boards, three turnovers and finished a wretched minus-33.

“You look at the stat line and it’s 50 percent from the field. The turnovers sometimes, especially the bad ones in transition, and those are the tough ones,” Jordi Fernández said. “But even though it says four assists, I think he created potential assists. It was like a lot of them. And that’s the way we want to play with moving the ball, touching the paint, spraying it for 3.

“So I was happy with the approach. It’s just like we didn’t see the ball going enough times. And then we didn’t defend well at all. So you combine those two things and that’s what happened. You lose by a big margin.”

The Nets were short-handed in the backcourt, missing both Egor Dëmin and Mikel Brown Jr. 

Dëmin sat out a sixth straight game, after which the Nets will reevaluate the young guard’s leg injury. The Nets are slated to practice Tuesday in Dallas before playing Wednesday in New Orleans.

Dëmin suffered a right leg bone bruise in an Oct. 27 overtime loss at Boston. Two days later, the Nets announced he’d be reevaluated after one week. 

Meanwhile, Brown still has not been cleared to play in back-to-back games.

After center Day’Ron Sharpe entered Sunday’s game with 21 assists in his last two games — including a Nets center record 13 during a triple-double Saturday night in Atlanta — he added six more against the Mavericks.

“Yeah, I mean, he’s been unbelievable. [Saturday] a triple-double. I was proud of him, and impressed,” Fernández said. “I’m very, very happy with him, as hard as he plays. And he’s about the right things. And he has the right intentions. 

“So we’re going to continue to grow and grow with him. And like you said, he was very efficient playmaking for his teammates.”

Nolan Traore finished with 14 points, his fifth straight in double figures.

Danny Wolf added 10 points and three rebounds, getting another start in the backcourt.

Noah Clowney fouled out in just 7:47, putting the Nets in a bind.

“Yeah, that’s something that he’s got to figure out. He put us on the bonus right away in one minute, and that’s tough,” Fernández said. “I think that it comes from a good place, because I know he is an extremely competitive guy. But then doing the war on your own, it’s just tough at times.”

The Lakers (9-2) will continue their current five-game road trip in Atlanta where they will take on the Hawks (7-4) on Monday. This is the first matchup between the teams this season.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Atlanta Hawks

When: 4 p.m. PT, Nov. 6

Where: State Farm Arena

Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet

After taking down the league’s top-ranked defense in the Pistons on Sunday, the Lakers have little time to celebrate as they’re back on the court less than 24 hours later for a matchup in Atlanta. Both teams enter this meeting in good form with each looking to extend their win streaks.

The Lakers have strung together five in a row while the Hawks are not too far behind with four. One streak will end on Monday.

Los Angeles will have the rest disadvantage in this one after going down the wire with the Pistons today. But in fairness to the purple and gold, they’ve been doing well on the second leg of their back-to-back games this young season, winning two so far.

The biggest question mark entering this is whether Luka Dončić will suit up after he was sidelined with back tightness on Sunday. If the current MVP favorite does, then that would obviously be huge for the Lakers. Dončić can give the Hawks’ defense trouble like no other and that pressure will help free up the Lakers’ offense.

Speaking of the Lakers’ offense, it would really help if they knock down their shots in this one. The Hawks are a mediocre 3-point shooting team and have struggled to contain opposing shooters. They have Dyson Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to create havoc and disrupt passing lanes which is why it’ll be ideal if the team can contribute all-around instead of rallying on Dončić and Austin Reaves, who is coming off a 43-point game.

The Hawks have two dynamic and pesky guards in CJ McCollum and Alexander-Walker, so expect the Lakers’ perimeter defense to have its hands full. Remember, this isn’t the same Atlanta team since Trae Young departed. They’re a confident squad that plays commendable team basketball and at a much faster pace than the Lakers. Jalen Johnson might just be a matchup problem for the Lakers. Look for Atlanta to double down on that on Monday.

The Lakers’ grit has been one of the many enjoyable aspects of watching this team so far this season. It’s become a defining trait and hopefully we see it again versus the Hawks on Monday. Let’s see if the Lakers will be the team that walks away with their winning streak still intact.

Notes and Updates

• Since the Lakers played on Sunday, the injury report for this game will only be released hours before tipoff.
• It’s worth noting, though, that Quentin Grimes hurt his finger against the Pistons, so his status might be questionable for this one.
• For the Hawks’ injury report, Keshon Gilbert (left knee inflammation), Mouhamed Gueye (left foot fracture), Asa Newell (left great toe hyperextension), Henri Veesaar (right ACL tear) are out.
• Jock Landale (left hip strain) is questionable.

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.

It wasn’t always pretty, but the Minnesota Timberwolves found a way to push through and defeat the Utah Jazz on Sunday night.

Every time the Wolves would go on a bit of a run, the Jazz would claw their way right back into the game. It was not until late in the third quarter that Minnesota would comfortably pull away. This allowed the Wolves to salvage their showing against a team that came into the game at 1-8.

I’ve mentioned this in my recaps before, but in the past, a game like this could be considered a trap game. Playing against a team that is languishing in the standings is usually a recipe for disaster. Early on in the season, it would seem that Minnesota is doing a great job of rewriting that narrative.

The Wolves did what they were supposed to do by beating a team at the bottom of the standings. We shouldn’t take that for granted. I doubt any long-term fans will.

The victory over Utah was on-brand for the 2026-27 Timberwolves, featuring a slew of highlights and standout performances from many of the players who have been ascending in the absence of Anthony Edwards and Donte Divincenzo. Here are a few game notes that stood out to me.

Trey Lyles might be legit

I’ve been apprehensive about saying that Trey Lyles is going to be a meaningful part of this team. I mean, the guy was overseas last year. Yet, as is becoming tradition, Minnesota is looking like the premier rehabilitation hub for players who are looking for newfound life in their careers. Lyles is fitting right in.

The counting stats don’t jump off the page tonight with just nine points (3/6 shooting, 1/3 from deep), six boards, two assists, and a steal across 21 minutes of play. What jumps out instead is his +29 across those limited minutes in what amounted to a 15-point win. The guy can play, and it’s fair to wonder at this point why he wasn’t in the NBA last year.

Many folks I have talked to have branded Lyles as the team’s new Kyle Anderson, and even that comparison may be underselling his impact at this point in the season. Lyles is connecting lineup combinations in a way that we never saw with Anderson. He fits into any scheme at any point of the game, and he is rarely a negative on the floor, whereas Slow Mo needed a very specific set of circumstances to succeed.

On nights like tonight, when Jonathan Kuminga has an off performance (four points, three turnovers, and a team-worst -10), having a consistent presence like Lyles proves to be invaluable. Tim Connelly can apparently do no wrong with his roster construction, and Lyles is further emblematic of his prowess as a team builder.

Stars Shine as They Should

Against a (lowly) team like the Jazz, you need your bona fide contributors to not drop the ball. The quartet of Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert, Ayo Dosunmu, and LaMelo Ball were all up to the task, keeping the Wolves afloat against a Jazz team that showcased more fight than their record would suggest.

What more can we say about Dosunmu? He’s been revelatory in the starting lineup and, much like Lyles, seems to fit in and produce wherever he’s deployed. Scoring 26 points on just 13 shots is wildly efficient and, while his five turnovers were tied for the most on the team, he seemed to be unstoppable for most of the night.

It’s wild to think that Connelly acquired Dosunmu for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and a few second-round picks. Peanuts.

Ball was his usual self on the evening, providing plenty of highlight-worthy plays, some dazzling shot-making, and even throwing in a breakaway dunk for good measure. He shot 50% from the field on 20 shots, which is always a plus for a player who tends to struggle with efficiency. Not much to complain about on his end.

McDaniels was also efficient and filled the stat sheet on a small shot diet: 16 points (5/9 in general, 2/3 from deep), six boards, three assists, a steal, and a block, and a +17 across 33 minutes. Jaden did what he does, which is contribute in all facets of the game. Gobert had a whopping 15 rebounds, 10 points, and only missed two free throws. All around, it was a solid showing from the gang.

TJ Shannon Jr. also returned from his injury absence with a modest five-point performance. He may need some time to reacclimate himself to game speed. Fortunately, the Wolves have a bit of a break before their next matchup (Thursday night against the Dallas Mavericks), so he can continue to rest his injured hip.

Michael Grady

In an otherwise uneventful game, it was refreshing to hear Michael Grady back on the call.

Obviously, Grady has increasing commitments that take him away from doing Wolves games. That’s all good, and nobody deserves it more than he does. However, it is always nice to hear his chemistry with Jim Petersen shine during the home broadcasts.

The joy was palpable early on in this game, and it is easy to tell how much Grady still loves calling Wolves games. His national broadcasts are similarly fantastic, though the degree to which he feels at home with Minnesota brings a warm feeling to the game-watching experience that we, as fans, shouldn’t take for granted.

None of this is a knock on Kevin Calabro, who has been able to provide a different angle to the watching experience that will only improve the more that his chemistry grows with Petersen. Calabro is good and is exactly as advertised. Yet, Grady is, and will always be, our dude. While he’s still with us, we need to soak this up while we can.

Game Highlights

Up Next

The Timberwolves get a bit of a break after a torrid start to the season, taking on the Mavericks on Thursday, November 12th at 7:00 PMCT. Catch the game on DAZN-MIN and NBA TV.