Category: Basketball

Sixers-Bucks by the numbers: New faces, paint points and opposite halves originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Bucks team visiting Philadelphia on Saturday night does not look much like the one the Sixers have grown accustomed to facing.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis are in Miami. Four former Heat players have entered Milwaukee’s rotation. Taylor Jenkins has replaced Doc Rivers as head coach, and the Bucks have opened the season with losses to the Wizards and Bulls.

The Sixers, who will be without LeBron James, will begin a back-to-back Saturday. Milwaukee will complete one at Xfinity Mobile Arena after playing its home opener Friday night.

Two games are not enough to establish what the Bucks will be this season. They have provided a few numbers worth knowing before the Sixers attempt to improve to 3-0.

139

Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakučionis have combined for 139 of Milwaukee’s 241 points.

The four players acquired from Miami in the Antetokounmpo trade have accounted for 57.7 percent of Milwaukee’s scoring. By comparison, Philadelphia’s offseason additions have scored 45 percent of the Sixers’ points.

Herro has scored 58 points. Jaquez has added 41, while Jakučionis and Ware have combined for 40 off the bench.

Herro and Jaquez have started both games alongside Ryan Rollins, Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner. Jakučionis and Ware have been regular members of Jenkins’ rotation.

Herro has led Milwaukee in scoring and assists. Jaquez is averaging 20.5 points and nine rebounds. The four former Heat players have already become the largest part of the Bucks’ offense.

123.9

Milwaukee has allowed 123.9 points per 100 possessions through two games, the NBA’s second-worst defensive rating entering Saturday.

The Bucks have surrendered 130 points per game despite their opponents shooting only 18 for 73 from three-point range, the fourth-lowest opponent rate in the sport.

Washington and Chicago combined to make 24.7 percent of their threes. Milwaukee has shot 39.1 percent from deep and made 16 more three-pointers than its opponents, giving the Bucks a 48-point advantage from behind the arc.

They have still been outscored by 19 points.

The difference has come closer to the basket and at the foul line.

Plus-42 and minus-25

The Sixers have outscored their opponents 121-79 after halftime.

Their plus-42 second-half margin allowed them to erase a four-point halftime deficit against New York and a 24-point halftime deficit against Cleveland.

Milwaukee has moved in the other direction. The Bucks led at halftime in both games but have been outscored 148-123 during the second half. They have lost the two fourth quarters by a combined 24 points.

The way Philadelphia rallied against Cleveland also lines up with Milwaukee’s early defensive issues.

The Sixers scored 69 points in the second half Thursday. They scored 36 in the paint, went 18 for 22 from the foul line and committed only two turnovers.

They did that while making only three of their 13 three-point attempts.

The Sixers did not need a hot shooting half to come back. They protected the ball, reached the lane and drew fouls.

66

Milwaukee has allowed 66 paint points per game, the worst mark through two contests.

Washington outscored the Bucks 70-50 in the paint during the season opener. Chicago followed with a 62-44 advantage Friday.

That leaves Milwaukee with a minus-38 paint differential.

The Sixers scored 64 paint points against a Cleveland frontcourt featuring Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Thirty-six came after halftime, when Philadelphia scored 69 points and turned a 24-point deficit into an eight-point victory.

Milwaukee starts Turner and brings the 7-foot Ware off its bench. That size has not prevented opponents from consistently reaching the paint.

Maxey, Brown and James all give the Sixers ways to attack off the dribble. Embiid presents another interior challenge if Philadelphia can deliver him the ball without repeating the turnover problems from Thursday’s first half.

71

Washington and Chicago attempted 71 free throws against Milwaukee.

The Bucks committed 32 fouls against the Wizards, who went 32 for 41 from the line. Milwaukee committed another 27 fouls Friday as Chicago made 28 of 30 attempts.

The Bucks have been outscored 60-33 at the foul line. They have allowed 22 more attempts and made only 67.3 percent of their own free throws.

Philadelphia has attempted 57 free throws through two games. The Sixers took 22 during the second half of their comeback against Cleveland.

The Bucks have allowed opponents to score 132 points in the paint and make 60 free throws. Those two areas have accounted for 192 of the 260 points Milwaukee has surrendered.

72:48

Milwaukee gave first- and second-year players only 318 minutes during the entire 2025-26 season, the lowest total in the NBA. Every other team gave that group more than 1,300.

The Bucks have already distributed 72 minutes and 48 seconds to first- and second-year players through two games.

Second-year guard Jakučionis has played 48:56. Rookie guard Brayden Burries has logged 23:52. They are the only Milwaukee players in their first two seasons who have appeared.

Their combined total is already 22.9 percent of Milwaukee’s full-season figure from last year.

That does not mean the same rate will continue over 82 games. It does show the immediate difference between a roster built around Antetokounmpo and one beginning to evaluate its younger players.

The Bucks’ roster is new. The clearest place for the Sixers to attack is not. Philadelphia scored 69 second-half points Thursday by getting inside and reaching the foul line. Milwaukee has spent its first two games allowing both.

Sixers rule James out for matchup with Bucks originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

LeBron James will sit out for the first time as a Sixer on Saturday night.

The 2-0 Sixers downgraded James’ status from questionable to out Saturday afternoon before their meeting with the 0-2 Bucks at Xfinity Mobile Arena. James’ official listing on the injury report was “low back/sciatica management.” 

Dominick Barlow (lower back stress reaction), Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tendon tear) and Tacko Fall (left quadriceps strain) were also listed as out. Dean Wade remained questionable as of Saturday afternoon with a left ankle sprain.

The night off for the 41-year-old James does not come as a surprise. The Sixers will finish their first back-to-back of the season Sunday when they host the Pistons. 

The team hasn’t detailed its exact plans with James and Joel Embiid’s availability, but the Sixers have made it clear that neither star will be every-game players this season. Embiid said he expects to play one leg of the back-to-back, so it appears he’ll be out Sunday. 

“We have plenty of meetings and discussions about it. … It’s obviously an important topic,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said on Sept. 29. “Like our fans and like all of us, we want those two guys ready to go come April.”

James averaged 33.5 minutes over the Sixers’ first two games and posted 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.0 steals per contest. 

The season has begun, but the good feelings have not joined the party. The Brooklyn Nets began their 60th season at home against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, but everyone left it feeling frustrated and disappointed as the home team lost 110-103.

The Flatbush 5 looked flat and while Mikel Brown Jr. looked good, it was in limited minutes, a situation likely to continue for a while.

The opponent tonight is trying to break into the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference, but Opening Night brought back some horrible memories. The Cleveland Cavaliers were up by 29 points against the Philadelphia 76ers, but somehow let the lead slip as they suffered a dispiriting 114-106 loss. Ouch.

Game info and broadcast details

• Matchup: Brooklyn Nets vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
• Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
• Time: 7:30 PM EST (6:30 PM CST)
• Venue: Rocket Arena (Cleveland, Ohio)
• TV/Streaming: YES Network/DAZN

Nets vs. Cavaliers: Who’s out?

Brooklyn Nets

• Out – Tyler Bilodeau (right shoulder sprain)

Cleveland Cavaliers

• Out – Khalifa Diop (left knee)
• Out – Nae’Qwan Tomlin (lower back)

The game

Julius Randle had a solid outing in his Brooklyn debut. The former All-Star scored 30 points and was the team’s best player. Afterwards, he took responsibility for the team’s lack of success o the boards and moments of malaise. It’s what your team leader is supposed to do and Julius is setting the tone for how this team ought to play in 2026-2027.

Randle will have his hands full on the inside with the duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. The Cavs duo helped hold opponents to just 63 percent shooting inside the restricted area, third best mark in the NBA last season. Finishing at the rim against this team is a tall task, and Randle will have to find his way to the cup. Philadelphia punished the Cavs in transition to spur the comeback, and it would help the Nets immensely if they could get out and run early and often.

Of course, the big story at least for fans is when will we see Mikel Brown Jr., without minutes restrictions. MBJ looked good in his 19 minute debut vs. the Hornets but Jordi Fernandez offered no firm timeline on when the restrictions would be ended.

“[The minutes restriction] is not going to change in a way. He played 19 games last year, I believe. This season is 82,” Fernandez said after the team’s practice session on Friday. “We’re going to build him to be healthy and to be a strong NBA player. We have a plan for him. Obviously we’re not going to disclose every single step of the way, but the number one thing is to build him up and build up his body to be able to sustain the minutes that can help the team win games.”

At least we have this from Michael Porter Jr. to help us get through things:

“There’s been practices where he’s completely dominated” Porter said. “So, there’s not a lot of weakness in his game.”

Tonight is the first night of a back-to-back for the Nets. Once this wraps up, they’re heading home for a Sunday night matchup against Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers. Will Brown play vs. Indiana? The Nets want to be better this year, and this weekend will be a big early test of that.

Player to watch: Donovan Mitchell

If Cleveland wants to finally break through, they’re going to need Mitchell to get them there. Mitchell is one of the best players in the sport and someone that can heat up at a moment’s notice. Mitchell has tormented the Nets for many years and it will take a team effort to slow him down. With this being Cleveland’s home opener, look for Mitchell to start with an extra level of aggression to set the tone for the night.

Egor Dëmin had a pretty terrible game on Opening Night! He said as much in postgame

“I’m not very happy with how I ended up playing the game. I started with two [made] buckets but then kind of just got slower from a standpoint of my intensity, and I’ve definitely got to bring the energy, higher energy.’

As the lead guard on the team, it’s up to Egor to play with the appropriate energy and level of desperation needed to get the win. Brooklyn had a lot of unforced errors against the Hornets, and Dëmin will be responsible for organizing a better, more cohernt offensive unit tonight.

From the Vault

How bout we cruise to Larry June?

More reading: Fear the Sword, Sports Illustrated, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Nets Insider, SNY, Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, Steve’s Newsletter

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Cleveland Cavaliers Game Notes – Cleveland Cavaliers
• The Nets’ plan for Mikel Brown Jr. is going to require plenty of patience – Howie Kussoy – New York Post
• Nets’ crowded rotation leaves three sophomores waiting as Jordi Fernández stays patient ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Why Nets rookie Mikel Brown Jr.’s minutes restriction won’t change ‘anytime soon’ – Erik Slater – Clutch Points

The Atlanta Hawks continued their unbeaten start to the 2026-27 season as they notched a record-margin victory against the Charlotte Hornets with a 128-81 battering on Friday night at Spectrum Center; a winning margin of 48 points. The Hawks’ scoring was led by Jalen Johnson’s and Aaron Wiggins’ 19 points apiece as seven players scored in double-digits. For the Hornets, Naz Reid scored 17 points as they battled without Coby White and Kon Knueppel.

The Hornets took a brief lead in the first quarter as they racked up some offensive rebounds/second chance scoring opportunities, but once the Hawks reeled off an 11-0 run to take a 15-9 lead by the first timeout they would never look back in this game. What was established from quarter one — and would continue all throughout the game, even with the end-of-bench guys in the fourth quarter — was defense. The Hawks made life miserable for the Hornets all night long: from contesting shots, to running the Hornets down to short-clock scenarios (forcing them into tough shots as the 24-seconds loom) to forcing/creating turnovers, it was relentless from the Hawks.

The first quarter margin of 13 points in Atlanta’s favor wasn’t too unusual in an NBA first quarter, but the Hornets’ struggles continued and inside a couple of minutes in the second quarter the lead had risen beyond 20 points. By halftime, the lead had risen to 25, and it didn’t take too long to grow to 30 points in the third quarter.

Dyson Daniels, a menace all night defensively, racked up four steals alone in the third quarter — taking his tally up to seven (!) — as the Hornets scored two points in just under the opening six minutes of the quarter to ensure this game was dead and buried.

The Hornets waved the white flag to begin the fourth quarter, and the Hawks followed suit several minutes later (with one eye on today’s fixture against the Houston Rockets). The defensive intensity with that end-of-bench unit continued, with Dorian Finney-Smith in particular enforcing himself on the defensive end. The lead rose as high as 49 points before finally settling on a 48 point margin of victory, the highest in Hawks franchise history.

The Hawks blitzed the Hornets and set a new franchise record (!!) for margin of victory in a 128-81 win.

Complete domination, including 27 turnovers forced (17 steals) on defense and 37 assists on offense.

Full breakdown coming on the @LockedOnHawks podcast.

— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) October 24, 2026

Postgame, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder was more so pleased with the manner of the victory more so than the margin of victory.

“We’ve been in this business and, as a player or coach long enough, you’re on both sides of those things,” said Snyder on the record-setting margin of victory. “I think for us it’s more about how we play and I think it’s important for us to keep that focus. We won the game the way we did because we played a certain way and that’s what we need to take from it, as much as anything.”

It’s more so inferring that Snyder was happy with how the Hawks played with a defensive edge and physicality, which was present all throughout the game. Dyson Daniels was excellent in this regard, not just for his headline grabbing seven steals, but he played a key role in guarding the Hornets’ new number one scoring option, Brandon Miller.

“He just finds so many ways to impact the game,” said Snyder of Daniels. “Whether it’s on the offensive glass, defensively making plays, anytime he generates possessions for your team. The more possessions the better. He does that at an elite level. …Playing through him and his ability to give people advantages, he’s a special player.”

The Hornets played poorly in this game, and they continued to throw the same passes in lanes where Daniels was stood, picking them off with ease as the steals racked up, particularly in the third-quarter. His on-ball pressure made Charlotte’s ball-handlers uncomfortable, prompting many errors and mistakes.

For the game, the Hawks recorded 17 steals while the Hornets committed 27 turnovers, leading to 25 points off of turnovers. These elements are part of an identity the Hawks are looking to form.

“We’re trying to develop an identity and that identity is defending, running and sharing the ball,” said Snyder. “When those three things happen, particularly in that sequence when you get stops and we can get out and convert, our ability to convert in transition and take advantage of the stops, or creating some steals, that fuels runs.”

At this point, and several before, I’d love to actually run through defensive clips and how the Hawks excelled, forced turnovers, made Miller’s life difficult etc., and I’d love to share more Hawks quotes, but the NBA has made none of these available as of writing this…

So, instead, let’s run through some quick-fire takeaways from this game:

The Hawks absolutely dominated this game; they outscored the Hornets by 10 or more points in every single quarter. It was impressive that the Hawks’ end-of-bench unit (plus Kingston Flemings) convincingly won against the Hornets’ unit to maintain that margin.

It also highlights the Hawks’ depth — Corey Kispert and Asa Newell were rotation guys last season in the regular season and they could only see game-time when the Hawks are 30+ points clear. From a roster standpoint, there are worse positions to be in! Finney-Smith looked good when he was in the lineup too.

Speaking of the Hawks’ depth, the bench was excellent last night, scoring 61 points led by Aaron Wiggins’ 19 points as he shot 7-of-9 from the field and 3-of-5 from three. Wiggins was part of a second unit lineup that featured Flemings, Alexander-Walker, Wiggins, Dort, and Jock Landale. That lineup has a nice balance of playmaking, shooting, physicality, and size — it was a lineup I’d like to see in action more at this early part of the season.

Speaking of Flemings, I thought he was excellent last night. He scored his first NBA points, but it was his willingness to pass — and the quality of his passing — which really stood out last night. Flemings did an excellent job setting up opportunities for his teammates, racking up eight assists. He set up many more than this assist number credits him for and could have easily had 13 or more assists in this game. Flemings also had some good rebounds, which is an added bonus (six in total last night).

The extended garbage time allowed him a good opportunity for longer minutes, with the Hawks’ winning work allowing them a large margin for further opportunities. Flemings looked great in a backup point guard role, and that’s what the Hawks have sorely missed from a young guard.

Something I’ve enjoyed this season so far is seeing more of Dyson Daniels in ball-screen actions as the screener. I’m not sure his concerns from three-point range will ever really go away, and one way to limit the potential problems that can bring is to involve him in this way. There was a play in the second half where Daniels set the screen for Johnson which led to a basket. I just liked the way the Hawks have used him in this way. Plus, Daniels is great with his off-ball movement and has a good touch at/around the rim with his floater/runner, so he can maybe roll a little on these plays as well.

I thought this was a game that really highlighted the advantages of continuity at this stage of the regular season. Aside from the additions of Dort, Wiggins, and Flemings (important but not on the franchise-changing scale). This is a Hawks side that knows how to play with each other, more so in the case of the starting lineup — they look like they haven’t missed a beat from last season so far.

The Hornets, however, made a decision to cash in on LaMelo Ball’s season and move into the direction of Brandon Miller as the offensive focal point, in addition to integrating major offensive pieces like Naz Reid and Grayson Allen in place of Miles Bridges, who had been around the Hornets for a long time. While the absence of Coby White and Kon Knueppel was clear for the Hornets, that team has a lot to figure out offensively as they figure out what life in a post-LaMelo era looks like and Miller adjusts to his role.

From the Hawks’ perspective, they don’t have to go through growing pains like this: the hierarchy is clear. Last night wasn’t just a win defensively, it was a win for continuity, and as they face teams who have gone through some significant changes there will be chances to take advantage of that lack of continuity.

All in all, a crushing victory for the Hawks, it really was a perfect night for them. Their defensive potential is the big take-home message from this game. It didn’t need a Jalen Johnson triple-double or 31 points from Alexander-Walker or McCollum to ensure a comfortable victory. Atlanta did it with defense, and it just took so much pressure off their offense (which hummed to 50% shooting from the field and 40% from three anyways). A huge margin of victory on the first night of a back-to-back; no one played huge minutes nor needed to play big minutes.

These first two road games weren’t the easiest on paper, particularly Orlando, but the Hawks have come out on top and in an encouraging fashion. Now, the biggest test of their early season comes in their home opener against the Houston Rockets, victorious themselves on Friday night in San Antonio. Should be an enthralling affair for the State Farm opener!

Until next time…

Some “fan” apparently forgot which team Mitchell Robinson plays for.

Former Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson posted an Instagram Story hours after besting his former team Friday in his first contest since leaving for the Celtics in free agency, in which he called out a fan who apparently believed he still played for the blue and orange.

“Hey, tell me why a fan, bro, said that we lost tonight?” Robinson said while wearing a pink Bass Pro Shop hoodie and seemingly in a car after Boston’s 107-103 home win. “I think he still think I play for the Knicks, and I’m like, ‘You dumb motherf–ker. He a fake fan, bro.”

Robinson laughed off the remarks, adding that he’s “out here in Boston having the time off my life” before going off on the fan, labeling the person as “stupid as a b—h.”

The center certainly could enjoy the night and the interactions after he secured the upper hand, at least for one night, after he helped drop his former team to 0-2.

Robinson had four points, four rebounds and two assists, registering a minus-two rating during his 22 minutes on the court to help Boston rebound to 1-1 after an Opening Day choke against the Pistons.

This season marks his first playing for a team other than the Knicks after he left the team for the rival Celtics, signing a three-year, $47.4 million deal to be Boston’s starting center.

He had been the Knicks’ longest-tenured player and ended his time on a high note, winning the franchise’s first title in 53 years last season in June, and he holds no ill will toward his former employer despite stating that they never formally offered him a new contract

“Yeah. I was like, cool,” he said Friday night. There wasn’t bad blood behind it. Fresh start.” 

He noted that joining Boston may not have sat well with Knicks fan, but he didn’t care.

Robinson added that he’s more involved offensively — albeit through two games — in Boston’s system.

“That was the only thing that was kind of different was going to the rivals. But you know me, man. I like to troll,” Robinson said. “Nobody was happy with that move. But I was.” 

Robinson received a standing ovation from his new fan base Friday after he blocked Karl-Anthony Towns in the fourth quarter and shortly after scored on an alley-oop to give the Celtics a 12-point lead.

He said it was “cool” to play against his former team for the first time — and that all the years with the franchise provided some extra help.

“Still NBA, so playing against them guys, so I know all they plays and stuff like that,” Robinson said. “Just a little battle.”

BOSTON — For years, before every game, Neemias Queta has gotten up three-pointer after three-pointer after three-pointer.

Sometimes, he’ll make five in a row.

On good days, he’ll make ten.

But since he arrived in Boston three years ago, Queta’s three-point practice has been just that: practice. The 27-year-old has attempted just 11 threes in his three seasons with the Celtics, saving the shot for Auerbach Center afternoons and TD Garden pregames.

But on Friday night, in a 107-103 win over the New York Knicks, Queta pulled up for a corner three-pointer as though it had long been in his toolkit.

Swish.

The shot marked Queta’s second made career NBA three-pointer and validated tireless behind-the-scenes work. It also came at a crucial time — late in the third quarter, with the Celtics nursing a 4-point lead.

“It just felt great,” Queta told CelticsBlog after the game. “My whole life I’ve been shooting and just getting better at the shot, and finally just to get one in, the first one of the season, no hesitation, shoot it with confidence; that was great. So, happy for that – and hopefully a lot more will come.”

QU3TA pic.twitter.com/WXvMoqUTIA

— Pull up shoot (@NElGHT_) October 24, 2026

Since Queta arrived in Boston in 2023, he’s worked with a long list of player development coaches, a list that includes DaSean Butler, Amile Jefferson, Steve Tchiengang, Tony Dobbins, and Ross McMains. 

“It’s pretty much the whole staff,” Queta said. “We work on shooting in general, so all the pinpointing stuff that we can learn from each guy. It’s something I really appreciate; having different insights from different guys and leaning on those guys over the years has been really helpful.”

Several of the Celtics player development coaches even traveled to Portugal this past summer to help Queta coach his youth basketball camp — Queta named Nana Foulland and McMains as two examples.

When they weren’t coaching the kids, the Celtics’ player development staff worked out with Queta and helped him refine his three-pointer.

“They instilled a lot of confidence in the shot,” he said.

For Jayson Tatum, the decision to find Queta came from pure instinct

The play began with Jayson Tatum driving to the basket. Knicks forward OG Anunoby stepped in front of him, hoping to slow Tatum’s third-quarter onslaught (the Celtics superstar poured in a game-high 16 points in the period, and shot 8-for-10 in the paint on the night).

So Tatum instinctively dished it to the corner, and said he realized that it was Queta who was standing there a half second too late.

“I knew somebody was in the corner,” Tatum said with a smile.

Just not the Portuguese big man who rarely ever shoots from outside.

But he noted how much work Queta has put into his three-point shot, especially with McMains’s help.

“Neem has worked on being a threat around the three-point line,” he said. “He works on that every single day.”

Your daily reminder that Neemias Queta can shoot three-pointers pic.twitter.com/dk9kFLy87P

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) May 23, 2024

Tatum hit three clutch jump shots in the final two minutes of the win over the Knicks, capped by a three-pointer that effectively put the game away.

But no shot brought him as much joy as watching Queta’s three-pointer drop.

“To me, that was my favorite part of the game, right?” Tatum said. “Kicking it out to him in a big moment, seeing him shoot it with confidence — I was so fucking happy that he made that shot. Cause now Joe can’t be on his ass. He made one, and it gives him leeway to shoot another one. But my reaction, the bench’s reaction, I know everybody was super, super excited to see him shoot that with confidence and make it, especially in that moment of the game.”

Queta’s big three came on the heels of some elite defense

Queta’s shot came just moments after one of his best defensive sequences of the night: a big-time block against Josh Hart.

He ended up on the floor, and Joe Mazzulla ran from the sideline emphatically to pick him up.

“Neemi showed what he was capable of,” Mazzulla said. “So, just had to let them know — that’s the standard that we have to play to.”

In his 22 minutes, Queta racked up 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks. None was louder than his late-third-quarter swat.

“It was one of those turning points in the game where those types of plays got us energy, the crowd got going,” Queta said. “Moments like that can help you win big-time games when your team needs it.”

Queta felt good about the defensive sequence, and it felt fitting that he hit a big three on the next possession.

“When you go out there, and you get a deflection, a block — sometimes those things help,” he said. “The basketball gods, they even things out, and I think that’s what happened.”

Expect more three-pointers from the 7-footer this season.

“No doubt,” Queta said. “Just off the spacing that we have, I’ll be on the perimeter more. If nobody comes up to me and I stay wide open, I’ll just shoot it with confidence, like in the workouts. And I think that’s gonna be something that we can rely on in the season.”

I’ll admit it. When I saw Paul George on that ESPN graphic next to Jaylen Brown when Shams Charania broke the blockbuster deal this summer, I wanted to spike my phone.

BLOCKBUSTER: The Boston Celtics have agreed to trade Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/xNcNlIV2mh

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2026

Sure, he’d just had a nice playoff run for the Philadelphia 76ers. But George’s $110 million owed over two years (player option next season) was widely viewed as one of, if not the worst, contracts in the NBA. At 36 years old, there’s no way he was going to get better.

Right?

Wrong.

Through two games, not only has George shattered the expectations of every non-team-employee in the Celtics community, but he’s earned himself at least one stan in me.

Unc still got it https://t.co/55S6MiLaCxpic.twitter.com/sJZWMzT05W

— Sam LaFrance (@SamLaFranceNBA) October 24, 2026

George’s record-breaking 38-point debut in Tuesday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons got plenty of shine. As it should’ve. He was absolutely dialed in from deep, created shots for himself off the dribble, and got to the line consistently.

More than anything, it felt like a statement. All of the “washed” labeling had been premature according to George’s game after he let his play do the talking.

Friday’s 15-point performance in Boston’s 107-103 over the New York Knicks did just as much for me, to be honest. Was it as cool as watching the nine-time All-Star drilling heat check after heat check?

No.

But, it gave a more realistic scope of what we can all expect from the veteran forward on a regular basis, and how he can impact winning in ways that don’t necessarily come up in the stat sheet. George’s defensive game delivers in a similar fashion to how Jrue Holiday’s did a few years ago.

There’s this added connectivity when he’s on the floor. It feels like the rotations are quicker. The passing lanes are smaller. Teams simply have a harder time running their offense. Opponents have looked like they’re wearing straightjackets in the halfcourt throughout this first month of both preseason and regular-season hoops.

Oh, and the stats are there, too. George is tied for the second most steals the first two games of a season with seven. He swiped just as many in two preseason appearances. PG13’s eight deflections thus far are tied with Dyson Daniels for the most in the NBA. It’s clear that he has both defensive quarterback and cornerback written all over him.

Brad Stevens clearly had a vision for George’s fit when he decided to sign off on trading Brown last summer. He knew that his team’s team defense would be dialed up to 100 and PG would give the Cs some important offensive support.

Even Friday — an average feeling offensive night — George still knocked down three of his seven attempts from distance. His consistency as a catch-and-shoot guy dominated the copium-infused analytics arguments of the late summer months for good reason.

Per Databallr, his spacing true-shooting percentage (which accounts for offball opportunities) was nearly 3% above league average and ranked in the 75th percentile. In years where he’s played on more talented teams than the 7th-seeded 76ers of last season, George consistently ranked in the league’s top-tier.

There’s plenty of reason to believe that he should return to that elite level playing alongside Jayson Tatum on this deep Celtics squad.

George hasn’t hid from the fact that he’s past his prime. He’s embraced it. It’s not hard to see how leaning into his role with the Cs can maximize his success in it. Plus, you’ll still get the occassional game like Tuesday, where he looks like prime Paul George.

And for that… we stan.

Coming off a rough season-opening loss to the Pistons, Jayson Tatum faced a uniquely high level of scrutiny after just one game. But i n a second straight primetime matchup against the reigning champion New York Knicks, Tatum flipped the script. 

In the span of the game’s final 84 seconds, Tatum hit Boston’s last three field goals, each a little crazier than the last, and all perfectly defended. 

It’s what everyone will remember about this 107-103 win: the jumpers on both corners, the “Good Night, Safe Travels” pump-and-fire three, the unstoppable, unguardable, unyielding force of a star simply playing on another level from those unfortunate enough to guard him. 

The Anomaly was anomalous. 

And yet, there’s so much more to this performance than three clutch shots. Jayson Tatum did everything on offense: 36 points on 54% efficiency, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals, with just 2 turnovers and 2 fouls. That is a superstar-level performance. 

Three aspects of Tatum’s offensive game stood out about this primetime masterclass: his patience attacking the Knicks, his passing vision exploiting their attention toward him, and the final chef’s kiss of his elite shot-making to close the game. 

Patient Scoring

The most noticeable thing about Tatum’s scoring in this game was how effectively Boston’s early actions got him into his preferred spaces, and how methodical he was in attacking New York’s help defenders. 

In the first minute of the game, this play got Tatum on the board, with Jordan Walsh setting a backscreen that allows JT to cut to the low block. Tatum has a great view of the rest of the floor, and he takes a beat to see if help’s on the way. It doesn’t come, and he attacks, hitting a fallaway over Josh Hart. 

This third quarter play was an excellent example of JT’s quick decision-making working to counteract New York’s defensive attention geared toward him as a slasher. 

As Tatum gets into his drive from the right slot, the Knicks cut him off by building a wall. Tatum quickly retreats, gets the ball to Derrick White, and works into a pick-and-roll.

This decision was, effectively, a relocation in the form of a short roll. Credit to Mitchell Robinson for pulling Karl Anthony-Towns to the paint and Paul George for floating to the corner, breaking up the wall and allowing Tatum to operate in the mid-range against a single defender. 

Two minutes later, Tatum has this excellent baseline drive, and his awareness and quick reaction to the strongside help goes a long way to clearing the lane. 

As Miles McBride closes in, Tatum quickly kicks to the corner. McBride recovers to get up a contest as White fakes and drives, and Tatum fills in his space in the corner at the perfect time. It both gets him a switch onto a more favorable matchup in McBride and clears the lane for a baseline drive. Tatum gets a step on McBride, maneuvers around Karl Anthony-Towns, and finishes an impressive reverse layup. 

Tatum would later take over in a different fashion, but a majority of his scoring success came from a patient approach that broke down defensive barriers and created space for him to attack from all over the floor. 

Gravitational Playmaking

For a second straight game, Tatum led the Celtics in assists. 

Like in the previous section, it was Tatum’s problem-solving against a high-pressure defense that created easy opportunities for his teammates. 

This early pick-and-roll to Mitchell Robinson shows a Knicks trap. It’s a gamble, especially with the 7-foot Robinson rolling toward a stranded OG Anunoby, but the Knicks are banking on him going to the roller. This is an opportunity for a deflection, and KAT nearly gets it, but Tatum hits Robinson in stride and it leads to a putback finish. 

Tatum faced another double just before halftime on a play that ends in a Paul George buzzer-beater. 

This one doesn’t come immediately though. It’s a switch onto Jalen Brunson at first, but when the clock hits four seconds, Hart fully commits to the trap, and it’s like Tatum was just waiting for it the whole time. Tatum holds his dribble just for a second when Hart comes into frame, hooking a pass to Sam Hauser, who forces a Knicks rotation that’s just a little too late to George. 

Going back to the first quarter, this was Tatum’s most impressive pass of the night. 

We see the Knicks build another wall, this time surrounding Tatum with three defenders in the corner. 

It forces Tatum to pick up his dribble, usually a bad sign for the offense, but Tatum processes the floor so quickly once he puts two hands on the ball. Jose Alvarado is left to defend two shooters on the opposite end of the court, and Tatum gives Payton Pritchard the quickest look on the left slot. Alvarado cheats to that spot ever so slightly, and then Tatum fires a pass all the way to the opposite corner to Baylor Scheierman, who sends Alvarado flying on the way to a one-dribble jumper. 

Tatum’s passing out of traffic or heavy pressure was his biggest positive out of the Detroit loss, and it remains a positive here. 

Holy Shotmaking 

There are two reasons I saved JT’s late-game scoring for last: First, it’s the best and therefore has to be last. Second, there’s not really a way to analyze this kind of shot-making. At least not in a way that’s just amounting to me saying “oh wow.” 

It’s like asking Jackson Pollock to describe every squiggle and splatter on the canvas. Great shot-making just is. It exists not to be broken down but to be admired. So let’s admire it. 

Before even getting to that fourth quarter show, there’s one play late in the third quarter just before Tatum took a breather that we should look at. In retrospect, it feels like the moment that foreshadowed the finish Jayson would ultimately deliver.

Spin-Cut back-Stepback. Cash. 

And then there’s the fourth quarter. 

After an ill-timed Knicks run cut into what was a 12-point lead, Tatum scored four buckets in the game’s final three and a half minutes. 

JAYSON TATUM TOOK OVER IN THE 4TH TO BEAT THE KNICKS 😳

36 PTS and the W! pic.twitter.com/z2SrlW47He

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 24, 2026

It’s the final two that sort of boggle the mind. Hart really couldn’t have defended the second baseline jumper any better. He has his hands involved the whole time, yet never gets too deep into Tatum’s space. Great defense, better offense. 

The same goes for the 3-pointer. KAT bites on the fake, but Tatum releases the ball so quickly after he pumps that it ends up being a contest on the shot anyway. It doesn’t matter. 

The Knicks spent the night trying to solve Tatum. In the end, he solved them.

1. Jayson Tatum is Back

To quote Mark Twain: “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” Jayson Tatum, who after a tough performance against the Detroit Pistons where he finished with 13 points and 11 assists on 6-27 shooting from the field and 0-7 from three, was getting lit up across social media. In this game against the defending champion New York Knicks, Tatum responded to all of the scrutiny with 36 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals on 14-26 shooting from the field and 3-10 from three.

Early in the game, Tatum’s three point shot wasn’t falling, so he decided to attack the basket. In the Detroit game, we saw Tatum not look as aggressive to get to the paint and when he did get there, he missed a few point-blank layups. That was not the case for him against New York; he was able to get to the paint with ease and end with some impressive finishes. Tatum put on a clinic in the second half, finishing with 25 points on 9-15 shooting including his own personal 7-0 run at the end of the fourth quarter that sealed the win for Boston.

Maybe, Jayson Tatum isn’t the worst person to ever pick up a basketball after a subpar performance in the first game of the season. That’s just a thought I’d like to throw out there. This was a vintage Jayson Tatum put on display for the world to see tonight and I can’t wait to see what else he can do this season.

Jayson Tatum WENT OFF in Boston's home opener!

☘️ 36 PTS
☘️ 9 REB
☘️ 7 AST
☘️ 3 STL
☘️ Celtics W

The @celtics pick up the win in Boston. pic.twitter.com/dhqXL8urAv

— NBA (@NBA) October 24, 2026

2. Paul George’s Defense

In the preseason, we saw Paul George’s defense on full display, picking up seven steals in the two games he played in. Through two regular season games, George has matched that number after he had 5 in Detroit and 2 against the New York Knicks in this game. The best part about watching George play defense is that it feels like he knows where the ball is going before it gets there.

Much like Spider-Man and his Spidey Sense, Paul George is able to break up plays by putting his body in passing lanes that result in either a steal or a turnover. We saw those instincts come into play against the Knicks on this play when Brunson ran around Towns at the top of the key, George stood right where he would be receiving the ball, resulting in a steal for the Celtics.

Man Paul George has been incredible defensively

The instincts are off the charts – just knows where to be and comes out of nowhere sometimes pic.twitter.com/bXxWnJvslt

— Nik Land | NikNBA🏀 (@NIKNBAYT) October 24, 2026

George was also a nice complementary piece to the Celtics offense, finishing with 15 points on 6-15 shooting, but his defense is where I find the most joy watching him. This is the thing that will make Paul George a fan favorite in Boston. The defense, hustle plays, and willingness to do the dirty work is what makes a perfect Celtic and so far, George has shown that he is going to put in the effort.

3. N33mias Qu3ta

Coming into this game, Neemias Queta was 1-11 in his career when it came to taking three pointers. It wasn’t a part of his game at all. On the offensive end, he was known for being a back to the basket, pick and roll finisher with the occasional midrange push shot. But we are getting a brand new Neemias Queta in the 2026-27 season, as he has shown a willingness to put up a three when put in the situation to do so.

In this game against the Knicks, Queta had his first opportunity to to put his offseason training to work with under two minutes to go in the third quarter. Tatum found him in the corner for a wide open look at the basket and with no hesitation, Queta put up the shot and swished it home. TD Garden erupted, the Celtics bench was loving it, and Queta was able to pull out his new three-point celebration.

This was such a cool moment for Queta and Tatum said it was his favorite play of the game. “I knew somebody was in the corner, but to his credit, him and Ross, one of the coaches, like Neemi’s worked on being a threat around the three-point line, like he works on that every single day, and to me that was that was my favorite part of the game.”

Jayson Tatum on finding Neemias Queta for a three pointer:

“Like I knew somebody was in the corner, but to his credit, him and Ross, one of the coaches, like Neemi’s worked on being a threat around the three-point line, like he works on that every single day, and to me that was…

— Ian Inangelo (@iinangelo) October 24, 2026

4. Jordan Walsh is a Starter

There was a lot of speculation around the Celtics starting lineup going into this season and there were a lot of questions about it going into this matchup. Jordan Walsh was the fifth starter over Payton Pritchard and there were a lot of skeptics after he didn’t have a noteworthy performance against Pistons. However, this game might have cracked the code to Joe Mazzulla’s thought process of putting Walsh into the starting lineup and it had to do with defending Jalen Brunson.

For most of the game, it felt like Walsh was the primary defender on Brunson and he made the reigning Finals MVP feel like a non-factor. Brunson finished with 19 points on 7-17 shooting and most of the time he was getting hounded up the court by a guy like Walsh or Scheierman. That would lead to Brunson just passing it or taking a bad shot that would lead to a Celtics fast break opportunity.

Jordan Walsh is hounding Jalen Brunson up the court pic.twitter.com/CWWsMxv6iv

— Ian Inangelo (@iinangelo) October 23, 2026

On offense, Walsh was also solid with his opportunities, finishing with 5 points on 2-5 shooting. Although he missed out on a career highlight when he broke Jordan Clarkson ankles and smoked a reverse layup, Walsh hit a three and finished a fast break at the beginning of the third quarter to start a Celtics rally. It might be an unorthodox fit at times, but it feels like Walsh being in the starting lineup to guard the opposing team’s best player to start is a smart move and I think he will continue to thrive in that role.

Jordan Walsh is having a big impact on the Celtics to start the third quarter. The primary defender on Brunson and hitting his shots pic.twitter.com/WqeaH2g5Fr

— Ian Inangelo (@iinangelo) October 24, 2026

5. Derrick White Shooting

There was a lot made about Derrick White’s shooting coming into this season coming off career worst percentages last year. White said at Media Day that he feels like he fixed his shooting and we saw a little bit of it on display against the Knicks. White finished with 12 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds on 5-11 shooting from the field and 2-6 from three.

On the court, it felt like he was the offensive connector for Boston. When the ball was in his hands, good things happened. White was 3-3 shooting in the first half with a myriad of floaters including a tough bucket with Jordan Clarkson in his face. The second half saw him be more aggressive from beyond the arc, nailing two threes. The stat sheet won’t show it, but White had a great offensive night, and I will be happy if we continue to get his version of him throughout the season.

Well excuse me then 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/hmO9I33G0d

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 24, 2026

6. Mitchell Robinson Revenge Game

Mitchell Robinson spent the first 8 seasons of his career with the New York Knicks and was a key player in their championship run last season. In this game, he faced his former team for the first time as a member of the Celtics and was primed for a revenge game. Due to foul trouble, he didn’t get to play a lot of minutes, but he still made his presence known, finishing with 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block on 2-4 shooting.

Robinson made his mark in the fourth quarter of this game with a sequence I’m sure the Knicks have seen plenty of times. Midway through the quarter, Karl-Anthony Towns tried to drive past Robinson and put up an off balanced shot. Robinson denied that request by spiking it into the first row for a block. On the next Celtics offensive possession, Derrick White found him on the pick and roll for a monster slam that resulted in New York calling a timeout.

Mitchell Robinson is FEELING IT ♨️

He DENIES KAT at the rim, then catches the White lob for the monster slam 😲 pic.twitter.com/kb8kUX9LDl

— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) October 24, 2026

These are the types of plays I love seeing from Mitchell Robinson and it was the exact reason why Boston signed him in the first place. His rolling and finishing ability at his size is special and we have seen throughout the first two games that it feels like he is developing a lot of chemistry with Derrick White. On defense we know he is a vicious paint protector and even when he was on the perimeter against Towns he was able to hold his own. I feel like if he didn’t get into foul trouble early we could have seen a big time performance but I still think he did a great job showing the Knicks what they are missing out on.

7. Luka Garza Impact

Luka Garza had an incredible preseason for the Celtics this year and it made me think that Joe Mazzulla was going to find him a spot in this rotation. He struggled a bit in the first game of the season against the Pistons but got another opportunity early in the second quarter. With Queta and Robinson picking up 2 fouls in the first quarter, Garza came in to sure up the five position for the Celtics to finish up the quarter and start the second. In his first three minutes on the court, we saw him hit 2 threes, a put-back layup, get a steal, and draw a charge.

It was an incredible to witness as the crowd applauded Garza’s performance. He didn’t play the rest of the game after his short burst of energy but it shows how deep this Celtics team really is. Luka Garza could be a legitimate backup center for a good amount of teams in the NBA and Boston has the luxury of having him as their third center. Garza came up huge when his number was called and really kept the Celtics in the game when there was a chance it could get away from them early.

Luka Garza with a corner three off a nice pass from Jayson Tatum pic.twitter.com/AVEL5kt9dm

— Ian Inangelo (@iinangelo) October 23, 2026

8. Sam Hauser Solid Contributor

Coming into this season it felt like there wasn’t a lot of talk around Sam Hauser. After a bad playoff shooting performance, it felt like he could possibly be traded away from the Celtics this offseason. However, he is still here and Boston is lucky to have him. Hauser finished with 6 points on 2-5 shooting from three in this game but it felt like he was incredibly import to the Celtics offense.

With Hauser on the floor, Boston has a 40% three point shooter that can be lurking anywhere on the perimeter. That is a lingering fear in the back of the mind of the defense when you also have to deal with guys like Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Mitchell Robinson, and Neemias Queta as well. Hauser just always feels like the sure hand that you know will be automatic from three. Last season was the first time he shot under 40% from three and it was still 39.3%. We could be in store for another great shooting season by Sam Hauser this season and it might not show in the box score, but his importance to this team will not go unnoticed.

Feels like Sam Hauser has been automatic from three to start the season pic.twitter.com/7GQEuDwW0o

— Ian Inangelo (@iinangelo) October 23, 2026

9. Three-Point Shooting Returned

One of the biggest reasons why the Celtics lost their first game of the season to the Pistons was because of their three point shooting in the fourth quarter as they finished going 3-11 from deep. The first quarter of this game saw Boston continue their icy shooting, shooting 3-11 again. But when Jayson Tatum hit a pull-up three at the end of the first quarter, it felt like Boston might have gotten their groove back, and spoiler alert, they did.

The Celtics finished shooting 15-39 (38.5%) from beyond the arc against the Knicks and 12-28 (43%) in the final three quarters. Boston found the most success with the corner three tonight as New York decided to just give the Celtics the shot and they converted, shooting 8-13. The biggest part about their three-point resurgence was that they stopped forcing up bad shots just because it was a three. Those are the kind of shots that drive Celtics fans crazy at times but Boston did a good job of pulling back and focusing on getting to the basket where the found success with 38 points in the paint. We know by now that the Celtics can win or lose games solely based on how well they shoot the three ball, but it was cool to see a different philosophy find success tonight.

10. Stopped the bleeding

It’s hard to say that the second game of the season was a “must-win” game for the but after the loss in Detroit, this game felt like a big one for sure. A marquee game against a hated rival and the defending champs in your home opener, there aren’t a lot of bigger moments than that this early in the season. Boston looked a lot more comfortable in this game when New York was mounting a comeback in the fourth quarter.

Jalen Brunson cut the Celtics lead to one point with 1:41 left in the game and the doubts started to creep in. However, Boston was able to stay composed, with Jayson Tatum taking over on offense and the defense forcing a big offensive foul on Karl-Anthony Towns with 1:11 left in the game, setting the Celtics up for success. This is the execution that Boston didn’t have in their last game.

When Joe Mazzulla was asked in his pregame press conference about holding leads, he said it was a very complex question but answered with, “Can you be great at the transitions and the momentum of it, as opposed to just thinking that you have to quote unquote put in the win, right? Can you be the master of the momentum? Can you be the master of returning points?” This is all I could think about when watching the end of this game. The Celtics were the masters of momentum and returned the necessary points needed to win. This was a great response by Boston as this was the team I thought we were going to get coming into the season.

Joe Mazzulla on holding a lead during a game:

“That's a very loaded, complex question. I don't think that has one answer to that.”

“Can you be great at the transitions and the momentum of it, as opposed to just thinking that you have to quote unquote put in the win, right? Can… pic.twitter.com/Xh9p9vJrhv

— Ian Inangelo (@iinangelo) October 23, 2026

Do you think the Washington Wizards and the Utah Jazz are having second thoughts about their respective 2026 NBA Draft decisions? They might.

In his first regular-season NBA game, Boozer didn’t shoot well – just 2-15 -but look what his coach, Tuomas Iisalo, said about him after that:

“Typical Cam Boozer night, shot 2-for-15 and plus-32, I know it’s like the plus-minus for one game and without adjusting it in any way is very much a non-stat. But I thought he did a great job with the rebounding. He had 11 rebounds. He had 5 assists…The kid is 19. The kid is 19, and he’s making big-time plays offensively and defensively that takes other guys 10 years in the league to figure those out…And he is a player that epitomizes that because he doesn’t need to make shots in order to help the team win.”

He did a lot more against Golden State on Friday night.

Boozer finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. He shot 6-13/4-7, and hit 9-9 from the line.

And he also led a 17-0 run at the end of the game, and hit the game winner. All in all that’s a hell of a second game for a rookie.

• Cameron Boozer posts 25/13/6/2 line vs. Warriors
• Late 17-0 surge carries Grizzlies to comeback win over Warriors
• Grizzlies news: Cameron Boozer does it all for Memphis in comeback win over Warriors
• Cameron Boozer Walk-Off Interview | Grizzlies vs. Warriors
• Warriors overwhelmed by Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer, collapse in home-opening loss to Memphis
• Cameron Boozer hits go-ahead jumper with 20 seconds left, Grizzlies rally to beat Warriors 111-108
• Grizzlies Coach Makes Eye-Opening Cameron Boozer Claim After 2-of-15 Debut
• Cameron Boozer posts 25/13/6/2 line vs. Warriors

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There’s a saying I use quite often, and that is, “Champions adjust.” You don’t become a champion by doing the same thing over and over. You become a champion by adjusting to the opposition, rethinking your approach, and executing a new game plan.

It’s a saying I turned into a poster years ago, one that still hangs in my office. Someday, I’ll edit it, adding a member of the Phoenix Suns to it when the team finally raises Larry.

Being a champion doesn’t necessarily mean winning a league championship. There are moments in life, challenges you face, and decisions you have to make, where you can become a champion simply by being willing to adjust.

I’m not going to sit here and suggest that the Phoenix Suns’ change in two-way contract strategy suddenly makes them champions. But I do think their willingness to adjust is something worth recognizing and keeping in mind.

The Suns adjusted their strategy earlier this week when they waived both Koby Brea and CJ Huntley, two players who spent the majority of last season on two-way contracts. Brea was a mid-second-round pick, while Huntley went undrafted. But it was clear that Phoenix’s strategy last season was to use those two-way contracts on young prospects, hoping to develop them into players who could eventually earn guaranteed NBA deals.

That’s the goal of the G League, isn’t it? It’s a proving ground for players, an opportunity for prospects to showcase their development and growth while working toward a permanent place on an NBA roster. But that strategy began to change when the Suns acquired Jamaree Bouyea.

Bouyea was 26 years old when Phoenix brought him in. He wasn’t some young prospect fresh off his collegiate career. He was more seasoned, with professional experience already under his belt. And when the opportunity presented itself, he shined. He appeared in two games with the Valley Suns, averaging 24 points per contest. The organization brought him up, gave him opportunities to prove himself, and eventually converted him to a two-way contract player.

We should’ve recognized this as a sign that the Suns were adjusting their strategy in real time, and that they ultimately liked what they saw and how it worked out for them. Because that’s exactly what we’ve witnessed this offseason.

They signed Pat Spencer to a two-way contract. Then, after Mark Williams suffered an injury and the team found itself needing additional depth at the center position, Phoenix brought in Duop Reath on a training camp invitation. Rather than retain a younger developmental prospect in CJ Huntley, the Suns converted Reath’s deal to a two-way contract, despite him being 30 years old.

The moment Drew Timme became available following the Minnesota Timberwolves waiving his Exhibit 10 contract, Phoenix claimed him off waivers, adding another experienced player who recently turned 26.

Again, nobody is suggesting these transactions are going to result in a championship. We’re talking about two-way contract players, guys who should primarily serve as break glass in case of emergency options. But at least you’re bringing in players who can fulfill specific needs, placing less emphasis on their long-term development and more on refining the skill sets they already possess so they can contribute when called upon.

And I think that says something about this organization’s mindset. There’s a willingness to remain nimble, to stay agile, and to adjust when circumstances call for it. Rather than remaining committed to a particular philosophy simply because that’s how things have always been done, the Suns are demonstrating that they’re willing to reevaluate their approach. Ultimately, that mindset could bring a championship to the Valley one day.

---

In a game they should have won, the Milwaukee Bucks fell to the Chicago Bulls, 132-125. Turnovers and missed free throws doomed the Bucks against one of the few teams they entered the season with a legit chance to beat. A major blow, for sure, and now the team hits a long stretch of opponents with realistic playoff aspirations. 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

33 minutes, 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 turnovers, 4 PF, 3/9 FG, 2/8 3P, -1

Well, Rollins did at least have a better floor game than against Washington, but he just couldn’t get the offence going like we know he can. Rollins started slow, going 1/5 in the first half, and never got the engine started. Crucially, three of his four turnovers came in the final frame. Not to put it all on him, but if Rollins plays like Rollins, the Bucks probably have two wins right now.

Grade: D

Tyler Herro

31 minutes, 34 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 12/24 FG, 5/10 3P, +1

The lone bright spot throughout both games, Herro continues to fill it up. Sure, this was another team with plenty of bad defenders to pick at, but you can only play who’s in front of you. What I’ve liked most about Herro is the methodical pace he’s playing at; many of the Bucks’ sets are run for him, but he treats each possession with purpose and precision, using great cadence to catch the ball in the right spots, change pace off screens, etc. Of course, the confidence to step up and lead the fourth-quarter charge was awesome to watch on a bunch of levels. Herro’s efficent scoring, solid floor game, and lack of turnovers put him in the A-band for me. Great game.

Grade: A-

Jaime Jaquez Jr.

35 minutes, 19 points, 5 assists, 11 rebounds, 6 turnovers, 7/11 FG, 2/3 3P , 3/6 FT, +4

I mean, if you excuse the turnovers, Jaquez had another really solid game. He definitely tried to do too much at times, though; one no-pass possession in the fourth really got on my nerves. That said, Jaquez made some really nifty passes in traffic, including a nice slip pass to Kuzma and a nifty lob to Ware. The man also shot efficiently from deep, which obviously meant he would go 50% from the charity stripe. Ugh.

Grade: B

Kyle Kuzma

29 minutes, 14 points, 4 assists, 9 rebounds, 0 turnovers, 6/12 FG, 2/5 3P, +1

Kuzma was absolutely better in this one (low bar, I know). I liked the shots he took from the perimeter; they were the right shots to take within the offence. However, Kuz still had a few transition attempts where once he’d decided he was attacking, there was no talking him out of it. He’s going to lower that shoulder and euro-step every time; whatever happens from there, happens, LOL.

Grade: B-

Myles Turner

30 minutes, 12 points, 1 assist, 3 rebounds, 5 blocks, 5/12 FG, 2/7 3P, -13

Have not been impressed with Turner through two games. At seven feet tall, his inability to wall up and deter shots at the rim has been even more jarring without Giannis; Turner started with a nice transition block on Josh Giddey, but as the contest wore on, he became less and less effective. Heck, there was a possession where the 6’10”, 220-pound Leonard Miller pushed Turner out of the way under the basket to lay it in easily. This is to say nothing about his ability, or lack thereof, to defend in space nowadays. Oh, and Myles, when you catch it in the paint with a bunch of smaller guys nipping at your ankles, hold the ball high and put it in! Man, he’s just played so small to start the year.

Grade: D

Kel’el Ware

15 minutes, 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, 5/7 FG, 1/1 3P, +10

I did think Ware played with more vigour in this one, so kudos to him. Needed more urgency closing out to shooting bigs like Jalen Smith, though; a hand up isn’t enough; you need to make them put the ball on the floor.

Grade: C-

Kasparas Jakucionis

22 minutes, 7 points, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover, 2/4 FG, 1/2 3P, -4

Another very solid game from Jakucionis. I love the rhythm and pace he played with, taking what the defence gave him once he created an advantage, whether that was a layup, a lob, or a kickout. Crucially, as a big guard, he’s using his size to get downhill way more than he did last year in Miami. I also thought he was solid on defence yet again.

Grade: B+

Brayden Burries

8 minutes, 3 points, 3 assists, 4 PF, 1/3 FG, 1/3 3P, 0/2 FT, -6

Tough night for Burries, as will happen a lot this season—he is a rookie, after all. I do think the rook needs to be more aware of his closeouts on three-point shooters; that’s been a theme through the first two games, and he picked up a flagrant on Norman Powell in this one. All the little things add up.

Grade: D+

Ousmane Dieng

16 minutes, 3 points, 1 assist, 5 PF, 1/3 FG, -10

As I keep saying, Ous needs to take and make shots for this to work, and he didn’t. I also thought he went up soft on some crucial rebounding possessions in the fourth, not pursuing the ball as hard as the player below. Too many fouls as well.

Grade: D-

AJ Green

16 minutes, 11 points, 4/7 FG, 3/6 3P, -17

Green felt more involved in the offence. He hunted his shot—though I could have done without the near-half-court bomb in the fourth—and even ventured inside the line for a pull-up two off the roll-replace action. Most importantly, Green felt like one of the few players willing to get scrappy and fight for loose balls.

Grade: B-

Taylor Jenkins

Like the Washington game, if the Bucks did just one or two things at an average level, they probably would have won. Jenkins can’t do anything about guys turning the ball over and missing free throws. I will say, however, that rolling with Dieng for a fair stretch in the fourth quarter, given how he’d played up to that point, was puzzling. There was also a jarring possession where a Buck shot the ball, two guys competed for the offensive rebound, and two guys kinda just stood meandering around the basket, leading to a leak-out and dunk down the other end. We know Jenkins wants to send guys to the O-boards, but there needs to be a balance where, if you’re not in the play, you need to get back. I’m sure Jenkins relays a similar message, but if it’s not getting through, that’s ultimately on him.

Grade: C-

DNP-CD: Gary Trent Jr., Nate Ament, Bogoljub Markovic, Caris LeVert, Jericho Sims

Inactive: Kam Jones, Cormac Ryan, Pete Nance

What We Learnt

The Bucks are banging on the door of a victory and doing a lot right. However, this is a game of inches, and the little mistakes are adding up by the end of games.

Bonus Bucks Bits

• Herro said his first official home game felt great. “Obviously we wanted to get a win… but my first time being back, playing in this uniform, on that court, in front of those fans—it was just a great moment. I was able to soak it in. I had a lot of family and friends here, so I was excited to be able to get that opportunity.”

Real one since Day 1. pic.twitter.com/F6JZHWMdUv

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) October 23, 2026

• Despite the Bulls’ smaller front line, the Bucks got killed in the paint yet again, and handily so (62-44). Also, Chicago’s bench got the better of Milwaukee’s by a mile (59-35).
• Some more jarring stats from friend-of-the-site Camille Davis:

Final box score updated this to an 11-0 fastbreak advantage in the second quarter for the Bulls and the Bucks DID do a better job of defending that outside of that quarter.

Turnovers and free throws ended up dooming the Bucks down the stretch tho.

TEN second half turnovers… https://t.co/4kpAktUk83

— Camille Davis (@CamilleMonae) October 23, 2026

Up Next

The Bucks are back in action tonight in Philly against the star-studded 76ers. Watch at 6:30 p.m. CDT on MY24.

In the second game of the season, the Washington Wizards’ offense staggered, wheezed, and stalled, and they lost to the Toronto Raptors, 112-102.

This was Washington’s first real test of the season. The Raptors were good last season, and added Kawhi Leonard. That should be enough to elevate them into Eastern Conference contention, at least if Leonard can stay healthy.

The difference in quality was evident early and often, despite Toronto shooting just 20.6% from three-point range. Despite making five fewer threes than the Wizards, the Raptors had the higher effective field goal percentage. They also won the battle on the glass and committed fewer turnovers. What kept Washington as close as they were was 35 free throw attempts to Toronto’s 21.

Credit Trae Young and some wordclass grifting for that free throw differential. He drew three fouls pulling up for jumpers when being closely followed by a chase defender. He got another by intentionally bumping into a defender and falling down.

Washington’s offensive struggles were pervasive. More than a little credit goes to the Raptors, which is well stocked with long, athletic players who play hard, smart, and tough. Washington had multiple possessions in which they could not even get their primary action initiated because of strong ball pressure by guys like Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead, and Scottie Barnes, as well as effective denial one pass away.

In a potentially worrisome development, a few of those stalled, stagnant possessions involved Young and Anthony Davis trying to get into a pick-and-roll set. They’re supposed to be the veteran duo that knows how to attack a stout defense. Last night, they missed shots and committed turnovers.

Kyshawn George had a very bad game — 2-9 from the floor plus 8 turnovers and 5 fouls. One word kept showing up in my notes about George’s miscues: “sloppy.” In a particularly destructive two-minute stretch of the third quarter, George had three turnovers. He needs a crash course in post entry passes — at least two of his turnovers were attempts to feed Davis inside. In both cases in my notes, Davis was being fronted and George made terrible passes directly to Raptors.

Notes & Observations

• Barnes is really, really good. He shot well from the midrange, and despite eight turnovers, made what felt like every important play throughout the game.
• Young is a bad defender. He’s short, slender, and…not strong. This season, he pledged to work on that end, and at least in the early going, he was true to his word. I liked one possession where Toronto ran a pick-and-roll. Young switched onto Barrett aggressively and forced him to pick up his dribble. It hobbled the possession. On another, Young got screened, and Immanuel Quickley popped free for what looked like a wide open three-point attempt. Young sprinted back into the play and contested from the side. Quickley missed.
• Young’s defense was far from perfect. Later in the first quarter, his attention drifted, and Quickley backcut him for a layup. The play was eerily similar to one from Washington’s opening night win against the Milwaukee Bucks.
• The Wizards opened the second half with a well-designed set play. Young started in the left corner and came up for a dribble hand off from Davis. He then turned the corner and drew the attention of both his defender and Davis’ — forcing the defense to make decisions on the move. Davis rolled, and Young threw a perfect lob for a slam.
• One nice offensive sequence from the kids. Bilal Coulibaly made a perfect post feed to Alex Sarr, who then made a strong move into the middle. That move drew weakside help, and Sarr recognized it and passed to the open man: George on the wing. George missed the shot, but it was good basketball that resulted in a wide open look.
• Young grifted two fouls by RJ Barrett in just six seconds on the game clock.

Four Factors

Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).

The four factors are measured by:

• eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
• OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
• TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
• FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)

FOUR FACTORS	RAPTORS	WIZARDS	LGAVG
eFG%	47.0%	45.6%	51.6%
OREB%	35.8%	15.0%	27.4%
TOV%	15.1%	18.9%	14.4%
FTM/FGA	0.168	0.380	0.245
PACE	106		102.1
ORTG	106	96	110.2

Stats & Metrics

PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).

PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.

POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.

ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.

USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%. Median so far this season is 17.7%.

ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.

+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.

Players are sorted by total production in the game.

WIZARDS	MIN	POSS	ORTG	USG	+PTS	PPA	+/-
Trae Young	37	81	111	29.1%	0.2	102	1
Tre Johnson	26	57	121	22.8%	1.4	134	-8
Justin Champagnie	23	50	121	12.0%	0.6	124	1
Alex Sarr	25	55	139	11.7%	1.9	100	1
Bilal Coulibaly	26	58	120	14.5%	0.8	65	-20
Deandre Ayton	14	32	143	10.7%	1.1	102	-2
Khris Middleton	16	35	93	17.4%	-1.0	87	2
Bub Carrington	11	24	73	12.8%	-1.2	-21	0
Anthony Davis	32	72	49	21.6%	-9.4	-46	-13
Kyshawn George	26	58	63	34.1%	-9.3	-117	-17
Tre Mann	1	2		0.0%	0.0	0	1
Reece Beekman	1	2		0.0%	0.0	0	1
Will Riley	1	2		0.0%	0.0	0	1
Felix Okpara	1	2	111	42.7%	0.0	0	1
Anthony Gill	1	1		0.0%	0.0	0	1

RAPTORS	MIN	POSS	ORTG	USG	+PTS	PPA	+/-
RJ Barrett	34	75	147	20.4%	5.6	228	3
Scottie Barnes	37	81	91	36.7%	-5.7	111	9
Jakob Poeltl	27	60	149	8.2%	1.9	111	-3
Ja’Kobe Walter	24	53	99	13.6%	-0.8	84	19
Jamison Battle	12	26	171	8.2%	1.3	124	-4
Allen Graves	6	14	216	6.7%	1.0	224	3
Collin Murray-Boyles	18	39	110	16.1%	0.0	78	21
Jamal Shead	25	54	130	11.4%	1.2	40	9
Kawhi Leonard	28	61	76	31.3%	-6.5	16	-5
Immanuel Quickley	29	64	90	22.2%	-2.9	-32	1
Alijah Martin	1	1		0.0%	0.0	0	-1
Trayce Jackson-Davis	1	1		0.0%	0.0	0	-1
Jaden Bradley	1	1		0.0%	0.0	0	-1

Two former teammates sized each other up. Luka Doncic waved off the screen. He wanted the matchup with Rui Hachimura. The crowd at Crypto.com Arena buzzed in anticipation.

Doncic smiled wide.

After four years in which he became a staple in the Lakers’ lineup, Hachimura returned to face his former team for the first time as a Clipper on Friday at Crypto.com Arena. The forward got a warm greeting from the fans, who welcomed him in the starting lineup with a loud roar. The Lakers played a video tribute during the first timeout to honor Hachimura’s four years with the franchise.

But as he started piling up his 16 points in the Lakers’ 125-117 win over their crosstown rival, the crowd started to turn on the sharp-shooting Hachimura.

“Traitor!” one fan yelled when he hit a shot during a tight first half before the Lakers pulled away by outscoring the Clippers 39-26 in the third quarter.

Read more:Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler lead Lakers past the Clippers

Hachimura, who left the Lakers in free agency, made his love for the team clear. He signed a relatively conservative two-year, $28-million deal with the Clippers, turning down other offers in part because he wanted to stay in L.A.

“It was amazing,” Hachimura said of his time with the Lakers. “I had a great time with them. The organization, yeah, of course I miss them, but it was time to move on. It was special, my four years, four seasons with them. I’m happy with the Clippers right now, and I gotta keep growing my career.”

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said playing the first game back in an old arena can be disorienting. He experienced it after leaving the Lakers, who drafted him in 1998, and returning with the Washington Wizards in 2002. He had never seen the other locker room in his former home arena.

“Just being on the other side, the other bench, in the other locker room, it was just really weird,” Lue said. “And then playing against guys that kind of taught you the game, kind of molded you as a player, and just sitting across from it, it was really weird for me.”

Hachimura jokingly walked toward the Lakers locker room before the game. Before beginning his pregame shooting routine, Hachimura hugged Lakers assistant Beau Levesque, who was Hachimura’s player development coach, and Lakers guard Austin Reaves, one of his closest friends.

When Hachimura was traded to the Lakers in January 2023, Reaves was in his second season with the Lakers. While they became close, Reaves initially spent weeks thinking Hachimura didn’t speak English.

“I’d sit by him on the plane and he didn’t speak to me,” Reaves said this week. “After that, I couldn’t get him to shut up. Great guy, great player and I miss him.”

Hachimura developed into one of the Lakers’ most dependable shooters. A 35.6% three-point shooter while with Washington, where he was drafted ninth overall in 2019, Hachimura shot 44.3% from three during his last season with the Lakers. Lakers coach JJ Redick marveled at Hachimura’s reliable mid-range game that he once compared to “prime Michael Jordan.”

During the playoffs, when the injury-riddled Lakers stunned the Houston Rockets in the first round before losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals, Hachimura shot a sizzling 56.9% (15 for 31) from three. His career 51.6% postseason three-point shooting percentage is the highest in NBA history.

Hachimura filled a supporting role with the Lakers, where he was overshadowed by Reaves, Doncic and LeBron James. But with the Clippers, he has a leading opportunity. Hachimura had the second-most shot attempts among Clippers players Friday, going five for 14 from the field and three for six from three.

Facing different defenses than he saw while being the Lakers’ fourth offensive option, Hachimura’s efficiency has dipped. He is shooting 29.6% from the field and 38.5% from three while averaging 13 points and seven rebounds for the Clippers (0-2).

“I think understanding some of the actions we’re trying to run from him, like being quicker, being faster, not allowing guys to get back to his body so he can come off open, and just timing things,” Lue said of how Hachimura can adjust to being a focal point of an opposing team’s scouting report. “Little timing things here and there. We know when it’s post up, teams are doubling. So he has to find a way in transition, playing faster, attacking early, attacking faster in transition, but we’ll get him shots.”

Read more:Luka Doncic's trash-talking antics sharpen his edge. Lakers fans need to embrace it

During pregame warmups, Doncic sprinted out of the Lakers tunnel and straight to Hachimura, who was warming up in the corner. Doncic wrapped his former teammate in a hug. They laughed and joked all the way to midcourt before Hachimura resumed his shooting.

When the game started, Hachimura hit his first three over Doncic, who was late to close out. The Lakers star waved his hand in mock disgust toward Hachimura.

“I don’t like Rui,” Doncic said after the game.

A wide smile spread across his face.

“Nah, it was just great to see him. He’s my guy.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.