James Harden demanded a max contract and wouldn't budge, so Oklahoma City traded him to Houston. Kevin Durant left to form a super team in Golden State.
Russell Westbrook stayed, collected triple-doubles at a historic rate, won an MVP, and forever became a hero to fans in Oklahoma City. Fittingly, the Thunder are going to retire his jersey on Feb. 7, a Sunday night game against the Knicks, a ceremony and a game you will be able to watch on NBC and stream on Peacock, part of Sunday Night Basketball.
❝Many players make an impact but only great players leave a legacy.❞
"Many players make an impact but only great players leave a legacy. Russell Westbrook's legacy was built both on the court and in the community," Thunder Executive Vice President Sam Presti said in a statement announcing the honor. "His mindset was relentless, his commitment deep. For all those reasons, Oklahomans consider him one of their own and his number will be raised to the rafters, in Oklahoma City forever."
It was considered a bit of a reach, and a bet on his athleticism, when Presti drafted Westbrook No. 4 out of UCLA — a bet that paid off handsomely. Westbrook played 11 seasons in Oklahoma City and was key to the Thunder reaching their first NBA Finals in 2012. In those 11 seasons, the Thunder made the playoffs nine times and reached the Western Conference Finals four times.
Westbrook's greatest season in Oklahoma City was the 2016-17, when he racked up 42 triple-doubles on his way to averaging 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists — plus making a host of clutch plays for the team — and going on to win Most Valuable Player. Westbrook finished his career with 209 triple-doubles, the most in league history.
Westbrook is a lock future Hall of Famer: An MVP and member of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team, a nine-time All-NBA and All-Star, and a two-time scoring champion.
"We are incredibly proud to retire Russell's number. Russell made a lasting mark on the city and state during his time with the team, and his involvement in the community has endured long after," Thunder Chairman Clayton I. Bennett said in a statement. "We are deeply grateful for his genuine care for the people of Oklahoma, and he will always be considered a member of the Oklahoma City community."
That community will rally to celebrate him on Feb. 7.
The Dallas Mavericks’ three-game homestand concludes with a matchup against the winless Sacramento Kings on Monday night. Dallas has won their last three, and looked fantastic in those games. Cooper Flagg will be without his running mate, Kyrie Irving, so it will be interesting to see how the offense looks sans the former All-Star guard. The Kings are second-to-last in the league in defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions), while the Mavericks rank 12th in offense, so the matchup certainly favors Dallas. The key will be limiting the scoring output from Sacramento’s guards. However, they’re going to need something from the limited amount of guards that they have available themselves to avoid handing the Kings their first victory.
Game intangibles
Dallas Mavericks (4-2) vs Sacramento Kings (0-6)
Tipoff: 7:10p CT at the American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX.
How to watch: The game will be televised locally on KFAA Channel 29, or streaming on MavsTV+ for anyone in the Mavericks media market. For those outside of the viewing area, the game will be on NBA League Pass.
Odds via the Fanduel Sportsbook as of 2:00PM CST
Spread: Dallas -8.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 232.5 (-105/-115)
Moneyline: Dallas -335
Player props
Domantas Sabonis to get 14+ rebounds (-106)
Zaccharie Risacher to get 6+ rebounds (-128)
We are going to see bricks galore tonight. Dallas has the guys to defend Sacramento’s perimeter players, and the Mavericks’ offense may look stagnant at times without Kyrie Irving. Sabonis should kill Daniel Gafford on the offensive glass, and Risacher should grab a lot of the Kings’ misses.
Game sides
Sacramento +8.5 (-110)
Under 232.5 points (-115)
This game will be low-scoring and close. As previously stated, this is a trap spot for Dallas. No Irving, coming off a huge win, with two days’ rest, and being favored for the first time this season. The Kings are desperate and have matchup advantages against Dallas’ big men. I still think Dallas wins, but expect the score to be something like 109-104.
During the past 20 seasons, the last remaining undefeated team in the NBA has failed to qualify for the playoffs just three times. No team since the 1998-99 Seattle Supersonics has started a season with at least six wins in a row and not made it to the NBA's postseason.
So how have the Grizzlies pulled off this early season surprise? Here are three reasons why Memphis is the last remaining undefeated team in the NBA before games played on Monday, Nov. 2:
Yaxel Lendeborg is suddenly the trendy pick to be the NBA's rookie of the year thanks to a batch of big early season performances, but Grizzlies forward Cameron Boozer is the only rookie with a game-winner and a triple-double so far. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft has quickly become a hub for the Memphis offense, distributing the ball on offense and forming a fearsome pairing inside with Edey.
Though his overall shooting numbers are lagging and he won't wow you with athletic feats, Boozer is still shooting nearly 37% from 3-point range and looks to be a potential cornerstone in the mold of Tim Duncan with his diverse skill set. Perhaps more importantly, his promising production in the first six games have helped shift the narrative after an offseason of uncertainty about the changing roster.
The Grizzlies might not have a star with the commercial crossover potential Morant once had, but the roster was in much better shape than many NBA prognosticators expected after the team traded away Morant, Jackson, Bane and Santi Aldama in various deals. Memphis currently has 13 players averaging at least 12 minutes per game as coach Tuomas Iisalo often uses an 11-man rotation.
Jerome, who missed most of last season after being signed by the Grizzlies, was the league's leading scorer during the first week of the season. Coward and Jaylen Wells have shown growth as 3-point shooters and Edey, despite being on a minutes restriction, has been a dominating rebounder and defensive anchor based on advanced metrics. Jerami Grant and Isaiah Stewart, acquired in trades this past offseason, have provided a veteran presence off a bench that seems to come in waves.
That approach might not work in the postseason, and it caused issues when Morant clashed with Iisalo last year. But it's proving effective during the first month of an NBA season that's been defined by the number of injuries impact players have already suffered.
Grizzlies' schedule has been soft
Memphis has shown undeniable signs that it was overlooked heading into the 2026-27 season and swept a four-game road trip as part of this hot start. But it also hasn't beaten a team expected to contend for either conference title.
The Grizzlies have beaten the NBA's only winless team twice (Sacramento Kings) and have two wins over a team with a 1-5 record heading into Monday (Utah Jazz). They'll be favored against the struggling Pelicans.
But Memphis also orchestrated a comeback over the Golden State Warriors and handed the Portland Trail Blazers their first loss of the season. Morant played against his former team for the first time in Portland and left with a hamstring injury that will sideline him for at least a month.
Six games don't validate a rebuild, and the schedule toughens in the coming weeks. But as Morant faces another extended absence and the Grizzlies keep piling up wins, the franchise's decision to dismantle the roster built around him looks less like a gamble and more like foresight.
The chance to score 40 points in an NBA game does not come around very often, but Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg earned that opportunity just seven games into his career.
With veterans Steph Curry and Draymond Green resting for the first leg of a back-to-back on Sunday, Lendeborg was the star of the show as the Warriors won their fourth consecutive game, 124-112, against the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday at Chase Center.
The rookie led both teams with 37 points on 13-of-19 shooting from the field, including six made 3-pointers, which tied his output against the Phoenix Suns earlier this season.
Lendeborg returned to the game with 10:12 left in the fourth quarter with 29 points, and proceeded to score his final eight points over the next four minutes. Only three points away from his first 40-point game, Lendeborg told reporters after the game that his teammates urged him to reach that mark.
“I think [Brandin Podziemski] was shooting a free throw, and then [De’Anthony] Melton, it’s all Melton’s fault, guys, by the way,” Lendeborg said. “De’Anthony Melton went up to me and said, ‘Hey, man, you need to get 40. You’re three points away.’ And I’m like, ‘Nah, man, it’s all good.” And then he just peer pressured me into doing it.
“He said he’s going to give me the ball, and he literally was holding it just to give me the ball. And I’m like, ‘Fine, I’ll shoot it,’ and I missed but I try to tell him ‘No, no, no.’ And then now Will [Richard] came over here. ‘You got to do it. You got to do it.’ So everybody was egging me on, and I kind of just fell into it. But I know next time I’m just playing the flow of the game because they came at me like four threes in a row. We almost lost the game because of that. So next time I’m never doing that again.”
Lendeborg took three shots in his final four minutes on the court, missing all of his attempts, but Golden State was able to close out the Clippers before coach Steve Kerr eventually emptied the bench.
When asked if he was aware of how close he was to scoring 40, Lendeborg showcased his team-first mentality.
“I’ve never been a stat chaser in my life,” Lendeborg said. “Falling into peer pressure like I did just now was pretty bad on my part. I’m a guy that loves ethical hoops. I’m a guy that loves efficient basketball, and I didn’t do that for the last two or three minutes. So it’s bad on my part. But I’ll know next time, I definitely won’t do that again. If it comes to me, it does. If I don’t get it, then I wasn’t meant to get it that day.”
The 24-year-old added six assists and four rebounds to his monstrous performance, displaying why he has been one of the most impressive rookies in the NBA this season.
Luka Doncic is creating the offensive advanatges the Lakers want. NBAE via Getty Images
Dončić has reached another level of offensive rhythm to start the season, averaging a league-best 37.7 points on 48.2% shooting (43.2% on 3-pointers) to go with 8.2 rebounds and 7.3 assists in his first six games after the Lakers’ win over the Raptors on Sunday.
With the roll he’s been on, defenses have been aggressive with blitzing, trapping and generally sending two defenders at the Slovenian guard when they can – creating 4-on-3 offensive opportunities.
While Dončić is doing “a really good job of making plays” when two defenders are on, as Redick put it, the team results haven’t been there.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick is tired of his team not take advantage of the easier offensive opportunities Luka Dončić creates, NBAE via Getty Images
And Redick sees that as an issue with the decision-making after the superstar guard passes out of the double team, mentioning there were multiple opportunities during Sunday’s win over the Raptors in which the Lakers passed up good shots.
“I know in the second half I can think of four times that we turned down wide open threes, like I’ll take these guys out,” Redick said. “Like you gotta shoot the ball when you’re open.”
While Redick didn’t call out any player by name, he sees the indecision as a result of having so many new players not accustomed to what the Lakers want to do when those advantages are created.
While JJ Redick didn’t call out specific players, Quentin Grimes has been one of the biggest culprits of passing up open shots. NBAE via Getty Images
“And again it’s the new group thing,” Redick said. “These guys gotta understand what the purpose is of what we’re trying to do. And when you get an advantage, you gotta keep the advantage and shoot it.”
There’s also the factor of players not wanting to make mistakes early on with their new team, leading to overthinking.
“Because I lived this as a player, it’s like, ‘Ahhh, I want to shoot well. I want the Lakers fans to like me. I want to score. I want to do this,’” Redick said. “You’re thinking too much. Just go play basketball and do our stuff and I promise you there’s going to be opportunities to score.”
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 26: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket against Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat during the first quarter at Kaseya Center on October 26, 2026 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you’ve been locked in for the Dallas Mavericks’ first six games of the 2026-27 season, you already know. The proof is in the dominance-flavored pudding.
And ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon has been. So he knows.
That’s why MacMahon had no reservations when he declared flatly on Monday’s episode of the Hoop Collective podcast that Cooper Flagg has already arrived. He’s not going to be one of the best in the league. He is one of the best in the league. Right now. Today.
This is no longer something opposing teams can put off until some future point in Flagg’s development. He will wreck your shit tomorrow. The Houston Rockets found out about it in Friday’s first and fourth quarter s of the Mavericks’ 116-111 win at the AAC to improve their record to 4-2.
“This is going to get aggregated, and I’m okay with it,” MacMahon said while discussing the Mavericks with podcast host Brian Windhorst, who himself banged a loud drum for Flagg before the start of the season. “I would not trade Cooper Flagg for Luka [Doncic], just considering age, contract, all that kind of stuff. Cooper Flagg I believe right now is a top-10 player.”
Then he said it once more, with vigor.
“I think he’s a top-10 player. … There’s only one guy in the league I’d trade him for.”
I don’t know why there’s a need to commingle this discussion with who one would or wouldn’t trade for Flagg, because the Mavericks ain’t trading Flagg, just as much as the San Antonio Spurs ain’t trading Victor Wembanyama any time soon. Irrelevant.
What’s relevant is that Flagg’s development has curved toward the exponential in the tail end of what are still his teen years, which should be a horrifying proposition for the rest of the league, and the Mavericks’ roster is showing signs that the same may be true of the team surrounding the young superstar.
Flagg and Kyrie Irving went off for 35 and 33, respectively, in Friday’s upset of the Rockets, who were admittedly playing without Alperen Sengun. MacMahon also stressed on the podcast that it is becoming less and less likely that the team trades Irving this season as the team’s fortunes seem to be turning this year.
“Cooper being this good at bringing the ball up and initiating the offense takes a lot of pressure off him and takes a lot of strain off him. Kyrie, I think, is very, very happy and comfortable with his situation in Dallas,” MacMahon said. “My educated guess is that this is probably a situation that plays out this summer, but we’ll see.”
Irving has a player option for 2027-28 at just north of $42 million before he becomes an unrestricted free agent after next season.
Irving and Flagg work well on the court for the same reason that Irving and Doncic worked, and for the same reason that Irving and LeBron James worked during the Cleveland Cavaliers’ championship season in 2015-16. Having a running partner who can also bring the ball up and initiate offense gives Irving the freedom to play both on and off the ball, maximizing his ability to play-make and get into advantageous matchups for isos.
Flagg comes into Monday’s game against the Sacramento Kings averaging 26.8 points per game, which is seventh in the NBA, through six games. He’s also fifth in steals (2.6 per game) and 21st in blocked shots (1.2), making him perhaps the most dominant force on both sides of the ball this side of Wembanyama.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -OCTOBER 31: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks over Trey Lyles #41 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half at Frost Bank Center on October 31: 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Week in Review: a Monday feature that looks back at the week that was for the San Antonio Spurs, takes a look at the week ahead, and more. Enjoy!
Week 1: It wasn’t the ideal start to the season for the defending Western Conference Finals champions. With Victor Wembanyama not looking like himself (among other issues), they got throttled at home by a fleetingly healthy Thunder squad and lost a heartbreaker in Austin to the Rockets before finally getting their first win of the season against a depleted Mavs team in Dallas.
There may be no better team to “get right” against than the Kings, and the Spurs made quick work of the annual cellar dwellers (which was a good thing considering it was the first night of a back-to-back). Wemby began his bounce-back by dominating the paint on his way to 29 points, and Julian Champagnie tied his franchise record for three-pointers in a half with 8 in the first.
The Spurs looked lethargic the next night against a shorthanded Jazz team, although they had the excuse of a rest disadvantage and not having time to acclimate to the elevation change. Regardless, after enduring another big game from noted Spurs killer Keyonte George, they woke up and dominated in overtime, with Devin Vassell hitting several key shots down the stretch and Wemby dominating his way to 36 points, including finally hitting some threes.
Not to be outdone, Geralt if Rivia Wemby took it another step further on Halloween night with 43 points and 6 blocks against a Timberwolves squad that was missing Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert (not that the latter has proven to a Wemby stopper). As with all four wins so far, the Spurs left a little something to be desired on the consistency front and weren’t as dominant has they could have been considering the opponents/injuries, but you accept the baby steps (for now).
The Spurs handled their business in three spots where they should have handled their business: a woeful Kings team, a short-handed Utah team and a short-handed Timberwolves team traveling on zero days’ rest. Still, San Antonio got impressive performances from Victor Wembanyama, culminating in a career-high 34 field goal attempts against the Timberwolves. The Spurs will look much deeper whenever Tobias Harris can get back.
San Antonio has found its footing somewhat after a slow start, and now boasts a top-10 offense and defense. And it has done that without the Spurs big off-season acquisition, Tobias Harris, who is nearing a return but there is no official timetable. The Spurs have stretches where they look like the best team in the league: Defending with ferocity, moving the ball, and getting easy buckets around the rim. Then the next quarter they fall in love with isolation basketball and things go cold, which happened too much against Minnesota on Halloween, but they got bailed out by 43 points from Victor “The Witcher” Wembanyama.
Victor Wembanyama was not about to let the San Antonio Spurs be below .500 for too long. Following a 0-2 start to the season, the Spurs have rattled off four straight wins and look like the team they were several months ago en route to the 2025 NBA Finals.
Over their last four games, the Spurs have averaged 122.5 points per game, led by Wembanyama, who has averaged 32.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 4.3 blocks per game during this win streak. Wemby says he is aiming for the MVP award, and these are definitely MVP-like numbers.
One of the more underappreciated players on this roster has been Julian Champagnie, who has shot 16-of-31, or 51.6 percent, from 3-point range in this span. He is shooting 47.6 percent from 3-point range on the season and proving to be one of the most impactful forwards off the bench in the entire NBA.
Coming up
Mon. 11/2 vs. Utah Jazz (7:30 PM CT)
Wed. 11/4 vs. Dallas Mavericks (8:30 PM CT)
Fri. 11/6 at Sacramento Kings (Emirates Cup, 9:00 PM CT)
Sat. 11/7 at Portland Trail Blazers (9:00 PM CT)
Prediction: 3-1 — I really want to go 4-0, but we need to see more consistency from the Spurs first. The Mavs with Cooper Flagg and noted Spurs killer Kyrie Irving, who both missed the first match-up, are a different animal, and strange things always happen in Portland, especially on the second night of a back-to-back. I believe the Spurs will ultimately split those games, but I’m more than ready to be proven wrong.
Bonus content
Not really Spurs related, but there has been so much drama in the NBA in the first two weeks alone — from injuries, to current and former teammate arguments, and scuffles — that it makes you appreciate the drama-free Spurs (outside of the first two games, of course). Here is a quick summary of all the craziness, in case you need catching up.
Last year, this defense was the whole identity of the team. We watched a roster nobody believed in become a problem every night because they chased, they swiped, they dove on the floor, and they made you earn every bucket. Four games into this season, that team is gone.
The Suns are 1-3 and have allowed 122 points or more in all four games.
Dillon Brooks stood at the podium and called it what it is: “We’re 30th in defense, so that’s not great. That’s terrible.” Then they spent three days drilling it in practice, came home, and let Denver rain threes in their own building.
The fanbase is past the “small sample size” stage. We are watching the same breakdowns repeat.
This stat from Cody Hunt on X/Twitter blew my mind. How much is it bad luck? How much is it real? I believe it’s a bit of both, personally. And small sample sizes can blow stats like this out of proportion. But it is clear that this is a massive issue that needs correcting, ASAP.
Through 4 games, Suns opponents are shooting 43.9% from 3, which is the highest opponent 3P% in the NBA. 2nd place is at 40.5%, and league average 3P% is 34.6%.
How much of that is bad defense vs. just bad luck?
Murray and Braun combined for 14 threes, and Brooks and others kept rotating or closing out too late on kick-outs to Braun. Ott pointed out that Braun was “a guy that’s made five all year.” Credit to Braun, but when you leave a shooter wide open, he gets hot.
The switching scheme leaves too few defenders on the back side.
About a dozen times, the aggressive switching and double-teams on Jokic left one help defender covering two Nuggets on the perimeter. That scheme only works with perfect timing, and right now nobody is in sync. And we saw it snowball.
Off-ball attention in the corners.
Brooks and Bridges are often stationed in the corner, where they tend to doze off, whether that means losing a backdoor cutter, reacting late, or failing to rebound. Booker’s league-worst 137.2 individual defensive rating gets the headlines, but the leaks are coming from every spot on the floor.
Again, the problem I have with all of this is that they had a full three days to talk about this and work on it. And while they looked much sharper offensively (outside of Jalen Green), the defense stuck out like a sore thumb yet again.
Team huddle.
Dillon Brooks, Collin Gillespie, Jordan Ott and Suns assistants Brian Randle and John Little talking after Wednesday's practice.
This roster was built to be long and nasty, and the length is not showing up where it matters. At 27.7 defensive rebounds per game, only Golden State has been worse at ending opponent possessions. With Mark Williams out and Oso Ighodaro missing a couple of games, the frontcourt has been thin and young, and Khaman Maluach is taking on a big role early.
Ott explained the trade-off himself: the team is “so concerned on the glass” that players retreat to rebound instead of pressuring the ball, and without stops they end up inbounding after made baskets. Last year the athleticism produced steals and transition buckets. This year it is being spent cleaning up misses that should have been contested in the first place.
The defense was the engine for everything else. The Suns ranked third in steals last season, and that pressure is what made the chaos offense work. Without it, this is a half-court team with spacing problems. The front line defense is vital not only for containing penetration that leads to clean looks, but also for stopping guys like Jamal Murray from going supernova and dropping 39 with ease, which I talked about in my latest episode of Suns Hit.
The lineup questions are already here. Jalen Green’s defensive rating sits at 130.7, while Collin Gillespie’s is 120.3, and Ott went with Gillespie next to Booker down the stretch instead of Green.
They will need the defense to step up against a Warriors team that can shoot the basketball well from deep. They hunt three-point looks. And have some guy named Stephen Curry who is pretty good at shooting the basketball. Golden State drilled 22 threes on 45% shooting in a win over the Clippers on Sunday night, and have won 4 straight games since their loss to the Suns.
That decision (starters) is going to get louder every week the defense stays at the bottom of the league. The lone cure to that is winning, and even that may be a band-aid if they can’t figure out how to make this group work long-term.
Closing Thought
The talk is already done. The film is there.
Close out on shooters. Box out the man in your area. Defense should be the priority. If the Booker-Green-Brooks-Bridges core can’t defend together, Ott has to stop forcing it and play the lineups that get stops.
Last year’s top-10 defense came from effort and execution, and right now this team has neither.
For the 10th time in their first 15 quarters this season, the Phoenix Suns have surrendered 30+ points. That’s 67% of the quarters they’ve played.
At some point, this stops being an occasional defensive breakdown and starts becoming your defensive identity. https://t.co/SIp046iqDu
Luka Dončić couldn’t help but chuckle after a reporter asked him an unexpected question Sunday evening.
Would you rather win the MVP Award or Defensive Player of the Year?
Dončić’s reputation is no secret.
Offensive savant.
Defensive pole.
But this season, the latter has increasingly felt like a misnomer, especially if you watched his brilliant two-way performance against the Raptors in the Lakers’ 131-125 win on Sunday.
Dončić finished with 45 points (12-for-23 from the field, 8-for-12 from 3), 15 rebounds, six assists, five steals, one blocked shot and three drawn charges.
Dončić is the first player with five steals and three drawn charges in the same game since player tracking began in 2013-2014, per ESPN.
Said Lakers coach JJ Redick: “He’s been awesome on defense.”
Added Walker Kessler: “Five steals and three charges. Incredible. You know, incredible. Luka doesn’t get enough credit for his defense.”
When Doncic was told about the high praise he received, he didn’t hesitate in his response.
“Oh, finally,” he said, cracking a smile.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass against the Toronto Raptors during an NBA game on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
He’s leading the league in scoring with 37.7 points per game, the fifth-most points in NBA history through six games and the most since Michael Jordan in 1986-87. He’s averaging more points than any Laker player ever through six games, surpassing his record from last season (37).
But defensive praise?
That’s new. That’s exciting. That could change the equation.
“Obviously, I’m not the best defender in the NBA, but I think this year I really took a step forward,” Doncic said. “Obviously people are going to talk what they want to talk [about] me. But I know, and my team knows, that I’m better this year.”
On Sunday, Doncic was sneaking behind players and knocking the ball out of their hands. He was deflecting passes in the lane. He was hammering the ball away from guys as they posted up against him in the paint. He was leaping into the air to deflect errant passes.
He was everywhere, doing everything.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
Defense has long been considered Doncic’s weakness. When the Mavericks shockingly traded him to the Lakers in February 2025, his detractors unanimously pointed their finger at his production on the less glamorous side of the court. He’s still regularly dragged through the mud for it.
But the thing is, Doncic can play defense. And when he so chooses, it changes the Lakers’ ceiling.
Just look at what he did against the Jazz in his 52-point, eight-rebound, 10-assist and two-steal performance in the Lakers’ 132-123 win on Oct. 25.
With 3:55 left and the score knotted at 116-116, he took a charge from Keyonte George as the Jazz’s point guard drove into the paint. It sparked a 16-7 run for the Lakers.
On Sunday, Doncic repeatedly put himself in harm’s way.
“I think taking a charge in general is just a form of leadership, right?” Redick said. “You’re putting your body on the line for the team.”
Added Doncic: “Before last season, I don’t think I had maybe five charges in seven years, or six years. So, that gets everybody fired up. …I just wanted to get better at that and three charges is not bad for one game”
Doncic’s buy-in on the defensive end changes things for the Lakers. He should be leading the MVP race right now regardless of what he’s doing on defense. But the way he’s playing on both ends of the court muzzles his detractors.
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against the Toronto Raptors during an NBA game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic doesn’t need to be great on defense. If he can be good, the Lakers can be great. And he can have a gold-paved path to the MVP Award while competing against two-way stars Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
We all know what he’s doing on offense is jaw-dropping, so much so that Redick waxed poetic while trying to put it into words.
“It feels like a supernova but it also feels normal,” he said. “We live on a spaceship and we’re going at the speed of light at all times when he’s on the court. When he has it going, you know, …it’s like pick your poison because he can just make any shot.”
As for defense?
Doncic has recently gone from being a punchline to being a threat.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder looked to be back to their championship form after starting the season with four straight wins, but injuries have plagued them and they come into this matchup against Cleveland losing two in a row.
With Chet Holmgren out for several weeks due to a knee injury, the Thunder turn to rookie big man Aday Mara to man the paint against Cleveland's formidable inside presence of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Mara has been a force in the middle blocking eight shots over his last three games, but he's only had double digits in points or rebounds once each this season. Can he fill up the stat sheet as OKC's main big man?
With Mara filling in, the depleted Thunder will have to rely on SGA even more and it remains to be seen if he can return to his same scoring prowess we've become accustomed to. It's still early in the season, but the two-time MVP is -only- averaging 26 points per game, while he's averaged over 30 per game for the last four seasons.
The Cavs enter this matchup having only lost two games on the season and those were by a combined 11 points.
While the Thunder have decimated by injuries, Cleveland's core has remained on the floor for much of the season. That core has allowed the Cavs to remain balanced on offense through the early part of the season with four players — Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Mobley, Allen — all averaging at least 15 points per game.
All eyes will be on the superstars in this matchup as SGA and Mitchell battle to light up the scoreboard. Or will Mara steal the show and have his "welcome to the NBA" moment?
How to watch Oklahoma City Thunder vs Cleveland Cavaliers:
How to watch 2026-27 NBA games on NBC and Peacock?
The NBA is back on NBC and Peacock for the 2026-27 season with 100 regular-season games across its three marquee nights of the week: Peacock NBA Monday, Coast 2 Coast Tuesday, and Sunday Night Basketball, beginning Jan. 24, 2027.
All NBA games presented by NBC Sports will stream live on Peacock and all Peacock-exclusive games on Monday nights will also be presented on NBCSN. Telemundo, NBCUniversal’s Spanish-language broadcast network, will present 10 Sunday Night Basketballgames as well as the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 21, 2027.
What is the full 2026-27 NBA on NBC and Peacock schedule?
You can see the full schedule of 2026-27 NBA games airing on NBC, Peacock, NBCSN, and Telemundo here.
How do I sign up for Peacock to watch NBA games?
Peacock is available across a variety of devices. To get started, find or download the Peacock application on your device or head directly to PeacockTV.com to create a Peacock account. Then, you’re ready to watch!
Peacock offers one of the most comprehensive live sports streaming lineups available today, bringing together the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, Premier League, NCAA football, NCAA basketball, golf, motorsports, and major global sporting events in a single service.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - NOVEMBER 1: Gradey Dick #9 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket during the game against the Golden State Warriors on November 1, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors will continue their Western Conference road trip on Monday night when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome.
Toronto enters the matchup looking to put together a more consistent performance after facing the Los Angeles Lakers yesterday.
The Raptors have shown plenty of encouraging signs early in the season, particularly on the offensive end, but will be looking to maintain that level of play against their Western Conference opponent.
Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett continue to provide the team with scoring and playmaking, while Immanuel Quickley has given Toronto another option to create offence in the backcourt. The offence has clicked early on this season, a very promising sign.
TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 30: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors celebrates scoring against the Orlando Magic during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup game at Scotiabank Arena on October 30, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Bailey McLean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
However, Monday’s matchup carries an additional storyline following the blockbuster trade between the two organizations in September.
Toronto acquired Kawhi Leonard from Los Angeles in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick and future draft compensation, bringing the former Raptors Finals MVP back to Toronto for a second stint with the franchise.
Unfortunately, neither Leonard nor Ingram will get the opportunity to face their former teams on Monday night. Leonard has been ruled out with a knee injury, while Ingram remains sidelined with a heel injury and a partially torn Achilles tendon.
While the two former All-Stars will be watching from the sidelines, Toronto will still get a look at one familiar face in Gradey Dick, who joined the Clippers as part of the deal.
Dick will have an opportunity to face the organization that drafted him in 2023, adding another interesting storyline to an already intriguing matchup.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 28: Gradey Dick #9 of the LA Clippers dribbles upcourt during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Intuit Dome on October 28, 2026 in Inglewood, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Looking at how these two teams match up, Toronto should have an advantage when it comes to its defensive intensity and ability to create opportunities in transition.
The Raptors have built much of their identity around forcing turnovers, getting out in the open floor and using their athleticism to create easy scoring opportunities. With Barnes leading the way, Toronto has the personnel to put pressure on the Clippers defensively and make things difficult for them in the half court.
However, one area that could give Toronto some trouble is the centre position. While Jakob Poeltl provides the Raptors with an established presence in the starting lineup, he has struggled massively this season. Toronto will need contributions from its other frontcourt options to help manage the minutes behind Poeltl.
The Clippers could look to take advantage of that situation. Isaiah Jackson’s athleticism and ability to finish around the rim, combined with Brook Lopez’s size and perimeter shooting, give Los Angeles different ways to attack Toronto’s interior defence.
Lopez, in particular, could create problems by pulling Toronto’s bigs away from the basket, opening up driving lanes for the Clippers’ guards. Rebounding and protecting the paint will be important areas for Toronto to address throughout the game.
Los Angeles also has some strengths on the perimeter. Darius Garland gives the Clippers an established playmaker who can create opportunities for himself and his teammates, while the team’s perimeter shooting could present challenges for Toronto’s defence.
The Raptors will need to communicate defensively, limit open looks from beyond the arc and avoid allowing Garland to dictate the pace.
TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 30: Head coach Darko Rajakovi of the Toronto Raptors celebrates with Collin Murray-Boyles #30 against the Orlando Magic during the second half of a Emirates NBA Cup game at Scotiabank Arena on October 30, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Bailey McLean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Despite those concerns, the Clippers have their own issues to work through. With Ingram, Bradley Beal and other rotation players dealing with injuries, Los Angeles has had to rely on different combinations to generate offence. The team has struggled to find consistency early in the season, and Toronto needs to take advantage of that.
For the Raptors, the biggest priority should be putting together a complete performance on both ends of the floor. They have shown they can score with some of the better teams in the league, but their defensive lapses and inconsistent stretches have made it difficult to string together strong performances. They cannot afford to give the Clippers easy baskets or allow the game to become a back-and-forth shooting contest.
Ultimately, Toronto needs to win this game. The Raptors have been too inconsistent through the opening stretch of the season, and opportunities against short-handed opponents are games they need to take advantage of if they want to establish themselves as a legitimate playoff team.
A road win would provide some much-needed momentum, but another inconsistent performance would only add to the concerns surrounding this group.
"He can’t force them!" Lee said when asked about the apparent rift between Dolan and the players over a potential White House visit. "It’s been years since the last NBA team has gone. They’re not going. I hope they don’t go! I hope they don’t go."
Dolan notably gave $125,000 to Trump's re-election campaign efforts in 2017, according to multiple reports, five days after Trump's public spat with the then-NBA champion Golden State Warriors about whether Stephen Curry had declined an invite to the White House or Trump rescinded the invitation. No NBA champion has visited the White House during either of Trump's terms in office as U.S. President.
Prior to the Bucks, the Cleveland Cavaliers had been the last team to visit the White House in 2016 when former President Barack Obama was still in office.
Knicks star Jalen Brunson previously said in July the team had not yet discussed whether to celebrate their title at the White House and pushed back on assumptions that a decision had already been made. His comments came after Dolan had said in a radio interview that the franchise had already accepted an invitation to visit the White House.
Lee told Variety that many New York Yankees fans disagreed with former owner George Steinbrenner's Republican politics, but argued Steinbrenner never brought politicians to the games. Lee believes Trump's attendance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals may have disrupted the Knicks' momentum. The game was New York's lone loss of the series.
"That was not just an accident!" Lee said.
Lee also suggested Dolan picked Ben Stiller over him, to produce a documentary that Stiller was seen filming from his courtside seats during the Knicks' NBA Finals run.
"It was Dolan. Dolan gave it to him," Lee said. "Look, it’s his team, he can do what he wants to do. Coulda woulda, but it’s his team. He also wants his team to go to the White House, too."
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick wasn’t happy with how the Raptors defense had been officiated on Sunday. AP Photo/Scott Strazzante
The Raptors entered Sunday ranked No. 1 in turnovers forced and defensive turnover percentage, but also committed the most personal fouls per game.
“If you look at the team – and this is not like a shot, this is just reality – a lot of the teams that force turnovers, they foul a lot,” Redick said. “And so by fouling on every possession, the refs are just naturally gonna allow you leeway.
“Oklahoma City does that. Detroit, watching this team, this version of this Raptors team on film, they remind me a lot of like last year’s Detroit team where they’re just going to foul you on every possession. And obviously they’ve also been called for the most fouls, and they’ve given up the most free throws, so that’s part of it.”
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick sees flaws in how NBA officials referee teams with aggressive perimeter defenders. NBAE via Getty Images
The game played as Redick said it would.
The Lakers finished with 24 turnovers that directly resulted in 30 points for the Raptors, who also committed 26 personal fouls.
While taking care of the ball has been a struggle for the Lakers, Redick saw what happened Sunday as a reflection of how NBA officials referee games in the modern era.
“I mean you guys can see it – some of those turnovers are because we’re legitimately getting fouled,” Redick said. “I told one of the referees this ‘cause all these guys do it, all the on ball defenders [do it] now. What they do is they pick you up and then they grab the arm you’re not dribbling with and then they try to steal the ball from you.
“Famously Cason Wallace did it with TJ McConnell [in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA finals]. And that’s just the NBA right now.
“It’s really hard when you play teams like this that are just fouling every possession. We did enough to play through it. But a lot of those turnovers are just that and then you can point to some decision making [with] some passes, all that stuff. Those naturally happen within the flow of the game.”
The Lakers aren’t shy with their issues with officials. Getty Images
Lakers superstar Luka Dončić, who’s often being guarded by the team’s best defenders, has noticed the shift in how perimeter defenders are officiated over the last couple of years.
“In the last two years, the game has become way more physical,” Dončić said.
“They allow way more contact. But obviously like you said, the refs can’t call everything. We just need to learn from them. We need to do the same things. Use that on the defensive end. You got to use aggression towards them. We just got to learn from that and we should do all the same on defense.”
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 30: Julius Randle #30 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on December 30, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Jose Alvarado’s availability for Monday‘s game after practicing on Sunday:
“I have not talked to our medical people.”
On Tyler Kolek’s role while Alvarado remains sidelined and going forward:
“Tyler is definitely going to keep playing while Jose is out. When he comes back, we’ll figure it out.”
On finally having a full practice over the weekend amid early-season issues:
“When you have an opportunity to practice, you hope that you can address some of the things that bothered you and get a little bit better.”
On failing to deal with opposing bench players getting hot:
“I’m OK with that because sometimes guys are going to get hot and make shots. Now, are there little things we can do to correct it? Yes.
“But what I was concerned with is our first half inability to control the dribble-drive, OK, and then how bad our turnovers were. Those were the two biggest things that I had concern with.”
On the need for rebuilding chemistry after the championship season:
“You’re starting all over. It’s like climbing a mountain. We’re climbing a mountain as a team and we conquer the mountain, then you gotta come back down, take some time off, then you gotta climb another mountain. It’s the same thing. And when you climb that mountain the second time, you’re starting from base camp again. And if you skip steps doing that, you’re going to die. It’s not that tragic for us. When you’re sitting at 2-4, people equate it to that sometimes, but it’s the same thing, taking each step the right way and embracing it and trying to get a little better.”
On why the Knicks must experience growing pains again despite having won the title:
“If we don’t go through our growing pains and we can’t get through our growing pains, for whatever reason — because we don’t want to go through it being that hard again or we think we know or whatever it may be — if we can’t get through our growing pains, we have no chance.
“It’s like anything you do in life. When you complete something and you have to do it again, you’re not just starting right here [at the top] when you do it again. You’re starting here [at the bottom] and you’re building up. And sometimes, your second or your third year doing it, you’re getting here [at the top] a little quicker. But you still gotta go through all the necessary steps to get there.”
On the Knicks’ struggles finishing in the paint:
“If you think about it, if you’re shooting the way we’re shooting the ball at the perimeter, it’s like in football, if you’re not able to pass the ball, they’re gonna put eight guys in the box. It’s the same thing. If we’re not making shots, they’re going to do this [collapse in the paint] and it’s gonna be harder to finish in the paint.
“And so eventually, at least the green [high-quality] 3s, we’re gonna have to continue generating green threes but we’re gonna have to make some green threes. But in the same breath, while we’re not doing that, we gotta be better in other areas to compensate for our ability to shoot the ball right now.”
On the Knicks’ problems stopping Philly in the paint:
“They were getting in our paint left and right, right and left, and it was really, really easy doing it. If it’s a post-up game or something like that, OK, maybe, I don’t know. But to continue to have that ball driven in the paint, especially in the first half when they shot 5 of 17 or whatever it is from the 3-point line, was not good.”
On the Knicks’ defensive communication and inconsistent execution:
“It’s not just one thing. It’s a little thing here, little thing there, little thing there, and that’s why it adds up. We’re competitive when we need to be, and that’s why all our games that we’re in, we have a chance down the stretch.
“But trying to make sure we continue to do the little things throughout the course of the game is gonna be huge for us because we’re not doing it right now.”
On the Knicks failing to execute fundamentals:
“It was almost like we were just gonna show up and go hoop and not doing the little things that we need to do to go get a win.”
“My name is Jalen Brunson and welcome to Madison Square Garden“
— Jalen Brunson helps raise the banner for Harry Styles 30 consecutive nights at the Garden
On trusting the Knicks’ decision-making and not being afraid to make mistakes:
“We have the right intentions. We’ve just gotta be confident in our decision-making and don’t be afraid to fail. We have the confidence in this locker room to do it. We all work hard. We see it every day. Everything’s going to fall into place as it should be.”
On the condition of his sprained left wrist heading into Monday’s game:
“The wrist is doing its thing.”
On the Knicks needing to rediscover their championship form more consistently:
“We gotta find a way to be that magical team we were last year at a more consistent pace. You don’t always want to just wait until the end to find that magic. Lightning don’t strike twice, so we gotta be that team right now and we gotta continue to build off of what we did last year.”
On the Knicks’ offensive struggles and failure to execute:
“We just haven’t played our best, and we haven’t executed at a high level.”
On the Knicks’ stagnant offense contributing to early deficits:
“I think when that’s happened, we’re just coming in a little stagnant offensively. Forced into either bad shots or turnovers. And then, you know, stops are harder.”
Mikal Bridges
On his affection for the Nets and Suns, his former teams:
“No matter them or Phoenix, people I played for, there’s always a spot in my heart for them and I always remember the time being there.”
On former Nets teammates still playing in Brooklyn:
“It might be just them two.”
On the Knicks’ practice session and correcting their mistakes:
“Just lock in. Obviously, we watch film and work on things that we gotta fix.”
On rebuilding the chemistry the Knicks developed during their championship season:
“Yeah, that’s why I think for us, we just gotta continue to grow. Last time we played was in June. I think [we were] probably the most polished as a team we were at the end of the year, as we should be. So, I know it’s tough to see last time we played to the beginning of the year, and obviously we should be better than we are, me personally. But it takes time and just not skipping steps and just kinda going through the process and keep learning, get back in that rhythm.”
“Doesn't really matter what team I play for. I was at my son's game yesterday & it was like 'I'm a Nets fan, you’re gonna kill it this year.' Then I get on the other side & it's 'Thank you for everything you've done for the Knicks"
“I’m sure it’ll be a lot of fun. No, I don’t know nothing about (the Knicks’ winning streak against Brooklyn). I live in the present, baby. … Focus on what we need to do to get a win, build off of what we did [Sunday] and stick together as a group.”
On opposing fans taking over Barclays Center during Nets home games:
“I don’t give a shit. I’ve been on teams that weren’t good and didn’t have the excitement around them. Then you start winning and the whole arena is there to see your team and cheer. So I think that’s just part of being a fan. For us as a team, we got to give them something to root for.”
On whether he sees himself as responsible for developing Brooklyn’s next generation of fans:
“Oh, hell no. It doesn’t really matter what team I play for. I was at my son’s basketball game yesterday and it was like, Man, I’m a Nets fan. You’re going to kill it this year. Then I get on the other side and it’s, Thank you for everything you’ve done for the Knicks’ …”
On building a winning culture in Brooklyn and helping the Nets’ younger players:
“I definitely want to be a part of establishing a culture and giving the city of Brooklyn something to be proud of. I’m not here just to come out and get my numbers or whatever it is. I’m here to win a championship. I’m here to help these young guys excel and speed up their growth process.”
After recording a team-high 23 points, Michael Porter Jr. tells @Meghan_Triplett what Brooklyn can take from tonight's win into tomorrow against the Knicks. pic.twitter.com/nRjTqkDnws
On facing the Knicks after Brooklyn’s historic 54-point defeat at MSG last year:
“We’ve got a big game [Monday] that we should be very excited to play. Last year, when we went to the Garden, it was not pretty, and we should remember that and look forward to getting our rest [Sunday night] and going in there and being competitive. I know I’m looking forward to it.”
On opposing teams’ fans dominating the crowd at Barclays Center:
“When we play Knicks, Celtics, Philly, Lakers, it’s mostly their fans. It’s crazy.”
Damn, Nets owner Joe Tsai says the Knicks championship left the Nets fanbase ‘irritated’ and ‘embarrassed’ 🫢
“Every year, some team is going to win a championship. So it happens that this year that team is in the same city. It doesn’t make us feel very good. It irates our… pic.twitter.com/TFyiiNCRJ0
Golden State Warriors Yaxel Lendeborg discusses his performance against the Clippers.
In Sunday’s 124-112 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors rookie phenom Yaxel Lendeborg fell just shy of scoring 40 points. It is the most for a Warriors rookie since Stephen Curry in 2010.
Lendeborg finished with 37 points and was asked why he didn’t go for the 40-point figure. He indeed tried, but fell short because of the pressure from his peers.
Yaxel Lendeborg scores 37 points in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers. NBAE via Getty Images
“I’ve never been a stat chaser in my life, so just falling into peer pressure like I did just now was pretty much bad on my part,” Lendeborg said. “Especially because I’m a guy that just loves ethical hoops. I’m a guy that loves efficient basketball, and I didn’t do that the last two or three minutes. So it’s kind of bad on my part.”
Lendeborg said his teammate De’Anthony Melton approached him and said, “Hey man you need to get 40. You’re three points away.’ And I’m like, ‘Nah, man. It’s all good.’ And he peer pressured me into doing it.”
Yaxel Lendeborg celebrating with Will Richard during his 37 point performance on Sunday night. NBAE via Getty Images
“He said he’s going to give me the ball. And he literally like, was holding it just to give me the ball. And I’m like, ‘All right, fine. I’ll shoot it.’ And I missed.”
Lendeborg said he tried to barter with Melton about being content with his 37 points, but then Will Richard approached him and said, “You got to do it.”
“Everybody was just egging me on, and I kind of just fell into it. But I know next time, I’mma just play in the flow of the game, ’cause they came out of me like four threes in a row, and we almost lost the game because of that. So, next time I’m never doing that again.”
It is not often you hear a professional athlete openly talk about trying to pad their stats. Yet, the Warriors rookie is not one for holding back.
Golden State Warriors rookie, Yaxel Lendeborg scores 37 points against the Clippers on Sunday night. Getty Images
“If it comes to me, it does. If I don’t get it, then I wasn’t meant to get it that day,” Lendeborg said. “Imma be way better next time.”
