Category: Basketball

Luka Dončić has a problem. He told us about it. 

But we didn’t listen. 

Remember when he was in the midst of one of the most remarkable stretches we witnessed from any player last season? You know, when he averaged 37.5 points, eight rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.3 steals in March, leading the Lakers to a 15-2 record, yet he somehow fell in NBA.com’s MVP rankings at that time?

“The better I play, the more I go down in rankings,” Doncic said last March. “So, I don’t know what more I can do.”

Everyone turned their cheek. Why?

Maybe people are inured to his greatness. Maybe all of his complaining to officials reduced that comment to white noise, even though it was his first and only time opening up about feeling snubbed last season. Maybe he doesn’t advocate for himself enough. 

Doncic’s point was stunningly driven home again.

Despite leading the league in scoring last season (33.5 points) and finishing third in assists (8.3), none of the NBA’s general managers believe Dončić will win MVP this season. 

In their preseason poll released October 15, Victor Wembanyama received 77% of the vote for projected MVP, followed by Nikola Jokic (10%) and Anthony Edwards (7%). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum also received votes. 

Doncic? 

Zero. Nil. Nada. 

What were the league’s general managers thinking? Why is he being overlooked? What’s going on here?

Those questions have been thrust to the forefront of our minds after Doncic finished with 52 points on 56.7% shooting, eight rebounds and 10 assists on Sunday, helping the Lakers storm back from an 18-point deficit to beat the Jazz, 132-123.  

It was a masterpiece. 

Since the Mavericks traded Doncic to the Lakers in February 2025, he has had more 40-point performances (19) than LeBron James (18), who spent eight seasons in Los Angeles. 

It was Doncic’s 10th 50-point performance of his career. Since he was drafted by the Mavericks as the third overall pick in 2018, only James Harden (16) and Damian Lillard (11) have had more 50-point perforances than Doncic. It was the first time this season that anyone has scored 50 points.

Doncic is a once-in-a-generation player. Why isn’t he getting more consideration for the league’s most prestigious individual honor?

Doncic has never won MVP despite leading the league in scoring twice and carrying the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024. 

Warriors star Draymond Green has a theory. 

“I still wholeheartedly believe he never wins an MVP because he’s in year nine and the people who vote, they’ve already moved on,” Green said on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show. “…Voters get fatigued with seeing you being great over and over again, and if you haven’t jumped that threshold of the MVP great, then they move on. And they’ve moved on.”

It’s a shame for Doncic. 

The Lakers are now his team after LeBron James left in free agency for the 76ers in July. Doncic is taking that responsibility very seriously. He had a major say in the roster moves last offseason, including the Lakers acquiring Walker Kessler. And for the first time in his career, he hosted a mini camp in Slovenia in August so the team could build chemistry. 

Doncic didn’t hold back in an exclusive interview with the California Post about what winning MVP would mean to him. 

“It would definitely mean a lot,” Dončić told the newspaper. “Obviously a championship, that’s what you play for every game. That’s what you train for everyday. But obviously it would be nice to win the MVP also. Not everybody can say they have an MVP, so obviously that would be nice. 

“But that comes with the team first. If you don’t play good, you’re never going to win championships or MVP. So, we’ve got to play good. I’m very excited to go to war with these people. I think we had a great training camp and we’re ready to go.”

For Doncic, who’s notably shy, that was him putting himself out there.

He badly wants this. He’s never going to advocate for himself the way Victor Wembanyama did last season. He’s the best offensive player in the NBA, but the team-first European isn’t going to toot his own horn.

But he shouldn’t have to. Voters shouldn’t need convincing. General managers are paid to know players’ games better than anyone.

So, what’s happening here for Doncic, who finished fourth in MVP voting last season despite earning the scoring title and carrying the Lakers to a fourth-place finish in the West before suffering a strained hamstring in April that sidelined him all postseason?

As Doncic asked last season: What more does he have to do?

Let’s go through the arguments against him. 

He complains too much to the refs. Yeah, so? Since when is that a metric that counts? Or a metric at all?

He doesn’t play enough defense. That didn’t stop Steph Curry, Nikola Jokic or James Harden from winning MVPs. 

He can’t win unless his team finishes No. 1 in the West. Russell Westbrook won MVP in 2017 even though the Thunder finished sixth in the West. Jokic won the award in 2021 even though the Nuggets finished third in the conference. 

Let’s stop the excuses. 

Doncic has a point. Green has a point. 

The GMs? They missed the point. 

Let’s not punish Doncic because we’re so used to his stunning box scores that we’re no longer impressed by them. Let’s not fall into the lazy trope of only celebrating greatness from players who have already won the award — or looking at up-and-comers.

Dončić has deserved to be at the top of the MVP conversation for a while now. 

And considering the stakes he’s playing for now as the face of a 17-time championship franchise, this might be his best season yet.  

Everyone needs to have their eyes wide open.

Greatness fatigue can’t be a euphemism for blindness.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are playing some of the best basketball in the league right now. They’ve dismantled their first three opponents by an average margin of victory of over 23 points. However, they may not have one of their star players in Monday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Minnesota added Anthony Edwards to the injury report on Monday afternoon with the designation of right knee injury management. Edwards may have tweaked that knee at the end of the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Toronto Raptors. You can see him grimace slightly in the clip below after finishing the fast-break dunk.

Support us and rep the Browns with Homage!

Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Browns throwback shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cleveland gear HERE.

Edwards played just 28 minutes in the Timberwolves’ 117-94 win over the Raptors on Sunday evening. He finished the night scoring 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting. Through three games, Edwards is averaging 28.7 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game on 44.3% shooting.

Minnesota will still be a tough test for Cleveland even if Edwards can’t go. The addition of LaMelo Ball has helped elevate their offense. This is part of the reason why the Timberwolves have posted a 122.1 offensive rating (4th in the league) through three games. And they still have a world-class defense with a front line that includes Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert.

The rest of Minnesota’s regular starters will be available for Monday. They will, however, still be without Donte DiVincenzo, who is recovering from a right Achilles tendon injury.

The Cavs will be mostly healthy for this game. Nae’Qwan Tomlin remains out with a back injury. The Cavs are still waiting for Khalifa Diop to make his debut. He’s been dealing with a left knee injury.

Update: Edwards will be playing for Minnesota

Three years ago, the smart money said the West belonged to Denver for the rest of the decade. Nikola Jokić was a two-time MVP with a fresh Finals MVP to match, Jamal Murray had turned into a playoff flamethrower, and the Nuggets had just bulldozed through the 2023 postseason like the whole thing was a formality.

They were the first champion after the Golden State Warriors’ 2022 ring, the fourth of the Stephen Curry era. And per The Ringer, when Denver climbed the mountain the word “dynasty” got tossed around Ball Arena like free T-shirts at a timeout:

“Fresh off a summer of victory cigars, champagne toasts, and celebratory dances, the Denver Nuggets are not just preparing to hang their first championship banner in 47 years—they’re eyeing a dynasty.

Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth was candid about his franchise’s goals when we met for lunch in Denver this offseason. “Our guys are tired. It’s going to be hard to repeat,” Booth said. “But if everything is optimized, we should win three or four [titles].”

Damn, three or four huh? Then the rest of the league showed up looking for their turn. To be fair to Denver, winning a title is brutally hard. The Nuggets have been in the mix everywhere, they played Game 7s in back-to-back years, and plenty of franchises would kill for that kind of “failure.” They’re absolutely relevant to the title picture out West and they’re a major problem in the conference.

But look at how those runs ended. In 2024, Denver coughed up a 20-point lead in Game 7 at home against Minnesota. In 2025, Oklahoma City dragged them to seven and sent them home. Somewhere in between, the front office fired the head coach and the GM.

And then this past April, it got worse. A Minnesota team missing Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo, Ayo Dosunmu and Kyle Anderson knocked Denver out in the first round, 110-98 in Game 6 at Target Center. Jaden McDaniels dropped 32 and talked trash the entire series, and he backed every word of it. The Denver Gazette pointed out that this was the first year Denver went out without either Jokić or Murray hurt in a playoff series, and the Nuggets were the No. 3 seed and the favorite.

Jokić’s own assessment afterward was that a first-round exit put them a long way from contention. When the three-time MVP is letting you know the team isn’t good enough, that’s pretty telling. So the charge against Denver isn’t that they only won one ring. It’s that they were set up to contend for years, with the best player in the world locked in, and kept letting the opportunity slip through their fingers one spring at a time.

Jokić is 31. He put up 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game last season like it was a casual Tuesday. The problem has never been the big Serbian man. The problem is everything around him. Yahoo’s preseason preview noted that over the last five regular seasons, Denver was 18.3 points per 100 possessions worse with Jokić on the bench, and called the backup options lackluster again. Some of that gap is just how ridiculous Jokić is, and any team would fall off a cliff without him. But you can trace the rest of it to actual decisions.

The 2023 title team let Bruce Brown walk that summer, then watched Kentavious Caldwell-Pope leave for Orlando a year later, and never really replaced either one. Denver opened this season with an ugly 96-84 loss in Oklahoma City where Jokić went 5-of-19 for 13 points, then needed overtime and a 35-15-10 triple-double from him to get past New Orleans, with the home crowd booing along the way. Do dynasties get booed??

As the last true dynasty, Dub Nation can now look inward for their own woes.

Golden State walks into Denver at 0-3 after losses to the Lakers (127-105), Memphis (111-108) and Phoenix (131-122). Steph is 38 and Jimmy Butler is still working back from that torn ACL, with a possible return sometime between January and February. Meanwhile Moses Moody is out, and Kristaps Porziņģis isn’t even with the team. Warriors are in no position to be throwing stones. Unless they are stones encrusted into the championship rings from the past decade, then in that case please do.

But that’s how it goes in the Wild Wild West; where fate hands you the keys to the kingdom for a season and immediately starts looking for a new tenant. The difference is the Warriors got four of them before the landlord came knocking. Denver got one, and it’s watching the clock on Jokić’s prime tick louder every spring.

Which brings it all back home. Curry’s window isn’t infinite either, and every game like tonight is a question about whether the Warriors are spending his late years better than Denver is spending Jokić’s prime.

Wing Tyon Grant-Foster has dealt with serious health turmoil throughout his life, and now he’s one step closer to fulfilling his dream of playing in the NBA. He was taken with the No. 15 overall pick in the 2026 NBA G League Draft by the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Miami Heat’s affiliate.

The 6-7 defensive impactor spent his summer with the San Antonio Spurs organization after going undrafted. Through four games with San Antonio, Grant-Foster averaged just 1.0 points in 3.8 minutes per contest.

In his last and only college basketball campaign with the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Grant-Foster averaged 11.1 points on a shooting split of 47.5 field goal percentage, 26.2 three-point percentage, and 61.1 free throw percentage in 35 games played. Grant-Foster made his impact for coach Mark Few with his overall aggressiveness and will-do attitude on the defensive side of the ball, chipping in 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, and 0.8 steals per game for the Zags.

There are four other Gonzaga alums who will be spending some time at the NBA’s developmental level on a two-way contract.

Phoenix Suns power forward/center Drew Timme (Valley Suns)

Golden State Warriors forward/center Graham Ike (Santa Cruz Warriors)

Denver Nuggets guard Ryan Nembhard (Grand Rapids Gold)

Toronto Raptors shooting guard Malachi Smith (Raptors 905)

Timme, undersized for his position at the NBA level, comes in late after just recently joining the Phoenix organization on Oct. 19. He was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks at the conclusion of the preseason on Oct. 18.

Ike has been blessed with an opportunity to immediately try to make an impact for a Golden State organization that is looking to ship off an unhealthy center, Kristaps Porzingis, who is contemplating retirement.

The former big man on campus always did the dirty work and received his first double-double during the second start of his NBA career. Ike ended up with 12 points on 5-for-13 field goals and 10 rebounds in the 131-122 loss against Timme’s Suns.

Nembhard has only appeared in one NBA game with Denver, recording five points, one rebound, and one steal in a 96-84 loss at the Oklahoma City Thunder. Smith has yet to make his debut with Toronto, most likely beginning his 2026-27 campaign in the G League. The season officially begins on Nov. 6.

Four additional Zags who aren’t on a two-way contract and will be competing in the G League are wing Jalen Warley with the Noblesville Boom, guard Nolan Hickman with the Capital City Go-Go, forward Anton Watson with the Coachella Valley Lakers, and guard David Stockton with the Valley Suns.

No word on where guard Ryan Woolridge will be spending the upcoming season.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho

Chicago Bulls (1-2) at Boston Celtics (1-1)
Monday, October 26, 2026
7:30 PM ET
Regular Season Game #3, Home Game #2
TV: NBCSB, CHSN, NBA-LP
Radio: 98.5 Sports Hub,  104.3 The Score, Sirius XM
TD Garden

The Celtics play their second straight home game as they host the Chicago Bulls. This is the first of 4 games between these two teams this season. They will play again at Boston on October 30 and will play at Chicago on December 30 and March 9. The Celtics were 2-1 last season against the Bulls, winning both in Boston and losing 1 in Chicago.

This is the first of 16 back to back sets for the Celtics this season. They will host the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday to complete the back to back set. The Celtics were good in back to back games last season and hopefully, with their depth, it will carry through to this season. The Celtics are 139-111 overall, all time against the Bulls and they are 80-40 in games played at home.

The Bulls have had a lot of change since last season. They replaced Billy Donovan with Tiago Splitter at head coach. They traded for Nic Claxton and Buddy Hield. They signed free agent Norman Powell and 2-way players Tobe Awaka and Jaylin Sellers. They signed Caleb Wilson (4th pick) and Dailyn Swain (15th pick). They lost Anfernee Simons, Collin Sexton, Nick Richards, Yuki Kawamura, MacMcClung, Guerschon Yabusele and Rob Dillingham.

The Celtics went 4-0 in the preseason, winning with both starters in 2 games and reserves and Exhibit 10 players in 2 others. They beat Cleveland, Charlotte and Philadelphia twice. The Bulls went 3-2 in the preseason, beating Minnesota and Milwaukee and Phoenix and losing to Denver and Memphis.

After this game, the Celtics will play home against Brooklyn and Chicago again. They will then play at Orlando and Houston and then home against Milwaukee before a road tripp takes them through Charlotte, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Toronto. They play Dallas and Orlando at home before a West coast trip that takes them through Denver, Sacramento, Golden State, and Washington.

Next for the Bulls, they will host New York before a 3 game road trip through Boston, Philadelphia and New York. They then host Philadelphia, San Antonio and Atlanta before playing at Minnesota, Cleveland, and Brooklyn. They then host Washington, Denver and Cleveland before one road game at Charlotte and a 6 game home stand hosting Indiana, New York, Cleveland, Houston, Miami and Utah.

The Celtics started Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Paul George, Jayson Tatum and Mitchell Robinson in the first 2 games and I have once again listed the same starters for this game. It’s also possible that Joe may change this up for this game. I’ve listed the Bulls starters from their last game, which are Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, and Jalen Smith.

The Celtics still have just Devin Carter on the injury report due to illness. After missing the final 3 games of the preseason, Carter was diagnosed with mononucleosis and is without a timetable for a return. The Bulls list starting center Nic Claxton out due to a hamstring injury. Patrick Williams (groin) and Noa Essengue (head) both missed Saturday’s game and are questionable for this game.

Probable Starting Matchups
PG: Derrick White vs Josh Giddey

SG: Jordan Walsh vs Norman Powell

SF: Paul George vs Matas Buzelis

PF: Jayson Tatum vs Caleb Wilson

C: Mitchell Robinson vs Jalen Smith

Celtics Reserves
Chris Cenac, Jr
Mike Conley, Jr
Luka Garza
Hugo Gonzalez
Ron Harper, Jr
Sam Hauser
Payton Pritchard
Neemias Queta
Baylor Scheierman

Two Way Players
Devin Carter
Dillon Mitchell
Amari Williams

Injuries/Out
Devin Carter (illness)  out

Head Coach
Joe Mazzulla

Bulls Reserves
Zach Collins
Buddy Hield
Tre Jones
Leonard Miller
Isaac Okoro
Dailyn Swain

Two-Way Players
Tobe Awaka
Jordan Hawkins
Jaylin Sellers

Injuries/Out
Nic Claxton (hamstring) out
Noa Essengue (head) questionable
Patrick Williams (groin) questionable

Head Coach
Tiago Splitter

Key Matchups
Jayson Tatum vs Caleb Wilson
Wilson was the 4th pick in the draft for the Bulls and is playing very well so far. He is averaging 22.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 40.7% from the field and 17.4% from beyond the arc. The Celtics need another big game from Jayson Tatum on both ends of the court.

Jordan Walsh  vs  Norman Powell
Powell is averaging 19.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.0 steals.  He is shooting 34.1% from the field and 28% from beyond the arc.  Over his career against the Celtics, he averaged 10.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.  Walsh’s defense made a difference against the Knicks and he will need to continue to make a difference on that end of the court in this game. 

Honorable Mention
Paul George vs Matas Buzelis
Buzelis is the only player left from the Bulls starters in their last game against the Celtics.  He is averaging 15.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 36.7% from the field and 13.3% from beyond the arc.   Over his career against the Celtics, he averaged 11.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.  We will see how many minutes PG will play in back to back games. 

Keys to the Game
Defense – As always, defense is the key to winning this, and every, game.  In the preseason, the Celtics were tops in the league with a defensive rating of 98.6.  In the second half of their first game, the Celtics allowed the Pistons to score 78 points.  The biggest problem in the Celtics collapse against the Pistons was their failure on the defensive end.  Likewise, one of the biggest factors in their win over the Knicks was their They held New York to just 103 points and also forced 18 turnovers, leading to 19 points off turnovers.  The Celtics need to continue to make defense their priority. 

Rebound –  As with defense,  rebounding will always be a key to winning.  The Celtics have to crash the boards as a team and go after every rebound.  In the preseason, the Celtics were 1st with 55 rebounds per game and 3rd with 16.8 offensive rebounds per game. So far in the regular season, they are last in rebounding with just 38 rebounds per game.  The Bulls are 9th with 48.3 rebounds per game.   Robinson and Queta are 2 of the best rebounders in the league and they need to be aggressive on the boards.  The Celtics need to get back to what they do best and win the rebounding battle against the Bulls.

Move the Ball Carefully –  The Celtics need to move the ball to get the best shots.  The Celtics are much better when they move the ball and don’t lapse into iso ball. Hopefully this season we will see much less iso ball than in the past.   But, they have to be careful with the ball and avoid turnovers.  They need to make the extra pass to find the best shot but they also need to stay focused and make careful passes. The Bulls are averaging 17.3 points off turnovers per game. 

3 Point Shooting – If the Bulls have one weakness, it is their 3 point shooting.  As a team, they are shooting 41.3 threes per game to 40.5 threes per game for the Celtics.  However, the Celtics are shooting 39.5% from beyond the arc (7th) while the Bulls are shooting just 22.6% from beyond the arc (30th).  The Celtics need to defend the perimeter and not allow them to get hot shooting the 3.   

X-Factors
Home Game –  The Celtics need to take advantage of home court and the boost their fans can give them.  The Bulls will face a hostile crowd and an unfamiliar arena along with travel which will hopefully give the Celtics the edge.  The Celtics need to play hard and protect home court and use the advantages it gives to get a win.   

Officiating – Officiating is always an x-factor in every game. Every crew officiates differently. Some call it tight, others let them play. The Celtics need to adjust to how the refs are calling the game and not allow bad calls or no calls to take away their focus from playing the game.  The Celtics also have to be aware of the new points of emphasis for this season and try to avoid flopping, off‑arm push‑offs, reckless closeouts, delays before free throws, and illegal screens. Paul George was already fined for a flop in the first game.

Did Jaylen Brown ‘demand' trade from C's? Scal clarifies comments originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Jaylen Brown trade saga has taken another unexpected turn.

After Brown and ex-Boston Celtics teammate Jayson Tatum addressed a potential “beef” between them — or “lamb chops and gravy,” as Brown put it — NBC Sports Boston analyst Brian Scalabrine added another layer to the story on Monday. Scal insinuated that Brown requested a trade out of Boston, and the C’s obliged by shipping him to the Philadelphia 76ers.

“My understanding of this thing is that he demanded to be traded. Not through the media, but to the organization,” Scalabrine said on his SiriusXM show, The Starting Lineup.

“My understanding is that Jaylen Brown went to the organization and had a list of demands, and it was like, ‘You either do this, or you trade me.’ And he was rooting to get traded to Milwaukee, including calling some other teammates about, ‘Hey, man, what do you think of Milwaukee? We should go there.’”

That contradicts what Brown said immediately following the trade. On his Twitch stream, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP vented about the “amount of respect” he was shown during the trade process and said he “wasn’t thrilled” with how Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens “facilitated some of the conversations.” He seemed genuinely blindsided by Boston’s decision to move on, stating that there’s “no loyalty in the NBA.”

Predictably, Scalabrine’s remarks caused quite a stir in the NBA world. He added more context to his comments before Monday’s Celtics-Bulls matchup at TD Garden.

“Technically, [Brown] didn’t demand to be traded,” Scal said on Celtics Pregame Live. “I just summed it all up. I summed up the entire word salad and kept it simple, but I think that’s what kind of got me in trouble there.

“I have no idea [what the demand was]. I don’t know what the ultimatum was or the demands or whatever it was. So technically, he did not demand to be traded. It was, ‘Do these things right here, or else.’ And one of them might have been, ‘Give me the $140 million extension.’ I haven’t gotten to the bottom of all that. I didn’t even know this was going to be a thing. It’s one of those things that lived in my mind for months. I finally used it because we were talking about the weirdest stuff, and now it’s out there.”

So according to Scalabrine, Brown didn’t demand a trade. Rather, he approached Boston’s front office with a “list of demands,” and the front office didn’t acquiesce.

If Brown stayed, the Celtics would have had to decide whether to sign him to a two-year extension worth around $140 million. With Tatum still owed $190 million on his deal, Stevens admitted that it would be difficult to forge a path forward with both stars.

“I might be wrong. I’m not going to stand up here and be defensive about that, but the path looked a little bit more challenging, with 70 percent of our cap and such a high percent of our usage tied into two players,” he said at the time.

If nothing else, the latest Jaylen Brown drama has made the upcoming showdown between the C’s and Sixers even more interesting. Brown and Tatum’s first official game against one another is scheduled for Nov. 10 in Philly.

Who: Phoenix Suns (1-1) @ Oklahoma City Thunder (3-0)

When: 5:00pm Arizona Time

Where: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK

Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports

Listen: KMVP 98.7

Phoenix got in the win column Saturday night against a depleted Warriors team, behind a vintage Devin Booker 43-point, 7-rebound, 7-assist game. Most of the reaction has been in the “concerned” category, and rightly so. The Suns have started games slowly, shown a lack of cohesiveness, failed to box out rebounders, at times losing focus, and have not consistently provided the level of effort needed for this roster to succeed.

In September, Bright Side of the Sun’s staff chimed in on the biggest questions facing the Suns in their first 10 games. I said, “My main question is in the intangibles category. Last year, the Suns were gritty more often than not. They dove for loose balls, scrapped on defense, and crashed the offensive glass. With new parts added and several high-effort players signing new contracts, will the effort dip?”

This remains the overriding thing to monitor, transcending individual player performances. Will the players self-correct and reach the required level? Jordan Ott was rated in the GM survey as having good offensive and defensive schemes. Can he show the coaching “goods” in the other skills like motivation, culture sustainment, and accountability?

Perhaps a game against a championship-caliber Thunder team will help Phoenix raise the bar on its play, even if it doesn’t result in a win. After a win on Sunday, OKC enters the game 3-0.  They also swept the Suns in last year’s playoffs. This game is not about revenge for that series; it’s about closing a large gap in “how” the two teams play and getting this season on the right path.

Late-breaking news as I prepared this article: Uber-talented star Jalen Williams was carted off the home floor during the fourth quarter of Oklahoma City’s victory Sunday night over the Clippers. With the culture in OKC, expect the rest of their talented team to respond. Devastating news for a player who has only been stopped by injury in a promising career thus far. The Thunder suffered several other rotation player injuries in that contest as well.

Tale of the Tape

Probable Starters

Injury Report

Suns

• Oso Ighodaro — Doubtful (Right Oblique Strain)
• Mark Williams — Out (Left Shoulder Surgery)

Thunder

• Jalen Williams — Out (Lower-leg/ankle injury)
• Cason Wallace — Out (Left shoulder soreness)
• Chet Holmgren — Out (Right Patellar Tendinitis)

What to Watch For

This is a tough matchup for the Suns. Outcomes are what count in the standings, but “process” is what will ultimately count for this team’s season. Look for signs of improvement. Is awareness of defense improving? Do loose balls find their way into the hands of Phoenix players? 

After two games, the purple & orange are 26th in the league in defensive rebounding.  This has to improve the limit second chance points should the Thunder hit a cold streak in shooting. That is quite literally a tall task with OKC, who include three 7-foot-plus players in the rotation: Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and rookie Aday Mara. 

Watch for ways that make us feel better about the way we’re playing. It’s a long season, but bad habits can become the norm if not corrected.

Keys to a Suns Win

Upsets in the NBA are often tied to two factors: three-point shooting (volume and accuracy) and the absence of key players on the favored team, due to injury or rest. As covered above, the unfortunate three injuries OKC incurred Sunday night, check one of those boxes. 

To get good looks from long range, better ball movement would go a long way. As of Sunday, Phoenix ranks last in the NBA in passes made per game (230, compared to a league median of 294), per NBA.com.

Luke Kennard showed that elite sharpshooter talent in his first appearance Saturday. The ball needs to find its way to him, and last year’s team three-point recorder holder Collin Gillespie frequently. While we’re at it, it would be a big lift if Booker provided one of his occasional six 3-pointer games. His shot was “on” versus the Warriors, but almost exclusively inside the arc. Other potential contributors to a hot night from downtown could be Jalen Green, Miles Bridges, Dillon Brooks, or Jordan Goodwin — all of whom have had streaky, good long-distance games in the past.  

The flip side of this: limiting threes for the Thunder. Jared McCain is a dangerous combination of high volume and accuracy, so the Suns need to be aware of him at all times. It feels like Alex Curoso often gets hot versus Phoenix, and checking this shows a career 40% mark. The bottom line is that the higher levels of effort and awareness mentioned in “what to watch for” have to show up as quick, alert defensive rotations. Make OKC, playing the second game of a back-to-back and with a suddenly thinned rotation, work hard for those open shots and hope the weary legs lead to a low three-point percentage.

Then PLEASE box out and go after those rebounds to limit second chances.

Prediction

The Suns take steps in the right direction, but not quite enough to get the W against this powerhouse team at home.  

Thunder 110, Suns 102

Chris Boucher played seven seasons in a Toronto Raptors jersey, and fans seem to be clamouring for him to have one more after the debacle that was Sunday night’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Losses are to be expected in the NBA, especially to teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, who have one of the most dangerous backcourt duos in Anthony Edwards and Lonzo Ball, paired with a 4-time Defensive Player of the Year in rim protector Rudy Gobert. This threesome looks built to be Raptor kryptonite, and indeed, beat the Raps badly, 94-117. However, what was shocking about the loss wasn’t the severity, but it was who became instrumental in the team’s collapse.

Two of the Raptors’ five starters scored zero points throughout the entire contest. Both Jakob Poeltl and Scottie Barnes went scoreless last night, which, in the latter’s case, is absolutely shocking. However, while Poeltl is the Raptors’ starting big man, he has a documented injury history that is potentially still limiting his abilities on the court. For that reason, some Raptors fans are ready for a change at centre, with Boucher seemingly throwing his hat in the ring with a very simple Tweet last night.

Under the Canadian’s post were a flood of supportive messages from Raptors fans.

“miss you” @cmb6ix put it simply.

“Bonjour!! We need you!!!” Begged @NoelComstock.

“GAIN SOME WEIGHT, AND WORK ON REBOUNDING, AND YOU’D HAVE A JOB FAM.” @coach5611 came in, providing some clear instructions for what he’d like to see from Boucher.

The man who some fans called the “Block Quebecois” most recently played for the Boston Celtics, averaging two points and two rebounds across nine games, a far cry from his 10 points per game a year before for the Toronto Raptors.

Boucher would have some difficulties fitting into the current Raptors’ current needs as a result of his slender frame and height of 6’8”, of which the Raptors have plenty of such players already. Boucher’s last start came in the 2021-22 season for the Raptors, meaning that if he rejoined the team, he would undoubtedly remain a bench piece.

While it would be fantastic for team and fan morale to have Boucher back in a limited role, fans’ reactions are likely mired in nostalgia and frustration for Toronto’s current centre situation as opposed to clearheaded suggestions. Nevertheless, last night demonstrated that Boucher still has a contingent of loyal fans amongst Raptors supporters, who would be glad to see their fellow Canadian back in Raptors red and black.

The Westchester Knicks have announced their 2026–27 training camp roster, with 16 players competing for an opportunity to make their mark in the Knicks’ developmental pipeline. The group includes three players designated as two-way players: guard Jaden Akins and forwards Dalton Knecht and Tyler Nickel.

Those three will be worth watching as camp gets underway. For players on two-way contracts, Westchester offers a chance to get consistent minutes, sharpen their games, and build a case for opportunities at Madison Square Garden.

The full camp roster, with positions as listed in Ian Begley’s tweet:

• Guards: Jaden Akins, Tre Dinkins III, Mitchell Mascari, Dink Pate, Amir “Primo” Spears, and Paul Zilinskas.
• Forwards: Tahj-Malik Campbell, David Dixon, Nicholas Jourdain, Dalton Knecht, Oleksandr Kobzystyi, Igor Miličić, Tyler Nickel, and Toby Okani.
• Forward/center: N’Faly Dante.
• Center: Liam Robbins.

For those of you hoping there’d be a center here to save the big league club . . . probably not. Still, this crew should make Westchester an interesting watch. Nickel, Knecht, and Pate are sure to treat the crowd to some orange and blue fireworks!

The next step for these players is to turn that training camp invitation into a role. Attention now shifts to which players will distinguish themselves and who head coach DeSagana Diop will carry into the season. The season starts on Friday, November 6, with a road game in Maine.

Go W-Knicks.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have taken a hit to their NBA championship odds after star Jalen Williams suffered a severe lower leg injury on Sunday, Oct. 25 against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Williams, an All-Star and key contributor to Oklahoma City’s 2025 championship, was taken off the court on a stretcher late in the Thunder’s 108-101 victory.

The Thunder entered the season as the favorite to win the NBA title in the betting markets, but the injury changes the pathway for Oklahoma City moving forward. Team general manager Sam Presti said both Williams and fellow starter Cason Wallace will need surgery.

Williams has a fractured fibula and a dislocated ankle on the left side, while Wallace has a labral tear in his left shoulder. Presti did not provide a timeline for either Williams' or Wallace's return.

The Dallas Mavericks are in Miami playing their old rivals, the Heat, as they look for their second win of the year. Miami made a huge splash over the offseason trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but have not seen the fruits of their labor thus far. They have yet to win, but despite their hunger, the Mavericks are not going to go down easily. With Cooper Flagg looking good to go, Dallas can catch Miami with their pants down if they make shots early. Given the Mavericks’ center rotation, this will be Dusty May’s first true test of how he can scheme a win. It should be a chess match against one of the NBA’s longest-tenured coaches, Erik Spoelstra.

Game intangibles

Dallas Mavericks (1-2) at Miami Heat (0-3)

Tipoff: 6:40p CT at the Kaseya Center, Miami, FL.

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 and NBATV.

Odds via the Fanduel Sportsbook as of 2:00PM CST

Spread: Dallas +7.5 (+100)

Over/Under: 241.5 (-108/-112)

Moneyline: Dallas +225

Player props

Giannis Antetokounmpo to score 35+ points (+172)

Cooper Flagg to record 8+ rebounds (+215)

I think May opts for the “Luka” game plan with Giannis: let him get what he wants and take away the other guys. Miami has very little shooting around him, and letting Antetokounmpo get his 40 in the paint while everyone else is locked up will be key to keeping this close. 

Flagg has 10 rebounds in his last four quarters, as he had five in the second half against Houston and five in the first half against Indiana. If he can put a full game together, this should be an easy over.

Game sides

Dallas +7.5 (+100)

Under 241.5 points (-112)

Dallas has slowed the pace down in their three games. I thought the contest vs Indiana would be run-and-gun, but they kept it to a battle of execution. I think the same goes tonight in Miami. You do not want to let them get out and run; they have the better transition players. I think this will be a close, well-played game, with the Heat victorious 113-109.

HeraldHow Celtics big man delivered Jayson Tatum’s ‘favorite’ play vs. Knicks

Globe Joe Mazzulla weighs in on drama between Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown

Game 3 preview: Celtics look to continue winning ways against Bulls

After the ‘lamb chop’ comment, it’s clear Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum’s frayed relationship won’t be healed soon

CelticsBlog Hate it or love it, this has always been Jaylen Brown

CLNS Media Kevin O’Connor: Celtics Can Make NBA Finals This Season

Celtics .comBoston Celtics to Honor Military Members During 20th Annual Seats for Soldiers Night

NBC Sports BostonOne Possession: Mitchell Robinson’s “Welcome to Boston” moment

NESNAllen Iverson Called Celtics’ Payton Pritchard The ‘Coldest White Boy’ He’s Ever Seen

Celtics Guard Named One Of The Most Underpaid Players In NBA History

Celtics’ Win Over Knicks Featured a Stunning Zero From New York Starter

Celtics Get A Perfect Test Against The NBA’s Coldest 3-Point Team

Neemias Queta Gives Celtics an Unexpected Boost in Home-Opening Win

Mass Live Is Jaylen Brown chasing drama with Jayson Tatum?

Jaylen Brown’s petty shots at Jayson Tatum should be beneath him

Celtics WireScalabrine among those expecting Celtics near top of East this season

Sean Grande thinks Celtics Jaylen Brown trade drama will last all season

What is Jayson Tatum’s future as the leader of the Boston Celtics going to look like?

Paul Pierce thinks the Boston Celtics will be very competitive this season

Celtics history: Brown, Poirier, Fall, Vincent debut; Gavitt, Dickey born; Mangurian passes

Celtics vs. Bulls: Stream, lineups, injury reports, broadcast (10/26)

Is the Tatum – Brown Celtics trade drama going to be inevitable?

Celtics vet forward Paul George will be an All-Star this season

The AthleticNBA Power Rankings: Lakers leap into contenders tier; Knicks, Heat take a dive

Hardwood HoudiniCeltics face first opportunity to put their money where their mouth is on b2bs

Mitchell Robinson sends ironic and inspiring message after Celtics struggles

Neemias Queta showed why Celtics have an embarrassment of riches at center

Luka Garza’s unsung heroics vs. Knicks show why he’s crucial to Celtics’ second unit

‘He was special’: Celtics praise Jordan Walsh after stifling Jalen Brunson

Joe Mazzulla’s commentary on the Jays shows stark new Celtics dynamic

Celtics’ upcoming soft schedule spot is a must-capitalize moment

Celtics face first opportunity to put their money where their mouth is on b2bs

CLNS Media/YouTubeJaylen Brown Needs to STOP Beefing with Jayson Tatum | Celtics Beat

Locked on Celtics Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown DRAMA: Who is RESPONSIBLE? Does it Matter?

The AthleticNBA announces partnership with prediction markets Kalshi, Polymarket

Hoops Rumors Atlantic Notes: Mazzulla, Tatum, Brown, Embiid, Barrett, Nets

Essentially Sports“They’re Just Different”: Celtics HC Joe Mazzulla Finally Breaks Silence After Jaylen Brown & Jayson Tatum Drama Escalates

Celtics’ Payton Pritchard Reveals Personal Allen Iverson Message

Clutch PointsCeltics’ Joe Mazzulla focuses on what matters amid Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown drama

How Celtics’ Payton Pritchard uses amateur ballers, humid gyms, Chipotle bribes to refine his craft in offseason

Allen Iverson told Celtics’ Payton Pritchard during playoffs he’s ‘coldest white boy I’ve ever seen’

Bleacher Report Jaylen Brown-Jayson Tatum Drama Addressed by Celtics HC Joe Mazzulla

HeavyCeltics Get Encouraging Derrick White Update to Start Season

Celtics Announce Injury Report Ahead of Bulls Game

Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla Addresses Growing Tatum-Brown Tension

Celtics’ Tatum-Brown Saga Gets Blunt Verdict From Draymond Green

Celtics’ Mitchell Robinson Makes Promise To Knicks’ Andre Drummond

Celtics RoundtableBoston Celtics Get Massive Praise From NBA Analyst

ESPNIs there still tension between Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum?

How Payton Pritchard became Boston’s unlikely iso king

SB NationJaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum’s NBA drama is more entertaining than it should be

Daily KnicksAndre Drummond is already making the Knicks miss Mitchell Robinson

BroBible Mitchell Robinson Used AI To Give Himself A Blonde, White Girlfriend: ‘Crazy How Good I’d Look With A Country Girl!’

The Daily CampusBrayden’s Breakdown: Boston Celtics basketball continues without Jaylen Brown

WEEI/YouTube NO BEEF BUT… “Might Be a little Lamb Chops” JT vs. JB Drama Continues ||The Greg Hill Show

Fan RecapCeltics May Already Be Seeing Why They Passed On Giannis

Hugo Gonzalez Is Already Feeling Bostons Roster Crunch

Joe Mazzulla Steps In As Celtics Tatum-Brown Tension Grows

Celtics Get A Chance To Expose One Early Bulls Weakness

Jordan Walsh Just Gave Celtics Fans A Reason To Believe

Celtics Have An Early Chance To Separate In A Deeper East

Derrick White Could Be The Celtics Offensive Boost They Need

Jaylen Browns New Sixers Role Should Get Celtics Fans Talking

Celtics Offense Already Has A Familiar Problem Joe Mazzulla Must Solve

Fansided 4 emergency 76ers trades to address their backup center problem

Basketball Network “You’re the coldest white boy I’ve ever seen” – Payton Pritchard reveals the respect he received from Allen Iverson

SI .comBoston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls: Injuries, Projected Starters, What to Watch for

BasketNewsDennis Schroder sets incredible scoring feat never before achieved in NBA history

Payton Pritchard’s wild summer workout routine revealed

Fadeaway WorldPayton Pritchard’s Unique Offseason Training Routine Involves 150 Isolation Plays and Chipotle

It’s a small sample size, but the Minnesota Timberwolves lead the league in rebounding after the first three games this season.

The Wolves hauled in 52 boards against the Miami Heat, 61 against the Orlando Magic, and 49 against the Toronto Raptors. In all three contests, the Wolves dominated the glass, and it led to three blowout victories. Wolves head coach Chris Finch explained why there has been a shift in the team’s approach to rebounding over the weekend.

“It starts with Jaden (McDaniels) and Anthony (Edwards) and JK (Jonathan Kuminga). Those guys just getting back in the play and rebounding the ball in the air. We’ve been harping on it,” Finch said.

“Obviously, it’s easier to rebound when you play really good kind of first-shot defense, and you can force them into shots where you’re not in rotations and stuff like that, so that’s been key to it as well – being able to be in good help spots and then go pursue the ball. That’s really what it is. It’s the pursuit of the ball on both ends of the floor. We were one of the worst teams in terms of watching rebounds and not actually pursuing the ball, and this year we’ve been able to switch our mentality to be more of a pursuit team.”

Crashing the glass on the offensive side of the ball has increased the number of possessions Minnesota gets. The more shots they’re taking, the more are falling. If the Wolves can continue this mindset across the course of the season, they should be one of the biggest threats in the Western Conference.

Many thought that the loss of Naz Reid and Julius Randle would hurt the team’s rebounding efforts, but going smaller in the lineup has forced everybody to prioritize rebounding when they are on the court.

Wolves center Rudy Gobert emphasized the importance of all five players contributing to the rebounding efforts and how much of a difference it is making.

“I think just compete, and just having the mindset of doing something… whatever is happening on the floor, finding a body, contesting the shots and I think it goes from one to five,” Gobert said. “Having five guys doing something… being active, and when we do that, it makes it easy for me, and it makes it easy for us as a team.”

It’s going to be difficult to keep up this trend, but this could be what sets the Wolves apart from their competitors.