HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 15: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets in action during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center on October 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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 Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the Rockets started the game with consecutive three-point makes from Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, it felt like a good omen.
As it turned out, it was, as the Houston Rockets squeaked out a 113-110 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
The Rockets led for most of this contest, but it got hairy in the fourth quarter. Luckily, they found their way out of the woods:
And Alperen Sengun led the charge.
One thing is clear: This man is not afraid of Victor Wembanyama. Sengun was hyper-aggressive down the stretch, looking to score inside whenever he could, against whoever was there, and found tremendous success. He finished the game with 29 points on 10/20 shooting, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds.
Oh, and he hit 50.0% (2/4) of his threes, as did Amen Thompson (1/2). Chip Engelland’s deal with the devil continues to pay earthly dividends.
Speaking of Thompson…
Yes, he had 20 points and 10 rebounds. More importantly, he blocked the soul out of Wembanyama’s body to secure the win on the last play of the game.
One of the highlights of this game was Kevin Durant’s (relative) inactivity. The less Houston relies on him in the regular season, the better. He had a modest 20 points on 5/10 shooting from the field, although one of those shots was a massive triple in the closing moments that defined the game’s outcome.
What else? Tari Eason was great in his first (real) game of the season with 12 points, six boards and four steals, although he should probably dump off a pass or flush it with two hands instead of going for The Chocolate-Thunder-Flying, Glass-Flying, Robinzine-Crying, Babies-Crying, Glass-Still-Flying, Cats-Crying, Rump-Roasting, Bun-Toasting, Thank You-Wham-Bam-I-Am-Jam in a two-on-one fast break.
Another quirk in this game that’s maybe a non-sequitur here (if this is at all poorly written, please note that it is 1:50 AM and I have been up since 6:00 AM): It felt like Wembanyama was unstoppable at the rim. So many lobs, right? I wrote a whole paragraph about how Houston couldn’t stop him at the rim, but he was 9/21 in the game, so that couldn’t be true.
Ultimately, this was a game that was decided in the clutch. The team stats are nearly identical across the board. Sengun’s relentless inside scoring, Durant’s big triple, and perhaps the best play of Amen Thompson’s young career were the whole story. The Rockets improved to 2-0:
In mere hours, they’ll see if they can stay perfect against a talented Atlanta Hawks squad.
In a game where no Timberwolf scored more than 15 points and collectively shot 43% from the field, Minnesota routed the Orlando Magic with second efforts that stymied any attempts to close the gap. From the start, the Wolves were determined to pester the Magic. They forced turnovers, gang rebounded, and looked to pass the ball to teammates in transition. It was so impressive even older brothers were doling out compliments to their younger siblings.
This the most I’ve ever seen Melo defend lol noticing
Through two games, the Timberwolves showed that, make or miss, they are playing for each other. If one part of a player’s game isn’t working, they redouble their efforts on defense, rebounding or looking to pass. Despite their opponent’s rough and sometimes flagrant attempts to unsettle them, they kept their cool.
Speaking of the Orlando Magic. They boast a big, talented, and brutish team that lopes toward the basket with dribble penetration and some crafty pivots when they can get a one-on-one matchup. When they do kick it out for a three-point shot, prayers fill the Kia Center that the shot variance gods are in their favor.
Tonight, they were not.
Goldfish Mentality
In the midst of the first half, the Magic attempted to close the gap. Paolo Banchero hit a number of free throw line turn-around jumpers and chewed away at the Wolves lead. No Minnesota player hung their head for a moment. The inbounders quickly took the ball out of the net to go the other way, giving the Magic less time to breath, less time to set their defense, and less time to feel a sense of confidence grow.
The roiling sea of moodiness the Wolves navigated last year has calmed and it is reflective in their next play mentality. They play so fast that there is no option but to bring a constant energy. I don’t know if head coach Chris Finch got around to watching Ted Lasso, but Minnesota is playing with the ten second memory that allows them to brush off an opposing make.
In the fourth quarter, amidst a small surge from Orlando, the Wolves got creative. They beat the Magic’s full court press with a series of hit-ahead passes that created opportunities at the rim. Orlando soon gave up that approach.
If there is a thing that every Wolf always remembers, it is to celebrate any three-point make in front of the opposing bench.
Kuminga Up to the Challenge
Jonathan Kuminga has been given the most difficult defensive assignment in the past two games. In both, he has performed as well as any could have hoped. Despite Banchero injuring his ankle early in the third quarter, returning for a short stint before exiting for the night, Kuminga largely contained the All-Star when he was on the court. More than that, by taking the toughest challenge, he is allowing Jaden McDaniels to spread his wings more. While soaring to new heights, Slim is finding a few more rebounds a game. In the second game in a row against the bigger opponent, the Wolves ended the night with a +24 rebounding advantage.
Kuminga is feeling the full force of a team that believes in him and he is using it to make aggressive plays. In transition, Kuminga has been so forceful on the attack he was able to drive into Wendell Carter Jr., miss his shot, and get his own rebound as his drive sent WCJ reeling back into the basket stanchion. He connected with Ayo Dosunmu on a fast break and laid in a finger roll alley-oop.
Moments later he stole the ball and was fouled on his missed breakaway dunk attempt. Upset at the missed highlight, he slammed his fist against the stanchion. McDaniels was there right away to praise the steal and maybe to impart wisdom about punching inanimate objects.
Dos Unit
Led by Ayo Dosunmu, the Wolves bench ran rampant over any Magic player in front of them. Every bench player with double-digit minutes ended the game with a double-digit positive +/- numbers. Ayo, or Dos as he’s known by, filled up the stat sheet with a little bit of everything; 14 points, seven boards, nine assists, two stocks, and no turnovers. He was quick to run the break and brought the rest of the pack with him, getting the Wolves into early offense. The Magic closed out hard on Ayo on the perimeter, allowing him to drive into the paint, collapse the defense, and open up shooters. Again and again number 13 made the right play.
The rest of the bench followed that energy to extend the Wolves lead. Terrance Shannon Jr. hit above the break threes and drove with his usual panache, seeming to relish the Magic’s aggressive defense. After a rough game against two of the best bigs in the league, Joan Beringer found his place in the chaotic scrum under the basket. At the mere head fake of a shot, he quickly found someone to box out. He had one ferocious dunk and got a few more off of under the basket feeds and offensive rebounds (Seven!). Even Trey Lyles found ways to contribute on the glass, dishing out an assist to Rudy, and hitting a few threes of his own.
Ant Out of Rhythm
It wasn’t all good. After his 45-point explosion over Miami, Anthony Edwards’ shot appeared to abandon him. Attempt after attempt from outside clanked off the rim. When he tried to get to the basket, he met a well set wall of Magic players who nudged him off his spot and into a miss. He was at his worst when LaMelo Ball was off the court, falling back into old habits of iso-ball while his teammates sat waiting for a grenade should Ant’s attempt at finding his shot fail.
Edwards did find other ways to contribute, though. He snagged four steals and impressively outjumped WCJ. for a jump ball. As he chirped at the big man down the court, he buried a shot and scored again on the next possession. If there is a beef to be had on the court, then Ant will eat.
Free Points Left Behind
You got to make your free throws. The Wolves cannot afford to have a team free throw percentage worse than Rudy Gobert’s career average (63.3%). Minnesota left 13 free ones out to dry on 30 trips to the line. It’s a sign of respect for an opposing team to circle the matchup against you on the calendar. It’s a warning sign when fans circle the day after their team plays Minnesota for a free lunch courtesy of the Wolves missing both in the fourth.
Game Highlights
Next Up
The Timberwolves return home to Minnesota for their home opener. They take on their Neighbors to the North (technically south) in the Toronto Raptors. Catch the game on Sunday, October 25th at 6:00 PM CT on DAZN-MIN.
Emotions ran high at the Pacers’ home opener in an unexpected way.
The 2025 Eastern Conference champions, who welcomed back Tyrese Haliburton for his first home game since he tore his Achilles during Game 7 of the NBA Finals 16 months ago, found themselves on the receiving end of a dominant Mavericks performance.
But during the contest, as the Mavericks, who won 121-105, continued building a monstrous lead, Pacers wing Aaron Nesmith delivered a hard foul to rising star Cooper Flagg on a dunk attempt shortly before halftime.
Cooper Flagg is fouled on a drive by Indiana swingman Aarom Nesmith during the Mavericks’ 121-105 win over the Pacers on Oct. 23, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. NBAE via Getty Images
Things immediately got chippy after the hard foul as Flagg subsequently went to the locker room with a shoulder injury.
Nesmith was tagged with a flagrant foul, and he also received a double technical foul for his involvement in the subsequent skirmish, as did Mavericks wing Naji Marshall, who inserted himself into the action in defense of his injured teammate.
PACERS-MAVS GET CHIPPY AFTER A FLAGRANT FOUL ON COOPER FLAGG
Two Mavericks players also appeared to leave the bench though Mavericks head coach Dusty May said he thought both went to check on Flagg, perhaps avoiding any disciplinary action from the league.
“Look, Nesmith is a great guy, a heck of a player. I’ve known him since he was in high school,” said May, who reached two NCAA Final Fours and won last year’s national championship just a few blocks away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. “Obviously, an unfortunate play. Hopefully, Coop’s fine.”
Flagg continued to nurse his injured shoulder as he walked to the locker room area before the end of the first half and did not return.
May later said Flagg would be evaluated over the next couple of days.
“Cooper has left shoulder soreness, he’ll be evaluated in the next couple of days,” May said before addressing whether Flagg needed an MRI exam. “I really don’t know. I saw him in the locker room, he’s in good spirits. We’ll know in the next couple days what’s next.”
Cooper Flagg holds his shoulder after being fouled during the second quarter of the Mavericks’ win over the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Getty Images
Flagg did not speak to reporters following the game.
With the win, the Mavericks improved to 1-1, dropping Indiana to the same record.
Flagg, who began the season with 32 points in 33 minutes in Houston, finished his two quarters in Indiana with 14 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals in just 17 minutes.
Aaron Nesmith (23) and Dallas’ Naji Marshall (3) exchange words during the second quarter of the Mavericks’ win over the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Getty ImagesAaron Nesmith (23) and Dallas’ Naji Marshall (3) get into it after a foul in the first half of the Mavericks’ win over the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Mavericks fly to Dallas and will play the second of a back-to-back on Saturday against the defending Western Conference champion Spurs.
The Pacers head to Brooklyn to take on the Nets on Sunday.
PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 21: Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 21, 2026 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jaden Coleman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Over the last few days, as fans awaited the NBA season’s tip-off (which we are all trying to forget), the Phoenix Suns tweaked their roster to ensure they were ready for Wednesday Saturday night. This included an extension for a solid centerpiece of their bench, along with minor moves on the edges to fill out the roster from top to bottom. With these recent moves, the front office has once again signaled that it’s willing to adjust on the fly and push for the best chance to win on the court.
We saw this last year with some late roster moves, and it truly paid off for this team. Claiming Jordan Goodwin off waivers was the first swing, and it paid off tremendously for the team, as he proved to be a spark off the bench and earned himself a nice payday because of it. They also added Jamaree Bouyea to a two-way spot when the Milwaukee Bucks waived him in the first half of the season. Bouyea proved his worth in that two-way spot, showing he could contribute with injuries at the guard position. This earned him a roster spot and kept him on the roster through the end of the season, a sign of their belief in him.
Coming into this season, the Suns did the same thing I mentioned above, and it really looks like these moves, even if minor, set them up for a better-than-expected outcome. First off, let’s discuss the biggest news, and probably the most impactful: extending homegrown talent Oso Ighodaro. They gave him a three-year, $29 million extension, which is a solid deal. For starters, an average annual value (AAV) under $10 million for someone who’s been a key piece is great. Then you add that it doesn’t kick in until the 2028-29 season, which makes it even better. That means Ighodaro is still on his rookie-scale deal for two more seasons (this and next) before the Suns have to shell out that money, giving them financial flexibility leading up to the 28-29 season. Ighodaro also makes only $2 million on his rookie contract, which will be well worth it for the team given his expertise.
Under 10M AAV for my backup big of the future, someone let Gregory and co know they got a demon ready to unleash https://t.co/8esM2hvtHj
By the time this extension kicks in, he will be on a scam contract, in my eyes, because he will be worth more than what he will be paid then. For the skeptics out there, this deal will be cheaper than many backup bigs, including one of Neemias Queta or Mitchell Robinson on the Celtics, Robert Williams III, Daniel Gafford, John Collins, Daniel Gafford, and Wendell Carter Jr. Now, some of these guys may not be backups now or in their roles play similar to the Suns with two startable bigs but not a true number one center.
Personally, I think he has a chance to be better than all these players by the 2028-29 season, proving he can be the best-valued backup center in the association if he can keep up the pace. That is some good company to be in, and this contract extension reminds me of the one that Payton Pritchard took a few seasons back, when he was making around $7 million annually.
These later moves are all smaller, but they still affect the team’s direction. Sadly, the Suns waived Haywood Highsmith again, cutting their roster from 15 to 14 players. This is now allowed under the new CBA, giving teams ultimate flexibility at the trade deadline to take in more players in a deal, depending on which apron the team you trade with is under.
Highsmith was waived earlier in the offseason and brought back to a non-guaranteed deal. Unfortunately for him, with the Suns seeing some brightness from Ryan Dunn in preseason and drafting two forwards, Rasheer Fleming and Koa Peat, in back-to-back drafts, he has very little opportunity in Phoenix. The Phoenix front office knew he wouldn’t contribute and had to make the most sensible business decision. For Highsmith, a solid veteran wing who can contribute off the bench, I hope he finds a spot by the end of the year.
Then the Suns adjusted their two-way room: they waived both Koby Brea and C.J. Huntley and brought in two new faces, Drew Timme and Duop Reath. By losing Huntley and Brea, the Suns signaled they would rather go with veteran-ready guys over developmental pieces. The Suns brought both in last year: they drafted Brea in the second round and signed Huntley as an undrafted prospect. They had opportunities with the Valley Suns last year, as neither saw much burn with the main squad. At this point, neither has signed with a new team, so both could return to the Valley Suns to develop in the G League, or be plucked by other G League squads.
Woah, was not expecting this one
That’s now two available two-way spots now for Phoenix
Expecting Reath to get one but who else could be joining Pat Spencer? Only time will tell https://t.co/KWLqUubRyX
Brea was one who confused me, as the Suns seemed to value his shooting ability highly, and it felt weird to give up on a second-year player. Unfortunately for him, the Summer League was not his best showing this year, and the preseason did not help, as he did not get much opportunity. With Huntley, he had been waived off a two-way roster before (for Bouyea), so I expected that.
Interesting to see this, kinda expected it with Reath most likely being converted to a two-way spot
Brea was someone I liked coming out of college but could never find his rhythm with the Suns
Now, for the new faces, this explains why they were brought in. Reath signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the team to play in training camp and compete for a spot. With Mark Williams suffering a shoulder injury, the Suns’ center room is already thin, with just Ighodaro and Maluach, so that some insurance would be nice, and that is what Reath is. He’d be the third big man who can shoot and add utility the team has lacked. Reath has been someone I have had my eye on for this team, so I am intrigued to see how he fits and whether he can work his way to a contract spot by the end of the season.
The Phoenix Suns plan to convert Duop Reath to a two-way contract, league sources told @hoopshype. Reath averaged 6.2 points in three seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. pic.twitter.com/d8hMA7MnTp
Lastly, but certainly not least, is the newest name and the one that came as the biggest surprise to most: the addition of Drew Timme. Timme, who has spent time with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers, looks like the newest splash and adds some versatility. The forward will add more size to this frontcourt, something they could use with Williams’s injury and Peat as a rookie. Then you see he can also shoot the ball pretty solidly, something the team lacks at forward without Royce O’Neale. With the Lakers, he shot 44% from three, which is a definite boost they can add. Not to mention that, once again, he was claimed from the Lakers, just like Goodwin was last year. Could this be another steal the Suns get off the Lakers? I think so, especially when you compare who was in his spot before.
No offense to Brea or Huntely, but Reath and Timme have more NBA experience and seem more ready for that action. The Suns have made that abundantly clear with their two-way room, especially after adding Pat Spencer earlier in the season. They want to use the two-way to potentially contract growth, build around the edges, and define their culture. A smart move for a front office that has found success with this in the previous two years and still hopes it can work for a third straight year.
Lopez came off the bench for eight minutes in the first half, producing 15 points on 6-for-6 shooting while hitting down both of his 3-point attempts. He also went 1-for-2 from the free-throw line.
Lopez was enthusiastic about the season ahead, speaking highly of his team after the Clippers’ season-opening victory over the Sacramento Kings.
The 38-year-old began his 19th season in the NBA with a double-double off the bench in that win over the Kings, recording 17 points with 10 of his 11 rebounds coming on the defense end.
“I was just trying to change the game like I always do,” Lopez said after the season-opener on Oct. 21. “I was excited for the home opener, obviously, with great energy, but we are just trying to take it one game at a time and help my team win.”
Lopez is not the only former Laker to have a productive first half against his former team Friday.
Rui Hachimura added 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting from the field. The Lakers and Clippers were tied at 64 after two quarters of play.
Hachimura eventually wandered into the visitors’ locker room where he joined his new Clippers teammates.
Hachimura and the Lakers shared mutual interest in a reunion this offseason, but the wing ultimately decided to join the crosstown rivals amid a summer filled with scandal for the Clippers.
The NBA punished the Clippers for circumventing the salary cap, stripping the team of five first-round picks, issuing a $30 million fine, and suspensions for owner Steve Ballmer and president of baseball operations Lawrence Frank.
Hachimura, however, has expressed full confidence in the organization and revealed he joined the Clippers because of their outstanding treatment of players.
Darius Garland of the LA Clippers plays defense on Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers on October 23, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena. NBAE via Getty ImagesRui Hachimura of the LA Clippers smiles during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on October 23, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena. NBAE via Getty Images
The 2026-27 campaign marks an important year for both Los Angeles franchises. For the Lakers, Luka Doncic must prove he can shoulder the load as the team’s leader and help the franchise win a title in the near future.
For the Clippers, the organization must prove it can bounce back from one of sport’s biggest scandals.
Rui Hachimura was back at Crypto.com Arena on Friday night – but this time as an opponent.
Hachimura made his return to the Lakers’ arena after 3 ½ seasons with the franchise when the Lakers hosted the Clippers for both team’s second game of the regular season.
Rui Hachimura of the LA Clippers arrives at the arena before a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
And despite being an opponent, the Lakers made sure Hachimura knew they appreciated his contributions to the organization with a customary tribute video during the first quarter of Friday’s game.
During the Clippers’ first timeout, midway through the first, the Lakers played the near minute-long video, which ended with a replay of the 6-foot-8 forward knocking down a buzzer-beating, game-winning 3-pointer in the Lakers’ win over the Raptors on Dec. 4, 2025, in Toronto.
Rui Hachimura participates in warmups before a game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Friday, October 23, 2026. London Entertainment
The No. 9 pick in the 2019 draft was all smiles before Friday’s game, greeting his former teammates and coaches.
The Lakers acquired Hachimura from the Wizards in January 2023.
He was a vital part of their run to the 2023 Western Conference finals, and was a full-time starter during each of their playoff runs from 2024-26.
Rui Hachimura of the LA Clippers dribbles the ball during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Hachimura averaged 12.3 points on 51.6% shooting (41.5% on 3-pointers) and 4.3 rebounds in his 228 games with the Lakers.
He shot 50.7% on 3-pointers in the 36 playoff games he played for the franchise.
These are not the same Detroit Pistons. Off the back of their let it fly by any means offense, Detroit ran through the Miami Heat 128-111. Detroit ranked 29th in 3-point attempts last season, shooting 31 a game. They shot 40 against Boston and 38 tonight. The offseason buzz about upgraded shooting is coming to fruition. They shot a sizzling 47 percent from range tonight.
Jalen Duren could not be a part of the offensive success as he went down with a hamstring injury in the second quarter. Duren was on his way to another complete game. He did more than hold his own in matchups with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Duren pinned Giannis’ shot like a piñata and beat him to the punch to swipe the ball away right before he went down.
Paul Reed filled the Duren void as only Bball Paul could. He sank a trey ball with Giannis sagging, forcing Giannis to look at the Heat’s bench like, “that wasn’t on the scouting report, coach.” Reed needs an update on the know your personal reports. He’s flat-out one of the most impactful role players. Reed had 19 points and 11 boards. Hoopers love his game because of his sneaky craft. Stat heads love his impact numbers. Everybody loves Reed because of his heart and hustle.
Ausar Thompson had Bad Boys sequences before he exited the game with a lower body injury. He rejected Giannis at the cup and threw an on-target lob to Cade Cunningham on the break. He gave Pelle Larsson a get-out-of-here shove after arguing why he was fouled (he was). And Ausar had a mean corkscrew lob finish. Watching him contort his body 3,000 feet in the air never gets old. He went down, but others kept their foot on the gas.
Hello John Collins, nice of you to join the party. Collins rained triples, ragdolled smalls, drew charges, and had his hard hat on the glass. His Pistons coming-out party took place in the Miami streets.
Collins finished with 23 points and seven boards. He was nearly perfect from deep, going 5-for-6. Collins was a great addition to the Pistons’ shooting, but an old shooter reminded the Heat what they are missing. Duncan Robinson got his string music going early in a building he once called home. Robinson scorched Miami shooting 5-for-10 from way downtown.
Detroit’s bench did Miami the same way, outscoring the Heat’s bench 64-39. Everybody got in on the action. Ron Holland made top-of-his-class decisions, Kevin Huerter continues to be an underrated defender, and Isaiah Joe’s shot creation is the two-eyes emoji. He’s going to get going as he gets more comfortable.
I got this far without mentioning Cade on an individual level, as he was impactful too. Consistently drawing two and shooting efficiently works. The seven turnovers aren’t ideal, but you know he’s doing everything in his power to chase those turnovers down like 2009 LeBron.
Giannis is the Heat’s first year-in, year-out superstar since LeBron played in South Beach. Giannis rim ran for 36 points, shooting 15-for-26. He was a one-man army again.
Miami needs way more from Bam Adebayo offensively, but the Heat’s defense has been super disappointing. Daniss Jenkins waltzed to the rim a few times (he was solid all around, honestly). For a defense that’s supposed to be top-fiveish, Miami has a ways to go before they sniff that level. They get another chance to get in the win column tomorrow night versus the Charlotte Hornets.
The Pistons get a look at the radio talk show leading Philadelphia 76ers Sunday night. LeBron. Cade. The Pistons’ blend of clamps and shooting. Philly’s star power. Sunday will be a fun one.
The Knicks' championship defense has gotten off to a slow start, dropping their first two games after Friday's loss to the Celtics, but not as slow as the play of Mikal Bridges.
After scoring just four points on 2 of 8 shooting in 33 minutes during New York's series opener against the 76ers, Bridges was held scoreless in 22 minutes on 0 of 8 shooting -- including 0-for-5 from three -- versus Boston.
"For the most part, most of his looks... I mean, he had three or four wide open threes. And we want them to make half of them if they're open," head coach Mike Brown said of Bridges after the loss. "But he's got to keep shooting them. And hopefully, they'll eventually go in sooner than later, but he's getting the looks that he needs to get. He's just gotta knock them down now."
Bridges' offensive ups and downs date back as long as he's been a Knick. Last season, he averaged 14.4 points per game, his lowest since the the 2021-22 season when he was with the Suns.
While the offensive inconsistencies Brown can manage, he can't go too long without Bridges' defense.
Searching for offense against the Celtics, Brown rolled with Miles McBride, who scored 20 points in 30 minutes off the bench. That left Josh Hart in charge of guarding Jayson Tatum, a task that even Hart had trouble with. Tatum finished with a game-high 36 points and made some clutch buckets down the stretch when the Knicks threatened to steal the win in the final moments.
Perhaps the game result could have been different with Bridges guarding Tatum. But Brown won't put it all on missing Bridges, as the Knicks head coach pointed to how Boston was more physical than the Knicks.
"He's got to make sure that he's physical on the defensive end," Brown continued on Bridges. "And he, as well as everybody else because it was all of us, are laying on screens when we get hit, and that when we do switch, there's a level of physicality to the switch so that they're not able to take advantage of us."
The Knicks will look to get their first victory of the season when they return home to host the Magic on Sunday. Perhaps Bridges' offense and defense will be a factor in that one.
The injury occurred midway through the second quarter. Duren attempted a spin move past Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Duren appeared to tweak something, as he abruptly pulled up and grabbed his leg in apparent discomfort. Duren immediately went to the locker room.
The Pistons declared him questionable to return, but Duren did not play the remainder of the game, which Detroit dominated from the opening tip.
In his place, backup Paul Reed filled in admirably, perhaps allowing coach J.B. Bickerstaff to exercise caution with Duren’s injury. Reed scored 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, adding 11 rebounds and 4 assists.
Duren played just 10 minutes and scored 4 points on 2-of-4 shooting, adding 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block and 1 steal.
Duren wasn’t the only Pistons player to suffer an injury Friday night, as forward Ausar Thompson, a first-team All-Defense selection, fell awkwardly on his back, forcing him to the locker room. Thompson played just 19 minutes, recording 4 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds.
After the game, Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said he did not have any updates on either injury.
SAN FRANCISCO — Brandin Podziemski gave the Warriors a scare early in his season debut.
Less than four minutes into the Warriors’ home opener Friday night, their most durable player from a season ago was in visible pain, laying prone on the hardwood beneath the Grizzlies’ basket.
Podziemski, who missed the Warriors’ season opener with a sore back, took a hard fall — and a blow to the face from Memphis center Zach Edey — on a drive into the lane and remained on the floor while the game continued at the other end.
Brandin Podziemski went to the locker room after Zach Edey appeared to hit him on the head pic.twitter.com/uunqOyl0C4
Podziemski immediately retreated to the Warriors’ locker room at the next stoppage of play and re-emerged a short while later with a heating pad wrapped around his lower back.
However, it didn’t take long for the fourth-year guard to assuage any concerns about his health.
Podziemski re-entered the game, to relieved cheers from the sold-out Chase Center crowd, with 1:06 left in the quarter, intercepted a pass from former teammate Quinten Post and scored the Warriors’ final two buckets of the period.
He finished with 18 points, including a team-high nine in the opening quarter despite his brief detour to the locker room. However, he missed 11 of his final 14 shots from the field after starting 4-for-4.
Golden State Warriors player Brandin Podziemski warms up before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Chase Center in San Francisco, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Needless to say, it hasn’t exactly been an auspicious start to the season for one of 18 players around the NBA to appear in all 82 games last season. Podziemski said afterward that he would also sit out Saturday night against the Suns in the second half of the Warriors’ first of 15 back-to-backs.
Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, left, reaches for the ball as Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski dribbles during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in San Francisco. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu
The Knicks lost to the Boston Celtics on Friday night, 107-103.
Here are the takeaways...
-- In search of their first win of the season, the Knicks went down 4-0 and didn’t hit their first shot until Karl-Anthony Towns hit a deep three to get New York on the board. Towns finished the opening quarter with eight points while going 3-for-3 from the floor.
-- OG Anunoby had five points and Jalen Brunson added four in the first 12 minutes, but the rest of the starters were held in check so the Knicks went to their bench looking for a spark.
-- They got it in the form of Miles McBride who checked into the game with 6:21 left in the quarter and immediately went to work by draining two threes and drilling two free throws and matching Towns’ eight points.
-- McBride’s second three-pointer gave the Knicks a five-point lead with just under three minutes left in the quarter, but from there New York was outscored 7-3 and the Celtics cut their deficit to one point and entered the second quarter down 27-26.
-- Boston opened the second quarter by outscoring the Knicks 13-4 to take an eight-point advantage. Anunoby’s made three put an end to the ambush and eventually New York tied the game at 41-41 thanks to Josh Hart’s first points of the game following a two-minute stretch of misses and turnovers by both teams.
-- Hart tied the game again with a three with 56 seconds left in the half before giving the Knicks their first lead since midway through the first quarter on a driving hook shot.
-- However, Paul George nailed a three-pointer as time expired and sent the Celtics into the locker room with a 50-49 halftime lead.
-- Both teams traded baskets to kick off the second half as Anunoby and Brunson got more involved offensively and each hit a three. Towns also made a triple later in the frame, but New York wouldn’t hit another shot for over two minutes before Brunson’s second three-pointer of the quarter.
-- The Celtics weren’t able to take advantage during the Knicks’ scoring drought, scoring just four points themselves.
-- After abandoning McBride following his hot start, New York went back to him late in the third and he stayed hot by making back-to-back threes to pull his team to within one.
-- Once again, though, Boston ended the quarter on a 13-4 run, spearheaded by Jayson Tatum, to go into the fourth quarter up by 10. Tatum had a monster third quarter, leading all scorers with 16 points.
-- The Knicks, down by as many as 12 points, did their best to climb back. Landry Shamet hit a couple of key threes off the bench to get back within striking distance which got New York going in the right direction.
-- They hung around for as long as they could, going shot for shot with Tatum and George, but in the end Tatum’s 36 points was too much and the Knicks lost for the second straight time to begin their season.
-- McBride had a great game, scoring 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field (6-for-8 from three). Mikal Bridges, on the other hand, was held scoreless (0-for-8 from the field, 0-for-5 from three) and only played 22 minutes – far less than any other starter.
-- Anunoby, Towns and Hart all finished with a double-double and Anunoby led the team with eight assists. Still, the trio of Anunoby, Towns and Brunson combined for 10 turnovers as the Knicks gave it away 16 times compared to Boston’s 10 turnovers – the difference in the game.
-- In his first game against his former team, Mitchell Robinson was a non-factor with four points, four rebounds and a block in 22 minutes. He also picked up five fouls.
Game MVP: Jayson Tatum
Tatum led all scorers with 36 points and took over whenever the Celtics needed him to.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 23: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers on October 23, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (1-1) gifted first-year head coach Dusty May with his first NBA win on Friday, outlasting the Indiana Pacers (1-1), 121-105, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. But at what cost?
Cooper Flagg left the game with a shoulder injury late in the second quarter, but the Mavericks had already built a soft fluffy cushion in the form of what was at one point a 37-point lead. They had enough in the tank to hang on, behind 24 points on 5-of-10 3-point shooting from Kyrie Irving and 20 points and 13 rebounds from PJ Washington. Max Christie and Naji Marshall chipped in 16 and 15, respectively, in the win as well.
The Pacers got 23 points on three made 3-pointers from Pascal Siakam, and 18 points and seven assists from Tyrese Haliburton in the loss. Here are five more stats that stood out from Friday’s win at the Pacers, a team a lot of people thought was one to be dealt with in a deeper Eastern Conference this year.
22-6: Mavericks’ first-quarter run
Marcus Sasser’s hot hand from 3-point range carried over from Wednesday’s season-opening loss at the Houston Rockets and fueled an inspiring early 22-6run that saw the Mavs grow their lead to 33-19 late in the first quarter. Both of his first-quarter triples came as part of the run, which started with 4:55 left in the first. Flagg found him with his third assist of the opening frame on the break for a pull-up look that made it a 23-17 ballgame. Two minutes later, Irving found Sasser in the left corner for another long ball, this time extending the Dallas lead to 33-19.
Both Flagg and Irving also hit 3-pointers during the run. Dallas scored an outlandish 44 points in the first quarter on the strength of that late run. Flagg, Irving, Sasser and Naji Marshall combined to shoot 11-of-14 from the field and 6-of-8 from 3-point land in the first. They were out of their minds, and the Mavericks led 44-27 after one.
15-0: Another Mavs’ second-quarter run
The Mavericks kept getting in passing lanes for deflections, Indiana kept turning the ball over and Dallas continued to pour it on in the second quarter. The Pacers turned the ball over seven times in the first 7:15 of the period, including on four straight possessions at one point midway through the frame. It created fast-break opportunity after fast-break opportunity for the Mavericks. They were out and running.
Zaccharie Risacher, who had a less-than-inspiring debut for the Mavs on Wednesday, was the primary beneficiary of all the easy buckets. He scored three easy ones as the Mavericks pushed the advantage to 30 points during a 15-0 run in the middle of the second. He also rose up and blocked a shot attempt inside from Pascal Siakam, which created another fast-break chance earlier in the run. Risacher’s efforts on both ends helped the Mavs increase what was a 46-31 lead two minutes into the second to 61-31 just a little more than four minutes later.
Risacher racked up 11 points, five rebounds and two stocks in the first half. The Mavs’ bench outscored the Pacers’ reserve unit 28-6 in the first half. Dallas led 77-43 at the break.
19-2: Third-quarter bench scoring reversal
There were moments after Aaron Nesmith’s flagrant foul on Cooper Flagg with a minute left in the first half when it looked like the Pacers would climb back into the game, but the Mavericks held serve for the most part in the third.
Indiana’s bench finally woke up in the third, though, to help them creep to within 22 by the time the fourth quarter rolled around. The Pacers’ bench outscored the Dallas reserves 19-2 in the third after getting dragged, 28-6 in the first half. Quenton Jackson and Obi Toppin combined to score 11 in the third, as Indiana outscored the Mavs 33-21 in the frame.
Still, Dallas carried a 98-76 lead into the decisive fourth quarter. Irving and PJ Washington combined for 17 points, and Washington pulled down five boards in the third to keep Indiana at arm’s length.
Irving continued his hot hand from the outside after Flagg exited the game with “shoulder soreness” as a result of Nesmith’s hard flagrant foul in transition late in the first half. Irving refused to let the Pacers back within shouting distance of the lead, hitting three big 3-pointers, all from near the top of the key, in a stretch from late in the third quarter to early in the fourth.
His fifth of the game came with 9:43 left to play and put the Mavericks ahead 103-82. It gave him five points in the first two minutes and change of the fourth quarter, and 24 points for the game. But on the other end of the floor, Irving committed his fifth personal foul of the game with 9:33 remaining, committing the mortal sin of fouling Nesmith in the act of shooting a 3-pointer.
Irving, who is also still presumably on a minutes restriction, came out of the game immediately for one or both of those reasons. He would foul out with 4:23 left in the game after logging 25 minutes.
He called his minutes restriction to start the year “difficult mentally” in his televised postgame interview, but also said, “It’s a team game. We’ve got to build these habits now. All of the components, all the players we have, we’re interchangeable.”
6: Kyrie Irving fouls
According to Mavs TV. This was Kyrie Irving’s first career foul-out: 781 regular-season games.
If the number five was notable for Irving in the win, the number six was one little notch more notable, at least from a statistical perspective. It was the first foul-out of Irving’s 781 regular-season game career.
The Mavericks broadcast crew first brought the statistical oddity up before May confirmed it in his postgame press conference. His last two fouls in the fourth quarter were not particularly good ones. He fouled Nesmith on a 3-point attempt early in the fourth, forcing himself out of the game with 9:33 remaining. That left Dallas without either of the bona fide stars on the roster for a long, precarious stretch of the fourth.
He came back in with 4:55 left to play, but fouled out of the game 30 seconds later, trying to prevent the Pacers from starting a fast break with the Mavericks nursing a 112-99 lead.
But hey, the Mavs were able to bring it home, so no harm, no foul. Except for the six he was whistled for.
21: Mavericks stocks
Even after Flagg left the game, the Mavericks continued to play well on the defensive end for most of the game. Dallas ended the night with 11 blocked shots and 10 steals.
Washington blocked three shots to go along with 20 points and 13 boards — really a huge night for the veteran who’s gotten a lot of flak for the perception of not fitting in with a revamped roster. Risacher blocked three more, finishing with a very respectable 11 points and six rebounds. Gafford blocked a pair as well.
Naji Marshall pilfered three steals, to match Flagg for the team-high mark in the win over the Pacers.
"Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!" pic.twitter.com/1yXdfzPMZ1
BOSTON — The Knicks were still stuck in the mud. Especially a scoreless and benched Mikal Bridges.
And after the Knicks climbed out of their mud hole, Jayson Tatum sent them right back down Friday night.
Tatum scored nine of his 36 points in the final six minutes of Boston’s 107-103 victory over the Knicks, who fell to 0-2 as the reigning champs.
The Celtics star pulled off several high-difficulty shots, and the Knicks couldn’t keep up after clawing back from a double-digit deficit midway through the fourth.
Jayson Tatum (0) of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during a game against the New York Knicks at TD Garden in Boston, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
“I think we took a stride, just not big enough strides,” Jalen Brunson said. “There’s positives and negatives to take from this game. We know what we have to do, and the things I think are glaring to us are controllable. So that’s a positive we can take from this.”
Tatum certainly outdueled Brunson, who missed 10 of his 17 shots in 37 minutes and finished with 19 points. It followed the point guard’s disappointing opening night in the loss to the Sixers on Tuesday.
Bridges, meanwhile, disappeared again. He went 0-for-8 and was benched for the last 8 ½ minutes in favor of Deuce McBride, who was a bright spot with 20 points off the bench. Over the opening two games, Bridges has shot 2-for-16.
Boston Celtics’ Baylor Scheierman (55) battles New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson (11) for the ball during the second half, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, in Boston. AP Photo/Charles Krupa
He played just 22 minutes in Boston.
“Mikal had three or four wide-open 3s. And obviously we want him to make half of them if they’re open. But he’s got to keep shooting,” coach Mike Brown said. “And hopefully they’ll eventually go in — sooner than later. But he’s getting the looks that he needs to get. He just has to knock them down now. And he’s got to make sure he’s physical on the defensive end.”
Brown harped on his team’s lack of “physicality” as the biggest factor in the defeat, which included a deficit for the final 22 minutes.
Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) and New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) battle for a loose ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game at TD Garden in Boston, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Still, the Knicks cut it to one on Brunson’s pull-up with 1:41 remaining, and it looked like the visitors would pull off another comeback in Beantown.
This time, Tatum squashed it. He scored seven straight Celtics points in the final 100 seconds, which sealed the home team’s win because, among other Knicks miscues, Karl-Anthony Towns committed a costly turnover on a moving screen.
Two of Tatum’s clutch shots occurred with defender Josh Hart draped all over him.
“You just take your hat off and say, ‘Good D, better O,’ ” Brown said. “But that’s not why we lost the game. We lost the game because we didn’t handle their physicality on both ends of the floor for too many stretches that were too long.”
Mikal Bridges (25) of the New York Knicks moves the ball against the Boston Celtics during a game at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Friday night represented just the fourth Celtics win over the Knicks in the past 11 matchups, counting the postseason.
A couple of years prior, the Celtics were New York’s nearly impossible bar. They were the better team, the reigning champs, the frequent destroyer of the Knicks in the regular season. In the season opener two years ago — when the Celtics were celebrating ring night for their 2024 championship — they barraged the Knicks with 3-pointers for a 23-point victory.
It was in the middle of a stretch of eight wins over nine games for the Celtics against their division rival, and not long after the Knicks acquired OG Anunoby and Bridges to combat Tatum and then-Celtic Jaylen Brown.
But then the 2025 playoffs happened. The Knicks completed a couple of impossible comebacks, toppled the Celtics in six games of the second round as Tatum tore his Achilles and the dynasty in Boston was finished before it really started.
On Friday night at TD Garden, the roles were reversed. The Knicks were the hunted champs, and the Celtics were the team on the bubble of contention. Brunson understood Boston’s role in developing his championship.
Mitchell Robinson (4) of the Boston Celtics celebrates after blocking a shot from Og Anunoby (8) of the New York Knicks during the Celtics home opener at TD Garden in Boston, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. The Celtics defeated the Knicks 107-103. Getty Images
“The way they were playing, and I guess how they’re still playing, kind of helped shape our team,” Brunson said. “They were obviously a dynamic force. And obviously the past couple years with injuries and personnel changes and stuff like that, things are different. We were trying to figure out how we can beat those guys.”
The Knicks figured it out the past year-plus. But not Friday. Tatum became their unsolvable problem.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 23: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball during the game against the Indiana Pacers on October 23, 2026 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (1-1) picked up their first win of the season on Friday night, surviving a sloppy second half to beat the Indiana Pacers (1-1) 121-105. Kyrie Irving led Dallas with 24 points on 8-of-15 shooting and 5-of-10 from three before fouling out late, while also passing Mavericks legend Mark Aguirre on the franchise’s all-time scoring list. P.J. Washington added 20 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks; Max Christie scored 16, and Cooper Flagg had 14 points, five rebounds, six assists and three steals before leaving with an injury late in the first half.
Dallas came out flying. The Mavericks scored 44 points in the first quarter, moved the ball, dominated the glass and hit 8-of-13 from three. Flagg was at the center of everything, scoring 12 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting while adding four assists, and Kyrie looked much more comfortable than he did Wednesday in Houston.
Zaccharie Risacher and the Dallas defense dominated the second quarter. Risacher was everywhere, defending, rebounding, running the floor, and keeping the ball moving offensively while Indiana repeatedly turned it over and struggled to create anything clean. The Pacers made only one basket through roughly the first five minutes of the quarter, and Dallas carried a 77-43 lead into halftime.
Things got much shakier after halftime. The offense stalled in the third, and Kyrie kept the Mavericks afloat with difficult shot-making while Indiana slowly worked its way back into the game. Dallas still led by 22 entering the fourth, but the final period nearly turned into a collapse. Kyrie’s foul trouble opened the door, and when he returned late, he turned the ball over and fouled out almost immediately. Indiana kept coming, but missed both free throws on Kyrie’s sixth foul, and Dallas finally responded. Naji Marshall and Christie hit huge shots, the defense tightened, and the Mavericks did enough to close it out.
Flagg’s injury changes everything
The biggest concern coming out of the win was Flagg’s health. He was injured with about a minute remaining in the first half after taking a hard flagrant foul from Aaron Nesmith and never returned. He was officially ruled out late in the third quarter after finishing with 14 points, five rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block in just 17 minutes.
He had been excellent before the injury, pushing the pace, creating for teammates, and making defensive plays. With Dallas playing its home opener against San Antonio tomorrow, it would be surprising to see him back that quickly. Even if the injury is minor, there is little reason to rush him back this early.
The timing still hurts. Dallas has a difficult stretch to close October, and through two games Flagg already looks like one of the players this team can least afford to lose.
Mavericks head coach Dusty May said in his postgame press conference that Flagg “will be evaluated the next couple of days.” That particular quote does not portend well for Flagg’s availability in the second half of the first back-to-back set of the season on Saturday in the Mavs’ home opener against the San Antonio Spurs.
Irving looked like Irving again
"Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!" pic.twitter.com/1yXdfzPMZ1
Irving looked far more like himself than he did in Houston.
He finished with 24 points, three assists, and five made threes on 8-of-15 shooting. The foul trouble eventually became a major problem, but the actual performance was encouraging. He looked comfortable creating his own shot, got to his spots, and hit difficult jumpers when Dallas desperately needed offense.
That mattered most in the third quarter. The Mavericks couldn’t make much of anything, Indiana started chipping away at the lead, and Kyrie repeatedly stopped the bleeding with tough buckets. Dallas didn’t need him to take over; it just needed someone to keep the offense from dying, and he did.
He also passed Mark Aguirre on the Mavericks’ all-time scoring list, adding another milestone to his time in Dallas.
P.J. Washington looked like his old self
This was the P.J. Washington Dallas needs.
Washington finished with 20 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks while shooting 6-of-11 from the floor and 2-of-4 from three. More importantly, he played with the physicality and confidence that made him so valuable during his best stretches in Dallas.
His rebounding was especially important as Indiana pushed in the second half. Washington consistently finished possessions, created extra chances on the offensive glass, and made important defensive plays around the rim. He also provided timely offense when Dallas started to stall.
The Mavericks do not need Washington to score 20 every night, but they do need this version of him. When he defends, rebounds, and confidently takes open shots, he gives Dallas exactly what it needs from that spot.
Daniel Gafford’s 14 minutes are worth watching
Of the Mavericks who played real minutes, starting center Daniel Gafford finished with a team-low 14:36 and didn’t play in the closing stretch.
Gafford finished with four points, three rebounds, five assists, and two blocks on 2-of-4 shooting. Those numbers aren’t bad, and he made a few useful plays as a passer and rim protector, but his limited minutes stand out.
Dallas leaned more heavily on smaller lineups and gave Morez Johnson Jr. minutes at center, especially as the game became more perimeter-oriented. Gafford also looked a little out of rhythm, missed a few finishes, and never really established himself as a major part of the offense.
One game isn’t enough to draw major conclusions, but a starting center playing fewer than 15 minutes and sitting during the game’s most important stretch is notable. It’s worth watching as Dusty May continues figuring out his rotation.
