DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 04: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons looks on from the bench during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Little Caesars Arena on November 04, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
During a tumultuous playoff run and a prolonged offseason contract negotiation, Detroit Pistons fans were ready to say goodbye to Jalen Duren. Well, Duren has been out for six of eight games, and it turns out that Duren is the most indispensable member of the Pistons aside from Cade Cunningham.
A hamstring strain has knocked Duren out for six straight and counting, and boy, do you feel that every moment of every Pistons game.
Pundits and fans alike had easy diagnoses for what ailed the 60-win team during a disappointing second-round exit last season. Detroit needed a second scorer and much more perimeter shooting to succeed in the postseason. Its second-best player, the All-NBA big man Duren, couldn’t effectively operate in a congested, constipated offense when opponents had so much extra time to prepare their defense. That had a trickle-down effect on Cade Cunningham and on offensively limited players the Pistons relied on, like Ausar Thompson, Javonte Green, and Ron Holland.
This offseason, the Pistons seemingly tried and failed to add their second scorer (a planned run at Austin Reaves fizzled, and trade interest in players such as Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant went nowhere). But they certainly addressed the team’s lack of perimeter punch. Detroit added guys such as Isaiah Joe, John Collins, and Taurean Prince. They re-signed midseason acquisition Kevin Huerter. They reformulated their offensive game plan to create more movement, space, and offensive responsibility among their non-Cade players. So far this season, the perimeter offense has hummed. Detroit is a top-10 team in 3-point shooting and almost middle of the pack in attempts despite Isaiah Joe missing most of the season to injury.
Detroit is 6-2, losing to the New York Knicks and on Wednesday night to the East-leading Philadelphia 76ers. Calls after both games from fans and casual watchers immediately turn to the team’s lack of that second star as the biggest issue. While that still might be a deal-breaker in the players, I would argue that the actual biggest issue in the season’s first eight games is Detroit’s collapse in its former ability to absolutely own the paint.
In other words, it’s not the lack of a Kyrie or a Durant or a Devin Booker. It’s the lack of Duren.
Last season, Detroit led the NBA in points in the paint, mostly behind Duren’s elite rim gravity and chemistry with Cade Cunningham and Detroit’s other ball handlers. Last season, the Pistons led the NBA with 57.9 points in the paint and were fourth in opponents’ paint scoring. They had a scoring differential inside of 14.2 points per game. This season, Detroit ranks just 22nd in the paint at 44.8, down 13.1 points per game.
Rim gravity, it turns out, is just as important as perimeter shooting in creating the space needed to run a successful offense.
Paul Reed is a dynamic scorer inside, and he has some pop to his game. But he isn’t a rim runner like Duren. You give it to him on the block, and you let him work his magic. John Collins is opportunistic in transition, but those opportunities are dried up when he is the only big on the floor applying rim pressure, usually trying to duck in from the corners.
Ausar has the ball in his hands more, and it is working to create opportunities from others on the perimeter, but it is taking away a lot of those dunker-spot opportunities and back cuts that Thompson feasted on last season.
The lack of inside pressure is manifesting in other ways. Detroit has gone from a top-5 team in second-chance points to 22nd. They are 28th in offensive rebounding. Last season, they were third.
This team needs Jalen Duren back ASAP. And I think fans need to start reckoning with how crucial he is for this team to succeed.
Boston, MA - November 4: Boston Celtics guard Derrick White drives for a layup in the fourth quarter. The Boston Celtics played the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden on November 4, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
I had already started thinking about what a comfortable Celtics win over the Bucks might tell us about this team when Milwaukee decided to rewrite that narrative.
Boston led by as many as 22 points Wednesday night, held the Bucks to 14 in the first quarter and went into halftime up 62-41. Considering Milwaukee entered the game at 1-6, and the Celtics were playing without Jayson Tatum for the first time this season, things were looking awesome.
Then Tyler Herro caught fire, Boston’s offense went missing and the Bucks somehow found themselves leading in the fourth quarter. Payton Pritchard had also left with an eye injury, leaving the Celtics without two of their most important offensive players.
Thankfully, Derrick White remembered how to score, Paul George continued being wonderful and a few Celtics made the kind of plays that deserve their own place in the box score.
Boston survived 109-102, improving to 6-2 on the season. Here are ten takeaways from a game that was significantly more stressful than it needed to be.
1. A 22-point lead remains a dangerous thing to give the Celtics
As noted NBA insider Jerry Seinfeld once observed, anyone can take a reservation. It’s holding the reservation that’s really the important part.
The same logic apparently applies to 20-point leads in Boston.
Against Chicago last Friday, the Celtics led by as many as 32 before winning by 14. Wednesday against Milwaukee, Boston was up 21 at halftime, had led by 22 at its peak and looked well on its way to a stress-free evening. By the middle of the fourth quarter, the Celtics were losing.
Now, the circumstances matter. Boston was missing Tatum, lost Pritchard during the second half and had to figure out some unproven lineup combinations on the fly. Milwaukee also shot the lights out in the third quarter, with Herro doing most of the damage.
Still, the Celtics helped create their own problems. Milwaukee scored 38 points in the third after managing just 41 in the entire first half. Boston’s offense became stagnant, turnovers gave the Bucks opportunities to run and suddenly a team that had looked completely overmatched was playing with all the confidence in the world.
A 3rd quarter run brings the Bucks back in it and now trail just 8 headed into the 4th pic.twitter.com/DyMTV43pgt
Joe Mazzulla pointed to the offensive struggles as a major part of the defensive problem afterward. Boston wasn’t executing well enough to put consistent pressure on Milwaukee, and the Bucks took advantage.
Now, to Joe’s credit, the Celtics are 139-5 when leading by at least 20 points under his watch. That’s a 96.5 percent winning percentage, for anyone keeping track. But after watching Philadelphia erase significant deficits during last year’s playoffs, and now seeing these early-season scares, I understand why Celtics fans aren’t particularly comforted by a 20-point advantage.
The good news is that Boston found a way to win anyway. I’d just appreciate fewer opportunities to practice that particular skill.
2. Learning to play without Jayson Tatum
For the first time this season, the Celtics had to figure out what their offense looked like without Jayson Tatum. It was a useful test, especially considering how much of Boston’s early success has come from his scoring and playmaking.
Hugo González moved into the starting lineup alongside Derrick White, Sam Hauser (his first start as well), Paul George and Neemias Queta. George took on more offensive responsibility, and Joe Mazzulla adjusted his substitution pattern to accommodate the change.
One of the more interesting decisions was George playing the entire first quarter. He returned midway through the second, then had his minutes managed differently after halftime so he could play the entire fourth.
Mazzulla explained afterward that he wanted George on the floor to close, particularly after some of Boston’s third-quarter lineups became stagnant. And that was before Pritchard’s injury complicated things further.
The absence of both Tatum and Pritchard became obvious when Milwaukee began mounting its comeback. Boston struggled to create clean looks, and there were stretches when every possession seemed to require George to manufacture something on his own.
But the Celtics also got meaningful contributions from players who might not normally have as much responsibility. Queta made plays with the ball in his hands, White took over late, and Baylor Scheierman helped create second chances when the offense desperately needed them.
Nobody should expect Boston’s offense to look equally comfortable without Tatum. The encouraging part was seeing Mazzulla find different ways to get contributions out of the rest of the roster.
3. I’d like to be president of the Paul George fan club
I wrote after the Bulls game that Paul George looks like he was meant to be a Celtic. Wednesday versus the Bucks only strengthened that belief.
George finished with 25 points, five assists and four steals, shooting 5-for-9 from three. He scored 10 points in the first quarter, helping Boston establish an early lead, and then spent much of the second half trying to keep the offense alive.
The responsibility looked different without Tatum. George was asked to initiate more possessions, create his own offense and operate as Boston’s primary scoring option for long stretches.
For the most part, he looked perfectly comfortable doing it.
Paul George showed up when Boston needed him most 🧊☘️
There were some mistakes, including six turnovers and a pair of missed free throws in a tie game late in the fourth. But George also hit a massive step-back three with 1:23 remaining to put Boston ahead 107-99 and give the Celtics some desperately needed breathing room.
What continues to impress me is how easily he seems to move between roles. When Tatum plays, George can spend stretches operating without the ball, finding open space and making the extra pass. When Tatum sits, he’s more than capable of taking the wheel.
Mazzulla praised George’s defense after the game and talked about how important his versatility has become to the team’s identity.
“We need the best version of him for us to be a great team,” Mazzulla said.
I think we’re getting a pretty good look at that version already.
George has been an excellent teammate, a disruptive defender and a much more natural fit than I expected this quickly. If this keeps up, I’m going to run out of new ways to say how much I enjoy watching him play basketball.
4. Ah, there’s the Derrick White we’ve been looking for
There you are, Derrick!
The version who looks completely comfortable taking over an offense when the moment calls for it. The guy who doesn’t hesitate when the ball finds him late in a possession, and who occasionally seems to decree that he’s had enough of the other team scoring.
White finished with 24 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two blocks against Milwaukee. Eleven of those points came in the fourth quarter, when Boston needed them most.
After the Bucks tied the game at 97, White helped settle things down. He converted a crucial and-one after Queta and Scheierman kept a possession alive, then followed with a driving floater that pushed the Celtics’ lead to seven.
Great hustle by the Celtics underneath the basket leads to a HUGE AND-1 for Derrick White pic.twitter.com/rwhDfpPa41
The performance was especially encouraging because White’s offensive start to the season has been fairly underwhelming. Through eight games, he’s averaging 12.8 points and shooting around 29 percent from three.
In the offseason, White talked about improving his outside shooting after last season, and Wednesday’s 1-for-7 performance from deep didn’t do much to suggest he’s found the answer yet. But I’ve been waiting to see the confident version of White who could become Boston’s second offensive option when Tatum or Jaylen Brown missed games in previous seasons.
Derrick White on finding his offensive rhythm this season:
"Every game is a little different. Different lineups, different matchups…Obviously, with JT out and P going out too, I had a more aggressive mindset…you just kinda go out there and have fun playing basketball." -… pic.twitter.com/Xo0REyO1kB
The Celtics will need more of this version of White if they’re going to make a deep playoff run. He doesn’t have to score 24 every night, but the willingness to attack and create offense when things get uncomfortable is going to matter.
Hopefully the jumper comes along for the ride.
5. Neemias Queta’s journey continues to amaze me
Think about where Neemias Queta was a few years ago.
In 2023, the Sacramento Kings waived him after two seasons in which he struggled to establish a consistent NBA role. Boston brought him in on a two-way contract, and he spent much of his early Celtics career trying to prove he belonged in the rotation.
Now we’re talking about him making critical plays down the stretch of NBA games, getting praised by his coach for his development and playing on a four-year, $56 million contract.
That’s pretty friggin’ cool.
Queta finished Wednesday with nine points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 29 minutes. His impact was especially important late, when Boston desperately needed someone besides George or White to make something happen.
With the score tied at 97, Queta scored on a driving layup off a feed from George. A little later, he battled Myles Turner for an offensive rebound after a White miss, helping keep the possession alive before Baylor Scheierman found White cutting for an and-one.
Those are enormous plays in a game that was slipping away.
Mazzulla pointed to Queta’s continued improvement after the game, particularly his ability to contribute as a playmaker and deliver defensively in important moments. He also noted that Queta has been showing those improvements consistently since the season opener against Detroit.
Joe Mazzulla on Neemias Queta’s impact in the fourth quarter of the Celtics’ win against the Bucks tonight:
It’s easy to look at the Celtics’ current center rotation and start arguing about minutes and matchups. But I think it’s worth occasionally appreciating what Queta has built for himself. Boston’s player development program deserves credit, and Queta deserves even more for putting in the work.
The Kings decided they didn’t have a place for him. Three years later, the Celtics are counting on him to close games.
6. Baylor Scheierman is becoming allergic to the bench
I’m starting to think Baylor Scheierman’s greatest skill might be convincing basketballs to find him.
He grabbed 11 rebounds against the Bucks. Eleven! From a wing coming off the bench.
Three came on the offensive glass, and he added nine points on 3-for-4 shooting from deep. Boston was plus-11 in his 29 minutes, the best mark among the Celtics’ reserves. But the thing that jumps out when watching Baylor is how frequently he seems to be involved in possessions that have already become a complete mess.
A missed shot bounces toward the baseline? Baylor’s there. Someone gets a hand on a loose ball? Baylor’s already moving down the court. A rebound starts ricocheting between players? There’s a decent chance Scheierman ends up with it.
The Celtics were able to stop the bleeding some down the stretch of the third
Baylor Scheierman continues to quietly rise in the value he’s bringing to this team
Noa Dalzell made a good observation after the game that some of Baylor’s most valuable hustle plays didn’t even register as rebounds. He was constantly involved in securing loose balls and keeping possessions alive.
The best example came late in the fourth, when Queta and Turner battled for a rebound and the ball eventually found Scheierman. Baylor immediately located White cutting toward the basket for the and-one that helped Boston retake control.
That’s the kind of sequence Joe Mazzulla dreams about.
There’s still a crowded group of young wings competing for minutes, and I don’t think we’ve seen enough to declare a permanent rotation hierarchy. Hugo got the start Wednesday, while Baylor came off the bench and played significantly longer.
But Scheierman keeps finding ways to make his presence useful.
I described him recently as a dog who just heard the cheese drawer open. Watching him chase rebounds this year, I’m beginning to think someone has left the drawer open all season.
7. Mitchell Robinson finally looked like Mitchell Robinson
After many were disappointed with his early performances, I’m happy to report that Mitch gave us considerably less to complain about Wednesday.
Robinson finished with 10 rebounds in just under 20 minutes, including six on the offensive glass. He also had a steal and a block, and Boston was plus-five during his minutes.
He scored only three points on 1-for-8 shooting, so this wasn’t exactly a complete offensive performance. But the rebounding looked much closer to what Celtics fans expected when Boston signed him over the summer.
Mazzulla has talked repeatedly about the adjustment Robinson is making to Boston’s system. In New York, his offensive responsibilities were more narrowly defined. With the Celtics, he’s being asked to screen farther from the basket, handle the ball more and contribute in ways that take him away from his traditional rebounding spots.
Joe Mazzulla on Mitchell Robinson, who had 10 rebounds tonight (6 offensive):
“He played great tonight … You saw the best version of him… It just takes a little bit of time. The greatest thing you can give a guy like Mitch, who's been in the league for nine years, played on a… pic.twitter.com/tbLZXfuTOD
After Wednesday’s game, Joe said Robinson’s rebounding process had been consistent even when the results weren’t there.
He also called Robinson one of the best rebounders of all time, which is quite a thing to hear your coach say when you’ve spent the first two weeks wondering why you aren’t grabbing more rebounds.
I’m still curious about Robinson’s fit alongside Queta and how Mazzulla plans to divide those minutes. But I thought Wednesday was a meaningful step in the right direction. This looked much more like the player Boston was hoping to get. Now the question is whether he can make it a regular occurrence.
8. Something enormous is approaching. I fear it may be…Garzilla.
Do you hear that?
There’s a faint rumbling coming from somewhere beneath TD Garden. Or is it above? My coffee is trembling on the table. A few pigeons just took flight outside my office.
Dear me.
IT’S GARZILLA.
First, I owe Luka Garza an apology. During my offseason analysis of Boston’s roster, I identified him as a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option, assuming most of the meaningful center minutes would belong to Queta and Robinson.
Well, apparently Garza is the reason the other team needs to break the glass. He is the emergency.
Garza scored 11 points against Milwaukee, shooting 3-for-4 from three and grabbing five rebounds in 18 minutes. All three of his made threes came in the first half, when Boston’s offense was humming.
He’s now shooting 52.4 percent from deep through eight games, including nine made threes across his last three outings. That’s an admittedly small sample, but it’s becoming impossible to ignore.
Celtics three-point % leaders this season (as of halftime, minimum 10 attempts)
Garza’s shooting gives Mazzulla something different from his other centers. Defenders have to respect him away from the basket, which creates some fun possibilities when he’s sharing the floor with a traditional interior presence.
We saw that against Milwaukee when Mazzulla paired him with Robinson, allowing Garza to operate farther from the basket while Mitch attacked the glass.
I still don’t know exactly how many minutes Garza should play when everyone is healthy, or how sustainable this shooting will be over an entire season. But the man is currently shooting better than half his threes, and I feel obligated to take that seriously.
The villagers outside of Boston have been warned. Garzilla is loose.
9. Can somebody please check Payton Pritchard’s head?
Payton Pritchard was getting treated like a crash test dummy last night.
First, he took a shot to the face that left his nose bleeding during the first half. Somehow, he kept playing and even managed to score while dealing with the aftermath.
Then, in the third quarter, he suffered another blow to the face and left the game with what the Celtics officially described as a right eye abrasion. He didn’t return.
Pritchard finished with 10 points and five assists in 18 minutes, shooting 4-for-7 from the field. He had entered the night dealing with a right shoulder contusion, too, so this was hardly the most relaxing evening for a historically durable player.
Afterward, Mazzulla said Pritchard seemed okay but acknowledged that he didn’t know the exact extent of the injury. Boston will have to monitor his status heading into Friday’s NBA Cup game against Charlotte.
Before exiting, Pritchard also found time to reprise his role as Smooth PP, the jazz pianist who has recently taken to using opposing defenders as unwilling dance partners.
Kyle Kuzma found himself involved in the latest performance.
The man is apparently capable of improvising an entire musical number while his face is being repeatedly rearranged. All jokes aside, hopefully Pritchard is okay. Boston missed his ballhandling and ability to create offense during the fourth quarter, especially without Tatum available.
10. Joe Mazzulla has some interesting new toys, but the second-half adjustments need work
One of the more intriguing developments Wednesday was Mazzulla’s willingness to experiment with lineups that we haven’t seen much of this season.
The Robinson-Garza pairing was particularly interesting.
Before the Bucks game, the two had shared the floor for only about two minutes. Against Milwaukee, Mazzulla gave them a longer look, and the early results were encouraging.
Robinson attacked the offensive glass while Garza provided spacing and perimeter shooting. By halftime, Robinson had nine rebounds and Garza had scored 11 points, making all three of his three-point attempts.
The combination made sense against Milwaukee’s first-half approach. Boston could control the boards without completely sacrificing the ability to space the floor. But things changed after halftime.
The Bucks began playing faster, spreading the floor with shooters and attacking Boston off the dribble. They shot 7-for-8 from three in the third quarter, and suddenly the Celtics’ bigger combinations weren’t nearly as comfortable.
Mazzulla acknowledged afterward that the double-big pairing worked better in the first half than the second. Milwaukee’s adjustments forced Boston to reconsider its lineups, particularly as the Celtics struggled to generate offense without Tatum and, eventually, Pritchard.
I actually appreciate Joe experimenting this early in the season. There’s a lot to learn about this roster, especially with so many new players being asked to take on unfamiliar responsibilities.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 30: Joe Mazzulla of the Boston Celtics high-fives Mitchell Robinson #4 during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at the TD Garden on October 30, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
But Wednesday also showed how quickly a promising lineup can become a problem when an opponent changes its approach.
Boston won the game because its players made the necessary plays down the stretch. White took over, George hit the big three and the Celtics’ frontcourt helped secure some enormous possessions.
The win is what matters. But so does understanding why the team needed late-game heroics after leading by 22.
The Celtics are 6-2, and I still think we’re only beginning to understand what this version of the team can become. Wednesday offered plenty of reasons to be excited about its depth, even if the road to discovering that depth involved nearly losing to a 1-6 Bucks team.
Maybe next time we can conduct the experiment without involving everyone’s blood pressure.
The Mavericks went 3-2 over the last week-and-a-half, and sit at 4-4 overall. They won three in a row against Miami (113-109), Oklahoma City (120-96), and Houston (116-111). They have lost their last two against Sacramento (115-100) and San Antonio (112-111). Cooper Flagg led the team in scoring with 24.8 points per game.
Grade: A-
Despite the sour taste that Cooper Flagg’s last two games have left in everyone’s mouths, the Mavericks deserve a good grade. They beat two great teams in the Thunder and Rockets, and a Miami team with multiple former All-Stars. For three games in a row, they looked like a playoff team. Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg’s pairing made sense, P.J. Washington has been excellent all year, and Daniel Gafford has given Dallas a lot of what he gave them two years ago. Even Walter Clayton Jr., the 18th overall pick just last year, has given them a bright spot in a dark guard room.
Unfortunately, they tested fate by resting Irving on Monday against the Kings, and the basketball gods punished them by giving Sacramento their first win of the season in Dallas. The bad vibes continued for another two quarters, where the Mavericks got embarrassed in the first half against the Spurs. These six periods dropped them from an A+ to an A-. Luckily, they came out with energy in the second half and made what was looking like a stomping into a really exciting one-point loss against the defending Western Conference champions.
As previously mentioned, it is important to note how bad Cooper Flagg has looked in the last two games. He is just 10-of-38 (26.3 percent) from the floor, has not made a three, and has looked overwhelmingly disinterested on offense. Something doesn’t look quite right, and they’re going to need him to figure it out to take advantage of the next week of games.
Dallas has a three-game home stand against Brooklyn, Utah, and Indiana coming up.
Straight A’s: Zaccharie Risacher
Risacher was the first overall selection by Atlanta just three drafts ago. By no fault of his own, he was scrutinized for underperforming a draft placement he shouldn’t have been taken at. When he was traded to Dallas, those expectations dissipated. It seems like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders, because Risacher has been one of the most important pieces to winning the Mavericks have.
He is just one of five players with 10+ steals and 10+ blocks this year. He is a legitimately good rebounder and has made threes sporadically. His commitment to defense has been enlightening, and his signature performance came this past week when he held Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to just 21 points on 7-of-19 shooting in a 24-point win. If Dallas is going to be a playoff team, Risacher will be in the rotation.
Failed the assignment: Morez Johnson Jr.
Yes, we are just eight games into his career. Yes, he was dealing with shin splints before the season. And yes, he was never supposed to be a flashy lottery pick. But it is impossible to ignore the tape that Morez Johnson Jr. has put together. Especially when Yaxel Lendeborg, his Michigan teammate, was picked after him and is averaging 21.5 points a game in Golden State.
Johnson Jr. was finally taken off a minutes restriction against the Spurs on Wednesday, and looked significantly more mobile. But for the majority of his minutes he has been a step slow, fouled a ton, and has given the Mavericks little to nothing on the offensive end. He is scoring just over seven points a game, grabbing just 3.1 rebounds, and fouling three times in his 16 minutes a night. Hopefully he can stack minutes as he ramps up, but he has been disappointing thus far.
Extra Credit: Kyrie Irving
It’s taken a little bit of time, but Irving is starting to look like himself again. The paint touches are not quite there yet; it takes a lot of time to trust your legs to jump and move in traffic again. But the three-point shot looks good, he is moving well laterally, and he is digging in on rebounds and the defensive end. He’s coming off back-to-back games of 35 and 29 points, and although the latter was not super efficient, he is starting to score in bunches like he did pre-injury. It is only a matter of time where he is doing things again that leave us in awe.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 10: Mallory Edens of the Milwaukee Bucks smiles during the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, 2026 at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
There were some wild outcomes in our first NBA 2K simulation, an AI-controlled affair that offered a glimpse of what could happen for the Milwaukee Bucks this season. Some outcomes were fun to see, some were not, and some were… tragically ironic (sorry, Scoot). This time, let’s take a look at a more realistic simulation of how the Bucks’ season might turn out. I’ll be setting the lineups and player minutes—and trying to pull off some roster moves that I think would be realistic and beneficial for the Bucks.
Start of the Season
The season begins with the Bucks clearing their roster issues: waiving Kevin Porter Jr., Johni Broome, Jake Stephens, and Pete Nance before welcoming back Nance on a two-way contract. That leaves their starting lineup looking exactly as it did for Taylor Jenkins and the real Bucks (save for the reversal of the forward positions):
PG: Ryan Rollins
SG: Tyler Herro
SF: Kyle Kuzma
PF: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
C: Myles Turner
Amid early-season play, the Bucks are twice ranked 21st in the power rankings and once 22nd. The way things are going in real life, I’m sure Bucks fans wouldn’t be too mad to see this.
Roster-wise, the Bucks have Myles Turner, Caris LeVert, Gary Trent Jr., and Kyle Kuzma all on the trading block. On the flipside, Kasparas Jakučionis, Brayden Burries, and Nate Ament—a young core trio that Bucks will be looking to hold and develop over the next few years—are set as their untouchables.
Two Months In
In December, Milwaukee sits 7-24 on the season. One of the “leading” factors in this has been Myles Turner, who has been horrible, scoring just 7.9 PPG on 33% from the field (Editor’s note: So, pretty true to life?). On a better note, Kel’el Ware looks great and has been averaging a double-double off the bench. As such, he will move into the starting position in a bid to improve the team’s 27th-ranked rebounding.
TRADE ALERT: The Milwaukee Bucks are sending AJ Green and Jericho Sims to the Denver Nuggets for Marvin Bagley III, Zeke Nnaji and a 2028 second-round pick.
The Nuggets, short on options at the two-guard position, make the trade for Dairy Bird with the intention of improving their second-to-last in the league ranking in three-point attempts. Meanwhile, the Bucks acquire Bagley, who is having a strong season, averaging 10.6 PPG and 8.8 RPG on 56% shooting from the field, to bolster the big rotation. In Naji, they also add a theoretical scoring boost at power forward, a skill Jericho Sims has been unable to provide. More importantly, Milwaukee adds to its draft chest.
All-Star Break
The Bucks roll into the All-Star Break with an 18-41 record, showing improvement after their slow start to the season. Despite starting to turn his season around, Turner remains a prominent name on the trade block; unfortunately, nothing comes together for the Bucks, even with Kristaps Porzingis, Miles Bridges, and Rui Hachimura all being floated for him. It has, however, been made clear that Turner’s name will still be in trade talks come the offseason.
On a more positive note, Jakučionis makes the World Team for the Rising Star Game, averaging 10.8 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 3.2 APG. He doesn’t lead the Bucks in any category, though. Those honours go to:
Points: Tyler Herro (17.1 PPG)
Rebounds: Kel’el Ware (10.8 RPG)
Assists: Ryan Rollins (4.1 APG)
Steals: Ryan Rollins (1.6 SPG)
Blocks: Myles Turner (2.1 BPG)
As a team, the Bucks are the 28th-ranked offence in the league, with 109.6 PPG. Their defence is better, though, ranking 19th in the league (giving up 121.4 PPG). It’s not quite the “Bad Boy Bucks” that fans have been hoping for, but definitely a step in the right direction in the Bucks’ quest to become a defensive-minded team. As for power rankings, Taylor Jenkins’ team hovers between 26th and 27th, a regression from the start of the season despite their improved play. Looking at the standings, Milwaukee sits 13th in the Eastern Conference and 25th overall.
End of Regular Season
Down the stretch, the Bucks improve slightly, finishing as the 27th-ranked offence with 110.6 PPG. Their defence fares better, ranking 19th overall, despite giving up 121.2 PPG. As far as the standings go, Milwaukee finishes 26-56 and in the 13th position in the Eastern Conference—a very realistic outcome and probably a spot where Bucks fans wouldn’t be too mad to finish. On a positive note, Brayden Burries makes the All-Rookie Second Team, averaging 6.9 PPG, 1.3 RPG, and 0.8 APG. It’s a pleasing accomplishment for Burries, even if the numbers are underwhelming. And on that note, the Bucks statistical leaders end up as:
Points: Tyler Herro (17.3 PPG)
Rebounds: Kel’el Ware (11.1 RPG)
Assists: Ryan Rollins (4.1 APG)
Steals: Ryan Rollins (1.5 SPG)
Blocks: Myles Turner (2.0 BPG)
The Offseason
On the night of the NBA draft, the Bucks are looking to make a trade and still Turner’s name is ringing hot in front offices around the league. Yes, even after another down season, teams are looking to take a swing on him.
The phone rings. It’s the Portland Trail Blazers…
BREAKING NEWS: The Portland Trail Blazers are trading the 20th overall pick in the 2027 NBA Draft to the Milwaukee Bucks for Myles Turner and the 45th pick in the draft.
The Trail Blazers make the move believing they are one piece away from being a top-3 contender in the Western Conference, and feel strongly that the twin towers of Myles Turner and Donovan Clingan are going to be the key to getting past the dominant bigs of the West, like Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren.
With the pick, the Bucks select Babatunde Oladotun, a 6’10”, lengthy, high-upside forward out of Maryland. But the surprises don’t end there. In one of the biggest draft-day falls, the Bucks pick up 7’3” center Luigi Suigo out of Villanova. Suigo was projected to be a lottery pick earlier in the year, but it seems questions regarding his cardio and frame began to swirl around the league, enabling the Bucks to take a swing on the big man with the 35th pick.
Following the draft, the Bucks exercise the team options on both Ware and Jakučionis to kick off their free agency period. They then re-sign Jaquez, Herro, and Rollins to new contracts. They also add Jalen Smith and Santi Aldama on cheap deals to add some more size to their lineup following the Turner trade.
Along with the additions, the Bucks say goodbye to fan favourite Kuzma, veteran Caris LeVert, and two-way players Cormac Ryan and Kam Jones. Heading into the 2027-2028 season, the starting lineup thus looks like this:
PG: Ryan Rollins
SG: Tyler Herro
SF: Ousmane Dieng
PF: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
C: Kel’el Ware
Overall, this certainly isn’t as blockbuster as the AI-controlled simulation, but I feel like it is a better look at a realistic outcome: retaining the Bucks’ core and adding some key pieces to raise the team’s floor.
So, did this 2K simulation tickle your fancy, or was it a fever dream a little too close to reality? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comments.
HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 2: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics is introduced before the game against the Houston Rockets on November 2, 2026 at the Toyota Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
BOSTON — After the Celtics beat the Bucks, Derrick White sat in the locker room with ice packs on both knees and ice wrapped around his left shoulder.
The 32-year-old Celtics guard was coming off a season-high 24 points, plus 7 assists and 4 rebounds. He scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and 7 of the Celtics’ final 10 points, including an and-one runner that gave the Celtics a 5-point lead with just over two minutes to go.
They never looked back from there.
And, none of the late-game heroics were a surprise to his teammates.
“D-White just has an unwavering confidence — he just has a way of just being even-keeled,” said Paul George, who led the Celtics in scoring with 25 on the night. “Obviously, he’s great down the stretch.”
This season, White is averaging 12.8 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game. For the second straight year, his shooting has slipped; he’s shooting 42.5% from the field and 31% from three.
Regardless, for the second consecutive home game, White got raucous MVP chants at the free-throw line from the TD Garden. Afterward, he chatted with Jayson Tatum in the locker room, who donned street clothes after his first rest game of the season.
The two shared a laugh as White got ready to take the podium after his season-best game. Payton Pritchard exited the game in the third quarter after suffering a right eye abrasian, leaving the Celtics without two of their primary scorers in the clutch-time game against the Bucks.
That meant White knew he had to make a concerted effort offensively down the stretch.
“Every game is a little different — different lineups, different matchups, and so just kind of go out there, read what the game tells you to do, and go out there and compete, try to get a win,” White said. “Obviously with JT out and then P going out too, had to [have] a little bit more aggressive mindset, and maybe next game is a little different. So, you just kind of go out there and have fun playing basketball.”
The Celtics led by as many as 22 points in the game, but saw that lead turn into a one-point deficit late in the fourth quarter after a monster third quarter by Tyler Herro and multiple stints of offensive woes.
As the momentum of the game turned against Boston, White remained calm.
“He’s a great defender, shot-blocker, rebounder at the guard spot — but again, with him, with Payton, like those guys just having kind of an even-keeled mentality, never get too high, never get too low, never really rattle,” George said. “And when you’re on the floor, you feel that you got a guy besides — he’s obviously been a champion. So, he’s tested. He’s battle-tested. But to have someone that never gets too high, it’s a level where I think when you’re on the floor, you feel that, and you know, anything you’re into, will get out of.”
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 4: Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 4, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics avoided another potential collapse of a 20-point lead last night, regaining their composure down the stretch to secure a 109–102 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks
Paul George and Derrick White spearheaded the effort, particularly in the closing minutes, while Neemias Queta also proved instrumental in the game’s decisive moments. However, one player whose contributions I felt were particularly underrated throughout the contest was Baylor Scheierman.
Scheierman finished with nine points and 11 rebounds, including three on the offensive glass, while adding a steal and an assist in 28 minutes of action. Over his last three games, he has averaged 10 points and six rebounds while shooting an impressive 61% from beyond the arc.
Scheierman’s impact also extended well beyond the box score. Here is a closer look at the various ways he influenced last night’s game.
His impact began on the defensive end, where I thought he was particularly effective both on and off the ball. On this possession, he initially denies Herro an opportunity to receive the ball before rotating over to help on the drive, using an active swipe to force the pickup. When the ball eventually finds its way back to Herro, Scheierman stays disciplined, applies solid on-ball pressure, and closes out with a strong contest.
Here, Scheierman is matched up with Ryan Rollins, who prepares to use a wide screen from his big man, Kel’el Ware. Although Scheierman gets caught momentarily, he makes a smart adjustment by going under the screen, meeting Rollins at the other side, and recovering to get back in front. He then does a nice job staying attached through the subsequent on-ball screen, with some help from Luka Garza’s hedge.
Once again, Scheierman showcases his off-ball activity by rotating over to help on another driving opponent. This time, however, we get a look at his instincts in the passing lanes. At the last moment, he reads the passer’s intentions and peels back to his assignment to get a hand on the ball and deflect it.
Scheierman entered this game, averaging 4.6 deflections per 100 possessions, placing him in the 86th percentile league wide. His activity in this area makes him a valuable piece of a Celtics defense that ranks second in the NBA in deflections per game.
Garza ultimately gets the block on this next possession, but Scheierman made it possible. As the Bucks drive along the baseline, Mitchell Robinson, who is initially guarding Ware in the paint, is forced to rotate over and help on the ball. With Robinson leaving Ware, the big is momentarily left without a defender underneath the basket.
Scheierman recognizes this immediately and quickly sinks down toward Ware, reaching in an attempt to disrupt the pass. Although he doesn’t come away with the steal, his presence forces Ware to adjust before going up for the layup. That split-second hesitation gives his teammates enough time to recover and get into position to contest the shot, ultimately setting up Garza’s block.
Scheierman was credited with just one assist in this game, but his playmaking helped generate several quality looks for Boston. He finished with five potential assists on the night, and his ability to grab defensive rebounds and immediately push the pace (rip and run) continues to be an asset to the Celtics’ early offense.
Scheierman attacks off the dribble and creates an opportunity for Robinson at the rim before quickly getting back on defense. He then does a nice job stepping in to cut off a driving lane and deter a potential three-point attempt, showcasing his ability to impact both ends of the floor in quick succession.
Here is more of that playmaking.
Staying on the offensive side of things, all nine of Scheierman’s points came from downtown. He knocked down a three at the end of the half before quickly getting back on defense to contest a shot. Later, he connected on two big back-to-back threes that helped keep Milwaukee at bay.
On Rollins again here and he defends this “Iverson” cut perfectly. An Iverson cut is when a player uses two horizontal off ball screens to cut from one wing to the other.
He navigated both screens well and meets Rollins on the opposite wing, giving him no room to instantly drive. He then plays on the ball well and gets help from George who steals the pass and scores for the and one.
Anticipation and a quick reaction to the ball are obviously important traits for anyone looking to excel in the passing lanes defensively, but Scheierman has also shown an ability to incorporate deception into his approach. I first noticed this during the preseason and wanted to see another example before making the observation with confidence. This play provides exactly that.
Boston sends a double-team at Rollins near half court, forcing Scheierman into a Cover 2 situation. Watch how he deliberately leans his body toward the corner, giving the illusion that Ware is available for an easy pass in the paint. Rollins takes the bait, and Scheierman quickly changes direction to jump the passing lane and come away with the steal.
Another example of his off-ball prowess here getting another deflection.
Scheierman added several more quality possessions to the tape, giving the coaching staff plenty to be encouraged by.
Scheierman continued to make his presence felt in some of the game’s biggest moments. His relentless pursuit of the basketball consistently puts him in position to make important hustle plays, and he has the skill and awareness to make those opportunities count.
He finds his way to the ball and gets his only true assist of the game to White for a huge and one then crashes for an offensive rebound that helped Boston wind down more time on the clock.
Lastly, we come back to the off-ball defense. On a play where the Bucks must get something, he communicates and performs three perfect switches before the ball is even entered.
Baylor Scheierman’s impact in this game was a great example of how much value he can provide beyond the traditional box score. Whether it was his activity in the passing lanes, defensive positioning, ability to push the pace in transition, or timely shooting, he consistently found ways to positively impact the game.
Nine points and 11 rebounds are a solid contribution on their own, but his overall impact went well beyond those numbers. These are the types of winning plays that earn a coaching staff’s trust, and Scheierman continues to make a strong case for a meaningful role in Boston’s rotation.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 4: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates after the game against the Dallas Mavericks on November 4, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Debuting their ABA-inspired classic jerseys and classic court, the Spurs showed out for the Frost Bank Center against their I-35 rivals in the Dallas Mavericks. After taking control of the first half and extending their lead to 19 in the third quarter, the Mavericks clawed their way back in the fourth. Clutch plays from Victor Wembanyama and Dylan Harper kept the Spurs within one possession down the stretch, and Wemby drained a go-ahead free throw with 24 seconds left. Kyrie Irving missed a potential go-ahead jumper, and the Mavs failed to corral the rebound. The Spurs extended their win streak to six.
Speaking of Wemby, Holy moly, folks. Wemby channeled his inner Wilt Chamberlain against the Dallas Mavericks. Coming off a win over the Utah Jazz, Wemby looked to shake off the rust from his rough shooting night (12 points, 5-15 FG, 0-5 3PT). He responded by breaking a franchise and league record in the first half: 29 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks. He then cashed in a career-best performance: 52 points (16-28 FG, 19-23 FT), 24 rebounds, eight blocks, two steals, and two assists. From the opening tip, Wemby got to work immediately on Daniel Gafford. The Space Jam-esque leap after the crossover is otherworldly.
Besides putting it on the floor, Wemby gained the upper hand over defenders by using his height and agility. Throughout the first quarter and bleeding into others, Wemby was a lob threat every time. He spun off of Cooper Flagg, fought through contact, and finished many lobs as he dominated the paint.
Wemby kept up the aggression with countless drives to the basket. The Mavericks could not guard him one-on-one, so the result was often Wemby getting fouled on drives, lob attempts, putback attempts, and most of the time the contact did not even matter.
Here’s what separates Wemby from almost all big men, he can go behind the back on one end, control and spin on the other, and leap for a wide-open jam whenever he wants. Simply ridiculous.
Oh yeah, in case you forgot, he’s the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Wemby swatted EIGHT shots, including this sequence where he blocked the Mavs THREE TIMES IN A ROW. Again, simply and utterly ridiculous.
As the aggression continued in the second half, the Mavericks transitioned to playing small ball to counteract the defensive anchor of Wemby. Wemby punished them with a handful of finishes at the rim and turning in a couple of and-ones.
He dominated the glass with nine of his 24 rebounds coming on the offensive end (which mostly resulted in putbacks). Overall, this is just another reminder of how Wemby is an MVP (and DPOY) candidate this season. With the team as a whole still figuring out their offense while running a three-guard lineup, Wemby’s talent saved the day and can continue to carry this team to close out victories. Spurs fans, rejoice and continue to feel blessed every day.
Dylan Harper played Robin to Wemby’s Batman with 21 points (9-15 FG) and five rebounds. Dylan, as a starter, continues to lead the league in field goal percentage at the rim. His fearlessness on drives and patience in the paint rival a prime Irving. Playing in a three-guard lineup with De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, Dylan has been more of a scorer of the three. As the team’s offense continues to find a consistent identity, one thing is for sure, Dylan will find a way to put the ball in the basket.
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 4: OG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks dunks the ball during the game against the Chicago Bulls on November 4, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As the second quarter started last night between the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden, Josh Giddey was bringing the ball up for the team from the Windy City. He tried to maneuver through a high pick-and-roll when all of a sudden a large human named OG Anunoby appeared in his path. The Australian must have thought he’d run into a boxing kangaroo, as he was so freaked out that he immediately lost his dribble. As the ball was bouncing away from him, Anunoby lunged after it but couldn’t quite grab it. So Mikal Bridges joined the scene as well for the orange and blue, also diving on the floor to ultimately force the refs to call a foul on poor Mr. Giddey.
Just for the record, the Knicks were leading 43-21 at that point.
The game was essentially over long before both of New York’s high-priced wings draped themselves across the shiny Garden floor, but this is exactly what makes the symbolism of the aforementioned play so much more distinct. The Knicks decided to show up last night. They decided to put it together and be the hard-nosed, all-out championship team we all love so much. Not only for the layup lines or the press conference but for the entire game. They not only cut up the Bulls into sirloins, briskets and ribs, they surely also took their hearts. And announced, if not to the league, then to their fan base, what Keef so aptly commented in Russell’s Postgame Thread: “We are so back…”
Knicks play complete game against Chicago
A critical comrade might point out that it had more to do with Chicago being gone than with New York being back, but this isn’t the day for such rationality. It’s a day of basking in the glory of being a good basketball team and showing it for 47 minutes and 58 seconds, maybe even longer. It’s exactly what this Knicks team needed after sluggish weeks to start their championship defense, and some of us fans might have needed it even a bit more. We all knew they were good enough to win it all, we all knew that there’s a level to their quality that might be unrivaled across the Association. At some point you have to see it, though, and we sure did last night.
From Jalen Brunson to Landry Shamet, from OG Anunoby to Mohamed Diawara, even from James Wiseman to Dalton Knecht, there basically was no Knick who didn’t look like his very best last night, at least not if we ignore garbage time and a rusty Jose Alvarado being dealt the thankless job of driving the party boat into the harbor. Maybe our Finals hero was a bit tired from all the clapping and cheering he did for a seemingly gazillion beautiful basketball plays from his teammates—even if SGA Anunoby gave him plenty of breaks standing at the charity stripe. All in all, the Knicks definitely played at a completely different speed than the Bulls, who only a week ago had raced out to a 19-point lead against New York. Watching this game, you wonder how that ever happened.
Dalton Knecht (10 PTS, 7 REB, 4-6 FGM) made his Knicks debut in their win vs. Chicago 🗽 pic.twitter.com/CGtDZhyyYS
No matter what conclusion you might come to answering that question, last night proved that it’s a lot more fun to bring your A-game and best effort from the get-go than midway through the fourth, fueled by desperation. Jalen Brunson danced through the Bulls D like he was Barry Sanders playing a high school team early on and also had no mercy shooting the ball. As so often in the past, it inspired his team to follow him. The Knicks did it all the way to the highest-scoring half in their history, tying a 38-year-old franchise record. It’s nice to be back doing historical things just as they routinely did last season. And just like your starters and stars diving on the floor in a lopsided game, it is a reminder that these Knicks are still those Knicks.
Young Knicks make a good impression
Whether they might be even a bit more here or there could start to show itself in games like last night’s laugher. It is here where younger, unproven bench players like Mo Diawara, Dalton Knecht or James Wiseman will get their chances to make an impression on Mike Brown and the coaching staff. All of them have a ways to go, but watching last night, you at least feel a little intrigued by Mo’s and Wiseman’s physical profiles. Their length could give New York a different defensive dimension (5 blocks between them), and Diawara once again looked like the promising role player he teased last season. The herky-jerky is still there, yet he also flashed strong playmaking ability (tied for the team lead with 4 assists) and defensive awareness against supposedly strong wings like Caleb Wilson or Matas Buzelis. Maybe he can be a specialist for matchups like that, who knows? We’ve got 74 games to see more of it and figure out if it can really be a factor in important games.
We’re not going out on a limb saying that it will take some time before the Bulls get to experience such games again. This doesn’t diminish what our Knickerbockers did last night, playing as complete a basketball game as you dare to imagine. As beautiful as some of the passes, shots or dunks were, in the end, the foundation was the little things, many of which are exactly what a large part of the team’s identity is built upon. Things like boxing out your opponent, making the right rotation or flying hard around a screen. Things like making the pass that leads to an assist or pushing the ball when it truly makes sense.
Or diving on the floor after a loose ball, for that matter.
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 4: Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 4, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When the notification hit that Jayson Tatum would be resting Wednesday’s game against the Bucks, I couldn’t have been less moved.
Milwaukee is bad. The Celtics shouldn’t have any problem taking care of business, right?
Ultimately, they managed to get across the finish line, but the path there wasn’t as pretty as many would’ve hoped. The Cs found themselves in a fourth-quarter dogfight despite leading the one-win Bucks by 22 points earlier in the game.
This scenario was more suprising than it should’ve been. Tatum has done a lot for this Boston team. Key role players like Payton Pritchard and Derrick White haven’t played at the height of their offensive abilities so far this season, and you’ve felt it.
Take Monday’s loss to the Rockets in Houston for example. Paul George had the night off on the second leg of a back-to-back, and the vet was dearly missed. Whenever Tatum headed to the bench, Houston gained more and more leverage until they were in complete control of the matchup in the second half.
In a game where the Celtics lost by 16, Tatum was still a +1 when he was on the floor.
Flash forward back to the matchup with Milwaukee. Boston was forced to fight their way out of a tough situation without their offensive hub.
They did it.
A Brayden Burries floater gave Milwaukee a 96-95 lead over Boston with 4:54 to play in regulation. All of the momentum was with the Bucks as they continued to light the nets on fire with their efficient shot-making. Anytime the Cs squandered opportunities on the offensive end, it felt like it came back to bite them with a Bucks bucket.
It felt like it was going to be a classic “the Celtics can’t close out close games” game. But instead of squandering what should’ve been a surefire win, they let their vets lead the way and finished the night with a 14-6 run over the final five minutes.
George and White weren’t perfect, but they were good enough. The two combined to score 20 of Boston’s 22 fourth-quarter points, and each made some tough shots to ice the game.
Look, I’m not going to try and spin a narrow win against one of the league’s worst into a monumental victory. But it’s not nothing. If this Celtics squad is going to reach its potential, then other players besides Tatum have to be effective in tense spots. Those spots, by the way, don’t just happen in the fourth quarter.
Clutch moments happen all the time. It could be making a big shot to cool off a second-quarter run, getting a big stop on a player who’s starting to heat up, or simply making the opposition pay for their mistakes and capitalizing on turnovers and extra possessions.
Those opportunities are undisputedly going to arise during the non-Tatum minutes, too.
The fact that Boston has been able to depend on Paul George thus far feels tremendous. It can never been mentioned enough how great he’s been on both sides of the ball. Even today, one of the biggest moments in the game came when he turned defense into offense.
George jumped a weakside pass for a steal, then went coast-to-coast for an and-one finish in transition to give the Cs a six-point cushion early in the fourth.
The moment sent a message. The Celtics weren’t just going to roll over because things hadn’t been going their way.
So far, they’ve buckled down quite well when push has come to shove. Wednesday’s win makes the Cs 4-1 in clutch situations, which the league defines as games within five points with under five minutes left. This one just happened to be an opportunity to flex their depth.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 04: Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Kyle Kuzma #18 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second quarter at TD Garden on November 04, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks’ 22-point comeback fell short in Beantown, as they lost to the Boston Celtics 109-102 after leading in the fourth quarter. If the Bucks could just avoid one horrendous quarter each game, they’d probably have three or four wins by now. The fight and character the team showed was pleasing, to be sure, but fans want to see the team not just be in games, but win them, no matter the opponent. And as I’ll get to, the difference between winning and losing is razor-thin; it is about recognising moments and understanding what the team wants to achieve in those moments; unfortunately, the Bucks have some guys who seem incapable of doing that. On a completely unrelated note, I am officially retiring from inserting sarcastic/self-deprecating dinosaur-related Easter eggs into my writing until I can make it clear to readers that they are, in fact, sarcastic/self-deprecating dinosaur-related Easter eggs! Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Finally, Rollins had what I think everyone would call a solid game (minus the turnovers). His shot still isn’t falling as we’d like, but man, Rollins was a menace on defence. Just terrific on that end. He was given the primary assignment on Derrick White and forced him into a 7/18 night. Rightfully got the close alongside Herro.
Herro’s night was highlighted by a white-hot third quarter in which he scored 17 of his 23 points on 6/8 shooting (after failing to score in the opening quarter). It felt like Herro’s aggression flipped a switch at halftime: he came off screens with more vigour, his crossovers were more violent, and he had a stronger will to get to the hoop. Unfortunately, Herro took just one shot in the fourth; not sure whose fault that is, but he needed to be more involved (at least in the final few possessions, Mr Kuzma).
On the plus side, Jaquez continues to be money from three this year (although he did take a horrendous one late, as Turner was wide open on the extra pass). On the negative side, he went 0/5 in the fourth quarter and couldn’t get anything to go inside the arc. Still, I thought Jaquez was solid in his possessions guarding PG.
If you looked at the stat sheet, you would think Kuzma played just a meh game, and I suppose he did, but I can’t get over how incredibly frustrating some of his decisions are. As I’ve said before, no matter how he plays overall, Kuzma is guaranteed to give you 2-4 make-you-want-to-pull-your-hair-out plays per game. Most notably, he shot a three off one pass with 18 on the shot clock while down two with three minutes to play. Why!? He also had a play in the third—as the Bucks are desperately trying to string stops together—where he flopped off a slight push-off from Paul George; the refs (rightfully) didn’t fall for it, and he was on the ground when George shot and made the three. He had another pathetic defensive possession on PG late, where he was effectively standing straight up—not in a defensive stance at all—as the 36-year-old zipped past him with ease. Kuzma was rightfully pulled for AJ Green to finish, and I honestly think they win if he didn’t play in the fourth. Just an infuriating player to watch sometimes.
I thought Turner got monstered on the inside a few too many times—as he is wont to do—but overall, it was another well-rounded game where you really felt his presence. Shooting the ball much better of late. Just keep stacking good games.
Tough game for Jakucionis, who didn’t play in the second half and had by far the worst plus/minus on the team (the next-worst was -8). I don’t think he necessarily did too much wrong in his minutes; it’s more that I don’t think Jenkins liked how the team operated when he was running it, and he loved how the team ran in the second half with someone else handling the rock. Things were going well, and as the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
We still haven’t seen Burries explode on offence in the extended minutes that come with starting (granted, his two starts have been against top-10 defensive teams), but he still did a bunch of typical Burries stuff. He has a knack for impacting the game regardless of whether his shot is going in, a quality I absolutely love. Burries was super active and impactful defensively and pursued each rebound like his life depended on it. Also, the rook was on the bench for most of that electric third-quarter run, but I noticed him up and encouraging his teammates the whole time—brownie points.
I feel like a bit of a broken record with Green when I say that even when he doesn’t hit shots, it never feels like he impacts the game negatively the way it does with a certain someone. He generally does his job on defence, even if he is undersized in a lot of matchups, and it’s just make-or-miss as to how much he plays. Had a killer defensive possession guarding Paul George in the first half.
As has been the case a few times this season, Ament had a meh first half and a much better second. He started the game with a major rookie moment, trying to take on Mitchell Robinson and getting it emphatically thrown back in his face, which earned him a seat on the bench immediately. Then in the second half, Ament was just… existing more as part of a coherent unit that was playing extremely well? Like, he took his chances when they came to him instead of forcing stuff, but he also contributed on the other end, which matters to me much more than his scoring. Now, Ament still has a little too much tunnel vision, and I’d like him to set screens and not slip them as much as he does—which will generate scoring chances for him—but hey, encouraging signs.
Grade: C+
Taylor Jenkins
On the one hand, I totally get going back to your veterans to close a game on the road against a good team—and there are certainly other considerations—but Jenkins closing with Kuzma and Jaquez may well have cost them the game. Maybe Ament should have stayed in (though I reckon he’d played a fair stretch by that point), but definitely Green. Heck, Jenkins could have dusted off Jericho Sims, who played well the game before. Other than that, credit to the Bucks coach for getting the team in the right mindset—and with the right game plan—to mount that comeback.
Grade: D+
Limited Minutes: Ousmane Dieng, Jericho Sims
DNP-CD: Bogoljub Markovic, Caris LeVert, Gary Trent Jr.
Inactive: Kam Jones, Cormac Ryan, Pete Nance
What We Learnt
The team is guaranteed to lose its collective mind for one quarter of each game.
Bonus Bucks Bits
Jenkins on his team’s fight: “Can’t overlook that we were down 22 to the Celtics and came back and took the lead… the energy, the life was there… A lot of growth, a lot of progress. This was awesome by our group. We have to continue to not dig ourselves holes… Overall, our guys’ resilience was the biggest thing from this game.”
Regarding my comments about Brayden Burries’ ability to impact beyond scoring, I want Nate Ament to learn from that; it feels like Ament is much more “out there” a lot of the time, rather than you feeling his presence from possession to possession. Now, the fact that Ament is even playing regular NBA minutes at this point is huge in and of itself, so I don’t want to put too much on the kid, but it’s just something I’d love for him to be thinking about when he’s out there.
I found it notable that Brayden Burries matched up with Derrick White, and many draft analysts used White as his player comparison. I wonder if Burries was thinking the same thing.
The Bucks averaged one turnover per minute in the opening six minutes of the game. Crazy.
Tyler Herro started the first quarter scoreless; the same thing happened against the Wolves.
The Bucks shot 14/42 in the first half, and by the halfway mark of the third quarter, they were 10/12. Also, they had just one turnover in the entire third.
4th time this season the #Bucks have lost despite it being a one possession game in the 4th quarter. The fight they showed to crawl back from 20+ down in the second half was impressive and shouldn’t be lost among reactions to tonight.
SACRAMENTO – The Los Angeles Lakers aren't even 10 games into the season and superstar Luka Dončić already looks to be in midseason form.
Dončić had his third-consecutive 40-point game, and fifth of the season, as he led the Lakers to a 116-103 win against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on Wednesday, Nov. 4. He stuffed the stat sheet with 40 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, one block and one steal.
Dončić leads the league in scoring so far with 38.5 points per game. He eclipsed Michael Jordan for most points through 8 games since the 1988-89 season with his Wednesday performance (Jordan had 303, Dončić reached 308).
Simple and plain, the man is on a heater. And so are the Lakers, now 7-2, after their third straight win.
"Probably this and the entire month of March last year," Lakers head coach JJ Redick said about Dončić and his scoring streak. "I think that back-to-back we had where he closed out Houston (and) ... then we went to Miami and got in at 4 a.m., and then he had 60, I mean, that stretch was pretty magical for him, but he's playing great right now."
Lakers guard Austin Reaves thought Dončić could have poured in a 60-point night on Wednesday, blaming a slow start in the first quarter where Dončić finished with 10 points.
"He could've had 60 if he wasn't asleep in the first quarter," Reaves told reporters. "He's scored 70 in a game. He's good. He's a good basketball player. He's been doing this since he was 19."
The way he's started the season, Dončić is reminding the league what things can be like when he's healthy.
He averaged 37.5 points per game last March, including 7 out of 16 games with 40 or more points. But Dončić then suffered a season-ending Grade 2 hamstring injury on April 2. He spent the entire offseason getting his leg back to where it used to be, even forgoing international FIBA play for his home country of Slovenia.
Dončić's health has lots to do with his blazing start to the season, but he's hesitant to say it's the best he's felt in his career, now in his 9th NBA season.
"I don't know, honestly," Dončić told USA TODAY Sports. "Too early to tell, you know. But I look back and I had a whole summer to recover. A lot of stuff that I couldn't do last maybe eight years. So maybe that's where the energy is coming from."
Redick focused on adding a new aspect to his 27-year-old superstar's game to relieve some of the ballhandling and fatigue that builds from that task alone. His adjustment are paying dividends early on.
"He's doing a great job. You know, playing off the ball," Redick said. "We're trying to set off ball screens for him. Other guys... I think some of that workload from bringing the ball up against pressure every single possession ... it's very intentional."
The Kings tried various defensive schemes to slow Dončić. Kings head coach Doug Christie added a 2-2-1 full court defense that falls back into a zone in the halfcourt.
"Players like Luka have such abilities to play so many different ways that you have to give looks that constantly keep them guessing," Christie said.
"This is one best players in the world and Luka is special," he added. "You're not gonna lock him down and stop him, but you have to have the ability to frustrate him, force him into shots that we consider good shots, which are above the break threes that are contested, middy's that are contested, and live with it. But what you don't want to do is put him on free throw line."
Dončić's much-improved defense also deserves some attention. He's averaging 0.7 blocks and 1.9 steals per game early in the 2026-27 season. He's particularly been better at closing out on shots, defending ballhandlers on the drive and challenging them inside the paint.
Dončić leads the league so far in defense inside the arc, holding opponents to 21.9 percent 2-point field goal shooting, which is lower than players like Miles Bridges, LeBron James, Donovan Clingan, Ronald Holland, Victor Wembanyama and Ausar Thompson.
It's looks like the 2026-27 season could be Dončić's revenge tour with how well he's played on both sides. Through the first month of the season, he's an early favorite for MVP.
Late in the third quarter of the Lakers’ eventual 116-103 win over the Kings, a loose ball that came after Jarred Vanderbilt blocked Malik Monk’s 10-foot floater attempt dribbled out of bounds into the hands of a fan sitting baseline near the Lakers’ bench.
While multiple Lakers players and the nearest game official pointed in the opposite direction to signal it was going to be the Lakers’ possession, the male fan in a black jacket over a black t-shirt shirt and jeans threw a two-handed pass at referee Chelisa Painter.
The fan goes to chest-pass the ball to the referee. @khobi_price/X
No physical harm was done, with Painter bouncing the ball toward the ground, while Dončić looked and pointed at the fan, appearing to say, “what are you doing?”
Another fan at the arena took video of Dončić appearing to say, “What is wrong with you, man?” after the incident.
Luka Doncic looks toward the fan with bewilderment. @khobi_price/XThe fan is escorted from his esat. @khobi_price/X
Arena security swiftly went to the fan and escorted him out of his seat with 2:35 left in the quarter before play resumed.
The Lakers would go on to win 116-103, improving to 7-2 on the young season. They sit atop the Pacific Division.
A second-quarter putback dunk and third-quarter chase-down block drew loud reactions from the MSG crowd.
New York Knicks Dalton Knecht reacts after scoring in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“He’s a scorer. He’s not just a shooter. A lot of people think he’s a shooter because he’s white,” Brown joked. “I said it for you, I hope I don’t get in trouble. He can go get it.”
The former Tennessee star fell out of favor with Los Angeles after being selected with the No. 17 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
After tallying 9.1 points across 19.2 minutes per game during 78 games in his rookie campaign, those numbers dripped to 4.2 points spanning 10.2 minutes per contest in his sophomore season.
He did not adjust well after losing playing time following the acquisition of Luka Doncic during the 2024-25 season, and a failed trade to the Hornets only complicated matters.
Knecht ultimately averaged 7.1 points and shot 36.8 percent from deep with the Lakers.
New York Knicks guard Dalton Knecht drives down the court as Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis defends on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in New York. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“The team changed. The needs changed, the fit changed,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said before the team moved on. “I think he got better as a player over the last two years. I think each guy has, particularly last year, each guy got plenty of opportunities with the amount of injuries we had.So, I just think coming into this year, we added a lot of wings, and he’s in a tough spot right now.”
In his Knicks’ debut Wednesday, Knecht hit four of his six shots and connected on two of four attempts from 3-point range.
Nov 4, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (15) controls the ball against Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) and guard Scoot Henderson (00) in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
When you’re going through it, it feels like absolutely nothing can go right. For every good thing that happens, two bad things seem to follow. In the context of basketball, where five players are supposed to operate as one cohesive unit, that kind of dysfunction becomes maddening to witness.
Wednesday night against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Suns weren’t taking baby steps forward. They were performing the old one step forward, two steps back routine, stumbling over their own feet while desperately trying to find some semblance of rhythm. And perhaps that’s what this season is ultimately going to be. One long, uncoordinated dance performed by a team that can’t seem to get its choreography straight.
A season ago, the Suns established an identity built around toughness, grit, and hustle. This version of the team is developing an entirely different identity, one defined by a perpetual inability to find its rhythm. When the bass finally starts hitting the right notes, the drummer loses the beat. When the lead guitarist finds a groove, the singer comes in wildly off-key. Everybody seems to know the song they’re supposed to be playing, yet somehow they’re all performing a different version of it. And good luck trying to dance to that mess.
One of the few bright spots early in the season has been the Suns’ bench. That second unit has provided energy, production, and occasional stability when the starters have struggled to find their footing. Against Portland, however, that bench completely disappeared.
Phoenix entered the game with legitimate concerns about its size, although the first half offered some encouraging signs. The Suns outrebounded the Trail Blazers 23-19 and were narrowly outscored in the paint, 28-24. There was enough there to suggest they might be able to survive their physical disadvantages. As the game progressed, however, that rebounding advantage dissipated into the dance floor fog, and the rout was underway.
The starting unit actually did a respectable job putting points on the board, combining for 94 points despite shooting 29.6% from beyond the arc. There were offensive contributions to build upon, even if the execution wasn’t always pretty.
The bench? If you see them, ask them to report to the scorer’s table. Through the first three quarters, Portland’s bench outscored Phoenix’s reserves 28-11. Seventeen points. That’s the difference between having a second unit that can sustain momentum and one that sends the entire operation careening into a ditch.
Therein lies the fundamental problem with these Suns. They cannot seem to fire on all cylinders at the same time. When the starters produce, the bench disappears. When the offense begins to find its footing, the defense forgets how to function. When one part of the team finally discovers the rhythm, another loses the beat entirely.
For one night, you’d love to see everybody playing the same song. Instead, we’re watching a band that desperately needs a rehearsal, a conductor, and perhaps a few lessons in basic rhythm. And the dance floor is getting awfully uncomfortable.
Bright Side Baller Standings
Miles Bridges takes down his first Bright Side Baller as a Sun after posting a 21-point, 6-rebound, 3-assist, 4-steal, 1-block stat line against the Warriors on Monday. He took down 72% of the vote, one of the most dominant wins early on this year.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 6 against the Trail Blazers. Here are your nominees:
Call it a learning experience. An education. School.
The Wizards entered last night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks having played the NBA’s easiest schedule so far. Their opponents had an average scoring differential of -9.83 per game. The Hawks — a middle-of-the-pack team missing their best player — were a step up.
The Wizards weren’t bad in this measuring stick kind of game, but they did get outplayed by a bit. Not every possession, but they got beat to the punch regularly throughout the contest — outshot, out-rebounded, out-competed.
Which is okay for an eighth game of the season after a three-year tank. The Wizards are trying to win this season, and against teams of similar talent level, they’ll need to up their level of compete. Games like this one could help them do that — if they seize the opportunity to learn what true NBA competition requires.
The chief area in need of some attention is ending possessions when they get the other team to miss a shot. They entered the game ranked 26th in defensive rebounding percentage and gave up 19 offensive rebounds to a tiny team with two guys 6-9 or taller, one of whom (Asa Newell) hyperextended a toe and missed the second half.
The Wizards get a second crack at the Hawks Friday night in their second NBA Cup game. If Washington wants to contend for something other than the bottom of the play-in this season, they’ll need to figure out a way to clean up the defensive boards — at least to some degree. It’d be great if they could force some opponent turnovers too (they’re 27th in defensive turnover rate). But first things first — defense in the NBA is mostly about making the other team miss and then getting the rebound. That’s where the focus should be.
From the Notebook
Bilal Coulibaly doesn’t look to be an offensive threat, which ultimately undermines his defensive value because he’s a self-check. Chase Hughes and the Monumental broadcast team tried to turn it into a positive (the segment about how trying to win slots young players into their proper roles and now Coulibaly doesn’t have to force anything), but…it’s basically nonsense. Coulibaly doesn’t have to be an alpha scorer, but he does need to be able to take an open three, attack a closeout, or drive competently a few times a game.
An example — in the first quarter, Trae Young passed to Coulibaly — defended by the much smaller and less athletic CJ McCollum — in the dunker spot. Coulibaly gave zero thought to attacking. He just passed it back out to Young. The possession stalled, Young passed it back to Coulibaly at the three-point line, and McCollum stripped him. The lack of aggression converted a clear offensive advantage into a turnover instead of a good shot.
Later in the first quarter, Coulibaly provided a counter-example — he drove right, got a paint touch, collapsed the defense, and kicked it out to Alex Sarr up top. Sarr missed the wide open three, but the point here is the excellent shot created by Coulibaly attacking. Reminder: last season, opposing defenders had trouble staying in front of Coulibaly when he decided to drive, even when they gave him space and dared him to shoot.
The Monumental broadcast never ceases to amuse. At the end of the first half, Chris Miller raved about the Wizards closing on a 9-0 run. It was indeed nice. Worth mention: they still trailed by seven.
Kyshawn George turned in a pretty good game — 25 points on 10-14 shooting along with four rebounds and seven assists. That’s the good stuff. He also committed four turnovers and four fouls. I want to believe in him, but he’s gotta cut out some of the negatives if he’s going to help drive winning.
Anthony Davis scored 26 points on 12-19 shooting, had 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks. Of note: zero turnovers, zero fouls.
Four Factors
Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).
The four factors are measured by:
eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)
OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)
TOV% (turnover percentage — turnovers divided by possessions)
FTM/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)
FOUR FACTORS
HAWKS
WIZARDS
LGAVG
eFG%
54.0%
51.1%
53.3%
OREB%
37.3%
19.1%
27.4%
TOV%
15.0%
12.0%
13.9%
FTM/FGA
0.109
0.170
0.221
PACE
100
99.6
ORTG
120
105
113.2
Stats & Metrics
PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).
PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.
POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.
ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.
USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%. Median last season was 17.7%.
ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.
+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.
Players are sorted by total production in the game.
