Category: Basketball

As much as things change, they stay the same. The Cleveland Cavaliers opened the new season with a performance that was eerily similar (and equally as deflating) to their Game 1 loss to the New York Knicks in May.

Let’s unpack this.

As always, grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.

Player of the game

Mario Hezonja

10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals

If there is a single thing I can leave this game feeling encouraged about — it was Mario Hezonja.

Hezonja looks like he belongs. His added strength allows him to be a mismatch-beater in the post, putting Philly into a bind anytime they switched a smaller player onto him. Hezonja is a skilled finisher and a crafty playmaker. This makes him a great option to have on their bench.

Mario Hezonja with a pick six!

His first stint back in the NBA has been great pic.twitter.com/60H3zi6ubw

— Tony Pesta (@Tony_Pesta) October 22, 2026

Defensively, Hezonja kept up with Philly’s pace (until the wheels came off around him). His isolation defense on Jaylen Brown was a highlight. So was this pick-six.

He also had a pair of surgical post-ups to end the third quarter that gave me life.

Grade: B+

Passed the Class

Donovan Mitchell

32 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 turnovers

There was a lot to like about Mitchell’s first half. He scored 22 points and only missed two shots. His dynamic scoring gave Cleveland a massive lead that should have been enough to coast to victory.

It wasn’t. And Mitchell’s turnovers (5) didn’t help the Cavs hold on as the lead was slipping.

Still, I think Mitchell is the only other player who did enough to keep a passing grade. I’m not saying he passed with flying colors — but an efficient 32 points and 10 rebounds is hard to knock. I don’t think he was the most guilty party in this meltdown.

Grade: C+

Missed the mark

Peyton Watson

8 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 5 turnovers

This was not a good showing for Watson. The biggest concern you could have had (his effect on the floor spacing) was a factor right away.

Philly began ignoring Watson in the second half. Leaving him open and packing the paint. He responded by clanking an open three-pointer and barreling into traffic. Watson shot 0-3 from downtown and had 5 turnovers.

We can see where Watson fits defensively, and it’s beautiful. But they’ll need much more from him offensively to justify this.

Grade: F

Jarrett Allen

14 points, 7 rebounds

Allen was electric to start this game. His 14 points in the first half felt massive as the 76ers simply couldn’t contain him.

It turns out, the Cavs would help Philly turn the tide in that regard.

Allen didn’t score in the second half. He only attempted one shot.

Much of this came from the aforementioned floor-spacing issues. You can’t pass the ball into the paint if there are five bodies there.

Still, how many times have the Cavs soared to a massive lead by riding the backs of their bigs, only to ignore them down the stretch?

I don’t get paid to solve the problem… but I can confidently say the Cavs need to figure this out!

Grade: D+

Evan Mobley

18 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists

I could repeat almost everything I said about Allen here.

Mobley was fantastic in the first half, particularly in the second quarter when his outside shot made it feel pointless for the Sixers to even try.

But those results were diminishing, and Mobley struggled to hit perimeter shots and create a bucket when given a runway. I’m placing this more on Mobley than anyone else. He has to find a way to avoid scenarios like this if the Cavs are going to be taken as serious threats.

Grade: F

James Harden

16 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 turnovers

Harden was playing fast and loose for most of the night. There was a sequence in the first half where he turned it over on consecutive possessions, topping it off with an airball on the third.

He was far from their biggest problem. In fact, his shot-making gave them a fighting chance in the final minutes. But still, your starting point guard can’t have more turnovers than made field goals if you want to win a game.

Grade: D+

LeBron James is living up to the hype with his new team.

In his debut in the City of Brotherly Love as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, the NBA's all-time leading scorer led a 29-point comeback to boost his team to a 114-106 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Philadelphia went on a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter Thursday at Xfinity Mobile Arena, powered by three straight buckets from Jaylen Brown. The 76ers went up by as many as nine points with 4:06 left in the game.

In the final minute, Tyrese Maxey and Brown each had a basket to secure the win. Maxey led the team with 32 points, six assists and three rebounds. Joel Embiid added 24 points and seven rebounds while Brown had 21 points and eight boards.

James had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds to go with five assists and three steals.

Donavan Mitchell led Cleveland with a double-double of his own (32 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals). Mitchell fouled James in the third quarter during a rebound attempt where James accidentally elbowed his teammate VJ Edgecombe, giving Edgecombe a bloody nose.

Also for the Cavaliers, Evan Mobley contributed 18 points and eight rebounds while James Harden added 16 points, three rebounds and five assists. Harden was greeted by boos at tipoff in his return to Philadelphia, where he played from 2021 to 2023.

The 76ers were down by as many as 29 points in the first half (69-40) and went into the halftime break down 69-45.

Per ESPN, the comeback is the largest James has been a part of in his record 24 NBA seasons. Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press adds that it is the biggest comeback for the 76ers and blown lead for the Cavaliers in the play-by-play era, which started in 1996. Teams across the NBA had won 466 straight regular season games in which they were leading by 29 points, Reynolds added. The New York Knicks came back from a 29-point deficit in Game 4 of the NBA Finals this summer en route to their first championship in 53 years.

The 76ers' win comes after they beat the Knicks 106-100 in Madison Square Garden after their ring ceremony on the NBA's opening night.

The comeback was another chapter in James' career against his hometown team, which he was drafted by and won the 2016 NBA Finals with.

James joined the 76ers this offseason after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. Brown is also a newcomer and joined the team in a blockbuster deal with the Boston Celtics.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James' Philadelphia debut ends with historic comeback for the King, 76ers

It was a tale of two halves…

The Cleveland Cavaliers nearly kicked the 2026-27 season off with a bang, sending a first-half message straight to the King with a 29-point lead.

Then the second half happened.

Everything the Cavs did right in the first went out the window. They had begun the game forcing 15 turnovers. Now they were the ones being stripped and taken the other way. Their presence in the paint dissipated as the Sixers took full control.

A few factors spun this the wrong way for Cleveland.

Those 15 turnovers from Philly in the first half amounted to nothing. The Sixers only turned it over once in the second half — and finished with fewer turnovers than the Cavaliers. Philly’s speed in transition was enough to narrow the gap almost immediately.

On offense, the Cavs faced a shrunk floor as Joel Embiid was moved into the paint to play free safety. He no longer worried about Evan Mobley or Peyton Watson from downtown. Those are shots the Sixers were willing to concede. In effect, the paint was now swarmed with length and athleticism to make life difficult for the Cavs.

It’s hard to feed the bigs when the paint is packed. Cleveland’s frontcourt combined for 29 points in the first half. They only scored 3 points in the second. That’s a story we’ve heard too many times with this team.

Bad turned to worse, and the Cavs found themselves on the wrong end of a massive comeback.

I’ll leave you with one positive.

Mario Hezonja had a triumphant return to the NBA despite the final score. He showed his growth by attacking a mismatch in the post before taking a steal and going coast-to-coast for a slam. Hezonja also held up defensively and steadied the ship momentarily with his post-scoring.

The Cavs can at least find solace in knowing they have a legit talent in Hezonja.

This team might just have some juice.

The Sixers erased a 29-point deficit to win their home opener 114-106 over the Cleveland Cavaliers Thursday night.

Tyrese Maxey put together the most complete game, leading the Sixers with 32 points with six assists. Joel Embiid quietly came alive, putting up 24 points and seven rebounds.

LeBron James had a very similar game to his Sixers debut, finishing with 17 points on 13 shots along with 10 rebounds and five assists. Jaylen Brown didn’t find his footing until the fourth quarter, but hit some big late baskets to finish with 21 points and eight rebounds. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 32.

Dean Wade, out again with an ankle injury, is still yet to make his Sixers debut despite coming into the night questionable.

Here are some thoughts at the buzzer.

First Quarter

• Lost in all the excitement for the night was the fact that this was Embiid’s first time playing against James Harden since they were teammates over three years ago now. Whether the crowd was totally aware of that or not, Harden got a healthy amount of boos during player introductions as well as when the ball was in his hands.
• LeBron got the crowd amped early, knocking down a three on his first shot of the night before hitting a cutting Edgecombe with a slick bounce pass. After a couple of baskets inside from Jarrett Allen, Embiid backed him down in the post for his first points of the game. There were still some choppy moments offensively with five turnovers in as many minutes. That included fumbling away a fast break opportunity and a five-second call trying to inbound the ball.

Savvy bounce pass from LeBron to a cutting VJ Edgecombe pic.twitter.com/7mtIhOPd3l

— Drew Peltzman (@dapeltz13) October 22, 2026

• Anfernee Simons and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were once again the first subs of the night for Maxey and Brown. Simons had his first jumper attempt of the night swatted by Peyton Watson. It was a short stagger as Maxey and Brown checked back in a minute later while LeBron, Embiid and Edgecombe went to the bench.
• The Sixers’ offense stagnated, going scoreless for nearly three minutes and the Cavs were able to get out to a double-digit lead. Brown went to the basket to try to end it but his contested layup was no good, but Adem Bona was able to time up this rebound and put it back.
• As they’ve been able to for a couple seasons now, Cleveland did a really good job preventing the Sixers from getting into the paint in the quarter. Brown settled for a couple contested jumpers before finally getting on the board with a layup 11 minutes into the game. Unfortunately for the Sixers, that was sandwiched between two more turnovers. Mitchell hit a nasty stepback three at the buzzer to give the Cavs a 17-point lead after the first.

Second Quarter

• Brown looked to have a drive that would get him in rhythm, but his forearm got called for an offensive foul. It’s so unfair they waited until he wasn’t on the Celtics to make that a point of emphasis. On the next possession he sailed a pass intended for KCP, drawing this team’s first rain of boos from their home fans.
• Similar to the Knicks game, Nick Nurse brought Jabari Walker in after a rough start from Bona, but against a team this tall, he brought Embiid back on the court with him. Embiid backed down Mobley for a layup and Walker grabbed a putback layup, but the struggling Sixers were unable to give the Cavs any resistance. Mitchell seemed to be getting by defenders with ease while they didn’t have a physical match for Evan Mobley.
• It didn’t seem like the Sixers were prepared for or adjusted to how aggressive Cleveland was defending the perimeter. By the time they had gotten into an action the Cavs had sent two guys wherever the ball was going. It looked so hard for them to get easy baskets and that reflected in their poor field goal percentage for the half.
• Cleveland’s offense didn’t allow the Sixers many transition opportunities, but the Sixers threw away the few ones they did get. There’s been plenty of mistimed passes on fast breaks so far that look like guys figuring each other out. There were also plenty of Sixers passes in the first half that were just trying to cross the court over too many defenders. The Sixers turned it over 15 times in the first half, more than any half from last season. Maxey, the only Sixer to play remotely well in the half, kicked to Embiid for a corner three that cut the Cavs led to 24 at the half.

Third Quarter

• The second half started in a very similar fashion — this time it was Brown knocking down the corner triple assisted by Maxey. They ran quickly off the ensuing Cavs’ miss, allowing LeBron to find a cutting Edgecombe under the basket for an and-1. Maxey closed a strong defensive possession with a steal and hit James for another transition layup, drawing a foul and prompting a timeout from Kenny Atkinson 51 seconds into the third.

Maxey steal ➡️ LeBron and-1 😤

76ers fighting back from a big deficit at home on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/cxK6A8cRrw

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 23, 2026

• LeBron made the free throw and the Sixers got another stop coming out of the timeout. That led to Embiid sealing Allen for another post bucket. Maxey and Brown turned the ball over trying to get to the hoop on consecutive possessions, helping the Cavs stop the bleeding. Brown made up for that with a whirling dervish of a layup followed by another LeBron transition basket. They were still down 13, but the building had come to life.
• It was a similar recipe to opening night that helped the Sixers get turnovers: get smaller with their big matchups to let Embiid roam off Watson. Fittingly, it was a Watson missed three that allowed the Sixers to once again push the ball up the floor to a Maxey three that finally cut the lead under double digits and got Atkinson to call another timeout.

a clutch triple from Rese 🤧

20 PTS from #0 so far tonight. pic.twitter.com/kyuxB9nFcZ

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 23, 2026

• Embiid missing two at the line halted things a bit, but Allen missed two on the next trip down the floor to give everyone chicken. LeBron got fouled in the process of trying to grab that rebound, but he also inadvertently hit Edgecombe in the head on the way up. Edgecombe used the infectious disease control timeout to make sure the crowd stayed hype.
• Nurse obviously rode the starters a lot longer into the third as the run continued, but they had to take Embiid out of the gate at some point, which meant more Bona minutes. He picked up a goaltend and a foul, but also blocked a shot that sprung all the way out for Maxey to grab it for a transition layup. It was at least a better shift than his first. Cleveland banked in a couple baskets to push their lead back up to eight to close the quarter.

Fourth Quarter

• Embiid and James checked back in to start the quarter, signaling another heavy workload for the starters. They started the fourth well, with KCP knocking the inbounds pass off a Cav to force a turnover, leading to a Maxey basket. Cleveland responded with a bucket, but Embiid was able to kick to an open KCP for a three and LeBron got to the line. After missing a three that would have tied it, LeBron missed a gamble on a backcourt steal, allowing Harden to walk into an open three to push the lead back to six.
• Coming out of the timeout, Embiid drew an and-1 from a post up. He got another bucket in the post getting Harden switched onto him, then Maxey hit him with a pocket pass for a jumper that gave the Sixers their first lead of the night. Nurse used the dead ball stoppage to get Bona in there to give Embiid a quick breather.
• This was a heated game, but it was still surprising to see Maxey and Harden push and shove each other around a little bit. The two have spoken glowingly about each other since no longer being teammates, but they got heated at each other in this one.
• Something the Sixers haven’t really seen so far in the regular season is Brown taking over for stretches of a time, but he did just that once Embiid checked out of the game. He gave them three straight baskets to push the lead to seven with the big fella on the bench.

in case you forgot, JAYLEN BROWN IS A 76ER. pic.twitter.com/vBcF5fSkHu

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) October 23, 2026

• Coming out of the timeout, Brown continued the intensity, ripping the ball away from Allen enough to force a jump ball. The Cavs won it, but Mitchell’s three went in and out. An errant pass on their next possession allowed Maxey to run out for a fast break layup. The Cavs got that basket back before the Sixers called timeout to bring Embiid and James back into the game with three and a half to go.
• A great challenge by Nurse late, even if Embiid and James talked him into it, to get Embiid’s fifth foul taken off the board with just over three minutes left. The Sixers next possession ended with a great pass from LeBron to Edgecombe for three, but he missed as the jumper is the one thing Edgecombe has struggled with so far this year. Harden was able to get downhill and draw a foul on the following possession to make it a four-point game.
• Edgecombe made a great offensive rebound on the following possession and might have been fouled on his unsuccessful putback, but didn’t get the call. Mitchell got down the floor quick and got to the line as well, but missed the pair, upgrading everyone’s chicken. Maxey drove for a floater to push it back to six. Brown poked the ball loose from Harden, the ball spun out to LeBron who got it up the floor for a fast break eventually finished by Brown himself, putting the finishing touches on an incredible comeback.

The Dallas Mavericks will try to notch their first win of the season as they travel to Indianapolis to take on the Indiana Pacers Friday night. Opening night didn’t go the Mavericks’ way, as they lost to the Rockets in Houston Wednesday night. The Pacers, meanwhile, opened the season with a win against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Dallas faces a gauntlet in the first month of the season, which could make for a rough record early on. They have the second-strongest schedule in the first month of the season based on winning percentages from last season. It’s jumping straight in the deep end for new head coach Dusty May.

Meanwhile, this will be Tyrese Haliburton’s first non-exhibition game back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse since June 19, 2025 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Dallas should expect him to be focused and itching to have a great game back in front of the Indiana fans.

Here are three things to think about before the game:

Dusty May’s rotations

It’s a long season, and mid-October is super early, but May had some curious rotations in the first half of the Rockets game. May played 10 players in the first quarter alone in game one, and the combinations he used seemed to indicate he was feeling out which groups worked together. There’s nothing particularly wrong with that; again, it’s early. But personally, I’d prefer some outline of a rotation be worked out in the preseason, and then adjust from there.

This season has pretty low stakes, and May probably has some method to the rotation madness. My concern is also probably a reaction to former head coach Jason Kidd using the first two months of the season to play mad scientist with the lineups instead of finding something consistent. But it’s something worth keeping an eye on.

Mavericks have to get back on defense

The Pacers came into this season ready to run. Indiana outscored New Orleans 27-10 on fastbreak points on Wednesday. The Mavericks were outscored 29-17 by the Rockets. Dallas will need to focus on getting back on defense if they don’t want to be torched by Indiana.

One thing Dallas can do to cut down the fastbreak points allowed is by taking better care of the ball. The Mavericks turned the ball over 21 times against the Rockets, which led to 32 points allowed off turnovers. If they’re careless with the rock against the Pacers, it could produce live ball turnovers which will lead to easy fastbreak points.

Side-eye the shooting

Coming into the season, everyone expected the Mavericks to struggle to shoot the ball. The first game of the season didn’t do anything to assuage those doubts. Dallas shot 11-of-37 from behind the arc, and 17-of-26 from the charity stripe. It’s simplistic, but they have to get better outside shooting if they want to be competitive this season. They don’t have to be a great shooting team. That’s probably expecting too much from their personnel. But they do need to be around league average if they want to push to the higher range of their season’s success. One game isn’t enough of a sample size to be truly concerned, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.

How to watch

The game tips off at 6 p.m. CDT on KFAA-TV Channel 29, Mavs TV, and NBA League Pass.

The Philadelphia 76ers are surging in the second half of their matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

With 3:59 on the clock in the third quarter, LeBron James leaped up for a rebound after Jarrett Allen missed a free throw and smacked his teammate, VJ Edgecombe, in the nose with his elbow. Edgecombe immediately grabbed his face and blood dripped onto his hand.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope helped direct Edgecombe to the sideline, where a trainer took a white towel and held it up to Edgecombe's nose. Edgecombe stood patiently with his hands on his hips as the trainer continued to treat him. He walked back onto the court with a swab of cotton shoved up his right nostril and clapped as the crowd welcomed him back.

VJ Edgecombe Just Took An Elbow From LeBron James To The Nose.

Damn 💀💀 pic.twitter.com/53k5o0K375

— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) October 23, 2026

LeBron gave VJ a bloody nose 🤕

VJ was okay 😮 pic.twitter.com/hiXFU0Tei8

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 23, 2026

James was fouled on the play by Donovan Mitchell and made both free throws to cut down the 76ers' deficit to 80-77. Philadelphia was down by as many as 29 points in the first half.

The game was another chapter in James' career against his hometown team, which he was drafted by and won the 2016 NBA Finals with.

At tipoff, James Harden was booed in his return to the City of Brotherly Love.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James gives 76ers teammate VJ Edgecombe bloody nose via accidental elbow

Josh Hart spent five years going at it with Mitchell Robinson in practice. Now, they’re about to do it in a real game, on opposing teams.

Friday night against the Celtics in Boston will be the first time the Knicks face Robinson since he left in free agency.

He signed a three-year, $47.4 million deal — a number the Knicks couldn’t come close to matching under the edict from owner James Dolan to stay under the second apron — to be a new addition to Boston’s starting lineup.

“It’s gonna be the same thing,” Hart said after Knicks practice Thursday. “We’re still gonna be battling for rebounds.”

Hart, who knows the Celtics like to have their center guard the opposing team’s worst shooter — a treatment he’s become accustomed to — is particularly excited for one facet of the matchup.

“They crossmatch a lot, so I’m sure he’ll be guarding me,” Hart said. “When I make a couple, I’m gonna let him know.”

Jokes aside, it will be a special moment for the Knicks to see Robinson, who had been the longest-tenured Knick on their championship roster, having spent the first eight years of his career with the organization.

“It’s bittersweet,” Karl-Anthony Towns said Thursday, “because you love Mitch. We’ve done so much historical things together here. To not see him in a Knicks jersey anymore, obviously, for all of us, we’re a family unit. You guys are around us every day; you know how much we care about each other, each other’s families, and to not be able to have him with us on this journey after that amazing journey we went through is obviously bittersweet. But it’s gonna be amazing to be able to see our brother, to hug him, be able to show him some love and to obviously compete playing basketball, like we love to do.”

Robinson’s impact extended off the court for the Knicks. He was one of the biggest personalities in the locker room.

“It’s definitely different [without him],” Hart said. “Obviously, that’s someone who’s had a big presence here, big presence in the locker room. It’s different. No one else listens to country [music] but me, so that’s tough in the weight room. The lack of his presence is obviously felt a little bit. That’s why it’s a new team.”

For his own part, Robinson did not exactly wax poetic about facing the Knicks.

“It doesn’t matter that I’m playing my former team,” Robinson said. “It’s more so trying to bounce back from what happened two nights ago. At the end of the day, it’s basketball; it’s a business. You gotta play the team just like you play any other team.”

Robinson struggled in the Celtics’ season-opening loss to the Pistons on Tuesday, recording four points and three rebounds in 18 minutes.

“I played like ass,” Robinson said. “It’s kind of just straightforward.”

He was too fed up with his performance to watch the Knicks’ championship ceremony.

“I was still stuck in my head from last game,” Robinson said. “I’m proud of those guys, obviously; I was a part of it. I just didn’t really want to watch it.”

Robinson is expected to receive his ring, accompanied by a tribute video, when he returns to MSG for the Knicks-Celtics game on March 14.

The Knicks certainly know better than anyone else what to expect from Robinson, with his offensive rebounding prowess and ability to guard all positions on the court. The same goes, of course, for his brutal free-throw shooting, which became a recurring storyline in recent years. Opposing teams, particularly in the playoffs, often utilized Hack-a-Mitch to exploit his weakness.

Will the Knicks now flip the script and use it on him?

“Maybe,” head coach Mike Brown said. “I think that’s more, just me personally, I’ve always leaned more to do that come playoff time or later in the [regular] season where you’re really trying to game plan and get certain games. Right now, I want to see if we can defend these guys with what we do staple-wise, with what our foundation is.”

It will be weird for Knicks fans to root against Robinson after all the ups and, for most of the beginning of his career, downs he went through with the team.

“At the end of the day,” Brown said, “we want to kick his ass like he probably wants to kick ours.”

LeBron James was as still as a statue during the national anthem before Thursday’s game between the 76ers and Cavaliers.

Video from the Philadelphia Inquirer showed James straight-faced with his arms behind his back while the anthem played at Wells Fargo Arena, a stark contrast to his movements before Philadelphia’s season-opener against the Knicks.

President Donald Trump posted a video on his Truth Social platform on Thursday criticizing Sixers forward LeBron James for pregame stretching during the national anthem before Tuesday’s Sixers-Knicks season opener.

This was LeBron before tonight's game in Philly. pic.twitter.com/QY99bbWhej

— Philadelphia Inquirer Sports (@phillysport) October 22, 2026

During the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” on Tuesday, video spread on social media of James swinging his arms and mimicking shooting motions.

President Donald Trump caught wind of the viral video and slammed the 22-time All-Star’s antics, saying that he should apologize for disrespecting the United States.

“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country!” Trump said in a scathing post on Truth Social Thursday afternoon. “I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE.

“LeBron James should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag, and all that our Country stands for!”

James, 41, has yet to publicly comment on Trump’s comments or why he was performing different movements during the national anthem.

The situation also comes while the WNBA is facing heat for players on the Dream and Valkyries jogging off the court before the anthem during the Finals, with Vice President JD Vance calling the action “disgraceful.”

“I think that you should not express some criticism of a public policy of a given politician by disrespecting the country writ large,” Vance said during an interview on the “Arroyo Grande” podcast Wednesday. “I mean, those women who play for the WNBA, think of the public safety, think of the incredible wealth and privilege, the amazing jobs that they have.”

Both teams, however, say that it’s a part of their routine before the game, claiming that they have left the court for the anthem all season.

“We’ve been doing that,” Valkyries guard Veronica Burton told reporters before Game 2. “That’s just our pregame routine.

“We’ve been doing that since last year.”

The Lakers’ backcourt is about to get healthier.

Backup guard Collin Sexton was taken off of the team’s injury report and is expected to be available for Friday’s home game against the Clippers after dealing with a strained right soleus (calf). 

Sexton sat out of Wednesday’s season-opening win over the Warriors and the entire preseason with the injury.

He was a full participant in practice for the first time on Monday, but sat out against the Warriors.

“No setback, no setback,” coach JJ Redick said Wednesday. “Collaborative decision with performance, everyone involved. I always say this, with soft tissue injuries, the athlete has to have confidence and full confidence.”

Sexton’s debut will give the Lakers another reliable ball-handler behind superstar guard Luka Doncic and star guard Austin Reaves.

With the rotation being shortened, Quentin Grimes was used as a reserve on Wednesday and last Friday’s preseason finale loss to the Nuggets to give the Lakers another backcourt ball-handler off the bench.

The 6-foot-3 guard, who the Lakers signed to a two-year, $19.2 million contract in July, has career averages of 18.3 points and 3.6 assists.

“I definitely feel like when I’m watching the games, I’m more eager to get out there,” Sexton said earlier in the week. “I’m super excited to get out there, and I can see where I can fit in pretty easily. Even just on the defensive side, bringing that energy, bringing that juice and trying to disrupt. Not always turning the ball over and get someone to turn it over for just disrupt and bring the clock down.

“And then offensively, getting to the paint. That’s something that I’ve done really well in my career. And then spacing, making sure I’m spacing for the guys like Luka, AR, even just when Walker [Kessler] gets in the pocket, being ready to shoot on the back side. So, just finding ways that I can help the team, when I’m watching the game, and even just watching, I watched a few of the games after that just to see as well.”

More encouraging news came on the injury report with Jake LaRavia being listed as questionable because of a sprained right ankle he suffered during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s win.

Karl-Anthony Towns provided a reminder of one of comedy’s greatest lessons. 

During Jalen Brunson’s “Saturday Night Live” monologue, Towns asked him, “Can you foul out of ‘SNL?’” It poked fun at last season’s constant issue of getting into foul trouble. 

“I feel like all jokes,” Towns said after Knicks practice Thursday, “have some truth to [them], right?” 

This joke once again has become a Knicks reality. 

Towns got into early foul trouble during the season-opening 106-100 loss to the 76ers on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. It limited him to just 23 minutes — and only six in the first half. 

It was a recurring flaw last season. Towns, due to foul trouble, only played 23 minutes and had just two points in the Knicks’ championship-clinching win in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. 

Most maddening is that often Towns’ fouls aren’t preventing layups or making an opponent earn it at the line. He is picking up cheap, avoidable ones on the offensive end. 

Head coach Mike Brown believes he’s too good to be doing that. 

“This is known because we talk about it, and he got better [last season], to his credit,” Brown said Thursday. “He got better as the year went along. This is a new year, new team, new challenges, but I don’t want him to take 10 steps backwards. But if he takes a couple steps backward, and we gotta figure it out, I’m OK with it. 

“And where I’m going with it is, the 3-pointer that he shot with [Tyrese] Maxey closing out to him, he did [commit a foul]. He stuck his leg out, trying to [draw a foul]. He’s a good enough player to where he doesn’t need to look for and/or try to draw the foul; just make the basket. Some guys say, you’re like, ‘Hey man, try to get fouled here when you’re doing it.’ No, no, no, KAT, you’re a freaking perennial All-Star. So just make the bucket, and if he happens to foul you, then great.” 

Andre Drummond filled in admirably in the first half Tuesday with Towns forced to the bench.

But that expanded workload is not ideal for the 33-year-old Drummond, who Brown said looked fatigued in the second half. 

Towns’ foul woes are a big reason the depth behind him at center was such a talking point this past offseason. 

“Obviously, I never want to put my team in that kind of position,” Towns said. “So I have to do a better job, not only in the regular season but in the postseason, to make sure I’m available for my team.”

James Harden got a very Philly welcome in his first game of the 2026-27 NBA season.

Philadelphia 76ers fans booed loudly at tipoff on Thursday, Oct. 22 when the 11-time All-Star started the game with the Cleveland Cavaliers. His teammate, Jarrett Allen, tipped the ball back to Harden and Harden dribbled the ball forward for the first possession of the game as the jeers rained down from the rafters at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

pic.twitter.com/c0saxwnSV4

— ART OF THE LEAGU3 (@highlightsofart) October 22, 2026

He was booed again when he took his place at the free throw line at the 9:19 mark after he was fouled by VJ Edgecombe. Harden missed the first free throw, but made the second to make the score 7-5 for the Cavaliers.

At the end of the first quarter, Cleveland was up 35-18.

Harden played for the 76ers for two seasons from 2021 to 2023. He had a public feud with former president of basketball operations Daryl Morey after the front office shut down his request to be traded.

Harden joined the Cavaliers last year after a stint with the Los Angeles Clippers. This offseason, he signed a three-year, $97 million extension to stay in Cleveland.

This is the 76ers' second game of the season. They beat the defending champion New York Knicks 106-100 in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Oct. 20. It was LeBron James' debut with Philadelphia.

Thursday's game was another chapter in James' career against his hometown team, which he was drafted by and won the 2016 NBA Finals with.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: James Harden booed in return to Philadelphia with Cavaliers

The Houston Rockets opened their 2026-27 campaign against a familiar foe on Wednesday. The Rockets welcomed the Dallas Mavericks to Toyota Center to open the season after facing the same team twice in China to open the preseason. The Rockets split those two games, with both teams resting starters, so little can be taken from them.

Ime Udoka spoke to the media before the game and gave an update on Steven Adams, stating he was a game-time decision as he was dealing with a sore calf that first appeared after Tuesday’s practice. Udoka also stated to SB Nation that the double big lineup the Rockets have implemented the past two seasons will be more matchup-based this season, but that he still feels confident in that lineup and will use it throughout the season.

Adams was eventually ruled out right before game time, with the hope that he would return for either Friday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs or Sunday’s game vs. the Atlanta Hawks. The Rockets went with their preseason starting lineup as Fred VanVleet made his first start in over a year. The Rockets were hoping to get off to a fast start in Wednesday’s game as they kicked off a very important season.

Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks

The Rockets didn’t get off to the best start, falling behind 0-4 before making three straight baskets, including back-to-back 3-pointers from Alperen Sengun and Fred VanVleet. Both teams eventually found their footing as the lead went back and forth early. There were also early fireworks as Tari Eason shoved PJ Washington, which led to a flagrant-two foul and an ejection for Eason only three minutes into his 2026-27 season.

A couple of areas stuck out early in the game. Kevin Durant seemed to be able to get a lot of easier shots now that he doesn’t have to initiate so much of the offense. Also, the Rockets seem to get whatever shot they want in the first quarter.

The Rockets were able to pull away slightly at the end of the quarter as Durant took over late in the quarter, scoring 13 points in the first quarter. The Rockets shot 52 percent, scoring 32 points and leading 32-26 after one quarter.

Rockets started to break the game open in the second quarter as they continued to push the pace, led by Jabari Smith and Kevin Durant. The Rockets went up 17 points after a Smith dunk, which gave him a game-high 16 points. Rockets continue to apply pressure as the Mavericks start to cool off, but the Rockets continue their hot shooting. Rockets led by 32 points, 70-38, after one half of play

The second half was more of the same as the Rockets continued to dominate on both sides of the court. The Mavericks had a brief moment of hope as they cut the Rockets’ lead down to 17, but that is the closest they would get as the Rockets cruised in the fourth quarter winning 128-110 The Rockets were led by a couple of 30-point games from Jabari Smith and Kevin Durant. Alperen Sengun also finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Postgame

After the game as expected the Rockets were in a good mood as Ime Udoka, Fred VanVleet, Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith all spoke to the media. Udoka talked about the Rockets playing at a faster pace finishing with 29 fast break points something he has spoken on ofted leading up to the season.

The biggest story was the return of VanVleet after missing all of last season and everyone said how happy they were to have him back in the lineup. Durant especially spoke on how much of a calming force VanVleet is for the entire team.

Here KD talks about how it was being on the court with Fred for the first time.

“It was amazing just his calming force.”

Went on to say it makes his life easier. pic.twitter.com/1R78SUBBK7

— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) October 22, 2026

VanVleet finished with a game high 11 assist with zero turnovers which is the type of point guard play the Rockets missed all last season. However VanVleet also did well as he has his entire career as a screener especially with Alperen Sengun in the inverted pick and roll. SB Nation asked VanVleet about his chemistry with Sengun.

The Rockets ran a inverted pick and roll a few times tonight with Fred and AlP that led to points.

I asked Fred about the chemistry between him and Sengun.

“It really was natural from the first time we did it. Its some chemistry that yo have with players where it doesn't take… pic.twitter.com/733SegmCyd

— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) October 22, 2026

The Rockets had 32 assist in their win over the Mavericks and SB Nation asked Durant how much easier does it make it when the ball is moving around the court and everyone is touching the basketball.

The Rockets had 32 assists tonight and I asked KD how much easier does it make it on everyone when the ball is moving like that.

KD said that increasing their volume from 3 compared to last season helps. pic.twitter.com/cly1eYNwKY

— Lachard Binkley (@BinkleyHoops) October 22, 2026

Wednesday’s season open win was the Rockets’ first since their 2017-18 win over the defending champions, the Golden State Warriors, which was led, of course, by Stephen Curry and current Rocket Kevin Durant. The Rockets are back in action Friday as they travel to Austin to take on the San Antonio Spurs as they look to start the season 2-0.

The Knicks are among the teams interested in free agent forward Dalton Knecht, according to SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley, citing league sources familiar with his market.

Knecht, 25, was waived by the Los Angeles Lakers before the start of the 2026-27 NBA season.

The 17th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Knecht is eligible to sign a two-way deal.

Knecht appeared in just 54 games with the Lakers last season, averaging 4.2 points on 45.5 percent shooting (34.2 percent from three) with 1.4 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per game.

He saw much more time in his rookie campaign, with 78 appearances (16 starts) as he averaged 9.1 points on 46.1 percent from the floor (37.6 percent from three on 4.4 attempts) with 2.8 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game. But Knecht was out of Los Angeles' playoff rotation with just 22 career minutes over seven games.

New York currently has a full slate of two-way players (Tyler Nickel, Kevin McCullar Jr., and Jaden Akins), but still has a 15th spot on the roster available. James Wiseman beat out Bruce Brown for the 14th "final" spot, as both could not be kept due to the organization's salary cap considerations. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves have also expressed an interest in the forward, according to Marc Stein.

Before I get started, I know I gotta drop the health disclaimers

The Golden State Warriors walked into Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday without their starting small forward, their starting center, their starting shooting guard, and the backup behind him. Jimmy Butler is still rehabbing the ACL, Kristaps Porzingis is out with an injury that none of my buddies can explain, Brandin Podziemski’s back flared up, and Moses Moody is months away after patellar tendon repair. Steph Curry even played on a sprained right ankle.

But there was still plenty to glean from that opening game, and that 127-105 final provides some clues about what the Lakers are capable of. For most of the last decade, they were the franchise standing outside GSW’s party, pressing their face against the glass. Wednesday night felt like the first time they looked back through it at the Dubs, with a vengeance.

The big man Walker Kessler kicked in the door in his first game with the Lake Show, going 12-for-12 from the field for 26 points and nine rebounds in his Lakers debut. The only Laker with a cleaner night was Wilt Chamberlain going 14-for-14 in 1969. The highlight to take away from him last night was Luka lobbing it up and Kessler slamming it home with the Warriors spending the rest of the night watching the sequel and the director’s cut.

“Milk Chamberlain of the Snowtime Lakers” – Shaq

26 POINTS
100% SHOOTING
10 DUNKS
9 REBOUNDS pic.twitter.com/gVmFhe38yShttps://t.co/4XY7XPrsD9

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) October 22, 2026

Every time a Lakers guard turned the corner, the Warriors had to choose between stopping the ball and staying home on the big man. With Porzingis in street clothes there was no seven-footer back there to make that choice easier. Too often they got caught in between, and Kessler spent the night catching lobs like Randy Moss.

Then there’s Luka Doncic giving Yaxel Lendeborg a taste of professional basketball, combining shotmaking and foulbaiting to a degree that drove the rookie mad. Luka finished with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, was a plus-31 in 29 minutes. When a star player gets to eat popcorn for the final minutes of opening night, you got whooped.

It’d be a shame not to mention the impact from Luka’s backcourt mate Austin Reaves, who put up 23 points and six assists and went 10-for-10 from the line on just 11 field goal attempts. That’s what happens when a defense gets stretched two ways at once. The Warriors were sending help at Luka, Kessler’s rolls dragged the back line into the paint, and Reaves kept attacking with somebody’s hip half a step late. Reaves is the reason you can’t load up on Luka, and Kessler is the reason you can’t load up on Reaves.

NEW-LOOK LAKERS BIG 3 TONIGHT:

Luka Doncic:
28 POINTS – 8 REBOUNDS – 7 ASSISTS

Walker Kessler:
26 POINTS – 9 REBOUNDS – 100% FG (!!)

Austin Reaves:
23 POINTS – 4 REBOUNDS – 6 ASSISTS

WHAT’S STOPPING THEM FROM WINNING THE WEST? 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/PWL4VzJBg3

— Polymarket Hoops (@PolymarketHoops) October 22, 2026

The Lakers shot 57% percent and held Golden State to 8-of-36 from three. Steph scored 23 on a bad ankle, but the Lakers’s double-digit margin ballooned after three quarters, and the rest was waste management time. This was a statement game from a reimagined Lakers squad built around that aforementioned Big 3. For most of the GSW dynasty, the Lakers were the team the Warriors used as target practice. And although L.A. won the 2020 bubble title, GSW’s 2022 ring made it feel like a footnote. Yes, LeBron and AD bounced Golden State in the 2023 second round, but Denver swept them right after, and that era never climbed back to the top.

Now LeBron is in Philadelphia, and what L.A. built in his place looks younger and meaner. Luka is 27, Reaves is in his prime, and Kessler is the anchor they never had around Luka. And they’re rising right as Steph and Draymond stare at the back nine of their careers. Round two comes October 30 in an NBA Cup game, and I already know Lendeborg has that date circled. I just hope Steve Kerr has somebody circling Walker Kessler.

Two diehard Knicks fans have gone viral for reportedly naming their newborn after the team’s unforgettable championship run.

Yvonne Gonzalez-Bradford and Vance Bradford welcomed their first son, “Knickson Fyve Bradford,” on Aug. 8 after New York’s historic NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs this summer, the couple told Today this week.

The idea for the name came after the Bradfords opened the windows of their Long Island City high-rise apartment and heard elated revelers chanting “Knicks in five!”– after the team clinched their first title in 53 years, the outlet reported.

The next day, Bradford recalled his wife looking at him and asking, “What if we give our son a name for a champion? What about Knickson?”

Gonzalez-Bradford, who was 7 months pregnant at the time, later suggested Fyve as Knickson’s middle name.

“Five is also an indivisible number. So he’s our indivisible champion,” the mom said. “You can hear him cooing in the background right now.”

Bradford’s late mother, Sydell Johnson, was the scorekeeper for the team during their last championship in 1973. She passed away unexpectedly last year, making Knickson’s arrival all the more significant for the family.

“I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, Ma, you went up there and you sent us one,’” he said. “She sent down a Knicks championship!”

The little champion has since gone viral on Instagram, racking up hundreds of thousands of views and a repost from Spike Lee of pictures of him swaddled in Knicks gear with a plush basketball by his side.

“If he turns out to be a Celtics fan or a Sixers fan, again he’s still Knickson Bradford, who is in the boardroom,” the dad said.

“We wanted to have a very strong and firm name that would lead to a cool life. Knickson Fyve is definitely our motto. Knickson Fyve forever!”