Oct 16, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) dunks in the first quarter during a game against the Denver Nuggets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jon Endow-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In their final preseason tune-up, the Lakers played from behind for much of the night before falling to the Nuggets, 121-106.
Offensive shortcomings to open the game put LA behind the eight ball and forced them to dig out of a hole they never could get out of. They finished the night shooting 42.7% from the field with 14 turnovers, six of those coming in the first period.
LA did turn 14 Denver turnovers into 27 points and got 45 points of the bench, many of those coming from projected rotation players.
Ziaire Williams got off to an early strong start for LA with a layup and a team-leading four points. Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler combined for four points themselves. Denver hounded Luka Dončić, making him miss his first two shots.
At the 6:54 mark, the Lakers were down by nine.
Trevon Brazile and Jamal Murray both had six points for the Nuggets. Denver’s offense overwhelmed LA as they were on a 13-2 scoring run. Reaves and Luka answered the call, scoring seven points combined. Nikola Jokić took over, ending the half with 10 points.
At the end of the first, the purple and gold trailed by 14.
The offensive struggles is one of the many reasons it's less than ideal to have one game with the main rotation to work things out before the regular season.
Matisse Thybulle drained a triple to start the second period. Denver answered with four straight. The Lakers had eight turnovers in this half as they couldn’t find their offensive footing while also struggling defensively.
Kessler converted on two free throws for the team.
Jake LaRavia and Williams both knocked down triples, helping shave points off Denver’s lead. Los Angeles was down by single digits. Williams continued to have a stellar showing for the Lakers with 12 points. LA was on an 8-0 scoring run to make it a four-point game.
The purple and gold did a good job making it a game again, but their defense continued to be an issue. As a result, they were down by seven at halftime.
Luka did not play in the second half, though not due to injury. Cam Johnson drained a 3-pointer to start the third period for Denver. Quentin Grimes answered with a triple of his own. Murray added four points, helping keep momentum on Denver’s side.
The Lakers called a timeout, and out of the break, Thybulle converted on a floater down the lane.
Johnson committed a Flagrant 2 foul on Reaves and was ejected. Reaves converted both free throws, then drained a three to make it a five-point deficit.
The Nuggets responded by scoring five straight. Sandro Mamukelashvili started to heat up for Los Angeles, scoring eight points, including back-to-back triples.
Quentin Grimes drained a three as the quarter wound down. At the end of the third, it was a five-point game.
Lot of versatile skillsets with Mamu. Very impressive preseason for him.
Mamu connected on a 3-pointer to start the final frame for LA. Denver responded with four points. Los Angeles cut the deficit to three, but the Nuggets made it a nine-point affair. Marvin Bagley III was now up to nine points, putting in productive minutes for Denver.
At the 6:07 mark, the Lakers were down by 11.
Jaden Hardy gave himself a huge green light, draining two triples as he tried to help the team inch closer. Denver still had all the answers each time Los Angeles tried to mount a comeback.
Key Player Stats
Luka only played in the first half and finished with 15 points, four rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes. Reaves ended with 19 points, five rebounds and three assists. Kessler notched six points with six rebounds and four assists.
Williams had an impressive game with 14 points in 10 minutes after also not playing in the second half. Grimes scored 11 points. Mamu logged 15 points with eight rebounds and four assists.
Thybulle pitched in with seven points, five rebounds and two assists. Hardy had 13 points, mostly in garbage time.
The Lakers’ first game of the NBA season will be against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday at 7:00 PM PT.
The Golden State Warriors recently secured a foundational piece of their backcourt, signing third-year guard Brandin Podziemski to a fully guaranteed five-year, $110 million rookie-scale contract extension. The deal, which includes a mutual option for the final season, keeps the 23-year-old guard in the Bay Area through 2032.
Since being selected 19th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, Podziemski has quickly established himself as an essential hybrid guard for head coach Steve Kerr. Averaging 11.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across his first 220 career games, his versatile playmaking, fierce rebounding, and defensive grit made him an indispensable rotational anchor.
By locking down Podziemski before he could hit restricted free agency, the Warriors demonstrate clear trust in his development as a long-term core piece alongside the team’s veteran core.
SB Nation recently conducted a survey of Warriors fans and their opinion of the Podziemski extension. Here’s what they had to say:
What do you think of the Podziemski’s extension? Will it help the Warriors and their quest to obtain a playoff spot in the West? Head on over to https://sportsbook.fanduel.com/navigation/nba to test your luck.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 16: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Keyonte George #3 of the Utah Jazz during the first half of the preseason NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 16, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Suns closed out their preseason with a 119–116 loss to the Utah Jazz on Friday night. It was essentially a dress rehearsal, with the starters playing the first three quarters before the third unit took over in the fourth. Phoenix held a 95–90 lead heading into the final period.
Kudos to Jordan Ott, as he’s truly giving both Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro an opportunity to compete for the starting center position. While we’ve seen Ighodaro get the nod alongside the other four projected starters thus far this preseason, Friday night provided an opportunity for the second-year big man out of Duke to get his chance as Ighodaro was inactive.
Devin Booker finished with 16 points and six assists, while Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green added 18 points apiece. Khaman Maluach contributed seven points and 12 rebounds, including four on the offensive glass.
And for those following along with Malu-Watch, where we’re tracking his “restocks per 36” (rebounds + steals + blocks), Maluach posted an impressive 21.5 tonight. For perspective, his average last season was 15.0, while Victor Wembanyama averaged 19.2 in the same category.
It was our first look at the second overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Darryn Peterson out of Kansas, a player expected to develop into a promising shooting guard in the NBA. He played the entire game, finishing with 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting while adding six assists and six rebounds. Jaren Jackson Jr. struggled to stay on the floor due to foul trouble. Khaman Maluach was active on the interior and helped get Jackson into foul trouble early in the second half. Jackson ultimately finished with 17 points but managed only three rebounds.
The preseason is now complete.
Game Flow
First Half
Devin Booker started the night locked in, scoring six of the Suns’ first 11 points as he found his rhythm in the midrange, regardless of whether it was Darryn Peterson or Keyonte George guarding him. As for the three-ball that he’s been having a hard time finding? He’d go 1-of-4 in the first half.
The Suns came out playing aggressively, as we’ve come to expect. Playing against the Jazz, who certainly had a size advantage despite the Suns having Maluach on the floor, you knew they’d have to try to find a way to disrupt. And it took only 4:34 for Dillon Brooks to pick up three fouls.
With 6:59 left in the first quarter, the Jazz were in the bonus. As a result, they would take a total of 15 free-throw attempts in the first quarter, hitting 11 of them. Phoenix would go 6-of-8 from the line. So +5 for the Jazz in Q1 at the line.
Both Devin Booker and Jalen Green scored 10 points in the opening quarter, with Booker adding three assists while Green committed three turnovers. The Suns finished the period with seven turnovers as a team, but in typical Phoenix fashion, they generated additional possessions, attempting 24 field goals compared to Utah’s 18.
After shooting 4-of-12 from beyond the arc, the Suns trailed the Jazz 31–30 after one quarter.
With Oso Ighodaro out, Duop Reath received plenty of playing time, and one thing became abundantly clear. He’s not shy about shooting the three-ball. In nine first-half minutes, Reath went 3-of-7 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc, providing eight points off the bench.
The Suns looked sharp to open the second quarter, with Jalen Green penetrating, Miles Bridges knocking down threes, Jordan Goodwin doing what he does on both ends of the floor, and Khaman Maluach providing quality screens and rim protection. Collectively, that’s what this team should look like when you have a combination of starters and bench players operating together.
During a stretch featuring Bridges, Dillon Brooks, Green, Goodwin, and Maluach, Phoenix was +8, extending its lead to eight points while putting together a 15–2 run. It was an encouraging display of how the different pieces of this roster can complement one another when they’re playing with connectivity and purpose.
Phoenix shot 6-of-9 from beyond the arc in the second quarter and, despite being the smaller team against Utah, did an impressive job on the glass, outrebounding the Jazz 24–19 in the first half. The Suns outscored Utah 35–28 in the second quarter, led by eight points from Bridges, who was a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. Collin Gillespie added three assists, while Maluach contributed five points and five rebounds in the period alone, giving him five points and seven rebounds heading into halftime.
Phoenix 65, Utah 59.
Second Half
The Suns rolled out their starting five to open the third quarter, confirming that a true dress rehearsal was underway as the team prepares for the regular season. Phoenix wasted little time establishing itself, opening the second half with a 7–0 run against Utah as the offense looked layered, connected, and efficient.
Maluach continued to play aggressively on the glass at both ends of the floor, and we all know Jaren Jackson Jr. has an affinity for picking up fouls. Phoenix made him pay for it, forcing Jackson to the bench with five fouls and seven minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Dillon Brooks fed off the defensive energy his teammates were bringing and translated it into offensive production. His unique skill set, both in the midrange and from beyond the arc, was on full display as he poured in 12 points in the third quarter.
The Jazz endured a stretch in which they went nearly four minutes without a field goal, but a 14–6 run by Utah to close the quarter made the game closer than it had felt. Phoenix held a 95–90 lead entering the fourth, with the Jazz outscoring the Suns 31–30 in the period. The majority of the starting unit finished the quarter at +5, while the majority of the second unit was -6, reflecting the difference in effectiveness between the two groups.
The fourth quarter opened with the third unit on the floor, featuring Kobe Brea, Jamaree Bouyea, Duop Reath, Rasheer Fleming, and Ryan Dunn. Koa Peat eventually checked in for Reath, so outside of Dunn, this was primarily the third unit getting an opportunity to play. And not surprisingly, things were a little clunky.
Peat had a possession in which he lost track of the shot clock and failed to get an attempt off in time. On another opportunity, he had a chance to go up with the basketball, but with Mo Bamba lurking, he hesitated and was called for a three-second violation. He then fouled Ace Bailey on the ensuing possession. It’s the kind of situational awareness that comes with experience, and these are precisely the repetitions a young player like Peat needs as he continues his development.
The game remained close throughout the fourth quarter as the Suns struggled to put together anything resembling cohesive offense. It felt a little like Summer League basketball, where structure takes a back seat and players are left trying to create open looks on their own rather than generating opportunities within the flow of an offensive scheme.
Phoenix was ultimately outscored 29–21 in the final period, falling to Utah 119–116.
Up Next
The. Regular. Season.
Suns tip off the 2026-27 campaign next Wednesday in Portland. Starting then, it’s for real.
Cliff Hagan of the St. Louis Hawks poses for an action portrait during the 1960 season in St. Louis, Missouri.
Cliff Hagan, a Basketball Hall of Famer who won professional and college championships with the St. Louis Hawks and the University of Kentucky, respectively, died Thursday at 94 years old.
A cause of death was not disclosed.
Hagan, originally drafted by the Celtics in 1953, was traded to the Hawks with fellow Hall of Famer Ed Macauley in 1956 for the rights to Bill Russell, whom St. Louis took at No. 2 overall in the 1956 NBA Draft.
Cliff Hagan of the St. Louis Hawks poses for an action portrait during the 1960 season in St. Louis, Missouri. NBAE via Getty Images
Hagan, a third-round pick, never played for the Celtics and served in the United States Air Force from 1953-56 before debuting with the Hawks.
A five-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, Hagan spent his entire 10-year NBA career with St. Louis, helping the franchise defeat the Celtics for the 1958 NBA title.
Hagan averaged 17.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists over 839 NBA appearances before retiring for good after the 1969-70 season.
Before his professional career, Hagan was a two-time consensus All-American at Kentucky under legendary coach Adolph Rupp.
He helped the Wildcats win the 1951 national championship and led them to a perfect 25-0 record in 1953-54.
Kentucky declined an NCAA Tournament invitation that season because eligibility rules prohibited Hagan and two other graduated players from participating.
Cliff Hagan was traded for a rookie Bill Russell in 1956. NBAE via Getty Images
The Wildcats went 86-5 during Hagan’s three varsity seasons.
The 6-foot-4 forward once scored 26 points in a single fourth quarter against the Knicks in 1958.
Hagan returned to Kentucky as athletic director in 1975, serving until 1988.
Kentucky’s named their baseball field “Cliff Hagan Stadium” in 1993, which served as the team’s home until 2018. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
During his tenure, the school won the 1978 men’s basketball national championship, led by Jack Givens and Rick Robey.
Hagan became the first former Kentucky player inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978.
His No. 6 jersey is retired at Kentucky, and he was inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
“Few people have impacted Kentucky Athletics in as many ways as Cliff Hagan,” Kentucky athletic director and Champions Blue CEO J Batt said of Hagan. “He represented Kentucky as a champion, Hall of Famer and Athletics Director, leaving a legacy that continues to shape this department. It is an honor to follow in his footsteps and to help carry forward the standard he set.
“Big Blue Nation will always be grateful for Cliff and all he gave to Kentucky. Our thoughts are with the Hagan family.”
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 16: Joan Beringer #19 of the Minnesota Timberwolves goes to the basket as Jalen Smith #25 of the Chicago Bulls defends during the first half of the preseason game at the United Center on October 16, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Even though the score of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ final preseason game looks lopsided, there were plenty of good things to build upon from a game where most of the time on the floor was Minnesota backups versus Chicago rotation guys, or what I like to call a “bullpen game.”
Here are five things to be encouraged by as we wrap up the preseason and head to the regular season on October 21st in Miami.
CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 16: Joan Beringer #19 of the Minnesota Timberwolves boxes out during the game against the Chicago Bulls on October 16, 2026 at United Center 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 Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
#1: Joan Beringer looks the part
Teenage Frenchman, Joan Beringer, is massively important to the Wolves’ potential success this upcoming season as the only real backup big man that is on the roster. He has defensive instincts, activity around the basket, and enough athleticism to make up for times where he finds himself out of position.
Beringer’s main issue is defending without fouling, as he needs to be able to stay on the floor in order to really help this team out in a meaningful way. Tonight, he did just that. Joan committed three total fouls, with the first foul coming after around 18 minutes of time on the floor. That’s very encouraging, as it would have been just as easy for him to commit three fouls in six minutes of time as he and his team were overmatched on paper.
Throw in a couple monster dunks, and Joan looks ready to roll come Wednesday.
After not seeing the floor in the first quarter, Isaiah Evans showed up in the second frame in a major way. Immediately after checking in, he made a three. Later in the quarter he made another catch-and-shoot three, and then followed that up with an absolute heat check third made three of the quarter. He made another before the halftime buzzer sounded, and it was so encouraging to see Evans put some long range shots in the basket.
Isaiah was billed as a shooter coming out of Duke, but we hadn’t seen that throughout Summer League or preseason yet. Bench shooting is always valuable, and it’s something the Wolves don’t have a bunch of until Donte DiVincenzo comes back. Isaiah didn’t just make the threes, he also put himself in positions to take them. Good shooters know how to get their shots off, and that was something that Finch seemed to make a priority with this being a bullpen game for the Wolves.
#3: Cody Williams will be a rotation player this winter
Cody Williams was tapped to step in and start when Jonathan Kuminga missed the preseason game against the Knicks, and was also a starter in tonight’s bullpen game. Here are some of the notes I wrote down while watching the game:
Cody knows how to score, shot is still a work in progress
Cody knows how to rotate.
He’s going to have a stretch of hot shooting and will look like an All-NBA player this season.
He’s going to have a stretch of hot shooting and is going to look like an all-nba player at some point this season https://t.co/VLhNO48mPD
Almost every tool is in the toolbox for this kid, and I am officially predicting that he will be the next Utah-to-Minnesota success story, following the footsteps of Rudy Gobert and Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 16: Head coach Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of the preseason game at the United Center on October 16, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
#4: Chris Finch shows willingness to call timeouts
There aren’t many things I get frustrated with Chris Finch over, but one of them is definitely his timeout usage when other teams are going on runs. Tonight, Chris took one with 10:18 left in the third quarter, and took another quick one to start the fourth quarter, both times when Chicago was going on a run.
With how fast this team plans to play this season, there are bound to be times where they play too fast and get caught on the wrong end of an opposing run. Finch needs to be willing to stop those runs early, and tonight was an indication he might just have that in his plans.
#5: Drew Timme will be a nice depth piece… in Iowa
Fun fact: my college roommate/teammate at Augsburg used to call me Drew Timme because I would rock a headband and mustache, but that’s not the reason I’m bullish on Drew.
With some questions still remaining as to who is going to play some big man minutes in a pinch and Rocco Zikarsky not looking the part, Drew Timme might just be the two-way contract player that can step into that role. In 27 minutes played tonight, Drew scored 18 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and even dished out three assists.
Again from my notes: “Timme can make the right play, he can be the new Luka G. on a two-way.” I know evoking the name Luka Garza may be sacrilege to Wolves fans, but trust me, there will be times where the bowels of Wolves Twitter will be calling for Timme to get some run after Joan has a game with eight minutes played and four fouls.
Up next
The Timberwolves open their season on Wednesday, October 21, at 6:30 PM CT when they take on the Miami Heat on the road, with the game airing on ESPN.
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 16: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks moves the ball against the Atlanta Hawks on October 16, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving were brilliant. The Mavericks’ defense and 3-point shooting struggled for long stretches at a time. The roster construction seems to be, well… cheeks. Zaccharie Risacher looked timid and ineffective against his former team’s starting unit, then scored a bunch of points against guys battling for a roster spot in the fourth quarter.
You can make what happened against the Hawks on Friday fit any narrative you want it to fit. So, with just five days before the games start counting, go ahead. Confirm all your pre-existing biases. That’s what fandom is all about.
Here are five stats spanning all corners of the spectrum that stood out in the Mavs’ loss to wrap up the 2026-27 preseason schedule.
19: First-quarter points from Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jalen Johnson
The Mavericks had a ton of trouble staying in front of the Hawks’ two breakout players from a season ago to start the game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the NBA’s Most Improved Player from last year, led all scorers with 10 points in the first quarter on 3-of-4 shooting, while Johnson added nine more, hitting 6-of-7 from the free-throw line to set the tone by getting into the lane at will. Johnson, of course, was a Third-Team All-NBA selection a year ago.
The pair made all three of their combined 3-point attempts in the first quarter as well, but in the dress rehearsal game, the Mavs at least kept pace with their opponents from beyond the arc to start the game. Atlanta made 6-of-13 from 3-point land in the opening frame, compared to 6-of-11 shooting from deep for the Mavericks.
It was a promising start, in some respects, if not for the Mavs’ inability to limit the Hawks’ best scorers. The Hawks led 39-34 after one. Johnson would go on to lead all scorers with 16 points and 11 rebounds at halftime and finished with 20 and 14 in the win. Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 25 points on 6-of-10 from 3-point land.
12: Atlanta first-half free throws after being fouled on 3-point attempts
This one is concerning. In what was billed as a dress rehearsal game, the Mavericks were incredibly sloppy on the defensive end. Exhibit A: Dallas fouled four 3-point shooters in the act of shooting in the first half. So, not only did the Mavs get boatraced in the actual shooting comparison from beyond the arc in the first half, but they surrendered eight more points from the 3-point line by fouling on four more would-be attempts along the way. Dallas was lucky that Atlanta shot so poorly from the line on those four unnecessary trips to the line (8-of-12, 66.7%), but the damage was done as the first half wore on.
After shooting 6-of-11 from 3-point land in the first quarter, the Mavs missed their next eight from long range in the second, finally cashing one in on Irving’s third 3-ball of the half with 56 seconds left to go 1-of-10 in the frame.
The Hawks abused the Dallas defense, getting to the line 30 times in the first half. They made just 23 of them, but that was still three times the Mavs’ output. Dallas shot just 7-of-12 (58.7%) from the free-throw line in the first half as the Hawks cruised to a 73-54 lead at the break.
Oh, and if giving Atlanta 12 extra free throws in the first half didn’t get the point across, Irving made it 15 midway through the third, sending Alexander-Walker to the free-throw line for three for a fifth time.
8-of-12: Sergio de Larrea’s preseason 3-point shooting
Sergio de Larrea now 8/11 from three in preseason after hitting his second three of the night tonight pic.twitter.com/quTRj5wSnW
The ever-intriguing Mavs’ rookie Sergio de Larrea made a pair of 3-pointers as the third quarter wound down on Friday, with the outcome of the game likely already decided. But hey, for a guy like de Larrea, reps are reps, and these are valuable.
The young Spaniard had some moments in the dress rehearsal that made you think, “this kid’s not ready.” But after canning those two 3-balls, you looked at his stats and he was 8-of-11 from 3-point range this preseason. The Mavericks need shooting like a fish needs water, and de Larrea will turn it over on you, but if he’s going to hit the 3-pointer at anything approaching this rate, you have to live with the growing pains.
The only way out is through when it comes to de Larrea’s short-term shortcomings, and his 3-point shot could go a long way to canceling out his deficiencies in other areas. De Larrea finished with eight points and four assists in 25 minutes off the bench against the Hawks. He also blocked a pair of shots.
Get ready, Mavs fans. Year two Cooper Flagg is incoming, and this is going to be special. This kid just doesn’t stop attacking, and opposing defenses just don’t want to deal with it at a certain point in the game.
Flagg is going to bully his way to a transcendent statistical profile this year, if his preseason minutes are any indicator. He’s a little bigger — more imposing. He can get wherever he wants to get on the floor. He can absorb contact.
After a 2-of-7 start from the field, Flagg was a respectable 6-of-13 from the field in the final three quarters. He made two of his six 3-point attempts on the night, which isn’t great, but he’s shown much more confidence with his stroke this preseason than we saw from Flagg in his rookie year. He isn’t afraid to pull up for one or two early in the shot clock. You want Flagg taking those shots. You want him gaining confidence in his ability to make them.
The year two explosion is about to get underway.
5-of-7: Kyrie Irving 3-point shooting
The Mavericks ended the evening shooting 13-of-33 (39.4%) from 3-point range. Everyone on the roster not named Irving combined to shoot just 8-of-26 (30.7%), so thank the basketball gods he was there. He scored 18 points on 5-of-7 from deep and five assists in the loss. The shot was silky smooth throughout his 25 minutes on the floor.
The Mavs’ top two offensive engines were something close to sensational in their final preseason tune-up on Friday. It’s the rest of the roster that leaves us with more questions than answers as the regular season looms large.
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 16: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks moves the ball against the Atlanta Hawks on October 16, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, 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 Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving were brilliant. The Mavericks’ defense and 3-point shooting struggled for long stretches at a time. The roster construction seems to be, well… cheeks. Zaccharie Risacher looked timid and ineffective against his former team’s starting unit, then scored a bunch of points against guys battling for a roster spot in the fourth quarter.
You can make what happened against the Hawks on Friday fit any narrative you want it to fit. So, with just five days before the games start counting, go ahead. Confirm all your pre-existing biases. That’s what fandom is all about.
Here are five stats spanning all corners of the spectrum that stood out in the Mavs’ loss to wrap up the 2026-27 preseason schedule.
19: First-quarter points from Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jalen Johnson
The Mavericks had a ton of trouble staying in front of the Hawks’ two breakout players from a season ago to start the game. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, the NBA’s Most Improved Player from last year, led all scorers with 10 points in the first quarter on 3-of-4 shooting, while Johnson added nine more, hitting 6-of-7 from the free-throw line to set the tone by getting into the lane at will. Johnson, of course, was a Third-Team All-NBA selection a year ago.
The pair made all three of their combined 3-point attempts in the first quarter as well, but in the dress rehearsal game, the Mavs at least kept pace with their opponents from beyond the arc to start the game. Atlanta made 6-of-13 from 3-point land in the opening frame, compared to 6-of-11 shooting from deep for the Mavericks.
It was a promising start, in some respects, if not for the Mavs’ inability to limit the Hawks’ best scorers. The Hawks led 39-34 after one. Johnson would go on to lead all scorers with 16 points and 11 rebounds at halftime and finished with 20 and 14 in the win. Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 25 points on 6-of-10 from 3-point land.
12: Atlanta first-half free throws after being fouled on 3-point attempts
This one is concerning. In what was billed as a dress rehearsal game, the Mavericks were incredibly sloppy on the defensive end. Exhibit A: Dallas fouled four 3-point shooters in the act of shooting in the first half. So, not only did the Mavs get boatraced in the actual shooting comparison from beyond the arc in the first half, but they surrendered eight more points from the 3-point line by fouling on four more would-be attempts along the way. Dallas was lucky that Atlanta shot so poorly from the line on those four unnecessary trips to the line (8-of-12, 66.7%), but the damage was done as the first half wore on.
After shooting 6-of-11 from 3-point land in the first quarter, the Mavs missed their next eight from long range in the second, finally cashing one in on Irving’s third 3-ball of the half with 56 seconds left to go 1-of-10 in the frame.
The Hawks abused the Dallas defense, getting to the line 30 times in the first half. They made just 23 of them, but that was still three times the Mavs’ output. Dallas shot just 7-of-12 (58.7%) from the free-throw line in the first half as the Hawks cruised to a 73-54 lead at the break.
Oh, and if giving Atlanta 12 extra free throws in the first half didn’t get the point across, Irving made it 15 midway through the third, sending Alexander-Walker to the free-throw line for three for a fifth time.
8-of-12: Sergio de Larrea’s preseason 3-point shooting
Sergio de Larrea now 8/11 from three in preseason after hitting his second three of the night tonight pic.twitter.com/quTRj5wSnW
The ever-intriguing Mavs’ rookie Sergio de Larrea made a pair of 3-pointers as the third quarter wound down on Friday, with the outcome of the game likely already decided. But hey, for a guy like de Larrea, reps are reps, and these are valuable.
The young Spaniard had some moments in the dress rehearsal that made you think, “this kid’s not ready.” But after canning those two 3-balls, you looked at his stats and he was 8-of-11 from 3-point range this preseason. The Mavericks need shooting like a fish needs water, and de Larrea will turn it over on you, but if he’s going to hit the 3-pointer at anything approaching this rate, you have to live with the growing pains.
The only way out is through when it comes to de Larrea’s short-term shortcomings, and his 3-point shot could go a long way to canceling out his deficiencies in other areas. De Larrea finished with eight points and four assists in 25 minutes off the bench against the Hawks. He also blocked a pair of shots.
Get ready, Mavs fans. Year two Cooper Flagg is incoming, and this is going to be special. This kid just doesn’t stop attacking, and opposing defenses just don’t want to deal with it at a certain point in the game.
Flagg is going to bully his way to a transcendent statistical profile this year, if his preseason minutes are any indicator. He’s a little bigger — more imposing. He can get wherever he wants to get on the floor. He can absorb contact.
After a 2-of-7 start from the field, Flagg was a respectable 6-of-13 from the field in the final three quarters. He made two of his six 3-point attempts on the night, which isn’t great, but he’s shown much more confidence with his stroke this preseason than we saw from Flagg in his rookie year. He isn’t afraid to pull up for one or two early in the shot clock. You want Flagg taking those shots. You want him gaining confidence in his ability to make them.
The year two explosion is about to get underway.
5-of-7: Kyrie Irving 3-point shooting
The Mavericks ended the evening shooting 13-of-33 (39.4%) from 3-point range. Everyone on the roster not named Irving combined to shoot just 8-of-26 (30.7%), so thank the basketball gods he was there. He scored 18 points on 5-of-7 from deep and five assists in the loss. The shot was silky smooth throughout his 25 minutes on the floor.
The Mavs’ top two offensive engines were something close to sensational in their final preseason tune-up on Friday. It’s the rest of the roster that leaves us with more questions than answers as the regular season looms large.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 13: Head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers yells to his players in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at T-Mobile Arena on October 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 101-89. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The given was that Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler would comprise 60% of the group. The assumption was that Quentin Grimes would fill one of the final two spots while the fifth starter would be completely up in the air.
The Lakers hadn’t been healthy enough this preseason to try out a potential starting five until Friday, when head coach JJ Redick threw a curveball with an unexpected starting five.
Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Luka Doncic will start for the Lakers tonight, JJ Redick says.
Redick opted to surround the Big 3 with 3-and-D wings in Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle. The move not to start Grimes may be partly due to how bad the team’s guards have been outside of Luka and Reaves this preseason.
Asked JJ Redick about the decision to use Quentin Grimes with the bench rather than the starters (Grimes had started every game until tonight). He said he hasn’t made his final decision yet and doesn’t know who LA’s base starters will be. But he said part of the consideration is…
With Collin Sexton out, the Lakers have had to go to options deeper in the bench for ballhandling, including Bronny James. Those minutes have gone poorly.
Having Grimes coming off the bench to spell Luka or AR and keep two decent ballhandlers on the floor. Perhaps, then, this is a bit of a stopgap solution until Sexton is healthy.
At the same time, the preseason exists to try things out. There’s logic behind putting wings and athleticism around Luka and Reaves. It does, however, place a heavy burden on that pair to create shots. Teams are going to sag off Williams and Thybulle defensively, which will clog up the paint.
The key will be whether those two can knock down enough threes to make defenses respect them as shooters. But, as we saw on Friday, teams will blitz Luka and Reaves on ball screens and force the rest of the Lakers to beat them.
It’s an interesting gamble for Redick. Whether he’s willing to take it into the regular season, especially after how poor that lineup looked against the Nuggets to start the game on Friday.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 13: Head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers yells to his players in the second quarter of a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors at T-Mobile Arena on October 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 101-89. 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 Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The given was that Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler would comprise 60% of the group. The assumption was that Quentin Grimes would fill one of the final two spots while the fifth starter would be completely up in the air.
The Lakers hadn’t been healthy enough this preseason to try out a potential starting five until Friday, when head coach JJ Redick threw a curveball with an unexpected starting five.
Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle and Luka Doncic will start for the Lakers tonight, JJ Redick says.
Redick opted to surround the Big 3 with 3-and-D wings in Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle. The move not to start Grimes may be partly due to how bad the team’s guards have been outside of Luka and Reaves this preseason.
Asked JJ Redick about the decision to use Quentin Grimes with the bench rather than the starters (Grimes had started every game until tonight). He said he hasn’t made his final decision yet and doesn’t know who LA’s base starters will be. But he said part of the consideration is…
With Collin Sexton out, the Lakers have had to go to options deeper in the bench for ballhandling, including Bronny James. Those minutes have gone poorly.
Having Grimes coming off the bench to spell Luka or AR and keep two decent ballhandlers on the floor. Perhaps, then, this is a bit of a stopgap solution until Sexton is healthy.
At the same time, the preseason exists to try things out. There’s logic behind putting wings and athleticism around Luka and Reaves. It does, however, place a heavy burden on that pair to create shots. Teams are going to sag off Williams and Thybulle defensively, which will clog up the paint.
The key will be whether those two can knock down enough threes to make defenses respect them as shooters. But, as we saw on Friday, teams will blitz Luka and Reaves on ball screens and force the rest of the Lakers to beat them.
It’s an interesting gamble for Redick. Whether he’s willing to take it into the regular season, especially after how poor that lineup looked against the Nuggets to start the game on Friday.
AJ Dybantsa played pretty well before turning his ankle in Washington’s preseason finale. | NBAE via Getty Images
In their preseason finale, the Washington Wizards lost to a New Orleans Pelicans squad well-stocked with former Wizards, 107-106.
The game itself was fine for preseason with the exception of No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa landing bad after getting bumped by Zion Williamson while taking a shot and rolling his ankle. It look painful and awkward, and I hope the first thought that came to mind comes true: “He’s 19, so he’ll probably be fine in a couple days.”
While it would be difficult to accuse either team of playing particularly well, there were a number of process things from the Wizards that I did like.
For example, early in the first quarter, Trae Young and Kyshawn George were crossmatched in a quasi-transition situation after a turnover. First, I liked how seamlessly they each matched up in transition. This was a major point of weakness last season.
Kyshawn George capped a strong preseason by scoring 14 points on 5-7 shooting against the New Orleans Pelicans. | NBAE via Getty Images
Second, Young bumped Herb Jones to prevent Jones from simply going where he wanted uncontested. That’s exactly what he should have done, and it suggests Young’s trying to fulfill his pledge to work harder on the defensive end.
Finally, when New Orleans passed to the wing, Young and George switched while the ball was in the air — George going back to the bigger Jones, and Young picking up the smaller guard. Altogether, nothing earth-shaking, but it’s smart, professional basketball.
The Wizards length on defense made an impact. One play midway through the first, Jones attacked the much smaller Young. His options were limited by Anthony Davis drifting down from the opposite elbow and Alex Sarr lurking at the rim. Young stayed engage despite getting beat on the play. End result: a Sarr block.
A scene from Little Things Theater — Sarr got knocked down getting a rebound. The teammates to help him up: Davis and Young.
In the second quarter, with the shot clock running down, Bilal Coulibaly blitzed Saddiq Bey, who was prepping his move against the smaller Tre Johnson. Reduced to no other options, Bey threw up a highly contested fadeaway two, which he made. Despite the made shot, that was a terrific defensive play from Coulibaly.
On multiple possessions, I appreciated what a healthy Davis can do for a defense. He was a constant and persistent presence, held up on switches, and harassed offensive players even when it seemed they’d gotten the best of him.
Late in the first half, George got a wide open three from out top that was created because of some pick-and-roll craft from Young. Both defenders were paying attention to Young. Many NBA ball handlers would have immediately passed out to George, whose man would have been able to recover. Young took an extra dribble, which made it look like he was going to attack, which made George’s man hesitate for a second so he could be available to help. Oops.
In the third quarter, Young got switched onto Bey, and New Orleans immediately tried to attack. Deandre Ayton came to help while the pass to Bey was in the air — a smart, alert play from the big man. He ended up fouling on the play, but it was good defense…until the foul.
Down two late in the fourth quarter, the Wizards G League group perfectly executed a trap-then-foul gambit. The Pelicans nearly turned it over three times, got stuck in a corner at midcourt, and had to call timeout. None of those guys are likely to play major roles in Washington this season, but the execution was a symptom of good coaching.
The Pelicans had a somewhat surprising number of former Wizards involved, including Antonio Daniels on the broadcast (one of the better analysts on TV, in my opinion), Jordan Poole, Bey, AJ Johnson, Julian Reese, plus assistant coaches God Shammgod, Greg Monroe, and Will Bynum. Don’t forget Troy Weaver, who was a front office advisor with the Wizards before moving to the New Orleans front office.
By the way, Poole had a very on-brand foul for him. The Wizards were engaged in an utter disaster of a possession — Young picked up his dribble and his teammates couldn’t shake free enough to safely get the ball. Finally, Young got the ball to Khris Middleton with just five seconds on the shot clock. Before Middleton could even start thinking about how he was going to attack, Poole inexplicably slapped him on the wrist. Which gave the Wizards two free throws.
Anyway, the Wizards finish the preseason 2-2. Next up: the season opener, Oct. 21 at home against Kyle Kuzma and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Programming note: My preseason forecast is coming on Monday.
I’m not running PPA numbers for this game, but here are a few stats that caught my eye when I perused the box score:
Dybantsa | 12 points and four free throw attempts in 15 minutes.
Davis | 14 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks in 27 minutes. I didn’t love the shot selection, but strong production overall.
Sarr | 12 points, 9 rebounds in 26 minutes — He seemed more aggressive on the boards with Davis helping protect the paint
George | 14 points on 7 shots, plus a steal and a couple blocks. Strong preseason out of him.
Young | 3 steals in 28 minutes. He won’t shoot 1-11 too often. He will commit 5 turnovers with some regularity.
AJ Dybantsa played pretty well before turning his ankle in Washington’s preseason finale. | NBAE via Getty Images
In their preseason finale, the Washington Wizards lost to a New Orleans Pelicans squad well-stocked with former Wizards, 107-106.
The game itself was fine for preseason with the exception of No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa landing bad after getting bumped by Zion Williamson while taking a shot and rolling his ankle. It look painful and awkward, and I hope the first thought that came to mind comes true: “He’s 19, so he’ll probably be fine in a couple days.”
While it would be difficult to accuse either team of playing particularly well, there were a number of process things from the Wizards that I did like.
For example, early in the first quarter, Trae Young and Kyshawn George were crossmatched in a quasi-transition situation after a turnover. First, I liked how seamlessly they each matched up in transition. This was a major point of weakness last season.
Kyshawn George capped a strong preseason by scoring 14 points on 5-7 shooting against the New Orleans Pelicans. | NBAE via Getty Images
Second, Young bumped Herb Jones to prevent Jones from simply going where he wanted uncontested. That’s exactly what he should have done, and it suggests Young’s trying to fulfill his pledge to work harder on the defensive end.
Finally, when New Orleans passed to the wing, Young and George switched while the ball was in the air — George going back to the bigger Jones, and Young picking up the smaller guard. Altogether, nothing earth-shaking, but it’s smart, professional basketball.
The Wizards length on defense made an impact. One play midway through the first, Jones attacked the much smaller Young. His options were limited by Anthony Davis drifting down from the opposite elbow and Alex Sarr lurking at the rim. Young stayed engage despite getting beat on the play. End result: a Sarr block.
A scene from Little Things Theater — Sarr got knocked down getting a rebound. The teammates to help him up: Davis and Young.
In the second quarter, with the shot clock running down, Bilal Coulibaly blitzed Saddiq Bey, who was prepping his move against the smaller Tre Johnson. Reduced to no other options, Bey threw up a highly contested fadeaway two, which he made. Despite the made shot, that was a terrific defensive play from Coulibaly.
On multiple possessions, I appreciated what a healthy Davis can do for a defense. He was a constant and persistent presence, held up on switches, and harassed offensive players even when it seemed they’d gotten the best of him.
Late in the first half, George got a wide open three from out top that was created because of some pick-and-roll craft from Young. Both defenders were paying attention to Young. Many NBA ball handlers would have immediately passed out to George, whose man would have been able to recover. Young took an extra dribble, which made it look like he was going to attack, which made George’s man hesitate for a second so he could be available to help. Oops.
In the third quarter, Young got switched onto Bey, and New Orleans immediately tried to attack. Deandre Ayton came to help while the pass to Bey was in the air — a smart, alert play from the big man. He ended up fouling on the play, but it was good defense…until the foul.
Down two late in the fourth quarter, the Wizards G League group perfectly executed a trap-then-foul gambit. The Pelicans nearly turned it over three times, got stuck in a corner at midcourt, and had to call timeout. None of those guys are likely to play major roles in Washington this season, but the execution was a symptom of good coaching.
The Pelicans had a somewhat surprising number of former Wizards involved, including Antonio Daniels on the broadcast (one of the better analysts on TV, in my opinion), Jordan Poole, Bey, AJ Johnson, Julian Reese, plus assistant coaches God Shammgod, Greg Monroe, and Will Bynum. Don’t forget Troy Weaver, who was a front office advisor with the Wizards before moving to the New Orleans front office.
By the way, Poole had a very on-brand foul for him. The Wizards were engaged in an utter disaster of a possession — Young picked up his dribble and his teammates couldn’t shake free enough to safely get the ball. Finally, Young got the ball to Khris Middleton with just five seconds on the shot clock. Before Middleton could even start thinking about how he was going to attack, Poole inexplicably slapped him on the wrist. Which gave the Wizards two free throws.
Anyway, the Wizards finish the preseason 2-2. Next up: the season opener, Oct. 21 at home against Kyle Kuzma and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Programming note: My preseason forecast is coming on Monday.
I’m not running PPA numbers for this game, but here are a few stats that caught my eye when I perused the box score:
Dybantsa | 12 points and four free throw attempts in 15 minutes.
Davis | 14 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocks in 27 minutes. I didn’t love the shot selection, but strong production overall.
Sarr | 12 points, 9 rebounds in 26 minutes — He seemed more aggressive on the boards with Davis helping protect the paint
George | 14 points on 7 shots, plus a steal and a couple blocks. Strong preseason out of him.
Young | 3 steals in 28 minutes. He won’t shoot 1-11 too often. He will commit 5 turnovers with some regularity.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 16: LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers points as Joel Embiid #21 looks on against the Boston Celtics in the first quarter during the preseason game at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 16, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Preseason Bell Ringer rankings: Jaylen Brown – 1 VJ Edgecombe – 1 LeBron James – 1
The Sixers closed their 2026-27 preseason campaign on Friday with an 125-120 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics in South Philadelphia on Friday night.
The big story was that the Sixers’ regular starting lineup — well, four fifths of it — was in action for this one. VJ Edgecombe was out, but just for rest according to Nick Nurse. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was slotted into his spot for the initial five.
The Sixers continue to look like a team that is absolutely stacked with talent but has a bit of way to go in terms of solidifying the on-court chemistry, at least early on the game. Things definitely tightened up throughout the second frame and on compared to a disjointed first, showing signs of the team this squad could really be after playing together more consistently.
The main starters played into the second half of this one as well, playing through the third before subbing out for the night. The good news is that they all played well enough to be our Bell Ringer candidates tonight.
<p>(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Jaylen Brown just never really looks out of sorts. Even in the beginning of this one where the overall offense of the Sixers was a bit disjointed and sloppy, Brown was able to produce. He made a habit of getting right to the rim early and often, seldom having to rely on pulling up for a contested midrange shot. In the first half, Brown put up 14 points on 5-for-11 field goal shooting (one triple) with six rebounds and three assists. By that point, he had already made a number of defensive plays as well, with two blocks and a steal by the break.
From his skills in isolation and getting to the rim, to his passing, to his aggression on the boards, to his defensive prowess… Sixers fans know all too well what Brown is capable of when he’s at his best. It’s just nice to get to see him doing it in a Philadelphia jersey now.
Brown finished this one with 20 points on 8-for-14 field goal shooting with eight rebounds, three assists, one steal and two blocks. He played 31 minutes.
Jaylen Brown navigates through multiple Celtics defenders, baiting the jump and the foul for the and-1 opportunity pic.twitter.com/WLwpnYb7JM
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Even when LeBron James only seems to be doing a little, he still does a whole lot. LeBron didn’t post some unbelievable stat line on Friday night but it certainly doesn’t mean he wasn’t involved. In his South Philly debut, the king went to work running the offense quite a bit, working the two-man game with Tyrese Maxey most often and a little with Labaron Philon Jr. Even outside those instances, it’s clear that he is focused first on creating opportunities for his teammates before worrying about getting shots up himself, and his passing is absolutely elite. He had a floor-leading seven assists in this one.
And people tried to tell me he was going to be a complete ball hog… Sure, it’s preseason, but it really doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a problem.
Lebron finished the game with 8 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, a steal and a block in just under 25 minutes.
Lebron James gets the steal on the inbound and Maxey clears him for takeoff on the alley-oop pic.twitter.com/BGPAa4TVre
<p>(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
My goodness, is Tyrese Maxey in a great spot to thrive with this Sixers squad. I know that probably seems obvious simply because of the level of talent around him, but it’s also that the talent around him compliments him perfectly. Not only does Maxey now have, for example, the two-man game with Embiid that has pretty much always been successful in the half-court offense, he now adds the two-man game with and transition aggression of Lebron James. Not only that, but the amount of space he now has to operate with considering the amount of attention all of his teammates garner from opposing defenses is greatly improved over the last few years, meaning less forced contested shots and more buckets falling from all over the floor. Maxey’s playmaking himself continues to improve as well, especially with so much off-ball movement from this lineup.
The bottom line is that Maxey is really being set up for success with this roster and I think Friday night was an excellent example of him taking full advantage of that. From getting out in transition to those two-man games to a few just stellar Maxey-magic finishes, the guard was able to contribute consistently throughout his time in this one.
Maxey finished with 22 points on 7-for-11 field goal shooting with three rebounds, six assists and one steal.
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
I’ll be honest, the first half was a very mixed bag for Joel Embiid. It started out a bit like we’ve seen so far this preseason — a bit sloppy, a little lackadaisical even. There were some turnovers, he couldn’t seem to stay on his feet, and just wasn’t getting anything going to start things off.
Then, something switched. Things tightened up as the first half went on, and Embiid started looking like the player we all know he can be. He started working the two-man game with Tyrese Maxey more, using his body to create space to sink some midrange jays, and powering up through contact at the rim for close buckets and drawing a ton of fouls in the process. He was active on the boards and solid on the defensive end. This was truly a night and day turnaround from how he looked at the beginning of the game.
He even got up for a dunk, and I mean got UP. (Yes, I gasp every time he does it, but I guess I’m grateful he physically can.)
And this was just one example of Embiid looking spry and agile once he really got himself going on Friday night. Certainly a good sign.
Embiid finished the game with a field-leading 27 points (7-for-13 field goal shooting), eight rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block in 29 minutes.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 16: LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers points as Joel Embiid #21 looks on against the Boston Celtics in the first quarter during the preseason game at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 16, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Preseason Bell Ringer rankings: Jaylen Brown – 1 VJ Edgecombe – 1 LeBron James – 1
The Sixers closed their 2026-27 preseason campaign on Friday with an 125-120 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics in South Philadelphia on Friday night.
The big story was that the Sixers’ regular starting lineup — well, four fifths of it — was in action for this one. VJ Edgecombe was out, but just for rest according to Nick Nurse. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was slotted into his spot for the initial five.
The Sixers continue to look like a team that is absolutely stacked with talent but has a bit of way to go in terms of solidifying the on-court chemistry, at least early on the game. Things definitely tightened up throughout the second frame and on compared to a disjointed first, showing signs of the team this squad could really be after playing together more consistently.
The main starters played into the second half of this one as well, playing through the third before subbing out for the night. The good news is that they all played well enough to be our Bell Ringer candidates tonight.
<p>(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Jaylen Brown just never really looks out of sorts. Even in the beginning of this one where the overall offense of the Sixers was a bit disjointed and sloppy, Brown was able to produce. He made a habit of getting right to the rim early and often, seldom having to rely on pulling up for a contested midrange shot. In the first half, Brown put up 14 points on 5-for-11 field goal shooting (one triple) with six rebounds and three assists. By that point, he had already made a number of defensive plays as well, with two blocks and a steal by the break.
From his skills in isolation and getting to the rim, to his passing, to his aggression on the boards, to his defensive prowess… Sixers fans know all too well what Brown is capable of when he’s at his best. It’s just nice to get to see him doing it in a Philadelphia jersey now.
Brown finished this one with 20 points on 8-for-14 field goal shooting with eight rebounds, three assists, one steal and two blocks. He played 31 minutes.
Jaylen Brown navigates through multiple Celtics defenders, baiting the jump and the foul for the and-1 opportunity pic.twitter.com/WLwpnYb7JM
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
Even when LeBron James only seems to be doing a little, he still does a whole lot. LeBron didn’t post some unbelievable stat line on Friday night but it certainly doesn’t mean he wasn’t involved. In his South Philly debut, the king went to work running the offense quite a bit, working the two-man game with Tyrese Maxey most often and a little with Labaron Philon Jr. Even outside those instances, it’s clear that he is focused first on creating opportunities for his teammates before worrying about getting shots up himself, and his passing is absolutely elite. He had a floor-leading seven assists in this one.
And people tried to tell me he was going to be a complete ball hog… Sure, it’s preseason, but it really doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a problem.
Lebron finished the game with 8 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, a steal and a block in just under 25 minutes.
Lebron James gets the steal on the inbound and Maxey clears him for takeoff on the alley-oop pic.twitter.com/BGPAa4TVre
<p>(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
My goodness, is Tyrese Maxey in a great spot to thrive with this Sixers squad. I know that probably seems obvious simply because of the level of talent around him, but it’s also that the talent around him compliments him perfectly. Not only does Maxey now have, for example, the two-man game with Embiid that has pretty much always been successful in the half-court offense, he now adds the two-man game with and transition aggression of Lebron James. Not only that, but the amount of space he now has to operate with considering the amount of attention all of his teammates garner from opposing defenses is greatly improved over the last few years, meaning less forced contested shots and more buckets falling from all over the floor. Maxey’s playmaking himself continues to improve as well, especially with so much off-ball movement from this lineup.
The bottom line is that Maxey is really being set up for success with this roster and I think Friday night was an excellent example of him taking full advantage of that. From getting out in transition to those two-man games to a few just stellar Maxey-magic finishes, the guard was able to contribute consistently throughout his time in this one.
Maxey finished with 22 points on 7-for-11 field goal shooting with three rebounds, six assists and one steal.
<p>(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
I’ll be honest, the first half was a very mixed bag for Joel Embiid. It started out a bit like we’ve seen so far this preseason — a bit sloppy, a little lackadaisical even. There were some turnovers, he couldn’t seem to stay on his feet, and just wasn’t getting anything going to start things off.
Then, something switched. Things tightened up as the first half went on, and Embiid started looking like the player we all know he can be. He started working the two-man game with Tyrese Maxey more, using his body to create space to sink some midrange jays, and powering up through contact at the rim for close buckets and drawing a ton of fouls in the process. He was active on the boards and solid on the defensive end. This was truly a night and day turnaround from how he looked at the beginning of the game.
He even got up for a dunk, and I mean got UP. (Yes, I gasp every time he does it, but I guess I’m grateful he physically can.)
And this was just one example of Embiid looking spry and agile once he really got himself going on Friday night. Certainly a good sign.
Embiid finished the game with a field-leading 27 points (7-for-13 field goal shooting), eight rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block in 29 minutes.
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 16: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks is defended by CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of a preseason game at American Airlines Center on October 16, 2026 in Dallas, 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks fell on Friday night in their final preseason contest, 135-111 to the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Center. Nickeil Alexander-Walker had an efficient 25 points in 27 minutes to lead the Hawks. Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 26 and 12 rebounds in defeat.
The back-and-forth affair early on was punctuated by a Cooper Flagg dunk off a cut and the first of Kyrie Irving’s five 3-pointers. Dallas was foul-happy in the first quarter, committing four team fouls in the first three minutes of play. CJ McCollum connected on two early 3-pointers, and Atlanta took early offensive control. Defense seemed lacking from both teams, though. Dallas rallied right back with a relentless offensive pace. The two teams traded leads, with Atlanta carrying a 39-34 lead into the second quarter on the strength of 16 free-throw attempts.
Quarter two saw the Hawks rain from beyond the arc while the referee show continued apace. Atlanta built up a 17-point lead five minutes into the quarter as the Dallas offense stalled. The Mavericks were so cold in the second that Kyrie Irving, a phenomenal free-throw shooter (88.8%!), missed one. The Mavericks shot a palty 1-of-10 from deep in the second quarter while the Hawks remained electric from beyond the arc — pushing the lead to 73-54 at the half.
Dallas started the second half intent on cutting into the Atlanta lead. Three possessions of solid offense, the Mavericks cut the Hawks lead down to 14 only for Atlanta to knockdown back-to-back threes and regain their 20 point cushion. The Dallas defense was frenetic but poor, and the Hawks kept the pressure on all period. Sergio De Larrea continued his hot shooting on low volume, hitting both threes he took in the period. Dallas entered the fourth down 102-78.
Cooper Flagg transtion attacks forced a quick Hawks timeout to start the fourth quarter. While Dallas continued to play within what should be their regular rotation, both Flagg and Kyrie were done for the night following the timeout. De Larrea played well to close out the fourth, but the main goal for both squads was to get out with everyone healthy.
That sort of move simply doesn’t happen last year. It’s not that he couldn’t do it, but we didn’t see much like it from Flagg. He put his head down, got to the rim or he’d have a strong one dribble move into a jumper. But sauce? We didn’t get a lot and that sort of thing comes with an enormous amount of work.
And while Flagg wasn’t terribly efficient in terms of shooting (just 8 of 20), he got to the line for 12 free throws and should’ve had at least 4-6 more. The 12 rebounds were also impressive and if he’s cleaning up the glass and pushing the pace, he looks frightening coming downhill.
I am excited for what year two will bring. The league should be concerned.
Kyrie Irving yields basketball joy
This isn’t news, but it’s certainly fun to type. Irving had a good but weird game. While he was money from beyond the arc, he missed some weird layups and even had a free throw rim out. But no matter, it’s a preseason game.
That special something he had when last playing regular season Dallas Maverick basketball? He still has it. Thank God.
Can the NBA Referees settle down?
We don‘t come to watch the refs. I thought a 7:00 pm (7:15) start time meant games would get over at a reasonable hour. That one was a full two and a half hours because of 48 called fouls and 71 combined free-throw attempts. RELAX, GUYS.
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 16: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks is defended by CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of a preseason game at American Airlines Center on October 16, 2026 in Dallas, 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks fell on Friday night in their final preseason contest, 135-111 to the Atlanta Hawks at American Airlines Center. Nickeil Alexander-Walker had an efficient 25 points in 27 minutes to lead the Hawks. Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 26 and 12 rebounds in defeat.
The back-and-forth affair early on was punctuated by a Cooper Flagg dunk off a cut and the first of Kyrie Irving’s five 3-pointers. Dallas was foul-happy in the first quarter, committing four team fouls in the first three minutes of play. CJ McCollum connected on two early 3-pointers, and Atlanta took early offensive control. Defense seemed lacking from both teams, though. Dallas rallied right back with a relentless offensive pace. The two teams traded leads, with Atlanta carrying a 39-34 lead into the second quarter on the strength of 16 free-throw attempts.
Quarter two saw the Hawks rain from beyond the arc while the referee show continued apace. Atlanta built up a 17-point lead five minutes into the quarter as the Dallas offense stalled. The Mavericks were so cold in the second that Kyrie Irving, a phenomenal free-throw shooter (88.8%!), missed one. The Mavericks shot a palty 1-of-10 from deep in the second quarter while the Hawks remained electric from beyond the arc — pushing the lead to 73-54 at the half.
Dallas started the second half intent on cutting into the Atlanta lead. Three possessions of solid offense, the Mavericks cut the Hawks lead down to 14 only for Atlanta to knockdown back-to-back threes and regain their 20 point cushion. The Dallas defense was frenetic but poor, and the Hawks kept the pressure on all period. Sergio De Larrea continued his hot shooting on low volume, hitting both threes he took in the period. Dallas entered the fourth down 102-78.
Cooper Flagg transtion attacks forced a quick Hawks timeout to start the fourth quarter. While Dallas continued to play within what should be their regular rotation, both Flagg and Kyrie were done for the night following the timeout. De Larrea played well to close out the fourth, but the main goal for both squads was to get out with everyone healthy.
That sort of move simply doesn’t happen last year. It’s not that he couldn’t do it, but we didn’t see much like it from Flagg. He put his head down, got to the rim or he’d have a strong one dribble move into a jumper. But sauce? We didn’t get a lot and that sort of thing comes with an enormous amount of work.
And while Flagg wasn’t terribly efficient in terms of shooting (just 8 of 20), he got to the line for 12 free throws and should’ve had at least 4-6 more. The 12 rebounds were also impressive and if he’s cleaning up the glass and pushing the pace, he looks frightening coming downhill.
I am excited for what year two will bring. The league should be concerned.
Kyrie Irving yields basketball joy
This isn’t news, but it’s certainly fun to type. Irving had a good but weird game. While he was money from beyond the arc, he missed some weird layups and even had a free throw rim out. But no matter, it’s a preseason game.
That special something he had when last playing regular season Dallas Maverick basketball? He still has it. Thank God.
Can the NBA Referees settle down?
We don‘t come to watch the refs. I thought a 7:00 pm (7:15) start time meant games would get over at a reasonable hour. That one was a full two and a half hours because of 48 called fouls and 71 combined free-throw attempts. RELAX, GUYS.
