BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 12: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics attempts a basket against Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the fourth quarter at the TD Garden on January 12, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re pretty much Grade A Duke fans around here, but nobody knows everything. However, this guy comes close.
Imagine if you had a near-encyclopedic recall of Blue Devils in the NBA. Not only that, you could name every team’s leading career scorer from Duke.
That’s a big ask.
When this guy started to go through it, there were spots that we just couldn’t come up with the names. The Milwaukee Bucks got us, for one. The New York Knicks were a bit of a stumble, too. And we would’ve thought that Zion Williamson was the leading Duke scorer for the New Orleans Pelicans as well.
Nope!
We could be wrong, but by our count, every NBA team is represented on this list.
Some names were obvious, some were a bit more unexpected, but we were definitely impressed that the Duke savant got Jeff Mullins (Golden State) and Jack Marin, who played for the Baltimore Bullets.
Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard poses for a photo during Rockets Media Day in Houston, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. (Photo by Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Reed Sheppard was pretty good last year for the Houston Rockets, don’t get it twisted. Was he great on defense? Far from it. But the Rockets were better when Reed was on the floor, and the numbers back that up. Houston was 17-4 when Sheppard was in the starting lineup. That made them 35-26 when he wasn’t, which boils down to an 81 percent winning percentage versus a 57 percent one.
The best long-range shooter on the team, Sheppard hit on 39.4 percent of his triples last year on a high volume of 7 attempts per game. We’ve talked endlessly here about Sheppard’s “gravity” in drawing other defenders to his three-point shot, thereby opening up spacing for his teammates, but on a team bereft of distance shooting, Sheppard was certainly underutilized at times.
He had a healthy 26.2 minutes per game, which is nothing to scoff at for a second-year player, but it still felt like Ime Udoka left a little something out there with his management of Sheppard’s court time. It still feels like that gravity wasn’t used properly.
Sheppard finished sixth overall in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting after averaging 13.5 points, 3.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. As a starter, that was upped to 15.4 points, 4.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block per game.
The most commonly-cited reason for Reed not forcing Udoka’s hand was his defense, and yes, there are numerous highlights of Sheppard the bull fighter. The one-on-one doesn’t always look great. But the data shows a +1.5 defensive box plus-minus (second on the team), it shows a 112 defensive rating (not great, but far from the black hole one would think), and he racked up 3.1 defensive win shares, which was fifth-best on the team, just below Kevin Durant (who played way more than Sheppard) at 3.2.
This illustrates that despite Sheppard’s limitations as a defender, he can be a part of a successful defense by playing to his strengths in his fast hands and suprising stock accrual numbers. Is he a good defender? No. Can he be part of a team that plays good team defense? Yes, and he has contributed to that good defense. Besides, isn’t Ime Udoka a defensive genius? He should be able to construct schemes that help benefit one of the league’s best long-distance gunners.
The Rockets didn’t exactly give Sheppard a vote of confidence, however, bringing in Marcus Smart to compete for guard minutes in addition to the return of Fred VanVleet and the signing of Bogdan Bogdanovich to hopefully add some three-point shooting to the lineup outside of Sheppard. Reed is going to have to prove himself, no doubt. But he looks bigger and stronger, which should help him with point-of-attack defense, and has another year of confidence under his belt.
If Sheppard can tighten up that defense, while maintaining his three-point shooting, and continuing to come into his own as a playmaker with VanVleet and Smart around to take up a lot of that slack as well, Sheppard very well could force Udoka’s hand. Our dude just turned 22 and is still dripping with potential. 2026-2027 is as good a year for an official breakout as any.
SACRAMENTO, CA ― Darius Acuff Jr. wasn't too worried about his offense in his first ever preseason game. The Sacramento Kings rookie looked comfortable as if he's already entering his seventh NBA season.
He scored 19 points in 27 minutes in his first NBA action, albeit in just a preseason game, despite his team coming short in a 127-103 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, Oct. 6 at Golden 1 Center in downtown Sacramento.
"It felt good. I haven't played a game in a while, like a real game," Acuff told USA TODAY Sports. "It felt good, just get out there and play against somebody else. Not the outcome we wanted but it was good to play against somebody else."
Acuff, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, didn't have anything to say about his offensive performance. He added four assists, a block and steal to his stat line. His main gripe came on the defensive end as the Lakers shot 50% from the field, including 45% from 3-point territory on 20 made 3-point field goals.
"I don't think offense is the problem," he said. "I think, with defensively, we just wasn't racking up stops as a team, as much as we needed to. I think that's kind of what separated the game. But I think offensively, we'll be fine."
And they will. Acuff did not seem phased by a Lakers defense that picked him up full court, 94 feet throughout the duration of the game whenever he logged minutes.
The Kings rookie said it's better practice for him. He welcomes the challenge. He wants the pressure.
"It was the same," Acuff said. "It was better for me, picking me up full court. I feel like I like to play against that, so I think that's an advantage for me.
"Yeah, for sure. It prepares me for sure," he added. "I say, it takes watching film, just being smart, and, you know, not trying to dribble the air out the ball back there, just trying to get one move and go. But (it) definitely prepares me for the better defenders I'm gonna face, and, you know, I just gotta take the challenge, and, you know, go out there and be me."
Kings head coach Doug Christie echoed the same sentiment as his star rookie point guard that their defense has to be better.
"You know, helping when you're not supposed to help, like all the principles of shell defense, help defense, being in a gap, being in to be out, closing out, more middle," Christie told USA TODAY. "I'm sure the film's going to show all of that. But this is what we do. We learn, we go back to the film, we show them, we drill it, we get after it."
There's no panic in Christie, Acuff or the rest of the Kings. It's the first preseason game. But there is room for improvement and lots of it.
Kings forward-guard Daeqwon Plowden said preseason games are supposed to be evaluated differently.
"It's the first one outside of us playing each other, so we're setting the standard. The way we're evaluated is going to be much higher than what it was," Plowden told USA TODAY. "I think it's a lot that we can take away from this and build on."
Christie proclaimed the team will "be better."
"You know, they got hit in the mouth," he said. "And how do we respond?"
SACRAMENTO, CA - OCTOBER 5: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before the game against the Sacramento Kings during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 5, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After a dominant performance in the preseason opener in Sacramento, the Lakers head to San Francisco for the second night of a back-to-back against the Warriors on Tuesday.
This will also be the second game of three in four nights.
A dominant stretch in the second quarter highlighted a comprehensive first-half beatdown before a much more relaxed second half. Still, it was a very encouraging game from the Lakers after a summer that created a lot of intrigue and excitement.
Two of the most intriguing takeaways were the team’s 3-point shooting and the turnovers forced.
Offensively, they hit 20 3-pointers, surpassing their high in makes (19) from last year’s regular season. Granted, they won’t shoot 45.5% with any sort of regularity during the season, but head coach JJ Redick’s penchant for spacing and shooting means the attempts will likely increase this season.
On the other side of the ball, the team forced a staggering 27 turnovers that they turned into 32 points. Again, this was certainly an outlier performance exacerbated by the Kings being a truly awful basketball team. Still, the activity level defensively was noticeable.
Both Ziaire Williams and Matise Thybulle were jumping into passing lanes and deflecting passes. And once the team gets into transition, they have a lot more athletes this season to really punish teams on the break.
The rest of the preseason will determine if either of these is merely an aberration or a new identity for the Lakers.
Lastly, let’s take an extra moment to laugh at the Kings.
Injury updates and notes
On top of it being a back-to-back, teams aren’t required to list injury reports in the preseason.
Austin Reaves, Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton and Arthur Kaluma all did not play in the team’s win over the Kings. We’ll see if any of them return on Tuesday.
On the flip side, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Luka sit on Tuesday after playing the first half on Monday’s game.
The Warriors will be without Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody and Kristpas Porzingis.
We have an exciting new feature in our app this season. It’s easier than ever to chat in our game threads. Each game, this post will become a live chat and will be easy to find at the top of the Lakers community page, so be sure to download the app and give it a try this preseason!
SACRAMENTO, CA ― Sacramento Kings longtime radio broadcaster Gary "G-Man" Gerould was honored with one of the most respectable gestures from a basketball organization.
The Kings announced that they renamed their media and press dining room to the "Gary 'G-Man' Gerould Media Center."
Gerould is entering his 42nd season as the radio play-by-play announcer for the Kings, a position he's held since the Kings relocated to Sacramento in 1985. There's not any particular secret to Gerould's longevity. If there was one, he couldn't pinpoint it.
"I think back to, you know, when I started out, how naive I was as a young, aspiring NBA broadcaster," Gerould told USA TODAY Sports in an interview. "I never even thought about way down the road. I had no idea how long this adventure might continue. And the fact that we're now starting the 42nd year, I guess that means I'm officially old."
Gerould, 86, walks around the Kings facility with a gravitating presence, whether on game day or practice he can't go anywhere without being recognized and stopped for a brief conversation.
Gerould remains one of the longest-tenured broadcasters in the NBA, having called more than 3,000 Kings games. He's seen everything Kings basketball, the good, the bad and ugly. Yet, he still shows up every day just as passionate to broadcast Kings basketball.
“For more than 40 years, G-Man has been the defining voice of the Sacramento Kings, bringing every moment to life on the radio with unmatched precision, passion, and storytelling,” Sacramento Kings chairman and owner Vivek Ranadivé said in a team statement. “His impact extends beyond the game, and we’re proud to honor someone who has been such a meaningful part of our franchise.”
From the early days at ARCO Arena to the modern era at Golden 1 Center, Gerould's voice has been the soundtrack every memorable moment in franchise history. He's earned deep respect from peers and fans alike.
"I have so much appreciation for (the Kings), I've been through four ownership groups for the Sacramento Kings, more than 20 different head coaches, all the assistant coaches, all the players over the years," Gerould said. "But there's a sense of family and I'm so appreciative of that, and it's fostered by Scott Perry and head coach Doug Christie in the current organization of the Kings. It's something that I don't think you find in every professional sports franchise. And that makes Year 42 special going in."
There's no doubt in all of his 42 years, the most exciting years were during the Rick Adelman era from 1999 to 2006. Gerould said that he envied other broadcasters, many of whom he befriended, simply because the teams they covered were good and Sacramento wasn't.
Then the Kings slowly put together what would become their best era in team history in the late '90s and early 2000s. The team headlined by Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic, Vlade Divac, Doug Christie, Jason Williams, and then Mike Bibby.
"Suddenly, we became good, and I mean, very good. And we became very entertaining. And we had tremendous following around the country," Gerould said. "So that was a very magical time, and I thought for the first time in my career with the Kings, I'm legitimately seeing a team that when they take the floor, you feel like you've got a legitimate shot to win the ball game. And that's a great, great feeling.
"I think that's what we all desire. We want to see back," he added. "We took a couple of giant steps forward a couple of years ago, and then we ran into the side of the mountain the last couple of years. Last year, we missed almost 300 man games because of injury. Late in the season, I remember saying nights, we're missing 110 points on average that was not in uniform or on the bench. And yet, trying to find a way to be competitive with the young guys and so forth."
Sacramento is far removed from its glory days and Gerould knows that, but he's still optimistically hopeful.
"But now, as you start the preseason, it's the first step in trying to answer all the questions that have been generated," he said. "And trying to determine whether or not the optimism that we all feel as you start a new season is valid. And so tonight, first step in that journey."
Gerould's career isn't limited to just the Kings. He's nearly recognized as much nationally as he is locally. His career includes more than 1,800 televised events, including NFL play-by-play, Olympic coverage and 37 years in motorsports with ESPN, ABC and NBC.
Gerould began his broadcasting career in high school and went on to work in Chico and Sacramento, including 12 years at KCRA-TV (Sacramento). He remains a respected and enduring figure in Sacramento sports media while bringing Kings basketball to fans across the region.
His name should be mentioned in the same breathe of radio voices like legendary Los Angeles Lakers voice Chick Hearn and longtime Phoenix Suns voice Al McCoy.
"It's hard for me still to wrap my mind around it. I look at the legendary Chick Hearn, and I look at Al McCoy and Phoenix, there's two sterling examples of not only being great broadcasters, but great individuals," Gerould said. "And they paved the way in that sense. And the fact that, you know, I joined kind of that select group is hard for me to really, you know, wrap my arms around, but at the same time, it's pretty darn cool. And I'm terribly proud of that. I'm humbled by it, but let me tell you, I'd be the first to say, I'm blessed to be able to be starting a 42nd year as a broadcaster in this Kings organization."
Gerould has seen a lot of hoops and yet still, he is still taken away by the talent of all the athletes he watches.
"There'll be some nights when suddenly, it'll take your breath away. And the challenge of trying to find a way on radio to be able to describe that, so that whoever may be listening can appreciate the electricity of the moment, the special stamp that elicits, you know, the reaction from the Kings fans," he said. "Those are magical moments, and you, as a broadcaster, you want to be able to rise to the occasion. You want to be able to be there and consistent in the way you create or paint the picture. So, you hope that all of those good things come together."
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 5: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves moves the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during a preseason game on October 5, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. 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
Folks, you know the movie The Polar Express? The silver bells are ringing, and even though I doubted the summer would ever end, I can hear the sleigh arriving.
The good news? Basketball is back. The bad news? Tonight can barely be considered basketball. Both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Milwaukee Bucks were, at best, rusty. The teams shot a combined 70/178 from the field and 25/82 from deep. That’s 39% and 30%, respectively.
Still, there was so much to keep track of in the first game of the season.
While it may not be a game that will matter or even count toward stats, but it does count towards vibes. The team is back, the season is on, and there are so many clips worth staring at. Before we get to that, before we get to the numbers and box scores, let’s take a deep breath and really embrace this moment.
From now until the start of summer, we will have basketball. As bad as the days get, as hard as work or school or life may be, there will be time to watch a game.
Personally, I will be spending this season trying to get my partner to enjoy an introduction to the MWNBA, and I will be sharing some of those stories here.
This is a season of new beginnings, but also one of fresh air. Welcome to the ride, welcome to opportunity and optimism.
Welcome to the 2026-27 season.
The LaMelo Ball Show gets going
Fans have been champing at the bit to see what LaMelo could do ever since the Minnesota Timberwolves traded Naz Reid and a first-round pick (along with a handful of fake assets) to bring in the enigmatic point guard. They got their taste of it today.
Take a look at this pass. When was the last time the Wolves had someone do this?
LaMelo Ball incredible no-look drive-and-kick pass to create a wide-open 3 for Ayo Dosunmu pic.twitter.com/zFvUnx7Xdw
Well, if tonight was any indication, the ball will be moving with this Minnesota squad. It wasn’t just drive and kicks, which was what we were told was the focus of head coach Chris Finch’s offense; it was toss aheads and returns, loops and loops of running around each other.
The main bit of film study that was highlighted in the trade was the guard to guard pick and rolls that Ball used to run with Charlotte Hornets guard Kon Knueppel. That popped off the screen in just the two quarters that Ball and Anthony Edwards played together.
Funny enough, it was Edwards who made the biggest changes. He has improved his screen setting and was willing to really make contact and then roll to the rim, even when LaMelo was already making his way to another read.
There was also clearly a prioritization of pick-and-rolls in general. Both Rudy Gobert and Joan Beringer figure to be a big part of the rotation as the current and future cornerstones of the team’s frontcourt, and the Wolves got them easy shots early.
But that brings us to our next topic.
Joan Beringer is a foal
Did someone say Joan?
The second year Wolves big man is still just as raw as he is intriguing, but there are continued signs of growth and creation to be found.
Beringer was seemingly the only player to avoid the same rust that everyone on both teams was playing with, scoring 12 points on 5/8 shooting with seven rebounds in just 15 minutes. He looked far less sea-legged than he did eight months ago, instead moving with intentionality both on offense and on defense.
He does still have a penchant for fouling a lot, but that is a problem for most young centers that they grow out of. While that still needs work, Joan’s on-ball game is already rapidly reaching some level of DEFCON for Project Giannis in Minnesota (do not take this seriously).
Beringer will ultimately be the deciding factor in whether the Wolves can transition to a full retool as Rudy Gobert ages out of being a useful player. If Joan can become the starter and can anchor the defense as a Clint Capela type, the Wolves would have four of their five starters locked in going forward, all under the age of 27.
That still leaves the ever present power forward question, but there’s something we all need to take a closer look at in regards to that.
Who wants to talk about Jonathan Kuminga?
Do you, dear reader, want to know how Jonathan Kuminga played? Are you excited to learn about the biggest question mark the Timberwolves have had since they took Derrick Williams in the draft and shrugged their shoulders at his development? How much do you like variance in seasonal outcomes as decided by one player?
Well, I’m sorry, but those are questions that need to wait for the regular season. The Wolves had fun tonight. They played fast and loose. They gave up 14 offensive rebounds and turned the ball over 11 times.
They also looked like a team that loved how they were playing. Kuminga scored just eight points tonight, but his most thunderous basket was the one that embodied the way Minnesota was playing.
It was just plain enjoyable. And for a player like Kuminga, who has had his career defined by how little he is allowed to enjoy himself, that may be worth its weight in gold.
Good night, Wolves fans. Enjoy this dunk and enjoy this moment.
Please remember that we all asked for this, and that we should enjoy this season as much as we can, no matter what happens.
The Wolves take a rare trip to Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. Why? They’ll get the return of Tyrese Haliburton at his old college barn, the home of the Iowa State Cyclones. The game against the Indiana Pacers tips Wednesday 10/7 at 6:00pm CT. You can catch the game on DAZN-MIN.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 05: Cameron Carr #43 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes in for a slam dunk against the Sacramento Kings in the first half of the preseason game at Golden 1 Center on October 05, 2026 in Sacramento, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers began their preseason with a 127-103 win over the Kings on Monday night. They led by as much as 33 points and shot 50% from the field and 45.5% from behind the arc. Los Angeles also dished 29 dimes as a team.
Quentin Grimes got the offense going with the first four points. Luka Dončić missed his first two field-goal attempts, while Matisse Thybulle drained a triple for Los Angeles. Darius Acuff Jr. and Zach LaVine combined for eight for Sacramento.
At the 6:50 mark, the Kings were up by one.
Luka started heating up, draining back-to-back triples. It started a 10-2 run for Los Angeles that included a barrage of threes. The Lakers led by six with Luka now in double figures with 13 points.
An assist from Sandro Mamukelashvili led to a wonderfully nasty dunk from Grimes, who now had eight points. The purple and gold led by eight at the end of the first.
Jake LaRavia started the second period scoring four in a row for LA. Acuff Jr. scored on a jumper for the Kings. Los Angeles was cooking from behind the arc, shooting 61%. LaRavia and Grimes knocked down back-to-back triples, forcing Sacramento to call a timeout.
Thybulle added to the onslaught from behind the arc, his second of the half. The Lakers had three players in double figures: Luka with 13, LaRavia with 12 and Grimes with 11. Thybulle was close behind with six.
Luka then proceeded to drain another triple. Cameron Carr scored four points, two of which came on a fast-break dunk. Los Angeles was on an insane 31-5 scoring run.
The Lakers have 19 points off 15 Kings turnovers and it's not even halftime
The Kings put together a cute little 9-0 run, but it didn’t matter because the Lakers led by 26 at halftime.
Ziaire Williams started the third period with his third 3-pointer of the game for LA. The energy dropped significantly as both teams missed many shots. Los Angeles still had all the momentum, though, leading by 24 at the 6:35 mark.
Carr was having a solid showing, shooting 57% from the field for nine points. Jaden Hardy saw some playing time and knocked down a triple for the Lakers. Sacramento’s rookie Acuff Jr. led the team in scoring through three quarters with 19 points.
At the end of the third, the purple and gold were up by 22.
The final frame was cardio, with the deepest depths of the Lakers bench getting all the playing time. Jaden Hardy, Chris Mañon and Carr were the standouts of the final frame.
Key Player Stats:
Luka ended with 21 points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals. Grimes finished with 16 points, shooting 5-7 from the field. LaRavia had 12 points with three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Rookie Cameron Carr had a stellar showing, scoring 19 points with three rebounds, two assists and two steals. Williams logged 13 points. He was a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc.
Thybulle pitched in with six points and two steals. Mamu scored eight points with five assists and two steals. Bronny James scored four points with five rebounds and two assists.
Adou Thiero ended with three points, four rebounds and four assists. Jaden Hardy had eight points off the bench.
The Lakers’ next preseason matchup will be against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday at 7:00 PM PT.
Lakers star Luka Doncic, right, shoots over Sacramento Kings guard Emanuel Sharp during the first half of the Lakers' preseason win Monday night. (Sara Nevis / Associated Press)
The Lakers pressed, switched and swarmed from the opening whistle. After the Sacramento Kings were caught for a shot-clock violation on the first possession of Monday’s preseason game, Luka Doncic raised his fists toward the Lakers bench with a triumphant grin to symbolize the successful start.
But Doncic’s smile toward his teammates had a hint of sarcasm; this is still just an exhibition.
The Lakers teased their new defensive identity in a 127-103 preseason win against the Sacramento Kings on Monday at Golden 1 Center, rolling out their deep group of wings to overcome a short-handed bench.
Playing without star center Walker Kessler, who missed the game with a finger injury, and guard Austin Reaves (ankle), Doncic led the Lakers with 21 points. He took a hard knee to the side of his quad midway through the second quarter, but stayed in the game. With the Lakers up 26 points at halftime, Doncic didn’t need to return.
“We all had fun out there,” said Doncic, who relished the chance to play in his first competitive basketball game in six months, one of the longest breaks of his career. “Especially with Matisse [Thybulle] and Ziaire [Williams], just that beginning of the game, the start, that’s contagious for everybody, and how they start the game, it was inspirational.”
The star guard actually was bringing down the team’s shooting average. While he was three-for-nine from three-point range in the first half, his teammates combined to make nine of their first 13 three-pointers. Williams led with perfect three-for-three shooting from distance with 13 points and one steal while serving as the Lakers’ top on-ball defender. Thybulle, another key defensive offseason addition, had two steals and made two threes.
At halftime, coaches showed players a clip of Williams, a 6-foot-9 forward who signed on a minimum contract, guarding the ball full court. The highlight then showed how Doncic’s energy picked up. Thybulle followed suit.
“You don’t wanna be the only guy out there that’s not being physical, not picking up full, not being a pest,” Williams said. “Coming in, I knew that I saw that the team could use that, someone who could pick up full and could guard the main ball handler and really set the tone on that end. I try to just focus on that every possession.”
Coach JJ Redick, in his third season with the Lakers, said it was the first time in his tenure that he felt the team had multiple players who were capable of handling that defensive responsibility. The Lakers call it their “line of confrontation.” Williams, Thybulle, second-year forward Adou Thiero and guard Quentin Grimes were among the players who guarded the ball full court. The Lakers forced four steals in the first quarter and 15 for the game. They averaged 8.5 per game last season.
The product Monday is far from what the Lakers hope to show in their regular-season opener Oct. 21 against the Golden State Warriors.
Kessler was wearing a splint on his left pinky finger after he jammed it on the backboard during practice last week. Redick doesn’t expect any of the injuries that kept Reaves, guard Collin Sexton (lower body) and two-way forward Arthur Kaluma (lower body) to be long-term.
Reaves, who tweaked his ankle in practice, still went through his pregame warmup routine Monday.
Even without two of their three top players, the Lakers overwhelmed the Kings, who are expected to be among the worst teams in the Western Conference again. Rookie point guard Darius Acuff, the No. 7 pick in last April’s draft, had 19 points with four assists and five turnovers.
The Utah Jazz held their annual open practice for fans. It’s an awesome annual event that introduces fans to old and new players. This year, Jazz fans who went got in for free and had free J Dawgs!
It’s also worth checking the comments to see all the Jazz players commenting. Utah invited Hudson, and his family and Keyonte George welcomed him to the floor.
Perhaps some rookie duties here, but I can confidently say that Darryn Peterson is much, much, much, much better at basketball than singing. pic.twitter.com/NljlNKKJp5
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 5: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on October 5, 2026 at the Xfinity Mobile Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The wait has concluded, and the new-look Sixers look as strong as imagined through the first preseason game.
They defeated the Knicks 120-97 without the services of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Anfernee Simons, Dominick Barlow, Adem Bona and, oh yeah, LeBron James.
It was a good test for Jaylen Brown and VJ Edgecombe, who showcased the ability to hold their own without a full rotation. It was even an impressive night for the end-of-rotation guys like Jabari Walker, Caleb Love, Saint Thomas and Dillon Jones.
Call it a hangover or not, but the Sixers looked a step above the reigning champions.
The Jaylen Brown revenge tour is apparently not waiting until the regular season begins. He put up 22 points in 17 minutes against the Knicks and was effective from all over the floor.
First player reel of the 2026-27 Sixers (pre)season goes to Jaylen Brown, who looked absolutely dominant offensively on the floor tonight.
While the Sixers were absent Embiid, Maxey and James for the preseason opener, Brown flashed his volume scoring. He came out the gates firing from midrange and the low post to establish a rhythm, and ended up accounting for nine of the first 13 Sixers points.
He got it going from three, including a straightaway pull-up jumper and fadeaway corner three in the second quarter. He had a block on Mohamed Diawara just following the fadeaway, showcasing his two-way ability early in his first Sixers campaign.
If anything, Brown’s performance displays the luxury Philadelphia has in scoring power. Three of the four main offensive engines were out, and they did not skip a beat against strong wing defenders on New York.
VJ Edgecombe:12 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, 4-of-5 FT
Edgecombe made his presence felt mostly in the paint, as his drives look as explosive as ever. He did not let a poor shooting night deter him from attacking the paint when given the oppurtunity, and was rewarded with a handful of free throws.
VJ Edgecombe looks like an improved, stronger version of the player we got to know in his rookie season. Some shooting inconsistency, but good buckets and great assists fill his reel from tonight's preseason matchup.
Edgecombe’s playmaking was on full display. He found Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for an easy look in transition and a beautiful dime to Dillon Jones late in the second quarter. Then, to finish the half, Edgecombe spun out of a double team on a drive, and found Caleb Love on the wing for the buzzer-beating triple before the break, giving the Sixers a 72-58 advantage.
Walker has made things interesting at the bottom of the rotation after his strong performance against New York. He was the best rebounder for the Sixers and was being a pest on the other end, doing the best he could against taller matchups like Karl Anthony-Towns or Diawara.
He finished 3-of-5 from three, joining Brown and Love as the only Sixers to make three from deep. He had a nice block on Pacôme Dadiet near the end of the first half. Walker took advantage of Dominick Barlow’s absence.
Last player reel for the night is a quick one for Jabari Walker, who really impressed me tonight with his long-range shooting and aggressive/effective rebounding.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 5: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks moves the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during a preseason game on October 5, 2026 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. 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
In the first game of their new era, the Milwaukee Bucks showed glimpses of their potential in front of Fiserv Forum fans, but ultimately came up short, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-97 in their preseason opener. Despite fouling out in just 14 minutes, Ryan Rollins led the Bucks with 15 points, while Kel’el Ware chipped in with a double-double, and both Bucks rookies showed promise. The Timberwolves were led by sophomore Joan Beringer, who finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.
After much anticipation, Taylor Jenkins rolled out his first set of Bucks starters—Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyler Herro, and Ryan Rollins—opting for veteran experience. Rudy Gobert won the tip but action lasted just two seconds before a technical delay. Wolves newcomer Jonathan Kuminga then opened the scoring on a slashing layup. A nice feed from Turner gave Rollins his first two and he doubled that on the Bucks’ next possession. Trailing 7-4, Rollins was sent to the locker room after a nasty elbow to the eye and the Bucks had their first substitution—Kevin Porter Jr. The Bucks generated plenty of good looks, but were largely unable to convert outside of Herro’s back-to-back threes with just over five minutes to go in the quarter. The good news? They hit the offensive glass, especially once Kel’el Ware and Jericho Sims checked in. More Bucks bricks—they shot just 6/28 for the quarter—and another technical delay brought the period to a close, Milwaukee trailing 31-20.
Ware looked to change that to start the second, nailing his second above-the-break three of the night, and despite the Bucks struggling to defend without fouling, a Turner three soon had them within three, 35-32. But Anthony Edwards sparked a 12-0 run that ended in alley-oop finishes from Kuminga and Gobert, forcing Jenkins to call a timeout. When action returned, Sims flushed his own—from Gary Trent Jr. no less (even if it might’ve been a shot)—but, moments later, the Bucks inexplicably let Jaden McDaniels sneak behind the defence for the easiest of twos after Kyle Kuzma bricked a free throw. And when LaMelo Ball swished a corner trey, things looked bleak. Jenkins noticed too, subbing in Brayden Burries for his first action. A three of his own and two assists for Trent threes brought life back into Fiserv, but Milwaukee still entered halftime with plenty of work to do, down 60-48.
Minnesota head coach Chris Finch pulled his starters to begin the second half and Rollins quickly found his groove with two triples and a sneaky layup, cutting the lead to seven. Dunks from Terrance Shannon Jr. and Joan Beringer momentarily paused the Bucks’ momentum, and by the time Jaquez was called for an eight-second violation I thought I’d developed tinnitus—there were that many whistles. With 4:42 left on the clock, Nate Ament checked in for his first action and Kevin Porter Jr. came to life with an offhand layup bookended by trips to the free throw line. But it was Ament who brought the crowd to its highest decibel reading, first with a corner three that tied things up at 74, then with an offensive rebound putback plus the harm. An ill-advised Ware three-point attempt led to an Enrique Freeman leak-out jam and, by the time the siren blared, the Wolves had regained their lead, 81-77.
Ware showed off his length to begin the fourth, swatting a shot, but three consecutive paint buckets by the Wolves extended the lead to 10 before two more forced Jenkins into a timeout. He came out of it with an interesting lineup featuring Caris LeVert as the most trustworthy ballhandler. By this point, the game well and truly felt like garbage time. Still, Burries showed promise, looking comfortable getting his own shot and setting up others, and Ware finished strong, recording a double-double as the Bucks went down 116-97.
Stat That Stood Out
0, as in minutes. That’s exactly how many Ousmane Dieng, Kasparas Jakučionis, and Bogoljub Marković combined to play. It’ll be interesting to see how Jenkins manages minutes for the rest of the preseason.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 05: Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns tries to drive around Duncan Robinson #55 of the Detroit Pistons in the first half during a pre season game at Little Caesars Arena on October 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On an early October evening, we finally arrived at a destination we’ve been pining for since late April. And while the game ultimately doesn’t count toward the standings, Monday night marked the debut of the 2026–27 Phoenix Suns as they made their way to the Motor City to tip off their preseason. The result?
The starters played only the first half, led by Devin Booker’s 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting and 1-of-4 from beyond the arc. He added three assists as well. Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks combined for 22 points while shooting 3-of-8 from three. But perhaps the biggest presence you felt Monday evening was Jordan Goodwin, who was an absolute firecracker during his 11 minutes on the floor: 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals. Goodwin was active and everywhere.
Phoenix built a 19-point lead in the first half before coughing it up in a disastrous third quarter. The Suns turned the ball over 13 times and were outscored 34–16, completely erasing the cushion they had built over the first 24 minutes. There will be plenty of teaching points for the Suns after this one. Phoenix turned the ball over 32 times, allowing Detroit to score 37 points off those mistakes. After carrying a 68-50 lead into halftime, the Suns were outscored 59-39 in the second half.
Credit the Suns, they made things interesting at the end, putting together an 8–2 run to tie the game with 12.1 seconds remaining. But Pistons rookie Ebuka Okorie out of Stanford attacked and finished with his left hand, a bucket that ultimately proved to be the difference.
The loss showed us plenty, from what the potential of this team could be to where the opportunities for improvement lie. The standings will say 0-1, but we know the preseason isn’t about wins and losses. It’s about constantly learning, regardless of the result.
Game Flow
First Half
The first bit o’ news for all of those wondering? It was Oso Ighodaro who received the start at the five, receiving the nod over Khaman Maluach by head coach Jordan Ott.
Miles Bridges wasted no time making his presence felt. After Devin Booker turned the ball over on the opening possession, Bridges chased down the transition opportunity and stole the ball back. On the ensuing possession, he cleaned up a missed Jalen Green three with an offensive rebound and a dunk. Welcome to the Valley, Miles Bridges.
After another make, Bridges buried a corner three, scoring the first seven points of the game for Phoenix.
Shortly thereafter, Oso Ighodaro jumped the passing lane for a steal. Booker pushed the ball up the court to Bridges, who dished it to Jalen Green for another Phoenix jam.
It didn’t take long for Dillon Brooks to find his first skirmish of the season. With 7:23 remaining in the first quarter, the kung fu training was officially put into action. Following an offensive rebound by newly acquired Pistons power forward John Collins, Brooks aggressively swiped at the ball and was called for a foul. Collins took exception to the manner in which Brooks attempted to dislodge it, and the two exchanged words, resulting in double technical fouls.
But Collins grabbed Brooks by the neck during the altercation, prompting the officials to take a longer look at the play. After review, Collins was assessed a Flagrant 1.
With 5:36 remaining in the first quarter, we got our first look at Khaman Maluach as he entered alongside Jordan Goodwin, who replaced Miles Bridges at the four. Collin Gillespie replaced Jalen Green shortly thereafter. Green departed having scored five points on 2-of-5 shooting, including 1-of-3 from beyond the arc.
We also witnessed one of the NBA’s points of emphasis early on. As Devin Booker attempted to come off a screen, Ron Holland II hooked him and was called for impeding his progress. Will it be something we consistently see throughout the season? Time will tell. But if Booker plans to play off-ball with more frequency, it could ultimately benefit him as he navigates screens and attempts to create separation in a manner reminiscent of Klay Thompson a decade ago.
Jordan Goodwin’s impact was immediate as he attacked the offensive glass and pressured opposing players. In his first three minutes, he grabbed three offensive rebounds, scored four points on 2-of-3 shooting, both coming on putbacks, and added a steal. He was a major reason Phoenix dominated the offensive glass early, grabbing six offensive rebounds and outscoring Detroit 13–2 in second-chance points during the first quarter.
The other reason? Khaman Maluach. His first quarter was impressive. He was aggressive on the interior, deterred shots on the defensive end, and put himself in position to protect the rim. The shooting could use some love, however, as he missed his lone three-point attempt and went 0-of-3 from the free-throw line.
After one quarter, despite shooting 4-of-14 from beyond the arc for 28.6%, the Suns led 35-21. Phoenix ended on a 9-2 run. Miles Bridges led Phoenix with seven points, while Goodwin had five rebounds and two steals. And Dillon Brooks? He had three of the Suns’ four fouls.
The nastiness carried over into the second quarter, and the Suns’ effort didn’t wane. It was apparent on one broken possession that could ultimately become a microcosm of what Phoenix is trying to establish. The Suns kept moving, kept hustling, and despite Detroit’s physicality and multiple attempts to tip the ball away, Phoenix maintained possession until Luke Kennard knocked down a 10-footer. A small sequence, but a perfect example of how hustle creates possessions.
A nice welcome to Phoenix moment, for Luke Kennard.
It's now his turn to win on a tag, gaining a possession. Then, he's rewarded by the game, with a good look at the basket shortly thereafter.
Jalen Green appeared to have a little rust in his new point guard role. There were a couple of possessions where he delivered passes without a clear recipient, almost like a quarterback throwing into a zone and hoping one of two crossing receivers comes down with it. He looked a little fatigued as well, although some of that could be attributed to the effort he was putting forth on the defensive end, which deserves credit. One point of emphasis for Green moving forward will be driving with his eyes up rather than his head down. But you get him out in transition…
Yes, his explosiveness appears to be back. Green continually attacked the cylinder, flying through the air and getting to the line as a result. He finished the second with 4 points in the quarter, all coming at the line.
The three-ball started falling with much more regularity as well. Halfway through the third quarter, Phoenix was 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, helping push its lead to 19 points. Add in the fact that Detroit was shooting 29.4% from the field, and the Suns were comfortably in control.
After scoring 35 points in the first quarter, the Suns added another 33 in the second, shooting 58% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc in the quarter. Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Jalen Green were all in double figures at the half, with Booker leading the way with 13 points while adding four rebounds and three assists.
Phoenix outscored Detroit 26-14 in the paint, 12-5 in second-chance points, and 7-2 in fast break points, carrying a comfortable 68-50 lead into halftime.
Second Half
The second half began with Collin Gillespie, Luke Kennard, Jordan Goodwin, Rasheer Fleming, and Khaman Maluach. The starters? They were done for the night. Detroit kept its starters on the floor except for Cade Cunningham, giving Phoenix’s second unit a chance to compete against much of the Pistons’ starting five.
Fleming looked a little choppy defensively and somewhat unsure when pursuing rebounds, but he confidently knocked down his first three-point attempt, which came off a dribble handoff from Gillespie.
Maluach continued to make his presence felt. On one possession, John Collins came charging toward the rim looking like he wanted to throw down one of his patented posterizing dunks. But when Maluach went up to challenge him, Collins adjusted his shot. He knew he wasn’t going through him. Then came a play in transition in which Maluach was rewarded with an easy dunk. He certainly looks bigger and more powerful this season, and that added strength is already showing itself on both ends of the floor.
Koa Peat entered the game for the first time midway through the third quarter. On his first opportunity, Peat went left and attacked the basket, drawing a foul as the Pistons pushed Duop Reath into him. Peat went to the line for his first points in a Suns uniform, but missed both free throws.
He would score his first points moments later, in true Koa fashion.
The lead the Suns had built in the first half completely dissipated in the third quarter as the second and third units struggled to hold onto the ball. Phoenix scored only 16 points in the quarter despite shooting 40% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc. The problem was the 13 turnovers.
Detroit took full advantage, outscoring Phoenix 14-6 in the paint and 14-5 in points off turnovers. The Pistons won the quarter 34-16, closing it on a 22-3 run to erase what had once been a comfortable Suns lead. After three, we were right back where we started, 84-84.
Jamaree Bouyea provided a spark to start the fourth, knocking down a three and attacking the basket for five quick points. But an 8–0 Detroit run followed, giving the Pistons their first lead of the game.
The fourth quarter was much of the same. Sloppy play, turnovers, and clearly a group of players still learning how to play with one another and settle into their roles. Bouyea had a rough go of it leading that unit. He had no trouble finding his own offense, but some of his turnovers were simply ugly. With three minutes remaining and the Suns trailing 99–97, an ill-advised foul by Bouyea on Bryce Williams gave Detroit three free throws. When Rex Chapman starts singing Barnum and Bailey circus music on the broadcast, you have a pretty good idea of what it looked like on the court.
The same could be said for Detroit. This was their third unit as well, and the execution wasn’t exactly pretty on that side either.
With time running out, the Suns put together a late 8-2 run to tie the game. Jamaree Bouyea brought the ball down the floor with 24 seconds left, nearly losing it before recovering and knocking down a three to pull the Suns within 107–105. On the ensuing inbound, Kennedy Chandler came up with the steal and found Koa Peat, who threw it down to tie the game at 107 with 12.1 seconds remaining.
Detroit got the ball back, and rookie Ebuka Okorie went left and finished at the rim with 5.8 seconds remaining, putting the Pistons ahead 109–107. Jamaree Bouyea had one final opportunity, hoisting a three as time expired. It hit the rim and bounced out. Ballgame.
Up Next
Phoenix heads to the Windy City to play the Chicago Bulls for Game 2 of the preseason. We’ll see you then!
With the NBA season right around the corner, and the Utah Jazz presumably being competitive for the first time in far too long, everyone is right to place the majority of the responsibility on the shoulders of our biggest names. We just drafted Darryn Peterson #2 overall in the NBA Draft, we just signed Keyonte George to a contract extension, and we just traded away a massive amount of draft capital (not to mention we’re paying him $50 million a year) to acquire Jaren Jackson Jr. These guys will obviously play a huge role in our team’s success this year, but if this isn’t a true team effort from everyone involved, I believe that we are doomed to fail.
Long gone are the days in the NBA where we could throw 3 superstars on the floor and ride on their coattails. The league is much too talented for that type of strategy to work, so even though the aforementioned players will grab the headlines whether we win or lose, there are three players in my mind that will need to step up their game if the Jazz want to be successful. This is the first edition of my mini-series “The Burden of Expectation,” and I don’t think that there is anyone more vital to this team’s success from a role player’s standpoint than Kyle Filipowski.
I think that enough time has passed to where I can now comfortably say that Walker Kessler will be missed. The draft picks that we received in return are great, and I’m sure that Trader Danny will put them to good use eventually, but our frontcourt depth chart is looking… grim.
Our frontcourt depth wouldn’t have been elite even if we were able to retain Kessler’s services, but now that he’s in Tinseltown, it is quite worrying. Now, I’m not on Will Hardy’s staff (although I am open for hire), but I’d imagine that our starting lineup goes one of two ways:
a) Start Jaren Jackson Jr. out of position at the 5, Lauri at the 4, Ace at the 3, Darryn Peterson at the 2, and Keyonte George at the 1.
Or
b) Start Jusuf Nurkic at the 5 and push Ace to the bench, allowing JJJ to play his natural 4 position and making Lauri play out of position, and if the preseason is anything to go off of, it seems like this will be the starting lineup.
Regardless of which path we take, I don’t like the reality very much. Despite being 6’10”, JJJ averages 5 more rebounds a game for his career than I do, and with this being his 9th year in the league I don’t see a scenario where he magically becomes a double-double threat every night. Even if we were to start Nurkic, who IS a double-double threat, I worry about his ability to stay on the floor for the entire year and what other teams would do to him in the pick & roll. There is so much size in this league, and while casual viewers of this game will have you believe that just shooting from deep is the key to winning games, I believe that if you don’t have players on the floor who can fight for rebounds it will put your team at a significant disadvantage.
Lauri Markkanen isn’t exactly a Quincy Acy out there either, averaging 7 rebounds a night last season. When you look at some of the league’s best front court players, you’ll notice that even if they are considered elite at a different skill, they also show up on the glass. Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Victor Wembanyama all averaged over 11 rebounds a game last year, and when a potential starting frontcourt of Lauri and JJJ barely cover that combined, it’s important to look for other players who can step up. Enter: Kyle Filipowski.
Filipowski’s steady rise during his Sophomore season will get lost in the sands of time due to the team’s record, but his impact was noticed by those who were keeping a watchful eye on him. It was marginal, but he increased his scoring, rebounding, and playmaking output from his rookie season. His shooting splits did take a slight hit, but he did take over 150 more shots compared to his rookie year.
That kind of dip should also be taken with a pinch of salt as it was pretty clear, especially after the New Year, that the goal for the team was to develop and push players out of their comfort zone. Now that there are going to be define roles for this season, and now that Filipowski will have the chance to make a true impact off the bench, I think that we could be in for a very promising third year campaign from the quintessential hustle guy.
The raw counting stats won’t pop off the page, but you may be surprised to learn that Filipowski and his 0.9 steals per game was actually in the 86th percentile in the entire league last year. His forced turnovers (steals + offensive fouls drawn) was also relatively high being in the 87th percentile last year.
I will admit that most of his impact will have to be viewed through a “wishful thinking” lens, because at the end of the day scoring 11 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in 22 minutes a night isn’t going to win any sort of hardware at the end of the year. However, if you were to scale up his projected production, it could very well be the difference in a win or loss on most nights. Filipowski’s Per 30 numbers jump up to 14.6 points and 9 rebounds a night, and given our lack of size and skill in the rotation, I fully expect Will Hardy to trust a guy who’s been in his system for two years to play big minutes and fill any voids.
Again, if we were able to retain Walker Kessler, maybe Filipowski isn’t exactly needed to produce. Most third year role players aren’t ready to take that big of a leap, but that’s the essense of the burden of expectation.
The weight of the responsibility is heavy, and while you won’t find other outlets writing think pieces about Kyle Filipowski, his role and importance to this team cannot be undervalued. He can’t do it alone, of course. There are a few other players role players on our team that will have to carry the weight with him, but that’s what this team does best.
The Utah Jazz teams have always been established in team play and relying on each other to get the win. Sure, the coverage of Peterson this year will be fun, Keyonte’s fourth year is going to be very exciting, and seeing how JJJ and Markkanen play off of each other is tantalizing, but it does take a village. I believe that Kyle Filipowski is ready to contribute in a big way this year, and when he does, you remember who told you first.
Who else do you think will have an underrated impact on the team this year? What kind of rookie campaign do you think we’ll see from Darryn Peterson this year? Sound off in the comments!
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 05: Ebuka Okorie #23 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket against Rasheer Fleming #20 of the Phoenix Suns in the second half during a pre season game at Little Caesars Arena on October 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the NBA, Ebuka Okorie. The rookie guard selected 17th overall had quite an eventful first preseason game in the NBA. After not playing at all through three quarters and seeing his team go down 18 points, Ebuka entered and promptly hit a three-pointer to give Detroit its first lead of the night. He then capped it off with a game-winning drive in the game’s final seconds to give the Pistons a 109-107 win over the Phoenix Suns at Little Caesars Arena.
In a game where the Pistons starters struggled with Phoenix’s physicality and intensity, the game completely flipped when both teams turned to their benches in the second half. It turns out all those Pistons fans saying Detroit might have the deepest team in the league might have been onto something. There was just no match in size, speed, and talent between the end of Detroit’s roster and Phoenix’s.
Ron Holland scored a team-high 15 points and added five vintage Ron Holland steals, including one late that pushed Detroit’s lead from three to five with less than a minute left in the game. Dannis Jenkins was a team-high plus-15 on the night, largely behind some crisp and high-degree-of-difficulty passes and a vintage off-balance three with defenders in his face to tie the game after three quarters.
We shouldn’t handwave away the starters’ struggles, though. There was some errant passing, there were a lot of early shots, and there wasn’t a lot of rebounding. The Pistons clearly went into this game with an eye toward asking a lot of the players stepping into larger offensive roles to put their summer of work to the test. That meant a lot of ball-handling responsibility for Ausar Thompson, a lot of shooting from Holland, and a lot of center minutes for John Collins (Jalen Duren was held out as he ramps up his prep work with teammates, and Paul Reed started in his place). It wasn’t always pretty, but that is what preseason is for.
The Suns, meanwhile, wanted to keep it simple — run their offense and play with the kind of physicality that is non-negotiable for them as they seek to build on the somewhat surprising 45-win season of a year ago. Devin Booker led the Suns with 13 points, and Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks added 11 apiece. Phoenix dominated Detroit on the boards 47-35, mostly building up that advantage in the first half. The Pistons were able to counteract that with 21 steals that led to 37 points off turnovers. Most of that done against the Suns’ scrubs in the second half.
It was a fun game, and some vintage Detroit basketball. The Pistons will next play on Saturday in Washington against the Wizards. Hopefully by then we will see some Jalen Duren minutes.
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In his playing days, Kidd was a nine-time All-Defensive player, a 10-time All-Star and was the 1994-95 Rookie of the Year. He spent time with the Phoenix Suns, the then-New Jersey Nets and played one season with the New York Knicks. He was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks and won the 2011 NBA championship with them. He coached the Mavericks from the 2021-22 season until this spring when he and the team "mutually agreed to part ways."
Kidd, 53, has twice been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: as a player in 2018 and again in 2025 as a member of Team USA's gold-medal winning 2008 Olympic team.
Kidd first became a head coach with one season at the helm of the Brooklyn Nets with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry on the roster. He had a stint with the Milwaukee Bucks but was fired midway through his fourth season there. He also spent time as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers where he helped guide the team to the 2020 NBA championship in the Bubble.
The 2026-27 NBA season tips off on Oct. 20 with three games. The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons face off in an afternoon tilt, followed by an evening doubleheader which begins with LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers visiting the defending champion New York Knicks. Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs host two-time consecutive Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder in a rematch of the Western Conference Finals to cap things off.
