Only four players have scored more points than Reaves (278) this season, including Doncic (393), Victor Wembanyama (331), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (299), and Tyrese Maxey (296).
Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a 3-point basket against the Detroit Pistons in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. Getty Images
Reaves is averaging career highs in points (25.3) and 3-point percentage (41.3) while also shooting an extremely efficient 50.8% from the field.
Reaves is 15th in the league in points per game.
Of those players, only Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Wembanyama have higher field-goal percentages than Reaves. Only Jamal Murray and Steph Curry have higher 3-point percentages.
Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers moves the ball against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
When Doncic, who’s averaging a league-leading 39.3 points per game, was sidelined against the Pistons on Sunday because of lower back tightness, Reaves poured in a season-high 43 points against a team with the third-highest defensive rating in the league to lead the Lakers to a 121-116 win.
INGLEWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 8: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns looks to pass the ball during the game against the LA Clippers on November 8, 2025 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Who: Phoenix Suns (3-6) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (2-7)
When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Suns+, 3TV/AZFS
Listen: KMVP 98.7
The Phoenix Suns will need to have a short memory after being dominated by Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs last night.
Wemby walked into our building and dropped 40, 11, and nine blocks in 25 minutes without breaking a sweat. Spurs 122, Suns 96. It was a rough night. But the silver lining is that the starters were on the bench with 9:34 left. Because tonight they have the second of a back-to-back, and tired legs cannot be an excuse.
The mood in this fanbase right now is somewhere between “burn it down” and “it’s November, relax.” The Suns sit at 3-6. They’re 2-2 on this seven-game homestand. The two-game win streak over Houston and Orlando either becomes a distant memory (after a loss) or a building block if they win, because then it’s suddenly ”they’ve won 3 of their last 4 games”. So which is it?
Make no mistake about it… this is a MUST-WIN game for the Suns. These are the teams you need to beat.
DevinBooker needs help, and he needs it from the starters.
Book went 10-for-17 for 32 last night. The other four starters combined for 27 points on 10-of-36 shooting. That’s 27.8%. Phoenix shot 39.3% as a team. Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and Miles Bridges have to be the second and third options tonight, or this turns into another Booker solo show that ends in a loss.
Hunt the Clippers’ second unit.
LA snapped a seven-game skid Sunday by beating New Orleans 139-123, and the bench won that game: 59 points and 14 assists from the reserves. Gradey Dick went 6-for-7. Top-5 pick Keaton Wagler hit 3 of 4 from deep in 18 minutes. Wagler also picked up five fouls. That unit is 4th in bench scoring per game, but defensively they have some flaws. Attack, attack, attack.
Garland is the engine without Ingram.
Darius Garland went for 24 and 10 against the Pelicans. Brook Lopez added 20. Brandon Ingram (heel) and Bradley Beal (knee) are both out tonight. Gillespie, Goodwin and Green have to make Garland work on the ball, and whoever draws Lopez has to drag him out to the perimeter, where his feet are slow.
Key to a Suns Win
Rebounding is going to be the key for every Suns game, as the Spurs outrebounded them by twenty, 55 to 35.
LA shot 55% from the field (46 of 84), went 16-for-38 from three, and piled up 34 assists against 11 turnovers in their win over the Pelicans. They lived at the line, too: 31 of 38 from the line while the Pelicans committed 29 fouls. The glass was basically even, 36-35 Clippers, with LA grabbing 13 offensive boards.
Bench Mob
The starters held serve, every one of them finishing between +2 and +9. The bench blew it open. Max Strus and Gradey Dick were both +17, Kobe Sanders was +15, and Keaton Wagler was +11. LA won the fourth quarter 37-28.
Collin Gillespie, anyone? It’s been a rough season for him, and boy could they use a breakout game in this one from him, not only for his confidence, but to outduel the Clippers’ bench. Jordan Goodwin is back as well, so that hopefully provides a spark.
Do not take them lightly. The Clippers are 2nd in the NBA in 3PT% and 4th in bench scoring. Despite their flaws and 7-game losing streak, they are fully capable of getting hot from deep and stealing this one.
The Suns bounce back, and their offense breaks out in a win over the Clippers. We enter the 10-game mark at 4-6, with mixed reviews, but ultimately trending in the right direction, winning 3 of 4.
SACRAMENTO — The Kings still search for their first home win of the 2026-27 NBA season after falling to the Orlando Magic by a final score of 107-100 on Tuesday night at Golden 1 Center.
The Magic, even without their best player as Paolo Banchero remains sidelined with a right ankle sprain, picked up just their third win of the season against Sacramento.
As we’ve seen far too often this season, the Kings’ slow start to the game wound up haunting them. Sacramento turned the ball over eight times in the first quarter, resulting in 15 of the Magic’s 34 points.
The Kings responded with an 18-0 run through the second quarter, but the Magic never let up and fought all the way back to regain the lead and maintain it until the final buzzer.
Zach LaVine led the way for the Kings with 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting and 6 of 9 from 3-point range, with three rebounds, two assists, two steals but five turnovers in 33 minutes.
Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr. trailed just behind him with 29 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field and 4 of 9 from downtown, with four rebounds, six assists, two steals and four turnovers in 40 minutes.
Keegan Murray came off the bench for the second consecutive game after returning from an ankle injury. He finished with 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting, with two rebounds, one assist and two turnovers in 24 minutes.
Malik Monk played just three minutes off the bench. Rookie guard Emanuel Sharp played 19.
Precious Achiuwa started for the Kings but left the game early and didn’t return with a leg contusion. LaVine also went to the locker room after rolling his ankle but returned.
The Kings, who dropped to 1-10 on the season, continue their seven-game homestand against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, when they will continue their search for their first home victory.
Here are the takeaways from the Kings’ loss:
Same ol’ Acuff
Darius Acuff Jr. entered Tuesday’s game leading the NBA in minutes played per game at just above 37.
Coach Doug Christie was asked about it pregame, and he admitted Acuff’s minutes should be “a tick” under where they currently are, but said he enjoys watching him play and seeing him on the floor.
On Tuesday, Acuff played 40 minutes, finishing with 29 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field and 4 of 9 from downtown, with four rebounds, six assists, two steals and four turnovers.
Longest streaks of 20+ point, 5+ assist games by rookies in NBA history:
Oscar Robertson 25 (1960-61) Michael Jordan 13 (1984-85) Allen Iverson 11 (1996-97) Darius Acuff Jr. 7 (2026-27) pic.twitter.com/wbnyRr39H7
The rookie really has become one of the few consistent bright spots for the Kings this season.
LaVine’s well-rounded effort
After a rocky start to this game, the Kings got going a bit toward the end of the first quarter.
The momentum continued into the second quarter, as Sacramento’s offense came alive with an 18-0 run that began with Keegan Murray’s first 3-pointer of the season.
Zach LaVine was a massive part of that run — on both ends of the floor. He had nine points in that stretch before being substituted out of the game.
Orlando went on a run of its own with LaVine on the bench, responding with an 8-0 run to get right back in this game and eventually regain the lead.
LaVine was thrown back into the game after about two minutes of rest on the bench.
After scoring four points in the opening quarter, LaVine dropped 11 points in the second.
He was plus-8 in the first half in plus/minus rating, while every other Kings starter was minus-7 or minus-8.
After a brief injury scare, LaVine finished with a team-high 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting and 6 of 9 from 3-point range, with three rebounds, two assists, two steals and five turnovers in 33 minutes.
Off night for Domas
Sabonis returned to action Tuesday after missing Sunday’s game against the Miami Heat with left knee soreness.
But it was an unusual showing from the double-double machine.
He went three quarters without attempting a single shot, and his first attempt came from beyond the arc after 22 minutes of playing time.
That isn’t entirely shocking, as Sabonis is averaging just 9.0 field-goal attempts this season.
But what was a bit more concerning were his rebound numbers.
Sabonis, who is averaging an impressive 14.6 rebounds per game this season and nearly 11 throughout his 11-year NBA career, had just two rebounds on Tuesday.
He finished with zero points, two rebounds and five assists in 24 minutes.
Perhaps his knee still was bothering him, but nonetheless, it was an uncharacteristic showing from the rebounding machine.
ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 9: Collin Sexton #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on November 9, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Boatman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Over the past two games, Collin Sexton has been indispensable in powering the Los Angeles Lakers to wins with their star guards, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, each missing one contest.
Against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday, the veteran guard tallied 17 points (5-of-10 shooting), two assists and two rebounds. A day later, he followed that up with 18 points (6-of-11 shooting), six assists, two rebounds and one steal in Monday’s win over the Atlanta Hawks.
If those consecutive performances are any indication, Sexton could be finding his footing after a slow start to 2026-27, which featured a calf strain that hampered him during training camp and preseason.
Through his first nine appearances, he averaged 8.7 points while shooting 40% from the floor and 25.8% from deep (49.5% true shooting). In this week’s pair of victories, he’s averaged 17.5 points on 52.4% shooting and 50% from deep (64.4% true shooting). Following those laudatory outings, Sexton said he feels he’s inching closer to fully being himself again.
“I think maybe another week and a half, two weeks and I think I’ll be back,“ he told reporters Monday. ”Right now, these last two games felt really good. So I’m moving in the right direction.”
As Sexton works to rediscover his rhythm, he’s embracing patience.
“That’s one word I’ve been using each and every day,” he said. “I would say each and every day is going to have its ups, have its downs but I’m blessed to be healthy enough to go out.”
JJ Redick mentioned pregame that he uses the word "patience" with Collin Sexton.
Collin on how challenging it's been being patient after being sidelined for several weeks during training camp/preseason with a calf strain: "That's one word I've been using each and every day…I… pic.twitter.com/MNFcjrwxcA
Head coach JJ Redick is counting on Sexton to help steady second units for the Lakers, given he’s their most talented scorer and qualified initiator off the bench. After Monday’s win, he spoke about Sexton’s role in keeping the offense humming when the speedy guard is at the forefront.
“I think the biggest thing [is] we’re trying to get organized and and there’s glimpses of really good organization when he’s out there as the primary ball handler,” Redick told reporters. “We got a little squirrely there at the end of the second quarter. I thought, for the most part, outside of the first few minutes in that third quarter where I had to call the early timeout, I thought we did a good job of just being organized and trying to get good shots. That’s how you end up with 124 points against a good team.”
Luka Dončić is playing as though he’s on a revenge tour and every opposing player has former Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison’s face superimposed on it.
Austin Reaves is playing as though he were shortchanged by signing a four-year, $180 million deal over the summer, the richest contract in NBA history for a player who went undrafted.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots against Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum during an NBA game, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
Walker Kessler is playing as though he’s hellbent on fulfilling his vow to “run through a wall” for the Lakers after they emptied their treasure trove of draft capital to acquire him in July.
And the Lakers’ role players are playing as though they deeply understood the assignment when they joined a 17-time championship franchise.
The Lakers have the league’s best record at 10-2. They’ve won six games in a row.
They’re the real deal.
They could win it all this season.
That isn’t a sentence we thought we’d write heading into this season. Not with nine new players. Not with so many question marks around their perimeter defense. Not with their lack of depth at backup center.
But now, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka looks like the Albert Einstein of basketball rosters and coach JJ Redick looks like a superstar whisperer.
The Lakers last won a championship in 2020, their first title in 10 years.
They could snap their six-year drought this season.
Dončić is on a historic tear, averaging 39.3 points (49.8% shooting from the field, 40.7% from beyond the arc), 7.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists and two steals per game.
In his first nine games of the season, Dončić scored 361 points, surpassing Michael Jordan’s 347 points in 1986-87 for the most points scored through that period in modern NBA history.
But what really made the Lakers look like contenders is how they played without Dončić (lower back tightness) on Sunday against the Pistons.
Austin Reaves (15) of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after a late second-half 3-point basket against the Detroit Pistons in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. Getty Images
Without the league’s current front-runner for the MVP Award and against a Pistons team with the third-highest defensive rating, Reaves scored a season-high 43 points in the Lakers’ 121-116 win.
He reminded everyone of what he can do when he’s unleashed.
Reaves has quietly been putting together a spectacular season. He’s averaging 25.3 points on a very efficient 50.8% from the field and 41.3% from beyond the arc.
He’s the 15th leading scorer in the league, and of those ahead of him, only Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis and Victor Wembanyama have higher field-goal percentages than Reaves.
And only Jamal Murray and Steph Curry are shooting at a higher percentage from beyond the 3-point line.
Dončić and Reaves are the NBA’s highest-scoring duo by a mile, averaging 64.6 points, 12.6 more than the second-leading duo of Steph Curry and Yaxel Lendeborg, who are averaging a combined 52 points per game.
Then there’s Kessler, who’s averaging a double-double with 14.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
The Lakers’ Big 3 is ferocious.
But it doesn’t stop there.
When Reaves was out for Monday’s 124-114 win over the Hawks because of an illness, Dončić got help from the Lakers’ reserves, with Collin Sexton having an 18-point, six-assist performance and Sandro Mamukelashvili pouring in 23 points and grabbing eight rebounds.
Los Angeles Lakers center Walker Kessler (14) shoots against Atlanta Hawks center Jock Landale (31) during an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, in Atlanta. AP Photo/Mike Stewart
The Lakers are great.
They’re deep.
They’ve soared past their expectations.
The Lakers have the highest offensive rating in the league at 121.5. And even though they’re 19th in defensive rating (113.8), they rank second in the league in steals per game (10.8), second in total deflections (240) and third in blocks per game (6.4).
Kessler leads the NBA in contested shots (140).
Heck, even Dončić, who has notoriously been slammed for his defense throughout his career, is showing a lot of effort on the less glamorous end of the court. He leads the league in defensive loose balls recovered (nine) and is tied for second in charges drawn (four).
Entering this season, it was presumed that the Lakers needed time to jell. It seemed as though they had major holes. They weren’t ready to compete with the league’s elite teams, such as the Thunder, Spurs or Knicks.
Well, we were all wrong.
The Lakers have sprinted past their doubters, proving that they’re a team to watch.
But the Warriors star forward and four-time NBA champion is more reserved regarding his personal life.
Draymond Green (23) of the Golden State Warriors looks on during a play-in tournament game against the LA Clippers at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif., April 15, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
This is why it was fun for fans to see his daughter, Hunni, be shown on Chase Center’s center-hung screen during the Warriors’ blowout win against the Pelicans on Monday night.
At a break in the game, the Warriors’ in-arena cameras panned to Hunni Green while wishing her a happy birthday.
Draymond Green’s daughter Hunni being shown at a Golden State Warriors game. (X/@957thegame).
Bay Area news station 95.7 The Game made an X post that showed a snippet of Green’s screen appearance with the caption, “Happy Birthday to Draymond’s daughter, Hunni! .”
It has gone viral, tallying over 240,000 views in about 14 hours. And the most common comment is fans noticing how similar Hunni and Draymond look.
“Daddy’s genes are strong. Happy birthday little girl. ,” one X user wrote in a comment to the original X post.
“The eyebrows and side eye that’s his baby,” added another fan.
“Got his whole face lol,” wrote a third.
Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles on Oct. 21, 2026. Getty Images
The apple clearly did not fall far from the tree in the Green family, at least in the looks department.
So the Sixers decided to have a little fun with the growing controversy when the Celtics took the floor for their morning shootaround at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The song, "Why Can't We Be Friends?" by War played on the public address system as the 76ers were on the court, according to video taken by reporters in attendance.
Brown and Tatum spent nine seasons together with the Celtics and won an NBA championship in 2022. But their fruitful on-court partnership has devolved into a war of words off the floor now that they're on rival teams.
Brown raised the temperature significantly last month with two public reveals regarding the offseason move. He initially posted an emoji of a blue hat – which is another way to say cap, or slang that someone is being dishonest – to a video on social media in which Tatum said he was caught off guard by the July trade. Brown then told reporters on Oct. 24, "There’s no beef, but it might be a little lamb chops and some gravy, and he should stay ready at all times."
The two nonetheless appeared to avoid each other when the Sixers and Celtics met in the preseason. Brown did not play in the Oct. 16 exhibition game, but both players warmed up on opposite sides of the floor and did not acknowledge each other, at least not publicly. Despite winning a title together, speculation about the partnership followed them throughout much of their time in Boston.
Tensions between the former teammates intensified after Brown became a fixture in offseason trade rumors. When the Celtics ultimately dealt him to Philadelphia in a blockbuster move, the spotlight on his relationship with Tatum only grew.
The Sixers are off to a 9-2 start heading into Tuesday's game, and acquiring Brown helped convince LeBron James to sign with Philadelphia over several other suitors. The Celtics, who got Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks in the deal, are right below the Sixers in the Eastern Conference standings with Tatum averaging more than 27 points per game and on pace to set a career high for assists.
The good vibes and serious undertones made the Sixers' attempt at comic relief during shootaround feel all the more appropriate. Watch what happened here:
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 09: Head coach JJ Redick of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on against the Atlanta Hawks during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena on November 09, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Despite missing Luka Dončić Sunday against the Detroit Pistons and Austin Reaves Monday against the Atlanta Hawks, the Los Angeles Lakers went on the road for a back-to-back set and won both games over two of the Eastern Conference’s top-four seeds.
On Sunday, Reaves’ 43 points led the Lakers while Dončić‘s 32-point, 10-assist double-double paced them Monday night. But in both outings, Los Angeles’ depth played crucial roles to fill the void vacated by the absence of a star guard. Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton and Ziaire Williams all delivered, helping propel Los Angeles to a pair of impressive road victories — and head coach JJ Redick recognized their efforts.
“I think the last two games, great examples of next guy up,” Redick told reporters postgame Monday. “…I thought Collin did a really nice job of attacking the paint and scoring. Giving us some juice, especially there in the first half. Sandro, his best game as a Laker and whatever he had, 23 points. That was awesome. Made some big time plays. I thought the two defensive rebounds he got there in the last few minutes were as big as any play he made all night.”
Walker Kessler filled up the stat sheet across both games, averaging 16.5 points, 13 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals to fortify the interior on both ends. His rebounding, finishing, rim protection and quick decision-making are integral to Los Angeles’ 10-2 start this season.
Of course, Dončić and Reaves will shepherd the Lakers’ success — as they have through three weeks — but the supporting cast members elevating their play when called upon will be necessary if the Lakers are to contend for a title.
“It’s building resiliency. JJ talks about it, going through adversity, and understanding that, to be a championship team, you’ve got to respond to that kind of stuff,” Kessler said Monday. “When they made their fourth quarter run, we responded accordingly and got the win.”
At least one of them would prefer to see Butler stick to his dayjob(s), though.
“Man, nah, nah, nah. He gotta go home,” Warriors guard De’Anthony Melton told the NBC Sports Bay Area broadcast following the 138-87 win over the Pelicans. “The next time he do something like that, he gotta go back home or do something else. Because he trippin’.”
De’Anthony Melton of the Golden State Warriors speaks to the media after a game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, in San Francisco. NBAE via Getty Images
Melton was on the receiving end of Butler’s most pointed coaching advice of the night.
Taking his usual seat on the bench, Butler traded in his typically fashion-forward wardrobe for a white pullover and black joggers — the same get-up as Steve Kerr and the rest of the Warriors coaching staff. He also grabbed a clipboard, which came in handy to remind Melton of the golden rule of basketball in Golden State: Pass the ball to Steph Curry.
When Melton checked out midway through the third quarter, Butler spelled it out loud and clear in blue ink on the clipboard and held it up for Melton — and the cameras — to see.
Georges Niang, left, and Jimmy Butler III smile after a game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Monday, Nov. 9, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Melton had just violated the one and only edict on two possessions in quick succession. Curry was open on the perimeter but Melton drove to the rim through traffic and failed to convert.
Butler offered him — and the rest of the Warriors — a simple reminder.
“All I learned is once you’re on the court with Steph, give Steph the ball,” rookie Yaxel Lendeborg said of Butler as a tactician. “Just get the ball to Steph. That’s the most serious thing he said.”
Stephen Curry (30) of the Golden State Warriors prepares to shoot against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, in San Francisco. Getty Images
Butler gave his teammates no advance notice of his plans for the game. Lendeborg even mistook him for a regular member of the coaching staff at first.
“I think it was during the first timeout. I was walking by, going to ask coach Frank (Vogel) a question and I see Jimmy. Like, what? What are you wearing?” Lendeborg chuckled. “I didn’t realize all the coaches wear the same thing until today.”
Butler’s wardrobe ensured that he would blend right in on the bench.
“I thought he looked great. Really good-looking sweater,” Kerr quipped. “He said all the right things. Team fouls. How many team fouls we had. He was really acting the part. But I also realized he was mocking us, so it hurt a little bit.”
“HE WAS REALLY ACTING THE PART… BUT I ALSO REALIZED HE WAS MOCKING US.”
It was all in good fun, but Melton agreed: he preferred Butler on the court than the bench.
“No. Just no,” Melton said with a laugh when asked about Butler’s coaching debut. “I think he just got fired today, which is actually crazy. I’m happy about that.”
MILWAUKEE, WI - NOVEMBER 8: The sneakers worn by Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 8, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
Considering the nature of that incident, it would be fair to ask if Green would have an issue playing alongside Poole again.
“I have no issue with that at all,” Green said in the locker room after the game, according to Bay Area News Group’s Joseph Dycus. “I will never stand in the way of this organization thinking they can better themselves.”
“The issue will never be me. Ever.”
Seeing those last two quoted sentences in social media posts, many fans speculated that Green was inferring Poole would be the one to have an issue with a reunion.
Green, on his podcast “The Draymond Green Show,” clarified his postgame comments, pointing out that any decision regarding a Poole-Warriors reunion comes down to the organizations, and not himself.
“What those comments were — they asked me about Jordan Poole’s comments … and they were asking me, like, how did I feel about that,” Green recalled on his podcast. “And I told them I don’t have a problem with that at all. Number one, I don’t make decisions here. I’m a basketball player. I don’t decide my own future here, let alone someone else’s …
“Number two, what I said was also, I’m an adult. So if you’re asking me as if that’s going to be a problem for me, that’s no problem for me … I’m not someone who walks around with a grudge.”
The San Francisco Standard’s Danny Emerman provided another quote from Green from Monday night, in which the Warriors veteran further explained how he has moved on from the incident, and that the decision around Poole returning does not fall on him.
“We had our issue that I f–ked up on, and that’s that,” Green said, according to Emerman. “But I’m not one to hold grudges, I’m not one to sit around and try to damper something for someone else. So if that’s what he wants, I understand that.
“But that’s not a Draymond issue. That’s a Golden State Warriors decision.”
In his podcast, Green provided an example of a similar situation, saying that Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy asked him about his thoughts on trading for then-Washington Wizards guard Chris Paul. Green recalled that he told his GM that the two did not see “eye-to-eye” and that he couldn’t say that he was “very fond of him at all.”
“I told Mike then — I said, ‘Mike, I wouldn’t stand in the way of what you think this team needs, or what can help make this team better,'” Green recalled telling Dunleavy. “I would never stand in the way of that. And so, same went for last night when I was asked that …
“… If they were like, ‘Man, we’re bringing Jordan Poole in’ — whether that’s a trade, whatever it is — and I was still [with the Warriors], that’s a non-issue for me.”
Green seems to be abstinent when it comes to personnel decisions at this point in his career, and that extends to any possible reunion with Poole.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 09: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball against Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on November 09, 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
It’s hard not to feel like you’re watching a mirage during some of these games. The level of play is excellent and the bits and pieces you might be tempted to pick at are scarce. The wins are piling up. The vibes are good. Everything is going according to plan. Nothing to see here…right?
Right! Look, I’m not going to even try to play devil’s advocate here. No one wants to be the guy pointing at the Alien dropping 40 and 11 over 25 minutes and saying, “actually, this is bad.” If that’s a take you’d like to read then I can assure the internet is full of people willing to take you up on the offer. For my part, and if you’ve come to this website today, I’m assuring you, I genuinely find it hard to think of a less interesting angle to come at this from.
Victor Wembanyama is simply brilliant. He’s been brilliant, he’s brilliant now, and he only seems to be getting more brillianter as we go along. Twelve of his fifteen made shots on Monday were dunks or layups, and nine of those were dunks. Four different teammates threw him an alley-oop. The Spurs are running a dizzying array of different motions that all end up at the same destination, which is a Wembanyama dunk. The threes, instead of feeling like something he has to do to open up the lane, now just arrive in the natural rhythm of the game. He made two threes all night, a digestif tacked on at the end of a satisfying meal.
Vic even hit a Dream Shake in the middle of the 2nd quarter that left me staring off in the distance in disbelief.
I sometimes try to avoid writing about the Victor Wembanyama of it all when I do these because it feels too easy. What did we learn from the Spurs win? They still have the best player on the planet and he helps a lot. Case closed. To his credit, he goes out of his way to make ignoring him next to impossible.
The problem, if there is one, is that regular season basketball does actually seem easy for him at this point. That’s not a mirage. I have no doubt about how hard he’s worked to achieve the level he’s currently operating on, but that doesn’t change the fact that watching him dismantle the average NBA team every other night doesn’t look very challenging. He’s like Will Hunting ranting at Professor Lambeau about how easy it is to solve those supposedly impossible graph theory equations.
Victor’s ascension this season is impressive, and I want to do my best to appreciate the casual brilliance we are privy to on a regular basis, but that greatness comes at a cost, and that cost is a raised ceiling. I simply don’t care that he can drop 50 on the Mavs or 40 on the Suns. I don’t care that he can snuff out the Blazers. I’m sure there will be another jaw-dropping stat line on Wednesday when he plays the Bulls, and I’m sure it will be met with another polite nod from me.
None of this is his fault, mind you. The schedule is the schedule and the teams are the teams. He’s taking care of business, and that’s all you can really ask of him.
I guess I’ve just spent the last nine games of this winning streak telling myself I still don’t know what I’m looking at and I really believe anyone who tells you they do is lying. The ease with which they are winning these games is real. Every conclusion we draw from it…well, that’s a little more hazy. I try to grab on to things I know. “The Spurs are Good.” “The Suns are Bad.” “Wemby is Tall,” and project out from there but I end up feeling like I’m chasing the ghost of a conclusion. The idea of a resolution instead of an actual one.
This is a champagne problem at most. Like, what, I’m having a bad time because I can’t tell if the Spurs are great, really great, or generationally amazing? A few years ago we were sitting through a sixteen-game losing streak and then an eighteen-game one, on our way to the lottery again and again. Now I’m hemming and hawing because our first brush with success last spring has got me feeling antsy.
The thing I’m dancing around here is that the Finals loss is an albatross around our necks that we’re just going to have to wear. There’s no two ways about it. I’m encouraged by the things I’m seeing from this new three-guard- Hydra, but I won’t feel comfortable until I know it can outscore Jalen Brunson when he’s going Nuclear. I love that Victor seems more calm and assured in his decision making, but I still have nightmares about KAT finding a way to neutralize him. Every time we race out to a lead this season, my brain remembers the blown leads in June.
The context of the past clouds everything from the present and I don’t think there’s an easy fix for that feeling. It shouldn’t sully our enjoyment of the current moment, but it does ground the results in a certain reality.
All of this is certainly real enough, but none of it really matters.
Not yet.
Takeaways
I don’t feel qualified to talk about what Dylan Harper is doing. It’s a level of basketball that I recognize as great but have difficulty quantifying, because my analysis tends to err on the side of “oh my God, how did he do that?” Nuance exits the room when he has the ball in his hands. There is a grace and fluidity to his game that is hypnotic, whether he’s getting to the basket with relative ease or casually spinning into a midrange jumper. I don’t know how to say this as a compliment, but it’s fascinatingly boring to watch. He’s operating at breakneck speed but still in complete control, sort of like how F1 cars can look a little blah during a race until you blink and realize they’re going like 200 mph.
The caveat with Dylan is, obviously, his youth. It’s simultaneously the most exciting and frustrating thing about him. That control I just alluded to can prove elusive sometimes. Sometimes he seems almost like he’s just watching the game happen to him and forgets that he’s more than capable of grabbing the reins. He started the game last night a little bit adrift. Whether that’s a byproduct of the three-guard lineup’s growing pains or him simply sitting back and watching Wemby cook like the rest of us, he was kind of invisible, and a guy like Harper just shouldn’t be invisible. After the game, Mitch talked about calling him out specifically during a timeout in the 3rd, and that wake-up call seemed to snap him back into place. He absolutely torched the Suns in that 3rd quarter, going 6-of-8 from the field and effectively putting the game out of reach after Phoenix briefly tried to make a run. He is, without a doubt, the 2nd best player on the team from a talent perspective, and that this already kinda feels indisputable is the most shocking thing of all.
It would’ve been so easy to just write off De’Aaron Fox this season, as evidenced by that fact that so many people did, in fact, write him off. But he’s been really fun to watch so far this year. I love the way he fits into the similar but different skill sets of our guards, and he seems a little more freed up now that Harper and Castle can take on more responsibility. He’s still so fast and he still has great vision, and last night he finished with 15 points, six assists and nine rebounds. His chemistry with Wembanyama has only gotten better, with four of those six assists going to Wemby, and their propensity for lobs and oops of all types seems to have rubbed off on everyone around them. It’s kind of exactly what you would want from a veteran leader in the starting lineup. Everyone else is right though, the Spurs probably should’ve just shipped him last summer because everyone on Twitter was mad.
Are you ever going to stop having an existential crisis about the Spurs this season?
Are you kidding? My entire brand is “existential crisis about the Spurs.” What would I even write about if not that?
You could analyze the gameplay? Trending stats? Maybe break down different plays the offense runs? Talk about defensive schemes?
You sound insane right now. Completely bonkers.
I just think people come here trying to figure out what they learned from the game and you’re only even talking about the journey through the dark night of the soul you went through on a random Monday. We’re eleven games into the season! You don’t want to, like, build to that?
Shooters shoot. I’m not going to lie to the readers about the fact that I can’t sit still and watch Wembanyama dunk on dudes without stressing about the inexorable march of time or whatever.
I’m not asking you to lie, but also, like, can you not sit still and just watch Wembanyama dunk on dudes without stressing about the inexorable march of time or whatever? Like, are you incapable of doing that?
HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 09: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets and Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets embrace during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at Toyota Center on November 09, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Rockets faced the Denver Nuggets in unfamiliar territory on Monday. The Rockets entered Monday night’s game on their first two-game losing streak of the season after their 102-99 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.
In that game, the Rockets struggled from the field as the Suns led by double digits in the first quarter. The Rockets eventually got back in the game and even took a six-point lead at one point in the second half. Still, even a fourth-quarter resurgence from Alperen Sengun, who struggled the first three quarters, wasn’t enough to keep the Rockets from dropping their second straight game.
Pregame
The Rockets welcomed the Nuggets, who are coming off a win down in Mexico City over the Los Angeles Clippers. The Rockets have been without Steven Adams and Clint Capela for several games and also added Oscar Tshiebwe to their injury report with an illness. That means the Rockets will be without all three of their backup centers, leaving Sengun as the only active center for Monday’s game.
Ime Udoka did mention how both Steven Adams and Clint Capela are targeting the upcoming road trip, specifically the Washington and Miami games, as possible return dates. That would be a welcome sight for a Rockets team that currently ranks 12th in rebounding after being near or at the top every season of Ime Udoka’s Rockets tenure.
Rockets vs Nuggets
The Rockets got off to a fast start, led by Durant, who made his first three shots, including one from beyond the arc. Durant was as aggressive in the first quarter as he has been in several games. The quarter was back and forth, as neither team could get much separation.
The Nuggets started to take advantage of the Rockets’ lack of depth at center as Jokic went to work once Sengun went to the bench. However, the Rockets put together a good finish to the quarter, and a Tari Eason 3-pointer put them up 32-24 at the end of the first quarter. Durant led all scorers with 11 points in the first 12 minutes.
The Rockets carried that momentum into the second quarter, scoring the first 11 points and building a lead of as much as 19. The Rockets played with much more force and composure than in their first half against the Suns. The Rockets had 13 assists out of their first 20 made baskets. The Rockets maintained the lead, taking a 54-40 lead into halftime.
The third quarter saw the Nuggets cut the lead to under double digits early as they started the quarter on fire from the field. The Rockets, meanwhile, saw their shooting fall off a cliff, starting 2-for-14 from the field as the Nuggets came back from an early 18-point deficit to tie the game at 5:02.
That’s when Marcus Smart and Tari Eason entered the game, and the Rockets’ defensive intensity immediately rose. The Rockets strung together good defensive possessions that led to easy baskets and pushed the lead back to nine at 71-62. Despite a rough start to the quarter, the Rockets led 77-68 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, both teams played at a high level for the first time. On one end, Sengun scored in the paint; on the other, Jamal Murray could not miss from mid-range. The Rockets had a slim six-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
That’s when Sengun took over: he not only scored in the paint to give the Rockets a 98-90 lead, but he also assisted on the next two baskets, helping the Rockets put the game away with a 110-100 win. The win snapped the Rockets’ first two-game losing streak of the season.
Postgame:
After the game, Ime Udoka, Kevin Durant, and Alperen Sengun spoke to the media. Udoka said the Rockets did a much better job taking care of the basketball and distributing it, and that they finished with 29 assists. SB Nation asked Durant whether it is easier to figure out the defense when he’s initiating the offense.
KD finished with a season high 8 assists I asked KD if it is easier for him sometimes to see how a defense wants to guard him.
“I'm better up there. When I am running off the pin downs I am cool to but like you said I don't know where the defense is.” pic.twitter.com/e78K9KiIb2
Sengun helped close out the Nuggets with his own great passing and running the pick-and-roll with Durant. Here are both players praising each other’s games after last night’s win.
Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun each had high praise for the other after last night's win.
KD on AlP play “To be honest I feel like everytime I have been playing with him about 95, 96 percent of the time he makes a solid decision.”
The Rockets now begin preparing for their old nemesis, Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors, who come to town Wednesday with an 8-3 record and have won their last eight games.
With the Dallas Mavericks down 13 points late in the first half on the second night of a back-to-back, Monday night at American Airlines Center looked very much like a schedule loss. Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving had other ideas, though, as they combined for 78 points, fueling Dallas past the Indiana Pacers in a wild finish, 125-122.
The win was the Mavericks’ third straight and moved Dallas to 7-4 on the season. It also put the Mavs three games over .500 for the first time since March 1, 2025, a date that feels a lot longer ago than it actually is for anyone who has lived through the last two years of Mavericks basketball.
Think about where this franchise was not long ago. The Luka Doncic trade. Irving’s torn ACL. A 26-56 season and back-to-back years without a playoff appearance. Oddsmakers set Dallas’ win total at 34.5 before this season, and after an opening stretch that included Houston, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, a lot of people expected the Mavs to be scrapping just to stay afloat by mid-November.
Instead, the Mavs are stacking wins, Flagg looks like an MVP candidate in year two, and Irving looks like his old self before the ACL injury happened. Most importantly, the way the Mavs are winning these games feels sustainable. Here are some of the biggest storylines from Monday night’s thriller.
Flagg Climbs Even Higher in the Teenage Record Books
DALLAS, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 9: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks dunks during the first half against the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Center on November 9, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Flagg was good in the first half, but he was on an entirely different level in the second.
The 19-year-old star scored 30 of his season-high 43 points after halftime, including 14 on 6-of-6 shooting in the third quarter and 16 more in the fourth. He finished 16-of-25 from the field, 3-of-6 from 3-point range and a perfect 8-of-8 at the free-throw line, adding 10 rebounds, six assists, three steals and a block for his fourth straight double-double.
Flagg became just the second teenager in NBA history to post at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a game, joining Kevin Durant, who put up 42 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in the final game of his rookie season with Seattle in 2008. Per StatMuse, add the three steals, and Flagg is the first teenager ever with a 40-10-5-3 line.
It was also his fifth career 40-point game, as many as the next two teenagers on that list combined (LeBron James with three and Anthony Edwards with two). His 14th career 30-point game moved him into second place for the most by a player under 20, behind only James, and his seventh 35-point game tied James for the most by a teenager. And keep in mind, Flagg doesn’t turn 20 until Dec. 21.
Mavericks head coach Dusty May pointed to how complete Flagg’s scoring package has become.
“He gets to the rim,” May said in his postgame media availability. “I think him almost being a left-handed player in the paint certainly helps. He’s a great left-footed jumper, left-handed finisher. Then he’s able to square in the air from 15, 17 feet. … The last couple of games, he’s made some threes and he’s making all of his free throws. That’s how you put up the 43 points, where you do a little bit of everything.”
It’s almost unreal just how good Flagg already is, and May is just happy he’s on his roster and not having to gameplan against him.
“He affects the game in so many ways and he makes the right plays as far as passing,” May said. “Thank goodness he’s on our team. It’s unbelievable that he’s a 19-year-old doing this.”
Flagg’s deadly midrange shot, which he worked on all offseason, is paying off in a big way, especially in clutch situations, where he leads the league in clutch points.
“I think just being able to get to my spots at a higher level and being more comfortable with that has allowed me to take a little bit of load off my body,” Flagg said. “Just kind of stopping short, raising up over people. It’s taxing going downhill all the way to the rim and trying to finish over seven-footers all night, every night. … Just trusting the work, trusting the spot work that I put in all summer long.”
Through 11 games, the reigning Rookie of the Year is averaging 25.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Again, given everything Mavs fans have been through over the last 21 months, this sort of euphoric rise back to genuine happiness watching these games is hard to believe.
Irving looks sharp on night 2 of a back-to-back
DALLAS, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 9: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates after scoring a three point basket during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Center on November 9, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Flagg was the closer on Monday night, but Irving was arguably the reason Dallas was still in the game in those closing moments.
Playing the second night of a back-to-back for the first time this season, a day after logging 28 minutes in a 130-93 win over Brooklyn, Irving poured in 35 points in a season-high 38 minutes. He knocked down a season-high seven 3-pointers on 10 attempts, went 3-of-3 at the line and finished a game-best plus-29.
After missing 19 months with the torn ACL he suffered in March 2025, Irving said he told his teammates in the locker room after Sunday’s win that he planned to play.
“When you’re in a combative sport such as basketball, some days are going to feel good, some days aren’t, especially coming off an injury or a long period of time,” Irving said. “So I just had to get my body back used to being in the flow of the game. … I was just feeling great, and just coming in to today.”
May, who said plus-minus is often overblown in a one-game sample, made an exception for Irving in this one.
“His plus-29 tonight was very indicative of how important he is,” May said. “When we were struggling to make shots in the first half, we thought we were generating really good looks. We just looked a little bit flat. I thought Kyrie’s shot-making just kind of righted the ship for us.”
It’s still early, but seeing Irving look this healthy and proving to be a seamless fit next to Flagg bodes well for what this team can accomplish this year. Perhaps the last two years of the basketball injury gods punishing the Mavs will result in some good injury luck the rest of this season.
A star pairing without the ego
DALLAS, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 9: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates with teammate Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks after scoring a basket during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Center on November 9, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The most encouraging part of all of this is just how naturally Flagg and Irving shared the scoring load against Indiana. The two combined for 26 fourth-quarter points, including Dallas’ first 13 of the period, and May said neither player blinks when the play call goes to the other.
“We’re coming out of a timeout, we may draw up a play for one of them just because the other one might have an All-League defender on him, or whatever the case, and they never roll their eyes,” May said. “They know when we’re going to one of the two, the other one’s very, very supportive because they have that much respect for each other.”
Irving, an established champion who has shared the floor with more than a few superstars over his 15-year career, is grateful that he’s able to be Flagg’s teammate, despite the two players being on different ends of their careers.
“We keep calling him a teenager, but he plays way beyond his years. We’ve got to give him his flowers,” Irving said. “Most young guys will probably move away from that contact, but it seems like this newer generation that’s coming into our league, they fear nothing. And I think he falls right in line with that. So grateful to have him on the wing with me.”
Those feelings are mutual for Flagg: “Just having [Kyrie] out there, his gravity opening the floor for everybody else, it makes my life so much easier.”
Surviving a chaotic finish
DALLAS, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 9: P.J. Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates a three point basket during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Center on November 9, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wasn’t pretty at the end, but it didn’t have to be for the Mavs to come up with another win. That’s one thing that’s been so encouraging about this fast start to the season. Dallas is finding different ways to win, whether it’s pretty or not.
Indiana’s Pascal Siakam torched Dallas for 26 first-half points on 8-of-9 shooting, but the Mavs adjusted their help defense after the break and held him to just three points on 1-of-7 shooting the rest of the way. The Pacers took a 66-56 lead into halftime and a 93-90 lead into the fourth before Flagg buried a 26-foot pull-up 3 to tie it. Irving’s 23-footer with 9:36 left put Dallas in front for good.
Leading 125-122 with a chance to put the game on ice, PJ Washington missed a pair of free throws with four seconds left, and Caleb Martin bailed everyone out by stealing Andrew Nembhard’s inbounds pass to Siakam with 0.9 seconds remaining. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was adamant that Martin fouled Siakam on that final play, but judging from the replays, it looked like Martin got all ball before ever making any contact with Siakam.
It obviously would’ve been nice for Washington to sink at least one of those free throws to avoid that last-second drama, but again, the Mavs keep finding different ways to win. How many times over the past two years have we seen a game like that end in a loss for Dallas?
Permission to dream a little?
DALLAS, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 9: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks goes to the basket during the first half against the Indiana Pacers at American Airlines Center on November 9, 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 Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As good (and fun) as the Mavs have been early on, Irving knows his team still has a long way to go to get to the level they want to be at.
“We haven’t earned anything in this league yet,” Irving said. “We consistently do it every night, and that’s how you build your identity in this league and you earn your respect. We try not to put the cart before the horse.”
With that being said, though, Mavs fans have earned the right to enjoy this start and, dare I say, dream big again. After two years of nothing but gut punches, a 7-4 start built on a generational teenager, a healthy veteran star and a team that genuinely seems to like playing together is a foundation Mavs fans have been waiting on.
Irving acknowledged the preseason doubt, saying the team heard “a lot of the noise” and chose not to let outside voices into the locker room. If he keeps playing like prime Kyrie, though, and if Flagg keeps rewriting the record books at this current pace, those voices of doubt are going to continue to get a whole lot quieter.
The Mavericks will now hit the road for a big three-game trip that will show just how real this start is, beginning Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center at 7 p.m. CT. Dallas then visits the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 14 and the Boston Celtics on Nov. 15.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 30: Jayson Tatum #0, Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics and Paul George #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Lost in the background of the highly anticipated first matchup between Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum is a return to Philadelphia for Paul George, who spent his past two seasons as a Sixer.
Both Brown and Tatum have downplayed the narrative, as hard as it is to ignore. George, who played 89 games in a Sixers uniform, is following suit.
“It’s a regular game — that’s how I’m treating it,” he said during Boston’s morning shootaround.
George said he was unsure of the reception he’d receive in his first game back to Xfinity Mobile Arena, a place where in his last appearance, he scored a series-best 23 points on 47% efficiency to go with vintage defense, forcing four Celtics turnovers and holding shooters matched up with him to 33% (5/15 FG). It played a part in Philly completing the 14th 3-1 series comeback in NBA history.
And yet, George’s brief stint in Philadelphia was defined by a core group that struggled to stay on the floor at the same time, and ran into the same second round demons they’ve yet to exorcise since the beginning of The Process.
“Had I been here 8, 9, 10 years it’d be a different story. I was there 2 years,” he said.
Interesting perspective from George on the reception he expects in Philadelphia tonight: "Not sure. In some ways, I helped land them a future piece. So with that, I'm not sure how the reception will be."
"Was there 2 years. Obviously, we didn't have the best of luck. We had a…
It’s an easy narrative to shrug off for George because, over his 17 seasons, he’s gone through this same thing before.
“He said he’s returned to four different teams before. There’s nothing new to him,” Payton Pritchard said.
George had his own contentious reunion when he played against the Indiana Pacers for the first time, followed by games against the Thunder and Clippers.
George isn’t the only Celtic currently on the roster to have experienced an anticipated reunion between a foundational player and the team that drafted him.
Mike Conley, a 12-year Grizzlies mainstay before the organization ended the Grit and Grind with a full scale rebuild, was showered with appreciation and given a hero’s welcome from the Memphis fanbase in his first game against them in 2019.
Their experiences couldn’t have been farther apart.
In the case of George, whose seven years in Indiana ended in a trade request, he first played the Pacers in Oklahoma City, struggling with foul trouble and playing just 19 minutes in an 18-point win. When he played in Indiana for the first time later that season, he was showered with boos from the moment his name was announced, and he shot just 3-of-14 for 12 points, though a late steal and two clutch free throws contributed to a 100-95 win.
“I’m happy this circus is over with. Everybody can move on,” George said after his return to Indiana.
The response was different in George’s next stop; he was given a tribute video and crowd ovation playing against the Thunder for the first time. Against the Clippers, a video tribute was also presented, but there was a mix of cheers and boos, a reaction he described as “stupid,” though he cited no ill will towards the franchise or his time spent in Los Angeles.
“The boos, I didn’t get it,” he said after his first game against the Clippers. “I still don’t get it when I go [back] to Indy, but it is what it is. It’s sports. I look forward to next year being back here and more boos.”
It’s hard to say the exact response when George’s name is called in the lineup introductions tonight. As the Celtics got rolling on their shootaround inside Xfinity Mobile Arena, the song “Why Can’t We Be Friends” by War blared from the speakers, a tongue and cheek choice to kick off what will be one of the most watched and debated rivalry games of the season.
Perhaps it’s a sign that tempers will be calm on Tuesday night. The game will be played, hands will be shaken, and hugs will be dispersed from competitor to competitor after an early November test between two Eastern Conference contenders.
.”
,” one X user wrote in a comment to the original X post.
that’s his baby,” added another fan. 
(@ohnohedidnt24) 
