Category: Basketball

Cheers rained down from the Phoenix Suns crowd in the fourth quarter, but not for the home team. No, they were for Victor Wembanyama, who had just scored his 40th point and extended the San Antonio Spurs’ lead to 30+ points. It was the type of performance where you just have to throw your hands up if you’re the opponent.

Nothing the Suns did could stop the big man, who did everything in a 40-point, 11-rebound, 8-block performance that carried the Spurs to a 122-96 win, the team’s ninth straight. Wembanyama shot 15-for-19 from the field and 2-for-3 from the three-point line, making nearly every shot he took. He made game-breaking plays with the ball in his hands, hit turnaround jumpers in the post, and slammed home back-breaking dunks, leaving no chance for the Suns to keep pace. And he did it all in just 25 minutes.

“He’s allowing the game to unfold naturally,” said Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson after the game. “He’s putting himself in position to take advantage of the opportunities that are in front of him.”

Early on, it looked like Wembanyama wouldn’t even have the best performance in the game. Suns guard Devin Booker was on fire early, scoring 15 of Phoenix’s 25 first-quarter points. It didn’t matter how physical Stephon Castle defended him; Booker was able to snake around screens and make jumpers all night. Booker led the Suns in scoring with 32 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field and made 3 of his 5 three-pointers.

It was Booker’s hot shooting that kept the Suns in the game in the first half, despite the rest of the team struggling to create any offense. A lot of that had to do with San Antonio’s smothering defense. The Spurs were on a string, getting into the passing lanes for steals, playing solid help defense, and funneling the Suns into Wembanyama, who erased their shots at the rim. Phoenix shot just 39% from the field, and the Spurs had 10 blocks and 6 steals.

From tip-off, it was clear that the Spurs wanted to get into the paint and score over the Suns’ soft interior defense. San Antonio got to the free-throw line 25 times and outscored Phoenix in the paint 62-48. The Spurs dominated the glass, outrebounding the Suns 55-35. Just about every stat around the paint swung in San Antonio’s favor.

After building a 61-46 lead at halftime, it looked like the Spurs would cruise to an easy victory. Phoenix made it a game in the third quarter thanks to some errant turnovers and shaky defense from the Spurs, allowing the Suns to cut the lead to 10 points. After a well-timed Johnson timeout, the Spurs responded; well, Dylan Harper responded.

The sophomore guard went nuclear in the third quarter, scoring 14 of his 17 points in the period. They were a loud 14 points, as Harper scored nearly every possession from the 8-minute mark to the 4-minute mark. He got his mid-range jumper working and attacked the Suns relentlessly in the half-court. Eventually, the Spurs started to clear out and let Harper work as he elevated their lead to 20 points.

A 25-point third-quarter lead quickly ballooned to 30 early in the fourth quarter, causing those aforementioned cheers from the Suns faithful for Wembanyama. With 9 minutes to go in the game, garbage time began, when Tarris Reed Jr., Carter Bryant, Jordan McLaughlin, and David Jones-Garcia got to shine.

The win was the Spurs’ ninth straight, improving their record to 9-2. It was one of the season’s most dominant performances, and it came without Devin Vassell and Tobias Harris. San Antonio’s 0-2 start is firmly in the rearview mirror at this point. And with how this team is playing, it may be quite a while until the sky falls again.

The Golden State Warriors dominated the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night, coasting to a 138-87 victory. The Pelicans were playing the second half of a back-to-back and missing several key players, including Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III. Nevertheless, the Warriors took care of business and improved to 8-3 on the season. They have now one eight consecutive games and went undefeated on their five-game homestand.

It truly took no time for the Warriors to get rolling. Steph Curry quickly found plenty of open space against the Pelicans defense. On the other end, New Orleans looked sluggish and simply lacked the firepower to generate any run of their own. Golden State led 35-20 by the end of the first quarter.

While the on-court results were fantastic for the Warriors, they did lose backup guard Brandon Williams who only played a couple of minutes before leaving the game with a left hamstring injury. He will undergo an MRI tomorrow. If Williams has to miss extended time, he would join Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody, and Kristaps Porzingis as Warriors who will be out for awhile. Will Richard could also be on that list soon if he undergoes surgery on his torn UCL in his left thumb. Gary Payton II was also ruled out with knee inflammation for Monday night’s game, although that is not expected to lead to a prolonged absence.

Two-way guard LJ Cryer got plenty of minutes in Williams’ place. Charles Bassey perhaps had the highlight of the night, blocking Derik Queen on a two-handed dunk attempt. Brandin Podziemski got the ball in transition and made a three on the other end. Queen, by the way, led the Pelicans with 16 points in the game.

By halftime, the Warriors led 72-43 with rookie Yaxel Lendeborg leading the team in scoring with 16 points on just 6 field-goal attempts (4-for-4 from three). Podziemski was right behind him with 15 points of his own. By the end of regulation, Lendeborg recorded 23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 2 turnovers while shooting 8-for-10 from the field. Podz finished tied for a game-high 25 points.

Curry carried the offensive load in the third quarter, finishing the game with 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists on 6-for-10 shooting from the field in under 21 minutes of action. De’Anthony Melton (16 points), Bassey (12), and Cryer (10) were the only other Warriors in double figures. However, 12 of the 13 Dubs who appeared in the game made at least one basket.

The Warriors will now head on the team’s first prolonged road trip of the season. While they have done an impressive job climbing the standings after an 0-3 start, Golden State’s schedule is about to get a lot more difficult. They will get the trip started on Wednesday when they face the Houston Rockets. Opening tip is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

It’s been a while since the Lakers have had a team as fun as this one, even if it is only November.

No Luka Dončić? No problem. No Austin Reaves? No problem. No Luka OR Austin? No problem. No matter the circumstances, this team just keeps chugging away.

Everyone talks about a “next man up” mentality, but this team is showing it. When one guy goes down, everyone picks up the rope together and keeps on fighting. To see this in November while knowing there’s so much more room for this team to grow this season is such an exciting feeling.

So, let’s dive into the win. As always, grades are based on expectations for each player. A “B” grade represents the average performance for that player.

Ziaire Williams

28 minutes, 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 foul, 5-10 FG, 2-5 3PT, +5

It’s hard to believe the Lakers are paying Ziaire and Matisse less than $5 million combined this season. If it were a serious award, Ziaire would have a great case for Most Improved Player. He went from empty stats in Brooklyn to key role player on a contender.

Grade: B+

Jake LaRavia

32 minutes, 4 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 5 fouls, 3 turnovers, 2-6 FG, 0-1 3PT, +0

I will forgive him for that missed dunk late because he’s always flying around the court doing things. Some of it is bad, evidenced by his five fouls, but most of it is good.

Grade: B

Walker Kessler

30 minutes, 21 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 fouls, 4 turnovers, 8-12 FG, 5-6 FT, -3

Kessler got to show off some of his playmaking chops in the last two games and has had some great passes out of the short roll lately. You can see the chemistry being built in those situations.

Grade: A

Matisse Thybulle

23 minutes, 6 points, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover, 2-5 FG, 2-5 3PT, -3

Early in the season, we were joking about Matisse only taking no-dip threes. Well, he’s started dipping on them and they aren’t going in. At least he made the most important one in the fourth tonight.

MATISSE THYBULLE HITS THE DAGGER FROM DEEP IN ATLANTA 😈

THE LAKERS ARE THE FIRST TEAM IN THE NBA TO 10 WINS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/8IJNkKWjxy

— LakersCenter (@LALakersCenter) November 10, 2026

Grade: B

Luka Dončić

39 minutes, 32 points, 8 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 steals, 2 blocks, 2 fouls, 6 turnovers, 11-22 FG, 3-11 3PT, 7-7 FT, +4

It never felt like Luka got in a rhythm in this game and then you look at the stat sheet and he nearly has a triple-double. Still, it didn’t feel like he had the same impact on the game that he’s had recently, but if he can still give you this stat line on a night like that, then it’s another feather in the cap of him being the best player in the league.

Grade: A-

Sandro Mamukelashvili

32 minutes, 23 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 foul, 7-13 FG, 5-8 3PT, 4-4 FT, +20

Without question, this is his best game as a Laker. He was knocking down open threes and, perhaps more importantly, getting baskets when Luka sat. After a string of poor outings, he picked a good time to have his best one.

Grade: A+

Collin Sexton

26 minutes, 18 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 foul, 1 turnover, 6-11 FG, 3-4 3PT, 3-6 FT, +7

The sample size of bad Sexton games is still bigger than the one of good games. However, the Lakers don’t win either of these last two games without Sexton. He stepped up with arguably his two best showings of the season when the Lakers needed another ballhandler to come in and be a positive contributor.

This also was the first game you could really see the chemistry between Sexton and Kessler, too.

KESSLER D ➡️SEXTON LOBS IT UP TO ZIAIRE🔥 pic.twitter.com/09eBMUk3S3

— Laker Performances (@LALPerformance) November 10, 2026

Grade: A

Jarred Vanderbilt

13 minutes, 4 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, 2 fouls, 2-2 FG, +7

The last two games, Vando has had a couple of nice finishes around the rim. It’d be really cool if that was a sign of something moving forward, but I’ll just enjoy what we’ve seen instead of getting my hopes up.

Grade: B

Cameron Carr, Adou Thiero

It’s exciting to see the team’s possible future getting playing time this season. Thiero continues to impress in his few minutes while Carr didn’t look out of place in his two cameos, either. Both should continue getting minutes, though Carr is a bit lower on the depth chart right now.

JJ Redick

The Lakers just had arguably their two best wins of the season on a back-to-back while shorthanded in both, so Redick is getting a ton of credit. He’s picking the right lineups, keeping guys ready and helping the team continue to improve along the way.

Grade: A

Monday’s DNPs: Jaden Hardy, Bronny James, Kevon Looney, Lawson Lovering

Monday’s inactives: Austin Reaves, Quentin Grimes

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

Originally, the Milwaukee Bucks weren’t even supposed to be the Milwaukee Bucks. “Robins” was the most popular suggestion in a statewide naming contest in 1968, but somehow the judges weren’t so sure about the less-than-fierce image of the little birds with their distinct orange-red breasts. So they opted for “Bucks,” a name that honored Wisconsin’s antlered-state animal, the white-tailed deer. Contest winner R.D. Trebilcox, who was awarded a brand-new AMC Javelin for his efforts, suggested the name because the animals are “spirited, good jumpers, fast and agile.”

Well, going by this year’s outfit, the front office might want to think about another contest.

You certainly wouldn’t blame any adult male deer for being upset about any sort of connection to Milwaukee’s basketball team these days. The current Bucks are hardly spirited, fast, agile, or, frankly, good at doing many things on a basketball court. At 1–9, they’re tied with Utah and Sacramento for the worst record in the NBA. During their current six-game losing streak, the Bucks have been outscored by 15.7 points per game. Autsch!

Knicks will face rebuilding Bucks team

New head coach Taylor Jenkins might already miss the days of coaching consummate professionals like Ja Morant in Memphis, but he should have expected these kinds of growing pains. Everybody and their grandmother knew that the start of the post-Giannis era would be painful in Milwaukee and that it would take time to rebuild a team bereft of picks, outlandish young talent, and meaningful numbers of serious basketball players.

Yes, the Bucks trot out a few solid names like Tyler Herro (21.4 points per game) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (15.2 points, over 42 percent from three). In theory, they also have some nice young pieces in rookies Brayden Burries (10.5 points) and Nate Ament (over 40 percent from three), along with former Heat hoopers Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakučionis. But that’s already where the Buck stops (no pun intended), unless you want to count what’s left of Kyle Kuzma’s and Myles Turner’s careers as promising. In reality both of them, and probably a few others, have their agent on speed dial these days, hoping for a trade out of Wisconsin sooner rather than later (see the video of an obviously overweight Turner below).

I’ve watched this 12 times pic.twitter.com/plUTOssQKo

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) November 9, 2026

The rebuilding reality is showing itself in some pretty awful numbers for the Bucks early on. Their offensive rating ranks 27th in the league, and their defensive rating ranks even worse at 28th. One thing they do plenty of is jack up triples (second most in the NBA). The only problem is they hit about a third of them. They play fairly fast, too, with the sixth-highest pace in the league. In the end, though, little in their statistical profile suggests that they actually know what they’re doing. Which, of course, is fine for a team this early in a full-blown rebuild.

Knicks looking to win 4th game in a row

What does all that misery mean for the Knicks tonight? It means they’ll have to concentrate on themselves and make sure the focus is on realizing their own potential, both in this contest and going forward. The world champions have looked a lot better lately as Jalen Brunson has rounded into form (32 points per game and 8 of 17 from three in his last two games) and their outside shooting has gotten less streaky (37.5 percent over the last three). Karl-Anthony Towns has been an Everest-sized rock so far this season, and most of the backups have conducted themselves fairly well in their minutes.

How many minutes some of those reserves see against Milwaukee will likely depend on the availability of Josh Hart, who missed Saturday’s game with right ankle soreness. A roster battle is brewing at backup point guard, with Tyler Kolek making the most of his opportunity while Jose Alvarado was briefly out with an injury last week. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out over the next few games and, frankly, over the rest of the season.

Looking over at the Bucks, it’s certainly a good problem to have. Milwaukee enjoyed some really good teams over the last decade and change and even has a mesmerizing championship to show for it. That makes the current state of the franchise at least somewhat bearable for the fans, I hope. We all know what hopelessness feels like in the NBA. But as bad as everything looks right now, better times will come. They’ll get their young stars to cheer for, and they’ll get a system in place that’s fun to watch.

And they might even be “spirited, good jumpers, fast and agile” again, just like Bucks are supposed to be.

Game Details

Who: New York Knicks (5-4) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (1-9)
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Place: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
TV: MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky

The Dallas Mavericks (7-4) were on the second night of a back-to-back when they welcomed the Indiana Pacers (3-8) Monday night. They found themselves battling back from a deficit for most of the first half, but in the third quarter they started to find a groove and ultimately pulled away for a 125-122 win in a game that came down to the final possession. Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving led the way, while players like Walter Clayton, Santi Aldama and Caleb Martin did the little things around the edges for what proved to be a total team victory.

78: Flagg and Irving combined point total

The duo of Flagg and Irving is absolutely terrifying when they are “on” and they were on Monday night. The pair dropped 78 points combined on impressive efficiency. Together, they shot 27-of-43, good for a 62.7% connection rate. Irving hit an insane 7-of-10 from downtown, with Flagg an excellent 3-of-6 in his own right. They were also 14-of-15 from the free throw line. Each player individually was a sight to behold, but the combination of what they were doing together was truly next level.

29: Irving’s plus/minus

A single game plus/minus needs to be looked at carefully, as it can be misleading. Having said that, Irving played 38 minutes and was a game-high +29 with no other player on either team being even close (the next best was +15 by Daniel Gafford and Andrew Nembhard). Irving’s presence was apparent from his scoring, but he did so much more than that as a poised floor general that helped the Mavs to victory in other ways as well.

43-27: Mavericks’ rebounding edge

Don’t look now, but Dallas once again dominated on the boards. Being +16 on the glass in a three-point game is unquestionably a big factor in why the Mavs came out on top. The best part of the disparity is that Gafford was in foul trouble most of the night and Morez Johnson, Jr. sat out altogether. Within the overall discrepancy was Dallas’ 10-1 offensive rebound advantage.

1: Caleb Martin steals

On the final possession with the Mavericks up by three points, the Pacers were inbounding from half-court. Dusty May substituted Irving for Martin for his length and defensive prowess and Martin rewarded him and Mavs nation with the defensive stop of the night. On a somewhat errant pass across nearly the entire court sideline-to-sideline, Martin streaked in and tipped the ball away from Pascal Siakam, allowing the clock to run out. Pacers’ coach Rick Carlisle was furious there was no foul call, however it appeared to be the correct no-call by the referees. Martin got his hand on the ball and tipped it well away from Siakam before the two players’ body’s made contact with each other. As a result, the Pacers weren’t able to attempt a final shot and Dallas got the win.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

Don't sleep on Cooper Flagg.

The second-year star had 43 points in the Dallas Mavericks' 125-122 win against the Indiana Pacers on Monday, Nov. 9 at the American Airlines Center. He added 10 rebounds for a double-double and six assists with three steals for good measure.

According to the NBA, the 19-year-old joins Kevin Durant as the only other player in league history to have at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a game as a teenager. ESPN adds that this is the 14th game in which Flagg has scored at least 30 points before turning 20 years old. Only LeBron James has more with 20 such games before he reached his 20th birthday.

Flagg had back-to-back dunks in the first quarter to cap an 11-0 run by the Mavericks. In one key play with less than 30 seconds left in the game, he dribbled against Andrew Nembhard, then drained a step-back jumper. The bucket extended Dallas' lead to four.

COOPER FLAGG WITH A PAIR OF SLAMS!

Steal, sprint, and jam.
Fake, drive, and slam. pic.twitter.com/SMNR7dBViy

— NBA (@NBA) November 10, 2026

Kyrie Irving contributed 35 points for the Mavericks, while Pascal Siakam had 29 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for Indiana.

This is the first time this season that Flagg has crossed the 40-point mark and the fifth of his young NBA career. In April during his rookie season, the former Duke standout scored a career-high 51 points in a loss to the Orlando Magic. At 19 years old, he was the youngest player in NBA history to reach the 50-point mark.

He won last season's Rookie of the Year award after averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.

Cooper Flagg's stats this season

Flagg is averaging 24 points, 6.6 rebounds and 7.0 assists per outing this season.

He missed one game last month against the San Antonio Spurs due to a shoulder injury suffered in an earlier game against the Pacers.

Cooper Flagg's 40-point games

Cooper Flagg has had five 40-point games in a season and a third in the NBA. Here's his highest-scoring games:

• 51 points vs. Orlando Magic on April 3, 2026
• 49 points vs. Charlotte Hornets on Jan. 29, 2026
• 45 points vs. Los Angeles Lakers on April 5, 2026
• 43 points vs. Indiana Pacers on Nov. 9, 2026
• 42 points vs. Utah Jazz in overtime on Dec. 15, 2025

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cooper Flagg joins elite company with 40-point game in Mavs win over Pacers

The Golden State Warriors are positively cruising, despite dealing with a lot of injuries. Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody have yet to play this season, and are still a few months away, while Kristaps Porziņģis is stepping away from the sport. Gui Santos and Gary Payton II have struggled with injuries in the opening weeks, and Will Richard is sidelined with a UCL tear in his thumb.

And unfortunately, those injuries took a hit on Monday, during the Warriors’ home game over the New Orleans Pelicans, as reserve guard Brandon Williams left the game with a hamstring injury and has been ruled out for the rest of the contest. As usual, Williams entered the game in the first quarter, and immediately provided a spark with an instant burst of super-speedy offense. But his initial stint on the court was short lived, and when the second quarter arrived, it was two-way contract LJ Cryer on the court rather than Williams.

In the third quarter, the Warriors officially ruled Williams out for the rest of the game with a left hamstring injury. Hopefully it’s minor, and won’t cost the electric guard much time.

Jalen Brunson said before the season that the first few weeks will “show who we truly are.”

Now that the Knicks begin their third week of this campaign, what have they shown?

“That we’re still resilient,” Brunson said after practice Monday. “That we’re still open to getting better every single day. And through the highs and lows of the season, how quickly can we bounce back?”

Head coach Mike Brown has welcomed early-season adversity, saying that he actually wanted his team to be punched in the mouth and knocked down from their championship high horse. A 2-4 start, and all the immediate discourse about what was wrong, certainly delivered that.

Now at 5-4 after winning five of their past six games, the Knicks have stabilized. Brown believes the rough start provided a valuable reminder for the team.

“The group is resilient,” he said. “[We learned] that it’s gonna be hard. This is a new year, new season and new challenges, so we have to embrace all the little details while trying not to have much slippage in our process because nobody is handing anything to us. And if we want to have success, which we’re more than capable of, that’s what some of these wins show you, that we have to go earn it.”

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Josh Hart, who missed the past two games due to right ankle soreness, is questionable for Tuesday’s game against the Bucks at Madison Square Garden. He practiced Monday.

Hart had practiced Friday before missing Saturday’s win in Cleveland. Landry Shamet started in Hart’s place the past two games.

If Hart returns Tuesday, it will be notable if he is able to play both legs of the upcoming back-to-back — the Knicks play the Cavaliers at home Wednesday — or if the Knicks sit him for one of those games.

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Tyler Herro (right knee contusion), Milwaukee’s leading scorer, is questionable to play.

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Brunson was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for last week. He averaged 27.7 points and 6.3 assists in three games — all Knicks wins.

After two garbage-time appearances, Cameron Carr received his first rotation minutes on Monday. It was a relatively brief seven minutes split across the two halves, but it was also still enough time for him to get his first NBA bucket.

In the second quarter, Luka Dončić got on the end of a loose ball and fed it to Carr for a fastbreak dunk and his the first basket of his career.

Cam’s first NBA basket? Had to be a dunk 😤 pic.twitter.com/G1deHrlyLW

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) November 10, 2026

A lot transpired over the next two quarters as the Lakers grinded out a win over the Hawks for their second straight victory. But once the final buzzer hit, Luka Dončić made sure to track down the game ball to give to his rookie.

After the buzzer, Luka Dončić immediately tracks down the basketball and secures it, presumably headed to rookie Cameron Carr for his first NBA points

— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) November 10, 2026

Can’t love this more! 💜💛 https://t.co/z2jlUvCbvB

— Tanya Carr (@TanyaCarr1) November 10, 2026

“Obviously, you always want to remember your first bucket and get that ball,” Luka said after the game. “You want to remember it. So, it was kind of important for me to grab it.”

The topic led to plenty of conversation in the locker room postgame, ranging from if players remembered their first bucket to whether they had teammates chase down the basketball after the game as well.

In light of Cameron Carr scoring his first NBA basket tonight in Atlanta, does Sandro Mamukelashvili remember his first bucket in the league?

Mamu: "Yeah, it was against the Miami Heat. It was a putback."

Luka Dončić making fun of question in the background

Mamu: "See, I… pic.twitter.com/6BOGj9BtDF

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) November 10, 2026

At the risk of sounding cliché, this team feels different than most. There is a togetherness and bond that clearly got kickstarted with the trip to Slovenia, but it’s evident in moments like this.

Not only are they looking out for each other in chasing down the game ball after the contest, but they’re making jokes in the locker room about it postgame. What a fun season this already has been with much more to come.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

In a tale of two (positive) San Antonio (9-2) halves, Victor Wembanyama put his dominant stamp on a 61-46 first half, and second-year guard Dylan Harper shined brightly in a 32-22 third period to inflate a 15-point halftime cushion to more than 30 in the 122-96 win. Instead of doing it over the second and third periods as it did in previous games, the Spurs put up 30+ point quarters through the first three quarters to build and hold its sizable advantage and moved to 3-0 on the road trip.

Wembanyama (40 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 blocks) asserted himself from the tip to put Phoenix back on their heels early on. Harper (17 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) impressed with his smooth stroke and increasing confidence as San Antonio put the game out of reach in the third quarter. De’Aaron Fox (15 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists) did the bulk of his damage in the first half. Other double digit scorers included Julian Champagnie (11 points) and Harrison Barnes (11 points), and all Spurs that saw the court tonight again scored.

Devin Booker’s otherworldly mid-range shooting (32 points and 4 assists) prevented the Suns from being eclipsed fully in the first half. However, no other Suns joined him in double digits until Khaman Malauch (11 points) did well after the outcome was decided.

Perennial star Booker (nine) was the entirety of Phoenix’s offense over the first 5+ minutes. Though they didn’t shoot particularly well, the Spurs secured and maintained a slight lead by more conventional means as their outside shots were not finding their mark. Champagnie, in particular, had to find his seeing eye in the paint before knocking down a triple. A seven-point burst by Wembanyama enabled the Spurs to leave the quarter up six.

Wembanyama figured into nearly every part of an opening 10-2 run to start the second period. The lobbing problems – willingness and competency – that plagued prior Spurs squads seemed long gone as the superstar center put up a nearly perfect shooting line from the field (6-6) and line (5-6) only 15 game minutes in. After a couple of free throws, Booker (19 of 38) still had half of his team’s output. San Antonio got its lead as high as 20, and more importantly – did not relinquish much of it – as it went to the break up 61-46.

Phoenix found more sure footing on offense to start he third, but the unfazed Spurs executed well in the halfcourt. Harper, in particular, showcased a pair of stepback jumpers, and topped those with a sublime floater on the left baseline to help extend the San Antonio lead to 19. After Harper’s fourth and fifth buckets of the quarter, Jacob Tobey noted he “is just in his bag right now.” His sixth basket evoked shakes of Michael Jordan’s post game. Wemby’s 16-foot finger roll capped a dominant third quarter clapback by San Antonio and they went to the fourth ahead by 25.

Observations

• Fans of the three guard line-up will find a healthy amount of validation in Michael Pina’s article today for The Ringer.
• Carter Bryant entered action later in the first half and encouragingly willed home a transition three. His second three in the fourth quarter splashed home.
• Collin Gillespie’s Tough Sequence: In the opening minute of the fourth, Gillespie tried the Steve Nash move on Wembanyama and had his turnaround swatted away, and then his follow-up jumper was deflected, as well. To add insult to injury, the Suns guard was dunked on by Wembanyama at the other end.
• Dylan Harper Sequence of the Game: The only thing that prevented him from doing more damage in a 14 point third quarter blitz was twisting his ankle on a Suns foot in transition. All of his field goals in the frame came from different spots on the court, which is very hard to do.
• Keldon’s Kitchen: That moustache has staying power.
• Sequence of the Game #1: In what is a very viable after timeout play late in the first quarter, Fox slithered through the paint and delivered a feathery lob to Wembanyama. On the next possession, Keldon Johnson looked like he left a floater several feet short until Wembanyama took the errant orb and re-directed it through the rim. #greatpass
• Sequence of the Game #2: Minutes into the second quarter, Wembanyama appeared to be fooled by a pocket pass from a Brooks pass to Igodaro – only to meet the Phoenix center at the rim to prevent a sure two points, and when Brooks tried to sneak a floater in after an offensive rebound, he, too, was turned away.
• Sequence of the Game #3: It only took one possession in the second half for the Spurs to generate another highlight play – this time, Wembanyama found Fox at the dunker spot, and the guard whipped a behind the back pass to the left baseline to Champagnie for a corner three. It’s worth watching possibly a dozen times.
• Area 51 Sequence of the Game: Wembanyama and Castle orchestrated a beautiful two-man game late in the half that culminated in a Castle one-handed slamma jamma.
• Tarris Reed, Jr. (lithe AND bruising big man) playing time: The big man (4 points, 1 rebound, 1 block, and 3 fouls) was an active presence in his eight minutes of playing time.

Game Rundown

Fox and Harper scored San Antonio’s first two buckets no more than three combined feet from the rim. Castle sand Champagnie put up goose-eggs over the first 5+ minutes, but Wembanyama, Fox, and Harper picked up the slack. Before the viewing audience could blink, Booker had put up 12 of the Suns’ 14 points. An Igodaro baseline dunk provided some relief from the Booker scoring barrage. After successive bricks, Champagnie banked home a jumper in the paint to secure his first points. Tshe other Suns started contributing offensively and Khaman Malauch’s surprising corner three tied the game. Wembanyama paired two lobs with an encouraging catch-and-shoot three to help San Antonio go up 31-25.

An opening 8-2 burst to start the second put San Antonio up a dozen. Wembanyama’s fifth straight bucket – the prettiest to that point – was a baseline fade that Hakeem Olajuwon would have been proud of. After Johnson found Wembanyama for yet another lob, Sean Elliott exclaimed “What a change! Our guys have really figured out that lob!” Wembanyama then turned away Phoenix’s lob attempt at the other end. Even after his first miss, Wembanyama snared the rebound and threw down a thunderous two-hand jam. Booker’s next field goal caused Mitch Johnson to call a Pop-like timeout. Champagnie and Luke Kornet found each other on consecutive possessions to keep the lead near 20. Phoenix took advantage of the Spurs’ hyper-aggressive perimeter defense to get cheap offense at the charity stripe. Booker took a shot to the nether regions on a Johnson bankshot that could be felt several states over. San Antonio ended its well-played half up 15.

A pair of triples from Champagnie and Fox prevented a tough third quarter start for San Antonio. Booker hit the 30 point mark 3 1/2 minutes in, and yet, the Spurs added to their lead. During one possession, Fox, Castle, and Harper occupied the left side (with Champagnie deep in the right corner), which allowed Wembanyama to go back door for a reverse lob from Harper. Johnson smartly fouled a runaway Igodaro and prevented a dunk while the Sun hit 1-of-2 from the line. Harper’s flurry of baskets from different spots in and around the paint were what took away my breath this evening. San Antonio’s run spanning the third and fourth quarters made it a no-doubt road win.

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For the Suns fan’s perspective, please visit Bright Side of the Sun.

San Antonio’s road trip concludes in Chicago Wednesday night against Caleb Wilson and the Bulls 7:00 PM CDT.

What flavor do you like your popcorn? Are you a traditional butter person? Or do you look forward to the holidays, when the Chicago mix makes its annual appearance, and you’re treated to that glorious combination of cheddar and caramel popcorn? Because on Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs, you might as well have grabbed a bag of your favorite popcorn, settled into your favorite chair, and enjoyed the show that is Victor Wembanyama.

Coming off an electrifying 52-point performance last week that included 24 rebounds and eight blocks, Wembanyama followed it up with another spectacular showing, this time at the expense of the Phoenix Suns, as San Antonio cruised to a 122-96 victory.

Wemby was the story. Plain and simple. He finished the evening with 40 points on an absurd 15-of-19 shooting, adding 11 rebounds and eight blocks. And here’s the part that makes those numbers even more ridiculous: He accomplished all of that damage in a mere 25 minutes of action. You know how we like to track Khaman Maluach’s restocks per 36 minutes around here? That wonderful combination of rebounds, steals, and blocks that helps quantify a big man’s impact? Well, Wembanyama posted 27 restocks per 36 minutes in this one.

https://t.co/PkoUbguqWGpic.twitter.com/rwy2iTWGPc

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) November 10, 2026

Devin Booker certainly did his part to keep the Suns afloat, scoring 32 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field. He also added four assists, a steal, and a block while committing zero turnovers. Unfortunately, no other Phoenix starter scored more than seven points to help him out.

Against a team like the Spurs, you need to be able to shoot the three ball efficiently to have a chance at competing, and the Suns simply couldn’t do that. They ended 9-of-26 from deep, good for 34.6%. They only turned the ball over 7 times. But they were blocked 10 times.

San Antonio has now won nine consecutive games and sits at 9-2 on the season, while the Phoenix Suns have fallen to 3-6.

Game Flow

First Half

The whistle was blown pretty liberally to start the game, as Victor Wembanyama drew three shooting fouls within the first five minutes. San Antonio’s early game plan was clearly to attack the basket, knowing the Suns lacked a significant shot-blocking presence on the interior. Meanwhile, Devin Booker once again catalyzed Phoenix’s offense, scoring the team’s first nine points.

Counting last game, Devin Booker has scored Phoenix's last 18 points.

Last 9 in Saturday's win over Rockets.

First 9 in tonight's game vs. Spurs.

Spurs 11, Booker 9. #Suns

— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) November 10, 2026

Booker’s presence was certainly felt throughout the first quarter, and his impact was evident on both ends of the floor. His best sequence began with a defensive breakup of an alley-oop attempt to Stephon Castle. He then went down to the other end and knocked down a three-pointer over Victor Wembanyama.

Devin Booker’s presence is being felt on both ends of the floor.

His best sequence? Breaking up an alley-oop intended for Stephon Castle, then heading down the floor and burying a three-pointer over Victor Wembanyama.

That’s how you set the tone. pic.twitter.com/iM4MmZz2MJ

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) November 10, 2026

Devin Booker finished the first quarter shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, scoring 15 of the Suns’ 25 points. But the Spurs capitalized on all three of Phoenix’s turnovers, converting them into seven points while outrebounding the Suns 14-9. San Antonio took a 31-25 lead into the second quarter.

The momentum carried over as the Spurs extended their run to 12-0 across the two quarters, pushing Phoenix’s deficit to 11 points. With Devin Booker taking a breather, the Suns opened the second quarter shooting 1-of-6 from the field and 0-of-4 from beyond the arc through the first 2:37. Meanwhile, the Spurs were a perfect 4-of-4 from the field, including 1-of-1 from deep, and suddenly Phoenix found itself trailing by 14 points.

The Suns were -12 in the non-Booker minutes in the second. From 1:23 in the first to 7:59 in the second, the Spurs put together a 21-2 run.

Devin Booker has 7 points.

No other Sun has more than 3. 😐

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) November 10, 2026

With 5:19 remaining in the second quarter, the Suns found themselves trailing by 20 points.

Then, with 1:54 left in the first half, Keldon Johnson delivered an unnatural kick on a layup attempt that caught Devin Booker square in the junk, the same type of play that got Dillon Brooks ejected last week. Yet the officials opted not to even review it. Funny how that works, isn’t it?

Isn't this what got Dillon chucked from a game against the Nuggets? pic.twitter.com/uIoonbEfpo

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) November 10, 2026

Over the final eight minutes of the half, Phoenix was +3 with Booker on the floor, but the Suns were ultimately outscored 30-21 in the second quarter. Booker finished the half with 23 points.

Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama had 22 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line. He also added six rebounds, three assists, and five blocks, leading the Spurs in all of those statistical categories. At halftime, San Antonio led Phoenix 61-46.

Turns out the Suns are much better when Booker is on the court.

First half On/Off for Devin Booker against the Spurs: pic.twitter.com/tQOxBY2rF7

— Bright Side of the Sun (@BrightSideSun) November 10, 2026

Second Half

The Phoenix Suns opened the second half with a much-needed infusion of energy, finding opportunities to attack in transition and briefly put pressure on the San Antonio Spurs. After an opening three-pointer from Julian Champagnie, Phoenix responded with an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 10 points. But getting that close seemed to flip a switch for Victor Wembanyama, as San Antonio answered with a 10-4 run of its own to regain control. Before long, the Suns found themselves staring at another 20-point deficit.

Phoenix had another frustrating offensive quarter and again failed to reach 25 points. The Suns collectively shot 8-of-26 from the field and 3-of-9 from beyond the arc, struggling to generate any consistent offensive rhythm. Devin Booker led the way with nine points, while Dillon Brooks contributed five. The rest of the roster? A miserable 3-of-14 from the field.

Meanwhile, San Antonio continued to demonstrate why it’s one of the most dangerous teams in the Western Conference. Dylan Harper erupted for 14 points in the third quarter, adding three rebounds and an assist, while Wembanyama contributed 10 points, four rebounds, and a block. Every time Phoenix appeared ready to make things interesting, the Spurs had an answer, methodically dismantling whatever momentum the Suns managed to generate.

By the end of the third quarter, Phoenix trailed 93-68, facing a 25-point deficit and another uphill battle that was becoming increasingly difficult to overcome.

The fourth quarter? Well, the Suns essentially waved the white flag with eight minutes remaining, pulling their starters and allowing Jamaree Bouyea and Rasheer Fleming to see the floor. Cam Spencer, Koa Peat, and Duop Reath followed shortly thereafter, as Phoenix found itself trailing by 30 points and the outcome was all but decided.

There were at least a few entertaining moments from the young guys. Peat, the Suns’ rookie, wasted little time making an impression, executing a smooth spin move before finishing off the glass. On the very next possession, he connected with Jamaree Bouyea for an alley-oop, providing a brief spark of energy as Phoenix trimmed the deficit to 26 points.

At that stage, moral victories were about the only thing left to celebrate. Suns lose, 122-96.

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Up Next

The Suns are right back at it tomorrow night as they host the Clippers. We shall see you then.

Walker Kessler has apparently seen enough.

Just 12 games into the NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers’ new center has already crowned his teammate Luka Doncic the best player in the NBA.

“He’s the best player in the league,” Kessler declared following the Lakers’ 124-114 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.

And after what Doncic accomplished, who could blame him?

Doncic’s streak of 40-point performances finally ended, but the Slovenian superstar still tormented Atlanta with 32 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, five steals and two blocks.

More importantly, he accomplished something neither Magic Johnson nor Kareem Abdul-Jabbar managed twice in a Lakers uniform.

Doncic became the first player in franchise history to record multiple games with at least 30 points, five assists, five steals and two blocks. Johnson and Abdul-Jabbar each accomplished the feat once.

Doncic has already done it twice in his first 10 games this season.

He also climbed into 10th place all-time for games featuring at least 30 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals.

Of course, what else was Kessler supposed to say about his new pick-and-roll partner? That he’s the fifth-best player in basketball?

Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards might have a few objections to Kessler’s declaration.

But with the Lakers sitting atop the NBA standings at 10-2, Doncic has something those other superstars don’t: the league’s best record, and an NBA-best scoring average of 40.1 points per game.

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The Dallas Mavericks (7-4) survived a wild one Monday night, beating the Indiana Pacers (3-8) 125-122 in one of their most entertaining games of the season. Cooper Flagg was incredible, finishing with 43 points on 16-of-25 shooting, 10 rebounds, six assists, and three steals, while Kyrie Irving added 35 points on seven made 3-pointers. Pascal Siakam led Indiana with 29 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. Dallas trailed by 10 at halftime, but Flagg and Irving powered a second-half comeback and made enough plays late to escape with the win.

Dallas opened sluggishly and spent most of the first quarter trying to dig out of an early hole. Flagg was easily the Mavericks’ best player, scoring nine points with five rebounds, two assists, and three steals while shooting 4-of-6. Kyrie started 1-for-4, Caleb Martin missed both shots, and Dallas shot only 40 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from three. Indiana, meanwhile, shot 55 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from three, with Siakam going perfect from the floor for nine points and Aaron Nesmith hitting both of his threes. Flagg’s activity kept Dallas within reach, but Indiana was the sharper team and led 31-26 after one.

The Mavericks found more offense in the second quarter, but Siakam completely took over. Kyrie got going with three threes and reached 15 points, while Flagg continued to create as both a scorer and passer. Walter Clayton Jr. also gave Dallas good minutes, but the Mavericks couldn’t string together enough stops to take control. Siakam finished the half with 26 points on 8-of-9 shooting and hit five of his six threes, repeatedly answering every Dallas run. Indiana shot 60 percent from the field and 56.3 percent from three in the half, while P.J. Washington struggled badly at 2-of-10 from the floor. Andrew Nembhard hit a turnaround jumper at the horn to send the Pacers into halftime up 66-56.

Dallas finally flipped the game in the third, and Flagg was the biggest reason why. He scored 14 points in the period, getting to his turnaround jumper, attacking the rim, and making better reads as the Mavericks steadily erased the deficit. Kyrie stayed hot with two more threes, while Washington finally found some rhythm with a tip-in and a three. Dallas also tightened up defensively, forcing turnovers and getting better activity from Clayton and Naji Marshall. Siakam cooled off significantly after torching Dallas in the first half, and Flagg kept pushing late with back-to-back finger rolls to cut the deficit to two. Dallas closed the quarter down just 93-90 after entering it trailing by 10.

The fourth quarter was an absolute blast. Dallas and Indiana traded tough shots, mistakes, and momentum swings to the finish, with Flagg and Kyrie carrying the Mavericks offensively whenever things started to fall apart. It was far from clean, with turnovers, unnecessary fouls, and several possessions that could have swung the game either way, but Dallas kept responding. Every time Indiana landed a punch, Flagg or Kyrie found another huge basket. The final minutes turned into a possession-by-possession fight, and the Mavericks finally made enough plays on both ends to survive 125-122. It was messy, stressful, and probably harder than it needed to be, but it was also one of the most fun wins of the season.

Keep Kyrie hot

Kyrie 3ball gives the Mavs a lead!! pic.twitter.com/CUgiARKYh2

— MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) November 10, 2026

Right now, the Mavericks need to do everything they can to keep Kyrie Irving in rhythm. Kyrie was great again Monday, finishing with 35 points on 11-of-18 shooting while hitting seven of his 10 threes, and it felt like a continuation of everything he started against Brooklyn the night before. Since returning from injury, Kyrie has looked noticeably better when he has been able to stack games together. He came back a little rusty, started finding his rhythm, then sat against Sacramento and looked rusty again when he returned. Now he has played on consecutive nights, and suddenly he looks completely comfortable.

Against Indiana, he was the driving force behind Dallas staying alive long enough to make its second-half run. Every time the offense stalled, Kyrie created something, whether it was a pull-up, a three or a tough finish around the rim. He had 25 points by the end of the third quarter and kept making huge shots as Dallas erased a 10-point halftime deficit. The Mavericks obviously have to be smart with him after the injury, but there is also something to be said for letting Kyrie play when he is rolling. Right now, he has his rhythm back, and Dallas looks completely different because of it.

Cooper Flagg is ridiculous

Somehow, Cooper Flagg keeps finding another level.

Cooper Flagg up to 43pts!! Great heads up play by Naji and PJ! pic.twitter.com/JgA9QxHVvR

— MavsHighlights (@MavsHighlights) November 10, 2026

Flagg finished with 43 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and three steals while shooting 16-of-25 from the field, 3-of-6 from three, and a perfect 8-of-8 at the line. He was Dallas’ best player early when almost nobody else had anything going, then became the centerpiece of the comeback after halftime. He scored 14 points in the third quarter alone, repeatedly getting to his turnaround jumper and the rim, and he continued making huge plays when the game tightened in the fourth.

What continues to stand out is how comfortable he looks with the game on the line. Flagg does not shy away from the moment or wait for someone else to create. He wants the ball, attacks mismatches, and has already developed an incredible ability to create something when possessions break down. His case for Clutch Player of the Year is only getting stronger because this keeps happening. Dallas needed nearly all 43 of his points Monday, and when the Mavericks needed someone to will them across the finish line, Flagg was right there again.

The Mavericks win in the clutch again

This is becoming one of the biggest differences between this Mavericks team and what we watched last season.

Monday was exactly the type of game Dallas would have found a way to lose a year ago. The Mavericks were down double digits, had stretches filled with turnovers, missed free throws, and unnecessary fouls, and gave Indiana plenty of opportunities to take control. Instead of folding, they kept answering. Kyrie and Flagg made difficult shots, the defense made timely stops, and Dallas stayed composed enough to survive a genuinely chaotic finish.

That matters.

Close games are rarely clean, and Monday certainly was not. The Pacers shot 52.4 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three; Siakam was incredible, and Indiana kept finding ways to punch back. Still, Dallas found a way to win 125-122. This team has the talent to make tough shots late with Flagg and Kyrie, but it also feels like Dusty May has given them more structure and confidence in those moments.

Mistakes and ugly possessions will still happen, but the Mavericks no longer seem to panic when games get tight. They believe they can close, and with Flagg and Kyrie playing like this, there is a pretty good reason for that confidence.

The Toronto Raptors may have fallen to the Memphis Grizzlies 118-102 on Monday, but there was a familiar presence on the court that both softened the blow of a loss and boosted hopes for the future.

With Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles and especially Immanuel Quickley out with injury, it was a chance for Jamal Shead to step up. Shead ultimately did so while summoning the spirit of Kyle Lowry.

Here are seven examples of how Shead looked like the Raptors legend during the game:

Finding what the team needs the most

One thing Lowry was known for – other than his ability to lull opponents into committing offensive fouls – was his uncanny feel for the game. Whatever the Raptors needed at any given moment, Lowry usually dug into his deep bag of tricks to supply it. When Toronto was a horrendous 0-for-6 from the perimeter, it was Shead who hit the team’s first three of the game.

The point guard followed that up with two additional threes before the end of the first quarter. Shead’s three triples were the only shots Toronto made from beyond-the-arc in the opening frame. Considering Shead entered the contest shooting a career-low 21.7 per cent from the perimeter, it was very “Lowry” of him to transform into a deadly shooter when the moment called for it.

“Me being aggressive is going to add fuel to us,” said Shead. “They won’t be able to load up on Scottie, load up on Kawhi, load up on IQ.”

Shead finished with four three-pointers, the most he’s made this season. It’s the most threes Shead has made since Dec. 9, 2025 against the New York Knicks.

The signature Lowry move

Speaking of lulling opponents into a false sense of security, a player can’t have a Lowry-type game without drawing at least one offensive foul. In the second quarter, while Memphis was in semi-transition, Shead drew an offensive foul on Taylor Hendricks.

After the whistle was blown, and while Shead was on the ground, the point guard enthusiastically pointed the other way. It was easy for those in attendance at the Scotiabank Arena to cheer the blue-collar play. Even for those who don’t ever see the sequence, if you’ve watched the Raptors before, you know exactly what this looked like.

A night to remember

Despite the outcome, it still ended up being one of Shead’s best performances as a professional. Shead finished with 20 points on 35.2 per cent shooting. He was two points shy of tying his career-high (22 points vs. the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 11 in 2026).

The uptick in usage was obviously due to the Raptors’ injuries, but Shead was ready for the call.

“A lot of guys wait for those opportunities and are just ready to play,” said Shead. “Obviously those are really important pieces for us…but when they’re out, it’s just next-man up.”

Authoring a career-type game while undermanned is very Lowry-coded.

Mighty mouse in the house

Lowry’s stature may have prevented him from living above the rim during his 20-year career, but it didn’t stop him from controlling the painted area – and it didn’t matter how much height he was giving up.

On two separate occasions, Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer had Shead pinned in the paint. The first example occurred in the opening quarter. Shead leaned his body into Boozer’s back, daring Memphis to throw the entry pass. Instead, the Grizzlies opted out.

Later in the game, Boozer received a pass near the basket with Shead guarding him. While Shead’s help lurked nearby, Boozer quickly passed to the opposite side instead of taking advantage of his size.

The set-up man

While Shead may be light-years away from reaching Lowry’s all-time Raptors assists record – 3,447 to be exact – that shouldn’t take away from the fact that he’s an excellent table-setter. After setting a career-high in assists (16) against the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 6, Shead continued to show his playmaking chops against Memphis. He led Toronto in assists with 11.

It’s also the way he got his teammates the ball that mirrored Lowry.

Shead’s Nash dribble as he exited the baseline before throwing the lob pass was fun. Later in the game, Shead’s dribble drive opened up the lanes and as soon as the Memphis defence committed, he kicked it to the corner for an Allen Graves three. Shead’s paint touches and vision also make the game visibly easier for Jakob Poeltl.

“We had a lot of great conversations during the game about where he’s going to be,” said Shead. “He’s very mobile and can kind of handle the ball. He’s really smart…it’s really easy playing with Jak.”

An endless amount of pocket passes, dump-offs and alley-oops allowed Poeltl to have his best game of the season. Poeltl finished with 18 points and eight rebounds.

QB1 at the one

The only player that might’ve thrown a better outlet pass as a Raptor than Lowry was Marc Gasol, but Shead definitely added to his resume against the Grizzlies. In the second quarter, Shead corralled a defensive rebound and immediately threw a deep ball to Walter on the break. The play shifted the momentum and brought the entire Raptors bench, including Barnes, off their feet.

“Those guys really want to be out there,” said Shead. “But they’re really engaged with us regardless if they’re out there or not, and that’s really helpful.”

Later in the fourth quarter, Shead fought through the trees and somehow snagged the defensive rebound. Without hesitation, he launched a perfect outlet pass to Jamison Battle in stride, subsequently leading to an easy two points during a pivotal moment in the game.

Electric defensive plays

Lowry had a knack for coming up with clutch defensive plays, especially when the Raptors were in dire need of a stop. When Graves helped knock a ball loose at the top of the arc, Shead teleported to the ball and rushed down the court for a breakaway layup, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Moments later, while getting back on defence, Shead motioned to the bench to ask for a breather. Before the whistle blew, Shead swiped at the ball while Canadian Zach Edey had it under the basket, causing it to go off his leg and out of bounds. As the crowd roared, Shead yelled as he walked back to the bench. The play was ultimately overturned due to a Poeltl foul, but it highlighted just how much passion and bravado Shead brings to the team.

Even while taking on a larger responsibility on the offensive end, Shead is still finding ways to impact the game defensively, just like Lowry.

“The more minutes I’ve been playing, I’ve took off the gas a little bit on the defensive side,” said Shead. “Once those guys come back, I get to do what I do best and go guard the ball.”

Luka Doncic had already stuffed the stat sheet Monday night, but the Los Angeles Lakers superstar wasn’t finished dishing out assists.

His final one didn’t even count in the box score.

Following the Lakers’ 124-114 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, Doncic was spotted tracking down a referee to retrieve the game ball as players exchanged handshakes and pleasantries at the final buzzer.

Luka secured the game ball for Cameron Carr pic.twitter.com/81DPxXpviC

— Luka Updates (@LukaUpdates) November 10, 2026

The reason? Lakers rookie Cameron Carr had just scored the first points of his NBA career, and Doncic wanted to make sure his young teammate had a souvenir to remember the moment.

It was a small gesture from one of basketball’s biggest superstars, but one that spoke volumes about Doncic’s leadership on this new-look Lakers team without LeBron James.

With Austin Reaves sidelined on the second night of a back-to-back after erupting for 43 points Sunday in Detroit, Carr received seven minutes of playing time.

The rookie scored his first NBA basket on a breakaway dunk at the end of the first quarter, courtesy of an assist from Doncic, who apparently decided that helping Carr make history wasn’t enough. He wanted to preserve it, too.

LUKA STEAL FOR CAM CARR’S FIRST NBA BUCKET pic.twitter.com/vlLM7Syyti

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) November 10, 2026

Doncic finished with a ridiculous 32 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, five steals and two blocks, becoming one of only 10 players in NBA history to record multiple games with at least 30 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals. This was Doncic’s fifth such game of his career.

After the game, Doncic was asked about grabbing the game ball for Carr.

“Yeah obviously you know you always wanna remember your first bucket, you know? And you wanna get that ball so it was kind of important for me to grab it,” said Doncic.

The victory improved Los Angeles to an NBA-best 10-2, its best start since the 2019-20 season, when the Lakers eventually captured their 17th NBA championship.

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