TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 15: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives against Ja'Kobe Walter #14 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on March 15, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons play the Toronto Raptors in Detroit’s preseason finale. It’s a great way to end the pretend time of basketball because the Raptors are among the team’s getting the kind of hype as an upper echelon Eastern Conference team beyond the Pistons. Detroit has an opportunity to show an upstart Kawhi Leonard team. Detroit is still No. 1. Cade Cunningham has a chance to silence the irrational exuberance among the Scottie Barnes supporters. And we can see what Jalen Duren does for an encore.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan Watch: TV: TV20 Detroit | Streaming: DAZN Odds: Pistons -9.5
Projected Lineups
DetroitPistons
Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Jalen Duren
Toronto Raptors
Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl
The Sixers concluded their preseason Friday night by falling to a 125-120 overtime loss to the Celtics at Xfinity Mobile Arena. They’ll next play the defending champion Knicks on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden in their regular-season opener.
Joel Embiid had 27 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the preseason finale.
Tyrese Maxey added 22 points and six assists. Jaylen Brown scored 20 points and grabbed eight boards.
The Sixers were without the following players:
Anfernee Simons (hamstring)
Adem Bona (left foot sprain)
Dominick Barlow (back)
Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tendon tear)
Tacko Fall (left hip sprain)
VJ Edgecombe
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame that Edgecombe has no injury issue and the team was satisfied with him playing the first three preseason games.
Here are observations on the Sixers’ final action of the preseason:
Offense finding its footing
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope replaced Edgecombe in the Sixers’ starting lineup.
The Sixers’ offense did not begin in top gear. The team missed its first nine three-point tries and had several out-of-sync sequences that caused turnovers.
They created some good shots in the first quarter by feeding the post, drawing a double team, and then spraying the ball around against a scrambling defense. The Sixers also racked up heaps of early free throws and ended up taking nine foul shots before the Celtics had any.
Of course, the Sixers expect to do great damage in transition. LeBron James sprinted forward after a first-quarter steal and then slammed home a Maxey lob in crowd-pleasing style.
James continued to flash his unique array of talents. His second-quarter highlights included an and-one layup off of a pick-and-roll with Maxey and multiple fantastic long-distance passes. The home fans were excited by all of it, even lifting the volume when it appeared James might pull off a chase-down block.
Over 25 minutes, James tallied eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Far sharper Embiid
Embiid committed three turnovers in the first quarter. He’d had eight in his other game of the preseason, a loss last week to the Nets.
Overall, Embiid’s showing was much, much less rusty.
The seven-time All-Star settled into a rhythm in the second quarter and wasn’t remotely hesitant about playing through contact in the paint. He drove hard and jammed in a third-quarter dunk, too.
Teammate after teammate has glowed about how Embiid’s looked at training camp following a healthy summer. The Sixers will hope that translates to a strong start for Embiid and, most importantly, consistent availability in the season ahead.
Changes coming off the bench
Nurse used five bench players in the first half. Labaron Philon Jr., Dean Wade, Jabari Walker, Justin Edwards and two-way contract player Rayan Rupert were in the rotation.
Brown was the last Sixer starter on the floor, exiting at the 7:51 mark of the fourth quarter. Maxey, James, Brown and Embiid each logged between 25 and 31 minutes.
The Sixers and Celtics’ deep bench players were dead even down the stretch. Philon (11 points, six assists) hit a late, tightly guarded three and Dillon Jones made a go-ahead, and-one layup. However, Edwards missed a game-winning jumper attempt at the fourth-quarter buzzer. Boston got the job done in overtime.
The second unit will presumably be different for the opener, but the specifics remain to be seen. If he’s healthy, Simons projects to take either all or most of Philon’s minutes. Bona would give the Sixers a traditional backup center in New York and he’d likely spend time facing former teammate Andre Drummond. Walker and Wade are alternative center options, but neither is the Sixers’ Plan A at the five.
Barlow, Simons and Bona were significant absences for the Sixers this preseason. Once they return, we’ll see how quickly they can integrate into a new-look Sixers team.
The Sixers concluded their preseason Friday night by falling to a 125-120 overtime loss to the Celtics at Xfinity Mobile Arena. They’ll next play the defending champion Knicks on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden in their regular-season opener.
Joel Embiid had 27 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the preseason finale.
Tyrese Maxey added 22 points and six assists. Jaylen Brown scored 20 points and grabbed eight boards.
The Sixers were without the following players:
Anfernee Simons (hamstring)
Adem Bona (left foot sprain)
Dominick Barlow (back)
Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tendon tear)
Tacko Fall (left hip sprain)
VJ Edgecombe
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame that Edgecombe has no injury issue and the team was satisfied with him playing the first three preseason games.
Here are observations on the Sixers’ final action of the preseason:
Offense finding its footing
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope replaced Edgecombe in the Sixers’ starting lineup.
The Sixers’ offense did not begin in top gear. The team missed its first nine three-point tries and had several out-of-sync sequences that caused turnovers.
They created some good shots in the first quarter by feeding the post, drawing a double team, and then spraying the ball around against a scrambling defense. The Sixers also racked up heaps of early free throws and ended up taking nine foul shots before the Celtics had any.
Of course, the Sixers expect to do great damage in transition. LeBron James sprinted forward after a first-quarter steal and then slammed home a Maxey lob in crowd-pleasing style.
James continued to flash his unique array of talents. His second-quarter highlights included an and-one layup off of a pick-and-roll with Maxey and multiple fantastic long-distance passes. The home fans were excited by all of it, even lifting the volume when it appeared James might pull off a chase-down block.
Over 25 minutes, James tallied eight points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Far sharper Embiid
Embiid committed three turnovers in the first quarter. He’d had eight in his other game of the preseason, a loss last week to the Nets.
Overall, Embiid’s showing was much, much less rusty.
The seven-time All-Star settled into a rhythm in the second quarter and wasn’t remotely hesitant about playing through contact in the paint. He drove hard and jammed in a third-quarter dunk, too.
Teammate after teammate has glowed about how Embiid’s looked at training camp following a healthy summer. The Sixers will hope that translates to a strong start for Embiid and, most importantly, consistent availability in the season ahead.
Changes coming off the bench
Nurse used five bench players in the first half. Labaron Philon Jr., Dean Wade, Jabari Walker, Justin Edwards and two-way contract player Rayan Rupert were in the rotation.
Brown was the last Sixer starter on the floor, exiting at the 7:51 mark of the fourth quarter. Maxey, James, Brown and Embiid each logged between 25 and 31 minutes.
The Sixers and Celtics’ deep bench players were dead even down the stretch. Philon (11 points, six assists) hit a late, tightly guarded three and Dillon Jones made a go-ahead, and-one layup. However, Edwards missed a game-winning jumper attempt at the fourth-quarter buzzer. Boston got the job done in overtime.
The second unit will presumably be different for the opener, but the specifics remain to be seen. If he’s healthy, Simons projects to take either all or most of Philon’s minutes. Bona would give the Sixers a traditional backup center in New York and he’d likely spend time facing former teammate Andre Drummond. Walker and Wade are alternative center options, but neither is the Sixers’ Plan A at the five.
Barlow, Simons and Bona were significant absences for the Sixers this preseason. Once they return, we’ll see how quickly they can integrate into a new-look Sixers team.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 26: New member of the Milwaukee Bucks Nathaniel Ament throws out a pitch before game between Milwaukee Brewers vs Chicago Cubs at American Family Field on June 26, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks are moving the start time for their regular-season home opener on October 23 against the Chicago Bulls from 7 p.m. to 3 p.m. local time as the Milwaukee Brewers prepare to host Game 1 of the 2026 World Series the same night. The news was announced on the team’s X account Friday morning:
We’re proud to move our home opener from 7 p.m. to 3 p.m. on 10/23 in celebration of the @Brewers hosting Game 1 of the World Series. https://t.co/obn3plfapn
Prior to the Bucks winning the NBA Finals in 2021, Milwaukee had not seen a professional sports team win a title since the Bucks won the championship in 1971. The Milwaukee Brewers, who were the Seattle Pilots for one season in 1969 before moving to Milwaukee and becoming the Brewers in 1970, won their first pennant in the American League in 1982, but went on to fall to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. The Brewers, who moved from the American League to the National League in 1998, have since become just the second team to win a pennant in both leagues. Now, they’re searching for the franchise’s first-ever World Series title.
For Milwaukee sports fans, this has been an incredible era of both Bucks basketball and Brewers baseball. On a personal note, slogging through some tough years as a fan has certainly given me an undying optimism about both teams where I tend to look at the bright side of the roster and can think, maybe this is their year after all. Whether hope springs eternal or delusions have already set in after one too many beers, the Brewers find themselves just four wins away from joining the Bucks in being able to raise a banner this decade.
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 28: Mario Hezonja #33, Peyton Watson #8, and Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We’ve gotten our first look at the newest members of the Cleveland Cavaliers — Peyton Watson, Mario Hezonja, and Meleek Thomas — in the team’s three preseason games. All three showed how they could help this team going forward.
Earlier this week, we asked which of the three has impressed you most in the preseason. Hezonja, who is playing in the NBA for the first time in six years, was the clear winner, with 44% of the people surveyed singling him out as the new Cavalier they’ve been most impressed with.
Hezonja’s preseason got off to a rough start against the Boston Celtics. He struggled in his first-half minutes in his debut before settling into the game in the second half.
Hezonja seemed to become more comfortable back in the NBA as the preseason progressed. Sunday’s 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting were an encouraging step in the right direction. He backed that up with 12 points, six rebounds, and two assists in Tuesday’s preseason finale.
“But as I said since the first day that I arrived here, I know how to play, I know basketball, I know the sport,” Hezonja said after Sunday’s game. “I might be away from the NBA, but I was never away from the game.”
It’s too early to say anything definitive, but Hezonja has the skills the Cavs need at backup power forward. His ability to stretch the floor, act as a tertiary playmaker, rebound, and create mismatches should fit nicely with some of the bench units.
The Cavs are looking to improve on their trip to the conference finals last season. If they’re going to do so, one or more of their newest additions need to hit as high impact players.
The top of the league is crowded, especially in the Eastern Conference. The NBA is in an unprecedented era of parity. This is reflected in some of the preseason future odds.
FanDuel currently gives the Cavs the eighth-best chance to win the Finals at +2700. They’re tied with the Houston Rockets and the Denver Nuggets with those odds. They are tied with the Toronto Raptors with the fourth-best odds to come out of the East at +950. That puts them behind the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Boston Celtics.
Oct 31, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) in the second half between the Phoenix Suns and the Utah Jazz at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Arianna Grainey-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Who: Phoenix Suns vs. Utah Jazz
When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Suns+
Listen: ESPN Phoenix 620 AM, SiriusXM
Four preseason games down. One to go. Tonight will be the last chance to tune things up before the games count, and Phoenix could use a good one. The Suns are 1-3 after Wednesday’s 123-103 loss in San Antonio, where the Spurs outscored them by 18 at the line and by 18 from three.
The Jazz come in at 2-1. Phoenix took the season series from Utah last year, 2-1, including a 134-109 win in the last meeting on March 28th.
Who actually suits up is still TBD. Luke Kennard will sit with a sore knee after leaving Wednesday’s game in the second quarter. The rest of the rotation is a game-time call, and with the opener on October 21st, don’t be surprised if Jordan Ott keeps a few regulars in sweats.
Dillon Brooks will not be one of them, as he intends to play tonight for a final tune-up against his former teammate.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks said he's playing tonight against the Utah Jazz in their final preseason game.
"I'm playing. I'm playing against Jaren Jackson. So I'm playing."
All of the statistics listed below are from last season.
Probable Starters
Taking a guess here. Bridges and Kennard sit out as a precaution, and the starters get a few minutes early on, nothing crazy. We should have updates soon.
Injury Report
Suns
We shall see if Miles Bridges suits up. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Phoenix rest him as a precaution, with it being the preseason and all.
Mark Williams — OUT (Torn Left Labrum)
Miles Bridges — DTD (Ankle)
Luke Kennard — OUT (Knee Soreness)
Jazz
Jusuf Nurkic — OUT (Foot)
Kyle Filipowski — DTD (Back)
Blake Hinson — DTD (Hip)
What to Watch For
The dress rehearsal rotation. This is the last look before games start counting. If the regulars play, watch who takes Kennard’s minutes. If they don’t, it’s another long audition for the guys fighting for the last spots. Kennedy Chandler made his case Wednesday, scoring all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter against the Spurs. We will likely see plenty of Bouyea, Spencer, Brea, Highsmith, and Peat as well.
The emphasis should be on two things: fouling and three-point shooting.
San Antonio went 30-of-35 at the line Wednesday, and Phoenix shot 7-of-31 from deep. The Suns won the paint by 16 and still lost by 20. Clean that up heading into the regular season, starters or not.
The youth movement will be underway again. To me, this is like one of those late April games where it feels more like rec ball than pro ball.
Oct 14, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Kennedy Chandler (2) hangs on the rim after a dunk in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Key to a Suns Win
Stay out of foul trouble and make Utah’s defense pay. Phoenix lost by 20 in San Antonio because it gave up 30 made free throws and shot 7-of-31 from deep, even after winning the paint by 16. Utah allowed 126.0 points per game last season, the most in the league.
If the Suns keep attacking the rim the way they did Wednesday and knock down open shots, the points will be there. Defend without reaching, and this one should not be close.
The biggest “win” we can take from this one is entering the season opener healthy. That’s our real win.
My pick: Phoenix ends the preseason on a good note.
Whoever suits up gets a final look at what the rotation should be, along with some free-flowing basketball in the 2nd half, and the Suns head into the opener with some momentum.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 28: The sneakers worn by Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The former NBA player, who is set to face Michael Beasley in a boxing match Friday, announced his marriage to longtime girlfriend Melissa Anaya in an image shared to his social media.
West captioned the post “The comeback story continues.”
Dallas Mavericks’ Delonte West (13) passes the ball against the Phoenix Suns during a preseason basketball game at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. Getty Images
West is on his third marriage, having divorced his first wife in 2010 and his second in 2020.
West’s boxing career came from his partnership with Beasley as part of Adin Ross’ Brand Risk Promotions for fight events. Additional fights will take place Friday alongside West vs. Beasley, including a matchup between Deshae Frost and YK Osiris.
West was drafted by the Celtics 24th overall out of Saint Joseph’s University in 2004 and later joined the Cavaliers in 2008. Legal troubles hindered his pro basketball career, including an arrest for possession of a firearm in 2009 while with Cleveland. West officially moved away from pro basketball in 2012.
LeBron James (6) of the Miami Heat talks with Delonte West (13) of the Boston Celtics during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2011 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, in Miami. Getty Images
He was arrested again last year on assault and robbery charges, and has been photographed appearing to be homeless and panhandling. He has faced mental health and substance abuse issues in recent years.
West’s announcement comes days after he addressed longtime, unproven rumors about a relationship with Gloria James, mother of former Cleveland teammate LeBron James, at Wednesday’s Brand Risk 16 pre-fight media availability.
The moment quickly went viral as the decade-plus-old rumor started circulating once again.
Recently, West was complimentary of the James family, saying on a livestream with N3on that James and his mother still often reach out to check in on West and his family.
The former NBA player, who is set to face Michael Beasley in a boxing match Friday, announced his marriage to longtime girlfriend Melissa Anaya in an image shared to his social media.
West captioned the post “The comeback story continues.”
Dallas Mavericks’ Delonte West (13) passes the ball against the Phoenix Suns during a preseason basketball game at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012. Getty Images
West is on his third marriage, having divorced his first wife in 2010 and his second in 2020.
West’s boxing career came from his partnership with Beasley as part of Adin Ross’ Brand Risk Promotions for fight events. Additional fights will take place Friday alongside West vs. Beasley, including a matchup between Deshae Frost and YK Osiris.
West was drafted by the Celtics 24th overall out of Saint Joseph’s University in 2004 and later joined the Cavaliers in 2008. Legal troubles hindered his pro basketball career, including an arrest for possession of a firearm in 2009 while with Cleveland. West officially moved away from pro basketball in 2012.
LeBron James (6) of the Miami Heat talks with Delonte West (13) of the Boston Celtics during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2011 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, in Miami. Getty Images
He was arrested again last year on assault and robbery charges, and has been photographed appearing to be homeless and panhandling. He has faced mental health and substance abuse issues in recent years.
West’s announcement comes days after he addressed longtime, unproven rumors about a relationship with Gloria James, mother of former Cleveland teammate LeBron James, at Wednesday’s Brand Risk 16 pre-fight media availability.
The moment quickly went viral as the decade-plus-old rumor started circulating once again.
Recently, West was complimentary of the James family, saying on a livestream with N3on that James and his mother still often reach out to check in on West and his family.
Boston Celtics (3-0) at Philadelphia 76ers (1-2) Friday, October 16, 2026 7:00 PM ET Preseason Game #4 Road Game #2 TV: NBA-TV Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub, Sirius XM Xfinity Mobile Arena
The Celtics come to the end of their preseason slate as they travel to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers for the second time in this preseason. These 2 teams played in Boston on Wednesday when the Celtics won 144-106. In that game Brown, Embiid, and James all sat out the game while the Celtics played all their starters and the Celtics dominated.
The 76ers made one of the biggest moves of the off season, trading Paul George to the Celtics to get Jaylen Brown. They also signed LeBron James, Dean Wade, Ariel Hukporti and Anfernee Simons as free agents. They drafted Labaron Philon, Jr with the 22nd pick in the draft. Along with Paul George, they lost Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre, Jr and Andre Drummond.
The Celtics rested their starters in the first game against the Cavaliers and then played them in the second and third games against the 76ers and the Hornets. I expect that the Celtics will once again rest their starters in this game. The 76ers rested their starters except Brown in their first game against the Knicks, which they won. They played all their starters against the Nets and lost. They sat most of their starters, except Edgecombe and Maxey against the Celtics and lost. I expect them to play their regular rotation in this game.
The Celtics have just one player on the injured list for this game. After a big game against the Cavs, he missed the past 2 games due to an illness. He is listed as a game time decision for this game due to an illness. After the first game, he was considered to be the frontrunner to win the open 2-way spot and hopefully we will get to see him play in this game. I expect the top 6 or 7 players to be added to the injury report for rest.
For the 76ers, Dominick Barlow missed the first 3 games with a back injury and is listed as doubtful for this game. Adem Bona missed all 3 preseason games so far with a foot injury and is expected to miss this game as well. Ariel Hukporti tore his Achilles in their first preseason game and is out for this game. Anfernee Simons missed the first 3 preseason games with a hamstring injury but has returned to practice. He is expected to miss this game, however. Tacko Fall is listed as questionable with a hip injury.
I’m expecting the Celtics starters to sit out this game. I really don’t know who will start but I expect to see some of the Exhibit 10 guys as Joe Mazzulla makes his decision for the final 2 way spot and possibly the open roster spot as well. The Celtics started Conley, Scheierman, Walsh, Gonzalez and Garza in the first game but I’m thinking he goes with a different lineup in this game. I expect the 76ers to start Maxey, Edgecombe, Brown, James and Embiid, but they also may experiment with another lineup for their final preseason game.
Prior to this game, the 76ers made a few small changes to their roster. They waived Duke Miles and Saint Thomas, who were on Exhibit 10 contracts. After waiving those two players, they signed Cris Carroll and Taye Fields to Exhibit 10 contracts, which will then give them a chance to later join the team’s NBA G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. But first, they have a shot at playing some late preseason minutes in the finale.
The preseason isn’t just a time to experiment with the players. It’s also a time to experiment with coaches. In the first game against the Cavaliers, Joe Mazzulla turned the coaching reigns over to two of his assistants. Tony Dobbins handled the lead coaching responsibilities for the first half, and DJ MacLeay took over for the second half. Against the Hornets, Mike Conley took over some of the coaching responsibilities, notably the substitutions. Sam Cassell is expected to handle the head coaching duties for this game.
Boston Celtics Roster Chris Cenac, Jr Mike Conley Luka Garza Paul George Hugo Gonzalez Ron Harper, Jr Sam Hauser Payton Pritchard Neemias Queta Mitchell Robinson Baylor Scheierman Jayson Tatum Jordan Walsh Derrick White
2-Way Players Dillon Mitchell Amari Williams Exhibit 10 Players Devin Carter Tucker DeVries Hayden Gray Gabe MccGlothan Milos Uzan Injuries Devin Carter (illness) game time decision
Players to Watch Devin Carter and Milos Uzan Which player will impress enough to win the final 2-way spot?
Head Coach Joe Mazzulla
Philadelphia 76ers Roster Jaylen Brown Kentavious Caldwell-Pope VJ Edgecombe Justin Edwards Joel Embiid LeBron James Tyrese Maxey Labaron Philon, Jr Dean Wade Jabari Walker
2-Way Players Caleb Love Rayan Rupert
Exhibit 10 Players Tacko Fall Dillon Jones Jameer Nelson, Jr Cris Carroll Taye Fields
Injuries Tacko Fall (hip) game time decision Dominick Barlow (back) doubtful Adem Bona (foot) out Ariel Hukporti (Achilles) out Anfernee Simons (hamstring) out
Players to Watch Jaylen Brown and LeBron James How will these 2 alpha players mesh and fit together?
Head Coach Nick Nurse
What to Watch Exhibit 10 Guys – This will be the last opportunity for Devin Carter, Tucker DeVries, Hayden Gray, Gabe McGlothan, and Milos Uzan to make an impression and to make their case for the final open 2 Way spot. So far, Devin Carter has played the best of the 5 but he also missed the last 2 games and is questionable for this game. Milos Uzan has also made a good impression with his play. Gray, DeVries, and McGlothan all had moments but I believe they are behind both Carter and Uzan for that final spot.
Offensive Rebounding – The Celtics dominated the boards on Thursday against the Cavaliers. They had 21 offensive rebounds to just 6 for the Cavs. The Celtics beat the 76ers 19-7 on the offensive boards. They had 9 offensive rebounds to 7 for the Hornets. The Celtics need to dominate the offensive glass in this game also.
Defense – Defense is the key to winning each and every game. In the 3 games so far, the Celtics have shown that they are making the effort to dominate on the defensive end of the court. If that effort continues, the Celtics could very well have the best defense in the league. Hopefully we will see them to continue to make defense a priority.
Depth – If the Celtics do sit their starters for this game, they will need their depth to shine once again. In the first game, with the Celtics sitting their starters and the Cavs playing theirs, the Celtics reserves won the game. In all 3 games so far, the Celtics have gotten strong play from their reserves and hopefully, that will continue in this game.
X-Factors It’s the Preseason – The preseason is a time for the coaches to get a look at players who may or may not make the team, to experiment with lineups and different plays. Wins and losses are not as important as learning things about the players and the team. We certainly won’t see the regular rotation for the Celtics and that’s ok.
On the Road – The Celtics will close out their preseason on the road. Many times, young players struggle more on the road than they do at home. The Celtics young players did just fine in Cleveland and hopefully they can play as well in Philly. The 76ers will have the crowd behind them and we know that Brown will be extra motivated to impress his home fans.
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 15: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts to a team basket against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on January 15, 2024 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Overreacting to preseason games is one of the least productive thing that basketball fans and media do, and yet, it’s hard not to draw certain conclusions from two teams matching up, whether or not such games count for regular season standings.
In particular, the Raptors’ two-point loss against the Knicks last night has exemplified an ongoing problem with two matchups against against Atlantic Division rivals, the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics.
Starting in December of 2023, the Raptors have dropped 15 regular season games in a row against the New York Knicks, meaning that for almost three years now, across various iterations of both franchises, Toronto has not been able to win a single game against the Knickerbockers.
TORONTO, CANADA – JANUARY 15: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts to a team basket against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on January 15, 2024 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A similar situation arises regarding the Boston Celtics, who, since December 2022, have won 15 of 16 games against the Raptors, winning four season series in a row, dropping only one game early in 2025. Adding insult to injury, the Celtics also beat the Raptors in their only playoff matchup back in 2020.
When the Raptors were middle-of-the-pack or losing, falling apart to some of the best teams in the league is not a particularly big issue, but now that the team is trying to contend in a meaningful way, these patterns emerge as a real problem.
After defeating the Knicks’ bench squad by 50 points on October 13th, Barnes expressed lukewarm feelings about the victory: “Obviously, they didn’t really have their guys out there on the floor,” he said. He continued, explaining that it ”felt solid though, win the game, but, you know, we got a game, we got tomorrow.”
The day before, Barnes was asked about his feelings on the matchup in Toronto, to which he seemed to struggle to find the words. After the reporter clarified, asking whether being at home “gave it some added juice,” Barnes finally settled on his response, putting it simply.
“Got to get better.”
Barnes’ honesty is refreshing, and after the matchup against the Knicks’ starters went awry, it does demonstrate that the Raptors are doing just that: getting better. But, a loss is still a loss, and from a morale perspective, dropping yet another game against the Knicks must be a difficult thing to stomach. However, this loss should serve as a turning point for Toronto, from which the team can turn around and rally, taking, or at bare minimum splitting, both season series against New York and Boston.
TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 13: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors puts a shot up over Miles McBride #2 of the New York Knicks during first half of their Pre-season NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on October 13, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As journalist Noah Curitti noted, Knicks centre Karl-Anthony Towns had a monster double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds, dishing out nine assists as well, posing a lot of trouble for the Raptors. Being able to contend with Towns’ combination of size and skill is one of the major factors the Raptors will have to manage if they want to be able to consistently defeat the Knicks this season, and in seasons to come.
Against the Celtics, the Raptors have upgraded both their offence and defence by signing Kawhi Leonard, and while the Klaw has not been the Defensive Player of the Year for a long time, he’ll match up well with Paul George if Scottie can take on the Jayson Tatum assignment. All together, the Raptors should be able to handle the Celtics’ wings effectively, but the firepower of Boston’s point guard Payton Pritchard makes him fearsome for the Raptors’ starters, potentially forcing a more defensively oriented lineup from Toronto.
The Raptors are at a turning point where they may be finally equipped to handle the Eastern Conference’s best teams. Albeit one move away from being at that level themselves, Toronto will never get there if they don’t get over the hump — both on the court, and in the mind. Losing the same matchups over and over again can be extremely demoralizing, the negative effects of which is compounded by the fact that it’s extremely likely the Raptors will play one, if not both, of these teams in the playoffs this year.
Scottie Barnes, and the Raptors, know what they have to do. The question remains: when will they?
Note: This is a sappy post about my love of the Utah Jazz, not an analysis, or breaking news or reaction to anything Jazz related. If that doesn’t float your boat, feel free to click away. If you decide that you’d still like to read, welcome in!
I started my first full-time, real, big boy job this week. Not a part-time gig, not an internship, not a job where I’m capped off at 39 hours so I don’t get benefits. An actual, legitimate, genuine job.
Now, for the sake of this article, I won’t say where and what I am doing — although, if you search me up on twitter or LinkedIn, it’s not secret information by any means — but it has caused me to move away from Utah, the state I’ve lived in since 2008. For the first time since I was in Kindergarten, I am no longer a Utah resident. It still feels weird to say.
As my dad and I packed our cars full of all my belongings and trekked through a narrow and scarily wet Parley’s Canyon, I realized something: I will likely not attend a Utah Jazz game this year.
I’m sure many of you reading this have never been to a Jazz game, or maybe have only seen a handful in your lifetimes. Many of our readers aren’t even from the United States, much less Salt Lake City. I’ve been fortunate enough to live within a couple of miles of an NBA arena my whole life, and I’ve taken it for granted until this very moment, now that I can no longer make it to a meaningless Tuesday night game against the 13-22 Hornets just because tickets were cheap.
Like a lot of Jazz fans from the Beehive State, my first experience seeing the Jazz live was from the complimentary tickets I got from Jr. Jazz, the rec league basketball program in Utah. My dad took me to the then Energy Solutions Arena to watch the Deron Williams-led Jazz play the Phoenix Suns.
“You see that player right there,” my dad said pointing to an aging Shaquille O’Neal, “that’s Shaq. He’s 300 pounds and over seven feet tall.” My dad knew all the players, and I tried my best to keep up with all the information that he spewed at me over the next four quarters.
Over the years, my dad had to keep up with my knowledge of the Jazz. Back when the Jazz had physical programs at the games — let’s bring those back! Physical media is awesome! — my dad would quiz me on which college each player went to.
“Alec Burks went to Colorado Jeremy Evans went to Western Kentucky AlJefferson… didn’t go to college. Trick question.”
Since that 2008 game, the Jazz have changed their colors to blue, yellow and green, to black and neon yellow — AGGGGGGGGHHHHH — and back to the beloved purple mountains. They also came out with the greatest city edition jerseys in NBA history, and the arena has changed its name multiple times.
Utah is coming off of its second rebuild of my fan life, once happening in the years following the Williams-Sloan debacle, and once after the Rudy Gobert-Donovan Mitchell experiment ran its course. The infamous 2021 Terance Mann game sent me into a weeks-long depression, one where I’d hop into my Jetta and go on long, silent drives throughout the valley, questioning how a supposed “loving” God could curse me with being a Jazz fan.
Through all the changes over the past two decades, I’ve been at my spot up in the nosebleeds, watching as history unfolded on the hardwood court below. I saw Mitchell put the clamps on Jayson Tatum in Summer League, I saw Tyrone Corbin’s first game as a head coach, I saw the first full-capacity game after COVID-19, I saw a Derrick Favors career-high, I saw an all-purple court, I even saw Tacko Fall wearing a neon yellow summer league jersey as the Jazz’ starting center.
I saw Gordon Hayward, Carlos Boozer, Joe Ingles, Lauri Markkanen, Paul Millsap, Danté Exum, Rodney Hood, Talen Horton-Tucker, Earl Watson, Tibor Pleiss, Jeff Withey, Justin Wright-Foreman, Rayjon Tucker, Francisco Elson and the list goes on and on.
And now, I will watch from afar, as a new era of Jazz basketball takes place.
If my boss is reading this: I will be taking a month off work if when the Jazz win the NBA Finals.
Note: This is a sappy post about my love of the Utah Jazz, not an analysis, or breaking news or reaction to anything Jazz related. If that doesn’t float your boat, feel free to click away. If you decide that you’d still like to read, welcome in!
I started my first full-time, real, big boy job this week. Not a part-time gig, not an internship, not a job where I’m capped off at 39 hours so I don’t get benefits. An actual, legitimate, genuine job.
Now, for the sake of this article, I won’t say where and what I am doing — although, if you search me up on twitter or LinkedIn, it’s not secret information by any means — but it has caused me to move away from Utah, the state I’ve lived in since 2008. For the first time since I was in Kindergarten, I am no longer a Utah resident. It still feels weird to say.
As my dad and I packed our cars full of all my belongings and trekked through a narrow and scarily wet Parley’s Canyon, I realized something: I will likely not attend a Utah Jazz game this year.
I’m sure many of you reading this have never been to a Jazz game, or maybe have only seen a handful in your lifetimes. Many of our readers aren’t even from the United States, much less Salt Lake City. I’ve been fortunate enough to live within a couple of miles of an NBA arena my whole life, and I’ve taken it for granted until this very moment, now that I can no longer make it to a meaningless Tuesday night game against the 13-22 Hornets just because tickets were cheap.
Like a lot of Jazz fans from the Beehive State, my first experience seeing the Jazz live was from the complimentary tickets I got from Jr. Jazz, the rec league basketball program in Utah. My dad took me to the then Energy Solutions Arena to watch the Deron Williams-led Jazz play the Phoenix Suns.
“You see that player right there,” my dad said pointing to an aging Shaquille O’Neal, “that’s Shaq. He’s 300 pounds and over seven feet tall.” My dad knew all the players, and I tried my best to keep up with all the information that he spewed at me over the next four quarters.
Over the years, my dad had to keep up with my knowledge of the Jazz. Back when the Jazz had physical programs at the games — let’s bring those back! Physical media is awesome! — my dad would quiz me on which college each player went to.
“Alec Burks went to Colorado Jeremy Evans went to Western Kentucky AlJefferson… didn’t go to college. Trick question.”
Since that 2008 game, the Jazz have changed their colors to blue, yellow and green, to black and neon yellow — AGGGGGGGGHHHHH — and back to the beloved purple mountains. They also came out with the greatest city edition jerseys in NBA history, and the arena has changed its name multiple times.
Utah is coming off of its second rebuild of my fan life, once happening in the years following the Williams-Sloan debacle, and once after the Rudy Gobert-Donovan Mitchell experiment ran its course. The infamous 2021 Terance Mann game sent me into a weeks-long depression, one where I’d hop into my Jetta and go on long, silent drives throughout the valley, questioning how a supposed “loving” God could curse me with being a Jazz fan.
Through all the changes over the past two decades, I’ve been at my spot up in the nosebleeds, watching as history unfolded on the hardwood court below. I saw Mitchell put the clamps on Jayson Tatum in Summer League, I saw Tyrone Corbin’s first game as a head coach, I saw the first full-capacity game after COVID-19, I saw a Derrick Favors career-high, I saw an all-purple court, I even saw Tacko Fall wearing a neon yellow summer league jersey as the Jazz’ starting center.
I saw Gordon Hayward, Carlos Boozer, Joe Ingles, Lauri Markkanen, Paul Millsap, Danté Exum, Rodney Hood, Talen Horton-Tucker, Earl Watson, Tibor Pleiss, Jeff Withey, Justin Wright-Foreman, Rayjon Tucker, Francisco Elson and the list goes on and on.
And now, I will watch from afar, as a new era of Jazz basketball takes place.
If my boss is reading this: I will be taking a month off work if when the Jazz win the NBA Finals.
In an effort to combat illegal sports gambling scandals, the NBA and its sportsbook partners have banned wagers the league deems problematic and susceptible to manipulation, per a pair of memos obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
The bets that will no longer be permitted are parlays wagered on a series of under bets for the same player; any under wagers for players who average fewer than 12 minutes per game; and first basket, opening tipoff winners and wagers for players to miss any specific shots.
These restrictions are in addition to previous limitations on wagers from prior seasons, such as bets on any 10-day contract or two-way player; player props on turnovers; any wagers related to player and team fouls; and any wagers related to missed free throws.
“Protecting the integrity of our games remains the NBA’s top priority," an NBA spokesperson said, Friday, Oct. 16. "Building on existing safeguards, we are strengthening betting education and monitoring, working with operators to expand limits on bets that are more susceptible to manipulation, and improving protections against betting-related harassment to help safeguard our competition, players and personnel.”
The NBA collaborated with sportsbooks to arrive at these measures after evaluating the markets that had been used to launch some of the scandals that had rocked the league in previous seasons.
For example, the NBA levied a lifetime ban on former Raptor forward Jontay Porter, after it was revealed he intentionally manipulated his performance to hit a series of under wagers in order to win parlay bets.
The league sent out two different memos Friday, Oct. 16, detailing the measures. The first memo went out to official and authorized gaming partners, indicating the bans on those bets. While DraftKings and FanDuel are the official gaming partners, there are 10 other sportsbooks that comprise authorized partners, such as Fanatics, Caesars, BetMGM and bet365. In total, the NBA estimates that its official and authorized partners comprise the overwhelming majority of the total market.
“The NBA’s guidance formalizes many of the market restrictions already reflected in DraftKings Sportsbook’s practices,” a DraftKings spokesperson said Friday in a statement emailed to USA TODAY Sports. “DraftKings supports the NBA’s efforts and is committed to continued collaboration with the league to maintain game integrity, including through appropriate limits on betting markets. DraftKings’ Code of Responsible Engagement is fully aligned with the league’s stance on the harassment of athletes, coaches or officials.”
The league essentially leveraged the use of its data on platform to work with the sportsbooks to come to these bans. The NBA’s agreements with its gaming partners furnish the right to limit the types of wagers and markets sportsbooks can offer its client base.
“The legalized sports betting industry is built on a foundation of dialogue and collaboration with our league partners and the states in which we operate,” a FanDuel spokesperson said Friday in a statement emailed to USA TODAY Sports. “We remain unwavering in our commitment to building a legal and regulated market that roots out abuses by those who seek to undermine fair competition and damage the integrity of the games we love.”
The second memo went to all 30 NBA franchises, detailing additional monitoring methods and enhanced training requirements and some additional harassment supports for when fans negatively interact with players over gambling losses. The league also disclosed an AI monitoring tool which analyzes injury reports and troves of player availability and performance data to flag irregularities.
As part of the initiatives, former NFL player and retired FBI agent Charles Tillman will conduct live, in-person training on the NBA’ sports gambling rules for each franchise.
This is an effort the league has been undertaking for several months and goes into effect immediately.
Every year, the NBA General Managers take a survey voting on certain topics such as best defender, player most likely to have a breakout season, best assistant coach, etc. What keeps this survey honest is that general managers are not allowed to vote for any of their players or staff. If you want to read the survey for yourself, you can do so here.
This year, one particular Rocket was mentioned repeatedly in the survey, and that is Wing Amen Thompson, who scored second for most likely to break out, scored fourth for what player can move the ball fastest, and second for most adaptable defender (behind only Wembanyama), amongst other awards.
Amen Thompson scored first in two categories, those being best perimeter defender and most athletic. For best perimeter defender, Thompson garnered 30% of the vote, surpassing both his twin brother Ausar Thompson and Alex Caruso, who both received 17%. In the athletic category, he was even more dominant, winning 63% of the vote, far more than Anthony Edwards, who came in second with 20%.
Anyone who has followed Thompson during the previous two seasons with the Rockets shouldn’t be surprised by either outcome, in my opinion. The fact that NBA executives are showing him this much respect before he even starts his fourth NBA season is even more impressive.
Amen Thompson is already regarded as one of the NBA’s best defenders. Even while he has the bulk to compete with larger wings at 6’7”, what really stands out is his ability to stay ahead of smaller, speedier guards. When an attacking player steps on him, few players have the length and speed to recover and still make a move.
I also love how defensively aggressive Thompson is without constantly changing positions. He doesn’t need to risk steals to make a mark because his length, speed, and ability to contest shots already make opponents uncomfortable. It is a big honor for Rockets coach Ime Udoka to be able to pair Thompson with the top perimeter scorer on the opposing team and trust him to carry it out. In my opinion, Thompson has a good chance of winning Defensive Player of the Year at some point in his career. When you’re up against exceptional rim protectors like Victor Wembanyama, it’s clearly hard for perimeter defenders to win this honor, but I can see Thompson maybe winning the award if Wembanyama has a down year, or if there is voter fatigue.
Outside of Amen Thompson, head coach Ime Udoka tied for second place in the GM survey when asked which head coach has the strongest defensive tactics. On the question of which assistant coach is the best in the league, Royal Ivey was tied for third.
When asked which player General Managers would most like to try with the game on the line, All-Star forward Kevin Durant, who was selected to the second team of the NBA the previous season, came in fifth. In the “best small forward” poll, he also garnered votes.
What do you think about the GM survey? Do you agree with the results, or disagree? Make sure to tell us below, and as always, stay tuned for more Rockets news, discussion, and analysis at The Dream Shake,
