Category: Basketball

With the preseason wrapped up, the Phoenix Suns get ready for their season opener in Portland. This is a fun game for the Suns, who faced the Trail Blazers last year for the seventh spot in the Play-In tournament. Unfortunately for the Suns, the Blazers snuck up on them and stole the win, but the Suns were lucky enough to make the play-in tournament as the eighth seed. Phoenix will look to get off to a strong start and avenge last postseason by winning on opening night, and a huge reason they can do that is how cohesive this squad is.

As we noted throughout the offseason, the team made minimal roster changes. They shipped Royce O’Neale and Grayson Allen to bring in Miles Bridges, then signed Luke Kennard. Beyond the two-way acquisitions, almost everyone (sorry, Haywood Highsmith) is still on this roster, and a bunch of them signed new deals to stay. That shows the Suns had just the tip of the iceberg last year, and they can fully capitalize on this opportunity.

Not to mention, Kennard and Bridges will add the areas the team needs. Kennard comes in to try to replicate Allen’s three-point shooting, while Bridges brings more size to the frontcourt, which lacked a natural power forward last season.

That said, key guys like Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin were brought back because of the role and impact they had last season. With both of them back and locked in as the backcourt duo, their chemistry is only going to grow. Add that Gillespie worked well with Mark Williams and Oso Ighodaro last year, getting them both comfortable in that bench unit. That leaves me with no fear that he will do the same with Ighodaro and now Khaman Maluach, who has taken this leap.

"[Oso] makes the game very easy for me." 🫡

Collin Gillespie LOVES playing with Oso Ighodaro 😤 pic.twitter.com/K7ksHdNYwn

— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) August 26, 2026

With this bench unit mostly intact and a few fun new pieces, I’m confident it will be one of the league’s top bench units. Regardless of who starts at center, a lineup with Gillespie, Goodwin, Kennard, Dunn/Fleming, and Ighodaro/Maluach is set up to be a well-oiled, complementary machine. Most of them can shoot threes, and they make the hustle/winning plays we look for as fans. Of course, there can be some concern about a few pieces, and even if a guy like Koa Peat sees some time, given how deep the roster is, only time will tell.

Looking at the starting lineup, I think a lot will carry over from last season. Obviously, with the Bridges trade and Williams’s injury, the lineup will look different from last season, but not drastically. Devin Booker is still here, and he is the franchise guy who will look to improve as he did last year. We saw the number change, and maybe this unlocks Book to be on one this upcoming season. Three-point shooting is one key area he needs to improve from last year, and with Jalen Green getting some work with Steve Nash this offseason, we could see Book take on more of an off-ball role than in the previous two years.

Green is another intriguing name, as the guard came to Phoenix last year as the centerpiece of the KD trade on paper, but, with injuries, didn’t meet expectations. The former Rockets guard led the team in points per game and brought them to the No. 2 seed in a deep West, only to be traded the following offseason. That takes a mental toll on a player, and for Green, who came into training camp with some injuries, the combination didn’t pan out well. Luckily for him, this year, he said he feels a lot better and healthier coming into camp, and looks to make the most of his redemption arc this year,

As I said above, he worked with Nash in the offseason and stayed in Phoenix over the summer to maximize his opportunities. He knows next year is the final year of his deal; it is a big prove-it year, and he wants to take full advantage of it, not only to secure a nice payday but also to have somewhere to call home in the future. With no injuries to consider, this should be an exciting year to watch Green in this system.

Jalen Green says he's been working on his playmaking and pace with Steve Nash this summer 👀 pic.twitter.com/2Twcc5fGCU

— Erik Ruby (@ErikRuby) September 28, 2026

Then comes Villain Dillion Brooks, who looks to keep that floor rising for this team. He was a huge acquisition to help shift the culture in the Valley, and he looks to build on it this season. Adding Bridges, too, I think, eases the pain of having to show up offensively every night, especially when Green was out. Now that Bridges and Brooks are together, they can hopefully share that offensive load, while Brooks can still disrupt the defense.

When you add it all up, the Suns look like a pretty impactful team on both ends and across the roster. The roster has no position needs and isn’t overstocked in any one position as they head into the season with 14 guys under contract. That’s something I enjoy and feel confident about going into this year; they’re deep, and I saw that last night. From watching the final preseason game against the Utah Jazz, you could see this team’s cohesion on the floor.

Green looked for open guys, and he and Book started hot. Then Brooks got into a rhythm and started to hunt down his shots; Bridges also hit some threes and looked more comfortable. Even Maluach, stepping up for Ighodaro, who was out, made some impactful plays on both ends. This team was scrappy last season, and that mentality is still sticking through from 1-14 on the roster, and that is key. Personally, I’m super excited to see them take the floor.

Both the starters and the bench looked like a complete unit, with one player ready for the wide-open shot or the best opportunity, which didn’t always seem the case last season. That truly has me bought in and excited for the season; last year, I was optimistic, but not this high on the whole roster. Ultimately, we will find out whether this cohesion truly makes a difference. I think we will see it show on the bright side this season for the Suns.

Dallas Mavericks basketball is back, and there is no shortage of questions heading into Wednesday night’s season opener against the Houston Rockets. Can Kyrie Irving get back to looking like Kyrie Irving? How quickly will Cooper Flagg take another leap? And can new head coach Dusty May get this group moving in the right direction after last season’s mess? Those are the obvious storylines.

But opening night is a chance to see what else Dallas has on its roster and who could potentially emerge as a solidified third option, behind Flagg and Irving. Of course, one game is just one game, but Dallas has talent – young talent. Three players, in particular, are worth keeping an eye on against Houston. One is a former No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft looking for a fresh start, another is a small guard trying to prove he belongs in the rotation, and the third is a rookie big man who could make a living doing the things that don’t always show up in the box score. Any guesses? Let’s break it down.

Zaccharie Risacher

There is something fascinating about the Risacher situation. Not that long ago, he was the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. Now, just two years later, he’s in Dallas trying to figure out how to turn that potential into consistent NBA production. The good news? The Mavericks don’t need him to be a superstar. The bad news? They do need him to be more consistent than in Atlanta.

Risacher’s time in Atlanta didn’t exactly go according to plan, and there’s a reason the Mavericks have an opportunity to take a chance on him. He’s only 21, and a player with his size at 6’8 and athleticism should be given another shot at becoming something. In his two years in Atlanta, he averaged 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. Those aren’t typically numbers you want to see from a number one pick.

Sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what a young player needs. Other times, it just reveals the same problems in a different uniform. We’ll see which one this is. What makes Dallas an interesting landing spot is that Risacher shouldn’t have to force anything. At minimum, he’ll be the third wheel behind Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. He won’t have to bear the weight of the pressure of being THE guy. My ask of him against the Rockets is just to keep things simple. Knock down open threes. Make cuts and find open space on the floor. Do the little things that get a coach to trust you.

The Mavericks could use another reliable wing, especially one who can contribute on both ends. If Risacher can become that guy, a revival could be in the works.

Marcus Sasser

The Mavericks need shooting. Period. Although he’s a little undersized at 6’1, the 25th pick in the 2023 draft brings skills most other Mavs don’t have at the top of their list – ball handling and shooting. Sasser can create his own shot and give the offense a little juice when things get stagnant. Do you remember that offense last year? Things got stagnant. In his career, he’s averaged 7.0 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 rebounds per game.

If Sasser can come in on Wednesday and create a few good looks, get into the paint and knock down shots, he’ll have a chance to earn a spot in the rotation. Of course, there’s a catch. Scoring a few buckets is nice, but it won’t matter much if the Rockets hunt him on the opposite end. His minutes became limited in Detroit Sasser due to injury and his size defensively. Luckily, the Mavericks have size at all other positions to make up for him.

The Mavericks don’t need Sasser to be a starting-level point guard or some hidden star waiting to explode. They need a dependable bench guard who can keep the offense afloat, make smart decisions, and occasionally provide a scoring burst when the team needs one. Whether Sasser can deliver consistently is another question. His preseason debut against Atlanta was an encouraging step after he missed Dallas’ first three exhibition games with left adductor tightness. Now the real games start. It will be telling to see how Sasser handles pressure and if he’s willing to make the simple play instead of forcing a difficult shot. A strong showing could help him make his case for regular minutes. A rough one could remind everyone why undersized guards have such a narrow margin for error.

Morez Johnson Jr.

There’s a reason the Mavericks took Johnson Jr. over a guard in the 2026 draft. At 6’9, 250 pounds, he’s an athletic juggernaut who plays both sides of the floor. The ninth overall pick is built around doing the uncomfortable stuff. Rebound through traffic. Run the floor. Protect the paint. Finish around the basket. Make opposing big men work for every inch of space. Those things aren’t always going to make the highlight reel, but they can absolutely help a team win games. At Michigan, he averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. Again, not eye-popping numbers, but it’s impact that matters.

The Mavericks have enough players who will want the ball in their hands. Johnson doesn’t need to compete with them for touches. He can make himself valuable by dominating the areas where effort and toughness matter most, which is a pretty good way for a rookie to get on the floor. There was an encouraging glimpse of that during the preseason, when Johnson grabbed seven rebounds in just 14 minutes against Atlanta. That’s the kind of activity that gets your attention. It doesn’t mean he’s ready to play 25 minutes a night, but it shows how he can contribute even when the offense isn’t running through him

The challenge is doing it against NBA competition. The Rockets are a massive team. The jump from big men in college to the NBA is substantial. Johnson will also have to avoid the rookie mistakes that can frustrate coaches, particularly unnecessary fouls and defensive breakdowns. But if he can bring energy, crash the glass, and make life difficult for opposing centers, he’ll put himself in the conversation for a regular role sooner than some might expect.

There is something refreshing about a young player whose path to contributing is so straightforward. Oh and by the way, did I mention his new coach is also his former coach in Dusty May? That’s good too.

Bottom line

The Mavericks have bigger questions to answer than whether Risacher, Sasser, or Johnson can have a good opening night. Irving’s health and Flagg’s development will ultimately tell us much more about where this team is headed. But the supporting cast matters, too.

Risacher is the swing-for-the-fences play: a former No. 1 pick who could become a valuable two-way wing if things finally click. Sasser is the intriguing bench option who needs to prove he can make enough plays to stay on the floor. Johnson is the rookie who could carve out a role by doing the dirty work and making life miserable for opposing big men. None of these guys needs to have a career night against Houston. It would be nice to see some confidence from Risacher, creativity from Sasser, and “dirty” stats from Johnson Jr. If Dallas is going to surprise anyone this season, it will take more than its two biggest names. Wednesday night is the first chance for others to step up.

How to watch

The Mavericks and the Rockets tip off at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams. The game will be televised locally on both WFAA Channel 8 and KFAA Channel 29 locally, as well as on sister stations throughout the Mavericks’ regional viewership area. The game can be streamed on MavsTV or NBA League Pass where available.

The Knicks have dazzling, diamond-encrusted championship rings to match their historic title. 

Ahead of Tuesday night’s regular-season opener against LeBron James and the 76ers, the Knicks celebrated their first championship in 53 years with a banner-raising ceremony. They also distributed the gaudy jewelry that was created by renowned luxury jeweler Jason of Beverly Hills along with input from Knicks leadership.

The 22-carat ring made up of just under 800 diamonds and blue sapphires set in white gold features a first-of-its-kind feature: a mechanism that includes raising a miniature recreation of Madison Square Garden’s exterior with a turn of the ring.

The underside of the removable part of the ring recreates the Garden’s ceiling, while the top showcases the arena’s lower bowl. 

“The ring was designed to capture the team’s identity and the defining moments of its title run,”  Jason Arasheben, founder and CEO of Jason of Beverly Hills, told Page Six Style exclusively. “What makes this ring unique from others I’ve created is how every detail — from the combination of round brilliant and emerald-cut diamonds with radially set blue sapphires to the individual player tributes and championship milestones — tells a story that is distinctly New York Knicks.”

Numbers of the entire team wrap around the ring top. Each player’s specific ring includes their last name above their number in diamond.

A .16-carat round diamond signifies the team’s 16-point comeback in the clinching Game 5.

There are 16 emerald-cut diamonds that line the inner part of the ring for every playoff victory.

The shank of the ring is engraved with the phrase “Knicks in Five,” for their NBA Finals victory over the favored Spurs.

The Lakers entered this week in a similar situation they were in last year.

They’re opening the regular season against one of their in-state rivals, the Warriors, after a pair of preseason matchups earlier in October.

But because of the nature of preseason NBA basketball, they couldn’t lean too much on the game film in preparation for Wedneday’s opener at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers were without a significant chunk of their rotation in the first exhibition against the Warriors on Oct. 6 in San Francisco, with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler among the several players who didn’t suit up for the matchup at Chase Center during the first week of preseason.

One week later, Kessler made his preseason debut and Reaves scored a preseason-high 28 points in Las Vegas, but the Warriors were without Draymond Green, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis. 

And star guard Steph Curry only played 23 minutes, with Kessler only playing in the first half and Reaves also only playing through a chunk of the third quarter.

So the game tape from those matchups don’t provide too much insight into what to expect Wednesday.

“We’ll do a normal scout,” coach JJ Redick said of his team’s regular season opener. “There’s segments of the game where they’re playing their rotation guys, [we’re] playing our rotation guys, where you can look and glean some stuff from that. And we will. Obviously you look at how they have played historically and what they’ve been good at. So there’ll be a combination of the two.”

Historically, the Warriors are a known commodity even as they become a “fading dynasty”, as Steve Kerr put it last Decemeber.

Their post-split actions will continue to confuse defenses.

Green will quarterback the defense.

And Curry’s historical 3-point shooting will bend the court in ways no other player in NBA history can.

But they’re no longer the juggernaut they once were.

What the Warriors are though is a team that forces teams into mistakes. 

The Lakers learned this the hard way in both preseason matchups, including turning the ball over 30 times in the second exhibition last week.

While that was an extreme example, the Warriors have been top-five in defensive turnover percentage in each of the last two seasons. 

Making a point of emphasis from the Lakers’ preseason even more important for them in order to open the regular season with a victory. 

What the Lakers also learned from playing against the Warriors is that they can be an even better defensive team that expected.

It was a general takeaway from preseason.

“From early in September, and even kind of early training camp-ish, maybe before we played our first game, I thought we could potentially be like around an average defense,” Redick said. “Our standards for that have elevated, and we talked to the group about that. We have the chance to be a good defense. And there’s certain things that we really want to get better at from the preseason.

“The areas of focus for us, transition defense, defensive rebounding, we weren’t good. So if we get better at that, we’ll have a chance to be a pretty good defense, and that’s exciting.”

The moment that months of speculation has led to is here.

The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to South Beach to take on the new look Miami Heat in what will kick off each team’s regular season. Two teams that made massive moves to overhaul their rosters step into the spotlight for the ESPN’s first nationally televised game of the season.

Everyone has had way to much time to overanalyze this game and how each team might attack the others weaknesses, so now it’s finally time to get a look at what they can actually do. There were constant rumors of Anthony Edwards and Giannis Antetokounmpo teaming up earlier this calendar year, but instead they’ll face off to kick off their 2026-27 seasons.

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Game Info

• Who:Minnesota Timberwolves (0-0) at Miami Heat (0-0)
• When: Wednesday, October 21 at 6:30 PM CT
• Where: Kaseya Center — Miami, Florida
• TV: ESPN
• Radio: 830 WCCO

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Injury Reports

Minnesota @Timberwolves Status Report in advance of tomorrow night’s game at Miami Heat:

OUT
DiVincenzo- Right Achilles Tendon Repair

— Timberwolves PR (@Twolves_PR) October 20, 2026

The Miami Heat injury report for Wednesday’s season opener vs. Minnesota:

Questionable:
Vladislav Goldin (right ankle sprain)

Available:
Myron Gardner (right ankle sprain)
Dru Smith (right calf strain)

Pelle Larsson (illness) will not be listed on the injury report.

— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) October 20, 2026

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What to Watch for

Clash of styles

When the Timberwolves opted to deal Naz Reid and Julius Randle in the offseason to obtain LaMelo Ball, they made an active choice that they were going to shift towards a more guard-heavy, perimeter-oriented team. Conversely, when the Miami Heat chose to deal a bevy of players and picks to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo, they were aspiring towards a bruising interior presence that would beat other teams down in the paint.

Tracking how each team went about their splashy offseason moves could not have been more different, and yet they are all too similar. Miami and Minnesota both chose to pair their current star with another at a neighboring position – Bam Adebayo with Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Anthony Edwards with LaMelo Ball. The fallout of these decisions should be none more apparent than when they are pitted against each other.

This clashing of styles will show up in the matchup. The Wolves are trying to shoot more threes and give more space for Anthony Edwards and others to operate. Something to watch for will be the three-point discrepancy between the two teams. When the backcourt can shoot like Ant and LaMelo do, not to mention the rim defense that the Heat are expected to boast, it won’t be surprising if Minnesota attacks Miami with their perimeter shooting.

The Heat will be looking to do the opposite when trying to take it at Rudy Gobert and young Joan Beringer to get their points on the offensive end. This all coalesces in a fascinating mismatch where both teams have things they can exploit.

Stopping the bigs

Heading into game one, the defense seems to be the end of the floor that has more questions than the offense. The spacing and shooting should carry them on offense as they find their footing in sets and rhythm, but finding the best way to play defense when it has been drastically changed from the last two years will be something to keep an eye on. It’s easier to play offense when you have the personnel they do, but defense takes much more of an attention to detail to be able to play the right way. Especially when you have Rudy Gobert.

This should be a great test for the Timberwolves right off the bat. They are playing arguably the best frontcourt in the NBA while having the least amount of size in their own in years. Being able to guard both Giannis and Bam is a different beast compared to most other teams. Minnesota will most likely opt to put Rudy on Bam, and have Kuminga shadow Antetokounmpo with Rudy helping near the rim.

This strategy has worked for them in the past when facing dominant bigs, but we will see if they are able to effectively do it when there are two skilled bigs. Adebayo’s ability to make threes off of Giannis drives will also determine if Minnesota will need to pivot to a different strategy. Not to mention when the reserves get into the game and Beringer, still a teenager, has to matchup against one of them.

Chris Finch on Joan Beringer via @PAOnTheMic 9 to Noon show:

“It might be a 14 minute night, if he’s playing well we might push it to 20-24 minutes to give Rudy a break when needed. It’s all about staying out of foul trouble. He goes after everything which is a great trait but… pic.twitter.com/g3bBiDiFL3

— SleeperTimberwolves (@SleeperTWolves) October 20, 2026

Rotation decisions

During opening night, there is usually a lot more leeway for going deeper into the bench. Coaches want to get a look at different lineups and don’t want to be too rigid early on in the season. Head coach Chris Finch has historically had a shorter bench (at least in recent years), but is also willing to try out different players and lineups early in the season.

Something to keep an eye on will be how deep the Wolves will actually go into their bench, as well as what the minutes distribution is for said players. Though little can be taken from preseason, it was of note that in the final game against the Bulls, Bones Hyland stayed back in Minnesota while TJ Shannon traveled to play in the “split team” game. With those two players vastly differing in skillsets, it is something to monitor.

Trey Lyles could also be someone to watch for on Wednesday. He is at the fringes of the rotation, but could see some more minutes in this particular matchup because of the Heat’s frontcourt. If Beringer struggles with fouls or being overwhelmed by the more seasoned stars, it could be a chance for Lyles to come in as another big who can help to mitigate the size deficit with his spacing.

we hoop tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/pu8zXJCEkC

— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) October 20, 2026

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It’s finally time all. The official road to 82-0 begins Monday evening. The Wolves are ready. Are you?

In 2017, the Los Angeles Clippers gave Blake Griffin a five-year, $173-million contract that they said would make him a “Clipper for life.”

When he signed the contract, employees of the team were wearing a controversial shirt that read “Pioneers,” featuring Griffin alongside notable historical figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, and more.

Clippers employees wore T-shirt after Blake Griffin's FA meeting likening him to MLK, Obama, Ali, JFK, Lincoln, Gandhi, MJ,Einstein,Mandela. pic.twitter.com/BZtXqhdrWr

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 1, 2017

Fast forward nine years later, Griffin appeared on “Pablo Torre Finds Out” and talked about how that moment still haunts him to this day.

Before Amazon kicked off it’s inaugural season covering the NBA on Prime Video last season, Vice President of Global Live Production, Jared Stacy, held a team meeting with the streaming service’s broadcast and production team and told everyone that they are all “Pioneers.”

Including Griffin, whom he reminded had been a “Pioneer” before.

In their pitch to make Blake Griffin a "Clipper for life," team staffers wore a Blake Griffin-themed "Pioneers" shirt, featuring Griffin alongside Barack Obama, Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Einstein, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, JFK, Muhammad Ali and Michael Jackson. pic.twitter.com/zKgKKBVIT4

— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) October 20, 2026

“He does this whole speech about, you know, ‘We are pioneers, and I really have to single out one guy.’ And he says, ‘Blake, this isn’t his first foray into being a Pioneer,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh no,'” Griffin said. “He brings up the shirt. Found the shirts and bought everybody on the Prime team a Pioneer shirt.”

When he received the first copy of the shirt, Griffin said he ended up losing it and also didn’t realize who was on it at first.

“Literally on the way home it had exploded on Twitter, and I was like, ‘Is that Martin Luther King? Is that Gandhi? Oh my God,'” Griffin said.

During the interview, Torre asked Griffin if he had remembered all the faces on the shirt.

The former six-time All-Star started off strong, but couldn’t complete the entirety of the list as he forgot Nelson Mandela and Michael Jackson were featured in the image.

“I’ve tried to block the shirt out of my memory,” Griffin said while laughing about it.

While the Los Angeles Clippers promised Griffin that day he would be a “Clipper for life,” their word would be true for only a year and a half, as he was traded by the team to the Detroit Pistons in January 2018.

Griffin spent over three years with the Pistons, then finished his career playing for the Brooklyn Nets and Boston Celtics.

Following the 2023 season, Griffin retired from basketball.

Now, Griffin is about to embark on his second year working in the NBA on Prime Video and is also about to begin his new show, “The Stepback with Blake Griffin.”

Put your shades on because these rings are dazzling!

The New York Knicks received their championship rings on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at Madison Square Garden ahead of their season opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. The arena was buzzing as Knicks and ABC play-by-play announcer Mike Breen led the ceremony to honor New York's first title in 53 years. Knicks superfan Ben Stiller was in the crowd filming the festivities on his phone.

The rings were crafted by Jason of Beverly Hills and feature the Knicks logo in orange gems on the ring face with a line of blue gems surrounding the entire base. The top of the ring opens up to reveal the inside of Madison Square Garden. The back of the band has "Knicks in Five" engraved on it, to commemorate that New York beat the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the NBA Finals. The inside of the band has the number "10 weeks" engraved in black, a call back to Knicks owner James Dolan rallying his team to make sacrifices for the length of the playoff run.

One of the sides of the ring says "World Champions" with the records for each of New York's series wins and the Larry O'Brien Trophy encrusted in diamonds. The other side has the player's name and number with a gold image of the outside of Madison Square Garden.

Jason of Beverly Hills is responsible for several recent championship rings across sports, including for the Carolina Hurricanes, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles and the winner of the WBC Crown Series Undisputed Championship fight between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford.

New York Knicks championship rings

this one’s for you, new york 🏆 pic.twitter.com/64djaVB9F7

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 20, 2026

A WORK OF ART. @JasonofBHpic.twitter.com/sXZEqDQ8WK

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 20, 2026

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Check out the New York Knicks' glamorous NBA championship rings

Before the Knicks could begin their 2026-27 campaign, they had one last bit of important championship business to take care of.

In front of a roaring home crowd cloaked in blue and orange, New York celebrated its historic NBA Finals run one last time ahead of its season opener against the Eastern Conference-rival Philadelphia 76ers, forever memorializing the effort in the Madison Square Garden rafters with a banner after each player received their glittery championship rings.

Ahead of the evening's festivities, the team also retroactively hung up a banner recognizing their 2025 NBA cup win against the San Antonio Spurs. 

"I think it's just a recognition of what our journey was like last year," head coach Mike Brown said of the banners. "There were a lot of ups and down throughout the course of the year. Our guys rallied and figured out a way to win the NBA Cup, and then you go ahead and you win the ... Final. It's just a recognition [of] not just our guys, but the fans out there. We've got fantastic fans, and to be able to show a little love to them is pretty neat."

The Larry O’Brien trophy has arrived back to Madison Square Garden 🏆 https://t.co/nYnYhZNXtc

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 20, 2026

The Knicks’ championship display outside of section 104 at MSG, featuring the ball OG Anunoby tipped in to win Game 4 https://t.co/gfYqTqDIYw

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 20, 2026

The Knicks unveil their championship ring 💍 https://t.co/LlWcHFYCa2

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 20, 2026

Ben Stiller narrates the Knicks' ring night video 🔥 https://t.co/RnfoEzqt3B

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 20, 2026

Mike Brown gets his ring 🙌 https://t.co/NlM2nD90QX

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 20, 2026

Ariel Hukporti wheels out to halfcourt to get his ring from Clyde Frazier 🙌 https://t.co/1SAZ14Keji

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 20, 2026

Leon Rose gets his championship ring from Clyde Frazier 👏 https://t.co/NsMXu8GS1W

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 20, 2026

After receiving a lengthy round of "MVP" chants as he jogged onto the court to receive his ring, captain Jalen Brunson had a message for all the Knicks fans who waited 53 years for the title.

"As much as we won this, we wouldn't have done it without you guys. This is unbelievable. This is really a dream come true," he said. "I know that we're all excited to get the season going, and we're waiting to turn the page as a team, but one thing I would like to say is that the joy that this city had this summer — we would love to replicate that again."

Jalen Brunson gets his ring from Clyde Frazier https://t.co/pkc0hq95E8

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 20, 2026

"Most importantly, I want to say thank you guys for not leaving Game 4" 😂 Jalen Brunson's speech to Knicks fans on ring night: https://t.co/REkqR8G6xC

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 20, 2026

The champs. https://t.co/5JKaBXbo7K

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 20, 2026

The moment Knicks fans have waited 53 years for. The banner is raised at MSG 💙🧡 https://t.co/RWpN1lmTgV

— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 20, 2026

Brown said that while he hopes his players can find an emotional balance between celebrating their previous accomplishments and working toward the new, he wanted them to experience the moment in full.

"Knock on wood, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime thing. You never know," Brown said. "You definitely want guys to embrace it and celebrate it with each other because they went through a lot, with the fans, with the rest of the organization, and with their families. You don't want to take that moment away from them."

But he also knows that one night — even if it ends up a rough one — shouldn't set the tone for the whole 82-game season.

"No matter what happens tonight ... there's a lot of basketball left. Whatever happens tonight is not going to define us," Brown said. "I would rather them enjoy the moment than me cutting it short or carving into their emotions."

THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS 

The Clippers will make the play-in tournament:When a team has nothing to lose, things can suddenly start to click. Don’t be surprised if this team somehow surpasses our very low expectations this season. 

DariusGarland will become an All-Star again in the next few years: Ty Lue is going to help bring the best out of Garland. The former point guard is going to pour himself into the franchise’s new point guard. That could get interesting. 

KawhiLeonard is going to have a breakout season: After too many injury-riddled seasons with the Clippers, here’s to betting Leonard is going to have an eye-popping season with the Raptors. That would be the Clippers’ luck, right?

FIVE GAMES TO WATCH 

Oct. 23 at Lakers: The hallway rivalry is always interesting, though this season it shouldn’t be too competitive. That said, it’ll be fun to watch Hachimura play against his former team. 

Nov. 1 at Warriors: The Warriors eliminated the Clippers in the play-in tournament last April. Can the Clippers avenge that loss?

Nov. 2 vs. Raptors: Leonard returns to Los Angeles to play against his former team. After everything the Clippers are going through, it’ll be interesting to see how the crowd reacts to their former superstar. 

Dec. 31 at Cavaliers: Garland will face his former team in Cleveland. He spent his first seven years of his career with the Cavs. That’ll surely be an emotional game for him. 

Jan. 9 vs. Celtics: The Clippers will host Paul George and the Celtics, another former franchise star who is now with another team. 

The Post’s Forecast – 42-40 

The Clippers will perform a little better than assumed, winning 42 games and making the play-in tournament before being eliminated from the playoffs. That would count as a major success for them this season. 

Before Tuesday’s season-opening matchup with the Pistons, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters that he doesn’t believe we have seen the best version of Jayson Tatum yet.

Well, after a dreadful 6-for-23 shooting performance in a 121-113 loss, we still haven’t seen the best version of Tatum. But we did see a glimpse into what Mazzulla meant, at least conceptually.

Jayson Tatum today:

13 Points
11 Assists
4 Rebounds
6/23 FGM
0/7 3PM
38 Minutes pic.twitter.com/Q3jRsycrP5

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 20, 2026

Even when his shot is off, Tatum still leaves his imprint all over the game. He racked up 11 assists, organized the Celtics on both ends and took the right shots more often than not. Tatum draws so much attention that it leaves other guys, like Paul George, open for easy looks.

The reality is that Tatum’s poor shooting night – which included an 0-for-7 showing from 3-point range and a 1-of-10 performance in the second half – was a major reason why they lost the game. It might have even been the No. 1 reason in this particular instance, which isn’t true very often.

“I mean, it felt good,” Tatum told reporters, referring to his shot. “Definitely not one of my best nights, obviously. I just have to play better.”

This is a classic case where we all have to brush it aside and assume it’s an outlier, rather than the start of a trend. If it does become a trend, the Celtics may have a problem, but chances are it won’t. Give him a chance to get situated.

It will be fascinating to watch how Tatum handles his first season as the true undisputed alpha. As evidenced by George’s 38-point explosion, he still has a sidekick, but it’s Tatum’s team and the Celtics will go as far as he takes them.

Even with George’s brilliance, defenses can still key in on Tatum more now than they could when he played alongside Jaylen Brown. At this stage in his career, George is predominantly a shooter (and still an elite one, if Tuesday is any indication), but he doesn’t have the same explosiveness as Brown.

Jayson Tatum in season debut:

13 PTS
11 AST
6-23 FG
0-7 3PT

2 PTS on 1-10 FG in the 2nd half.pic.twitter.com/G5kDPxEvO0

— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) October 20, 2026

Defenses are able to guard George 1 on 1, then double Tatum when the time is right. It’s up to him to make the right read. He did more often than not, but he didn’t have a lot to show for it offensively. Tatum, as usual, took ownership and put the blame squarely on his shoulders.

“There’s a lot of things I could learn from today and just be better for next time,” Tatum told reporters.

You could tell it may not be Tatum’s night when he missed a bunny in the first quarter. It felt like if he had been feeling it, he could have already had 15 or so points through one. Instead, he looked rusty and his form looked clunky. The hitch in Tatum’s shot is still somewhat alarming, but no one cares as long as it goes in the hoop.

On nights when it doesn’t, you can’t help but wonder if he can thrive as clear-cut 1A on a contender post-injury. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but I firmly believe the answer is yes.

Not looking to good for the Celtics right now

— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) June 8, 2012

I believe this was simply a product of rust, Detroit’s smothering defense, acclimating alongside George and bad luck. Tatum could have played exactly the same and hit five more shots and we would be talking about his performance in a totally different light.

“Part of my role is scoring,” Tatum told reporters. “I felt really good about a lot of the looks.”

It’s hard to argue with that logic. Celtics fans should feel good about those looks, too. He’ll make them. Give him time.

There may be games like this one, and if they happen once every month or so, that’s OK. As long as he bounces back, that’s all fans can ask for. He’s done it throughout his career, and there’s no reason to think he won’t this time as well.

It may take time, but Mazzulla is right. We haven’t seen the best of Tatum yet.

The 2026-27 NBA season is officially underway with an unprecedented opening-day tripleheader that began with a rare weekday matinee game between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons rallied from a 22-point deficit to stun Boston in the league's first game of the season, setting the stage for the New York Knicks' ring ceremony and championship banner-raising before they face LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers. A Western Conference finals rematch between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder wraps up the NBA opening-day slate on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Here's a live breakdown of the players, moments and storylines that emerged as winners and losers from the NBA's opening day.

NBA: We ranked the best player on every NBA team. Sixers among biggest surprises

NBA opening day winners

Javonte Green

Much of the offseason discussion in Detroit centered on whether the Pistons had added enough shooting around Cade Cunningham. But Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff turned to a lesser-known returning player on Tuesday to provide an unlikely spark that kick-started Detroit after beginning its season opener 4 of 22 from beyond the arc.

Green had 19 points and played nearly 18 minutes in the second half after not playing during the first two quarters of the game. A veteran in his second season with the Pistons, Green drilled three consecutive 3-pointers shortly after entering in the third quarter before adding two more in the fourth, including the go-ahead basket.

Paul George

George set a new Celtics record by scoring 38 points in his Boston debut and was especially good as the Celtics built a 22-point lead that the Pistons eventually erased. The 36-year-old George, who came to Boston in the Jaylen Brown trade this offseason, made 10 of his first 14 shots from the field including six 3-pointers. He seemed to work well with Jayson Tatum and took on the defensive assignment of guarding Cade Cunningham at times. Though George missed a couple 3-pointers late as the Celtics tried to reverse the momentum, this performance was a good sign that he can form an elite combination with Tatum if he can stay healthy.

NBA opening day losers

Jayson Tatum

Tatum's evolution as a playmaker was evident Tuesday, as he finished with 11 assists. But Boston also needs him to be its primary scorer, particularly after trading Jaylen Brown, and he couldn't fill that role in the second half. His poor shooting performance contributed to the team's collapse. He was 1 for 9 from the floor after halftime and his lone field goal came with less than three minutes left and the Pistons' lead in double digits. Tatum was just 6 of 23 from the floor and 0 for 7 from 3-point range overall on Tuesday.

NBA on NBC's matinee rollout

The NBA is closely watching the audience response to its opening-day matinee experiment, but some fans encountered issues as Tuesday's opening game unfolded. Social media was filled with complaints from viewers who said Celtics-Pistons was unavailable in their market, with YouTube TV subscribers appearing particularly affected. The company wrote on its X account that "the availability of games/programs on YouTube TV depends on our network partners."

It will be interesting to see what the ratings turn out to be considering the NBA is evaluating this initial game to determine whether to continue having daytime openers in the future.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA winners and losers: Pistons rally past Celtics, Tatum struggles

The WORLD CHAMPION Knicks (0-0) open their season tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers (0-0) at Madison Square Garden. They’ll hang the new banner (53 years in the making) and distribute rings before tip-off. As of this writing, no Knicks stars are on the injury report; the 76ers list several players out or questionable, but none of their top stars. Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and VJ Edgecombe should all be ready and eager to take a swipe at the crown. The Knicks are favored by about five points as the healthy home team and defending champs.

Game time is at 7 p.m. EST on NBC. This is your game thread. This is Liberty Ballers. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Be excellent humans. And go Knicks!

Even as the Knicks prepare to celebrate the franchise’s first NBA title in 53 years, the topic of Karl-Anthony Towns’ future remains at the top of everyone’s minds. 

During an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews, Towns said he would be willing to take a pay cut in order to keep the championship-winning squad together. 

“Because I want this team to stay together,” Towns said when asked to expand on his answer. “That’s always been my main priority was to keep everyone here, to keep this core, this special team that we have. So it was the first thing on my mind as soon as it was. And there was nowhere in my mind a max was even thought of.” 

Malika: "You're willing to take less (money)?"

KAT: "Oh yeah, because I want this team to stay together. That's always been my main priority was to keep everyone here, to keep this core, this special team that we have. So it was the first thing on my mind as soon as it was. And… pic.twitter.com/hU6kaIrwiC

— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) October 20, 2026

Jalen Brunson was sitting next to Towns for the interview, and when Andrews turned her attention to him to ask what he hoped to see happen with Towns, Brunson had a simple reply. 

“Sign the contract,” he said before breaking out into laughter and a smile, with KAT doing the same next to him. 

Towns is headed into the final guaranteed year of his contract after playing a key role in the Knicks’ title run last spring when he averaged 15.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. 

The Knicks said via a statement earlier this month that they were cutting off contract extension talks “until later in the season,” which came as news to Towns. 

“Obviously very disappointed, to say the least. Let’s be honest here,” the big man said Sunday. “But even though there was no business done, there’s still business to be handled. After 53 years, we found a way to bring this trophy back to New York, and we intend for it to stay in New York.”

The Knicks open their season on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden and will celebrate their title with a ceremony before they face the 76ers.

THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS

Yaxel Lendeborg makes first-team All-Rookie: Lendeborg is older than Podziemski and Will Richard, and the Warriors will ask the rookie to play like he’s been around the block. His size, shooting ability and maturity give him a chance to make an immediate impact.

Jimmy Butler plays more games than Kristaps Porzingis: What’s the bigger mystery: The “illness” Porzingis is dealing with, whether he will be on the roster post-trade deadline or how the Warriors expect to get through the regular season with two key players rehabbing knee surgeries and another whose availability fluctuates nightly?

‘Batman’ and ‘Robin’ team up on a sneaker: The other deal Curry signed this summer was his extension with the Warriors. He got his real bag in June with a $400 million endorsement deal with Chinese shoe company Li Ning, which is already in business with Butler. There’s never been a collab signature shoe, but when has that ever stopped Curry before?

FIVE GAMES TO WATCH

Oct. 23 vs. Memphis: Lendeborg’s home debut pits him against No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer, a matchup “I’m always gonna circle,” the Warriors rookie said this summer.

Dec. 25 vs. Denver: The last Christmas without the Warriors? Curry’s third season. The next? Probably the year after he retires. Overall, Curry is 8-7 in the annual holiday tradition.

Feb. 13 at Knicks: Not only a date with the defending champs at MSG, the Warriors’ first contest after the trade deadline, potentially with a roster that looks vastly different from opening night.

March 24 vs. Philadelphia: The first game on this list that should feature Butler and Moody — and the Warriors’ first time seeing LeBron James in a 76ers uniform.

April 8-9 at Oklahoma City: Golden State finishes with seven of nine on the road, including a baseball-style back-to-back against possibly the best team in the West.

The Post’s Forecast

41-41: Frankly, a lot has to go right just for the Warriors to get here. Curry’s knee doesn’t deteriorate further. Butler and Moody come back refreshed, not rusty. Golden State won 37 games last season, and the biggest difference is that its roster is only a year older.