Category: Sports News

Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg didn’t hold the trash talk back in his NBA debut.

Lendeborg was tasked with defending Lakers superstar Luka Doncic on Opening Night and the matchup did not disappoint. The Warriors rookie started chirping at Doncic, which continued with back-and-forth banter throughout the game.

“I’m not afraid to talk to nobody. He’s not Michael Jordan,” Lendeborg said.

While Lendeborg wasn’t ashamed by his actions, he added: “I feel like I did kinda take it overboard in the media, but it is what it is.”

Here is some Yaxel Lendeborg postgame

On the backlash to Luka comments: “I’m not afraid to talk to nobody. He’s not Michael Jordan.”

He did admit: “I feel like I did kinda take it overboard in the media, but it is what it is.”

On the Boozer matchup: “I always want to have a… pic.twitter.com/sPvnUt5eX5

— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 24, 2026

Lendeborg’s trash talk extended off the court as the forward ranted about Doncic to the media after the Warriors’ season-opening loss.

“Being in there firsthand, just watching all the whining and complaining, I lost all respect, man,” Lendeborg said.

“Like, me getting frustrated, it’s not about the foul getting called. It’s about him complaining the entire game,” Lendeborg added. “Then you get the foul called — congratulations, bro — and you talk to me like you did something great? That’s just weak. It kind of threw me off for a while. Because like I said, I had so much respect for him. Gone, man.”

Lendeborg certainly had his welcome to the NBA moment as Doncic scored a game-high 28 points, seven assists and eight rebounds to give the Lakers a commanding win over Golden State.

But the Warriors rookie is seemingly unfazed by the results.

CLEVELAND — Mario Hezonja doesn’t lack confidence. He showed that in his first NBA game in six years when he waived off Donovan Mitchell and backed his opponent down from the three-point line for a much-needed basket at the end of the third quarter.

On the surface, a bench player waiving off the superstar for an isolation might seem outlandish, but that is exactly what Hezonja was brought to do in Cleveland.

“I told him [Mitchell] you’re not supposed to bring the ball up under pressure because we need you in the last quarter,” Hezonja said on Saturday. “We need you in the playoffs. We need you in game 80, game 60. Having somebody like me that can help. As I said on the first day, I’m here to help you. … As much pressure that I can take off of him, and James [Harden], Evan [Mobley], and Jarrett [Allen], players we need a lot, is just going to be so beneficial for the group.”

There’s incredible value in having a veteran that can recognize what the situation needs, and isn’t afraid to call his own number if that’s what the defense is daring him to do.

“I waived JT (Jaylon Tyson) so he creates space for me to go one-on-one against my mismatch,” Hezonja said. “I spoke to James [Harden] and Donovan; there’s five of us on the court, and you need to read those mismatch situations.”

Reading mismatches and exploiting them has been an issue at times for the Cavs. In high-leverage situations, teams have been able to get away with putting smaller defenders on bigs like Mobley and Allen. Sometimes the Cavs have exploited that — like Game 7 of last year’s first-round series against the Toronto Raptors — and sometimes they haven’t.

Hezonja is only one game into his return to the NBA after a six-year hiatus, but the early results have been encouraging. His game fits into exactly what you want to see from a supporting player. It’s why head coach Kenny Atkinson called Hezonja’s play “one of the positives” from Thursday’s loss.

Hezonja thought he’d be nervous for his first NBA game after spending the last six years in Europe. And maybe he would’ve, if it wasn’t for how welcoming his new team has been. They’re putting him in a position to be the best version of himself.

“It’s much easier than I thought, thanks to my teammates, to the staff, and pretty much everybody in the organization, from the top to the last person, really since day one, they embraced me with open arms,” Hezonja said when asked about his return.

“They know the basketball player that I am, but they also got to know the person that I am, so it’s definitely been super great, very welcoming. I hope that the comfort zone I’m feeling, people can see it’s thanks to them.”

It has been half a decade since the Wolves won their first two regular season games to start the season. That was Chris Finch’s first full season as Minnesota’s coach. He led that team through the play-in and into a spirited six game series against the number two seeded Memphis Grizzlies. Since then, the Timberwolves have had their best stretch of basketball of their existence while also wrestling with their identity through its myriad iterations.

Thus far, there has been little wrestling. The Wolves have stepped into the season knowing who they are, and what they are, is fun.

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Game Info

• Who:Minnesota Timberwolves (2-0) vs. Toronto Raptors (2-0)
• When: Sunday, October 25 at 6:00 PM CT
• Where: Target Center – Minneapolis, MN
• Local TV: NBA TV | DAZN-MIN
• Radio: 830 WCCO

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Some Numbers

SSS (small sample size) Alert, but these undefeated teams are incredibly similar in what they’ve done well and where they’ve let up. They are both rebounding the ball well. They are both limiting their opponents to just under 100 points per game. They are both averaging north of 120 points a game. And both teams generate the same amount of turnovers. Minnesota forces turnovers less with steals, and more with consistent pressure that forces their opponents into mistakes. Toronto gets more takeaways with traditional box score stats.

That said, the Raptors wins have come against the rebuilding Chicago Bulls and the Washington Wizards (who are going in a direction, I am not sure what direction, but they are not standing still). The Wolves made mincemeat of the Heat and the Magic, both teams I would rank higher than the slate of Eastern Conference teams the Raptors have dispatched.

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What to Watch For

Kawhi and the Wings

The Toronto Raptors were reunited with their 2019 NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard in the off-season after a drawn out process. Essentially, Clippers learned from from the Timberwolves as they took over the crown for Worst Instance of Cap Circumvention. In each of the two games the Wolves ran into Leonard last season, he scored over 40 points. He is quite simply, a problem. The Raptors will rely heavily on the Klaw’s self-creation if the Wolves force them into a halfcourt offense. As Leonard is working into game shape and yet to play over 28 minutes this season, Toronto has All-Defensive forward Scottie Barnes to pair alongside Kawhi. Barnes has grown into a two-way force himself.

Toronto may choose to put neither wing on the Wolves backcourt of LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards, but that doesn’t mean they are any less effective. The passing lanes that the Wolves have used so effectively in the past two wins might look free, almost serene, like an open field of grass. When suddenly the ball is swiped from the air.

The Wolves will need to take care of the ball and not let the Raptors find a rhythm in transition.

Protecting the Paint

The Raptors don’t shoot a lot of threes. The ones that they do shoot, they tend not to make. Toronto has made just 11 of their 70 attempts thus far (15.7%). Instead the Raptors get theirs in the midrange and at the rim. Whoever guards Kawhi, be it Jaden McDaniels, Jonathan Kuminga, or Terrance Shannon Jr. will need to need be patient, weathering his physicality and cleanly contesting. Like with Paolo Banchero and Giannis Antetokounmpo, it will not be about shutting the star down, it will be about making them work for their shots and preventing anyone else from getting going. Conversely, the Wolves have lost the points in the paint battle, but made up for it with gang rebounding on the misses they do force to generate second chance looks.

Rudy Gobert should match up well against Jakob Poeltl and this might be a game for the Wolves to attack the basket more with a traditional pick-and-roll attack. The Wolves most protected passes will likely be lobs, and with 14-feet of French center to put them in the hoop, they can limit the defensive disruption of RJ Barrett, Collin Murray-Boyles, Barnes, and Leonard.

Energy Off The Bench

The Wolves bench will need to bring the same pop that they did in Orlando. The matchup between Joan Beringer and Murray-Boyles will be one I am specifically watching. It could be a battle of energizer bunnies looking to make plays for their team through sheer effort. Super Sixth Man Ayo Dosunmu is head and shoulders better than the Toronto’s bench guards in Jamal Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter, and if Terrance Shannon Jr.‘s three-ball continues to fall, he should be able to break down any Raptor defense when only one of Leonard, Barnes, or CMB is on the court.

Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković has balanced his starters minutes which is much easier to do when blowing Chicago out by 40. Like they have done thus far, Minnesota needs to push off of rebounds, turnovers, and especially after Toronto makes. Should the Wolves turn this game into a track meet against the older Raptors, they will find a recipe for success.

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Prediction

The first quarter will be a back-and-forth affair as both starting lineups will trade buckets. The Wolves from outside as Melo and Rudy chip away at the defense with pick-and-rolls, while the Raptors rely on Kawhi’s lethal jumper. As the teams go to the bench, Toronto’s high effort style that kept them in games last year will have a Spider-Man meme moment, as the Wolves match the effort with more talented players.

The Raptors will take small bites into the Wolves lead, but never be able to finish the whole meal as Minnesota serves up an all you can eat buffet of three-pointers.

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Our blogging buddies are Raptors HQ. Be kind to our Canadian neighbors!

The Washington Wizards hit the road to play the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. The game starts at 8:00 p.m. tonight. Watch the game on Monumental Sports Network.

Go Wizards!

CLEVELAND — Donovan Mitchell once likened speaking with a then-teenage Mikel Brown Jr. to talking hoops with James Harden, marveling at his protege’s maturity and basketball IQ. 

Saturday night, Brown got his first chance to suit up for real against both Mitchell and Harden. The Nets rookie finally got to play against his mentor in a game that mattered — and got to face the future Hall of Famer Harden for good measure in the Nets game at Cleveland. 

“Shoot, it’s great,” Brown, 20, said beforehand. “They’re obviously coming off a loss as well, just as we are, so they’re going to come in hungry. But to be able to play against Don was kind of crazy. The time went by. Three years ago I literally just met him in high school, and to be able to share the same court as him now and compete against him is great.” 

The Nets overtly tanked the last two seasons to get back-to-back lottery picks that became first Egor Dëmin and now Brown. 

While they had the joint-best odds of landing the top overall pick, they slid all the way to sixth. But the silver lining is that in a deep class they still ended up with Brown, whom Mitchell has said is hardly a consolation prize. 

“Not many high school kids pay attention to the details. I’m having conversations with [Brown] like I’m talking to James Harden,” Mitchell said recently. “He’s going to do amazing things in Brooklyn. Nets fans should be really excited, because they got one.” 

Years ago, when they were on a different timeline, the Nets eyed Mitchell. A local who was born in Elmsford — and played AAU basketball for both the Riverside Hawks and The City — he would’ve made an All-Star centerpiece in Brooklyn. 

Now they can only hope that Brown can someday become that. 

Brown was one-and-done at Louisville, where Mitchell was All-ACC in 2017. The latter took him under his wing, and is helping him right up until today. 

“Yeah, really just use what he [taught] … I get to use against him now, so it’s great. I’m just ready to compete at a high level,” Brown said. “I’ve been talking to him saying I’m gonna see him soon. So, the time is now. So, it’s gonna be good to compete out there. 

“He talked to me after my first game about some stuff. We talked about some things. But other than that, we both know what it is.” 

Brown had 15 points with three assists, two steals and just one turnover in his debut, a season-opening loss to Charlotte. This despite a recent ankle injury that had him limited to under 20 minutes and could see him rested Sunday vs. the Pacers. 

Following the debut performance, Mitchell checked in on his protege with some advice. 

“Just the things that I’ve already kind of fixed on my own. Going back and watching the film, there’s definitely a lot of things that I could have fixed. And me and him are basically on the same page on what I need to do better. So, yeah, that’s great,” said Brown, who was prepared to be trash-talked by his mentor Saturday. 

“A little bit. A little bit. You know, not too much, but I know he’s gonna say something tonight. So I’m ready to bump. … I might [trash-talk back] a little bit. I know he’s probably gonna do it, so I’m up for it.” 

Brown rolled his ankle the week before camp and missed the first three preseason games before debuting in the finale. He also missed the second half of his lone Louisville campaign with a back injury. Both may factor into the minutes limit. 

He was coy about whether the performance team has ruled him out for the tail end of this back-to-back at home Sunday vs. visiting Indiana. 

“As of right now, I don’t know. I’m just kind of just going with the flow at this point,” Brown said. “I’m ready to hoop regardless. If they call my name, I’m ready to hoop.”

Opening Night was great until it wasn’t for the Nets. The best part about basketball? There’s always a next one.

Brooklyn opened its 60th season with a 110-103 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. The Hornets scored 48 points inside the paint, shot 17-of-22 at the rim, and added 20 second-chance points, exposing some of the concerns surrounding the Nets’ positional-size approach. Mikel Brown Jr. remains on a minutes restriction on Saturday and then he’ll sit on Sunday.

#Nets coach Jordi Fernandez confirmed that Mikel Brown Jr. will be held out of the tail end of the back to back tomorrow vs the #Pacers, regardless of how many minutes he logs tonight in Cleveland. #nba#Cavs

— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) October 24, 2026

Opening Night was great until it wasn’t for the Cleveland Cavaliers. They blew a 29-point lead to the Philadelphia 76ers 0n national television. Don’t be surprised if they’re fired up in front of their home crowd.

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Game Info & Broadcast Details

• Who: Brooklyn Nets (0-1) at Cleveland Cavaliers (0-1)
• Time: 7:30 PM ET
• TV/Streaming: YES Network and DAZN
• Location: Rocket Arena, Cleveland, Ohio

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Injury Report: Who’s Out?

Brooklyn Nets:

• Tyler Bilodeau: OUT (right shoulder sprain)

Cleveland Cavaliers:

• Khalifa Diop: OUT (left knee)
• Nae’Qwan Tomlin: OUT (lower back)

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Game Preview

“Finishing at the rim against this team is a tall task, and [Julius] Randle will have to find his way to the cup. Philadelphia punished the Cavs in transition to spur the comeback, and it would help the Nets immensely if they could get out and run early and often.

Of course, the big story at least for fans is when will we see Mikel Brown Jr., without minutes restrictions. MBJ looked good in his 19 minute debut vs. the Hornets but Jordi Fernandez offered no firm timeline on when the restrictions would be ended.” – Brian Fleurantin

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💬 Discussion

Share your thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

Observations after Sixers beat Bucks to move to 3-0, Embiid posts triple-double  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers stayed unbeaten Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena, earning a 127-116 win over the Bucks and improving to 3-0 on the season. 

Joel Embiid had his 10th career regular-season triple-double, tallying 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

On his 30th birthday, Jaylen Brown posted 27 points and five assists. Tyrese Maxey had 26 points. VJ Edgecombe scored 17 and grabbed 13 boards. 

The Sixers’ absences on the first night of a back-to-back included LeBron James (low back/sciatica management). Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said pregame that he did not know yet who would be available for his team’s matchup with the Pistons on Sunday.

Here are observations on the Sixers’ victory Saturday:

Wade debuts, Embiid starts in style 

Dean Wade made his Sixers debut and started in James’ place. He’d missed the first two games of the regular season with a left ankle sprain. 

The 3-and-D forward scored the night’s first points by a sinking a corner three-pointer on the opening possession. 

Embiid also had a sharp start. He moved well, made good decisions and served as the main hub of his team’s offense in the early going. 

The Sixers’ seven-time All-Star center has often enjoyed facing Myles Turner. He entered the night with an average of 29.4 points in 18 previous games against the Bucks big man.

Embiid did a little bit of everything in the first quarter, posting eight points, four assists and four rebounds over nine minutes. After snatching an offensive board, Embiid drained a fadeaway jumper to give the Sixers a 10-1 lead. 

One of Embiid’s assists was quite stylish. He found Edgecombe open beyond the arc with a behind-the-back bounce pass. Edgecombe knocked down the shot and wound up going 3 for 4 from three-point range in the first quarter. 

Second-quarter struggles 

The Sixers added rookie Labaron Philon Jr. to their rotation. Jabari Walker stayed in the mix, though he didn’t enter until the 7:36 mark of the second quarter. 

Philon played four minutes in his NBA debut and missed his lone shot attempt, a corner three. On defense, Philon allowed a couple of blow-bys off the dribble. He generally looked like he belonged on offense, albeit without any production in his brief run.  

Maxey banked in a half-court heave at the first-quarter buzzer to put the Sixers up nine points. The Sixers couldn’t carry forward any momentum, however, and began the second quarter poorly. 

Adem Bona had another rough stint amid a subpar start to the season. After Anfernee Simons missed a transition layup try, Ryan Rollins’ three lifted the Bucks into a 40-37 lead.

The dreadful stretch for the Sixers on both sides of the ball called to mind how they’d fallen into a 29-point deficit Thursday night vs. the Cavaliers before clawing out a comeback win.  

The Sixers mustered just seven points in first six minutes of the second quarter and had many stagnant possessions that concluded with contested jumpers. The team’s transition defense was dismal for much of the second period. Milwaukee had the game’s first 19 fast-break points. 

Star trio produces

The Sixers regained the lead late in the second quarter. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made two three-balls in the second and nabbed three first-half steals. Embiid assisted a go-ahead, and-one Walker layup. 

Brown hit a three with 11.8 seconds left in the second quarter. Unsurprisingly, his variety of shotmaking skills were useful without James in the lineup.

Even when James or Embiid sit, the Sixers should have a simple advantage in terms of volume of stars over most opponents this year. None of Brown, Embiid or Maxey had the sort of off night that would have improved the Bucks’ odds of a road win. They’d all passed the 20-point mark by the end of the third quarter.

Maxey notched another final-possession bucket, this time with a more conventional make. He canned a jumper from the right elbow with 1.7 seconds left in the third to extend the Sixers’ lead to 97-87.

The Bucks made a late push in the fourth quarter. Kel’el Ware’s put-back, and-one layup cut the Milwaukee’s deficit to 117-114.

The Sixers ultimately handled business. Embiid reached his triple-double by assisting a second-chance Brown jumper and and Caldwell-Pope soon drilled a dagger corner three. Embiid even threw down a last-minute dunk for good measure.

For the second consecutive season, the Sixers have a 3-0 start. They got to four wins last year before dropping their first game.